IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
More than 200 people, including members of two trade unions, voiced their opposition Tuesday to proposed electricity rate hikes now being considered by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The increases – 12.9 percent during the next three years by Southern California Edison – would leave California with electrical rates approximately 40 percent above the national average, according to members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
If approved, Edison’s electricity rates would go up $3.75 a month next year, an increase of $45 for the year, said Armando Esparza, business manager for the Southern California District Council of Laborers.
After that, rates would go up $5.65 a month in 2019 – $67.80 for the year – and $7.29 a month in 2020, or $87.48 for the year, said Esparza, whose organization is a chartered district council of the Laborers’ International Union with 14 affiliated local chapters.
“Southern California Edison is not only proposing outrageous rate hikes at a time when working families are struggling to make ends meet, it’s also not allowing us to compete for infrastructure contracts that our members pay for with their electricity rates,” Esparza said during the meeting at the Turner Health & Fitness Community Center in Fontana.
Until recently, building trade unions have performed work for Edison, Esparza noted.
The five-member commission, which determines California’s utility rates, plans to hold a series of public information meetings during May regarding the suggested rate hikes. A final decision is expected late this year.
