Becerra Pitches Power Hour: Free Electricity For the Peasants

Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra on Wednesday unveiled his latest campaign gimmick: “Power Hour,” promising up to two hours of “free” electricity each day for millions of California households. 

In a video posted to social media, Becerra declared, “Listen up: free electricity… Working families could save approximately $1,000 a year on their electricity bills. I’m looking forward to getting this done for California families when I’m in office.” 

Listen up: free electricity.

It’s called Power Hour – providing up to two hours of free electricity for millions of California households.

Working families could save approximately $1,000 a year on their electricity bills.

I’m looking forward to getting this done for… pic.twitter.com/8lFAl4HjHO

— Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) August 12, 2026

The proposal, rolled out at Politico’s Sacramento Summit, would supposedly shift usage to midday hours when solar generation peaks, with eligibility tied to income and household size. Becerra offered no concrete funding mechanism, saying only that he would work with regulators, utilities, and stakeholders. 

Critics immediately noted the obvious: nothing is free. Costs would inevitably be shifted to other ratepayers, taxpayers, or future bills. Reality television personality and outspoken California critic Spencer Pratt wasted little time responding. 

Quoting Becerra’s post, Pratt wrote: “Is anyone else sick of being treated like toddlers by these buffoons? ‘Listen up: FREE STUFF! You like free stuff peasant??? I’ll gibs you free stuff!’ This isn’t Jr High class president. You actually need to govern, like an adult. They treat us like we’re as dumb as they are.” 

Pratt’s post quickly gained thousands of likes and hundreds of reposts, capturing widespread frustration with Democratic politicians who promise handouts while ignoring the policies that created the crisis. 

Is anyone else sick of being treated like toddlers by these buffoons? "Listen up: FREE STUFF! You like free stuff peasant??? I'll gibs you free stuff!"

This isn't Jr High class president. You actually need to govern, like an adult. They treat us like we're as dumb as they are. https://t.co/Lh9SvOdtjA

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) August 13, 2026

California Globe has extensively documented the sky-high electricity costs that make such giveaways politically tempting. Residential rates in the Golden State hover around 32–36 cents per kilowatt-hour—nearly double the national average and the second highest rates in the country. Californians are now paying 93% more for electricity than people in the rest of the U.S.

Bills have surged roughly 39–50% in recent years, far outpacing inflation, driven by wildfire mitigation expenses loaded onto ratepayers, massive cost shifts from heavily subsidized rooftop solar programs, and the cumulative burden of Democratic climate mandates. 

Just got my recent SCE electric bill

$873.09/month for a 1,500 square foot home in @GavinNewsom’s California pic.twitter.com/GGSvVtF0sN

— 🇺🇸SuperBasedInCali🇺🇸 (@SuperBasedInCa) August 9, 2026

Past California Globe reporting has repeatedly shown how one-party Democratic rule created this mess. Aggressive renewable portfolio standards, net-energy metering subsidies that transfer billions from non-solar customers to solar owners, cap-and-invest (cap-and-trade) programs, and the push for rapid electrification without adequate reliable baseload power have all contributed to soaring electric bills. 

Under Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, and with the full support of a Democratic supermajority Legislature, policymakers prioritized green ideology over affordability and reliability. The result: Californians pay premium prices for intermittent power while utilities pass along the costs of hardening the grid against the very wildfires exacerbated by forest mismanagement and policy failures.

Becerra, a longtime Democratic insider who served as Attorney General and later as HHS Secretary, was part of the political apparatus that oversaw these policies. His “Power Hour” does nothing to reverse the underlying drivers—renewable mandates that increase system costs, restrictions on natural gas and nuclear, and a regulatory environment that rewards utility spending with guaranteed returns. 

As one energy analyst observed in related coverage, midday free power might soak up excess solar but risks higher rates elsewhere if utilities recoup lost revenue. Republican candidate Steve Hilton has already dismissed the idea as “stupid,” arguing it distracts from the need to actually lower rates through more natural gas generation and breaking up utility monopolies. In response on social media , Hilton referred to Becerra as an “idiot” and the power hour as a gimmick. 

Listen up Becerra: you're an idiot if you think people will fall for this insulting gimmick.

'Free' electricity but only 1pm-3pm. Rest of day: highest bills in the country because of Becerra's climate posturing.

Enough! I will cut your bills in half by using our natural gas… https://t.co/W87qFMRdxa

— Steve Hilton (@SteveHiltonx) August 13, 2026

Meanwhile, ordinary Californians continue struggling with bills that have become a significant household burden, with nearly one in five customers in arrears. 

Becerra’s pitch fits a familiar pattern: Democrats create scarcity and high prices through heavy-handed regulation and green mandates, then campaign on temporary discounts or freebies as the solution. California Globe has chronicled this cycle for years. Until policymakers confront the real causes—decades of Democratic energy policy that sacrificed reliability and affordability on the altar of climate theater—Californians will keep paying the price, free Power Hour or not.