A stunt or first step? Inside California’s last-minute effort to cut electric bills and streamline clean energy

By Alejandro Lazo, Julie Cart and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde The Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom have significantly scaled back their eleventh-hour plans to reduce Californians’ electric bills and fast-track renewable energy projects. Many experts said the proposed measures now amount to a political gesture or, at best, a small first step toward solving the problems, rather than nuts-and-bolts, enforceable steps that would give consumers financial relief or help speed solar and wind projects. The main proposal addressing California’s rising electric bills would give each household a small, one-time credit of between $30 to $70, according to a person familiar with the bill. The measure would save an estimated $500 million. It’s uncertain whether the scattershot, gut-and amend-approach will win the Legislature’s approval by Saturday, the deadline for when all legislation for the year must be approved. For weeks, top lawmakers and the governor’s aides have negotiated a series of proposals aimed at addressing California’s twin clean energy challenges: meeting mandates for clean, carbon-free energy and reducing electric bills that are among the highest in the nation. By the Wednesday night deadline, the state’s leaders unveiled six bills that address the cost of electricity and building of renewable energy projects. Environmental groups,...