Thursday, Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, signed onto a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) opposing their vote approving Southern California Edison’s (SCE) latest rate hike proposal.

The approved increase forces ratepayers to cover the utility’s liability for the devastating 2017 Thomas Fire, raising concerns about additional costs being passed onto consumers for the 2018 Woolsey Fire and beyond.

Far too many in our community are already struggling with rising utility bills, expressing concerns about the impact these surcharges are having on their monthly budgets, according to Schiavo.

For families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses, every rate hike means difficult choices-whether it’s cutting back on groceries, delaying medical care, or making sacrifices just to keep the lights on.

“It is unconscionable to make ratepayers-who have already suffered through wildfires, power outages, and displacement-shoulder the financial burden of corporate mismanagement,” said Assemblywoman Schiavo. “Southern California Edison reported a net income of over half a billion dollars last quarter, and yet still they want to raise rates on hard working families and seniors who can’t afford another hit to their pocketbooks. My constituents have made it clear: these rate hikes are making it harder to afford everyday essentials, and we must stand up against this unfair cost shift.”

With another proposed rate hike from SCE on the horizon to cover its $5.4 billion liability from the Woolsey Fire, legislators are calling on CPUC to adopt a more equitable approach to determining responsibility for wildfire costs.

Assemblywoman Schiavo remains committed to fighting for affordability and accountability, ensuring that California families are not left paying for the mistakes of shareholder-run utility companies.

Ed. Note: The above information was provided to KHTS by Schiavo’s Office.

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