February, 2024 - Irvine Community News and Views

2024 Oscar Predictions and Where To Watch the Nominees

The 2024 Academy of Motion Picture Awards (The Oscars) will be held on Sunday, March 10th at 4pm...

Vice Mayor Agran Hosts Information Session Regarding the State’s Proposed Utility Tax

Dozens of Irvine residents attended an information session organized by the office of Vice Mayor Larry Agran regarding a proposed change in how electricity is billed. The change would upend California’s decades-old commitment to encouraging clean energy and energy efficiency.

When implemented by the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the monthly bills of those who use little electricity — like apartment renters and residents in solarized homes — will go up while the bills of those who use large amounts of electricity will go down.

“A utility tax of $30 will increase bills for anyone who lives in an apartment, condo or small home, which is a problem,” said Cailey Underhill of the Solar Rights Alliance. Underhill pointed out that the new utility tax is not capped and could be raised at any time. Utility companies originally submitted a plan for a tax of up to $70 — about seven times the national average for a utility tax — and that $70 per month remains a target figure.