California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has introduced a policy proposal that would provide two hours of free electricity per day to lower-income families. The Democratic candidate unveiled the plan, dubbed a "power hour," on Tuesday, stating it aims to help residents cope with the state's high cost of living, particularly rising energy bills.
Becerra's proposal is intended to incentivize customers to shift their energy consumption to the midday window, when solar energy production is at its peak. He stated that this would not only offer financial relief but also encourage more efficient energy use. "We produce a lot of energy during the hot hours because the sun helps us produce solar energy, take advantage of it," Becerra said at an event hosted by Politico. "The best way to get you to readapt, to recalibrate, is to tell you, ‘The best time for you to use electricity today, 1 [p.m.] to 3 [p.m.], and if you do that, I won’t charge you.’"
The candidate suggested the plan could be implemented within his first year in office in coordination with the state public utilities commission. The proposal comes as Californians have experienced significant increases in energy bills, with costs rising by 39% over the past six years, according to UC Berkeley's Haas Energy Institute. These increases are attributed partly to the impact of wildfires and policy decisions that have shifted costs to consumers.
A similar program exists in Australia, where some states have offered three free hours of electricity daily. However, consumer advocates there cautioned that participants in such plans sometimes faced higher rates for the remainder of the day, potentially leading to increased overall costs. Energy Consumers Australia advised against rushing into such plans, warning that they could have the opposite effect of lowering bills.
Becerra's campaign has not yet detailed how the "power hour" program would be designed or funded. The plan aims to leverage the surplus of energy generated by solar panels during sunny midday hours, when demand is typically lower, and reduce strain on the grid during peak evening hours when demand increases after sunset.