Some Moreno Valley residents are objecting to a possible electricity rate increase the city council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, April 7, even as the nation’s unemployment hits never-before-seen levels during the coronavirus pandemic.

If approved, city utility rates would be updated to “maintain approximate parity with Southern California Edison,” with residential customers seeing rates rise at least 8%.

When Moreno Valley Utility formed in 2001, its rates were pegged to those of Southern California Edison. SCE’s rates are scheduled to go up Monday, April 13, according to Assistant City Manager Marshall Eyerman. And thanks to a resolution passed in 2015, city administrators are required to check in with the city council about electricity rates twice a year.

According to a report presented to the council, electrical capacity prices have risen 300% since 2018. If approved, the new rates would kick it at the end of April. At that point, residential customers would see an increase of 8.52% to 10.69%, depending on the time of year and usage tier. The new rates would generate an additional $188,500 per month for Moreno Valley Utility, the city’s utility service.

On Tuesday, city administrators will recommend the council not raise rates, according to Eyerman.

Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez wrote in an email Monday evening that the council would not be voting on the item.

Former mayoral candidate turned Moreno Valley Unified school board vice president, Darrell Peeden, is one of the residents raising objections to a possible rate increase.

“Increasing rates during this time is counterproductive and hurts our community,” a statement from Peeden said. “My constituents are already facing a tidal wave of change and insecurity.”

Resident Angel Lopez was also unhappy with the proposal.

“How does a legislative body put forth such actions for a vote when many have suffered not knowing their financial situation whether they will survive rent challenges and mortgage challenges?” Lopez wrote in comments he sent to the city council.

The council is set to meet at 6 p.m., but there will be no in-person session, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the meeting will be teleconferenced live via Zoom.us (meeting ID number 963-117-7849), at the city’s website, MoVal.org, and on local cable television at MVTV-3.

As of Monday afternoon, Riverside County had 946 cases of novel coronavirus COVID-19, and 25 deaths. Moreno Valley has had 90 cases and two deaths.

Note: This story has been updated since it was first published to correct the date of the Moreno Valley Utility’s formation and to include Mayor Gutierrez’s statement that the council would not be voting on the rate increase on Tuesday.