With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
SoCal Gas accused of using energy-saving funds to thwart conservation
Listen
• 0:53
FILE: Residents arrive at the SoCal Gas Community Resource Center in Porter Ranch on Jan. 8, 2016.
(
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
)
Southern California Gas Co. used energy efficiency funds paid by its customers to delay or thwart the state's efforts to improve the efficiency of appliances and buildings, according to a report from the Office of the Ratepayer Advocates.
Customers of investor-owned utilities pay more than $1 billion a year via their gas and power bills into utility-managed funds designed to promote energy efficiency in California. The ratepayer advocates report, filed Monday with the Public Utilities Commission, said SoCal Gas had been working at cross-purposes to the state's energy saving goals for at least three years.
"They have used ratepayer money to oppose improvements in energy efficiency standards at both the state and federal level," said Elizabeth Echols, director of the Office of Ratepayer Advocates.
For example, SoCal Gas used the money to oppose new conservation standards for home furnaces on the grounds that improved efficiency would encourage customers to switch away from natural gas, according to emails obtained by the ratepayer advocates office. SoCal Gas even tried thwart the energy efficiency work of other big utilities, the report says.
Support for LAist comes from
SoCal Gas rejected the office's findings.
“Although we are still in the preliminary stages of review, SoCalGas expects to present facts demonstrating that the Office of Ratepayer Advocates’ allegations have no merit and should be rejected," said SoGal Gas spokeswoman Melissa Bailey in an email statement.
The company has the "right and responsibility to study and share its perspectives on rules and regulations that impact our (21 million) customers, including gas energy efficiency," she said. The company's 80 energy efficiency programs have saved Southern California homes and businesses more than $672 million in energy savings since 1990, she said.
The Office of Ratepayer Advocates is an independent agency within the California Public Utilities Commission whose mission is to seek the lowest rates for service consistent with safety, reliability, and the state's environmental goals. The office also advocates for ratepayers before the California Legislature.
The ratepayer advocates office wants the Public Utilities Commission to bar SoCal Gas from taking on a statewide leadership role promoting energy efficiency or contributing to stricter energy savings standards.
"One of the remedies here, is that the gas company should not be allowed to do advocacy around building standards going forward," said Evan Gillespie of the Sierra Club.
"What the Office of Rate Advocates found was that they were taking their customer dollars intended to help their customers save money and advocating against energy efficiency programs and policies intended to do exactly that," Gillespie said. "So they're taking money for one purpose and using it to do exactly the opposite."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist