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SDG&E tells San Diego council rates are preliminarily rising; utility cites GRC and wildfire costs
Summary
SDG&E briefed the council on pending CPUC proceedings including a preliminary General Rate Case proposed decision that could raise authorized revenue; the utility said preliminary combined gas and electric bill impact is roughly $13/month on average but numbers remain subject to change as CPUC decisions are finalized.
San Diego Gas & Electric representatives briefed the City Council on Dec. 9 about pending rate proceedings and planned filings, warning that outcomes before the California Public Utilities Commission could raise customer bills but that figures remain preliminary pending final CPUC decisions.
Britney Appelstein Seats, SDG&E director of regional public affairs, said a preliminary proposed decision in the utility’s 2024–27 General Rate Case would authorize roughly $2.8 billion in revenue (a 10.5% increase compared with 2023) and that the combination of electric and natural‑gas proceedings could produce an average combined impact in the neighborhood of $13 per month. SDG&E emphasized the numbers are preliminary and subject to the CPUC’s revised and final rulings.
Adam Pierce, SDG&E vice president of electric rates and procurement, described drivers behind the gas increase — reduced throughput as electrification reduces gas use, and a delay that layers 2024 and 2025 impacts into 2025 rates — and noted offsets on the electric side, including tax credits for storage projects and a decline in the PCIA (power charge indifference adjustment) that put modest downward pressure on delivery bills.
Public commenters urged the council to press SDG&E and state regulators on high rates, to consider conflict‑of‑interest rules for utility lobbying, and to pursue local options to contain costs. Council members asked for clearer numbers on the wildfire mitigation filing, asked how SDG&E prioritizes safety versus other programs, and pressed the utility to continue seeking federal funding and to expand local storage to take advantage of excess midday solar.
The presentation was informational; no council action was required.
