WEBVTT
00:00:00.683 --> 00:00:03.266
(upbeat music)
00:00:08.450 --> 00:00:09.580
Welcome
to the California
00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:11.923
Public Utilities Commission
public voting meeting
00:00:11.923 --> 00:00:16.200
on this day, Thursday,
September 24th, 2020.
00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:17.670
Today's call is being recorded.
00:00:17.670 --> 00:00:21.030
If you have any objections,
you may disconnect at this time.
00:00:21.030 --> 00:00:22.730
President Batjer, you may proceed.
00:00:23.680 --> 00:00:26.960
Thank you operator
and good morning everyone.
00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:28.760
We need to establish a quorum.
00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:30.960
Would the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
00:00:32.067 --> 00:00:34.021
Commissioner Shiroma.
00:00:34.021 --> 00:00:35.508
Present.
00:00:35.508 --> 00:00:37.620
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:38.453
Here.
00:00:39.530 --> 00:00:41.420
Commissioner Randolph.
00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:42.881
Here.
00:00:42.881 --> 00:00:44.860
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
00:00:44.860 --> 00:00:46.200
Present.
00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.032
President Batjer.
00:00:48.032 --> 00:00:48.865
Here.
00:00:48.865 --> 00:00:50.650
A quorum has been established.
00:00:50.650 --> 00:00:53.207
Welcome to the Public
Utilities Commission,
00:00:53.207 --> 00:00:55.810
the California Public
Utilities Commission.
00:00:55.810 --> 00:00:59.490
I am calling this meeting
of September 24th, 2020,
00:00:59.490 --> 00:01:03.520
public agenda item 34-71 to order.
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:05.610
Due to the coronavirus pandemic
00:01:05.610 --> 00:01:07.630
and the shelter-in-place order,
00:01:07.630 --> 00:01:10.370
we are conducting today's
business meeting online
00:01:10.370 --> 00:01:12.610
and by remote participation.
00:01:12.610 --> 00:01:16.147
The meeting is livestreamed
on the CPUC's website.
00:01:16.147 --> 00:01:21.147
You can view the meeting
at ww.adminmonitor.ca/.com.
00:01:25.910 --> 00:01:29.140
Excuse me, /ca/cpuc.
00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:30.500
Let me do that over again.
00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:34.703
ww.adminmonitor, one word,
00:01:36.377 --> 00:01:38.673
.com.ca.cpuc.
00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:45.180
Okay, the public engagement
is critical to the CPUC process.
00:01:45.270 --> 00:01:47.240
If you wish to make a public comment,
00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:50.323
please dial into (800) 857-1917,
00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:57.357
and enter passcode 9-8-9-9-5-0-1,
00:02:01.070 --> 00:02:03.230
and press star one.
00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:05.260
You will be placed into a queue,
00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:06.780
and the operator will take your name
00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:09.630
and organization, if appropriate.
00:02:09.630 --> 00:02:11.520
You will be called upon to speak
00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:15.963
when we get to the public
comment period in today's agenda.
00:02:17.870 --> 00:02:19.610
If you encounter any difficulty
00:02:19.610 --> 00:02:21.840
calling into the public telephone line,
00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:25.683
please email
VotingMeetingHelp@cpuc.ca.gov.
00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:32.723
Voting meeting help is all one word.
00:02:34.230 --> 00:02:37.328
I would like to start by
acknowledging the great loss
00:02:37.328 --> 00:02:39.210
our nation suffered last Friday
00:02:39.210 --> 00:02:43.300
in the passing of Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:47.090
Before discussing the
achievements and contributions
00:02:47.090 --> 00:02:50.430
of Justice Ginsburg, please join me
00:02:50.430 --> 00:02:55.430
in 87 seconds of silence
to honor her 87 years of life.
00:04:31.940 --> 00:04:33.490
Thank you all.
00:04:33.490 --> 00:04:38.490
Justice Ginsburg, or how she
more recently was known as
00:04:38.690 --> 00:04:43.240
The Notorious R.B.G., was a
prominent women's rights lawyer.
00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.810
The second woman
appointed to the Supreme Court,
00:04:45.810 --> 00:04:48.720
and a champion of gender equality.
00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.540
A debt of gratitude is
owed to Justice Ginsburg
00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:55.110
for the historic impact
she made on the court
00:04:55.110 --> 00:04:56.880
and on our country.
00:04:56.880 --> 00:04:59.440
As we mourn her loss,
we also take comfort
00:04:59.440 --> 00:05:03.540
and find strength in the
legacies that she left behind.
00:05:03.540 --> 00:05:06.440
We all know that representation matters.
00:05:06.440 --> 00:05:10.140
Justice Ginsburg's 27
years on the highest court
00:05:10.140 --> 00:05:13.940
serves as an inspiration
to all who might aspire
00:05:13.940 --> 00:05:16.710
to roles not traditionally
assigned to them,
00:05:16.710 --> 00:05:20.963
to pursue their dreams
and despite societal norms.
00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:25.630
Finally, I would like
to share with you all
00:05:25.630 --> 00:05:27.880
one quote of Justice Ginsburg's
00:05:27.880 --> 00:05:30.737
that seems particularly relevant.
00:05:30.737 --> 00:05:33.400
"Dissents speak to a future age.
00:05:33.400 --> 00:05:36.360
It's not simply to say,
'My colleagues are wrong
00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:38.240
and I would do it this way,'
00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:42.880
but the greatest dissents
do become court opinions,
00:05:42.880 --> 00:05:47.875
and gradually, over time,
views become the dominant view.
00:05:47.875 --> 00:05:51.040
So that's the dissenters hope,
00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.847
that they are writing not
for today, but for tomorrow."
00:05:56.090 --> 00:05:59.820
I think of the state of
California, as the great dissenter.
00:05:59.820 --> 00:06:03.700
We continue to lead on issues
such as climate adaptation
00:06:03.700 --> 00:06:06.580
and the need to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
00:06:06.580 --> 00:06:09.130
in the hopes that one day soon,
00:06:09.130 --> 00:06:11.683
our policies will become
the dominant view.
00:06:12.520 --> 00:06:13.770
I share these hopes today,
00:06:13.770 --> 00:06:16.040
not just because it's climate week,
00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:17.750
but because we have suffered greatly
00:06:17.750 --> 00:06:19.920
over the last two months from the surge
00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:24.610
of climate-change-induced
wildfires that have claimed lives,
00:06:24.610 --> 00:06:27.250
destroyed communities,
and altered landscapes,
00:06:27.250 --> 00:06:29.033
and contaminated our air.
00:06:30.080 --> 00:06:33.680
I also mention this
because in the public space
00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:35.510
we have witnessed the furthering
00:06:35.510 --> 00:06:39.010
and the unnecessary
politicization of climate change
00:06:39.010 --> 00:06:41.503
in reaction to these tragic events.
00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:46.060
California's climate strategy
has always been served well
00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:50.970
by being grounded in science
and technological feasibility,
00:06:50.970 --> 00:06:54.910
as well as being considerate
of the diverse local cultures
00:06:54.910 --> 00:06:57.583
of those communities
we are serving to protect.
00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.410
We have done our best, always,
00:07:01.410 --> 00:07:05.380
we have done our best work
when we recognize each region
00:07:05.380 --> 00:07:08.460
and community has its own vision
00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:12.430
for protecting its people,
property, and way of life.
00:07:12.430 --> 00:07:15.870
It has been over a decade
since the Democratic legislature
00:07:15.870 --> 00:07:17.670
and a Republican Governor
00:07:17.670 --> 00:07:20.740
established our initial climate goals.
00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:23.630
Since then, we have continued
to see bipartisan support
00:07:23.630 --> 00:07:25.740
at the state and community levels,
00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:27.780
as we have enhanced our commitments
00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:29.900
to greenhouse gas reductions,
00:07:29.900 --> 00:07:34.440
increased our use of renewable
and clean energy technologies
00:07:34.440 --> 00:07:36.950
and committed significant resources
00:07:36.950 --> 00:07:40.670
to better prevent wildfires
and manage our forests.
00:07:40.670 --> 00:07:43.130
This model of building
an effective consensus
00:07:43.130 --> 00:07:46.146
on climate in California
is just as important
00:07:46.146 --> 00:07:49.810
as the specific policy
tools we have chosen
00:07:49.810 --> 00:07:51.083
to reach our goals.
00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.470
Through support for a broad framework
00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:56.960
that combats climate change
00:07:56.960 --> 00:07:59.500
and strengthens
public health and safety,
00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:03.320
with a focus on our most
vulnerable communities,
00:08:03.320 --> 00:08:06.040
can we better prepare all Californians
00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:07.870
for the changes to come.
00:08:07.870 --> 00:08:10.750
The CPUC is at the
front of these efforts,
00:08:10.750 --> 00:08:13.850
given the entities and
services we regulate
00:08:13.850 --> 00:08:17.450
that touch the lives of
almost every Californian.
00:08:17.450 --> 00:08:19.300
As we move forward on these issues,
00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:23.020
including the implementation
of the executive order
00:08:23.020 --> 00:08:25.260
issued by Governor Newsom yesterday,
00:08:25.260 --> 00:08:28.930
which seeks to achieve all
new passenger vehicle sales
00:08:28.930 --> 00:08:32.150
to be zero emissions by 2035,
00:08:32.150 --> 00:08:34.620
it will be critical that we work towards
00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:36.940
broadening the support of this work
00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:41.570
and ensure our solutions are
accessible by all Californians.
00:08:41.570 --> 00:08:45.400
We must take bold steps to
address our climate emergency.
00:08:45.400 --> 00:08:49.350
I am honored to live in a
state that takes these steps,
00:08:49.350 --> 00:08:52.690
and to work for the Commission
where we can translate
00:08:52.690 --> 00:08:56.384
these bold goals into
actionable implementation.
00:08:56.384 --> 00:09:00.080
Thank you, and I invite any
of my fellow Commissioners
00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:02.030
for any comments that they wish to make
00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:07.223
at this time regarding
The Notorious R.B.G.
00:09:10.790 --> 00:09:11.840
Commissioner Shiroma.
00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:17.010
Yes, thank you
President Batjer.
00:09:17.010 --> 00:09:19.723
I'm wearing my lace color in,
00:09:21.410 --> 00:09:25.500
with respect to The Notorious R.B.G.
00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:27.800
I want to reflect-
It's beautiful.
00:09:27.800 --> 00:09:32.650
Thank you, her contributions
to our country's body of law
00:09:32.650 --> 00:09:35.680
and her lifelong efforts
in the furtherance
00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:40.680
of gender equality have been unmatched.
00:09:41.510 --> 00:09:46.510
Her patience as a jurist,
as a judge, as a litigator,
00:09:48.810 --> 00:09:53.630
is really a testimonial for all of us.
00:09:53.630 --> 00:09:57.360
Her successful work
prior to becoming a judge
00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.500
was really to impress upon the courts
00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:04.690
how gender equality positively
affects not only women,
00:10:04.690 --> 00:10:07.610
but also men and families.
00:10:07.610 --> 00:10:11.209
And I'm really honored to
serve on this Commission
00:10:11.209 --> 00:10:15.610
where women are serving as
four of our five Commissioners.
00:10:15.610 --> 00:10:19.430
We really stand on her
shoulders and her career.
00:10:19.430 --> 00:10:23.910
So, I close with a reminder
for all to register to vote,
00:10:23.910 --> 00:10:28.010
double check your registration
and vote early, if you can.
00:10:28.010 --> 00:10:28.843
Thank you.
00:10:29.770 --> 00:10:31.760
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
00:10:31.760 --> 00:10:33.110
Yes. Commissioner Randolph.
00:10:35.290 --> 00:10:38.010
I think both you and
Commissioner Shiroma
00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:40.510
sort of reflected things well,
00:10:40.510 --> 00:10:43.990
but I just wanted to
add the perspective of
00:10:43.990 --> 00:10:46.320
the fact that Justice Ginsburg served
00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:50.370
as such a huge inspiration
to women lawyers,
00:10:50.370 --> 00:10:52.630
and women lawyers who are moms.
00:10:52.630 --> 00:10:56.640
And I cannot tell you
how many texts I got
00:10:56.640 --> 00:11:00.710
from so many of my colleagues
over the years at, you know,
00:11:00.710 --> 00:11:05.130
commemorating her passing,
and just reminding each other
00:11:05.130 --> 00:11:07.923
what a huge inspiration she was to us.
00:11:09.130 --> 00:11:13.920
So I'm very pleased to take
a moment to remember her.
00:11:13.920 --> 00:11:16.940
And as Commissioner Shiroma said,
00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:19.170
make a plan and please vote.
00:11:19.170 --> 00:11:24.170
Because all of these efforts
around climate change
00:11:26.330 --> 00:11:29.450
and the regulatory
framework we need to build
00:11:29.450 --> 00:11:31.830
to combat climate change,
00:11:31.830 --> 00:11:34.770
needs to be sustained in the courts.
00:11:34.770 --> 00:11:36.870
And we all need to get out and vote
00:11:36.870 --> 00:11:38.940
to make sure that that happens.
00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.773
Thank you.
00:11:42.371 --> 00:11:45.450
Commissioner
Rechtschaffen.
00:11:45.450 --> 00:11:47.670
Thank you, I wanted
to just say two things
00:11:47.670 --> 00:11:52.670
about why Justice Ginsburg
was so inspirational to me.
00:11:53.750 --> 00:11:57.770
One, I'm an attorney and
she had a brilliant career
00:11:57.770 --> 00:12:01.670
as a lawyer, arguably
more influential as a lawyer
00:12:01.670 --> 00:12:03.003
than as a Justice.
00:12:03.880 --> 00:12:05.640
And one of the things she did
00:12:05.640 --> 00:12:08.830
to promote gender
equality is she challenged
00:12:08.830 --> 00:12:09.880
not just traditional,
00:12:13.401 --> 00:12:16.840
stereotypical role models for women,
00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:20.040
but she also challenged them for men.
00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:21.550
It was a brilliant litigation tool,
00:12:21.550 --> 00:12:24.890
but it also was something
that helped promote
00:12:24.890 --> 00:12:26.643
gender equality for everyone.
00:12:27.870 --> 00:12:31.890
Secondly, I'm very proud
that Justice Ginsburg grew up
00:12:31.890 --> 00:12:35.280
in Brooklyn, about a mile and
a half from where I grew up.
00:12:35.280 --> 00:12:36.960
She went to the rival high school,
00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:41.420
but we still claim her as
a champion of Brooklyn.
00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:45.150
She devoted her life and
career to advancing the principles
00:12:45.150 --> 00:12:47.820
of equality, and I hope
that our nation can live up
00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:50.583
to those ideals in the
days and months ahead.
00:12:54.810 --> 00:12:57.160
Thank you
so much, Commissioner.
00:12:58.609 --> 00:13:00.093
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
00:13:01.280 --> 00:13:02.860
Yes. Thank you,
President Batjer.
00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:07.000
And thank you all for
your very beautiful words
00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.590
about Justice Ginsburg.
00:13:08.590 --> 00:13:12.370
I think, it's kind of
interesting where she,
00:13:12.370 --> 00:13:14.840
when she gained her kind of rebranding
00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:18.270
as The Notorious R.B.G.,
and I often wondered
00:13:18.270 --> 00:13:22.000
if she actually knew who
The Notorious B.I.G. was.
00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.913
I think a fellow from
Brooklyn, if I'm not mistaken.
00:13:25.760 --> 00:13:30.170
So, there's so much irony in
that and so much beauty in it.
00:13:30.170 --> 00:13:33.750
I think it's just tremendous
to take a moment
00:13:33.750 --> 00:13:38.440
to think all the work that any
woman, any woman of color
00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:44.110
has benefited from her work,
both as, as you've all said,
00:13:44.110 --> 00:13:47.340
as a litigator and as a judge.
00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.420
And just recognizing the
tremendous burden that she bore
00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:55.420
for so many years, and
what a critical moment we're in
00:13:56.260 --> 00:13:57.223
in our history.
00:13:59.010 --> 00:14:02.600
So, thank you for recognizing that,
00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.540
and thank you to her
for the tremendous role
00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.873
she's had in our society.
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.950
Thank you all
my fellow Commissioners
00:14:11.950 --> 00:14:15.030
for the wonderful thoughts and words
00:14:15.030 --> 00:14:20.030
that you have stated in
memory of The Notorious R.B.G.
00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:27.290
And thank you too, Commissioner Shiroma
00:14:27.290 --> 00:14:29.380
and Commissioner
Randolph for reminding people
00:14:29.380 --> 00:14:32.350
the importance of making
sure they're registered
00:14:32.350 --> 00:14:34.100
and that they vote.
00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:37.353
There is way too much at
stake at this time in our history.
00:14:39.850 --> 00:14:42.733
We are now in the public comment period.
00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:46.740
If you wish to make a public comment
00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:48.330
and you have already dialed in,
00:14:48.330 --> 00:14:51.260
and I understand we have
approximately 33 people
00:14:51.260 --> 00:14:53.203
in the queue at this time,
00:14:54.690 --> 00:14:58.610
the public comment telephone
line, please press star one
00:14:58.610 --> 00:15:01.890
to get into the public comment queue.
00:15:01.890 --> 00:15:06.560
The CPCU rules do not
allow for parties in proceedings
00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:10.170
to speak about open proceedings.
00:15:10.170 --> 00:15:12.360
The public can make
comments addressing items
00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:15.810
on the consent and regular agenda,
00:15:15.810 --> 00:15:19.670
and including items
not on the agenda today.
00:15:19.670 --> 00:15:23.460
Please note that there
will not be public comment
00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:27.740
on items 15, 25, 28,
00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.950
and any item on the
closed session agenda.
00:15:31.950 --> 00:15:35.110
You will have two minutes to speak,
00:15:35.110 --> 00:15:38.596
and then a bell will ring to notice you
00:15:38.596 --> 00:15:40.613
that your time is up.
00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:45.850
With that guidance in mind,
I welcome today's speakers
00:15:45.850 --> 00:15:49.030
and we'll now turn
back over to the operator
00:15:49.030 --> 00:15:51.860
to open the public
comment telephone line.
00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.693
Operator?
00:15:55.090 --> 00:15:58.140
Thank you. The
public comment line is now open.
00:15:58.140 --> 00:16:01.752
Our first speaker is
Dennis Geist, a citizen.
00:16:01.752 --> 00:16:04.407
Sir, you may go ahead.
00:16:04.407 --> 00:16:06.408
Good morning,
and thank you so much
00:16:06.408 --> 00:16:08.190
for the opportunity to speak today.
00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:12.803
I'm calling regarding the
expansion of power lines
00:16:12.803 --> 00:16:15.363
in the Escondido, San Marcos area.
00:16:16.210 --> 00:16:20.070
I've lived in San Elijo
Hills for almost 13 years.
00:16:20.070 --> 00:16:21.910
And during my time in this community,
00:16:21.910 --> 00:16:24.183
I have been evacuated twice due to fires
00:16:24.183 --> 00:16:26.490
in or near our community.
00:16:26.490 --> 00:16:29.820
My concern today is not just
about the potential increase
00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:33.470
in fire risk associated
with the expansion
00:16:33.470 --> 00:16:35.810
of overground power lines.
00:16:35.810 --> 00:16:37.680
It's also about the
fact that when I moved
00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.750
into San Elijo Hills, the power lines
00:16:39.750 --> 00:16:42.594
were wooden and non-intrusive.
00:16:42.594 --> 00:16:47.380
The wooden poles were removed
and replaced with giant poles.
00:16:47.380 --> 00:16:49.080
And that was done without obtaining
00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:51.113
an environmental impact report.
00:16:52.030 --> 00:16:55.080
Now, they want to install
several miles of obtrusive
00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:58.275
overground power
lines again, without any
00:16:58.275 --> 00:17:01.513
environmental impact study or report.
00:17:02.850 --> 00:17:05.620
Not only does this not appear to comply
00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:09.730
with CTUC's general order 131-D,
00:17:09.730 --> 00:17:13.710
but it may have a cumulative
impact on future power lines,
00:17:13.710 --> 00:17:17.380
and in fact, then again,
would not require an EIR
00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:20.093
if they wanted to expand
the lines in the future.
00:17:21.250 --> 00:17:23.680
Given that as a state,
we are in the middle
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.290
of the worst fire year in history,
00:17:26.290 --> 00:17:28.810
I believe it's incumbent upon all of us
00:17:28.810 --> 00:17:30.730
that we seriously consider the current
00:17:30.730 --> 00:17:35.730
and future consequences
of a project of this magnitude.
00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:39.000
Additionally, I consider
it inconceivable
00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:43.600
and irresponsible that an
EIR is not an automatic report,
00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:46.730
obtained to ensure that
there is a clear understanding
00:17:46.730 --> 00:17:50.590
of exactly how a project
again, of this magnitude,
00:17:50.590 --> 00:17:52.630
would or could impact the communities
00:17:52.630 --> 00:17:56.502
that they were specifically
intended to serve.
00:17:56.502 --> 00:17:58.037
I would also like to quickly address
00:17:58.037 --> 00:18:00.510
the underground power line option.
00:18:00.510 --> 00:18:03.280
Understandably, it
might be more expensive,
00:18:03.280 --> 00:18:05.010
but that's in today's dollars.
