PG&E Raises Rates For Some Low-Income California Customers
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The California Public Utilities Commission has approved a proposal to lower rates for high volume Pacific Gas and Electric customers, and raise rates for some low-income users.
PG&E argued that high volume customers are being severely penalized by the current tier rate system and asked for an adjustment to give them a price break. Now, big users will still pay more, but not as much as they were before.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
The change will also mean higher rates for low-income customers who use a lot of energy. PG&E's Tom Bottorff applauded the decision.
"It's intended to really bring our prices more in line with the cost of service, while still maintaining a strong signal to promote conservation," said Bottorff.
At the same time, the state PUC sidelined a proposal that would have added a basic monthly surcharge to everyone's PG&E bill. Mark Toney, the executive director of the consumer group turn, was thrilled about that.
"Today was a great victory because we defeated the customer service charge of $3.00 per month," said Toney.
Consumer groups argued that a new flat fee for providing basic service would have disproportionately impacted the poor. PG&E now views that proposal as dead, at least for the foreseeable future.
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