Regulation is what apologists will cite but only the three large IOU (Investor Owned Utilities) have such ridiculous electricity rates. Part of the Bay Area is

Regulation is what apologists will cite but only the three large IOU (Investor Owned Utilities) have such ridiculous electricity rates. Part of the Bay Area is served by Silicon Valley Power which is half or less of PG&E's rates. Other parts of CA (like the eastern edge) are served by private electric companies but they too don't have such high rates. San Francisco owns Hetch Hetchy and the hydro generation plant more than covers all of SF's power usage. But for historical and regulatory capture reasons SF is not allowed to supply its own electricity despite owning both a large generator and a retail electric provider (CleanPowerSF). It is all forced to go through the "free market" and thus pay markups. If it were a municipal electric district prices would be among the cheapest in the nation. SF tried to get the bankruptcy court to let it bid on PG&E's assets in SF but got rejected out of hand. The Investor Owned Utilities in California have unique regulatory capture, corruption (both direct and via their unions), and are just grossly inefficient. Thankfully my solar and battery system makes me almost independent from PG&E - including 100% of our driving via an EV. We make our own fuel at home and it is a feeling of freedom you can't match with a gas vehicle.