A state senator introduced a bill Wednesday to strengthen laws that prevent energy utilities in California from passing on the costs of political lobbying to their customers. The proposed legislation comes in response to a Sacramento Bee investigation in August that found the nation’s largest gas provider, Southern California Gas Company, booked at least $36 million to ratepayers since 2019 to oppose clean energy policies. “When I read this, I was like, ‘Holy crap, they’re using ratepayer money,’” said Senator Dave Min, an Orange County Democrat who authored the bill. “I’m a SoCal Gas customer…
