Dive Brief:

• Revenue from auctions of California’s greenhouse gas emission allowances will start this month to find its way directly to ratepayers of the state’s three big investor-owned utilities -- or at least to their electricity bills, where between $30-$40 will appear as a credit. 
• Credits will appear on homeowners’ bills twice a year, in April and October. Small businesses will receive it monthly. The amounts will vary by year.
• The credit amounts are different for each utility, but all households in each utility’s territory get the same amount. 

Dive Insight:

Since allowance auctions started in late 2012, they have raised almost $1.7 billion, most of which is assigned to the customer credits. The complex allowance cap-and-trade program is California's way of cutting greenhouse gases in a state that already has expensive electricity. The credits, clearly labeled on customer bills, are meant to help soften the cost impact, and not incidentally try to win the favor of any skeptical residents. Officials and environmentalists urge customers to use the money saved by credits to buy energy efficient products and the like -- so they can lower their bills every month, not just in April and October. That could happen.