On April 15, we published an editorial opposing a PG&E proposal that would drive up electricity rates for people in cooler coastal communities – that’s us in Santa Rosa – so they can cut rates in the Central Valley, where there’s been an uproar since SmartMeters went in last year.

Under the proposed rate schedule, someone using 550 kilowatt-hours per month would pay about $130 more annually. Meanwhile, someone using 1,500 kilowatt-hours a month would save about $1,200 a year.

If you want to sound off, the California Public Utilities Commission is holding two public hearings on the proposal in our area today:

1 p.m. Ukiah Valley Conference Center

200 S. School St.

7 p.m. Santa Rosa City Hall

100 Santa Rosa Ave.

Sorry for the short notice, but I just found out it about this morning.

— Jim Sweeney