SDG&E Customers Demand Rejection of 8.6% Rate Hike at CPUC Hearings
Residents in Santee argue that an additional $22 monthly cost for electricity and gas is unaffordable amid rising living expenses.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
San Diego Gas & Electric is seeking an 8.6% increase in rates, a move that would add approximately $22 to the average customer's monthly bill. The utility company projects this increase would amount to $14 for electricity and $8 for natural gas. The California Public Utilities Commission is currently holding two public hearings to review the proposal.
Dozens of residents gathered in Santee to voice opposition to the rate hike. Many attendees told state regulators to reject the plan, citing their existing difficulty in paying monthly utility bills. The community pushback was strong, with speakers emphasizing that the additional cost places a heavy burden on households.
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera addressed the crowd, asking if residents were tired of rate increases and being ignored when they requested lower costs. He affirmed that the answer was yes. His comments reflected the general sentiment that SDG&E has a history of raising rates without sufficiently addressing customer concerns about affordability.
Jose Franco Garcia, executive director of the Environmental Health Coalition, urged the CPUC to step up and reject the proposed hikes. He argued that SDG&E investors do not require additional profits. Garcia noted that families are already stretched thin by rising rent and grocery costs. He stated that putting another bill on families, through no fault of their own, is difficult for them to bear.
SDG&E stated that the requested funds are necessary for wildfire mitigation, grid and gas system upgrades, and technology improvements. However, opponents at the hearing argued that the utility already generates sufficient profit. One speaker noted that SDG&E profits from what it builds, meaning the more it spends, the more it makes, which drives its constant requests for higher rates.
In a statement, SDG&E said it takes customer concerns about affordability seriously. The company said it is focused on controlling costs, operating efficiently, and finding ways to keep bills manageable while providing safe and reliable energy. The utility described its rate request as a proposal that will undergo thorough public review.
The CPUC stated that no final decision will be made during these hearings. The commission will review all evidence, testimony, and public comments before commissioners vote on a final decision regarding the rate hike.