00:18:05.010 --> 00:18:06.902
It does not consider the future savings
00:18:06.902 --> 00:18:09.580
for the required maintenance of poles,
00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:12.600
or the fire mitigation
required to remove brush
00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:15.510
and debris from under power lines.
00:18:15.510 --> 00:18:18.437
We've got a recent
fire that just broke out
00:18:18.437 --> 00:18:21.400
that may be attributed
to a downed power line.
00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:23.100
We don't know yet.
00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:25.280
But all we're trying
to do is to consider
00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:26.870
the risk associated with this,
00:18:26.870 --> 00:18:29.430
and cost should not be a driving factor.
00:18:29.430 --> 00:18:32.090
Safety and convenience of the community,
00:18:32.090 --> 00:18:33.977
and specifically safety to the community
00:18:33.977 --> 00:18:37.800
and the environment
should be our main concerns.
00:18:37.800 --> 00:18:42.800
So I'd like to have the CPU consider,
00:18:42.910 --> 00:18:44.610
and really focusing more
00:18:44.610 --> 00:18:46.320
on the underground power line option.
00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:48.840
It's a modern alternative to overground,
00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:52.473
and I think it's a
much safer alternative.
00:18:52.473 --> 00:18:55.410
I wanted to thank everyone
today for their consideration
00:18:55.410 --> 00:18:56.833
of my comments, thank you.
00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:02.490
Thank you.
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:19:04.170 --> 00:19:07.020
Our next
caller is Elaina Quinova,
00:19:07.020 --> 00:19:09.050
a San Elijo Hills resident.
00:19:09.050 --> 00:19:09.900
You may go ahead.
00:19:11.170 --> 00:19:13.169
Yes. Good
morning, Commissioners.
00:19:13.169 --> 00:19:14.590
My name is Elaina Quinova,
00:19:14.590 --> 00:19:18.160
and I live in San Elijo
Hills neighborhood.
00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.210
Can you hear me okay?
00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:21.490
Yes, we can.
00:19:21.490 --> 00:19:22.353
Okay. Thank you.
00:19:22.353 --> 00:19:24.703
Just wanted to check.
Thank you for taking my call.
00:19:24.703 --> 00:19:29.120
I'll be speaking on the
agenda item number 21.
00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:31.500
This morning we hope
to provide you with insight
00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:35.210
to why we, Rancho
Dorado, San Elijo Hills,
00:19:35.210 --> 00:19:38.220
and the city of San Marcos
are strongly urging you
00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:41.170
to consider other
alternatives in lieu of approving
00:19:41.170 --> 00:19:43.543
SDG&E prospective project.
00:19:44.412 --> 00:19:45.790
As you did two weeks ago,
00:19:45.790 --> 00:19:48.260
you will hear from
people who live and work
00:19:48.260 --> 00:19:51.238
in these communities
and will be impacted
00:19:51.238 --> 00:19:55.640
if you allow this 12-mile
circuit above the ground route
00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.150
to be built.
00:19:57.150 --> 00:19:59.610
We are reasonable, we're
not demanding this project
00:19:59.610 --> 00:20:01.170
not to be built.
00:20:01.170 --> 00:20:04.290
What we are demanding is a consideration
00:20:04.290 --> 00:20:07.320
of alternative routes,
given the unique nature
00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:11.123
of San Elijo Hills and its
exposure to wildfire risks.
00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:16.720
As you will hear, San Elijo
Hills is nested in the hills,
00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:21.720
100% surrounded by Cal
Fire's highest wildfire risk zone,
00:20:22.365 --> 00:20:27.365
the FHSZ, home to
approximately 10,000 residents.
00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:31.390
This is also a virtual island,
00:20:31.390 --> 00:20:33.550
with limited evacuation routes.
00:20:33.550 --> 00:20:37.960
Should not be subject to
having one more transmission line
00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:41.010
to be built halfway around its border.
00:20:41.010 --> 00:20:43.730
Particularly when
they're an alternative,
00:20:43.730 --> 00:20:47.743
such as undergrounding,
that you will hear more about,
00:20:48.790 --> 00:20:51.610
that would not increase
the wildfire danger.
00:20:51.610 --> 00:20:55.240
Why put so many people's
lives at increased risk
00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.970
when it doesn't have to be that way.
00:20:57.970 --> 00:21:01.040
We hope that after listening
to our heartfelt concerns,
00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:04.580
you will do what is truly
in the public's best interest
00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:07.820
and either mandate
and EIR to be completed
00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:10.400
before proceeding,
or bypass that process
00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:15.600
and order this transmission
line to be buried underground
00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:20.563
along this 5.21 mile route that
would be directly connected,
00:21:22.620 --> 00:21:26.380
will connect San Marcus
and Escondido substation.
00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:29.083
Thank you for your
consideration and for your time.
00:21:30.521 --> 00:21:31.860
Thank you.
00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:33.563
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.900
Our next caller
is Sharon Harrisford.
00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.963
from Rancho Dorado, you may go ahead.
00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.150
Good morning
Commissioners.
00:21:43.150 --> 00:21:44.770
My name is Sharon Bowsford.
00:21:44.770 --> 00:21:47.540
I live in the Rancho
Dorado neighborhood.
00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:49.290
Thank you for taking my call.
00:21:49.290 --> 00:21:52.600
I will also speak to agenda 21.
00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:55.000
We would now like to make an argument
00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.210
that the MND's analysis
of aesthetics is flawed,
00:21:58.210 --> 00:22:01.150
and that the MND should
not have been basis
00:22:01.150 --> 00:22:03.710
for ruling out an EIR.
00:22:03.710 --> 00:22:06.750
What started us going down
this rabbit hole of aesthetics
00:22:06.750 --> 00:22:10.510
was the fact that the Simmons
Family Park was not evaluated
00:22:10.510 --> 00:22:14.920
in the initial MND as part
of the aesthetics analysis.
00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:17.900
This is surprising, because
a quick examination
00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:20.418
of the 12-mile route using Google Earth
00:22:20.418 --> 00:22:23.520
instantly identifies Simmons Family Park
00:22:23.520 --> 00:22:27.680
as the most impacted
public spaces along the route,
00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.890
and the only public
park along the route.
00:22:30.890 --> 00:22:34.660
Due to our limited resources,
time, and the lack of staff,
00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:39.630
we decided rather than
trying to digest the entire MND,
00:22:39.630 --> 00:22:43.320
we would focus on the
aesthetics portion of that report.
00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:46.970
What we found was the
submission was only the beginning.
00:22:46.970 --> 00:22:50.960
When the final MND was
realized, Simmons Family Park
00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.140
was depicted and analyzed,
00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:57.020
but in a completely misleading
and inaccurate manner.
00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:59.700
The reason for this had
to do with the picture used
00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:02.990
to complete the aesthetics
analysis of the park.
00:23:02.990 --> 00:23:06.220
The picture was taken,
supposed to represent
00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:09.180
the scenic vista from the park.
00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:11.450
However, instead of taking that picture
00:23:11.450 --> 00:23:13.410
from the western edge of the park,
00:23:13.410 --> 00:23:17.030
that would have revealed
the sweeping panoramic views
00:23:17.030 --> 00:23:18.710
of the Pacific Ocean,
00:23:18.710 --> 00:23:23.180
it was taken from the
picnic area, facing west.
00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:26.750
We ask that you consider
some of these analyses
00:23:26.750 --> 00:23:28.993
moving forward, and
thank you for your time.
00:23:31.430 --> 00:23:32.560
Thank you.
00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:34.393
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:23:36.570 --> 00:23:38.560
Our next
caller is Aaron Gaines,
00:23:38.560 --> 00:23:39.853
San Elijo resident.
00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.550
You may go ahead.
00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.350
Hello president
and Commissioners.
00:23:45.350 --> 00:23:48.400
Thank you for your time
today listening to our concerns.
00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.786
I have lived in San Elijo,
00:23:50.786 --> 00:23:55.786
I think we were the 25th
house into this community.
00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:58.760
It was very rural at that time.
00:23:58.760 --> 00:24:03.573
And that's back when
the power lines here,
00:24:04.450 --> 00:24:07.430
which we're talking about agenda 21,
00:24:07.430 --> 00:24:09.673
were just tarred wooden poles.
00:24:10.950 --> 00:24:15.950
Non-intrusive, you barely
noticed them in the landscape.
00:24:16.300 --> 00:24:21.090
And in 2010, these metal
poles were constructed
00:24:24.130 --> 00:24:28.460
and they are now
aesthetically unpleasing.
00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:31.470
There is safety concerns.
00:24:31.470 --> 00:24:33.283
I watched them being built.
00:24:33.283 --> 00:24:37.080
I see, out of my backyard,
I see four of them.
00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:39.260
One is extremely close to my house,
00:24:39.260 --> 00:24:42.110
about a hundred yards to the west.
00:24:42.110 --> 00:24:45.170
And, the whole western-facing view
00:24:45.170 --> 00:24:47.533
is nothing but electric poles.
00:24:48.430 --> 00:24:52.360
The concern is that, not
only with the installation,
00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:57.320
which was done by helicopter over weeks,
00:24:57.320 --> 00:25:01.380
but the issue is that
we've been evacuated
00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:03.620
multiple times here because of fire,
00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:07.340
and the power poles are to the west,
00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:10.040
which is our only route out of here.
00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:14.310
Our evacuation route is
currently San Elijo Road,
00:25:14.310 --> 00:25:19.310
which cannot hold the
capacity for egress during a fire.
00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:24.300
Should one of these
power poles fail, fall,
00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:27.730
there's nothing but dry
brush surrounding all of them.
00:25:27.730 --> 00:25:32.150
I've now committed to only
having all-wheel drive vehicles
00:25:32.150 --> 00:25:36.040
and know the back roads
and the trails out of here
00:25:36.040 --> 00:25:40.020
and have bolt cutters
in my car because of it,
00:25:40.020 --> 00:25:42.990
because there is no proper
egress route out of here
00:25:42.990 --> 00:25:44.423
that can hold the capacity.
00:25:45.410 --> 00:25:50.410
Now you look to have
more power poles placed.
00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:53.650
We are asking for underground poles
00:25:53.650 --> 00:25:55.390
to handle the scalability.
00:25:55.390 --> 00:25:59.610
In 10 years, you have not
been able to scale to the need.
00:25:59.610 --> 00:26:04.286
We look for you to add
the poles underground.
00:26:04.286 --> 00:26:05.140
Thank you.
Sir, I'm gonna ask you
00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.700
to sum up your comments because your
00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:09.880
two-minute time has run.
00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:12.020
I did. Thank you very much.
00:26:12.020 --> 00:26:15.293
Thank you.
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.600
Our next caller is
April Sparks, a homeowner.
00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.450
You may go ahead.
00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:23.530
Hi, my name is April Sparks
00:26:23.530 --> 00:26:27.840
and I'm a resident that
also lives in San Elijo Hills.
00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:31.960
I moved here in 2001, when our community
00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.713
was newly being developed.
00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:37.560
I live in Sagewood on Rivercrest Road,
00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:42.560
and directly behind my home
is a reserve or natural brush,
00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.653
and there's also a trail system.
00:26:46.050 --> 00:26:49.053
When we moved in, there
were only small wooden poles,
00:26:50.210 --> 00:26:53.363
and they were replaced
with large metal power lines.
00:26:54.950 --> 00:26:57.333
My biggest concern is a fire danger.
00:26:58.620 --> 00:27:02.230
Back in, let's see, it was 2007,
00:27:02.230 --> 00:27:04.030
we had a much smaller community
00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:09.230
and the Union Tribune newspaper headline
00:27:09.230 --> 00:27:11.207
for that fire was "Inferno."
00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:16.520
How we found out that
that fire was happening
00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:21.130
was fire department was coming down,
00:27:21.130 --> 00:27:24.630
and I'm just so upset
about this, I'm sorry.
00:27:24.630 --> 00:27:29.123
They were actually using a
blow horn to tell us to evacuate.
00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.733
Now, our community is so much bigger.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.760
The last time during the Cocos Fire,
00:27:35.760 --> 00:27:39.520
I could not get out of our
community with my kids.
00:27:39.520 --> 00:27:44.240
We were trapped. I was in
traffic, stopped for over an hour.
00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.610
This cannot happen.
00:27:45.610 --> 00:27:48.160
We have got to have an EIR,
00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:50.883
or you just have to
put them underground.
00:27:51.870 --> 00:27:53.100
Please, I'm asking you,
00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:56.010
please do not build these power lines.
00:27:56.010 --> 00:27:57.560
It's so dangerous here.
00:27:57.560 --> 00:28:00.563
There's only three ways to get out.
00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:06.090
It's a two-lane road on
San Elijo Road to get out.
00:28:06.090 --> 00:28:07.420
When they're blocked off,
00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:09.960
the last time Elfin
Forest was blocked off,
00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:13.620
we couldn't go over the hill
to get towards the freeway.
00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:16.540
We were all trying to
get out in one direction.
00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:20.120
Currently, there's over 8,000
people in our community,
00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:22.900
and now they're even
building more homes.
00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:25.600
We are not going to be
able to get out in a fire.
00:28:27.090 --> 00:28:29.040
So please, I'm sorry for my emotion,
00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:31.683
but please do something
about this, thank you.
00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:35.210
Thank you.
00:28:35.210 --> 00:28:36.910
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:28:39.130 --> 00:28:41.190
Our next
caller is Stacy Matthews,
00:28:41.190 --> 00:28:43.120
a San Elijo Hills resident.
00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.970
You may go ahead.
00:28:45.555 --> 00:28:47.060
Good morning,
Commissioners.
00:28:47.060 --> 00:28:48.970
My name is Stacy Matthews and I live
00:28:48.970 --> 00:28:51.703
in the Calistoga
development, San Elijo Hills.
00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:54.523
Thank you for taking my call.
00:28:54.523 --> 00:28:58.030
I would like to speak to
agenda item number 21.
00:28:58.030 --> 00:28:59.958
Before I talk further about the reason
00:28:59.958 --> 00:29:03.020
the aesthetic analysis was flawed,
00:29:03.020 --> 00:29:06.943
I would like to briefly
describe Simmons Family Park.
00:29:07.810 --> 00:29:11.170
The park was designed to
build on top of the highest point
00:29:11.170 --> 00:29:14.550
of the area because its
expansive unobstructed
00:29:14.550 --> 00:29:17.450
panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
00:29:17.450 --> 00:29:20.240
Because the park was
dedicated to the public
00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.950
to enjoy those west-facing views,
00:29:22.950 --> 00:29:26.050
they created a grassy knoll
on the western edge of the park,
00:29:26.050 --> 00:29:29.900
with a permanent west-facing
cement bench at its pinnacle.
00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:33.240
Given this, it is hard to
understand why the picture
00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:38.240
used to analyze the park was
not taken from this grassy hill
00:29:38.530 --> 00:29:39.510
or viewing bench.
00:29:39.510 --> 00:29:43.130
Instead, the vantage point
for the picture that was used
00:29:43.130 --> 00:29:46.020
was taken from the picnic area
00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:48.890
located behind the cement viewing bench.
00:29:48.890 --> 00:29:52.500
And, the field of view was southwest,
00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:56.970
highlighting a small hill,
approximately a mile away.
00:29:56.970 --> 00:30:00.504
What is even more puzzling
is the caption for that picture.
00:30:00.504 --> 00:30:05.504
Simmons Family Park
picnic view area, looking west.
00:30:05.710 --> 00:30:07.510
This is simply not true.
00:30:07.510 --> 00:30:10.780
However, this statement is
repeated at least four times
00:30:10.780 --> 00:30:14.760
in the aesthetics analysis
to describe that picture.
00:30:14.760 --> 00:30:17.560
There's one instance in the final MND
00:30:17.560 --> 00:30:20.770
where the caption for the same picture
00:30:20.770 --> 00:30:24.410
correctly says Simmons
Family Park picnic area,
00:30:24.410 --> 00:30:25.840
looking southwest.
00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:28.891
Notably, and unfortunately,
there was no picture analyzed
00:30:28.891 --> 00:30:33.520
in the final MND facing
due west from the bench
00:30:33.520 --> 00:30:36.600
or on a hill, west-facing hill.
00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:39.163
That picture would have
captured the scenic view.
00:30:40.350 --> 00:30:43.700
I think that we need to have
an accurate representation
00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:48.370
of the view that has been
obscured by these new poles.
00:30:48.370 --> 00:30:50.743
It's really important.
Thank you for your time.
00:30:50.743 --> 00:30:52.210
I strongly urge you to do an EIR
00:30:52.210 --> 00:30:55.200
or place this project underground.
00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.513
Thank you so much.
00:30:57.370 --> 00:30:59.440
Thank you, caller.
00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:01.033
Operator, next caller, please.
00:31:03.290 --> 00:31:05.270
Our next caller
is Thomas Matthews
00:31:05.270 --> 00:31:07.030
with San Elijo Hills.
00:31:07.030 --> 00:31:07.880
You may go ahead.
00:31:09.780 --> 00:31:12.600
Good morning, my
name is Thomas Matthews
00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:16.090
and we live in the
Calistoga neighborhood
00:31:16.090 --> 00:31:18.820
and are backed up against the area
00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:21.743
that leads into Elfin Forest.
00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:25.520
Probably one of the
most disturbing things
00:31:25.520 --> 00:31:29.350
about the aesthetic analysis
of the Simmons Family Park...
00:31:30.260 --> 00:31:31.710
Oh, wait a second. I'm sorry.
00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:38.180
I just got lost on my
notes here. Just a second.
00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.657
Let me grab this and let me know
00:31:39.657 --> 00:31:42.170
I'm heading in the right direction.
00:31:42.170 --> 00:31:43.280
It's okay.
00:31:43.280 --> 00:31:45.420
Okay, so probably
what is the most disturbing
00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:48.220
about the aesthetic analysis
of the Simmons Family Park,
00:31:49.070 --> 00:31:53.480
besides only looking at
one photograph to evaluate,
00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:56.240
is that there were
other pictures submitted
00:31:56.240 --> 00:32:00.990
as a result of the public
comments of May of 2019.
00:32:00.990 --> 00:32:03.150
Several were pictures
from the western hills,
00:32:03.150 --> 00:32:04.100
facing the west.
00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:06.380
However, those pictures were dismissed
00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:08.450
and not used as part of the evaluation.
00:32:08.450 --> 00:32:09.283
Why was this?
00:32:09.283 --> 00:32:11.280
The answer can be found
in the project manager's
00:32:11.280 --> 00:32:15.100
one-page findings,
where she stated, she said
00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:18.510
that they were purporting to
address views of the project
00:32:18.510 --> 00:32:23.090
from Simmons Family
Park, purporting to find,
00:32:23.090 --> 00:32:25.803
as appeared to be
claimed to be do something,
00:32:25.803 --> 00:32:28.053
especially false light.
00:32:29.030 --> 00:32:31.710
There were actual
photographs taken by real people
00:32:31.710 --> 00:32:34.973
from Simmons Family Park, and yet the,
00:32:36.210 --> 00:32:38.383
excuse me just a
minute, I'm losing it again.
00:32:41.876 --> 00:32:45.907
I'm sorry. I just lost my
place in my notes here.
00:32:48.117 --> 00:32:49.210
I'll just go hop down to this.
00:32:49.210 --> 00:32:51.167
The caption of the
pictures in question reads,
00:32:51.167 --> 00:32:53.750
"Simmons Family Park, panoramic view,
00:32:53.750 --> 00:32:55.710
looking due west to the Pacific Ocean,"
00:32:55.710 --> 00:32:59.510
and the captions of the
simulations made from this picture
00:32:59.510 --> 00:33:03.760
say, "These simulations were
based off SDG&E simulation
00:33:03.760 --> 00:33:06.520
of KOPD, and from the original picture
00:33:06.520 --> 00:33:10.070
taken on March 17th,
2010, of the wooden poles
00:33:10.070 --> 00:33:12.780
next to the brand new,
at times, steel poles."
00:33:12.780 --> 00:33:15.440
And I'll just leave it
at that. Thank you.
00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:19.163
Thank you.
Operator the next caller, please.
00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:23.900
Our next caller is
Kimberly Daley, a resident.
00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.750
You may go ahead.
00:33:27.250 --> 00:33:28.710
Hello, and I'm speaking
00:33:28.710 --> 00:33:31.830
in regards to item 21 as well.
00:33:31.830 --> 00:33:36.690
I actually live in the Rancho
Dorado community of La Fuente,
00:33:36.690 --> 00:33:41.430
which runs parallel to
San Marcos Boulevard.
00:33:41.430 --> 00:33:44.188
Our concern over here
is that we live within
00:33:44.188 --> 00:33:48.400
what I call tipping distance
of power lines already.
00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:52.306
Meaning the wooden poles that
run along San Marcos Boulevard
00:33:52.306 --> 00:33:55.090
are right above our houses.
00:33:55.090 --> 00:33:57.113
And we've lived here for 20 years.
00:33:58.600 --> 00:34:03.310
So we've been involved in
some of the possible evacuations
00:34:03.310 --> 00:34:06.420
of our area, packing our
children and our home
00:34:07.310 --> 00:34:09.100
in the event of leaving.
