On February 1, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision to authorize early collection of $516 million from PG&E customers for wildfire safety, and other infrastructure upgrades, conducted in 2022, prior to the Commission issuing a ruling approving, rejecting or modifying the $688 million request from PG&E.
This increase is on top of the $35 monthly average increase that went into effect on January 1, 2024, and does not take into account PG&E’s December 1 request to raise monthly bills by another $14 a month, which is still pending at the CPUC, as are several other rate hike requests.
The CPUC plans to vote to adopt the proposal at its March 7, 2024 meeting. The public may comment in person in San Francisco, or provide comments by phone in:
English: 800–857–1917, passcode: 9899501#
Spanish: 800–857–1917, passcode: 3799627#
CPUC Prioritizes Protecting Wall Street Profits, Over Customer Pocketbooks
CPUC cites the need to preserve PG&E credit ratings as the main reason for agreeing to early collection from ratepayers. TURN argues that it is ratepayers, who need relief from record-breaking bills, that are driving an increasing number of families with young children, and elderly residents, into homelessness, when their utility service is shut off.
Skyrocketing bills also undermine California climate action goals, because people find it difficult to convert to electric stoves, heat pumps, and water heaters when they are told their monthly bills will be higher than keeping their gas appliances.
California Customers Need a Rate Cap—Unlimited Increases are Not Sustainable
The current system that sets no limits on rate increases, needs to be replaced by a cap on annual bills, set at the Cost of Living Adjustment provided by Social Security. The greed of utility executives and Wall Street investors may have no limits, but customers who are falling behind in their bills need a limit to bill increases.
Read more here.
Contact: Mark Toney • TURN Executive Director • mtoney@turn.org • (510) 590-2862
Right now, there is a choice facing Governor Newsom that will affect California phone and internet service for decades to come, and telecom experts and consumer advocates have significant concerns.
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