PG&E Rate Hike Jolts Through State Utilities Commission

Source: The Sun-Gazette  |  By Darren Fraser

At its last meeting in San Francisco, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved PG&E’s latest request for a rate hike, which becomes effective in April and would add nearly $4 to the average customer’s gas bill and just over $1 to the average electric bill. But for one critic, how the CPUC handled the vote was nearly as odious as the outcome.

“They put it (the item) on the consent agenda,” said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN). “Which means it was buried with 40 other items. There was no explanation, no discussion because there was one vote on all 40 items. That was something I thought was insulting. Customers deserve an explanation on why they decided to vote that way.” Toney, who is a fixture at CPUC meetings, said the move surprised even him. “I can’t remember the last time they did that,” he said. He also had trouble remembering the last time the CPUC rejected a proposed rate increase.  “I can’t get you an absolute but I can’t remember the last time the commission told PG&E no,” he said.