Battle intensifies over new monthly fee planned for Californians’ power bills

Tensions are rising over a new monthly charge planned for California’s electricity bills, which are already the highest in the nation.

A new fixed monthly fee is scheduled to be adopted by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in May, but a legislative battle is brewing to block it. The controversy at hand revolves around whether the payment structure change will harm or help low-income residents and the state’s clean energy goals.

The CPUC — which regulates the state’s major...