SAN DIEGO — When it comes to outrage over these high bills, CBS 8 is as "Amped Up" as you are and we aren't letting this go, continuing to demand answers for you, until we get them. And if you’d like to give your feedback to SDG&E, you can do so by CLICKING HERE. If you’d like to file a complaint with CPUC, click here.
Growing frustration across San Diego County over the recent spike in electricity bills from SDG&E is being heard in Sacramento. CBS 8 has learned that one of our local state legislators says it's time to take a closer look - not only at SDG&E, but also the California Public Utilities Commission, which approves their rate hikes.
Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath represents District 76, which includes Carlsbad, Oceanside and Encinitas and she feels your pain. Her SDG&E bill unexpectedly spiked by triple digits.
“I spent part of my day today going through my January 2021 versus January 2022 bill,” said Boerner Horvath. “My rate went up $120 and we reduced both our gas and electric consumption over last year.”
Boerner Horvath says concerned constituents have been sending emails and calling her office. She hears stories of residents cutting back on food just so they can pay their electric bill. And she fears things are about to go from bad to worse.
“We're experiencing just these price increases now in winter, but think about it in the summer when people, in order to prevent heat stroke, and all these things, have to turn on their air conditioning," said Boerner Horvath. "They're going to be making life and death decisions. I don't think that's where SDG&E wants us to be. That's clearly not where I want my constituents to be. It's not where I want to be.”
Like so many SDG&E customers, Boerner Horvath has a lot of questions. As luck would have it, in Sacramento, she is on the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit.
“We're going to explore an audit of SDG&E and the CPUC for their process because clearly a decision was not made, in my mind, thoughtfully about the impacts to rate payers,” said Boerner Horvath.
Boerner Horvath says that audit will shine a bright light on our bills. It will confirm if what SDG&E is telling us is true. And she hopes the findings will open the door to discussions that can lead to lower rates.
“I did marketing and communication for 15 years. This is like a PR disaster,” she said. “So I'm really hoping that we can all sit down at the table and figure out what we can do to make energy affordable. Sustainable energy affordable.”
Her office has agreed to keep us updated on the audit process and we'll pass that information on to you.
Watch: A closer look at the compensation for Sempra & SDG&E executives (Feb 9, 2022)