EL DORADO COUNTY — (Sept 21, 2024) In a year already burdened by rising utility costs, California’s Public Utilities Commission has approved Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) fourth rate increase of 2024. This latest hike, sanctioned on Thursday, will tack on an average of $6 per month to customers’ bills, continuing the financial strain many are struggling to handle.
“More and more people are falling behind on their bills. More people than ever are now behind,” said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN), an organization advocating for consumer rights. Toney emphasized that this is just the latest hit in a series of increases.
Back in January, the first hike added approximately $35 to monthly bills. Then in March, another increase of $4-5 followed. A temporary 9% decrease in July provided brief relief, but that was quickly offset by this latest $6 rise. Customers, who pay both electricity and natural gas on the same bill, are now facing an overall increase of $40-50 per month since the beginning of the year. Toney warned that for some, these mounting expenses could be the tipping point.
Small business owners, already feeling the heat, are bracing for the worst. Jim and Kim McCarthy, owners of the 50 Grand Restaurant and Bar in Pollock Pines, say they’ve seen their energy bills skyrocket despite making costly energy-efficient improvements.
“When we took over in 2018, our PG&E bill was about $1,800 a month. Now, even with upgrades, it’s over $4,000,” Kim McCarthy said. “We’ve done everything right, but it feels like we’re going backwards.”
Jennifer Teie, owner of the Green Room Social Club in Placerville, echoed the concerns of many local business owners, some of whom feel they’re teetering on the brink of closure. “One bad night, and that could be it. We can’t spend more to make more; we can’t keep up with these increases,” Teie said.
As business owners wrestle with the rising costs, Toney called for more regulatory measures, including a cap on how many rate increases PG&E can implement in a single year. For now, the McCarthys, like many in the community, are left wondering how long they can keep going. “I haven’t taken a paycheck from the restaurant in six years,” Jim McCarthy revealed. “I’ve had to pick up other jobs just to keep it afloat.”
The struggle continues for both residents and businesses in El Dorado County, as PG&E’s price hikes show no sign of slowing.
