San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to raise combined electricity and natural‑gas rates by an average of 8.6%, which would translate to roughly $14 more per month for electricity and $8 more for gas – about $22 a month in total for the average household.
The utility says the additional revenue is needed for wildfire prevention, infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity, insurance and other operating costs. If approved, the request would add $280 million to SDG&E’s 2028 revenue, bringing the total take to $3.8 billion that year and an additional $1.07 billion over the next four years.
Customers voiced strong opposition at a CPUC public meeting in Santee on Tuesday. Tyler Andre of SanDiego350 highlighted the utility’s recent earnings, noting an $862 million profit for the first nine months of 2026 and record third‑quarter profits that are expected to push the company past $1 billion in profit for the year. “We pay some of the highest rates in the nation,” Andre said, prompting boos from the audience.
Local officials joined the criticism. San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo‑Rivera told the crowd, “Are you sick and tired of SDG&E raising our rates? We are.” Environmental Health Coalition executive director Jose Franco Garcia urged the CPUC to reject the hike, arguing that families are already stretched thin by rising rent and grocery costs.
“Families are doing everything they can to save and reduce, and now through no fault of their own they’re getting another bill put on their backs,” Garcia said. Several residents echoed the sentiment, accusing SDG&E and its parent company Sempra of prioritizing profit over affordability.
SDG&E responded that it is “focused on controlling costs, operating more efficiently and finding ways to keep bills as manageable as possible,” and emphasized that the rate request is a proposal that will undergo thorough public review.
The CPUC has scheduled additional virtual hearings for Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 to collect further public comment. No decision is expected for at least a year, meaning any increase would not take effect immediately even if approved.
What’s next: San Diego residents and advocacy groups plan to submit written comments before the Dec. 9 deadline, and local officials have pledged to continue pressing the CPUC to deny the proposed hike.
Sources: nypost.com, 10news.com
