Consumer Alert Video Challenges Newsom's "Big Beautiful Climate And Energy Affordability" Bill Signing As Sham: Like "Calling A Smog Alert A Breath of Fresh Air," says Consumer Watchdog

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog issued a short Consumer Alert video warning that the package of bills Governor Newsom is signing into law today, which his office called "big beautiful legislation that promises to lower electricity costs, stabilize the petroleum market and slash pollution," is a sham.

Watch the Consumer Alert Video. 

"In Sacramento, it's common to say one thing and do another, but even by these standards the end of the legislative session push for gut-and-amended bills that Governor and legislative leaders dubbed 'Landmark Clean Energy, Climate and Affordability Solutions' is an utter sham," Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court warns in the video. "The truth is 90% of the 'solutions' will drive up costs for gasoline and electricity… Labeling this group of bills 'Landmark Clean Energy, Climate and Affordability Solutions,' is like calling a smog alert a breath of fresh air."

The Consumer Alert warns:

"The reauthorization of cap and trade without a ceiling on the price of carbon credits could add 60 cents to a gallon of gasoline.

"The replenishing of the state's wildfire fund to protect negligent utilities with $9 billion will come right out of ratepayers' pockets.

"The move to a Western regional grid will give regional power traders the power to increase electricity prices free of state control and anti-price gouging laws. Other regional markets, East Coast grid PJM and New England grid NISO, have experienced such huge increases in the price of electricity that a bi-partisan group of 9 governors are in open revolt.

"Rather than delivering clean energy and climate solutions, the package will open Kern County up to indiscriminate oil drilling, divorced from any needs of pipelines there to feed crude oil into Northern California refineries. That hurts Kern County communities that had hoped for a future free from poisonous oil drilling, which is what Governor Newsom promised them less than a year ago.

"The deal also requires the Governor to remove the summer-time gasoline blend that has kept smog down in Los Angeles if it is estimated that it will increase gas prices.

"Shame on Governor Newsom and the legislature for giving into the oil drillers and refiners, the utilities and the energy traders and trying to call it clean cheap solutions."

Read more about the end of the session deregulation deal.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog