Understanding the City of Riverside General Fund Transfer Settlement

If you are a current or former customer of Riverside Public Utilities' electric service within the City of Riverside, you may be eligible for a refund due to a class action settlement concerning the City's General Fund Transfer (GFT). This settlement aims to address claims that the City improperly transferred funds from the Electric Fund to the General Fund without voter approval, a potential violation of Proposition 26. The settlement fund totals $24,000,000, from which eligible customers can receive a refund, minus any legal fees and incentive payments.

Who Benefits?: Current and former Riverside Public Utilities electric customers between January 1, 2019, and November 4, 2021.

How much can I get?: A refund from the $24,000,000 settlement fund, proportionate to your electric utility bills during the specified period, after deductions for legal fees and incentive payments.

Important Dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: July 24, 2024.

Identifying Eligible Class Members

Current and former customers of Riverside Public Utilities who had electric service between January 1, 2019, and November 4, 2021, are eligible for a refund from the settlement. The amount each customer receives will be proportional to their individual contributions to the total amount refunded.

• Current Customers: Automatic on-bill credits starting February 2023.
• Former Customers: Must submit a claim to receive a refund.

There are no exclusions mentioned for class members, except for those who received aid or arrearage program funding for electric service charges during the specified period.

Claiming Your Settlement Award

Eligible customers can claim a refund from the settlement fund. The exact amount will be determined by the proportion of their contribution to the total amount being refunded.

• Current Customers: On-bill credits automatically applied.
• Former Customers: Must file a claim to receive a refund.

The GFT and Electric Service Charges

The settlement revolves around the alleged improper General Fund Transfer from the City's Electric Fund to the City's General Fund, which plaintiffs claimed violated Proposition 26.

• General Fund Transfer (GFT)
• City of Riverside Public Utilities electric service charges

Is Proof Required to Claim the Reward?

Former Customers must file a claim and provide necessary information to receive their refund. Current Customers do not need to provide proof as their on-bill credits will be automatically applied.

How to Claim Your Award

To claim your award, Former Customers should submit a claim electronically. The claim must be submitted by July 24, 2024. Current Customers do not need to take any action.

For those who prefer to submit a paper claim, you can request a form by calling 1-877-654-1984 and mail the completed form to the Settlement Administrator.

Analyzing the Settlement Fund

The $24,000,000 settlement amount will be distributed to eligible Customers after deducting legal fees and incentive payments to the named plaintiffs. The refund amount for each Customer will be calculated based on their electric utility bills during the specified period.

The settlement amount was agreed upon by the parties to resolve the dispute and avoid further litigation costs.

The Reason Behind the Settlement

The settlement resolves a lawsuit where the plaintiffs alleged that the City of Riverside conducted an improper General Fund Transfer. The City denies these allegations but agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainty of litigation.

Following the approval of the settlement by voters, the lawsuit will be dismissed, and the terms of the Settlement will be carried out.