Proposal Raising PG&E Rates Moves Ahead

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Electricity and natural gas rates for customers of PG&E customers are expected to rise, if California's Public Utilities Commission adopts a proposal issued Wednesday by a state administrative law judge.

The proposal, made by an administrative law judge with the state PUC, was the result of case ruling involving a general rate increase request by PG&E.

Jonathan Marshall, a PG&E spokesman, told the San Jose Mercury News that the extra money would go toward safety, repairs, and maintenance.

The proposal would allow PG&E to collect 6.8 percent more in revenue. But that doesn't mean monthly bills will jump 6.8 percent because of the proposed decision in this case.

"The actual increase would be well below that," Marshall said.

The utility company, he said, was studying the proposed decision and didn't yet have an immediate estimate about the impact on monthly bills.

The full five-member PUC will make the final decision on the rate increase later this year.