Californians enraged by massive PG&E price hikes projected by watchdog group

Furious Californians have slammed PG&E after a watchdog warned utility charges from the company could soon increase by hundreds of dollars per person per year.The energy giant’s 16 million customers may see fees spike by as much as $840 by 2030, according to a forecast from California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advocates Office this week.The current average cost for gas and electricity is $285 per month — or about $3,420 per year — which is an 84% increase since 2016 figures.If the prices go up by what the commission is predicting, it means households will be facing another 24.56% price hike over the next four years.It flies in the face of what CEO Patti Poppe has been saying, pleading with reporters last year to report that “bills will be flat.”The watchdog’s revelations have infuriated consumers across the north of the state, who already suffer under California’s sky-high coverage costs.Bay Area resident Sally Hammons, 76, revealed she is paying just under $9,000 per year to the company for her gas and electricity.“I added up all my charges over the past 12 months, and it was $8,725 for PG&E.

That averages $727 a month, which is just crazy.It’s a car payment,” she told The California Post.Hammons said her monthly bills ranged from $433 to as high as $1,119 despite rarely running her heating or air conditioning.The soaring costs have also hit the small warehouse business she owns.

“We don’t heat it.We don’t use air conditioning,” Hammons said.

“The last three bills were $563, $577 and $629.”She said the warehouse still racks up utility bills of $700 to $800 a month, even though it uses no heating or air conditioning.“It’s really basically just running the lights, running the computers,” she said.Hammons said she has repeatedly questioned PG&E about the charges but was told they accurately reflected her usage.“It does not make sense,” she said.

“I’m not sure how they justify all these increase...