7 On Your Side: PG&E rates to go up by $7 per month

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Expect your average PG&E bill to go up by about seven dollars per month.

The state Public Utilities Commission gave PG&E permission last year to raise rates. They go up on Thursday.

The money will pay for upgrades to old gas lines and improve the "smart grid" to reduce blackouts. PG&E also will expand its call center.

The average bill will go up by 5.9 percent. It's the biggest rate hike since 2006.