A new survey of California voters shows that most blame utility company spending and profit-taking for skyrocketing electricity costs.

Californians pay the second-highest residential rates and the highest business rates in the nation. This has led to a flurry of bills being introduced in the Legislature to address high costs. But one new bill introduced by Southern California Democrat Lisa Calderon, Assembly Bill 942, could cause costs to spike for customers with solar power contracts.

Related Story: Outrage Grows to Assembly Bill That Would Slash Solar Contract Benefits

According to the survey results, there was overwhelming agreement on some key issues:

• 93% said wasteful spending by utility companies, including for lobbying, PR, and marketing campaigns, needs to be reined in.
• 90% said AI data centers need to pay their fair share.
• 90% said modernized building codes are needed to ensure energy efficiency.
• 85% supported rejecting rate increases that lead to excessive profit margins for utility companies.

The survey also asked questions about support for clean energy and wildfire mitigation measures. The majority of respondents indicated their support for the state passing clean energy policies that address climate change (78%), for improved forest management (95%), upgraded power lines (91%), and reforming insurance in California (88%). Ninety-one percent said the for-profit utility companies should pay more to address wildfires.

Higher Costs Are a Burden

Californians who get their electricity from investor-owned utility companies like Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern Cal Edison have seen a steep increase in their electricity rates in recent years. The survey reports that 82% are concerned about the cost of their monthly electricity bill, up from 78% in June 2024.

“It is clear from the polling data that California residents expect their elected representatives to take action now, and pass legislation that will limit utility overspending, trim record-breaking corporate profits, support public financing to reduce long-term costs, and provide short-term ratepayer relief,” Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, said in a news release Thursday.

The survey by David Binder Research was conducted in March among 800 Californians likely to vote in the November 2026 elections. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish and has a margin of error of 3.3%.

The Utility Reform Network, a Bay-Area based advocacy nonprofit, is scheduled to hold a news conference at noon Thursday in front of the state Capitol with a coalition that includes the AARP, California Large Energy Consumers Association, California Farm Bureau, and Small Business Utility Advocate urging California legislators to proceed with affordability legislation.