00:34:09.100 --> 00:34:14.100
But we've also experienced
concerns with these power lines,
00:34:15.090 --> 00:34:17.880
with having things explode up there
00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.420
in the middle of the night.
00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:22.550
And I can only imagine
that if these power lines
00:34:22.550 --> 00:34:25.360
were increased in size,
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:29.850
that they become even
more impactful to our house.
00:34:29.850 --> 00:34:32.230
Like, if something were to
happen to one of these lines,
00:34:32.230 --> 00:34:36.073
they would be that much
closer to reaching our house.
00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:41.330
Additionally, everybody's
talked about the views
00:34:41.330 --> 00:34:44.820
from Simmons Park, but
the lines run all the way down
00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:48.710
and across a green
area that involves both
00:34:48.710 --> 00:34:52.370
the cities of San Marcos
and the city of Carlsbad.
00:34:52.370 --> 00:34:55.000
If a fire were to
start in that particular
00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:59.000
Greenscape Canyon area,
it could run very far east
00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.490
and very far west.
00:35:00.490 --> 00:35:01.990
And those lines are already there.
00:35:01.990 --> 00:35:06.990
I can't imagine increasing
the potential for more fires
00:35:08.010 --> 00:35:08.933
than we've already had.
00:35:08.933 --> 00:35:12.720
We've had stuff start as
minimum as a golf, you know,
00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:15.100
somebody on a golf cart in Carlsbad.
00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:19.130
So, to put something
on purpose into an area
00:35:19.130 --> 00:35:22.160
that is highly flammable
is unconscionable.
00:35:22.160 --> 00:35:25.730
We just request that you
would do, at minimum,
00:35:25.730 --> 00:35:28.539
an environmental impact report.
00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:30.790
But preferably, we'd
love to see these lines
00:35:30.790 --> 00:35:31.623
put underground.
00:35:31.623 --> 00:35:33.033
Thank you for your time.
00:35:34.990 --> 00:35:37.943
Thank you.
Operator the next caller, please.
00:35:40.530 --> 00:35:42.760
Our next
caller is Heidi Ludwig,
00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:44.410
a San Elijo Hills resident.
00:35:44.410 --> 00:35:45.360
You might go ahead.
00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:48.590
Hi, good morning.
00:35:48.590 --> 00:35:53.590
I would also like to speak
on agenda number 21.
00:35:55.010 --> 00:35:58.130
I recently moved here and, first of all,
00:35:58.130 --> 00:36:02.350
I want to say, we were
planning on going to Carlsbad,
00:36:02.350 --> 00:36:07.270
but it was solely based
on those electric wires
00:36:07.270 --> 00:36:10.060
and all of the awful-looking things
00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:14.200
and the diseased plants
underneath, and the potential fires,
00:36:14.200 --> 00:36:17.310
that we actually moved
here to San Elijo Hills,
00:36:17.310 --> 00:36:19.583
because it was so beautiful.
00:36:19.583 --> 00:36:22.040
I just wanted to let you know that
00:36:22.040 --> 00:36:26.417
because coming with fresh
eyes, it's very beautiful here
00:36:26.417 --> 00:36:29.513
and we would hate to have a fire with,
00:36:30.570 --> 00:36:33.600
you know, caused by these wires.
00:36:33.600 --> 00:36:37.720
But, I also wanted to talk
about the flawed and inadequate
00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:41.310
MNDs that involves the description
00:36:41.310 --> 00:36:44.250
of Rancho La Costa Preserve,
00:36:44.250 --> 00:36:46.580
which is one of the scenic vistas
00:36:46.580 --> 00:36:49.070
analyzed along segment two.
00:36:49.070 --> 00:36:52.354
In the initial MND,
Rancho La Costa Preserve
00:36:52.354 --> 00:36:56.010
is described as having
no view obstruction
00:36:56.010 --> 00:36:58.880
because the project
is located to the east,
00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.960
behind the viewer.
00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:02.350
However, this is not true.
00:37:02.350 --> 00:37:05.350
And it was pointed
out in public comments,
00:37:05.350 --> 00:37:07.970
and acknowledged in the final MND,
00:37:07.970 --> 00:37:11.300
in the staff's response
to these public comments.
00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:14.290
Additionally, in the initial MND
00:37:14.290 --> 00:37:17.887
under the analysis
of recreation it says,
00:37:17.887 --> 00:37:20.210
"The southern section of segment two
00:37:20.210 --> 00:37:23.040
would cross through the preserve."
00:37:23.040 --> 00:37:26.090
In other words, segment
two of the project
00:37:26.090 --> 00:37:27.870
would cross over the preserve,
00:37:27.870 --> 00:37:32.610
meaning the preserve runs
both east and west of the project,
00:37:32.610 --> 00:37:37.280
in direct contradiction with
the description of the preserve
00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:40.150
in the aesthetics analysis.
00:37:40.150 --> 00:37:43.987
Despite the fact the preserve
runs east of the project,
00:37:43.987 --> 00:37:47.030
the description of the
views is not corrected
00:37:47.030 --> 00:37:48.500
in the final MND.
00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:51.096
It says- (timer rings)
00:37:51.096 --> 00:37:53.450
Okay, anyways, it sounds like
00:37:53.450 --> 00:37:55.770
there is some incorrect information
00:37:55.770 --> 00:37:59.130
and I would love to see
these lines put underground.
00:37:59.130 --> 00:38:00.313
Thank you. Goodbye.
00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:06.093
Operator,
the next caller, please.
00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:09.980
Our next
caller is John Spellar,
00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:11.710
a Rancho Dorado homeowner.
00:38:11.710 --> 00:38:12.653
You may go ahead.
00:38:14.040 --> 00:38:15.890
Thank you, I just
wanted to add my voice
00:38:15.890 --> 00:38:19.040
to those of my neighbors
in strong opposition
00:38:19.040 --> 00:38:20.890
of this project.
00:38:20.890 --> 00:38:23.573
We would hope at a minimum,
if this does go forward,
00:38:23.573 --> 00:38:26.580
that an environmental
impact report be conducted
00:38:26.580 --> 00:38:29.030
to look at alternate routes.
00:38:29.030 --> 00:38:33.030
Or, as there also is precedence
recently in Rancho Bernardo,
00:38:33.030 --> 00:38:37.861
a 69 kv transmission line
was buried underground.
00:38:37.861 --> 00:38:41.573
So the underground route
would definitely be preferable.
00:38:42.620 --> 00:38:45.584
Knowingly putting Rancho
Dorado, my community,
00:38:45.584 --> 00:38:49.390
and Santa Elijo Hills and
other nearby communities
00:38:49.390 --> 00:38:51.490
at risk from fires and health dangers
00:38:51.490 --> 00:38:55.170
by installing a second set
of above-ground power lines
00:38:55.170 --> 00:38:57.440
seems to be incredibly irresponsible,
00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:59.650
and shows a blatant disregard for us,
00:38:59.650 --> 00:39:01.660
people that are impacted.
00:39:01.660 --> 00:39:05.400
You have heard this week and weeks prior
00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:08.420
from many of my
neighbors about aesthetics,
00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:12.110
and to have the aesthetics
completely dismissed
00:39:12.110 --> 00:39:14.316
could only be by somebody
who doesn't live here
00:39:14.316 --> 00:39:17.750
and who already looked
at the current power lines
00:39:17.750 --> 00:39:21.533
and would need to look
at additional ones as well.
00:39:22.470 --> 00:39:24.350
Currently, these power structures,
00:39:24.350 --> 00:39:27.323
the poles are also a
magnet for blight and graffiti.
00:39:28.410 --> 00:39:32.633
So adding new polls
would only add to that.
00:39:34.310 --> 00:39:37.790
These points were made
repeatedly over a thousand comments
00:39:37.790 --> 00:39:41.810
provided to the CPUC
back in spring of 2019.
00:39:41.810 --> 00:39:43.710
And it's abundantly clear that these
00:39:43.710 --> 00:39:47.090
were not given the
consideration they deserve.
00:39:47.090 --> 00:39:49.670
90% of them were dismissed out of hand.
00:39:49.670 --> 00:39:51.630
We look at that as,
it's really a disgrace
00:39:51.630 --> 00:39:54.010
and not serving the public interest.
00:39:54.010 --> 00:39:57.270
And just on a final note, in
today's San Jose Union Tribune
00:39:57.270 --> 00:40:00.210
business section, there
was an article saying
00:40:00.210 --> 00:40:02.550
that the Bobcat Fire
may have been started
00:40:02.550 --> 00:40:04.540
by utility equipment.
00:40:04.540 --> 00:40:08.590
So the fire danger is
definitely an increased risk.
00:40:08.590 --> 00:40:09.790
Thank you for your time.
00:40:11.670 --> 00:40:14.670
Thank you.
Operator your next caller, please.
00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:20.630
Our next caller is
Julie Creon, a homeowner.
00:40:20.630 --> 00:40:21.480
You may go ahead.
00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:25.720
Yes, good morning.
00:40:25.720 --> 00:40:29.650
Thanks for the chance to
comment on SDG&E's plan
00:40:29.650 --> 00:40:32.600
to extend the power lines.
00:40:32.600 --> 00:40:36.110
We live in San Marcos in
our house above the canyon
00:40:36.110 --> 00:40:39.680
bordering Carlsbad,
and we have power lines
00:40:39.680 --> 00:40:43.450
well within about 150
feet from our backyard.
00:40:43.450 --> 00:40:45.240
We have power lines in our sight line,
00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:48.203
and you can sometimes
hear the buzz of the current.
00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:50.410
When we first moved in,
00:40:50.410 --> 00:40:52.530
we had trouble getting
homeowners insurance
00:40:52.530 --> 00:40:55.870
due to living in a wildfire-prone area.
00:40:55.870 --> 00:40:58.440
And we have lived through the real fear
00:40:58.440 --> 00:41:01.063
of seeing fires break close to our home.
00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:04.850
For one, I remember
the harrowing experience
00:41:04.850 --> 00:41:06.310
of the 2014 fires.
00:41:06.310 --> 00:41:10.070
From our homes, we could see
the growth of the Carlsbad fire
00:41:10.070 --> 00:41:11.440
to the west.
00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:14.820
We could see smoke from
the Pendleton fire to the north.
00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:18.010
And fires raging in Escondida.
00:41:18.010 --> 00:41:20.960
And I remember how
distraught parents and staff were
00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:23.290
when I went to pick up
my children from school.
00:41:23.290 --> 00:41:26.470
I was worried about my
husband being able to get home
00:41:26.470 --> 00:41:28.230
in heavy traffic,
00:41:28.230 --> 00:41:30.493
and whether or not we
would have to evacuate.
00:41:31.450 --> 00:41:34.060
It's an experience
that is all too present,
00:41:34.060 --> 00:41:39.060
and we fear every time Santa
Ana winds are in the forecast.
00:41:41.220 --> 00:41:43.950
The proposed work to
relocate the power lines
00:41:43.950 --> 00:41:45.820
will adversely affect what is already
00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:47.720
a very perilous situation.
00:41:47.720 --> 00:41:50.633
The fire danger is real and very high.
00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:54.700
The most prudent step is
to take all possible options
00:41:54.700 --> 00:41:56.760
to mitigate this danger.
00:41:56.760 --> 00:42:01.100
We implore you, please, to require SDG&E
00:42:01.100 --> 00:42:04.618
perform an environmental impact report,
00:42:04.618 --> 00:42:07.360
or place the lines underground.
00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:08.560
Thank you for your time.
00:42:10.040 --> 00:42:11.460
Thank you.
00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:13.160
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:42:14.970 --> 00:42:18.340
Our next
caller is Hank Engervate,
00:42:18.340 --> 00:42:19.890
a Rancho Dorado resident.
00:42:19.890 --> 00:42:21.710
You may go ahead, sir.
00:42:21.710 --> 00:42:23.620
Thank you for your time.
My name's Hank Engervate.
00:42:23.620 --> 00:42:27.020
I'm a 19-year resident of Rancho Dorado.
00:42:27.020 --> 00:42:30.200
We decided to move
here to a quiet community
00:42:30.200 --> 00:42:34.330
with clear views of
rolling hills and the ocean.
00:42:34.330 --> 00:42:38.690
There were SDG&E wooden
transmission poles with three wires
00:42:38.690 --> 00:42:41.070
only one house away from our property.
00:42:41.070 --> 00:42:43.910
Years later, SDG&E removed the poles
00:42:43.910 --> 00:42:48.090
and replaced them with
taller steel poles with 12 wires.
00:42:48.090 --> 00:42:50.520
Now, SDGE wants to
add another set of polls
00:42:50.520 --> 00:42:55.520
for a 69 kva possible
future requirement.
00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:59.830
If the CPUC grants
SDG&E permission for this,
00:42:59.830 --> 00:43:02.590
what would prevent
SDG&E from years later
00:43:02.590 --> 00:43:04.660
to add additional lines?
00:43:04.660 --> 00:43:06.810
This is a very big concern.
00:43:06.810 --> 00:43:10.486
Two years ago, our homeowner's
insurance was canceled
00:43:10.486 --> 00:43:14.400
after having the same
company for 46 years,
00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:16.400
with no claims ever filed.
00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:20.660
The reason given was the
2,000 fires caused by SDG&E,
00:43:20.660 --> 00:43:22.970
and the underwriters of
the homeowners insurance
00:43:22.970 --> 00:43:23.803
was canceling it.
00:43:23.803 --> 00:43:24.636
Why?
00:43:24.636 --> 00:43:26.630
Because our home was too close to brush
00:43:26.630 --> 00:43:30.350
and the SDG&E power lines.
00:43:30.350 --> 00:43:32.223
Seven insurance
companies turned us down.
00:43:32.223 --> 00:43:35.050
Now our insurance is twice as much.
00:43:35.050 --> 00:43:37.710
With more transmission
lines in higher brush areas,
00:43:37.710 --> 00:43:41.140
it's time for the CPUC to have SDG&E
00:43:41.140 --> 00:43:43.410
put all power lines underground.
00:43:43.410 --> 00:43:47.530
Burying the power lines will
decrease the effects of EMF
00:43:47.530 --> 00:43:51.210
and possible health problems
like leukemia, brain cancer,
00:43:51.210 --> 00:43:54.830
miscarriage, or even
problems with pacemakers.
00:43:54.830 --> 00:43:59.120
PUCP should protect the
property and human life,
00:43:59.120 --> 00:44:02.510
and support the future
underground power lines.
00:44:02.510 --> 00:44:06.250
Bottom line, it is essential
that an EIR be done.
00:44:06.250 --> 00:44:09.215
We need a very detailed EIR to cover,
00:44:09.215 --> 00:44:14.215
A, does SDG&E really
need new power lines?
00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:18.120
Because more homeowners are putting in,
00:44:18.120 --> 00:44:20.480
and businesses are installing solar.
00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:23.270
B, is there a better underground path?
00:44:26.300 --> 00:44:30.693
And C, what are the
effects on human health?
00:44:32.153 --> 00:44:35.660
Thank you for your time.
00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:36.709
Thank you.
00:44:36.709 --> 00:44:38.463
Operator, next caller, please.
00:44:41.502 --> 00:44:43.890
Our next
caller is Jennifer Barahas,
00:44:43.890 --> 00:44:44.723
a ratepayer.
00:44:44.723 --> 00:44:45.556
You may go ahead.
00:44:46.690 --> 00:44:48.240
Hi. Good
morning, Commissioners.
00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:50.130
Thank you for your time.
00:44:50.130 --> 00:44:51.690
I'm calling on item 20-
00:44:51.690 --> 00:44:53.220
Jennifer,
we can't hear you.
00:44:53.220 --> 00:44:56.240
You might want to check your audio.
00:44:56.240 --> 00:44:57.750
Can you hear me now?
00:44:57.750 --> 00:44:59.300
Nope. Barely.
00:44:59.300 --> 00:45:02.400
Okay. How 'bout now?
00:45:02.400 --> 00:45:04.650
That's better.
Okay.
00:45:04.650 --> 00:45:07.273
I'm calling on item number 21.
00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:11.100
I am a ratepayer, but I
don't live in the community.
00:45:11.100 --> 00:45:14.080
I feel for those in the
community because I,
00:45:14.080 --> 00:45:18.910
we also had something
similar built two years ago
00:45:18.910 --> 00:45:22.113
in our community, and based on,
00:45:23.130 --> 00:45:26.440
it headed from one
substation to another.
00:45:26.440 --> 00:45:30.760
And, we had a lot of
poles in the area already
00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:34.240
because there was like a
corridor, so like trails there.
00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:36.520
And they were gonna
build, put some more poles in
00:45:36.520 --> 00:45:38.040
and also new wires.
00:45:38.040 --> 00:45:39.790
And one of the reasons why they said
00:45:39.790 --> 00:45:42.080
it couldn't be underground was the cost,
00:45:42.080 --> 00:45:46.160
and that the cost was
shared across everybody
00:45:46.160 --> 00:45:47.490
that paid for SDG&E.
00:45:47.490 --> 00:45:51.180
And, while I understand
that it was really frustrating
00:45:51.180 --> 00:45:55.581
that we didn't have a
community from some other parts
00:45:55.581 --> 00:45:58.680
arguing and fighting for us as well.
00:45:58.680 --> 00:46:00.900
And I really think that
it should be equitable
00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:05.333
and that we should take
these lines into consideration,
00:46:05.333 --> 00:46:06.710
and undergrounding them everywhere,
00:46:06.710 --> 00:46:10.840
not just where the
community is more affluent
00:46:10.840 --> 00:46:13.390
or they have more
time or money to do that.
00:46:13.390 --> 00:46:15.100
It would have been
nice to have the option
00:46:15.100 --> 00:46:18.160
to have our lines underground as well.
00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:22.120
So thank you for your
time and your consideration,
00:46:22.120 --> 00:46:24.640
and thank you.
00:46:24.640 --> 00:46:27.440
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:46:29.060 --> 00:46:31.490
Our next
caller is Lisa Druxman,
00:46:31.490 --> 00:46:33.180
San Elijo Hills.
00:46:33.180 --> 00:46:34.820
You may go ahead.
00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:37.010
Hi, my name is Lisa Druxman,
00:46:37.010 --> 00:46:40.920
and I am speaking on agenda number 21.
00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:44.460
I have been a resident at
San Elijo since the beginning,
00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:46.530
I think it's been about 18 years now.
00:46:46.530 --> 00:46:48.690
I have also been a business
owner in the community
00:46:48.690 --> 00:46:53.570
for 18 years, and really
I am just concerned
00:46:53.570 --> 00:46:55.850
and really appalled that SDG&E
00:46:55.850 --> 00:46:58.990
could put in these power
lines without an EIR.
00:46:58.990 --> 00:47:03.110
These power lines, I don't
feel too extreme to say,
00:47:03.110 --> 00:47:04.430
will ruin our community.
00:47:04.430 --> 00:47:06.620
They put us in great danger.
00:47:06.620 --> 00:47:09.210
We are literally trapped
in this community
00:47:09.210 --> 00:47:10.595
if there is a fire.
00:47:10.595 --> 00:47:14.680
In my time here, I've
had to evacuate two times,
00:47:14.680 --> 00:47:17.720
and it took us hours to
get out of the community.
00:47:17.720 --> 00:47:19.360
And the last time we evacuated,
00:47:19.360 --> 00:47:22.770
there were so many less
residents than there are right now.
00:47:22.770 --> 00:47:25.167
Plus, I do believe that
they put us at a health risk,
00:47:25.167 --> 00:47:28.830
and finally, they will
devalue our community.
00:47:28.830 --> 00:47:31.890
Nobody is going to want
to buy into a community
00:47:31.890 --> 00:47:34.410
where you can't get fire insurance.
00:47:34.410 --> 00:47:36.860
No one is gonna wanna
buy into a community
00:47:36.860 --> 00:47:38.930
where our health is at risk,
00:47:38.930 --> 00:47:42.760
and where there are these
very unsightly power lines
00:47:42.760 --> 00:47:45.230
hanging over our beautiful community.
00:47:45.230 --> 00:47:48.410
So, I feel it is irresponsible
to move forward
00:47:48.410 --> 00:47:50.300
without an EIR report.
00:47:50.300 --> 00:47:53.890
And, I look forward
to your consideration
00:47:53.890 --> 00:47:56.423
and thank you for listening to us.
00:47:58.097 --> 00:48:01.523
Thank you.
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:48:03.520 --> 00:48:05.588
Our next
caller is Freddie Pakier,
00:48:05.588 --> 00:48:08.140
a Rancho Dorado resident.
00:48:08.140 --> 00:48:09.480
You may go ahead.
00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:11.493
Good morning,
Commissioners.
00:48:12.360 --> 00:48:17.360
As was just said, I'm a
16-year Rancho Dorado resident
00:48:19.670 --> 00:48:24.310
and extremely concerned
for San Elijo Hills,
00:48:24.310 --> 00:48:29.310
as well as Rancho Dorado,
with the extreme fire risks
00:48:30.800 --> 00:48:34.840
that we'll have with your plan.
00:48:34.840 --> 00:48:39.840
Also concerned with our
insurance rates going up
00:48:40.220 --> 00:48:43.203
or our insurance being canceled.
00:48:44.070 --> 00:48:49.070
In addition, the plan would
decrease our property value
00:48:50.540 --> 00:48:55.540
as well as being a health
risk because of the EMFs.
