3 months ago
By Michael Winter, USA Today
Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility serving Northern California, is looking to boost rates next year. No big news there, except that PG&E is targeting customers who save the most energy, writes San Francisco's Mission Local newspaper.
The new student-produced news operation in San Francisco explains that the utility wants state regulators to approve a 5% rate hike for energy-conscious customers - usually smaller households - so it can give energy hogs a break of between 2.7% and 5% . Those residential customers use 131% to 300% more than the monthly baseline average.
Facing a Dec. 17 deadline, PG&E wants to limit public comment so state regulators can quickly approve the increase.
The utility says it's a matter of fairness.
"It's necessary to avoid the continued shifting of costs associated with utility services to a limited set of residential customers," said PG&E spokesperson Joe Molica.
PG&E uses multi-tier pricing system that's supposed to encourage efficiency by charging lower rates. The company posted a 4.6% profit for the third quarter.
The rate proposal, which would take effect in January, contradicts PG&E's professed desire to boost conservation, a consumer advocate said.
"PG&E seems to be working off the theory that financial incentives produce energy efficiency, but that clearly isn't the case with this proposal," said Mindy Spatt of the Utilities Reform Network.
USA Today
