CPUC unanimously approves new PG&E rate hike to cover wildfire mitigation projects

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- On Thursday, the CPUC voted again to let PG&E to rise rates successful a 4-0 vote, expected to instrumentality effect successful April.

This comes aft a rate increase conscionable went into effect connected Jan. 1.

"It's transgression profiteering, that's what it is, it's transgression profiteering astatine the disbursal of the people," said Richard Becker, a subordinate of the Coalition to Stop the PG&E Rate Hikes.

PG&E says it volition magnitude to astir $3.65 for the mean electrical customer.

MORE: After complaint hikes this year, PG&E announces astir 25% summation successful profits to $2.2B for 2023

CPUC commissioners had nary nationalist treatment earlier the vote.

"I deliberation that is disrespectful to customers, and that the commissioners beryllium it to the customers to explicate their ballot for yet different increase," Mark Toney, enforcement manager of TURN said.

Toney, enforcement manager of TURN, The Utility Reform Network, points retired that this summation is connected apical of the hike that already went into effect connected Jan. 1, which averaged astir $38 a period per customer.

This is contempt the inferior reporting past year's profits surged to much than $2.2 billion, a leap of astir 25%.

RELATED: PG&E claims determination is nary transportation betwixt complaint increases, $2.2 cardinal leap successful earnings

"It doesn't marque immoderate consciousness for PG&E to support crying mediocre erstwhile the information is, they are much profitable than they've ever been successful their history, it is not right," helium said.

"The Wildfire Gas and Safety Cost Interim Rate Relief determination authorizes a impermanent complaint alteration to commencement recouping a information of the wealth that was spent for wildfire mitigation and delivering cardinal safety, compliance and modernization investments for our vigor system," said Tamar Sarkissian, a PG&E spokesperson.

They're looking to retrieve a maximum of $516 million, which has already been spent connected upgrades similar undergrounding powerfulness lines.

The Coalition to Stop the PG&E Rate Hikes is present calling for a rollback.

"Passing complaint increases similar this volition mean much evictions, it volition mean much suffering for radical and yet we person this unelected utilities committee that's expected to beryllium protecting our interests against these monopoly corporations and they've wholly failed," Becker said.

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