California regulators approve higher electricity rates for most residents
Electric bills are set to rise over the next few years for most household customers served by California’s major investor-owned utilities, including Southern California Edison.
The increases are a result of sweeping changes approved Friday by the California Public Utilities Commission — the first statewide rate overhaul since the 2000-01 energy crisis.
Modest and moderate consumers of electricity will bear a greater share of costs, while many larger users of electricity will see their bills shrink or increase less rapidly.
“There are real people behind these numbers, millions of people behind these numbers,” PUC Commissioner Carla Peterman said. “Some people will see their bills go down, but many more will see them go up.”
Major changes will show up starting next year on utility bills and be phased in over several years. Detailed information is not yet available.
The commission voted unanimously on a compromise between two competing proposals. Consumer groups raised objections to new provisions unveiled Wednesday after years of deliberations. They complained that it was inappropriate to hold the final vote on a federal holiday, even if state employees were scheduled to work Friday.
