ROSEMEAD – Southern California Edison estimates rates for some residential customers could increase by an average of 30 percent or more next year because of soaring fuel prices and costs to upgrade infrastructure, according to a company executive.
Edison filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission last fall to ask permission to raise electricity rates in 2009. The utility’s initial rate forecast included an average increase of 17.5 percent for residential customers, according to a report issued by Edison in March.
Now, Edison expects that number could double. Average residential rates could increase “in excess of 30 percent” when rising fuel prices are taken into account, said Akbar Jazayeri, vice president of regulatory operations for Edison.
Edison’s rates are broken into a five-tiered system based on the amount of energy a customer uses. Only

customers within the three highest tiers – the heaviest users – would be affected by the proposed rate hikes, Jazayeri said. “A customer that stays within tier one and tier two will not see any rate increase at all,” Jazayeri said.
“It’s very important for the customers to start planning and make sure they have energy-efficient equipment and that all steps are taken to reduce their energy usage,” Jazayeri said.
Edison said the higher rates are needed because of volatile fuel prices, which have skyrocketed since the utility filed its initial request with the PUC. “We are mentioning this to basically prepare the customers,” Jazayeri said. “We are very concerned.”