FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) – In the present day Central Valley officers sparred with PG&E over a proposed fee hike.
“Sufficient is sufficient,” stated Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer as he addressed the California Public Utilities Fee on Thursday by way of cellphone. “I together with the town councilmembers and 500,000 residents who name Fresno Residence are pleading with the Utilities Fee to not permit for these ongoing will increase.”
The listening to which was held on-line, allowed residents and officers to make public feedback in regards to the proposed 22% fee improve for the years 2023-2026.
“We’re #2 in poverty within the state of California and these absorbent PG&E charges can’t be sustained,” stated Dyer.
In keeping with information supplied by the town of Fresno, PG&E has elevated by 85% from 2009 to 2019 and a further 22% in 2022.
“Kilowatts are killing us and the individuals are struggling,” stated Madera Mayor Professional Tem Anita Evans.
Madera Officers stated on prime of the monetary burden, the dearth of electrical energy capability in Madera is driving residents away.
“The shortage of vitality is single-handly stalling large-scale industrial initiatives the dearth of jobs has the potential to cripple our native economic system. We really feel that PG&E desires our assist, it should deal with our wants,” stated Madera Mayor Santos Garcia.
A PG&E spokesperson declined to go on digicam stated the 2022 fee improve was because of the pure gasoline costs, which this winter was 90% larger than the yr earlier than.
The corporate additionally argued that the speed improve work to scale back wildfire danger and keep the corporate’s gasoline transmission and pipeline techniques.
In a press release, PG&E stated: “Crucial duty is offering secure, dependable, and clear vitality to our prospects whereas working to maintain prospects’ prices as little as doable”
PG&E additionally supplied the under hyperlinks:
That is the very starting of the listening to course of, there can be one other public listening to for the Central Valley at 6:00 p.m. Should you would remark you are able to do that right here.