As Southern Californians struggle with massive gas bills this winter, SoCal Gas is seeking to increase rates even more over the next four years.
The utility, which serves 22 million people, filed its application with the California Public Utilities Commission in May 2022. The Commission will make a decision in the coming months.
How to participate in public forums
SoCalGas will hold virtual public forums on March 6 (2 p.m.) and March 15 (6 p.m.) for customers to voice their opinions on the proposal.
The live broadcast (English with Spanish captions) can be accessed at: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
A couple things to know:
- You will not be able to comment via the webcast, to comment you need to phone: 800-857-1917, passcode: 1767567#
- The forums will also be recorded and archived for future viewing.
- You can comment now via the comment section for the proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2205015
More than 500 comments have already been received.
What you should know about the proposed increase
SoCal Gas is seeking the following increases:
- 6.7% in 2025
- 5.6% in 2026
- 7.7% in 2027
If the rate request is approved, customers using the typical 36 therms per month are looking at paying about $8.28 more a month starting in January of next year, though prices may vary from household to household.
The costs, however, can vary greatly depending on the market, as many households have learned in recent months when the rates skyrocketed. The increases sought by SoCal Gas are baseline increases, so the monthly price may still fluctuate beyond those proposed hikes.
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