• Aphelion@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    PG&E is very blatantly trying to crush EV adoption in California. They’re even advertising their EV plan by comparing their pricing to buying gas at the pump.

    $0.65/kWh during peak is probably the highest power cost in the whole US, even including Hawaii.

    • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      3 months ago

      That rate is insane. I live in the PNW in a high cost of living area and drive an EV. I don’t even see charging stations, which during peak times often charge five times or higher the market rates for energy up here, charging that much.

  • MyOpinion@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    At this point the regulators are totally in the hands of PG&E. They are getting everything they want. The cost of power here in California is insane. My mother is paying over $300 a month. We are being robbed.

  • mesamune@lemmy.worldOP
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    3 months ago

    “This latest rate hike comes as PG&E stopped accepting applications for its REACH relief program due to overwhelming demand.”

  • hope@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I’m on municipal power, by my MIL 10 minutes away is on PG&E and her rate is easily 4x mine, it’s absurd. She doesn’t even have AC and her power bill is over $800/mo!

    • karpintero@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      That’s crazy. Is solar an option? It’s close to $120/mo depending on how many panels you get and the terms of the loan/lease. And if you buy you get up to a 1/3 of it back in tax credit (assuming you owe enough).

      • MyOpinion@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        You normally have to own your home and it takes well over 10 years before you recover the cost of purchasing solar. Home ownership is out of reach for many in California.

        • karpintero@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          True, Net Metering 3.0 made paybacks longer, although if you apply your tax credits to your loan it’s still reasonable. Though I’d point out that there’s no break even point if you’re just paying PG&E. With a solar loan, your payments are locked in vs subject to rate increases and after its paid off, you essentially eliminate your electric bill. I’m just speaking from personal experience though so YMMV.

          I agree that housing affordability is difficult in CA and that renters have less options in this regard.

  • fubarx@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    How long before PG&E blames the rate increases on all those people with solar panels.

    Oh wait, they already did.

  • sudo42@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Wasn’t one of PG&E’s recent justifications for an anti-solar maneuver “solar isn’t fair to poor people”?

    Exorbitant electric bills are fair to poor people I guess?