California Regulators Approve 4th Rate Increase for PG&E This Year

The utility said it needs to recover expenses incurred because of wildfire and storm damage. Ratepayers objected, with one calling electricity bills ‘insane.’

The PG&E building in San Francisco on Oct. 10, 2019. Jeff Chiu/File via AP

The California Public Utility Commission approved Sept. 12 the fourth rate increase this year for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers—with bills expected to rise by about $6 per month starting Oct. 1.

While PG&E requested an increase of $2.1 billion, regulators ultimately approved a $903 million spike. The higher prices will be distributed over a 17-month period to recoup costs, according to the utility commission.