San Diego's Push for Sustainable Energy: Flat Rates and Gas Reduction Targets.

San Diego Gas & Electric has proposed a new flat-rate pricing plan for residential electric rates that would lower costs for most low- and moderate-income customers and prepare for phasing out natural gas appliances and gasoline-powered vehicles. The plan calls for four flat-rate tiers based on household income to cover the cost of transformers, transmission lines, billing, and customer service. Customers would pay the flat rate plus an average of 27 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity used, compared to the current average of 47 cents per KWh. The utility estimates that the average low-income customer could save as much as $300 a year under the new rate plan.