California reject bill to crackdown on how utilities spend customers’ money

By ADAM BEAM
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A crackdown on how California utilities spend customers’ money has failed to pass the state Legislature. Investor-owned utilities aren’t allowed to use money from customers to pay for things like advertising and lobbying. But consumer groups have complained utilities have found ways around these rules. Monday, a legislative committee rejected a bill that aimed to clarify those rules and allow regulators to impose fines for breaking them. Pacific Gas & Electric opposed the bill. The utility says it would eliminate regulators’ discretion to decide which expenses are reasonable for customers to cover.