SoCalGas paid the bills of a group fighting building electrification in California
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Southern California Gas Company paid the bills of C4BES, a group opposing the switch from gas to electric buildings, from March 2018, DeSmog reported. A regulatory judge later found that ratepayer money had been spent on uses inconsistent with its purpose.
- SoCalGas shareholders — the penalty sought at 255 million dollars was set at 10 million dollars Sempra (SEC filing)
- SoCalGas ratepayers — customer funds a regulatory judge found were spent on uses inconsistent with their purpose Utility Dive
What happened
SoCalGas paid the bills of Californians for Balanced Energy Solutions (C4BES) from March 2018, set its messages and found its board members, DeSmog reported.
In March 2020, during the pandemic, C4BES's head warned San Luis Obispo officials he would bring 'hundreds of angry people' by bus, and the city then postponed its vote, DeSmog reported.
A regulatory judge found that SoCalGas had spent ratepayer money on uses inconsistent with its purpose (Utility Dive, 27 April 2021).
The Public Advocates Office sought a 255 million dollar penalty, and the final penalty was 10 million dollars (Utility Dive; Sempra 10-Q).
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record Earthjustice (5 November 2020) is also cited for the ratepayer finding; the sources reviewed record no URL for it.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say which uses the judge found inconsistent with the purpose of the ratepayer money.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether the 10 million dollar penalty was paid or appealed.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether the San Luis Obispo vote was later held.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not show whether C4BES's campaign affected building electrification rules.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Company or project
- Sempra Energy quarterly report (Form 10-Q) for the period ended 30 September 2022Sempra (SEC filing) · 2022
Press and investigations
- DeSmog article on SoCalGas and Californians for Balanced Energy SolutionsDeSmog · 2020-05-07
- Utility Dive report on the regulatory judge's finding on SoCalGas ratepayer fundsUtility Dive · 2021-04-27