Matt Vespa
@missionvespa.bsky.social
Clean energy attorney at https://earthjustice.org/ working to dismantle fossil fuel industry with focus on building electrification and utility accountability in CA. Adjunct Professor of Renewable Energy Law & Policy at Berkeley Law. 🏳️🌈 ⚡️🏠
You are on a roll today @gavinnewsom.bsky.social, let's keep it up! Show Californians you care more about them than for-profit utilities and sign #AB1167 to keep the costs of their lobbying and PR campaigns out of our energy bills!
October 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
You are on a roll today @gavinnewsom.bsky.social, let's keep it up! Show Californians you care more about them than for-profit utilities and sign #AB1167 to keep the costs of their lobbying and PR campaigns out of our energy bills!
Still awaiting signature - commonsense legislation supported by over 90% of CA voters that will make sure utilities don't pass the costs of their lobbying and image polishing into energy bills.
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: let’s save people money and sign #AB1167!
earthjustice.org/experts/matt...
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: let’s save people money and sign #AB1167!
earthjustice.org/experts/matt...
October 7, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Still awaiting signature - commonsense legislation supported by over 90% of CA voters that will make sure utilities don't pass the costs of their lobbying and image polishing into energy bills.
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: let’s save people money and sign #AB1167!
earthjustice.org/experts/matt...
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: let’s save people money and sign #AB1167!
earthjustice.org/experts/matt...
On top of being incredibly restorative, I can report that EV charging up through the redwoods is a LOT better than 4 years ago. More stations in better places and they all worked! And for whatever reason, fast charging went past 80%. 🚗🔌
July 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
On top of being incredibly restorative, I can report that EV charging up through the redwoods is a LOT better than 4 years ago. More stations in better places and they all worked! And for whatever reason, fast charging went past 80%. 🚗🔌
Gays for transit!! 🚌🚍🚊🌈
June 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Gays for transit!! 🚌🚍🚊🌈
When you challenge SoCalGas charging customers for membership cost of their gas industry trade group, win, and its finally booked to a shareholder account. 💅
June 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
When you challenge SoCalGas charging customers for membership cost of their gas industry trade group, win, and its finally booked to a shareholder account. 💅
Future is electric! New data from PG&E showing for December 2024, 611 all-electric service line extension requests v. 198 for homes with gas. Suggests about 75 percent new construction going all-electric. This is before 2025 building code kicks in, which should increase this further.
May 1, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Future is electric! New data from PG&E showing for December 2024, 611 all-electric service line extension requests v. 198 for homes with gas. Suggests about 75 percent new construction going all-electric. This is before 2025 building code kicks in, which should increase this further.
Electric water heating sales widening lead over gas, with building codes a key driver. 🔌⚡
March 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Electric water heating sales widening lead over gas, with building codes a key driver. 🔌⚡
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS: Federal court in NY dismisses challenge to NYC Local Law 154 prohibiting gas in new homes. Court declines to adopt "flawed" reasoning in 9th Circuit Berkeley case and finds NY law not preempted by EPCA. 🏠⚡✊
March 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS: Federal court in NY dismisses challenge to NYC Local Law 154 prohibiting gas in new homes. Court declines to adopt "flawed" reasoning in 9th Circuit Berkeley case and finds NY law not preempted by EPCA. 🏠⚡✊
Thank you @benallenca.bsky.social & Sen Stern for asking @californiapuc.bsky.social for answers on costs of building back with gas, ways it can facilitate all-electric construction, and role of gas line fires in complicating firefighting. We need a proactive PUC to enable thoughtful rebuilding.
February 7, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Thank you @benallenca.bsky.social & Sen Stern for asking @californiapuc.bsky.social for answers on costs of building back with gas, ways it can facilitate all-electric construction, and role of gas line fires in complicating firefighting. We need a proactive PUC to enable thoughtful rebuilding.
SoCalGas filing is characteristically opaque but comparing their pre- and post GRC tariff sheets, residential gas rates going up a bit over 13 percent.
January 22, 2025 at 2:51 AM
SoCalGas filing is characteristically opaque but comparing their pre- and post GRC tariff sheets, residential gas rates going up a bit over 13 percent.
Following CPUC rate case decision, SDG&E average gas rates going up 20 percent and electric rates slightly declining. On top of health, safety and climate benefits, economics of electrification improves as declining gas demand pushes gas rates higher to pay costs of gas system.
January 22, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Following CPUC rate case decision, SDG&E average gas rates going up 20 percent and electric rates slightly declining. On top of health, safety and climate benefits, economics of electrification improves as declining gas demand pushes gas rates higher to pay costs of gas system.
One thing not mentioned here is you qualify for a baseline credit when switching to electric heat, which helps lower bill when on a tiered rate like TOU-C. Need to call PG&E - takes a couple weeks to process but they credit you from date of request.
January 21, 2025 at 1:13 AM
One thing not mentioned here is you qualify for a baseline credit when switching to electric heat, which helps lower bill when on a tiered rate like TOU-C. Need to call PG&E - takes a couple weeks to process but they credit you from date of request.
Really something for SoCalGas to show up at SCAQMD today opposing critical electrification measures that will make region safer as flames from its gas lines add to devastation and to challenges of fire containment.
January 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Really something for SoCalGas to show up at SCAQMD today opposing critical electrification measures that will make region safer as flames from its gas lines add to devastation and to challenges of fire containment.
