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.

Redding homeowners, your electric bills could rise significantly if the proposed Redding Electric Utility (REU) rate hikes are approved—and the Redding City Council is set to hold the decisive public hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall (777 Cypress Avenue). This is your critical opportunity to have your voice heard before a vote that could lock in four years of annual 4.5% increases starting April 1, 2026.

At the February 17, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, two significant items dominated discussion around new or increased financial commitments: city support for the upcoming Ironman 70.3 triathlon and proposed multi-year rate increases for Redding Electric Utility (REU). In both cases, Councilmember Tenessa Audette emerged as the strongest advocate for fiscal restraint, repeatedly emphasizing that the council has a duty to protect taxpayers’ money during a time of structura