Proposal would change how California power bills are calculated, aiming to relieve summer spikes

By ADAM BEAM | Associated Press

SACRAMENTO — It’s become a rite of summer in sunny California: When the temperature spikes, so do electricity bills, leaving some customers with monthly payments over $500.

A big reason for that is the way California’s largest power companies calculate rates. The more power you use, the more money you pay — not just for electricity, but also for things like maintaining the grid and reducing wildfire risk.

A proposal unveiled Wednesday by state regulators aims to change that.