SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mounting frustration over high power bills led to PG&E customers gathering in protest at the California State Capitol Tuesday.
ABC10 spoke with people on limited incomes who said they’re being forced to choose between paying for power or putting food on the table.
The protestors, part of a group called Stop PG$E, marched back and forth in front of the capitol while banging a drum and chanting, “Governor, enough is enough, stop PG&E.”
One of the organizers, Kelly Smith, drove from Grass Valley.
Smith said the electricity bill for her house with a pool was $220 a month when she moved into it in 2021. It more than tripled this summer.
“Last month, my bill, with turning off the pool, keeping the air set at 85 during the heatwave, my bill was upwards of $800. Last month, it was $600. We have tried so many conservation efforts; we are basically sitting in the dark,” Smith said.
Erica Hall is another person who emailed ABC10 asking for help. The single mom said she saw her bill jump from $200 a month to $800.
Hall said she even had PG&E check her meter since her usage is about the same as last year but her bills are not.
“When I go grocery shopping, I can’t buy as much food as before because the bill is so high. This year, I didn’t really get to do back-to-school shopping for my kids, just a new backpack because the bill is taking up so much income,” Hall said.
Protesters outside the capitol asked for a rate reduction and for voters to appoint members of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
“Be very careful about who you are voting for. See if PG&E is contributing to their campaign,” Smith said.
ABC10 reached out to PG&E, and they responded with the following statement:
“We know many of our customers are frustrated with higher costs of living, including energy bills. We are working hard to stabilize customer bills and remain committed to supporting our customers to help them lower their energy usage and bills.”
PG&E offers a wide range of financial assistance programs to help customers with their bills, including programs for energy efficiency rebates. Click HERE for more information.
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