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IT’S SIMPLY NOT FAIR >> THEY ARE POISED TO RECOVER $373 MILLION. THE HIKE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC RATES OVER 12 MONTHS. >> IT IS RIDICULOUS THEY ARE PUTTING THAT BURDEN ONTO CUSTOMERS LIKE ME. >> THEY SAY IT WIL RUE -- INCLUDED REMOVING DEAD OR DYING TREES. >> I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN THEIR PROFITS AND PUT IT BACK INTO BUILDING A BETTER ROOM -- INFRASTRUCTURE. >> THEY SAY, WE BELIEVE THIS IS A REASONABLE OUTCOME OF PARTIES POSITIONS. WE APPRECIATE APPRECIATION OF PG&E’S UNIQUE POSITION. BUT ONE PERSON SAYS THERE IS NOTHING FAIR ABOUT THIS. >> WE WERE REALLY SURPRISED BY THIS. WE DO NOT BELIEVE PG&E HAS GIVEN THE COMMISSION ANY REASON TO TRUST IN THEM. >> THE APPROVAL DOES NOT COVER THE 2015 BUTTE FIRE OR THE CAMP FIRE. IT COMES DAYS AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE APPROVED THE PLANS TO GIVE EMPLOYEES TO $35 MILLION IN BONUSES -- $235 MILLION IN BONUSES. THE PAYMENTS WILL NOT GO TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT. MORE RATE HIKES ARE TO COME, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE UTILITY SPENDS MONEY. >> WE PAY OUR BILLS EVERY MONTH. WHAT WE THINK WE ARE PAYING FOR IS RELIABLE SERVICE. FOR THEM TO TURN TO US AND SAY, WE HAVE NO MONEY. WHAT HAVE

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Pacific Gas & Electric Company customers will soon see a rate increase on their monthly bills. State regulators are giving PG&E permission to add more than a third of a billion dollars to customers' bills.The Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a $373 million rate hike Thursday. It will be used to pay the company's costs for rain and wind events in 2016 and 2017 that knocked out power and damaged its facilities."We were really surprised by this. We don't think PG&E has given the commission any reason to trust it, and consumers don't trust PG&E," said Mindy Spatt with The Utility Reform Network, a group that represents consumers. "So, the problem is that PG&E did not have to prove that expenditure was reasonable before passing it on to customers."The rate increase comes days after a federal judge approved the utility giant's plans to give employees bonuses totaling $235 million. The company said payments will not go to senior management and will be weighted on achieving safety goals. Earlier this week in the Bay Area, Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke out against the bonuses. "To increase returns on Wall Street investment at a time when you haven't even settled the victims' claims is not only tone deaf, it's jaw-droppingly wrong," he said.Newsom has established a strike team to help determine who's held responsible for wildfires and how to prevent them. A report released by the task force said PG&E is taking advantage of its bankruptcy to promote the interests of investors over fire victims. The report also suggested more shared responsibility for wildfires among utilities, insurance companies and local governments. The rate increase does not include any damage from the Camp Fire, the state's deadliest and most destructive wildfire. Nor does it cover the costs associated with the 2015 Butte Fire or the October 2017 wildfires in Northern California. Damages and claims from these fires could potentially be in the billions of dollars.On average, customers will pay $3.56 more per month -- or about 3 percent -- through electricity rates over a 12-month period. Exactly when the increase will take effect isn't clear, but a spokesperson said it's expected later this year. PG&E declined an interview and instead provided this statement:"Providing safe and reliable energy service is critical during emergencies, like storms and wildfires. That is why PG&E prepares for emergencies and stands ready to respond and restore service safely and as quickly as possible thereafter.The impacts of climate change have made extreme weather events and natural disasters more powerful and their effects on PG&E’s infrastructure more significant and costly to repair.Commissioner Randolph’s APD grants recovery of $373 million related to work performed to restore service to customers, repair PG&E’s facilities and cut back or remove dead or dying trees for nine catastrophic events in 2016 and 2017 including storms and wildfires.It is important to note that PG&E’s 2018 CEMA does not include any costs related to the 2015 Butte Fire, the October 2017 Northern California Wildfires, or the November 2018 Camp Fire.We appreciate the Commission’s decision to grant our request for interim rate relief associated with our 2018 Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account (CEMA). We believe this outcome is a reasonable compromise of parties’ positions and represents a fair outcome for all parties involved. We appreciate the APD’s acknowledgement of PG&E’s unique financial condition and of the unreasonableness of waiting further for recovery of these interim rates."