PG&E customers have received $1000 utility bills following extreme weather emergencies
April 20, 2023 - WASHINGTON - On Wednesday morning, Representative Josh Harder introduced the Stop PG&E From Price Gouging During Emergencies Act to prevent utility companies from up-
charging their customers during or after emergency declarations. The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to penalize utility companies for taking unfair advantage of major disasters to increase prices. The penalty for these violations would be up to $100,000,000 or three times the amount of profit gained during the increased price period. These price gouging tactics come at the same time as the company’s CEO, Patricia Poppe, receives $51.2 Million a year in salary and other compensation.
“Our families shouldn’t be forced to pay $1000 PG&E bills for trying to stay warm, especially not after a storm nearly destroyed their home,” said Representative Harder. “Using an act of nature as an excuse to price gouge families is pure greed and we’re not going to let them get away with it.”
Harder’s office has received several calls from San Joaquin County residents about the sudden hike in their PG&E bills, including one resident whose bill increased by 200% despite not changing his thermostat in the previous two months. Natural gas prices in California in January were about 5 times higher than the national average following the winter storms.
A copy of Harder’s bill can be found here.
Source: Congressman Josh Harder