Trystan Casey
In 2018, residents of Mission Viejo, California, petitioned state agencies for relief from soaring electricity rates. The average monthly electric bill for residential customers in Mission Viejo is $266/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate. In response to the petition, the city council argued that San Diego Gas & Electric, which serves half of the city, may have acted on a predatory basis in designating the city as coastal, and that mismanagement of power system operations may have led to higher rates. Residents reported that their electric bills spiked by hundreds of dollars during the summer months, despite efforts to conserve energy by keeping appliances off and reducing usage. In addition to high electricity rates, Mission Viejo has also experienced power outages, with some neighbourhoods experiencing outages for up to 12 hours.
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What You'll Learn
Power outages
One resident reported that their neighbourhood had been without power for approximately 10 minutes, while another user commented that their complex and half of another had been without electricity for nearly 12 hours. The latter user also mentioned that the estimated repair time kept getting pushed back, which is understandably frustrating.
The electricity supplier for Southern California, including Mission Viejo, is Southern California Edison (SCE). In the case of power outages, residents can submit reports or check for updates on the SCE website.
In 2018, residents of Mission Viejo experienced another form of power-related frustration when they petitioned the state for relief from high electric rates. Half of the city's residents are served by San Diego Gas & Electric, whose rates were reported to be significantly higher than those of other utilities. The other half of the city's customers, served by Southern California Edison, also experienced higher bills during the summer but not as dramatically. The city council sent a letter urging state agencies to investigate the rates and business practices of the utility companies, suggesting that mismanagement of power system operations may have contributed to the high costs.
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High electricity costs
In 2018, residents of Mission Viejo, California, petitioned state agencies for relief from high electricity costs. Half of the city's residents are serviced by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), whose rates are reportedly much higher than other utilities. Some residents reported that their electric bills had spiked by hundreds of dollars during the summer, with one resident's bill more than doubling to $580 despite minimal usage.
The Mission Viejo City Council sent a letter to the state Public Utilities Commission, Attorney General, and legislators, urging an investigation into SDG&E's rates and business practices. The Council suggested that the company had acted "on a predatory basis" by designating the city as coastal, resulting in higher rates. They also attributed the high costs to mismanagement of power system operations and infrastructure, arguing that the company was passing on costs that should be covered by investors.
In response, SDG&E acknowledged the challenges faced by its customers and committed to finding solutions to lower bills. The company highlighted its use of renewable energy sources and its majority of power lines being underground, both of which contribute to higher costs.
To address high electricity costs, some residents and utilities have suggested switching to a "time-of-use" plan, which offers lower rates for energy used during off-peak hours. However, this may not provide significant relief during hot summer months when energy usage peaks in the late afternoon and early evening.
Installing solar panels is another strategy to reduce electricity costs in Mission Viejo. On average, residents can expect to break even on their solar investment in about 5.55 years, after which they may eliminate their electric bills entirely. Community solar programs are also available, offering potential savings of 5-15% on annual electricity costs.
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Solar energy savings
In Mission Viejo, California, residents have been facing issues with electricity rates and power outages. In 2018, residents petitioned the state for relief from high electric rates, with some bills spiking by hundreds of dollars during the summer months. The city receives its electricity supply from two companies, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison (SCE). The rates charged by San Diego Gas & Electric have been a significant concern for residents, with bills notably higher than those served by Edison.
To address these concerns, the Mission Viejo City Council sent a letter to the state Public Utilities Commission, Attorney General, and legislators, requesting an investigation into the rates and practices of San Diego Gas & Electric. Residents have also led efforts to file complaints and seek solutions for the high electric rates.
Solar energy provides a promising alternative for residents of Mission Viejo, offering the potential for significant savings on electric bills. By installing a solar system, residents can offset their electric bills, reducing or even eliminating monthly costs. The amount of savings depends on the current electricity expenditure and the proportion of the bill that solar energy can offset. On average, it takes around 5.55 years to break even on a solar investment in Mission Viejo.
For a typical electricity customer in Mission Viejo, a 5.4 kW solar panel system is required to offset 100% of their annual electricity consumption of 9756 kWh. The average cost of such a system is $12,000 before incentives. With a $0-down loan, residents can expect substantial savings over time, amounting to $3,200 in the first year, $18,000 over five years, $41,900 over a decade, and an impressive $116,300 over 20 years.
Even for those unable to install solar panels, there are options to participate in the clean energy transition and save on electric bills. Community solar programs in Mission Viejo offer residents the opportunity to save 5-15% on their electricity costs annually. This equates to an average savings of $319 per year for electricity customers in the city.
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$14197
SDG&E rates
In 2018, residents of Mission Viejo, California, petitioned state agencies for relief from high electricity rates charged by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). Half of the city's residents are served by SDG&E, while the other half are customers of Southern California Edison (SCE). Mission Viejo City Council sent a letter urging the state Public Utilities Commission, Attorney General, and legislators to investigate the rates and business practices of SDG&E.
Residents complained that their electric bills had spiked by hundreds of dollars during the summer, with some doubling in a month even when the family was away and appliances were turned off. SDG&E customers were aware that their bills were higher than their neighbours', but the issue came to a head in 2018 when bills soared. One resident, Josh Smisko, led the charge in filing complaints with the PUC.
In response, an SDG&E spokesman, Wes Jones, stated that the company was working towards solutions to lower bills. He noted that the company's use of renewable energy sources, which can be more costly, is far above the national average, and that most of its power lines are underground, which are more expensive to maintain. However, Mission Viejo officials were unconvinced by this explanation, suggesting that the company had acted "on a predatory basis" in designating the city as coastal and that mismanagement of power system operations had led to higher rates.
The average monthly electric bill for residential customers in Mission Viejo is $266, calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 813 kWh * $0.33/kWh. To save on electric bills, SDG&E suggested switching to a "time-of-use" plan, which charges less for energy used during off-peak hours. However, this may not be effective during hot summer days when energy use is high during peak hours.
One way that Mission Viejo residents can save money on their electric bills is by investing in solar. On average, solar customers in Mission Viejo break even on their solar investment in 5.55 years, after which they may eliminate their electric bills. Even if a property owner cannot install solar panels, they can save 5-15% on their electric bill by subscribing to a community solar farm.
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Community solar farms
In 2018, Mission Viejo, California, experienced soaring summer electric bills, with residents reporting bills that spiked by hundreds of dollars. In response, Mission Viejo officials and residents petitioned the state for relief from these high electric rates and urged the state Public Utilities Commission, Attorney General, and legislators to investigate San Diego Gas & Electric's (SDG&E) rates and business practices. SDG&E responded by acknowledging the challenges faced by their customers and committing to working towards solutions to lower bills.
High electricity costs in Mission Viejo have been a concern for residents, with some reporting bills that doubled even during periods of reduced usage. The average monthly electric bill for residential customers in Mission Viejo is $266/month, which is calculated based on average monthly consumption and electric rates. To address these concerns, residents have explored various options, including community solar farms.
Solar energy not only reduces monthly electric bills but also helps the environment. On average, solar systems in Mission Viejo have a payback period of around 5.55 years, after which residents may break even on their solar investment and potentially eliminate their electric bills. For those unable to install solar on their property, community solar programs provide a viable alternative to reap the benefits of solar energy.
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Frequently asked questions
$266/month.
Residents petitioned the state for relief from high electric rates. Half of the city's residents, customers of San Diego Gas & Electric, experienced bills that were far higher than those of their neighbours, served by Southern California Edison.
On average, it takes 5.55 years to break even on a solar investment.
Yes, there was a power outage in Mission Viejo, California, on 8 February 2024.
