‘Kilowatts are killing us’ PG&E’s proposed rate hike upset officials

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – Today, Central Valley officials clashed with PG&E over a proposed rate hike.

“Enough is enough,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said while speaking to the California Public Utilities Commission by phone Thursday. “I, along with members of the city council and 500,000 residents who call Fresno Home, implore the Public Utilities Commission not to allow these continued increases.”

The hearing, which was held online, allowed residents and officials to make public comments on the proposed 22% rate increase for the years 2023-2026.

“We’re #2 in poverty in the state of California and these PG&E absorbing rates can’t be sustained,” Dyer said.

According to data provided by the City of Fresno, PG&E increased 85% from 2009 to 2019 and another 22% in 2022.

“The kilowatts are killing us and people are suffering,” Madera Mayor Pro Tem Anita Evans said.

Madera officials said that in addition to the financial burden, the lack of electrical capacity in Madera is keeping residents away.

“Lack of energy alone blocks large-scale industrial projects, lack of jobs has the potential to cripple our local economy. We believe PG&E wants our support, it needs to meet our needs,” said the mayor of Madera, Santos Garcia.

A PG&E spokesperson declined to go on camera, saying the 2022 rate increase was due to natural gas prices, which this winter were 90% higher than the year before.

The company also argued that the rate increase was intended to reduce wildfire risk and maintain the company’s gas transmission and pipeline networks.

In a statement, PG&E said: “The most important responsibility is to provide safe, reliable and clean energy to our customers while striving to keep customer costs as low as possible”

PG&E also provided the links below:

This is the very beginning of the hearing process, there will be another public hearing for the Central Valley at 6:00 p.m. If you want to comment, you can do so here.