California’s insurance commissioner said his approval was conditioned on State Farm justifying its need for the increase by bringing data to a public hearing on April 8.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara decided Friday to provisionally grant State Farm General's request for a 22% hike in its homeowner insurance rates pending a formal rate hearing next month.

The approval comes months after devastating wildfires, and will add an average $600 a year to homeowners’ bills.

It grew into the state’s largest home insurer by writing policies with low premiums and inadequate reserves for the risks it was underwriting.

California's top insurance regulator on Friday said he would approve an emergency request by State Farm to raise premiums 22% on home insurance for about a million customers if the insurance giant could justify the hike at a public hearing.

Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group that opposed State Farm’s request, said the 22% increase could equate to an additional $600 annually for homeowners.