PG&E Average Monthly Bills are Set to Top $300 for the First Time

Source: Silicon Valley  |  By George Avalos

PG&E’s request to raise rates this spring — in part due to wildfire prevention work — are poised to propel utility bills past a grim milestone: Charges are slated to average more than $300 a month for the first time. This month, bills for the typical residential customer climbed to $294.50. That’s already the highest average monthly bill ever for PG&E customers.

The state PUC should act to rein in soaring PG&E bills, in the view of Mark Toney, executive director of the consumer group, The Utility Reform Network (TURN). “The current system that sets no limits on rate increases needs to be replaced by a cap on annual bills, set at the cost-of-living adjustment provided by Social Security,” according to a web post by TURN.