SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Through emails and phone calls, you've been letting our local elected leaders in Sacramento know that you are not happy about our recently spiking bills from SDG&E.
CBS 8 has been following up with them, and it seems your complaints have caught their attention. We've seen the most support from North County Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath.
Last week, she said that she planned to explore an audit of SDG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission.
On Wednesday, CBS 8 checked back in and she is staying true to her word. Her office say they’ve contacted the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit to work on an audit request. They also said they’ll let us know when a hearing is scheduled.
We also finally received a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, which said:
"The massive rate increase that has occurred over the past year is simply too much for too many San Diego ratepayers. There needs to accountability by not only to our utility, San Diego Gas and Electric, but also state regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission. People are in need economic relief; not double digit increases to their utility bills. San Diegans deserve an explanation, and I will be working to get answers."
Bill Powers is an energy expert who isn’t surprised ratepayers across the county are bombarding elected officials with communication.
“What's happening in San Diego right now, for the first time in a very long time, is people are really upset,” said Powers.
Powers added that getting our politicians in Sacramento to put pressure on the CPUC to lower our rates is exactly what we need to have happen. His advice moving forward is to, “Stay fired up. Call your political representatives because the political representatives ultimately oversee that commission.”
Assemblywoman Dr. Akilah Weber's office also finally replied to CBS 8’s request for her thoughts on the situation. They say she's aware of what's going on, attended a briefing Wednesday on the high bill situation, and they will get back to us soon with a statement.
CBS 8 will continue to regularly check in with our leaders in Sacramento and we will report back any updates.
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