Local officials are looking for ways to relieve taxpayers from rising energy costs
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond has urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to set aside part of its budget surplus to relieve skyrocketing energy costs for consumers.
According to SDG&E officials, the average electric rate for residential customers rose 7.8 percent in January compared to the previous month, added to the 8.2 percent inflation rate crushing San Diegans and residents across the state.
Desmond said that he receives on average 15 calls per day from his constituents who are struggling to pay their power bills.
“My constituents are concerned with their ability to pay for recent increased energy bills, especially seniors who are on fixed incomes,” Desmond wrote in the letter. “With already out of control housing costs, gasoline prices, and the cost of goods due to inflation, many San Diegans struggle now more than ever to survive under the weight of these rising costs.”
California is expected to have at least a $45 billion surplus, a surplus that Desmond claims should go directly back to taxpayers.
“This isn’t government money, it’s the people’s money,” Desmond tweeted. “People are hurting due to inflation, gas prices and energy bills. The logical thing to do, relieve some of these costs by giving the people their money back.”
SDG&E spokesman Anthony Wagner said the utility company had nothing to add to Desmond’s communication to the governor. He noted that the California Public Utilities Commission would hold a Monday meeting to discuss rate affordability.