00:48:57.040 --> 00:49:01.495
So, please look at conducting an EIR,
00:49:01.495 --> 00:49:05.820
or putting the power lines underground.
00:49:05.820 --> 00:49:06.653
Thank you.
00:49:09.120 --> 00:49:11.683
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:49:14.050 --> 00:49:15.920
Our next
caller is Jerry Bolan,
00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:17.560
San Elijo Hills.
00:49:17.560 --> 00:49:18.660
You may go ahead, sir.
00:49:19.890 --> 00:49:23.420
Yeah, hi, I've
been a San Elijo resident
00:49:23.420 --> 00:49:26.820
almost since the beginning,
for about 17 years.
00:49:26.820 --> 00:49:31.560
I bought this property
mainly for the 270 degree
00:49:31.560 --> 00:49:33.910
panoramic view that I have.
00:49:33.910 --> 00:49:36.900
I have probably the
westernmost house in San Elijo.
00:49:36.900 --> 00:49:39.200
These power lines are closer to my house
00:49:39.200 --> 00:49:40.817
than probably any house in San Elijo.
00:49:40.817 --> 00:49:44.660
And it's inconceivable to me
that they're gonna put lines
00:49:44.660 --> 00:49:46.670
even closer to my house.
00:49:46.670 --> 00:49:50.140
I've planted, 10 years ago
when they added those polls,
00:49:50.140 --> 00:49:52.950
my views were reduced to 90 degrees.
00:49:52.950 --> 00:49:55.070
I've planted trees and vegetation,
00:49:55.070 --> 00:49:58.210
anything I can do to
block these monstrosities
00:49:58.210 --> 00:49:59.960
that are in my backyard.
00:49:59.960 --> 00:50:01.950
And the other thing
that really bothers me,
00:50:01.950 --> 00:50:04.370
is if you hear the construction
noise in the background,
00:50:04.370 --> 00:50:07.299
that's SDG&E building
a platform for a pole
00:50:07.299 --> 00:50:10.670
that's twice the size as
the one that's already there.
00:50:10.670 --> 00:50:12.314
So it's clear to me the SDG&E
00:50:12.314 --> 00:50:14.253
doesn't even respect this process.
00:50:15.700 --> 00:50:19.090
So, I just implore you at the very least
00:50:19.090 --> 00:50:21.223
do an economic impact report,
00:50:22.090 --> 00:50:24.080
and better yet, put 'em underground.
00:50:24.080 --> 00:50:25.280
Thank you for your time.
00:50:27.430 --> 00:50:29.893
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:50:34.260 --> 00:50:35.093
Operator?
00:50:38.950 --> 00:50:41.547
Operator, can you bring
on the next caller please?
00:50:46.058 --> 00:50:47.200
President Batjer?
00:50:47.200 --> 00:50:48.033
Yes.
00:50:48.033 --> 00:50:51.540
Our next caller
is Heidi Resset.
00:50:51.540 --> 00:50:53.580
Thank you, Rob.
Yes.
00:50:53.580 --> 00:50:55.523
I'm here. Thank you.
00:50:55.523 --> 00:50:58.990
And hello, and good
morning to the President Batjer
00:50:58.990 --> 00:51:00.920
and all the Commissioners.
00:51:00.920 --> 00:51:02.880
I live in Rancho Dorado.
00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:06.310
My backyard faces Leo Carrillo,
00:51:06.310 --> 00:51:10.250
and the power line that was existing
00:51:10.250 --> 00:51:15.250
when we moved in 20 years
ago was a three-wire structure.
00:51:18.430 --> 00:51:19.830
Couple of years later,
00:51:19.830 --> 00:51:22.680
we were told another one would come up.
00:51:22.680 --> 00:51:27.680
To our surprise, it was
a 12-wire power line.
00:51:28.393 --> 00:51:33.393
It was imposing metal power
structure that was installed,
00:51:33.650 --> 00:51:36.490
which I call a monster.
00:51:36.490 --> 00:51:39.900
And now your current
plan is to put a second
00:51:39.900 --> 00:51:43.720
large metal power line, another monster,
00:51:43.720 --> 00:51:46.910
next to this existing monster.
00:51:46.910 --> 00:51:49.430
I ask you, do the right thing,
00:51:49.430 --> 00:51:54.003
conduct an EIR and
vary the existing power.
00:51:55.020 --> 00:51:58.500
None of us saw this
coming several years ago,
00:51:58.500 --> 00:52:00.950
and now it's coming again.
00:52:00.950 --> 00:52:04.170
I have always learned
to choose the harder right,
00:52:04.170 --> 00:52:07.030
instead of the easier wrong.
00:52:07.030 --> 00:52:10.900
I think this is irresponsible of SDG&E.
00:52:10.900 --> 00:52:14.993
You need to go to what
is the right thing to do.
00:52:16.970 --> 00:52:21.370
We picked this place because
it was beautiful and safe
00:52:21.370 --> 00:52:25.620
in this forever-home that
we bought in Rancho Dorado.
00:52:25.620 --> 00:52:30.378
And now I question, what
happened to our beauty,
00:52:30.378 --> 00:52:33.310
and what happened to our safety?
00:52:33.310 --> 00:52:35.960
Please consider this. Thank you.
00:52:38.560 --> 00:52:41.353
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:52:42.850 --> 00:52:44.934
Our next
caller is Dave Churchill
00:52:44.934 --> 00:52:47.420
with San Elijo Hills.
00:52:47.420 --> 00:52:48.270
You may go ahead.
00:52:50.340 --> 00:52:52.370
Hi, thank you
for taking my call.
00:52:52.370 --> 00:52:53.280
Thank you members.
00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:58.280
I heard the beginning of the
segment. That's wonderful.
00:52:58.350 --> 00:53:01.520
I would like to describe to you
00:53:01.520 --> 00:53:06.150
something maybe that
you've already heard, or not,
00:53:06.150 --> 00:53:10.003
about the poles that they
want to do on agenda 21.
00:53:11.270 --> 00:53:12.827
You might ask the question,
00:53:12.827 --> 00:53:17.827
"Why would you buy a house
so close to these power lines?"
00:53:18.410 --> 00:53:20.800
Well, back when most
of these houses were built
00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:24.120
they were small wooden
poles, not a big deal.
00:53:24.120 --> 00:53:26.730
We didn't have climate change happening
00:53:26.730 --> 00:53:29.700
as fast as it is now.
00:53:29.700 --> 00:53:34.330
And, then subsequently
it does not require an EIR
00:53:34.330 --> 00:53:37.550
to increase or bump power up
00:53:37.550 --> 00:53:40.783
and change the pole to something
bigger, which has happened.
00:53:42.620 --> 00:53:45.650
SDG&E would like to install extra power,
00:53:45.650 --> 00:53:48.680
which is fine because
the city is growing.
00:53:48.680 --> 00:53:51.436
But what they are doing is telling us
00:53:51.436 --> 00:53:55.590
that they need to install a 69 kv tower.
00:53:55.590 --> 00:53:57.790
That's not the tower they're installing.
00:53:57.790 --> 00:53:59.470
They're installing a
tower that will take
00:53:59.470 --> 00:54:04.110
approximately four times more
power than they're asking for.
00:54:04.110 --> 00:54:06.693
And that's because
they do not need an EIR
00:54:07.800 --> 00:54:10.133
in order to bump the power.
00:54:11.126 --> 00:54:15.800
So with that in mind, an EIR
is something we need too.
00:54:15.800 --> 00:54:20.400
Also, an EIR has never
been done along this line.
00:54:20.400 --> 00:54:25.400
I looked at the records and
found that Partner Environmental
00:54:25.400 --> 00:54:28.060
is the company that did studies,
00:54:28.060 --> 00:54:31.570
but no EIR had ever been done.
00:54:31.570 --> 00:54:34.050
So I'd like to ask,
let's do the first one.
00:54:34.050 --> 00:54:39.050
Let's do it absolutely the
first EIR ever on this line.
00:54:39.080 --> 00:54:40.660
And let's push the fact
00:54:40.660 --> 00:54:42.670
that we would like to go underground.
00:54:42.670 --> 00:54:47.550
It would cost approximately
four cents per month to do so.
00:54:47.550 --> 00:54:49.910
Not a big cost problem.
00:54:49.910 --> 00:54:52.169
Thank you for taking
my call. I appreciate it.
00:54:52.169 --> 00:54:53.003
Bye now.
00:54:54.520 --> 00:54:57.320
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:55:00.008 --> 00:55:01.799
Our next
caller is Elliot Herman,
00:55:01.799 --> 00:55:03.750
San Elijo Hills.
00:55:03.750 --> 00:55:05.350
You may go ahead.
00:55:05.350 --> 00:55:06.903
Okay. Can you hear me?
00:55:08.470 --> 00:55:09.650
Do you hear me? Okay.
Yes, we can.
00:55:09.650 --> 00:55:11.123
Yes, we can. Go ahead.
All right.
00:55:11.123 --> 00:55:16.123
All right, I'm calling in
reference to agenda number 21.
00:55:16.137 --> 00:55:19.610
I'm currently the vice
president of the San Elijo HOA.
00:55:19.610 --> 00:55:22.420
So you know I get a lot of input
00:55:22.420 --> 00:55:24.550
from the residents about this.
00:55:24.550 --> 00:55:27.100
I'm calling to basically
express, once again,
00:55:27.100 --> 00:55:29.450
my opposition to this
new electrical line,
00:55:29.450 --> 00:55:32.530
which goes from San Marcos to Escondido.
00:55:32.530 --> 00:55:35.320
The only way that this new
line can be fully designed
00:55:35.320 --> 00:55:39.810
is to have an environmental
impact report done.
00:55:39.810 --> 00:55:42.960
The line, as planned, will
go through Elfin Forest,
00:55:42.960 --> 00:55:45.270
which is just south of San Elijo.
00:55:45.270 --> 00:55:47.930
The park is open space
and there's lots of vegetation
00:55:47.930 --> 00:55:50.720
and insurance companies
consider it a fire danger.
00:55:50.720 --> 00:55:52.360
Residents I'm hearing all the time
00:55:52.360 --> 00:55:54.710
are having their insurance canceled.
00:55:54.710 --> 00:55:56.600
I live in the middle of a block,
00:55:56.600 --> 00:55:59.180
and I just had my insurance canceled.
00:55:59.180 --> 00:56:04.180
I've gone to seek
alternatives, and it's already
00:56:04.193 --> 00:56:07.030
(indistinct).
00:56:07.030 --> 00:56:09.990
If this line is built the way
you say it's going to built,
00:56:09.990 --> 00:56:11.750
or they're going to be built,
00:56:11.750 --> 00:56:14.110
I'm going to pay more in insurance,
00:56:14.110 --> 00:56:16.530
and along with my rest of my neighbors,
00:56:16.530 --> 00:56:18.900
than what it would have
cost to put this underground
00:56:18.900 --> 00:56:20.113
in the first place.
00:56:21.058 --> 00:56:26.058
I think that we simply
need to understand that you,
00:56:26.070 --> 00:56:27.500
what you want originally,
00:56:27.500 --> 00:56:32.500
which was a rock solid circuit
between the two substations,
00:56:33.370 --> 00:56:35.030
this will not do that.
00:56:35.030 --> 00:56:38.700
Because last year, when
high winds and the fire danger
00:56:38.700 --> 00:56:40.610
was high, they shut the wires down.
00:56:40.610 --> 00:56:42.350
They shut the power line down.
00:56:42.350 --> 00:56:44.320
This line is parallel to that line,
00:56:44.320 --> 00:56:46.110
which means the same
thing's gonna happen.
00:56:46.110 --> 00:56:47.980
It's gonna get shut down.
00:56:47.980 --> 00:56:51.520
You should simply build underground.
00:56:51.520 --> 00:56:54.230
You'd make better than
(indistinct) came up with
00:56:54.230 --> 00:56:56.130
(indistinct) San Marcos Boulevard.
00:56:56.130 --> 00:56:58.003
Worst possible way of doing this.
00:56:58.891 --> 00:57:01.070
And, I can see my time is up.
00:57:01.070 --> 00:57:03.380
So I will simply end by saying,
00:57:03.380 --> 00:57:08.240
an EIR is the only way to
fully evaluate this project
00:57:08.240 --> 00:57:12.050
and to build what is
(indistinct) and for the future,
00:57:12.050 --> 00:57:14.900
because this project does not do that.
00:57:14.900 --> 00:57:15.733
Thank.
00:57:18.180 --> 00:57:20.203
Operator,
next caller, please.
00:57:22.160 --> 00:57:23.940
Our next
caller is Elliot Balm,
00:57:23.940 --> 00:57:25.890
a San Marcos resident.
00:57:25.890 --> 00:57:26.990
Sir, you may go ahead.
00:57:28.650 --> 00:57:31.810
Yes. Thank you
again for your time.
00:57:31.810 --> 00:57:35.390
And again, this is regarding item 21
00:57:35.390 --> 00:57:39.520
regarding SDG&E's power line
00:57:39.520 --> 00:57:43.613
going through Santa Elijo,
San Marcos, Carlsbad.
00:57:45.100 --> 00:57:47.390
Again, as my previous neighbors
00:57:47.390 --> 00:57:49.463
and residents have mentioned,
00:57:51.460 --> 00:57:55.631
regardless of the impact
and significant impact
00:57:55.631 --> 00:58:00.631
on our views, our property
values, and health issues,
00:58:02.260 --> 00:58:05.120
more importantly, it's
the health and safety
00:58:05.120 --> 00:58:08.010
of our communities that I think everyone
00:58:08.010 --> 00:58:12.740
can understand our concern.
00:58:12.740 --> 00:58:17.250
With a significant
portion of our state on fire,
00:58:17.250 --> 00:58:20.069
the possibility of power lines causing
00:58:20.069 --> 00:58:23.020
at least one of these fires,
00:58:23.020 --> 00:58:27.350
we are in a high-risk fire area,
00:58:27.350 --> 00:58:30.642
and our communities
do a significant amount
00:58:30.642 --> 00:58:34.800
to clear brush and to
be as safe as possible.
00:58:34.800 --> 00:58:39.750
But with the impact of
this amazing community,
00:58:39.750 --> 00:58:42.140
we are getting many people moving in,
00:58:42.140 --> 00:58:43.727
more homes being built,
00:58:43.727 --> 00:58:48.727
and the congestion to evacuate
is becoming more significant.
00:58:50.290 --> 00:58:53.253
So please, if you could do an EIR,
00:58:54.850 --> 00:58:58.580
or even better put these underground,
00:58:58.580 --> 00:59:03.580
that would be basically the
best way to afford all of us
00:59:05.170 --> 00:59:10.170
to be safe and incur a cost
across the entire SDG&E payers,
00:59:13.460 --> 00:59:15.040
as opposed to a few.
00:59:15.040 --> 00:59:17.160
So when you get that opportunity,
00:59:17.160 --> 00:59:20.750
please do the right
thing for my neighbors
00:59:20.750 --> 00:59:22.450
and residents of this area.
00:59:22.450 --> 00:59:23.850
And thank you for your time.
00:59:24.980 --> 00:59:27.673
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
00:59:29.728 --> 00:59:31.700
Our next
caller is Greg Newman,
00:59:31.700 --> 00:59:33.550
a San Elijo Hills resident.
00:59:33.550 --> 00:59:34.400
You may go ahead.
00:59:35.350 --> 00:59:36.567
Yes, thank
you for your time.
00:59:36.567 --> 00:59:38.650
I would like to make a short statement,
00:59:38.650 --> 00:59:40.050
and my wife, Suzanne Newman,
00:59:40.050 --> 00:59:42.470
would also like to make
a statement at the end.
00:59:42.470 --> 00:59:44.010
I've been a resident,
or we've been a resident
00:59:44.010 --> 00:59:45.780
of San Elijo Hills since 2005.
00:59:45.780 --> 00:59:48.110
We've been evacuated
three times due to wildfires.
00:59:48.110 --> 00:59:52.100
I believe that if SDG&E builds
more overhead power lines
00:59:52.100 --> 00:59:53.850
it'll greatly increase
the chance of sparking
00:59:53.850 --> 00:59:55.430
and causing fires.
00:59:55.430 --> 00:59:57.270
I urge that they place them underground.
00:59:57.270 --> 00:59:59.610
Also the synthetic
impact greatly decreases
00:59:59.610 --> 01:00:01.800
our property values, thank you.
01:00:01.800 --> 01:00:03.057
I wanted to say,
it's not only our families
01:00:03.057 --> 01:00:05.970
in San Elijo who are affected
by the gross negligence
01:00:05.970 --> 01:00:08.130
of SDG&E, and the danger of power lines,
01:00:08.130 --> 01:00:10.270
where we had to be evacuated.
01:00:10.270 --> 01:00:12.020
Last time our family
had to be evacuated,
01:00:12.020 --> 01:00:14.220
we had nurses on our street
who couldn't get to work.
01:00:14.220 --> 01:00:16.850
My 747 captain husband
couldn't get his credentials
01:00:16.850 --> 01:00:20.780
from the house to fly, so
for over 400 passengers
01:00:20.780 --> 01:00:22.591
had their international flight canceled,
01:00:22.591 --> 01:00:25.010
with untold repercussions.
01:00:25.010 --> 01:00:28.420
As a high school teach-
(bell dinging)
01:00:28.420 --> 01:00:31.390
Operator,
just a moment. Hang on.
01:00:31.390 --> 01:00:34.363
Thank you. Operator,
next caller, please.
01:00:36.050 --> 01:00:38.840
Our next caller
is Robert Castaneda,
01:00:38.840 --> 01:00:41.120
with Low Income Oversight Board.
01:00:41.120 --> 01:00:41.970
You may go ahead.
01:00:42.820 --> 01:00:44.090
Yeah, good
morning, Commissioners.
01:00:44.090 --> 01:00:47.730
My name is Robert
Castaneda, and I proudly serve
01:00:47.730 --> 01:00:49.480
on your Low Income Oversight Board
01:00:49.480 --> 01:00:51.250
with Commissioner Shiroma.
01:00:51.250 --> 01:00:52.980
Good morning, Genevieve.
01:00:52.980 --> 01:00:54.980
In addition to being on the LIOB,
01:00:54.980 --> 01:00:56.460
I serve on the board of directors
01:00:56.460 --> 01:01:01.120
of La Cooperativa Campesina,
a 50-year-old statewide network
01:01:01.120 --> 01:01:03.110
of farm worker services agencies.
01:01:03.110 --> 01:01:06.120
I take the time to address
you all this morning
01:01:06.120 --> 01:01:09.040
on what I believe is an imminent crisis
01:01:09.040 --> 01:01:10.730
that we all must get ahead of.
01:01:10.730 --> 01:01:14.010
Mounting low-income household debt,
01:01:14.010 --> 01:01:16.890
as a result of the
moratorium on utility bills
01:01:16.890 --> 01:01:20.600
is an issue that should concern us all.
01:01:20.600 --> 01:01:22.840
In addition, COVID and other factors
01:01:22.840 --> 01:01:25.910
are having a negative
impact on low-income
01:01:25.910 --> 01:01:30.090
energy assistance program enrollment,
01:01:30.090 --> 01:01:33.983
with both the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program,
01:01:33.983 --> 01:01:38.983
LIHEAP, and our own Energy
Savings Assistance Program, ESAP.
01:01:39.030 --> 01:01:42.070
Requests for applications with
the federal LIHEAP program
01:01:42.070 --> 01:01:44.130
are down considerably.
01:01:44.130 --> 01:01:47.807
Modifications by the CSD,
which is the administrative body
01:01:47.807 --> 01:01:52.807
for LIHEAP, consists of
enhanced data sharing by IOUs.
01:01:54.000 --> 01:01:56.850
In other words, their
response to deal with
01:01:56.850 --> 01:01:59.260
this lower levels of enrollment
01:01:59.260 --> 01:02:02.570
are enhanced data sharing by IOUs,
01:02:02.570 --> 01:02:05.400
and direct marketing by contractors.
01:02:05.400 --> 01:02:08.170
Perhaps we should explore some of this
01:02:08.170 --> 01:02:12.450
out-of-the-box execution
with our own ESAP program.
01:02:12.450 --> 01:02:14.880
We are a partnership with our programs.
01:02:14.880 --> 01:02:18.177
Hopefully we can leverage
that with this issue. Thank you.
01:02:20.640 --> 01:02:23.440
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:02:24.910 --> 01:02:26.740
Our next
caller is Lindsey Smith
01:02:26.740 --> 01:02:28.770
with San Elijo Hills.
01:02:28.770 --> 01:02:29.620
You may go ahead.
01:02:31.010 --> 01:02:32.520
Hi, I'm Lindsey Smith,
01:02:32.520 --> 01:02:35.050
president of the San Elijo Hills HOA.
01:02:35.050 --> 01:02:38.249
Commissioners, regarding
agenda item number 21.
01:02:38.249 --> 01:02:41.510
San Elijo Hills is just that,
massive hills and deep canyons
01:02:41.510 --> 01:02:44.320
with over 10,000 residents,
in what we refer to as
01:02:44.320 --> 01:02:46.020
our cul-de-sac community.
