[EEGator]

I don’t know if it’s the same in California, but out east, Utility companies have to get approval from the Public Utility Commission to raise rates.

[CatOwner]

California PUC (CPUC) is in on the action. Pretty much controlled by the DEMs. Here's an article from March 2017 just in Lake County that pretty much describes what goes on in California statewide:

http://www.record-bee.com/article/NQ/20170317/NEWS/170319846

Quotes: Local residential electricity users, already reeling from steep rate hikes in 2016, face a new round of rate increases from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), starting with their April bills.

Clearlake Park resident Ben Weiss has an all-electric house and said he watched his electric bill skyrocket from $220 in December 2016 to $402 this January, nearly double, with no increase in usage.

Granted, this is a specialized case of an all-electric house, but the impact on all PG&E customers has been substantial.

[Steven Scharf]

Generally, utility companies need approval for both increases and decreases in rates.