Xavier Becerra proposes free electricity 'power hour' for Californians

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has introduced a policy proposal to offer residents three hours of free electricity during midday, aiming to address high energy costs and grid strain. The proposal seeks to capitalize on a market anomaly where wholesale electricity prices can turn negative during periods of high solar production and low demand. In these instances, power companies may pay to have electricity taken off their hands. Becerra argued that this excess energy produced during sunny midday hours could be utilized by consumers if incentivized. "The best way to get you to readapt, to recalibrate, is to tell you, ‘The best time for you to use electricity today, 1 [p.m.] to 3 [p.m.], and if you do that, I won’t charge you,’" Becerra stated. This initiative mirrors a similar program implemented in several Australian states, which offers free electricity during midday to encourage consumption when solar energy is abundant. The goal is to reduce the stress on the energy grid during the early evening, when solar production ceases but demand remains high. Becerra indicated that he believes the program could be implemented within his first year in office, in collaboration with the California Public Utilities Commission. Additionally, Becerra stated that California can still meet its 2035 gas car sales goal, a key piece of the state's climate agenda, despite some polling indicating opposition among Democrats.