01:02:46.020 --> 01:02:48.680
Neighborhoods that are
one way in and one way out,
01:02:48.680 --> 01:02:51.870
with limited egress and
ingress, three roads only,
01:02:51.870 --> 01:02:53.820
and two run directly under the proposed
01:02:53.820 --> 01:02:57.240
new transmission lines,
potentially leaving only one way
01:02:57.240 --> 01:03:00.100
in or out during an
emergency evacuation.
01:03:00.100 --> 01:03:02.020
100% of our community is enveloped
01:03:02.020 --> 01:03:04.930
by Cal Fire's highest
wildfire risk zone.
01:03:04.930 --> 01:03:08.550
And 80% of the entire
12-mile above-ground route
01:03:08.550 --> 01:03:10.690
would run through that same zoning.
01:03:10.690 --> 01:03:13.330
We experience the strong Santa Ana winds
01:03:13.330 --> 01:03:16.080
that whip through our canyon,
and have dealt firsthand
01:03:16.080 --> 01:03:19.060
with preventative power
outages due to an increased threat
01:03:19.060 --> 01:03:21.410
of the winds downing our power lines.
01:03:21.410 --> 01:03:24.530
Last year, I remember
receiving almost simultaneously
01:03:24.530 --> 01:03:27.600
a red flag warning, a
Santa Ana wind warning,
01:03:27.600 --> 01:03:30.684
and a text from SDG&E about
preventative power shutoff
01:03:30.684 --> 01:03:32.320
right at that time.
01:03:32.320 --> 01:03:35.130
Despite my house being
pitch-black that night,
01:03:35.130 --> 01:03:36.940
I did not sleep.
01:03:36.940 --> 01:03:40.180
The last time we evacuated
was for the Cocos Fire.
01:03:40.180 --> 01:03:41.740
Since then our community demographics
01:03:41.740 --> 01:03:43.220
have changed immensely.
01:03:43.220 --> 01:03:45.250
We have built out four
additional neighborhoods,
01:03:45.250 --> 01:03:47.200
added a new K through eight school.
01:03:47.200 --> 01:03:48.770
And during our last evacuation,
01:03:48.770 --> 01:03:51.320
both lanes of eastbound and
westbound traffic were diverted
01:03:51.320 --> 01:03:54.250
so all four lanes led
westward, away from the fire.
01:03:54.250 --> 01:03:55.850
We waited in bumper-to-bumper traffic
01:03:55.850 --> 01:03:57.740
with the fire headed towards our cars,
01:03:57.740 --> 01:04:00.410
waiting for up to an hour
to egress our community.
01:04:00.410 --> 01:04:02.610
All three of our community
schools have been deemed
01:04:02.610 --> 01:04:05.300
shelter in place schools, three of them.
01:04:05.300 --> 01:04:07.120
Can you imagine evacuating your home
01:04:07.120 --> 01:04:09.290
and driving away from your children?
01:04:09.290 --> 01:04:11.810
Not only do we need to
consider the cumulative impact
01:04:11.810 --> 01:04:14.470
of what these power lines
mean to our community's risk,
01:04:14.470 --> 01:04:16.940
but the cumulative impact to
the growth of our communities,
01:04:16.940 --> 01:04:19.380
which has made these
evacuations more difficult
01:04:19.380 --> 01:04:20.740
than they already were.
01:04:20.740 --> 01:04:22.900
Not only is there more
risk and greater threats
01:04:22.900 --> 01:04:25.820
from climate change, there
are more lives to be lost here.
01:04:25.820 --> 01:04:27.980
The Bobcat Fire is
now being investigated
01:04:27.980 --> 01:04:29.880
as a utility-ignited fire.
01:04:29.880 --> 01:04:31.390
Why, in an age of climate change,
01:04:31.390 --> 01:04:33.690
are we building above-ground
transmission lines,
01:04:33.690 --> 01:04:35.810
along half of my community's perimeter,
01:04:35.810 --> 01:04:37.910
in a highest wildfire risk zone?
01:04:37.910 --> 01:04:39.250
It doesn't make sense to us.
01:04:39.250 --> 01:04:41.214
Please consider our
mental and physical health
01:04:41.214 --> 01:04:43.270
and what an increased fire risk means
01:04:43.270 --> 01:04:45.943
to our already on-edge
community, thank you.
01:04:47.470 --> 01:04:50.270
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:04:51.960 --> 01:04:55.570
Our next
caller is Christine Julia.
01:04:55.570 --> 01:04:57.880
with San Elijo Hills.
01:04:57.880 --> 01:04:58.730
You may go ahead.
01:05:00.698 --> 01:05:02.580
Thank you.
01:05:02.580 --> 01:05:06.060
Hi, I am a San Elijo
resident of 12 years.
01:05:06.060 --> 01:05:10.000
I have two children and
we have two grandchildren.
01:05:10.000 --> 01:05:12.293
I originally came from
Europe, where the power lines
01:05:12.293 --> 01:05:15.363
were put underground in the 80s and 90s.
01:05:16.310 --> 01:05:18.800
When I first came to
the U.S., to California,
01:05:18.800 --> 01:05:21.440
to the state of California,
the most progressive state,
01:05:21.440 --> 01:05:25.100
I was slightly shocked that there were
01:05:25.100 --> 01:05:27.370
above-ground power lines.
01:05:27.370 --> 01:05:30.305
And, I had to witness
one of those transformers
01:05:30.305 --> 01:05:32.440
blew up on one of my
neighbor's power lines.
01:05:32.440 --> 01:05:36.050
It was not in San
Elijo, it was before that.
01:05:36.050 --> 01:05:39.255
Yet, before we moved
here, I asked my husband
01:05:39.255 --> 01:05:43.810
to actually buy a gas meter
and measure the electric fields
01:05:43.810 --> 01:05:45.020
around the house.
01:05:45.020 --> 01:05:47.180
Luckily, we're far enough away,
01:05:47.180 --> 01:05:49.200
but the fire danger's imminent.
01:05:49.200 --> 01:05:53.260
My brother and
sister-in-law live in Paradise,
01:05:53.260 --> 01:05:55.173
used to live in Paradise, California.
01:05:56.710 --> 01:05:59.463
On my sister-in-law's 66th birthday,
01:06:00.330 --> 01:06:03.843
luckily, it was her birthday
because their son was in town,
01:06:03.843 --> 01:06:05.620
he got them out.
01:06:05.620 --> 01:06:08.650
He got them out of the Paradise fire,
01:06:08.650 --> 01:06:12.830
and now two years
later, looking at their lives,
01:06:12.830 --> 01:06:16.050
my brother-in-law is still heartbroken.
01:06:16.050 --> 01:06:18.070
He was an artist and a craftsmen.
01:06:18.070 --> 01:06:21.060
He couldn't believe that
everything that he built
01:06:21.060 --> 01:06:25.333
with his hands was just
gone in less than 15 minutes.
01:06:28.140 --> 01:06:31.403
I teach my kids (indistinct),
then you make a decision.
01:06:32.763 --> 01:06:34.697
It is safe? Is it legal?
01:06:34.697 --> 01:06:37.060
Is it moral? Does it make sense?
01:06:37.060 --> 01:06:39.360
If there's a no to any
of these, don't do it.
01:06:39.360 --> 01:06:41.760
Have the courage to do the right thing.
01:06:41.760 --> 01:06:44.270
So is it safe? It is not safe.
01:06:44.270 --> 01:06:47.290
We have seen this
in Northern California.
01:06:47.290 --> 01:06:48.980
We're seeing it currently.
01:06:48.980 --> 01:06:51.890
And I urge you to do the right thing
01:06:51.890 --> 01:06:53.270
and put those lines underground.
01:06:53.270 --> 01:06:55.220
I do enjoy the low prices of power,
01:06:55.220 --> 01:06:59.194
but I don't enjoy
them at the risk of like,
01:06:59.194 --> 01:07:00.690
I don't enjoy them
at the risk of this fire,
01:07:00.690 --> 01:07:04.531
and possibly devastating
10,000 families.
01:07:04.531 --> 01:07:07.573
Thank you.
01:07:07.573 --> 01:07:12.006
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:07:12.006 --> 01:07:14.728
Our next caller
is Sarah Turner, a citizen.
01:07:14.728 --> 01:07:16.145
You may go ahead.
01:07:17.737 --> 01:07:19.194
Hello, my
name is Sarah Turner
01:07:19.194 --> 01:07:21.972
and I'm calling regarding
the agenda line 21.
01:07:21.972 --> 01:07:23.511
I'm a recent college graduate that lives
01:07:23.511 --> 01:07:25.138
in North County, San Diego,
01:07:25.138 --> 01:07:27.546
and I would like to speak
on behalf of the project.
01:07:27.546 --> 01:07:29.747
I think this project and
other similar types of projects
01:07:29.747 --> 01:07:31.753
need to be approved and built.
01:07:31.753 --> 01:07:34.261
We need reliable power in North County.
01:07:34.261 --> 01:07:36.191
I'm also trying to find a place to live.
01:07:36.191 --> 01:07:39.006
And in these times we
should not be holding things up
01:07:39.006 --> 01:07:40.595
and increasing utility bills.
01:07:40.595 --> 01:07:42.472
It is already too expensive.
01:07:42.472 --> 01:07:45.500
Also, this project is replacing
wood poles with steel poles
01:07:45.500 --> 01:07:47.079
for fire mitigation.
01:07:47.079 --> 01:07:48.413
So that would help with fires,
01:07:48.413 --> 01:07:50.757
and I would think more
people would support this.
01:07:50.757 --> 01:07:53.004
Additionally, with more
houses being built in the area,
01:07:53.004 --> 01:07:54.450
the more power they would need.
01:07:54.450 --> 01:07:56.290
Therefore, I support this project.
01:07:56.290 --> 01:07:59.580
Thank you for your
time and consideration.
01:07:59.580 --> 01:08:03.007
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:08:03.007 --> 01:08:05.150
Our next
caller is Michael Owen,
01:08:05.150 --> 01:08:07.490
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:08:07.490 --> 01:08:08.340
You may go ahead.
01:08:10.050 --> 01:08:11.410
Hello. Thank
you for your time.
01:08:11.410 --> 01:08:16.410
I too am calling about
agenda 21 and the concerns.
01:08:19.800 --> 01:08:22.170
SDG&E's recently been advertising on TV
01:08:22.170 --> 01:08:25.440
about their concern for the
safety of their customers.
01:08:25.440 --> 01:08:30.440
Specifically, the program
burying cables underground.
01:08:30.590 --> 01:08:33.550
And the local newspapers
also run stories
01:08:33.550 --> 01:08:37.080
about the utility burying
existing above-ground lines
01:08:37.080 --> 01:08:40.360
in San Diego County,
Escondido, and Rancho Bernardo,
01:08:40.360 --> 01:08:42.170
and other locations.
01:08:42.170 --> 01:08:46.243
I don't understand why
SDG&E is pursuing this project,
01:08:47.210 --> 01:08:50.820
installing yet another
above-ground series of power towers
01:08:50.820 --> 01:08:54.873
in the San Elijo Hills and
Rancho Dorado neighborhoods.
01:08:56.088 --> 01:08:59.130
If they profess their
concern for public safety,
01:08:59.130 --> 01:09:04.130
they should be doing an EIR
and looking into burial cables.
01:09:05.649 --> 01:09:06.853
Thank you for your time.
01:09:08.680 --> 01:09:10.913
Thank you.
Operator, next caller.
01:09:13.985 --> 01:09:15.920
And our next
caller is Jacqueline Hooper,
01:09:15.920 --> 01:09:17.270
a real estate agent.
01:09:17.270 --> 01:09:18.120
You may go ahead.
01:09:22.110 --> 01:09:23.490
Hello. My
name's Jacqueline.
01:09:23.490 --> 01:09:25.410
I'm a real estate agent
calling on behalf of
01:09:25.410 --> 01:09:28.020
the power line project in San Marcos.
01:09:28.020 --> 01:09:29.950
I'm here to support the project.
01:09:29.950 --> 01:09:32.370
It is very important that
when I speak to people
01:09:32.370 --> 01:09:33.610
who are moving to this area,
01:09:33.610 --> 01:09:35.960
that we have safe and reliable power.
01:09:35.960 --> 01:09:37.350
In addition, I understand that people
01:09:37.350 --> 01:09:39.540
may want this going underground.
01:09:39.540 --> 01:09:41.550
I do not think that it
should be at the cost
01:09:41.550 --> 01:09:42.830
of all ratepayers.
01:09:42.830 --> 01:09:44.640
Typically, when homes are sold
01:09:44.640 --> 01:09:46.650
and the lines are put into the ground,
01:09:46.650 --> 01:09:50.290
it's done by the HOA or at
the cost of the homeowner.
01:09:50.290 --> 01:09:52.160
So I support the project
going forward quickly
01:09:52.160 --> 01:09:55.120
as it is proposed, to ensure
a safe and reliable power
01:09:55.120 --> 01:09:56.226
in the area.
01:09:56.226 --> 01:09:59.270
It should not be at the
cost of all ratepayers.
01:09:59.270 --> 01:10:01.070
That's all I have to say. Thank you.
01:10:02.413 --> 01:10:06.901
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:10:06.901 --> 01:10:08.433
And our next
caller is Peter Austin,
01:10:08.433 --> 01:10:10.699
a San Elijo Hills residence.
01:10:10.699 --> 01:10:12.116
You may go ahead.
01:10:13.058 --> 01:10:15.715
How's it goin'?
01:10:15.715 --> 01:10:19.189
I support the project
that would help the ability
01:10:19.189 --> 01:10:22.495
of our electrical system that would,
01:10:22.495 --> 01:10:25.904
does not unnecessarily
increase our rates.
01:10:25.904 --> 01:10:27.277
We already spend enough on utilities
01:10:27.277 --> 01:10:30.507
and we do not need that increase.
01:10:30.507 --> 01:10:33.778
So please vote and
get this project started.
01:10:33.778 --> 01:10:36.359
Thanks for your time.
01:10:36.359 --> 01:10:40.505
Thank you.
Operator, next caller.
01:10:40.505 --> 01:10:42.812
Our next caller
is Deborah Gutzmer,
01:10:42.812 --> 01:10:44.385
a San Marcos resident.
01:10:44.385 --> 01:10:45.802
You may go ahead.
01:10:46.697 --> 01:10:47.626
Thank you.
01:10:47.626 --> 01:10:48.673
Good morning Commissioners,
01:10:48.673 --> 01:10:51.153
I'm calling regarding agenda item 21,
01:10:51.153 --> 01:10:54.796
the San Marcos to
Escondido power line project.
01:10:54.796 --> 01:10:57.264
I am a caregiver for
my 85-year-old mother
01:10:57.264 --> 01:11:00.351
who lives on a fixed
income in a senior retirement
01:11:00.351 --> 01:11:02.934
mobile home park in San Marcos.
01:11:04.084 --> 01:11:07.128
Any plans to pass on
additional costs to the ratepayers
01:11:07.128 --> 01:11:09.656
to underground the
power lines for this project
01:11:09.656 --> 01:11:12.839
would create a financial
hardship for my mother,
01:11:12.839 --> 01:11:15.273
and not just her, but the
hundreds of other area seniors
01:11:15.273 --> 01:11:17.747
living in a similar situation.
01:11:17.747 --> 01:11:19.732
These older residents
would get the added costs
01:11:19.732 --> 01:11:23.120
with no real benefit to them
over the earlier approved plan
01:11:23.120 --> 01:11:26.133
to upgrade lines and
replace the wooden poles.
01:11:26.133 --> 01:11:29.764
And that plan meets all
the power and safety goals.
01:11:29.764 --> 01:11:32.566
It's for those reasons I ask
that you do not revise the plan
01:11:32.566 --> 01:11:35.941
if it includes any financial
increase to ratepayers.
01:11:35.941 --> 01:11:37.353
Thank you.
01:11:37.353 --> 01:11:42.127
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:11:42.127 --> 01:11:44.260
Our next
caller is Bob Peppler,
01:11:44.260 --> 01:11:45.810
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:11:45.810 --> 01:11:46.660
You may go ahead.
01:11:47.994 --> 01:11:49.277
Good morning,
I'm calling regarding
01:11:49.277 --> 01:11:51.880
agenda item number 21.
01:11:51.880 --> 01:11:52.840
My name is Bob Peppler.
01:11:52.840 --> 01:11:54.560
I'm the former undersheriff
01:11:54.560 --> 01:11:57.530
for San Bernardino
County Sheriff's department.
01:11:57.530 --> 01:12:00.420
And after more than 35
years, I am now retired,
01:12:00.420 --> 01:12:02.857
and my wife and I live in Rancho Dorado.
01:12:02.857 --> 01:12:04.680
During my early career,
01:12:04.680 --> 01:12:07.580
I spent many years as a
deputy evacuating people
01:12:07.580 --> 01:12:09.601
during devastating wildfires,
01:12:09.601 --> 01:12:12.160
and San Bernardino
County has had some of
01:12:12.160 --> 01:12:14.680
the worst wildfires in the state.
01:12:14.680 --> 01:12:17.970
Many were caused by Southern
California Edison power lines
01:12:17.970 --> 01:12:21.266
that snapped or little blown
down during high winds.
01:12:21.266 --> 01:12:22.500
On more than one occasion,
01:12:22.500 --> 01:12:25.013
while returning to burned
out areas for security
01:12:25.013 --> 01:12:28.700
and to keep looters out,
my fellow deputies and I
01:12:28.700 --> 01:12:30.823
ended up finding people
who died in their cars
01:12:30.823 --> 01:12:34.010
while trying to get out
of their neighborhood.
01:12:34.010 --> 01:12:36.040
Found another couple
who died in their doorway
01:12:36.040 --> 01:12:38.120
trying to get to their car.
01:12:38.120 --> 01:12:40.630
To this day, I have a tough
time getting those images
01:12:40.630 --> 01:12:42.180
out of my head.
01:12:42.180 --> 01:12:44.630
So here we are 40 years later,
01:12:44.630 --> 01:12:46.590
my wife and I retired in Rancho Dorado,
01:12:46.590 --> 01:12:48.410
having invested every
penny we have saved
01:12:48.410 --> 01:12:50.210
into our dream home.
01:12:50.210 --> 01:12:53.340
The sad irony is that we are
now facing the exact same
01:12:53.340 --> 01:12:57.230
fire risks that I helped
save people from years ago.
01:12:57.230 --> 01:13:01.000
And what is just as
devastating is the loss of value
01:13:01.000 --> 01:13:04.490
in our home because of the
location of these power lines.
01:13:04.490 --> 01:13:06.450
I proudly devoted my
career to helping people
01:13:06.450 --> 01:13:10.070
who needed me, now
I'm respectfully asking you
01:13:10.070 --> 01:13:13.205
as Commissioners, please
help the people in this community
01:13:13.205 --> 01:13:15.382
who need you.
01:13:15.382 --> 01:13:18.200
Do not approve this project.
01:13:18.200 --> 01:13:20.080
There is no rush.
01:13:20.080 --> 01:13:23.240
Please request an EIR, or better yet,
01:13:23.240 --> 01:13:26.443
just require SDG&E
to do the safest thing
01:13:26.443 --> 01:13:29.360
and bury these lines underground.
01:13:29.360 --> 01:13:30.960
Thank you so much for your time.
01:13:32.256 --> 01:13:35.056
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:13:36.630 --> 01:13:39.460
Our next
caller is Susanna Castillo,
01:13:39.460 --> 01:13:41.330
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:13:41.330 --> 01:13:42.180
You may go ahead.
01:13:43.550 --> 01:13:46.850
Good morning
Commissioners and dear neighbors.
01:13:46.850 --> 01:13:48.093
My name is Susanna Castillo
01:13:48.093 --> 01:13:51.520
and I'm a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:13:51.520 --> 01:13:54.160
And I would like to ask
you to please review
01:13:54.160 --> 01:13:56.540
everyone's concern
of safety and wellbeing
01:13:56.540 --> 01:13:59.430
of our communities here
in San Marcos, please.
01:13:59.430 --> 01:14:02.136
We all face (indistinct) route.
01:14:02.136 --> 01:14:05.273
And please consider the
schools in San Elijo area.
01:14:05.273 --> 01:14:07.370
The health of many
students from (indistinct)
01:14:07.370 --> 01:14:10.740
and San Marcos, that's our main concern.
01:14:10.740 --> 01:14:13.150
The kids, our families please.
01:14:13.150 --> 01:14:15.487
We're all facing daily
anxiety and the stress
01:14:15.487 --> 01:14:19.080
of living in an area
of high risk, fire risk.
01:14:19.080 --> 01:14:20.652
And this labeling was of course
01:14:20.652 --> 01:14:23.270
done by our insurance companies.
01:14:23.270 --> 01:14:25.160
No, because we said that.
01:14:25.160 --> 01:14:28.610
And we usually, who
usually cancel or increase
01:14:28.610 --> 01:14:30.233
our home insurance yearly.
01:14:32.360 --> 01:14:35.570
I just, I implore you
do to help us to build
01:14:35.570 --> 01:14:38.060
a better future for our kids,
01:14:38.060 --> 01:14:40.270
the environment, and our planet.
