Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) review: Billing

My last 3 monthly bills should be discounted based on the previous year bill for those identical months, with no more than a 25% increase from last year for that month. Rates have not increased by 25%. The weather for the last 2 months has been exceptionally warmer than normal, and there is no reason why my most recent bill increased 50% higher than last year for the same billing period 02/12/26 - 03/13/26.

I did not notice the drastic changes until 3 months ago when I went off budget billing. I looked at the same month last year, and it had increased by 94%! I am 1 person in my house that is doing the same thing from 1 month to the next! I have not had guests or increased the size of my home. In fact I improved my energy usage by buying a more efficient heating system, than the 20 year old one I had, new smaller refrigerator, and hot water heater. When I complained to SMUD and asked for an energy audit I was told no. I looked up my rights and called back stating I had a right to have my meter checked and internal billing audited. I asked for an appointment and was told someone would get back to me in a few days.

Annoyed by never getting a straight answer, I filed a written complaint at SMUD. I was never called back. I called again, and this time was told they thought someone would be out on the 26th but the representative wasn’t sure. My meter was checked on 03/24/26, which tested fine. I asked how long the rest of the energy audit would take, and got a vague answer again. I asked for a case number, and was told it was all explained in the notes in my account.

I asked for a Supervisor and talked to Jocelyn Deltorio, on 03/27/26, who finally resolved the “privacy issue” with my phone number coming up for 3 months as Roger Johnson, making it impossible to get into my account. Understand, I have no idea who this person is. It took me explaining the privacy laws in California to get that party removed from my account.

I asked Jocelyn, when this audit would be completed and again no ETA. She said she wanted to send someone out to do an energy savings review at my home, but I explained that had been completed, and in the last year all my major appliance's, are more energy efficient. Plus, this is billing/program issue on my account, just like the name Roger Johnson, in fact, may be that’s the issue? My bill and his bill are combined. It’s definitely a change I made in my home or usage.

What’s troubling is SMUD refuses to take any responsibility for their errors. When I look at my January bill, I got $10.00 monthly for EAPR. My most recent bill shows $10.00, when I called today I was told I did get a $20.00 discount on EAPR, instead of it showing $20.00 monthly they added a new line, for $10.00 more credit. Nothing is clear to the customer everything lacks transparency.

I applied for the Community Resource Project utility assistance grant on 03/23/26, and was told unless I got a “Gray Disconnect” notice from SMUD, I would be denied. I called SMUD and explained. Even though I am behind 3 months paying my bill, and was told last month, on 03/26/26 I would get a discount notice it was extended, (without my knowledge) while doing this audit, which I can’t find out when will end.

I explained, I will take SMUD to small claims court if CRP runs out of funds because of the delays. For health reasons I have medical equipment and can’t be w/o electricity.

SMUD, has made this very difficult and should stop making excuses, and stop denying me my rights, which are to have a timely audit. Worse case give me the discount notice while they are taking their time auditing my account.

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