ratepayer

In an email, a spokesperson for the California State Assn. of Electrical Workers said the group “strongly supports” the bill, which it said would “alleviate the financial burden on non-solar ratepayers.”

Georgia ratepayers each paid $1,000 to support this plant before they even got any power, and now their bills are rising more than $200 annually.

Each year, the utility pays the Fire Department about $2.5 million — drawn from ratepayer revenue — to carry out the inspections and report the findings.

Gomberg noted, however, that the bill has no funding, and implementing the improvements would likely cost ratepayers.

The problem is compounded by the fact that the wildfire fund has so far amassed only $14 billion, because utility companies cannot immediately expect ratepayers to pay their share of half the $21 billion.