Rural California Utility Asks To Raise Power Rates By More Than Half As Wildfire Costs Pile Up In Newsom’s State

Pacific Power has asked California regulators to approve a 57 per cent rise in residential electricity rates from 1 January 2027, citing mounting wildfire protection, insurance and inflation costs. The proposal matters because it would add to household bills in a state where wildfire expenses are already a significant part of electricity costs.

The company is seeking about $103.4 million more, including recovery over six years of $93.8 million in wildfire mitigation costs and $11.1 million in insurance premiums not covered by current rates. Pacific Power serves about 46,000 customers across more than 11,000 square miles in four northern counties, and estimates the change would add around $120 a month before a separate 14 per cent reduction in power costs is factored in. California’s Public Utilities Commission has warned that wildfire costs will keep pushing bills higher without reforms.