New legislation signed last week will increase future credits, with up to $60 billion allocated to the electric Climate Credit
More than 11.5 million California households will see automatic refunds on their October electric bills through the California Climate Credit, with payments totaling over $700 million for residential customers and $60 million for qualifying small businesses, state officials announced.
The average credit will be $61 per household, though amounts range from $35 to $259, with most receiving between $56 and $81.
The refunds, part of the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program managed by the California Air Resources Board, require no action from customers. Earlier this year, households received a similar credit in April, bringing the average total refund for 2025 to $198 per customer.
New legislation signed last week will increase future credits, with up to $60 billion allocated to the electric Climate Credit through 2045. The state projects these changes will boost refunds starting next year, though specific amounts were not detailed.
The Cap-and-Invest Program also funds climate initiatives, including $33 billion for projects like affordable housing near job centers, high-speed rail, and zero-emission transportation in underserved communities. These efforts have created over 120,000 jobs and reduced millions of tons of carbon emissions, according to state data.
California’s greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 20% since 2000, while the state’s GDP grew 78%, making it the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the Governor’s office. In 2023, two-thirds of the state’s electricity came from clean energy sources, and the grid has run on 100% clean energy for parts of nearly every day this year.
