California households to get $75 utility bill discounts in August and September

California households are receiving automatic $75 discounts on their August and September utility bills, providing relief to eligible customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, with total savings estimated at $886 million. The relief is funded by Sacramento's Cap-and-Invest Program, managed by the California Air Resources Board, which charges large polluting companies for emissions allowances and returns some proceeds to ratepayers. Governor Newsom stated the program makes polluters pay while helping households during peak summer costs, and no application is required. The discounts come as new research shows Californians pay the highest electricity prices in the U.S., averaging 27.63 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025, 103% above the national average. Prices have risen 11.05 cents per kWh since 2018, the largest increase of any state.