PG&E Rates Radio Interview

Source: KNCO Radio  |  By Chris Gilbert

“PG&E has filed for more rate hikes and their CEO claims rates will stable and may even go down in 2027.  Is this right?  With us is Lee Trotman, The Utility Reform Network’s Communications Director and he may be able to shed some light on what’s going on.  How are you today?” “Doing well, thanks.  You are referring to PG&E’s CEO Patti Poppe’s statements, right?  Some of the rate increases will expire this year and next, so technically rates could go down.  But the problem is that what PG&E just filed is called the General Rate Case for 2027 to 2030, and it’s basically scheduled rate increases.  What you don’t see are the rate increases they filed that aren’t part of the GRC, and that’s 50% of the overall picture. PG&E should tell the entire story, so the proof will be if customers bills decrease.  That’s the proof and I don’t have high hopes for that.  So what customers can do is to go to TURN.org and sign up for our action alerts, because we have solutions to the nonstop rate hikes such as SB 254, a bill that Senator Josh Becker has introduced.  This bill will shift wildfire mitigation efforts away from ratepayers and also create a low cost public financing option that will reduce shareholder profits.  This provides short and long-term rate relief.”