01:14:40.270 --> 01:14:43.297
And for me, it is hard to
conceive that at this time
01:14:43.297 --> 01:14:46.410
you're still having issues to convince
01:14:46.410 --> 01:14:49.280
San Diego Gas and Electric
to understand the risks
01:14:49.280 --> 01:14:53.430
of construction of more
power lines in this area.
01:14:53.430 --> 01:14:57.090
At this point, I just concerned
they should be mandatory
01:14:57.090 --> 01:15:00.190
to build power lines
underground in all California,
01:15:00.190 --> 01:15:01.503
based on our terrain.
01:15:04.120 --> 01:15:07.550
I would think it's better
just to put our money
01:15:07.550 --> 01:15:10.730
that goes to our
insurance that are so high,
01:15:10.730 --> 01:15:15.720
towards HOA, and just to
make our areas more safe.
01:15:15.720 --> 01:15:20.636
Thank you, please help
us to have more safe
01:15:20.636 --> 01:15:23.060
and beauty in our areas.
01:15:23.060 --> 01:15:25.060
Thank you, Commissioners.
Have a great day.
01:15:25.060 --> 01:15:28.213
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:15:30.210 --> 01:15:32.670
Our next
caller is Shea Exner,
01:15:32.670 --> 01:15:34.610
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:15:34.610 --> 01:15:35.460
You may go ahead.
01:15:36.450 --> 01:15:37.840
Hi, good morning,
Commissioners.
01:15:37.840 --> 01:15:38.870
Thank you very much.
01:15:38.870 --> 01:15:41.830
I am calling in regards
to agenda item 21.
01:15:41.830 --> 01:15:44.040
I am a homeowner in Rancho Dorado,
01:15:44.040 --> 01:15:47.720
and I want to add my voice
to those of my fellow neighbors
01:15:47.720 --> 01:15:50.180
and community that I am strongly against
01:15:50.180 --> 01:15:51.510
this power line project.
01:15:51.510 --> 01:15:56.133
And I would hope, at the very
least, that this group ensure
01:15:56.133 --> 01:16:01.133
that an EIR is done before
any movement is on this project.
01:16:02.480 --> 01:16:06.290
It seems with so many fires
happening due to utilities,
01:16:06.290 --> 01:16:08.980
just like the Bobcat one
that is being speculated
01:16:08.980 --> 01:16:11.770
as a utility fire, that it
is in the best interest
01:16:11.770 --> 01:16:14.480
of everyone in our
communities to make sure
01:16:14.480 --> 01:16:17.273
that power lines are put underground.
01:16:18.660 --> 01:16:21.100
You know, people have
mentioned Simmons Family Park,
01:16:21.100 --> 01:16:23.670
my kids play there every single day.
01:16:23.670 --> 01:16:26.520
This is an obvious safety issue,
01:16:26.520 --> 01:16:30.510
and there is absolutely no
reason that there should not be
01:16:30.510 --> 01:16:35.510
a environmental impact report
done before any movement
01:16:35.970 --> 01:16:38.360
is on this project.
01:16:38.360 --> 01:16:40.220
So thank you for your consideration
01:16:40.220 --> 01:16:41.570
and I appreciate your time.
01:16:42.500 --> 01:16:45.300
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:16:46.880 --> 01:16:49.150
Our next
caller is Marjorie Dykema,
01:16:49.150 --> 01:16:51.823
with San Elijo Hills Westridge HOA.
01:16:52.760 --> 01:16:53.610
You may go ahead.
01:16:54.980 --> 01:16:56.580
Good morning
Commissioners.
01:16:56.580 --> 01:16:58.260
Thank you for your time.
01:16:58.260 --> 01:17:01.400
Yes, I am a member of
the HOA board at Westridge,
01:17:01.400 --> 01:17:05.610
and I've listened to our
neighbors, our residents,
01:17:05.610 --> 01:17:08.700
expressing from the heart
they're great concerns
01:17:08.700 --> 01:17:11.040
and strong opposable to this project.
01:17:11.040 --> 01:17:13.318
I wanna add my name to that.
01:17:13.318 --> 01:17:17.713
We also are very much
aware that this project,
01:17:18.720 --> 01:17:23.660
proposed project runs through 80%,
01:17:23.660 --> 01:17:25.730
if this is correct, I'm just amazed.
01:17:25.730 --> 01:17:28.570
80% of this project is
gonna run through Cal Fire's
01:17:28.570 --> 01:17:32.400
highest wildfire risk zone.
01:17:32.400 --> 01:17:36.020
Why it's even being
considered is beyond me.
01:17:36.020 --> 01:17:39.440
At the least, we need an EIR.
01:17:39.440 --> 01:17:41.070
And I oppose this project.
01:17:41.070 --> 01:17:44.580
I do not find this to be
advantageous to anybody
01:17:44.580 --> 01:17:48.440
that lives in this area
based on our history of fires,
01:17:48.440 --> 01:17:50.470
the evacuations in our area,
01:17:50.470 --> 01:17:52.810
insurance policies
that are being canceled
01:17:52.810 --> 01:17:55.690
because we live in
a high risk fire area.
01:17:55.690 --> 01:17:56.841
All of these things,
01:17:56.841 --> 01:18:00.183
I urge the Commissioners
to take into consideration,
01:18:02.290 --> 01:18:04.570
and deny this project.
01:18:04.570 --> 01:18:07.895
And at the least I'm asking you to do,
01:18:07.895 --> 01:18:11.020
require an environmental impact report.
01:18:11.020 --> 01:18:12.220
Thank you for your time.
01:18:15.094 --> 01:18:18.213
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:18:19.240 --> 01:18:21.000
Our next
caller is Katie Hadley,
01:18:21.000 --> 01:18:23.020
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:18:23.020 --> 01:18:23.870
You may go ahead.
01:18:25.180 --> 01:18:28.300
Good morning.
My name is Katie Hadley.
01:18:28.300 --> 01:18:32.233
I have been a resident of
San Elijo Hills for 10 years.
01:18:33.634 --> 01:18:38.290
I'm calling in reference
to item number 21 as well.
01:18:38.290 --> 01:18:41.472
I was just reading an article
published a few days ago
01:18:41.472 --> 01:18:43.870
about the horrible fires in Oregon,
01:18:43.870 --> 01:18:47.220
and how 13 of those fires were started
01:18:47.220 --> 01:18:49.020
by downed power lines.
01:18:49.020 --> 01:18:52.400
Those 13 fires spread
into the Beachie Creek fire
01:18:52.400 --> 01:18:56.597
in the Cascade Mountains,
and they've burned, right now,
01:18:56.597 --> 01:19:00.290
193,000 acres and counting.
01:19:00.290 --> 01:19:04.000
So that fires only 38% contained.
01:19:04.000 --> 01:19:07.370
Those lines are owned
by PG&E and PacifiCorp.
01:19:07.370 --> 01:19:12.370
PG&E was already sued for
California's 2019 Kincade Fire,
01:19:12.807 --> 01:19:17.500
and they committed to paying
25 and a half billion dollars
01:19:17.500 --> 01:19:19.840
to people affected by that fire.
01:19:19.840 --> 01:19:24.430
175 homes were burned
to the ground in that fire.
01:19:24.430 --> 01:19:26.290
Imagine the devastation that could occur
01:19:26.290 --> 01:19:29.320
in a neighborhood like
mine, like San Elijo Hills,
01:19:29.320 --> 01:19:33.620
or Rancho Dorado, with
fires started by power lines
01:19:33.620 --> 01:19:36.580
in these very congested
and heavily populated areas
01:19:36.580 --> 01:19:39.030
with thousands of families in its path.
01:19:39.030 --> 01:19:43.690
SDG&E has turned off our
power, just last year actually,
01:19:43.690 --> 01:19:46.690
because these neighborhoods
are high fire-threat areas.
01:19:46.690 --> 01:19:50.330
This would absolutely be
irresponsible and negligent
01:19:50.330 --> 01:19:53.400
to even consider even more power lines
01:19:53.400 --> 01:19:55.360
through these backyards.
01:19:55.360 --> 01:19:59.450
We will sue SDG&E if this
happens in our backyard,
01:19:59.450 --> 01:20:02.813
if fires take our house, and
we won't be alone, I know that.
01:20:03.780 --> 01:20:07.230
Yes, it is expensive to
put them underground,
01:20:07.230 --> 01:20:11.352
more expensive, but aren't
the guaranteed lawsuits to come
01:20:11.352 --> 01:20:15.480
and loss of human lives
much more expensive?
01:20:15.480 --> 01:20:18.730
Please put these lines
underground, or at the very least,
01:20:18.730 --> 01:20:23.140
we need an EIR to look
into this project more.
01:20:23.140 --> 01:20:25.120
I know you guys all have families.
01:20:25.120 --> 01:20:27.270
If this project was
coming to your backyard,
01:20:27.270 --> 01:20:31.560
what then would you
want for this project?
01:20:31.560 --> 01:20:34.423
Please do the right
thing. Thank you so much.
01:20:35.910 --> 01:20:38.613
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:20:40.110 --> 01:20:42.310
Our next
caller is Angela Ayers,
01:20:42.310 --> 01:20:44.690
a Santa Elijo Hills resident.
01:20:44.690 --> 01:20:45.540
You may go ahead.
01:20:47.930 --> 01:20:50.270
Yes, I am also commenting
01:20:50.270 --> 01:20:52.610
on agenda item number 21.
01:20:52.610 --> 01:20:57.123
I live in San Elijo Hills and I
am also an insurance agent.
01:20:57.123 --> 01:20:59.570
I insure many homes in the area,
01:20:59.570 --> 01:21:03.020
and homeowners insurance
rates just continue to rise
01:21:03.020 --> 01:21:05.510
and finding carriers
that will write policies
01:21:05.510 --> 01:21:08.010
in these fire-prone areas
01:21:08.010 --> 01:21:11.220
is becoming increasingly difficult.
01:21:11.220 --> 01:21:13.410
It would be unconscionable
in my opinion,
01:21:13.410 --> 01:21:16.560
to run above-ground
power lines through an area
01:21:16.560 --> 01:21:19.650
that is already
considered a high-fire area.
01:21:19.650 --> 01:21:21.460
It would seem to me that your planning
01:21:21.460 --> 01:21:24.100
would consider safety first and foremost
01:21:24.100 --> 01:21:26.710
in our current wildfire environment,
01:21:26.710 --> 01:21:30.970
and to reduce the risk of
fires rather than make a choice
01:21:30.970 --> 01:21:33.540
to increase the fire risk in this area.
01:21:33.540 --> 01:21:37.110
I'm asking that these lines
be placed underground.
01:21:37.110 --> 01:21:39.513
Thank you for hearing
my opinion on this matter.
01:21:40.420 --> 01:21:43.220
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:21:45.620 --> 01:21:47.670
Our next
caller is Jean Young,
01:21:47.670 --> 01:21:50.030
a San Marcos, Rancho Dorado resident.
01:21:50.030 --> 01:21:50.880
You may go ahead.
01:21:51.890 --> 01:21:53.620
Hello. Good morning.
01:21:53.620 --> 01:21:57.160
We have been declined homeowner
and fire insurance from AAA
01:21:57.160 --> 01:21:59.810
a few years ago because they
said we live across the street
01:21:59.810 --> 01:22:01.733
from a high fire-risk zone.
01:22:01.733 --> 01:22:04.370
When we bought the house,
it was called a green zone.
01:22:04.370 --> 01:22:06.540
We bought the house 20 years ago
01:22:06.540 --> 01:22:08.440
and there was a single wooden pole
01:22:08.440 --> 01:22:10.000
with a couple of lines on it.
01:22:10.000 --> 01:22:12.190
Now there's a giant pole.
01:22:12.190 --> 01:22:14.110
And, we moved here from Thousand Oaks
01:22:14.110 --> 01:22:16.440
where all lines were
in, every neighborhood,
01:22:16.440 --> 01:22:19.114
were put underground,
and we thought that would be
01:22:19.114 --> 01:22:22.391
what would happen here,
but the opposite has happened.
01:22:22.391 --> 01:22:25.430
Please consider putting
these lines underground.
01:22:25.430 --> 01:22:28.460
It's scary having a fire zone
across the street from us.
01:22:28.460 --> 01:22:29.293
Thank you.
01:22:30.260 --> 01:22:33.010
Thank you.
Operator, next caller please.
01:22:34.720 --> 01:22:37.290
Our next caller is
Erica Williams, a ratepayer.
01:22:37.290 --> 01:22:38.453
You may go ahead.
01:22:39.970 --> 01:22:42.300
Hello, my name
is Erica Williams,
01:22:42.300 --> 01:22:46.940
and I'm speaking to
agenda item number 21.
01:22:46.940 --> 01:22:49.910
I'm actually calling in
support of this project.
01:22:49.910 --> 01:22:54.090
As a teacher in this county,
and somebody who is already
01:22:54.090 --> 01:22:57.600
on a fixed income
with limited flexibilities,
01:22:57.600 --> 01:23:01.080
I'm concerned about the
increased cost as a ratepayer
01:23:01.080 --> 01:23:03.190
if the polls are to go underground.
01:23:03.190 --> 01:23:05.760
And I wanna minimize the cost for others
01:23:05.760 --> 01:23:08.810
who are in similar situations to me.
01:23:08.810 --> 01:23:12.810
As a teacher, I firsthand
have seen working from home
01:23:12.810 --> 01:23:17.040
has become a necessity
for many like myself,
01:23:17.040 --> 01:23:20.413
and it's incredibly important
to have reliable power
01:23:20.413 --> 01:23:23.620
and connection to do my job.
01:23:23.620 --> 01:23:26.530
And I'm concerned about the quickness
01:23:26.530 --> 01:23:29.670
and the readiness of this
project if it were to transition
01:23:29.670 --> 01:23:33.390
to an alternative option
such as underground.
01:23:33.390 --> 01:23:36.270
And ultimately I'm asking for a solution
01:23:36.270 --> 01:23:39.891
that minimizes the
cost for teachers like me.
01:23:39.891 --> 01:23:44.520
So, I wanna say that I want a quick
01:23:44.520 --> 01:23:46.730
and safe reliable power option.
01:23:46.730 --> 01:23:50.487
And again, that I am in support
of this project by SDG&E.
01:23:50.487 --> 01:23:53.563
Thank you so much for
your time and consideration.
01:23:54.720 --> 01:23:57.120
Thank you.
Operator, next caller.
01:23:58.960 --> 01:24:00.960
Our next
caller is Melissa Smith,
01:24:00.960 --> 01:24:02.430
a San Marco resident.
01:24:02.430 --> 01:24:03.280
You may go ahead.
01:24:04.260 --> 01:24:06.810
Hi, thank
you for my call.
01:24:06.810 --> 01:24:08.780
I'm a North County ratepayer as well,
01:24:08.780 --> 01:24:11.793
speaking in favor of
agenda item number 21.
01:24:12.678 --> 01:24:17.678
I've been a long time resident
of San Marcos since 1993.
01:24:18.350 --> 01:24:23.190
And as a result I've seen
North County grow quite a bit.
01:24:23.190 --> 01:24:26.568
I still want reliable
energy for my community
01:24:26.568 --> 01:24:29.840
and this project does that, as is.
01:24:29.840 --> 01:24:31.103
Thank you very much.
01:24:33.200 --> 01:24:36.000
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:24:37.410 --> 01:24:39.600
Our next caller
is Carrie Fernandez,
01:24:39.600 --> 01:24:41.350
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:24:41.350 --> 01:24:42.200
You may go ahead.
01:24:43.510 --> 01:24:45.900
Hi, I've been a
San Elijo Hills resident
01:24:45.900 --> 01:24:50.440
for 17 years, that was before
Twin Oaks even went through,
01:24:50.440 --> 01:24:52.860
so we had even fewer
ways to get in and out
01:24:52.860 --> 01:24:54.490
of the community.
01:24:54.490 --> 01:24:57.573
And besides, like my neighbors,
I'm concerned about fires,
01:24:58.850 --> 01:25:02.490
and, you know, getting out
of the community evacuation,
01:25:02.490 --> 01:25:04.950
but I'm also, for the last 25 years,
01:25:04.950 --> 01:25:06.650
have been an environmental planner.
01:25:06.650 --> 01:25:10.170
So I prepare SEQRA
documents all day, every day.
01:25:10.170 --> 01:25:14.300
And, I was very
disappointed in this MND.
01:25:14.300 --> 01:25:16.930
And there's such, there's a legal review
01:25:16.930 --> 01:25:18.417
for environmental impact reports
01:25:18.417 --> 01:25:21.610
and for negative declarations and this
01:25:21.610 --> 01:25:23.690
fair argument standard, which means
01:25:23.690 --> 01:25:27.590
if a community member can
prove, or actually not even prove,
01:25:27.590 --> 01:25:29.830
but just demonstrate potential impacts
01:25:29.830 --> 01:25:32.565
that can not be mitigated,
there was a requirement
01:25:32.565 --> 01:25:34.930
to prepare an
environmental impact report.
01:25:34.930 --> 01:25:37.370
It's legal, it's been
through supreme courts,
01:25:37.370 --> 01:25:39.700
it's the right thing to do.
01:25:39.700 --> 01:25:43.110
And so really, there's a legal cause
01:25:43.110 --> 01:25:44.710
to be challenged on this.
01:25:44.710 --> 01:25:47.470
And so as, you know, a
preparer and somebody
01:25:47.470 --> 01:25:50.570
in this industry, I would hope
that you would, you know,
01:25:50.570 --> 01:25:53.790
take that into consideration,
and for ratepayers,
01:25:53.790 --> 01:25:56.673
the last thing you want is
to be in lengthy litigation.
01:25:57.670 --> 01:26:00.378
I am concerned also
that some of the evidence,
01:26:00.378 --> 01:26:04.630
the things that were done
for aesthetics and for wildfire,
01:26:04.630 --> 01:26:07.453
were just really not
done to the standards.
01:26:08.510 --> 01:26:12.270
Finally, I just wanna say,
let's learn lessons from PG&E
01:26:12.270 --> 01:26:15.970
and the fires up there
and filing for bankruptcy,
01:26:15.970 --> 01:26:18.460
and prepare an
environmental impact report,
01:26:18.460 --> 01:26:20.240
but also just look at the bigger picture
01:26:20.240 --> 01:26:23.900
about wildfire risk, about ratepayers,
01:26:23.900 --> 01:26:27.220
about constituents that are
getting their fire insurance
01:26:27.220 --> 01:26:29.590
canceled and homeowners insurance.
01:26:29.590 --> 01:26:33.860
And last week I moderated a
presentation on building homes
01:26:33.860 --> 01:26:36.080
in the wild urban interface.
01:26:36.080 --> 01:26:41.080
And California is like 70%
in high fire severity zones.
01:26:41.860 --> 01:26:45.780
We have a housing crisis,
we need to continue to build.
01:26:45.780 --> 01:26:48.160
Thank you, I'll conclude. Thank you.
01:26:48.160 --> 01:26:50.960
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:26:52.520 --> 01:26:55.157
Our next
caller is Nadine Cirqua,
01:26:56.023 --> 01:26:57.530
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:26:57.530 --> 01:26:58.380
You may go ahead.
01:27:00.100 --> 01:27:02.850
Hi, I am speaking
to agenda item number 21
01:27:02.850 --> 01:27:06.714
as well, and I just wanna
say I was genuinely surprised
01:27:06.714 --> 01:27:10.310
and alarmed when I first
found out that SDG&E
01:27:10.310 --> 01:27:12.200
was planning to add
additional power lines
01:27:12.200 --> 01:27:13.443
to the neighborhoods.
01:27:14.400 --> 01:27:16.860
I mean, aside from the
eyesore and the health risks,
01:27:16.860 --> 01:27:20.460
they do create a very real fire hazard.
01:27:20.460 --> 01:27:23.793
So, not only should any additional lines
01:27:23.793 --> 01:27:27.300
that might be added to the
system be placed underground,
01:27:27.300 --> 01:27:29.490
but so should all the existing lines,
01:27:29.490 --> 01:27:31.680
in the interest of safety.
01:27:31.680 --> 01:27:33.760
And I just wanna point out that SDG&E
01:27:33.760 --> 01:27:36.800
is a company that's
purpose is meant to provide
01:27:36.800 --> 01:27:38.997
a necessary service to the community.
01:27:38.997 --> 01:27:42.160
So it just seems that
putting that community
01:27:42.160 --> 01:27:45.280
at even greater risk, it
seems unconscionable.
01:27:45.280 --> 01:27:49.310
And I know that SDG&E
has a very lucrative contract
01:27:49.310 --> 01:27:52.360
with the county, and they
just might consider that,
01:27:52.360 --> 01:27:54.170
I know they like to continue that,
01:27:54.170 --> 01:27:56.010
and the goodwill of the community,
01:27:56.010 --> 01:27:58.840
and really just doing the right thing,
01:27:58.840 --> 01:28:01.300
can go a surprisingly long way.
01:28:01.300 --> 01:28:02.500
Thank you for your time.
01:28:07.670 --> 01:28:10.470
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:28:12.705 --> 01:28:15.427
And our next
caller is Salvador Arditi,
01:28:15.427 --> 01:28:17.090
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:28:17.090 --> 01:28:17.940
You may go ahead.
01:28:19.770 --> 01:28:21.330
Hello. My
name is Salvador Arditi.
