PG&E customers face high energy rates amid ongoing heat wave

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Megan Antijunti is conscionable 1 Fresno nonmigratory that says she's experienced a caller summation successful her PG&E bill.

"It went from 284.70 to 529.82," said Megan Antijunti.

Antijunti tells Action News she's lived successful her westbound cardinal Fresno location since 2009 and she's ne'er seen her electrical measure rates this precocious adjacent connected the discounted CARE program.

"In the past we've had TV, we've had much radical unrecorded here, and utilizing more, little aerial conditioning, $500, that's crazy," said Antijunti.

She says her 2 big children unrecorded with her and they effort to chopped corners wherever they can, but it seems similar it doesn't help.

"Where is this treble coming from, similar I said I person the A/C acceptable astatine 78/79," said Antijunti.

PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith says they cognize the summertime tin beryllium a hard clip for people.

"We recognize that this is simply a truly frustrating play of clip for customers, determination person been changes successful rates, but besides with these truly blistery temperatures present successful the cardinal valley, radical conscionable person a tendancy to request to usage their aerial conditioning much and much electricity," said PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith.

Smith adds portion determination person been increases implicit the years, this period they are offering a impermanent 9% complaint alteration for customers, truthful alleviation whitethorn beryllium connected the way, conscionable not connected the existent statements.

"Because the bills that person arrived truthful acold are mostly usage that occurred successful June, possibly a small spot of July oregon a batch of June oregon fractional and half, but cipher has received a measure conscionable yet that has wholly that 9 percent alteration impacted connected their bill," said Smith.

But Antijunti says she wants the inferior institution to person much attraction for customers.

"Your mistakes, your urgencies are not our emergencies and you request to springiness america a break," said Antijunti.

She knows her children won't enactment to assistance her wage her bills everlastingly and she's acrophobic of what volition hap erstwhile they are gone.

"I americium conscionable frightened that I americium going to beryllium successful that vessel of trying to play drawback up," said Antijunti.

Assemblyman Jim Patterson besides released a connection astir the inferior rates:

"There is simply a increasing bipartisan outrage successful Sacramento that we person had it with PG&E's complaint increases," Patterson said. "In the 12 years I person been the Vice Chair of the Utility and Energy Committee, I person warned against this twelvemonth aft year."

"PG&E volition marque each kinds of excuses arsenic to wherefore its rates person to spell up. And, aft aggregate increases implicit the years, a 9% simplification is hardly the assistance ratepayers request erstwhile they are struggling to wage the PG&E bill, wage their rent, and enactment nutrient connected the table."

"Unless PG&E is consenting to rotation backmost rates to anterior levels, this tiny offering of a simplification is conscionable meaningless symbolism."

PG&E does person outgo programs and assistance available, similar the balanced outgo program and different resources available, you tin find much accusation by clicking here.

For quality updates, travel Brianna Willis connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.