ONTARIO—Southern California Edison (SCE) customers will find that their electric bills this summer is a little more than what they usually get.
As approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the SCE utility rate would increase by 8 percent. In a media briefing at the Ontario Senior Center on June 30, SCE director of regulatory operations Russell Worden lectured on the key impacts of changing electric bills: natural gas (which would import 85 percent in Southern California) and residential rate reform. As a result, more than five million SCE customers will see a $5 to $10 increase in their monthly electric bills.
The California Public Utilities Commission is currently creating a new rate structure and is studying the SCE proposal rate structure for residential customers, which is a simpler two-tiered rate structure (from the original five-tiered rate structure in 2001) to encourage energy conservation and keep protections for low-income customers and a fixed charge that would cover about one-third of fixed costs. If the proposal is approved by the CPUC, electricity rates will see another increase of 1.5 percent next year (about $1-$2 increase in monthly utility bills).
The decision on SCE proposal is expected to release in spring 2015.
Discounted rate
SCE customers can be eligible for discounted utility through joining the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program.
According to the SCE website, CARE program “offers a significant monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying households, based on the total income of everyone living in the home.” SCE customers will be qualified for the program if their annual income is at or below $31,460 (for a household of 1-2 people).
“I encourage SCE customers to seek help on their energy use and manage on lowering utility bills through visiting our webpage (on.sce.com/ratechange) or contact at (800) 798-7723 for more details,” Wooden said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(OCIE July 4-10, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
