Californians are struggling with the highest cost of living in the nation, and rising utility costs are a significant driver — up over 30% since 2022.
The Facts about the Unfair Property Tax Formula
A mistake made by the State Legislature nearly 40 years ago inadvertently shifted a greater share of total county debt service to utilities.
CUSTOMERS are stuck paying this debt through higher utility bills, which makes California’s affordability crisis even worse. Today, about one in five utility customers are behind on their power bills.
Utility rates have nearly doubled over the past ten years, and changing the unfair property tax formula could save customers almost $100 a year.
The Unfair Utility Property Tax Formula is hurting everyday Californians by:
Increasing The Cost of Living
The unfair tax burden that utility customers must pay is already bad, and it is slated to get much worse: ballooning from $370 million today to $1.5 billion by 2029 — a 400% increase
Disproportionately Harming Consumers in Low-Income Counties
Utility customers in lower-income counties that have lower debt levels are forced to pay higher utility rates to subsidize customers in often wealthier counties with higher debt levels
Unfairly Targeting Small Businesses and Residential Tenants
Small businesses and residential tenants who rent are forced to pay higher utility costs to make up the difference
Consumers shouldn’t have to pay for the Legislature’s mistake that is making utility costs skyrocket. California needs to change this system to keep runaway utility bills from getting even more expensive.
Join Our Coalition!
YES, you may list me as a member of Ratepayers for Property Tax Fairness, a coalition supporting reform of the unfair property tax formula that is making utility costs skyrocket.