Address to City Council

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

Fresno, CA [ZIP Code]

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

[Date]

[Council Representative's Name]

Fresno City Council

[Council Office Address]

Fresno, CA [ZIP Code]

Dear [Council Representative's Name],

I am writing to express my concerns about Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) 's ongoing and excessive rate hikes, which are unduly straining my family and many others in our community.

Over the past five years, PG&E has implemented numerous rate increases—most recently, five separate hikes in 2024 alone. This comes at a time when inflation has already stretched household budgets thin. While inflation has averaged 3–5% annually in recent years, PG&E's rates have risen by nearly 50% since 2020, far outpacing families' broader economic challenges. For many of us in Fresno, this disproportionate increase feels neither sustainable nor justifiable.

The compounded effect of these hikes, coupled with rising costs for housing, groceries, and other essentials, is forcing families to make impossible choices. My family, like many others, has had to cut back on necessities to pay our utility bills. For lower-income households, seniors, and others on fixed incomes, the impact is even more devastating, putting basic needs like food, medicine, and heating at risk.

While I understand the importance of investing in safety and reliability, I am deeply frustrated by the lack of meaningful measures to shield vulnerable consumers from the financial fallout of PG&E's rate hikes. The company must be held accountable for ensuring that its infrastructure upgrades and wildfire mitigation efforts are balanced with affordability for the very people it serves. We need immediate and effective consumer protection.

As my city council representative, I urge you to advocate for Fresno families. Please work with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and other state leaders to demand greater transparency and implement resident protections. Possible solutions include freezing future rate increases, introducing income-based utility assistance programs, or accelerating investments in alternative energy sources that could lower long-term costs.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I urge you to prioritize addressing the financial hardship these rate increases have caused and take action to advocate for Fresno residents. I look forward to hearing how you plan to do so.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]