I think it’s because they don’t have visibility over resources since behind the meter so can’t provide real time data. You can look at demand curves though to see rooftop lowers midday demand but not by exact amount.
December 24, 2024 at 11:13 PM
I think it’s because they don’t have visibility over resources since behind the meter so can’t provide real time data. You can look at demand curves though to see rooftop lowers midday demand but not by exact amount.
Finally, SoCalGas resisted turning over any info on outside counsel spending. We needed Motion to Compel to uncover role in underwriting Cal Restaurant Ass'n lawsuit v. Berkeley. More improper costs removed and decision requires documentation on future outside legal costs charged to customers.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
Finally, SoCalGas resisted turning over any info on outside counsel spending. We needed Motion to Compel to uncover role in underwriting Cal Restaurant Ass'n lawsuit v. Berkeley. More improper costs removed and decision requires documentation on future outside legal costs charged to customers.
Its a lot of work to uncover how utilities misuse customer funds to lobby in their self-interest. Decision adds reporting requirements for employee and consultant work that should help identify and deter future abuse. One thing missing, penalties given their established pattern of misconduct.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
Its a lot of work to uncover how utilities misuse customer funds to lobby in their self-interest. Decision adds reporting requirements for employee and consultant work that should help identify and deter future abuse. One thing missing, penalties given their established pattern of misconduct.
FERC rules prohibit charging customers to influence decisions of public officials except when connected to operations. SoCalGas views its many efforts to oppose electrification and incentivize gas as operational. Decision makes clear these are shareholder activities and cuts costs for policy team.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
FERC rules prohibit charging customers to influence decisions of public officials except when connected to operations. SoCalGas views its many efforts to oppose electrification and incentivize gas as operational. Decision makes clear these are shareholder activities and cuts costs for policy team.
SoCalGas charges almost $1 mil/yr for membership w/American Gas Ass'n - a lobbying org that seeks to maintain fossil fuel dependency. In a first, Commission denies all costs for failing to explain what % of activities benefit customers. In past, Commission would have given them something. Progress!
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
SoCalGas charges almost $1 mil/yr for membership w/American Gas Ass'n - a lobbying org that seeks to maintain fossil fuel dependency. In a first, Commission denies all costs for failing to explain what % of activities benefit customers. In past, Commission would have given them something. Progress!
SoCalGas was told in last rate case to prioritize EVs but filled its passenger fleet with hydrogen cars anyway. Gave them pretext to build hydrogen refueling stations they could profit on. Decision rejects costs of vehicles, their costly maintenance requirements and new proposed refueling stations.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
SoCalGas was told in last rate case to prioritize EVs but filled its passenger fleet with hydrogen cars anyway. Gave them pretext to build hydrogen refueling stations they could profit on. Decision rejects costs of vehicles, their costly maintenance requirements and new proposed refueling stations.
All-electric homes are the clear cost, climate, and public health winner but SoCalGas is still trying to make hydrogen homes happen, spending $15 million on much hyped demo project they even made a flower version of for the Rose Parade. A boondoggle Commission rightly making shareholders pay for.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
All-electric homes are the clear cost, climate, and public health winner but SoCalGas is still trying to make hydrogen homes happen, spending $15 million on much hyped demo project they even made a flower version of for the Rose Parade. A boondoggle Commission rightly making shareholders pay for.
As new construction goes all-electric and existing customers switch to clean electric appliances, SoCalGas is desperate for new business. For them, that's hydrogen. While they can pursue with shareholder $, decision rejects their many requested hydrogen costs as not benefiting captive gas customers.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
As new construction goes all-electric and existing customers switch to clean electric appliances, SoCalGas is desperate for new business. For them, that's hydrogen. While they can pursue with shareholder $, decision rejects their many requested hydrogen costs as not benefiting captive gas customers.
Another category of gas system costs are "pressure betterment" projects that expand existing capacity to accommodate ⬆️ demand. With gas demand declining, Comm'n denied $18 mil/yr in requested costs. An underappreciated cost savings from electrification is ending need for these types of projects.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
Another category of gas system costs are "pressure betterment" projects that expand existing capacity to accommodate ⬆️ demand. With gas demand declining, Comm'n denied $18 mil/yr in requested costs. An underappreciated cost savings from electrification is ending need for these types of projects.
On gas system cost: Comm'n had previously ended policy subsidizing gas lines to new buildings but implementation happens in rate case. SoCalGas was not crediting savings properly, decision makes sure they do. When fully implemented, will cut costs by about $60 million/year.
December 20, 2024 at 12:18 AM
On gas system cost: Comm'n had previously ended policy subsidizing gas lines to new buildings but implementation happens in rate case. SoCalGas was not crediting savings properly, decision makes sure they do. When fully implemented, will cut costs by about $60 million/year.
Outside legal has been a black box, with SoCalGas charging customer to sue @calenergy.bsky.social, defend against CA AG enforcement of green marketing laws when it advertised natural gas as "renewable" etc. Likely first in nation reporting now required on outside counsel for needed transparency.
December 17, 2024 at 11:11 PM
Outside legal has been a black box, with SoCalGas charging customer to sue @calenergy.bsky.social, defend against CA AG enforcement of green marketing laws when it advertised natural gas as "renewable" etc. Likely first in nation reporting now required on outside counsel for needed transparency.