01:28:21.330 --> 01:28:23.260
I'm a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:28:23.260 --> 01:28:25.920
Thank you so much for taking my call.
01:28:25.920 --> 01:28:28.423
I am calling to talk about item 21.
01:28:29.301 --> 01:28:32.610
As a lot of my fellow
neighbors have expressed,
01:28:32.610 --> 01:28:35.600
I am very worried about
this project going through.
01:28:35.600 --> 01:28:38.730
I've been a resident of
San Elijo Hills since 2014,
01:28:38.730 --> 01:28:40.790
and funny enough, in 2014,
01:28:40.790 --> 01:28:42.550
when we were in the middle of escrow,
01:28:42.550 --> 01:28:46.010
was the Cocos Fire, and
the whole neighborhood
01:28:46.010 --> 01:28:47.300
was completely evacuated.
01:28:47.300 --> 01:28:49.510
We didn't even know if
we were gonna be able to,
01:28:49.510 --> 01:28:52.223
you know, move into our
new home or not, at that time.
01:28:53.210 --> 01:28:54.700
Even though we are
in the middle of town,
01:28:54.700 --> 01:28:59.227
we're very close to the
downtown, to the town center.
01:28:59.227 --> 01:29:03.179
We, experienced how long
it took for people to get out
01:29:03.179 --> 01:29:04.800
during that fire.
01:29:04.800 --> 01:29:07.600
I'm extremely concerned
about these poles going up,
01:29:07.600 --> 01:29:12.600
and it's incredible that
being in such a high fire zone,
01:29:13.160 --> 01:29:15.060
this is still being considered.
01:29:15.060 --> 01:29:17.140
I was originally born in Mexico City,
01:29:17.140 --> 01:29:19.510
and I've lived here for 25 years,
01:29:19.510 --> 01:29:21.193
and I've always
considered the United States
01:29:21.193 --> 01:29:22.600
a first world country.
01:29:22.600 --> 01:29:24.860
Decisions like this
remind me of the country
01:29:24.860 --> 01:29:27.770
that I used to live in, which
made a terrible country.
01:29:27.770 --> 01:29:31.910
I would plead to the
people making decisions,
01:29:31.910 --> 01:29:35.740
to please consider an EIR,
and to consider the lives
01:29:35.740 --> 01:29:37.750
of many people that that are in jeopardy
01:29:37.750 --> 01:29:39.660
if there would be a fire in the area.
01:29:39.660 --> 01:29:41.230
I know that the project is expensive,
01:29:41.230 --> 01:29:43.730
and the cost of putting
the lines underground
01:29:43.730 --> 01:29:44.890
is very expensive.
01:29:44.890 --> 01:29:46.943
But think about how
much the expense would be
01:29:46.943 --> 01:29:48.550
if there was another fire,
01:29:48.550 --> 01:29:50.990
and if it would consume
more homes than it already did
01:29:50.990 --> 01:29:53.830
in the fire of 2014.
01:29:53.830 --> 01:29:54.710
Thank you for your time,
01:29:54.710 --> 01:29:56.900
and thank you for listening to my call.
01:29:56.900 --> 01:29:59.700
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:30:01.040 --> 01:30:03.150
Our next
caller is Carissa Chu,
01:30:03.150 --> 01:30:05.030
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:30:05.030 --> 01:30:05.880
You may go ahead.
01:30:12.020 --> 01:30:14.523
Again, Carissa Chu, we
are unable to hear you.
01:30:15.880 --> 01:30:17.663
Oh, I'm here. I'm sorry.
01:30:19.027 --> 01:30:20.433
Can you hear me?
01:30:23.010 --> 01:30:24.160
Yes, we
can hear you now.
01:30:24.160 --> 01:30:25.350
Please go ahead.
Okay, great.
01:30:25.350 --> 01:30:26.620
Sorry about that.
01:30:26.620 --> 01:30:31.560
I'm a resident of San Elijo
Hills, and I've been living here
01:30:31.560 --> 01:30:36.560
for about 18 years, and I just
wanted to voice my concerns
01:30:37.030 --> 01:30:40.580
and request to have an EIR done.
01:30:40.580 --> 01:30:43.960
We have survived through
three wildfires so far.
01:30:43.960 --> 01:30:46.931
It has been very challenging
to get fire insurance
01:30:46.931 --> 01:30:48.880
every year since we've lived here.
01:30:48.880 --> 01:30:52.360
In fact, I just tried again
about six months ago
01:30:52.360 --> 01:30:55.360
to switch our insurance
and nobody will insure us
01:30:55.360 --> 01:30:58.120
because they say we have too much brush
01:30:58.120 --> 01:31:00.100
and we're in a high-fire zone
01:31:00.100 --> 01:31:02.540
according to the insurance companies.
01:31:02.540 --> 01:31:06.720
I'm from Northern California,
from Santa Rosa area.
01:31:06.720 --> 01:31:11.680
My sister lost a home
in the wildfires in 2018.
01:31:11.680 --> 01:31:15.540
And you know, we've
obviously seen the devastation
01:31:15.540 --> 01:31:19.730
from the lack of responsibility
on utilities companies
01:31:19.730 --> 01:31:21.100
like PG&E.
01:31:21.100 --> 01:31:23.343
And, you know, I
would like to avoid that.
01:31:24.280 --> 01:31:26.967
Obviously we've had a lot
more people move to this area,
01:31:26.967 --> 01:31:31.967
and there's only one method
in and out, an egress route.
01:31:33.080 --> 01:31:34.760
And that is very concerning.
01:31:34.760 --> 01:31:37.500
When we've evacuated
before it can take hours
01:31:37.500 --> 01:31:39.830
just to get out of our community.
01:31:39.830 --> 01:31:43.700
And, so I am requesting
that at the very least
01:31:43.700 --> 01:31:46.214
you do an environmental impact report
01:31:46.214 --> 01:31:50.210
and see if it's possible to
put the lines underground.
01:31:50.210 --> 01:31:53.530
I do understand some people
have economic concerns,
01:31:53.530 --> 01:31:57.930
but I think we need to look
at all sides of the picture
01:31:57.930 --> 01:32:00.350
and take our time
with this and make sure
01:32:00.350 --> 01:32:03.250
that we do what is the most
advantageous for everyone.
01:32:03.250 --> 01:32:07.260
And I forgot to mention this
was agenda item number 21.
01:32:07.260 --> 01:32:08.860
Thank you so much for your time.
01:32:11.060 --> 01:32:13.673
Thank you.
Operator, next caller please.
01:32:15.208 --> 01:32:17.330
And our next
caller is Cheryl Hanson,
01:32:17.330 --> 01:32:19.090
a Rancho Dorado homeowner.
01:32:19.090 --> 01:32:19.940
You may go ahead.
01:32:21.730 --> 01:32:22.843
Good morning
Commissioners.
01:32:22.843 --> 01:32:26.470
I am calling regarding
agenda item number 21.
01:32:26.470 --> 01:32:29.613
I've been a Rancho Dorado homeowner for,
01:32:29.613 --> 01:32:32.700
it'll be 21 years this October.
01:32:32.700 --> 01:32:35.003
And in that time we've
had to evacuate twice.
01:32:36.020 --> 01:32:39.170
When that Poinsettia Fire
broke out, let me tell you,
01:32:39.170 --> 01:32:43.890
I will never forget the
panic call of my son,
01:32:43.890 --> 01:32:48.550
my middle school son, as he
watched it from the playground.
01:32:48.550 --> 01:32:51.250
He was begging me to
come get him and his friends
01:32:51.250 --> 01:32:52.083
out of there.
01:32:52.083 --> 01:32:54.150
So of course, as a parent, I go there
01:32:54.150 --> 01:32:56.500
and there's nothing but chaos,
01:32:56.500 --> 01:32:58.100
parents trying to get their children.
01:32:58.100 --> 01:33:00.230
Now, granted, I know it
wasn't close to the school,
01:33:00.230 --> 01:33:02.340
but these children are seeing this fire,
01:33:02.340 --> 01:33:05.290
which seems like
it's right on top of 'em.
01:33:05.290 --> 01:33:07.730
And so there was
nothing, it was just chaotic.
01:33:07.730 --> 01:33:11.170
And you know, everyone
trying to get out in a one way,
01:33:11.170 --> 01:33:12.650
you know, one way in, one way out.
01:33:12.650 --> 01:33:15.480
So, you know, they
just, we just felt trapped.
01:33:15.480 --> 01:33:17.393
And that was a terrible experience.
01:33:18.560 --> 01:33:20.610
Prior to this major fire breaking out,
01:33:20.610 --> 01:33:23.197
we had a neighbor
who had a birthday party
01:33:23.197 --> 01:33:25.260
for her little toddler.
01:33:25.260 --> 01:33:28.760
One of her Mylar balloons
got loose and got trapped up
01:33:28.760 --> 01:33:32.640
into the, got tangled up
in a wire and started a fire.
01:33:32.640 --> 01:33:34.880
Again, chaos, kids are crying.
01:33:34.880 --> 01:33:36.360
The fire department has to come out,
01:33:36.360 --> 01:33:38.750
and what a blessing it
was that it wasn't during
01:33:38.750 --> 01:33:39.870
one of those Santa Anas,
01:33:39.870 --> 01:33:42.463
'cause that would've
been a terrible experience.
01:33:43.520 --> 01:33:46.710
Not only is the risk of fires so great,
01:33:46.710 --> 01:33:48.270
it's a terrible eyesore.
01:33:48.270 --> 01:33:50.320
You know, as I travel back home on coast
01:33:51.960 --> 01:33:56.160
and look over and see this
beautiful sunset, you know,
01:33:56.160 --> 01:33:58.870
just looking at this view
and then all of a sudden,
01:33:58.870 --> 01:34:01.720
bam, you get this huge ugly transmitter
01:34:01.720 --> 01:34:03.840
that's got this
continuous buzzing there.
01:34:03.840 --> 01:34:08.700
And I know firsthand from
friends who have opted not to buy
01:34:08.700 --> 01:34:10.920
in our neighborhood because of that.
01:34:10.920 --> 01:34:13.767
So, I'm asking as a
homeowner to do the right thing
01:34:13.767 --> 01:34:17.015
and to at least do an
environmental impact report,
01:34:17.015 --> 01:34:20.260
but preferably put them underground.
01:34:20.260 --> 01:34:21.160
Thank you so much.
01:34:22.740 --> 01:34:25.993
Thank you.
Next caller, please, operator.
01:34:27.640 --> 01:34:32.300
Next caller is
Nicholas Ovisamara with UCSV.
01:34:32.300 --> 01:34:33.400
You may go ahead, sir.
01:34:36.300 --> 01:34:38.564
My name is
Nicholas Ovisamara,
01:34:38.564 --> 01:34:41.210
and I'm calling to
item 21 of the agenda.
01:34:41.210 --> 01:34:43.310
I am a professor of
electrical power engineering
01:34:43.310 --> 01:34:45.840
at the University of
California-San Diego.
01:34:45.840 --> 01:34:48.409
I also have over 40 years of experience
01:34:48.409 --> 01:34:50.150
in the power industry,
01:34:50.150 --> 01:34:53.650
being at the Electric
Power Research Institute,
01:34:53.650 --> 01:34:57.423
as well as other leading
companies in the field.
01:34:58.740 --> 01:35:01.690
I'm also the sole author of the textbook
01:35:01.690 --> 01:35:04.140
on the effects of extreme weather,
01:35:04.140 --> 01:35:07.603
including wildfires, on the power grid.
01:35:08.730 --> 01:35:13.140
I propose that SDG&E
considers two alternatives
01:35:13.140 --> 01:35:15.200
for the present line.
01:35:15.200 --> 01:35:18.270
One is wired-base, and the other one
01:35:18.270 --> 01:35:20.610
is non-wired-based solution.
01:35:20.610 --> 01:35:23.210
The wired-based solution can be achieved
01:35:23.210 --> 01:35:26.180
by double circuiting an existing line
01:35:26.180 --> 01:35:31.180
at a fraction of the
cost of the proposal.
01:35:31.490 --> 01:35:35.290
And the non-wires based
solution can be achieved
01:35:35.290 --> 01:35:37.945
by implementing energy storage,
01:35:37.945 --> 01:35:41.970
alongside management
and other technologies
01:35:41.970 --> 01:35:46.970
that SDG&E is very familiar,
and it worked really well.
01:35:49.810 --> 01:35:54.810
I also reviewed energy
data on a monthly basis
01:35:54.920 --> 01:35:59.920
from the SDG&E site for
San Marcos and Escondido.
01:36:01.850 --> 01:36:05.520
And I found that the load
in the last couple years
01:36:05.520 --> 01:36:09.480
is not increasing as they
said, but actually decreasing,
01:36:09.480 --> 01:36:11.723
especially for the residential load.
01:36:13.367 --> 01:36:15.034
Thank you very much.
01:36:16.110 --> 01:36:18.733
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:36:20.087 --> 01:36:22.540
And our next
caller is Didi Hornby,
01:36:22.540 --> 01:36:23.580
a resident.
01:36:23.580 --> 01:36:24.453
You may go ahead.
01:36:26.880 --> 01:36:28.960
Yes, earlier this
morning you heard from
01:36:28.960 --> 01:36:32.660
real estate agent, Jacqueline
Hooper, who is from Del Mar,
01:36:32.660 --> 01:36:37.660
which isn't even anywhere
near the area of project TL 6975.
01:36:38.700 --> 01:36:40.280
And we would think that her concerns,
01:36:40.280 --> 01:36:43.140
if she were lucky enough
to get a listing in this area,
01:36:43.140 --> 01:36:45.530
would be to keep the property values up,
01:36:45.530 --> 01:36:48.960
to keep the county coffers
full from the property taxes,
01:36:48.960 --> 01:36:51.430
which are based on the property values.
01:36:51.430 --> 01:36:55.900
If TL 6975 were implemented,
property values and taxes
01:36:55.900 --> 01:36:57.570
will plummet.
01:36:57.570 --> 01:37:02.440
That means less real estate
agent Commissions, lower comps.
01:37:02.440 --> 01:37:04.580
Please disregard the comments for people
01:37:04.580 --> 01:37:07.790
who are in support of TL 6975,
01:37:07.790 --> 01:37:12.160
because if they don't want
SDG&E costs to increase,
01:37:12.160 --> 01:37:16.340
then how about not implementing
this unneeded project?
01:37:16.340 --> 01:37:20.180
Why support an expensive,
risky, unnecessary behemoth,
01:37:20.180 --> 01:37:22.390
which will cost the ratepayers?
01:37:22.390 --> 01:37:26.760
SDG&E has not
demonstrated in any solid data
01:37:26.760 --> 01:37:30.170
that TL 6975 is even needed.
01:37:30.170 --> 01:37:33.500
So we have proven to you
that the information that NMD,
01:37:33.500 --> 01:37:37.040
which is what you are using
to formulate your opinion,
01:37:37.040 --> 01:37:39.280
is flawed and invalid.
01:37:39.280 --> 01:37:40.890
We'd just like to confirm.
01:37:40.890 --> 01:37:43.340
You wouldn't drive down
an unfamiliar dirt road
01:37:43.340 --> 01:37:44.970
with your children in the car
01:37:44.970 --> 01:37:47.400
with an eminent blizzard, right?
01:37:47.400 --> 01:37:49.650
You wouldn't invest your
own money into a fund
01:37:49.650 --> 01:37:51.440
without doing research on it.
01:37:51.440 --> 01:37:54.240
So why would you allow
this monstrous, risky,
01:37:54.240 --> 01:37:56.107
horrible project without an EIR?
01:37:57.240 --> 01:37:59.760
Is it because you know with an EIR
01:37:59.760 --> 01:38:02.150
that this project won't fly?
01:38:02.150 --> 01:38:03.630
Please, keep this in mind
01:38:03.630 --> 01:38:05.840
when you're considering the project.
01:38:05.840 --> 01:38:06.903
Thank you so much.
01:38:09.000 --> 01:38:11.800
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:38:13.300 --> 01:38:16.450
Our next caller
is Tristine Reyes Yoder,
01:38:16.450 --> 01:38:18.320
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:38:18.320 --> 01:38:19.170
You may go ahead.
01:38:21.130 --> 01:38:23.800
Hi, I am
Tristine Reyes Yoder,
01:38:23.800 --> 01:38:26.430
calling regarding agenda number 21.
01:38:26.430 --> 01:38:29.040
I'm opposed to the power lines proposed
01:38:29.040 --> 01:38:32.320
due to increased
wildfire and health risks.
01:38:32.320 --> 01:38:35.960
I've been a San Elijo
Hills resonant for 16 years.
01:38:35.960 --> 01:38:38.380
Wildfires are very real in this area.
01:38:38.380 --> 01:38:41.140
So the proposal running
80% of power lines
01:38:41.140 --> 01:38:45.103
through Cal Fire's highest
wildfire risk zone is appalling.
01:38:46.050 --> 01:38:48.580
We've had to evacuate two times.
01:38:48.580 --> 01:38:51.030
Last one was during Cocos Fire,
01:38:51.030 --> 01:38:53.270
and the evacuation was a nightmare.
01:38:53.270 --> 01:38:55.917
We were deadlocked because
there's only one way in and out
01:38:55.917 --> 01:38:58.310
of San Elijo Hills.
01:38:58.310 --> 01:39:02.339
So wildfires due to power lines
has happened too many times.
01:39:02.339 --> 01:39:07.339
In fact in 2018, the
Camp Fire in Butte County
01:39:07.450 --> 01:39:11.720
was caused by a failed
power line owned by PG&E.
01:39:11.720 --> 01:39:15.650
And it was one of the deadliest
and devastating wildfire.
01:39:15.650 --> 01:39:20.650
85 deaths, 150,000 acres,
and 18,000 structures destroyed.
01:39:23.828 --> 01:39:26.870
So, we don't want this to happen here.
01:39:26.870 --> 01:39:29.513
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
01:39:32.030 --> 01:39:35.557
So we ask that you
require a thorough EIR,
01:39:36.660 --> 01:39:41.420
and require transmission
lines to be put underground.
01:39:41.420 --> 01:39:43.440
This may be more expensive to build,
01:39:43.440 --> 01:39:47.760
but it would be more expensive for SDG&E
01:39:47.760 --> 01:39:50.310
if there were lawsuits to come about
01:39:50.310 --> 01:39:53.210
because of power line failures.
01:39:53.210 --> 01:39:55.940
And, lives do better.
01:39:55.940 --> 01:39:59.710
So, please do the right
thing with people's safety
01:39:59.710 --> 01:40:02.333
and protection in mind, thank you.
01:40:04.620 --> 01:40:07.420
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:40:09.130 --> 01:40:11.320
Our next
caller is Eric Kwan,
01:40:11.320 --> 01:40:13.300
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:40:13.300 --> 01:40:14.150
You may go ahead.
01:40:16.030 --> 01:40:17.411
Good morning, Commissioner.
01:40:17.411 --> 01:40:22.110
My name is Eric Kwan, and
I'm calling regarding agenda 21.
01:40:22.110 --> 01:40:24.739
Again, just like everyone
else has called here,
01:40:24.739 --> 01:40:26.590
and I'm also against the idea of putting
01:40:26.590 --> 01:40:29.193
additional power line
in the San Marco area.
01:40:31.700 --> 01:40:33.830
I live in this area
for the past 15 years,
01:40:33.830 --> 01:40:35.270
and I have been evacuated,
01:40:35.270 --> 01:40:38.700
my family and I has been
evacuated for multiple times.
01:40:38.700 --> 01:40:42.339
And one thing I want to
mention is how San Elijo Hills,
01:40:42.339 --> 01:40:44.560
there's only one way in and one way out.
01:40:44.560 --> 01:40:46.343
And there's thousand
of family and children,
01:40:46.343 --> 01:40:48.150
live in the same area.
01:40:48.150 --> 01:40:50.670
In fact, there's two elementary school
01:40:50.670 --> 01:40:53.000
and one middle school in the same area.
01:40:53.000 --> 01:40:55.370
During the Cocoa Fire, I
remember I was driving,
01:40:55.370 --> 01:40:59.730
I had to leave the
area, I was driving back
01:40:59.730 --> 01:41:03.060
towards San Elijo so I
can pick up my children.
01:41:03.060 --> 01:41:05.172
The same thing for Rancho Dorado,
01:41:05.172 --> 01:41:07.130
there's only one way in and one way out.
01:41:07.130 --> 01:41:08.680
So if there's a wildfire,
01:41:08.680 --> 01:41:12.110
you have a huge impact
on all the family in the area.
01:41:12.110 --> 01:41:15.810
So please, Commissioner,
all we're asking for you to do
01:41:15.810 --> 01:41:19.880
is just do a EIR, thank you.
01:41:19.880 --> 01:41:22.680
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:41:24.100 --> 01:41:26.150
Our next
caller is Tony Beckerman,
01:41:26.150 --> 01:41:27.803
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:41:27.803 --> 01:41:28.903
Sir, you may go ahead.
01:41:30.240 --> 01:41:31.650
Good morning, and thank you
01:41:31.650 --> 01:41:36.170
for taking the time
here regarding item 21.
01:41:36.170 --> 01:41:38.930
I've been a resident of the
Rancho Dorado community
01:41:38.930 --> 01:41:42.120
since 2004, and I've enjoyed the beauty,
01:41:42.120 --> 01:41:45.780
safety, and environmental
concerns of our neighbors.
