Deploy Action Launches California Electricity Affordability Pathway to Lower Power Bills for Californians
SACRAMENTO — Deploy Action today announced the California Electricity Affordability Pathway, a legislative package aimed at lowering electricity bills for Californians by holding utilities more accountable for rate increases, enabling smarter grid planning, expanding energy storage, and continuing investments in proven demand-side reliability tools.
The package is anchored by SB 905, authored by Senator Josh Becker, focusing on electricity cost savings, grid utilization and utility accountability; SB 1295, authored by Senator Henry Stern, addressing distributed storage procurement reform; and the Demand Side Grid Support budget and trailer bill effort led by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and other policymakers, which continues funding for that program. Deploy Action is also supporting related legislation to expand affordable local power, improve interconnection accountability, and broaden access to community solar and storage.
At a time when California families and businesses are struggling with rising electricity costs, the California Electricity Affordability Pathway advances a simple principle: before ratepayers are asked to pay more, the state should demand better performance, better planning, and better use of lower-cost energy solutions.
“California families and businesses are paying too much for electricity, and the status quo is not delivering the affordability ratepayers deserve,” said Arnab Pal, executive director of Deploy Action. “The California Electricity Affordability Pathway brings together practical reforms to cut waste, improve utility accountability, deploy lower-cost clean reliability resources, and make better use of the grid infrastructure Californians already paid for.”
“California can no longer treat affordability as a secondary concern,” said Phil Ting, former California state legislator and founding director at Deploy Action. “This package is focused on the real cost drivers behind rising electric bills. It is about building a system that is more disciplined, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of ratepayers.”
SB 905 would take direct aim at electricity cost drivers by strengthening utility accountability, improving oversight of utility spending and planning, encouraging better use of existing grid capacity, and advancing reforms designed to protect ratepayers from unnecessary costs. Bill author Senator Josh Becker said, “Californians are paying too much for electricity, and they deserve a system that is more accountable to the people footing the bill. SB 905 is about putting ratepayers first by demanding greater transparency, stronger cost discipline, and a sharper focus on affordability across the electric system.”
SB 1295 would help California deploy storage more strategically so it can reduce grid stress, defer expensive infrastructure upgrades, improve resilience, and lower long-term system costs. Bill author Senator Henry Stern said, “Storage is not just a clean energy resource. It is an affordability resource. SB 1295 will help California put storage where it can do the most to lower costs, strengthen reliability, and reduce the need for more expensive investments that ultimately show up on ratepayers’ bills.”
The Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) budget and trailer bill effort would preserve and strengthen a proven demand-side reliability program that uses flexible customer-side resources to support the grid at lower cost than older, dirtier, and more expensive alternatives. DSGS bill sponsor Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin said: “The bottom line is that we aren’t using the electric grid to its full potential, which is inefficient and bad for ratepayers. DSGS uses the grid’s excess capacity on days when we need the most electricity without having to build new capacity. The program is practical, commonsense, and it has demonstrated success that it can save ratepayers money on their bills.”
In addition to these core efforts, Deploy Action is supporting SB 913, focusing on affordable local power and distributed energy resource participation in Resource Adequacy and CAISO markets; AB 2493, which expands interconnection and transmission audit accountability; and AB 1813, which supports community solar and storage.
Together, the California Electricity Affordability Pathway advances a practical, ratepayer-focused agenda to lower power bills without compromising reliability. Rather than relying on a single silver bullet, the package addresses affordability from multiple angles: utility cost discipline, smarter grid utilization, lower-cost storage deployment, preservation of demand-side reliability tools, expanded market access for distributed energy resources, and broader access to community-based clean energy solutions.
“California does not have to choose between a reliable grid and affordable electricity,” Pal said. “We can do both, but only if we are willing to challenge the most expensive defaults and build a system that works better for ratepayers.”
About Deploy Action
Deploy Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to clean energy deployment at the state level. Our organization champions smart, equitable energy reforms that prioritize grid reliability, regional coordination, and consumer affordability. We’re technology-neutral and results-focused. Deploy Action supports deploying energy technology solutions that lower costs, improve reliability, and strengthen economic competitiveness. https://www.deploy-action.org/
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