PURPOSE OF THIS PETITION: 

This petition is intended to gather the signatures required by California Code of Regulations Title 20, Division 1, Chapter 1. Rule 4.1 (b) in order to file a formal complaint with the  California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) about the reasonableness of rates charged by Pacific Gas and Electric (PGE). Specifically PGE rates for Owner Occupied Single-Family Homes with Tenant-Occupied Accessory Dwelling Units that share a single electric meter should be allocated the Baseline Rate Allowance per household as the law requires and not per electric meter as PGE is currently doing.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 

California Public Utilities Code Section 739 requires Pacific Gas and Electric to charge their lowest electric rate, Tier 1, for 60% to 70% of the average household electric usage in a given geographic area, this is called the "Baseline Rate Allowance".  Prior to January 1, 2020 detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) that are Tenant Occupied were  required to have an individual electric meter. Now Tenant Occupied ADU's that share an electric meter with a Owner Occupied Single-Family Home are permitted. The purpose of loosening the restrictions was to  "grandfather in" as legal rentals "in-law-unit" and make it possible for small property owners to supplement their income by providing housing during a housing crisis, without having to pay the costs of installing separate electric meters. Under these circumstances the tenants cost for electricity is  determined by the lease agreement and can be included in the rent, split based on percent of usable square footage occupied by the tenant,  or the property owner can install  a submeter and charge the tenant for usage at the same rate PGE charges on their bill. 

PGE has not made any rate adjustments to accommodate for this change in California law. In responce to our informal complaint filed with the California Public Utilities  Commission Pacific Gas and Electric refused to review our bill and stated that if we wanted to receive a separate Baseline Rate Allowance for our Accessory Dwelling Unit we must bare the costs of installing a separate electric meter. PGE does currently have rates for submetered tenants but they are closed to new customers. PGE insistance on allocating only a Single Household Baseline Rate Allowance per electric meter, regardless of how many separate additional Accessory Dwelling Units share that meter. This results in small landlords and their tenants having to pay for most of their electricity at the highest rate PGE charges, Tier 2. 

Currently an Owner Occupied Single-Family Home that shares an electric meter with a Tenant Occupied ADU is charged significantly more a month for electricity than other PGE customers who have ADUs with separate meters. PGE is aware of this disparity and has included the statistics in their reports to the California Public Utilities  Commission (CPUC). Yet the CPUC HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER AND HAS DENIED OUR INFORMAL REQUEST FOR REVIEW. PGE'S insistence that we must bear the expenses of installing a separate electric meter or pay for most of our electricity at the highest rate eliminate the is contrary to the intent of the law allowing shared meters for existing ADU's. Because of this loophole PGE is reaping huge profits, while making it unaffordable for small property owners to provide ADU's for rent. There is also no provision in the law that allows for adjustment to rent where electricity is included to compensate for PGE constantly increasing their rates.  This is neither fair nor reasonable and violation of California Public Utilities Code Section 

BY SIGNING THIS PETITION YOU JOIN US IN DEMANDING THAT CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION REVIEW FOR REASONABLENESS THE RATES PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC  CHARGES SPECIFICALLY: PGE rates for Owner Occupied Single-Family Homes with Tenant-Occupied Accessory Dwelling Units that share a single electric meter should be allocated the Baseline Rate Allowance per household as the law requires and not per electric meter as PGE is currently doing. AND agree that the  California Public Utilities Commission should have a public hearing on this matter.