DragonBox Solar vs PG&E (and SCE and SDG&E and...)

2018 Campfire.

The Hidden Cost of PG&E’s Rate Hikes: Funding Their Own Disasters

For years, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been at the center of some of California’s most devastating disasters, from wildfires to gas main explosions. Yet, rather than shouldering the financial burden of their negligence, the utility giant repeatedly turns to ratepayers to cover the costs. With each passing year, PG&E’s rate hikes are not just about infrastructure improvements or inflation—they are intrinsically tied to the company’s history of catastrophic failures.

The Cycle of Disaster and Rate Increases

PG&E has a well-documented history of failing to maintain its power lines and gas infrastructure. Poor maintenance and aging equipment have directly contributed to some of California’s deadliest wildfires, including the Camp Fire in 2018, which destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. Likewise, preventable gas explosions, such as the 2010 San Bruno disaster, have resulted in tragic loss of life and massive financial liabilities. Each time the company faces lawsuits and settlements from these disasters, it has turned to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to increase rates, placing the financial burden on everyday customers.

Tubbs fire. My coworkers Hal and his son Ethan were affected.

Wildfires: A Consequence of Negligence

Many of California’s recent wildfires have been linked to PG&E’s infrastructure failures. Power lines, left unmaintained, have ignited deadly fires amid the state’s dry and windy conditions. Investigations have shown that the company neglected necessary upgrades and inspections, prioritizing shareholder profits over public safety. When these fires lead to billions in damages and lawsuits, PG&E strategically declares bankruptcy, only to emerge with renewed permission to raise rates, forcing customers to foot the bill for their misconduct.

Gas Main Explosions: A Deadly Oversight

The 2010 San Bruno gas explosion is one of the most infamous examples of PG&E’s reckless neglect. A defective pipeline exploded in a residential neighborhood, killing eight people and leveling dozens of homes. Investigations revealed that PG&E had inadequate safety protocols and had ignored warning signs of pipeline deterioration. Following this disaster, the company was fined and faced lawsuits, yet once again, it responded by increasing customer rates to recover its losses.

San Bruno. Aerial view of exploded gas main.

The CPUC’s Role in Enabling Rate Hikes

The California Public Utilities Commission, meant to regulate utilities and protect consumers, has been criticized for consistently approving PG&E’s rate increases. Rather than holding the company accountable, the CPUC has allowed PG&E to transfer its financial burdens to customers under the guise of necessary infrastructure improvements. Meanwhile, the promised safety upgrades often fall short or are delayed, continuing the cycle of disaster and financial exploitation.

What Can Be Done?

Consumers and advocacy groups are calling for more stringent oversight, greater accountability, and a push toward alternative energy providers that prioritize safety and reliability. Some suggest breaking up PG&E’s monopoly or transitioning to publicly owned utilities to remove the profit motive that drives reckless cost-cutting.

Distribution and transport costs using these dangerous power lines. We MUST go solar!

Conclusion

We MUST go solar! PG&E’s rate hikes are not simply a matter of business operations; they are a direct result of the company’s repeated failures to prevent disasters. As long as the utility is allowed to pass the cost of its negligence onto consumers, Californians will continue to pay not just in dollars, but in lives and livelihoods. Real change requires holding PG&E accountable. We MUST act with our feet and wallets. Going solar and taking our money AWAY from irresponsible companies is an investment in ourselves and the planet.

Are you ready to SAVE and fix your energy costs for the next 25 years? Are you ready to fund our salvation from wildfires? You can do this at NO UPFRONT COSTS. LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL. SAVE TENS of THOUSANDS over the next two decades. Contact us at DragonBox Solar today!