Californians demand action from state leaders to lower utility bills, hold polluters accountable according to new poll

SACRAMENTO, CA — As recent price shocks from the war in Iran send fossil fuel prices soaring, recent polling shows that California utility customers want lawmakers to rein in sky high rates, hold for-profit investor owned utilities (IOUs) accountable, make sure data centers pay their fair share and use clean energy to lower bills. The polling from David Binder Research was released today by The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters). The poll was conducted in January and confirms similar results to polls done in 2025 and 2024, making clear that California voters’ support for lawmaker action is durable and lasting.

“The new polling data shows what confirms what we’ve seen before: voters are more concerned than ever about skyrocketing bills, and expect their elected leaders to hold utilities accountable, deploy more clean energy, invest in cost effective wildfire safety, and cut utility profits to provide relief for California residents,” said Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network. “One thing that really stands out in this latest polling is just how strongly voters feel about making sure data centers pay their fair share with a whopping 88% supporting this policy proposal,” Toney added.

Key results from the poll include:

– 81% of voters are very or somewhat concerned about the cost of electricity; 53% were very concerned (up 13% from a similar survey last year) 

– 73% of voters support California investing in clean energy to lower costs to customers.

– Voters feel three factors are most responsible for rising utility costs:   

– Utility companies neglecting infrastructure maintenance (81% factor)

– Utility company prioritizing profits and shareholders (77% factor)  

– The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rubber stamping rate increases (76% factor)

– Strong majorities support five different policy proposals to lower electricity costs, including:

– 88% of voters support ensuring data centers pay their fair share of electricity costs; 68% strongly support 

– 80% support prioritizing effective wildfire solutions

– 78% support adopting modern building codes for energy efficiency  

The polling data follows multiple, egregious rate hikes from California’s major for-profit utilities, who touted excessive profits while customers struggled to make ends meet. Most of California’s Investor-Owned-Utilities (IOUs) posted record profit numbers in 2025. PG&E reported a 13.6% increase in profits, totalling $3.1 billion. The same year their equipment sparked the Eaton Fire, SoCal Edison saw a 200% jump with a record-breaking $4.9 billion in profits. Sempra, the parent company for San Diego Gas & Electric and SoCal Gas saw profits increase 3.3%, making $3.1 billion in 2025. 

“This year-long public opinion research project shows that voters aren’t fooled by Big Oil’s propaganda campaign and the only ones falling for it are elected officials. Across the board, Californians are prioritizing solutions that invest in clean energy and resilience to lower rates and increase reliability,” said Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters. “While Big Oil wants to keep us stuck on fossil fuels in California, voters are demanding leadership that delivers real relief and corporate accountability. It’s time to deliver an energy system that works for the people who pay the bills, putting consumers at the center of every decision.”

TURN is supporting the following bills aimed at lowering electricity bills:

– AB 2338 (Ransom): Requires utilities to use inflation (cost of living) as the starting point of negotiations, so the burden falls on the utilities to justify every additional dollar of spending.

– SB 1098 (Perez): Reins in utility spending providing the CPUC with a fuller picture of the utilities accounting to determine what’s “just and reasonable.”

– SB 1359 (Stern): Directs the CPUC to create a standardized methodology for forecasting gas demand to ensure utilities are not charging ratepayers more than truly necessary.

– AB 1715 (Schiavo): Increases utility transparency on public loans and grants.

– SB 327 (McNerney): Prohibits ratepayer money from being used to lobby against municipalization.

Affordability is a top priority this year with legislators authoring bills aimed at tackling the energy affordability crisis. The polling data sends a clear message to lawmakers and legislative leaders: California voters need affordable power and utility accountability. 

Detailed polling results can be found here.

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