3 days ago
2026, 2027 proposed SMUD rate hike gets public hearing
( — The SMUD Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting Wednesday evening to get feedback from the public on the proposed rate hikes for 2026 and 2027.
SMUD is asking for a 3% increase starting on January 1 of each year to cover a number of new or rising expenditures like inflation, a new administrative operations building and new projects intended to help it meet California clean energy standards.
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The utilities company said the new rate would result in a cost increase of $4.35 per month for the average residential customer starting on January 1, 2026 and an additional $4.48 per month starting on January 1, 2027.
Members of the public can attend the 6 p.m. meeting in person at the SMUD Headquarters Auditorium at 6201 S Street or over Zoom.
Those looking to provide comments at the meeting can sign up to speak using a form on a table outside the meeting room.
Virtual meeting attendees can use Zoom's 'Raise Hand' feature during the public comment period.
Comments can also be submitted via email to PublicComment@ The comments will not be read aloud during the meeting but will be provided to the board.
The Smud Board of Supervisors will meet again on June 19 to make a final decision on the proposal.
Rates for residential customers have increased 10 times since 2020:
January 1, 2020 – 3.75%
October 1, 2020 – 3%
January 1, 2021 – 2.5%
October 1, 2021 – 2%
March 1, 2022 – 1.5%
January 1, 2023 – 2%
January 1, 2024 – 2.75%
May 1, 2024 – 2.75%
January 1, 2025 – 2.75%
May 1, 2025 – 2.75%
In 2021, SMUD made a commitment to keeping its rate increases at or below inflation through 2030.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator, from January 2021 to April 2025 inflation was roughly 22.64%.
The accumulated rate of SMUD's hikes since January 2021 has been below that rate, at approximately 20.65%.
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