California governor candidate Xavier Becerra shared a video on X about his “Power Hour” idea. He says it would give millions of households up to two free hours of electricity a day and could save working families around $1,000 a year. Becerra claims it uses extra solar power that often goes unused. The post has gotten a lot of attention online, with many people asking if the power is really free or if bills will just go up the rest of the time.
In the clip, recorded at a POLITICO California Agenda event, Becerra stands at a podium and outlines the idea he calls “Power Hour.” He says he believes it can be implemented within his first year and describes offering “two hours of free electricity” to Californians, potentially starting with lower-income households who find electricity bills difficult to afford.
He explains the funding approach by noting that “today we produce so much solar energy that oftentimes in the afternoon we can’t make use of all of it and so essentially goes to waste or we ship it off to some other state.”
Becerra adds that the situation has reversed from past decades and that the solution is to “rebalance,” telling residents, “The best time for you to use electricity today is one to three, and if you do that, I won’t charge you.” He further states, “Charge your devices, wash your clothes, wash your dishes, use your electricity during those two hours; I won’t charge you a dime.”
According to the accompanying post text, the plan would provide up to two hours of free electricity for millions of California households, with working families potentially saving approximately $1,000 a year. Becerra says he looks forward to implementing it when in office.
Additional reporting indicates the free period would target midday solar surplus hours and that eligibility could be limited by income, though full implementation details and any effects on rates at other times are not specified in the footage or post.
Commenters Weigh In on California’s Free Power Plan
Many users rejected the idea that the electricity would be free. Commenters repeatedly wrote, “Nothing is free.”
Others said the costs would just move, with one writing, “You’re paying for it with taxes, and the utility will just bump your rate for the other 22 hours to make up the costs.”
A second group focused on the free-stuff framing. One widely shared reply called it “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard” and told people to “stop falling for the ‘free stuff’ *expletive*.” Some described the plan as pandering.
Others zeroed in on California’s high rates and practical questions. Users asked “Who pays for this free electricity?” and pointed out the state’s electricity prices are already among the highest in the country.
Becerra’s plan is now part of the bigger talk about energy costs in California’s governor race. People online are still asking who pays for it and if rates will just go up for the rest of the day.
