Here\u2019s the fourth one.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n San Diego businesses were already paying much higher energy rates than their counterparts in most other metros.<\/p>\n That was even before San Diego Gas & Electric bills went way up last year. As we wrap up our effort to understand what is really holding back business investment in San Diego, costs like our very high electricity bills are at the forefront.<\/p>\n Indeed, many states like Arizona and Texas offer the promise of lower energy rates, a point boosters from those states often use to sell California companies on moving. In many cases, San Diego businesses, especially industrial ones, are also paying higher rates than companies elsewhere in California.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s energy rates have long exceeded the national average, a reality that energy wonks attribute to multiple factors, including its more expensive mix of power sources and less flexibility to spread out electricity costs given the state\u2019s lower use overall.<\/p>\n Federal Energy Information Administration data shows the average San Diego commercial customer paid 41 percent more per kilowatt hour of energy than the U.S. average in 2012. Industrial companies in San Diego paid 46 percent more per kilowatt hour.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how San Diego compares with some other major metros on this front.<\/p>\n That gulf\u2019s likely increased since SDG&E raised rates by 21 to 24 percent last year, leaving companies with sticker shock. (Disclosure: Voice of San Diego\u2019s board of directors includes a vice president for SDG&E.)<\/em><\/p>\n One of them was the Ace Hardware in the Gaslamp, which took advantage of a green business program last year. As part of it, SDG&E audited owner Harry Schwartz\u2019s store and outfitted it with more energy efficient gear free of charge.<\/p>\n Ace Hardware\u2019s energy bills went up anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t expect a 25 percent increase after being more efficient,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cThat hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwartz said the increased charges forced him to cut his marketing budget. Planned newspaper ads and mail pieces were history.<\/p>\n SDG&E isn\u2019t denying those rate hikes exist\u2013 or that they\u2019re problematic.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very concerned about our business rates for customers,\u201d said Caroline Winn, the utility\u2019s vice president of customer services. \u201cThis is a huge concern for us as a company.\u201d<\/p>\n Winn said those rates motivated SDG&E to work on a proposal for a discount program for companies that plan to flee the state to reap lesser costs. The utility\u2019s pitch to the state Public Utilities Commission is still in the works.<\/p>\n She attributed the recent increases to a handful of causes.<\/p>\n![\"RobAnderson_TedWaltonweb\"](\"https:\/\/missionvalleynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/RobAnderson_TedWaltonweb.jpg\")
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