California's HIDDEN Energy Tax Costing You $100/Month | Mitch Mitchell

Guest:

Mitch Mitchell, Chief Legislative Officer - SDG&E & Southern California Gas

Guest Bio: 

Mitch Mitchell leads Legislative Affairs at Sempra, one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. With deep experience navigating California’s complex energy landscape, Mitch brings a rare insider’s perspective on how regulations, well-intended mandates, and outdated policies have distorted costs — hitting working families the hardest. He advocates for practical, consumer-first reforms that bring transparency, fairness, and affordability back to California energy bills.

Show Summary

Why are Californians paying some of the highest energy bills in the country — and what’s really driving the cost? Mitch Mitchell breaks down how overlapping policies, political posturing, and decades-old energy laws have made the system both inefficient and unaffordable.

From the unintended consequences of rooftop solar subsidies to the myth of energy company profits, Mitch lays out how reforming California’s energy playbook could save families money and restore common sense. Whether you rent, own, or just care about your monthly bills — this episode is packed with eye-opening truths and bold ideas for fixing a broken system.

Chapters

00:00 – How Non-Solar Households Are Paying for Solar Grid Access

00:30 – Meet Mitch Mitchell: Head of Legislative Affairs at Sempra

01:12 – The Cost Layering Crisis in California’s Energy Policies

02:17 – Why New Legislators Don’t Understand the Energy System

04:09 – Which Outdated Energy Policies Need to Go

05:28 – The Case Against Over-Electrification

07:00 – Rooftop Solar and the Cost Shift Crisis

09:00 – How Low-Income Renters Subsidize Solar Owners

10:30 – Ruthless Prioritization: Clean Out the Energy Closet

12:15 – Why Sunset Reviews Are the Key to Policy Reform

13:30 – $35 Monthly Savings Proposal Ignored by Lawmakers

15:05 – Gas Stoves and Government Overreach

16:06 – Why Consumer Choice Matters in Energy

18:07 – Rapid Fire: Top Fix for Energy Affordability

18:57 – Misconceptions About Utility Profits

20:30 – Energy Transparency: Know the Cost Before You Vote

21:55 – Final Thoughts

Connect with Mitch Mitchell

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-%E2%80%9Cmitch%E2%80%9D-mitchell-32a81614/
• X:https://x.com/socalgas
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socalgas
• Website: https://www.youtube.com/socalgas

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast

Connect with State of Gold

• X: https://x.com/realjonslavet
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en
• Website: www.stateofgold.com