CA Residents To Get Relief From Skyrocketing Utility Bills

Higher temperatures in California mean sky-high electric bills, but many residents could be in for some relief from the region's largest energy utility companies.

This month and in September, Southern California Edison customers will automatically receive $72 in credits and San Diego Gas & Electric customers will receive $98.72. Pacific Gas & Electric customers will receive $72.36.

The credits will come in two payments; PG&E customers receive two payments of $36.18, SCE customers receive two payments of $36.00, and SDG&E customers receive two payments of $49.36.

"This is about timing relief to match reality. By aligning Climate Credits with the months when bills are highest, Californians will receive relief when they need it most," CPUC President John Reynolds said in a statement. "This is a practical step to improve affordability while continuing to advance the state’s climate goals."

According to the California Public Utilities Commission, residential electric customers of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric automatically receive the Climate Credit in August and September, which are peak summer months for the state's three largest utilities.

The CPUC said the credit is an automatic bill reduction funded through California's Cap-and-Invest Program. The program returns a portion of proceeds collected from large greenhouse gas emitters directly to residential utility customers. The credit is provided to customers of investor-owned utilities and local, not-for-profit public agencies.

The CPUC said the credit is distributed under a statewide mandate to support affordability.