Interim City Manager Michael Webb named Joe Bowers as Interim Redding City Finance Director. Bowers is the utility official who sold rate hikes and explained a $9 million jump in personnel costs. The appointment came four days before Circle 6’s full efficiency report reaches the council dais. REDDING, Calif. — Four days before a $300,000 consultant study is scheduled to tell the City Council where Redding can cut costs, Interim City Manager Michael Webb handed the city’s chec

In a stunning reversal that validates months of public outrage and investigative reporting, Redding’s new City Manager, William Tarbox, has officially paused the Redding Electric Utility’s (REU) proposed 18% cumulative rate increase and canceled the March 17 public hearing.

The City of Redding’s new City Manager, William Tarbox is only three weeks into his role and has already taken the bold step of calling for an all-department review of City government, putting a pause on the REU (Redding Electric Utility) rate hike request that was set for a hearing on March 17th. A press conference was announced on March 12th and conducted at Redding City Hall Chambers this morning, March 13th. The March 17th hearing for the rate hike has been canceled.

At the Redding City Council’s regular meeting, Redding Electric Utility (REU) Director Nicholas Zettel presented on the proposed multi-year rate increases. He noted that the two public workshops held on February 26 had low attendance. Zettel recommended postponing the vote until the next council meeting on March 17 to allow for additional workshops at varied times and locations. Councilmember Tenessa Audette was the only member actively pushing back on the rate hikes.

In a brazen display of fiscal maneuvering, the City of Redding is poised to ram through an 18% cumulative electric rate increase over the next 3.5 years via the Redding Electric Utility (REU)—just months after voters decisively rejected a proposed 1% sales tax hike in the November 2025 election. Measure A, which aimed to boost the city's sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25% and generate an estimated $30 million annually, was shot down by a resounding 63-64% of voters.