California Utility Rates, Already Nearly Twice the National Average, Set to Increase

The fifth and sixth rate hikes of the year were approved for Pacific Gas and Electric, affecting about 16 million Californians.

Utility workers make repairs to electrical wires in Guerneville, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Regulators with California’s Public Utility Commission (CPUC) approved rate hikes for three of the largest utility companies in the state on Dec. 19, with higher prices expected starting next year for ratepayers who already see bills that are almost double the national average.

The utility commission granted Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)—the largest energy provider in the state, supplying nearly 16 million Californians—its fifth and sixth rate hikes of 2024.