Garbage & Power Rates

Garbage Rates:

The final hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2025, where the board is expected to approve recommended rate changes.

City Controller’s Refuse Rates Administrator report (May 21):

Presented to the board during the hearing. Outlined that Recology’s original request was too high and proposed a more modest increase.

Recology Proposed:

~32–33% over 3 years

~18% starting Oct 2025

Would raise basic monthly rate ~$47 → $55.55 (+$8.55/mo)

Controller’s Office Proposed:

~28% over 3 years

~13% starting Oct 2025

Would raise $47 → ~$52.97 (+$5.97/mo)

Recology’s February filing requested ~30% increase—18.2% from Oct 2025, followed by 7.5% and 3.9% in the following two years.

Who’s Proposing What & Why

• The Refuse Rates Administrator (Controller’s staff) reviewed Recology’s proposal and noted costs have risen, but that a full 32% spike isn’t justified. Instead, they suggest a 28% 3‑year increase

What Happens Next

• June 25, 2025 is the decisive hearing. The Refuse Rate Board (Controller + City Administrator + PUC GM) will likely issue a final order.

• Their decision will reflect a balance between cost pressures and what is considered a "just and reasonable" increase under Proposition F and relevant ordinances.

What You Can Do

• You can view all staff reports and rate proposals on the Controller’s Office website.

• Join the June 25 hearing if you want to weigh in or monitor the final decision.

• Watch for the published Rate Board Order afterward—publicly available and detailing the agreed-upon rate structure.

Current PG&E Rate Increase Hearings:

PG&E submitted its GRC application May 15, 2025 (Docket A.25‑05‑009) for CPUC review.

They’re proposing 3.4–3.5% annual increases starting in 2027—adding about $128/year for average customers, less for CARE customers.

PG&E claims overall residential bills will remain flat through 2027 because some earlier costs expire.

New “Energization” Cost Case:

PG&E is seeking an additional $3.1 billion (on top of previously authorized $1.3 billion) for grid energization work in 2025–2026.

This comes after CPUC had already authorized $3.2 billion—raising total proposed spending to nearly $6.3 billion.

Ongoing CPUC Public Participation:

CPUC holds statewide public forums (in-person/virtual), including virtual forum on June 16 and July 15, 2025.

These forums invite comments directly to influence CPUC decisions.

Action Plan: How to Fight or Limit Rate Hikes!

1. Submit Public Comments via CPUC Docket

• File comments in:

  • GRC docket A.25‑05‑009

  • Energization proceeding (check latest CPUC docket)

  • Comments should critique justified costs, emphasize oversight, and reference consumer impact.

• Complaints can spotlight record profits—PG&E posted $2.47 billion profit in 2024 even as rate hikes loom

2. Testify at Public Participation Forums

• Attend the June 16 virtual forum or in-person events to voice concerns publicly .

• Coordinate with organized groups—like TURN (The Utility Reform Network) or CAPAO (Public Advocates Office)—to strengthen testimony.

• Mention the Becker bill (Senate Democrats’ legislation to cap rate increases and prohibit utility lobbying via ratepayer funds) as a policy lever

3. Engage with Consumer Advocates

• Support and work with:

  • CAPAO (Public Advocates Office)—they automatically intervene and press for low rates .

  • TURN—they oppose unjustified rate increases and advocate for consumer protections .

4. Lobby Lawmakers & Support Legislation

• Leverage SB Becker and similar bills:

  • Limit utility rate hikes to inflation rates

  • Restrict how ratepayer funds are used (e.g., lobbying)

  • Require public financing of major infrastructure (e.g., wildfire costs)

• Encourage representatives to strengthen oversight and align utility profits with public interest.

5. Press CPUC to Reduce Capital Costs

• Push CPUC to:

  • Deny or reduce PG&E's costly energization cap increase.

  • Require PG&E to use historical cost trends—not inflated recent months—to justify escalations

• Highlight that PG&E has a track record of inefficiencies, with spending far exceeding prior outputs .

6. Explore Alternatives: Community Choice Aggregators

• CCAs offer local electricity procurement and lower costs—advocate for expanding CCA models in your region, balancing consumer choice against union/labor concerns

7. Track CPUC and FERC Filings

• Monitor both CPUC dockets and FERC transmission rate cases—the CPUC regularly intervenes at FERC on transmission charges

• Submit comments when transmission costs affecting PG&E customers are increased.

POWER Rates: