PG&E bills could rise Jan. 1: state regulators vote Nov. 19 on a $456 million interim increase, mostly on electricity
The proposal would raise PG&E’s electric charges and trim gas charges while regulators finish its 2027 rate case. Any overcharge would be refunded with interest.
PG&E customers could see higher electric charges starting Jan. 1 if state regulators approve a temporary increase on Thursday, Nov. 19, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the state agency that sets utility rates. The commission’s agenda for that meeting proposes letting PG&E collect up to $456 million more a year in “interim” rates while it finishes reviewing the utility’s full request for 2027.
What would change
- Electricity up: PG&E asked for $987 million more for electric delivery and power generation. The proposed decision grants 55% of that, about $543 million, on an interim basis.
- Gas down a bit: PG&E proposed cutting its gas charges by $102 million. The decision passes 85% of that cut, about $87 million, to customers sooner.
- Net: $456 million, about 3% more than the $15.3 billion PG&E collects this year for these parts of its business, the decision says.
The decision does not say how much a typical bill would change. In earlier filings, PG&E estimated that collecting 55% of its request on Jan. 1 would raise a typical residential gas-and-electric bill about 1.9%, but the judges wrote that PG&E’s illustrations “are not a forecast of customer bills.”
Why now, and what if PG&E gets less
A final decision on PG&E’s 2027 rates isn’t expected until about May 2027. PG&E argued that starting in January avoids $13.6 million to $21 million in interest customers would otherwise pay on a later catch-up, and smooths out bill jumps. The state’s Public Advocates Office, the consumer group TURN and large energy users all opposed any interim increase. If the final decision gives PG&E less than it collects in the meantime, PG&E must refund the difference with interest, the proposed decision says.
What you can do
- Comment by phone: The meeting starts at 11 a.m. in Sacramento. To speak during public comment, call 1-800-857-1917 and enter passcode 9899501# (Spanish: 3799627#), or watch the webcast linked from the CPUC meeting page.
- Check for a discount: PG&E’s CARE program cuts bills by 20% or more on gas and 35% or more on electricity for households that qualify by income or public-assistance enrollment, PG&E says.
The commission can change a proposed decision or hold it again; this item was first scheduled for Oct. 29.
Source: CPUC Public Agenda 3590, Nov. 19, 2026 (Item 32), CPUC proposed decision on PG&E interim rate recovery, A.25-05-009, CPUC Nov. 19 meeting page and PG&E CARE page, checked Nov. 14, 2026.