TURN - The Utility Reform Network

What TURN - The Utility Reform Network does

TURN – The Utility Reform Network is a California-based nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Oakland, California. Its primary mission is to represent residential and business ratepayers in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California State Legislature, advocating for affordable utility rates, accountability from investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SoCalGas), preservation of landline and telecommunications services, and consumer protections including the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP). TURN operates four principal advocacy programs: the Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP), which delivers multi-bill state legislative packages (most recently the 2026 Affordability & Accountability package); the Landline Defense Team, which opposes AT&T's withdrawal as Carrier of Last Resort; Ratepayers United, a grassroots organizing program training constituents for legislative visits and CPUC public comment; and Charging Faith, an EV-equity initiative in partnership with the Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

TURN's revenue model is that of a traditional 501(c)(3)-style nonprofit advocacy organization: services to ratepayers are free, and operating funds come from foundation grants (at least 11+ institutional funders including California Community Foundation, The California Endowment, Energy Foundation, Sierra Health Foundation, Rose Foundation, and San Francisco Foundation), individual donations through its GiveLively donation portal, and membership contributions. Distribution is delivered through formal CPUC interventions, state legislative advocacy, community organizing across California (including rural and San Joaquin Valley regions), and direct consumer support such as complaint-filing assistance. Its core "products" are advocacy campaigns, policy research reports and fact sheets, the annual LAO Report and Legislative Scorecard, and grassroots training curricula rather than software or commercial goods.

The organization has achieved several quantified regulatory wins in 2025: a CPUC decision reducing authorized return on equity for major IOUs that saved California ratepayers more than $350 million in 2025, and a proposed CPUC decision requiring AT&T to remain Carrier of Last Resort. TURN has also appealed the CPUC's approval of an $11 billion PG&E securitization bond scheme in the State Court of Appeals. The organization observes a hybrid customer segmentation approach spanning residential ratepayers (primary), deaf and disabled communities, rural and underserved geographies, and environmental justice communities — all anchored to California as its sole operating geography.

Name

TURN - The Utility Reform Network

Legal name

TURN – The Utility Reform Network

Website

https://turn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TURN – The Utility Reform Network is a California nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that represents residential and business ratepayers in CPUC proceedings and state legislative advocacy, focusing on affordable utility rates, accountability from investor-owned utilities, landline preservation, and clean energy equity across California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TURN is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that represents California residential and business utility ratepayers before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the state legislature. Its core offerings are advocacy campaigns and programs — including the Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP), Landline Defense Team, Ratepayers United grassroots organizing, and the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) advocacy — plus direct consumer support services such as CPUC complaint filing assistance and published research/fact sheets on utility rates, wildfire mitigation costs, and energy policy.

Product overview

TURN – The Utility Reform Network is a California-based consumer advocacy organization (not a technology product company) whose 'products' are advocacy campaigns, grassroots organizing programs, consumer support services, and published research. The core offerings include the Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP) legislative advocacy package, the Landline Defense Team protecting traditional phone service, the Ratepayers United grassroots organizing program, the Charging Faith EV equity initiative, and Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program advocacy. TURN also provides direct consumer support through CPUC complaint filing assistance and publishes research through its Reports, Manuals & Fact Sheets library. These programs collectively serve California ratepayers by advocating for affordable utility rates, accountability, and reliable communications services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ratepayers United: A grassroots advocacy program within TURN focused on organizing and empowering utility ratepayers to advocate for affordability and accountability.
• Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP)
• Landline Defense Team
• Charging Faith

