Leaders Protest SDG&E's 8.6% Residential Rate Hike

San Diego County officials and public advocates rallied outside SDG&E headquarters against the utility's proposed residential rate increase.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single electricity pylon against a pale sky over a low coastal horizon, rendered in deep red, cream, and navy. — San Diego County leaders and public advocate Shane Harris rallied outside SDG&E headquarters against the utility's proposed 8.6% residential rate increase. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should SDG&E's proposed 8.6% rate increase be approved?

A group of San Diego County leaders pushed back against SDG&E's proposed 8.6% increase for residential customers. Public advocate Shane Harris organized a Monday protest outside the headquarters where the rate decisions are being made.

Why it matters

The proposal would raise costs for household electricity and natural gas bills across the San Diego region, a direct burden on local ratepayers. Its approval depends on review by the California Public Utilities Commission.

SDG&E proposes an 8.6% residential rate increase that would add about $22 per month for a typical customer, including $14 for electricity and $8 for natural gas. Whether the increase is approved remains undecided pending review by the California Public Utilities Commission.

The players

SDG&E

San Diego Gas & Electric is the regional utility that provides electricity and natural gas service across San Diego County and proposed the residential rate increase.

Shane Harris

Shane Harris is a San Diego public advocate who organized the protest against the proposed utility rate increase.

Jim Desmond

Jim Desmond is a San Diego County Supervisor who joined the protest and signed a letter opposing the proposed increase.

California Public Utilities Commission

The California Public Utilities Commission is the state agency that regulates investor-owned utilities and will decide whether to approve the proposed rate increase.

The details

Local leaders from across San Diego County, including Supervisor Jim Desmond and members of the City Council and school boards, stood alongside organizer Shane Harris outside SDG&E's headquarters on Monday. The leaders also signed a letter opposing the proposed increase.

Monday: Protest held outside SDG&E headquarters against the proposed rate increase.

Roadmap

The proposal must pass through the California Public Utilities Commission's rate-case review process, the state body that approves increases requested by investor-owned utilities like SDG&E. The protest places local opposition directly into that regulatory proceeding, where the commission will weigh the utility's stated need to cover essential operating costs.

If approved, the increase would add about $14 per month to a typical household's electricity bill and $8 per month to its natural gas bill. Residential customers across San Diego would see the change reflected in their monthly utility costs.

The takeaway

Ratepayers who want to weigh in on utility rate changes can follow the California Public Utilities Commission's proceedings, where proposed increases are reviewed before any decision is made. Staying aware of rate filings helps households plan for potential changes to their monthly bills.