The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC ) has released a report projecting increases of nearly 4% for customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Edison. Since 2013 rates for the utilities’ customers have increased by 37% and 6%, respectively.
The report cites the costs of wildfire mitigation efforts as the central reason for the increases. The commission cautions the electric services must remain affordable as the state transitions to an all-electric future.
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“Our electricity rates are already too high and clearly noncompetitive with other areas of the country,” said Roger Isom, CEO of the Western Agricultural Processors Association. “We have advised all of our members to get off the grid if at all possible.”
CPUC will discuss the rates in a public hearing on Thursday.
