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Many San Diegans were shocked by their latest power bills and it turns out they have good reason to be.
CBS8 confirmed that residents in the area are paying higher rates than any other citizens in the country.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diegans paid an average of 36.5 cents per kilowatt-hour last December. Riverside County residents paid less at 23.8 cents per kWh and residents in Los Angeles paid 34% less (24 cents).
“The price per kilowatt is the highest in the country,” Edward Lopez, Executive Director of Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) told CBS8. “San Diego is even out-passing Hawaii, which is not even on the mainland.”
According to CBS8, Hawaii's average rate was nearly 3 cents less per kWh than San Diego's rates.
SDG&E provided CBS8 with some reasons behind San Diego's high rates.
An SDG&E spokesperson said they have spent $3 billion hardening their system since the 2007 wildfires that were started by the company's power lines. This includes replacing wood poles with steel and undergrounding wires.
SDG&E said they understand customers' frustrations saying "While there is never a good time to raise rates, we remain focused on building a safe, climate-resilient and reliable grid that enables our region to reach our sustainability goals."