Brace for higher SDG&E bills after utilities commission releases proposed decision on rates

San Diego Gas & Electric customers would pay 2.7% more on their electric bills starting next year while customers with natural gas hookups may pay almost 9% more, according to a proposed decision released Friday afternoon by the California Public Utilities Commission.

It’s not welcome news for SDG&E’s 3.7 million customers saddled with high power bills, but the potential increase is hundreds of millions of dollars lower than what the utility requested.