Products and services

• Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP) A coalition legislative advocacy package designed to lower utility rates, improve transparency and accountability, and prioritize residential and business ratepayers over corporate shareholders. The 2026 bill package is TURN's most ambitious affordability legislative effort, addressing utility rates, transparency, and accountability.
• Landline Defense Team A dedicated campaign to protect landline telephone service, opposing AT&T's efforts to withdraw as Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) and eliminate mandatory landline obligations in California, particularly affecting rural areas with poor cell coverage.
• Ratepayers United A grassroots organizing program that empowers California residents to advocate for utility affordability and accountability, conducting events, storytelling trainings, legislative visits, and public comments at CPUC hearings.
• Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) Advocacy TURN advocacy efforts to protect and improve the California DDTP program, which distributes specialized communications equipment to persons with disabilities, provides the California Relay Service, and supplies speech generating device assistance, subsidized by the State of California.
• Charging Faith An initiative and report exploring electric vehicle adoption in Black communities across California, engaging faith communities to advance EV adoption and environmental equity.
• Consumer Complaint Filing Assistance Guidance and resources to help California consumers file complaints with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), addressing issues with utility services, billing, and provider conduct.
• Reports, Manuals & Fact Sheets Published research, reports, fact sheets, and educational materials covering utility rates, wildfire mitigation costs, data center electricity demands, and legislative scorecards on affordability and accountability.
• 2026 Charter/Cox Public Participation Hearings Campaign A campaign encouraging California residents who receive cable, phone, or internet service from Charter (Spectrum) or Cox to participate in CPUC public hearings regarding Charter's proposed acquisition of Cox California, focusing on affordability and service quality concerns.

Quantifiable outcome

• CPUC decision reduced utility shareholder profits, saving ratepayers more than $350 million in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EarthjusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsoring legislation (SB 938) with TURN to stop utilities from charging customers for political lobbying activities. Joint advocacy on Utility Accountability Act.
• Campaign for Affordable Power (CAP) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig-tent coalition bringing together multiple advocacy groups to urge Governor Newsom and lawmakers to support affordability package for California utility ratepayers
• Ratepayers UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organizing program within TURN that trains and mobilizes California ratepayers to advocate for utility accountability
• Center at Sierra Health FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Charging Faith initiative addressing EV adoption and environmental equity in Black communities

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greenlining Institute: Greenlining Institute is a California-based racial and economic justice advocacy organization that works on energy equity, broadband access, and utility affordability in disadvantaged communities — directly overlapping TURN's environmental justice and Charging Faith initiatives.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): NRDC is a national environmental advocacy organization with significant California utility and clean energy policy work. It participates in CPUC proceedings and California legislative advocacy on related issues, including ratepayer affordability, energy efficiency, and clean energy transition, making it a direct peer in policy posture.
• Public Citizen: Public Citizen is a national consumer advocacy nonprofit that litigates and lobbies on utility, telecommunications, and corporate accountability issues. It shares TURN's ratepayer-protection orientation and intervenes in regulatory proceedings on consumer-facing services.
• Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports is a consumer protection and product-testing nonprofit that engages on utility affordability, broadband, and telecommunications policy. It produces research and advocacy on consumer-facing services overlapping TURN's CPUC complaint assistance and ratepayer advocacy work.
• National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA): NASUCA is the national association of state utility consumer advocates, of which TURN staff are members and presenters. It is a peer in mission and regulatory practice, even though its members are typically state-government offices rather than nonprofits.
• Sierra Club: Sierra Club is one of the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organizations, with active California chapters that engage on utility decarbonization, rate affordability, and consumer protection in CPUC and legislative venues — overlapping closely with TURN's mission and tactics.
• Earthjustice: Earthjustice is a nonprofit environmental law organization that co-advocates with TURN on California utility issues (e.g., SB 938, Utility Accountability Act). Both organizations intervene at the CPUC and California legislature on utility ratepayer and environmental matters, with overlapping legal and policy teams.
• Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN): UCAN is a San Diego-based nonprofit utility and telecommunications consumer advocacy organization that represents ratepayers in CPUC proceedings. It shares TURN's direct consumer-facing advocacy model and overlapping subject matter (phone, broadband, utility rates).

Others

• Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E): PG&E is the largest California investor-owned utility and the principal counterparty in TURN's CPUC rate cases, securitization appeal, and wildfire cost litigation. While not a peer in mission, PG&E defines the demand and stakes for TURN's advocacy work and is included for context on the regulated subject matter.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): EDF is a large national environmental advocacy and science organization with California utility and clean energy policy teams. It participates in CPUC proceedings on rate design, decarbonization, and affordability, overlapping TURN's regulatory interventions with broader scope and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/utilityreform
• Facebookfacebook.com/44747864902
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turn---the-utility-reform-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TURN - The Utility Reform Network