California Forced to Give Residents Another $1.4B for Unaffordable Utility Bills

Sometimes $1.4 billion just isn’t enough. Just ask California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

During the pandemic, Newsom and the state legislature gave $1.4 billion to more than 2.2 million households struggling to pay their overdue pandemic-era utility bills. 

The governor “doubled down” earlier this month, ordering an additional $1.4 billion from the state budget before the end of the year to cover more overdue utility bills, “for those who are still struggling amid rising costs,” Newsom said in a press release.

It’s unclear what the governor’s office constitutes as “struggling” and who is eligible to have their overdue utilities covered.

The governor’s announcement said $1.2 billion will pay for residential electric bills through the Department of Community Services and Development, and $200 million will go to residential water and wastewater bills – on top of the $116 million in federal funding for water and wastewater debts. 

This spending is part Newsom’s financial relief package to help support Californians who are dealing with higher costs.

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