East Bay Residents Say They're "Robbed" By Ultra High PGE Bills

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If your PGE bill from last month felt absurdly high, you're not alone.

We recently asked readers to share their thoughts on their latest PGE bill. Residents across the East Bay are expressing outrage over skyrocketing PG&E bills, with many sharing their experiences of unmanageable costs and frustration with the utility company.

One resident, Suzanne, reported a bill of $799 for just two people, calling it "ridiculous and unacceptable." Similarly, Stephanie shared her shock at receiving a $1,000 bill for the period of June 15 to July 17, which was double her previous cycle’s amount.

After multiple attempts to address the issue with PG&E and eventually contacting the utilities commission, she says she now has an appointment to check her meter but remains skeptical. "They should not be allowed to charge these prices. They have the monopoly and basically are allowed to do whatever they want and this is not right," she said.

Ruben P. mentioned a friend who he says paid $700 for an electric bill in Solano County, while Ed, who lives in a 2-bedroom condo, expects his next bill to be $525 despite keeping the temperature at 79 degrees.

Sharon O. suspects that PG&E is manipulating the meters. Despite following all recommendations and being on the CARE program, she says her bill exceeded $400 for two consecutive months. "I have even gone to the laundromat wondering if that would make a significant difference. It didn’t!!" she stated.

Laurie D. shared that her bills have ranged between $800 and $1,000 since January. "We are moving to southern UT on Saturday. I am done with this place!" she declared, noting the significant difference in utility costs.

Tony E. described his $900 bill for a 998 sq ft house as "highway robbery," and Chris noted his $958 bill despite being out of town for half of the billing cycle. "This is absolute robbery," he said.

Some residents, like Bob, attribute high bills to inefficient AC units. "Fix your AC unit. It is not PG&E’s fault that your AC runs ALL THE TIME," he suggested.

Others, like Paul, blame government policies for the high costs. "Stop voting for the green energy scam politicians and regulators. There is zero markup on the gas and electric PG&E delivers," he argued.

Cassandra M. reported a staggering $2,000 bill for two consecutive months, despite historically lower charges. "Arguing with PG&E is absolutely a waste of time," she said.

Even those with solar panels are not spared, our readers shared. Marlon, who has 19 solar panels, still faces bills over $1,800, along with monthly payments for the panels and additional PG&E fees. "I think it’s time for us to leave California for good," he remarked. Dhawal T. echoed similar frustrations, saying they received a $2,200 bill in June despite not having AC and using solar power.

The widespread discontent highlights the urgent need for action to address these billing issues and ensure fair pricing for East Bay residents.

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Have you gotten a very high PGE bill? Let us know in the comments.