01:41:45.780 --> 01:41:49.040
Recently, SDG&E replaced
the old wooden poles
01:41:49.040 --> 01:41:51.970
for larger more power metal poles.
01:41:51.970 --> 01:41:55.000
We as a community
had no input into this.
01:41:55.000 --> 01:41:57.680
These poles were installed
without our knowledge
01:41:57.680 --> 01:41:59.430
when it was already too late.
01:41:59.430 --> 01:42:02.400
That was disrespectful
and inconsiderate.
01:42:02.400 --> 01:42:06.030
These polls are ugly and
they devalue our property.
01:42:06.030 --> 01:42:08.142
Last year, my insurance was canceled
01:42:08.142 --> 01:42:11.350
due to being in a fire hazard area,
01:42:11.350 --> 01:42:15.070
plus being so close to high
voltage electrical cables.
01:42:15.070 --> 01:42:17.290
These power lines are dangerous.
01:42:17.290 --> 01:42:20.490
Many years ago, my father
passed away from leukemia,
01:42:20.490 --> 01:42:23.177
and they had similar
electricity poles in his home,
01:42:23.177 --> 01:42:26.450
and we believe it was
due to excessive EMF.
01:42:26.450 --> 01:42:29.200
Besides health, there
is a visual impact,
01:42:29.200 --> 01:42:31.370
plus impact on our children's health.
01:42:31.370 --> 01:42:33.770
We can't walk our trails without seeing
01:42:33.770 --> 01:42:36.880
and hearing the ugly,
dangerous EMF polls.
01:42:36.880 --> 01:42:38.650
Whenever we get Santa Ana winds,
01:42:38.650 --> 01:42:40.820
we all get scared
that these wires will fall
01:42:40.820 --> 01:42:42.250
and cause fires.
01:42:42.250 --> 01:42:45.500
SDG&E's only reason
for not going underground
01:42:45.500 --> 01:42:47.780
with these cables is potential cost.
01:42:47.780 --> 01:42:49.227
But no one has told us the cost,
01:42:49.227 --> 01:42:51.710
and if we are
prepared to foot this bill.
01:42:51.710 --> 01:42:54.970
But what about the cost of
potential lawsuits and fires?
01:42:54.970 --> 01:42:58.950
Like what happened to PG&E up north.
01:42:58.950 --> 01:43:03.570
To do an EIR is the
responsible thing to do.
01:43:03.570 --> 01:43:08.210
I implore the CPUC to
insist that SDG&E do an EIR
01:43:08.210 --> 01:43:10.890
and put these lines underground.
01:43:10.890 --> 01:43:13.470
We are relying on this
committee to do the right thing
01:43:13.470 --> 01:43:16.020
that we, the taxpayers, are requesting.
01:43:16.020 --> 01:43:18.330
Even those who support this agenda
01:43:18.330 --> 01:43:21.090
should support doing an EIR first.
01:43:21.090 --> 01:43:24.910
Again, I implore, please
bury these lines underground,
01:43:24.910 --> 01:43:28.297
or at least do an
environmental impact report.
01:43:28.297 --> 01:43:29.363
Thank you.
01:43:30.607 --> 01:43:33.407
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:43:35.580 --> 01:43:37.850
Our next
caller is Daniella Milik,
01:43:37.850 --> 01:43:39.690
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:43:39.690 --> 01:43:40.540
You may go ahead.
01:43:42.050 --> 01:43:43.170
Good morning
Commissioners.
01:43:43.170 --> 01:43:44.523
My name is Daniella Milik,
01:43:44.523 --> 01:43:47.670
and I am a Rancho Dorado homeowner.
01:43:47.670 --> 01:43:51.210
And I am calling in regards
to agenda number 21.
01:43:51.210 --> 01:43:54.840
Well, my main concern
here, as it looks like
01:43:54.840 --> 01:43:59.840
for most residents and
homeowners, is the risk of fires.
01:44:00.060 --> 01:44:02.820
We are in one of the
highest wildfire risk zones
01:44:02.820 --> 01:44:04.500
of California.
01:44:04.500 --> 01:44:08.179
So if SDG&E wants to keep us safe,
01:44:08.179 --> 01:44:10.940
I believe these transmission lines,
01:44:10.940 --> 01:44:13.140
they need to go underground.
01:44:13.140 --> 01:44:15.090
Like someone else
said, I don't understand
01:44:15.090 --> 01:44:17.240
how they want to
proceed with this project.
01:44:19.270 --> 01:44:22.370
Why do they have a
beautiful commercial on TV
01:44:22.370 --> 01:44:25.120
that says they are doing their part
01:44:26.647 --> 01:44:27.820
to keep the community safe
01:44:27.820 --> 01:44:31.680
in adding new power lines underground.
01:44:31.680 --> 01:44:33.263
So it doesn't make sense to
me that they wanna go ahead
01:44:33.263 --> 01:44:34.483
with this project.
01:44:35.520 --> 01:44:38.890
So I ask you to please
consider what these communities
01:44:38.890 --> 01:44:40.300
are asking you,
01:44:40.300 --> 01:44:43.794
and put these new
transmission lines underground
01:44:43.794 --> 01:44:46.763
to keep us safe, and to keep,
01:44:48.840 --> 01:44:50.650
we can't risk human lives.
01:44:50.650 --> 01:44:53.300
I believe human lives are more important
01:44:53.300 --> 01:44:55.850
than the cost of doing this.
01:44:55.850 --> 01:44:58.973
You know, it's not about
money, it's about human lives.
01:44:59.910 --> 01:45:01.593
Thank you very much for your time.
01:45:03.540 --> 01:45:06.263
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:45:07.780 --> 01:45:10.140
Our next caller
is Dr. Michael Godfried,
01:45:10.140 --> 01:45:12.160
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:45:12.160 --> 01:45:13.260
Sir, you may go ahead.
01:45:14.270 --> 01:45:16.520
Hi, thank
you for taking my call.
01:45:18.233 --> 01:45:21.873
In a time of climate change
and increased fire risk,
01:45:22.823 --> 01:45:24.590
it's really unconscionable
01:45:24.590 --> 01:45:26.720
to place power lines above ground.
01:45:26.720 --> 01:45:30.030
If a fire occurs,
and it will eventually,
01:45:30.030 --> 01:45:33.450
it will be very difficult
to evacuate this area
01:45:33.450 --> 01:45:35.240
because there's only one way in and out.
01:45:35.240 --> 01:45:37.890
We've seen that, it took
hours for people to get out.
01:45:39.840 --> 01:45:44.840
The fire was maybe a
hundred yards from my house,
01:45:45.171 --> 01:45:49.588
and people were lined up
on San Elijo Road for hours.
01:45:51.007 --> 01:45:53.747
Very dangerous
situation, lives are at stake.
01:45:53.747 --> 01:45:56.624
From a monetary point of
view, it's very shortsighted
01:45:56.624 --> 01:46:00.610
to place these lines above
ground, because the longterm cost
01:46:01.620 --> 01:46:05.000
of the fire catastrophe that will occur
01:46:05.000 --> 01:46:06.920
will be exponentially more expensive
01:46:06.920 --> 01:46:09.923
than the initial cost of
underground placement.
01:46:10.910 --> 01:46:13.840
In my opinion, placing
power lines above ground
01:46:13.840 --> 01:46:18.840
is reckless, misguided, and
in my opinion, malpractice.
01:46:19.240 --> 01:46:20.570
Thank you very much.
01:46:20.570 --> 01:46:21.520
Do the right thing.
01:46:23.770 --> 01:46:26.333
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:46:28.010 --> 01:46:29.990
Our next
caller is Susan Miller,
01:46:29.990 --> 01:46:31.360
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:46:31.360 --> 01:46:32.938
You may go ahead.
01:46:32.938 --> 01:46:33.960
Thank you.
01:46:33.960 --> 01:46:37.560
I'm a Rancho Dorado resident
and have been for 19 years.
01:46:37.560 --> 01:46:40.396
And I wanna talk about
the transmission line project
01:46:40.396 --> 01:46:42.760
that has already occurred.
01:46:42.760 --> 01:46:47.350
It's TL 633 project that
connected two substations,
01:46:47.350 --> 01:46:50.090
the Bernardo and the Rancho Carmel,
01:46:50.090 --> 01:46:53.440
substations that are
approximately three miles apart
01:46:53.440 --> 01:46:58.440
and less than 10 miles as
the crow flies from TL 6975.
01:46:58.840 --> 01:47:02.985
Those two substations were
already connected with a 69k volt
01:47:02.985 --> 01:47:04.950
above ground line.
01:47:04.950 --> 01:47:08.780
TL 633 moved those existing
power lines underground.
01:47:08.780 --> 01:47:11.960
This is a good example of
what the future should look like
01:47:11.960 --> 01:47:14.030
for underground transmission lines.
01:47:14.030 --> 01:47:16.010
This project made the neighborhood safer
01:47:16.010 --> 01:47:19.460
and helped to prevent PSPS events.
01:47:19.460 --> 01:47:22.360
It also improved the
aesthetics of the area.
01:47:22.360 --> 01:47:25.820
According to the brochure
SDG&E published on this project,
01:47:25.820 --> 01:47:29.030
it said, under project benefits,
01:47:29.030 --> 01:47:32.690
it would cause, I'm quoting,
"improved aesthetics
01:47:32.690 --> 01:47:34.760
in the surrounding areas," end quote.
01:47:34.760 --> 01:47:37.260
And quote, "minimize
environmental impacts
01:47:37.260 --> 01:47:39.130
and future maintenance," end quote.
01:47:39.130 --> 01:47:43.770
This description is even
more applicable to TL 6975.
01:47:43.770 --> 01:47:48.770
With TL 633, they were not
trying to add another connection
01:47:49.250 --> 01:47:53.950
between two substations,
as is the case with TL 6975.
01:47:53.950 --> 01:47:57.320
They actually removed
the old above-ground lines.
01:47:57.320 --> 01:48:00.355
They were also not primarily
concerned with wildfire risk
01:48:00.355 --> 01:48:03.080
because it is not located in an area
01:48:03.080 --> 01:48:06.081
that is nearly as
vulnerable to wildfire risks,
01:48:06.081 --> 01:48:08.010
as this project is.
01:48:08.010 --> 01:48:10.010
Rather, the main purpose of that project
01:48:10.010 --> 01:48:13.450
was to remove ugly
above-ground transmission lines
01:48:13.450 --> 01:48:15.770
by placing them
underground out of sight,
01:48:15.770 --> 01:48:18.320
with the side benefit
of hardening the grid,
01:48:18.320 --> 01:48:21.320
making it safer and adding
a small amount of capacity
01:48:21.320 --> 01:48:23.450
due to newer transmission lines.
01:48:23.450 --> 01:48:27.310
This example shows
underground 69k volt lines
01:48:29.179 --> 01:48:31.150
is a smart option.
01:48:31.150 --> 01:48:33.950
Cost obviously was not
an issue with that project.
01:48:33.950 --> 01:48:36.450
Why is it a deciding
factor in this project?
01:48:37.780 --> 01:48:40.510
We ask you to place these
new underground lines,
01:48:40.510 --> 01:48:43.653
these lines underground and
reap the benefits, thank you.
01:48:44.740 --> 01:48:47.540
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:48:48.690 --> 01:48:51.270
Our next
caller is Sonny Livsay,
01:48:51.270 --> 01:48:53.040
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:48:53.040 --> 01:48:54.153
You may go ahead.
01:48:55.240 --> 01:48:56.560
Hi, thank
you for your time.
01:48:56.560 --> 01:48:58.870
My name is Sonny Livsay,
I'm a five-year resident
01:48:58.870 --> 01:49:00.910
of San Elijo Hills.
01:49:00.910 --> 01:49:03.810
I'm calling regarding
agenda item number 21,
01:49:03.810 --> 01:49:06.750
and to state my concerns
about the proposed
01:49:06.750 --> 01:49:09.980
additional power lines
being proposed for,
01:49:09.980 --> 01:49:12.560
to be ran through San
Elijo Hills community.
01:49:12.560 --> 01:49:14.380
I'm very concerned
with the fire risk potential
01:49:14.380 --> 01:49:16.210
that this poses.
01:49:16.210 --> 01:49:18.770
Every year we run the
risk of catastrophic wildfires
01:49:18.770 --> 01:49:22.110
started by downed power
lines and Santa Ana winds.
01:49:22.110 --> 01:49:25.200
It seems very extremely negligent to me
01:49:25.200 --> 01:49:27.010
to want to put additional overhead lines
01:49:27.010 --> 01:49:28.520
through this community.
01:49:28.520 --> 01:49:30.540
There's already one set
of overhead power lines,
01:49:30.540 --> 01:49:33.730
and it's ugly, unsightly
blight to the community,
01:49:33.730 --> 01:49:35.600
and it impacts home values.
01:49:35.600 --> 01:49:38.501
It already poses a fire risk
that we don't need to add
01:49:38.501 --> 01:49:43.501
an additional amount to.
01:49:43.720 --> 01:49:45.980
It is aesthetically
displeasing and marring
01:49:45.980 --> 01:49:48.063
an otherwise beautiful landscape.
01:49:48.063 --> 01:49:51.700
It poses a health risk, and
it exponentially increases
01:49:51.700 --> 01:49:54.880
the risk of avoidable but
catastrophic loss of property
01:49:54.880 --> 01:49:58.860
and life from wildfires in an
already wildfire-prone area.
01:49:58.860 --> 01:50:01.290
There are three schools
in this community,
01:50:01.290 --> 01:50:03.470
with a single road in and out.
01:50:03.470 --> 01:50:07.720
And, has been stated
numerous times before, you know,
01:50:07.720 --> 01:50:11.170
in past history with fire
threats to this community,
01:50:11.170 --> 01:50:13.980
getting in and out of
this area takes hours,
01:50:13.980 --> 01:50:16.070
and that's thousands
and thousands of lives
01:50:16.070 --> 01:50:21.070
you are putting at risk in
favor of saving some money.
01:50:21.150 --> 01:50:25.180
So I ask that regarding
this agenda item number 21,
01:50:25.180 --> 01:50:28.603
that at the very
minimum, an EIR is done.
01:50:30.407 --> 01:50:33.320
And, quite honestly, I believe
that these lines should be
01:50:34.450 --> 01:50:37.320
underground, as well as
the existing overhead lines.
01:50:37.320 --> 01:50:38.153
Thank you.
01:50:39.910 --> 01:50:42.310
Thank you.
Operator, next caller.
01:50:44.328 --> 01:50:46.040
Our next
caller is Edward Wills,
01:50:46.040 --> 01:50:48.090
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:50:48.090 --> 01:50:48.940
You may go ahead.
01:50:51.340 --> 01:50:52.173
Hi, good afternoon.
01:50:52.173 --> 01:50:55.413
I'm calling regarding agenda
item number 24. I'm sorry, 21.
01:50:56.730 --> 01:50:57.720
My name is Edward Wills.
01:50:57.720 --> 01:51:00.010
I'm a 20-year resident in the
Rancho Dorado community
01:51:00.010 --> 01:51:01.594
of San Marcos.
01:51:01.594 --> 01:51:05.523
We're on segment two of
the proposed project TL 6975.
01:51:06.500 --> 01:51:08.800
I'm concerned about
the additional power poles
01:51:09.840 --> 01:51:12.540
proposed in TL 6975, for many reasons,
01:51:12.540 --> 01:51:15.300
especially the fire danger
and environmental impact
01:51:15.300 --> 01:51:16.770
in our neighborhoods.
01:51:16.770 --> 01:51:19.170
We purchased our home in
2000 when the power poles
01:51:19.170 --> 01:51:22.170
were low-profile with
four lines attached.
01:51:22.170 --> 01:51:24.370
Over the years, the lines
have increased in quantity
01:51:24.370 --> 01:51:26.513
and size to a total of 12 lines.
01:51:27.670 --> 01:51:31.689
Project 6975 recommends
yet another set of power poles,
01:51:31.689 --> 01:51:36.150
and increases the quantity
of total lines to at least 16.
01:51:36.150 --> 01:51:38.750
The net effect of quadrupling
the number of potential
01:51:38.750 --> 01:51:41.357
failure points that could
spark a fire along the lines
01:51:41.357 --> 01:51:43.770
has not been addressed.
01:51:43.770 --> 01:51:46.170
Our neighborhoods are in
an area defined as tier two,
01:51:46.170 --> 01:51:49.703
elevated fire risk, as
defined by this body C-PUC.
01:51:50.810 --> 01:51:55.700
TL 6975 may increase
the fire policy portion
01:51:55.700 --> 01:51:57.570
of our homeowners insurance to a point
01:51:57.570 --> 01:52:00.300
that it will price us
out of our own home.
01:52:00.300 --> 01:52:03.720
I respectfully request
C-PUC direct SDG&E
01:52:03.720 --> 01:52:05.800
to conduct a full EIR,
01:52:05.800 --> 01:52:08.570
as well as a wildfire risk assessment.
01:52:08.570 --> 01:52:11.880
I also encourage SDG&E to
consider the options of alternate,
01:52:11.880 --> 01:52:15.770
horizontal, and vertical
paths for TL 6975
01:52:15.770 --> 01:52:18.560
to mitigate environmental
impact and fire dangers
01:52:18.560 --> 01:52:21.380
within San Elijo Hills and
Rancho Dorado communities
01:52:21.380 --> 01:52:22.280
of San Marcos.
01:52:22.280 --> 01:52:24.730
Thanks for the time and
the opportunity to speak.
01:52:26.050 --> 01:52:28.633
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:52:29.760 --> 01:52:31.650
Our next
caller is Twee Hyler,
01:52:31.650 --> 01:52:33.540
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:52:33.540 --> 01:52:34.390
You may go ahead.
01:52:35.480 --> 01:52:36.970
Hi, my name is Twee Hyler.
01:52:36.970 --> 01:52:40.090
I am calling on number 21.
01:52:40.090 --> 01:52:44.550
I am San Elijo Hills resident,
and I am calling, two things.
01:52:44.550 --> 01:52:49.240
Number one, telling
you my personal story.
01:52:49.240 --> 01:52:51.423
I'm sorry, I kinda get emotional still.
01:52:53.130 --> 01:52:55.730
Regard to the fire damage
that we have experience
01:52:55.730 --> 01:53:00.730
in 2007, and also I
want to bring out the point
01:53:03.000 --> 01:53:08.000
that many caller have, might
not mention, which is the cost.
01:53:08.320 --> 01:53:10.010
Let me tell you about the cost first,
01:53:10.010 --> 01:53:12.344
because I might run out of time.
01:53:12.344 --> 01:53:15.380
So the cost is, the reason
why we're not voting today
01:53:15.380 --> 01:53:17.403
for underground is because of cost.
01:53:19.210 --> 01:53:24.210
For the SDG&E's own data and usage,
01:53:24.840 --> 01:53:29.840
which is 5.68 mile underground,
is however it is right now,
01:53:30.360 --> 01:53:33.260
but the distance is a lot shorter.
01:53:33.260 --> 01:53:38.260
It's 5.21 miles,
compared to original plan.
01:53:38.730 --> 01:53:43.010
So the cost is about five
to $10 million per mile.
01:53:43.010 --> 01:53:47.390
If we're using the number
of the new one, for eight mile,
01:53:47.390 --> 01:53:51.150
that is about $41.6 million cost.
01:53:51.150 --> 01:53:55.540
So many caller might
not realize the cost is a lot,
01:53:55.540 --> 01:54:00.540
a lot lower number than
the SDG&E estimated.
01:54:04.430 --> 01:54:06.440
So at least talking about,
01:54:06.440 --> 01:54:10.810
and if you, all of you five vote today
01:54:10.810 --> 01:54:15.807
for approving underground
wrap today, which is 5.2 mile,
01:54:17.180 --> 01:54:22.180
then the SDG&E can connect
directly with the San Marcos City
01:54:24.615 --> 01:54:29.615
planning division and work
along with the new route install.
01:54:29.910 --> 01:54:34.390
Then we can save another,
sorry about, the cost can be,
01:54:34.390 --> 01:54:39.380
you know, somewhere about
30 (drown out by bell ringing)
01:54:39.380 --> 01:54:43.110
So for this, the estimate from BG&E
01:54:43.110 --> 01:54:46.916
currently say that
it's 50 to $90 million
01:54:46.916 --> 01:54:48.250
is not true-
Caller?
01:54:48.250 --> 01:54:50.330
Yes?
Caller, excuse me.
01:54:50.330 --> 01:54:51.823
Excuse me, your time is up.
01:54:52.966 --> 01:54:55.824
We need to go onto the
next caller. Thank you.
01:54:55.824 --> 01:54:56.657
Thank you.
Operator,
01:54:56.657 --> 01:54:57.490
the next caller, please.
01:54:59.250 --> 01:55:01.410
Our next
caller is Justin Dailey,
01:55:01.410 --> 01:55:02.920
a Rancho Dorado resident.
01:55:02.920 --> 01:55:03.770
You may go ahead.
01:55:05.870 --> 01:55:08.310
Hi, and thank
you for taking my call.
01:55:08.310 --> 01:55:11.270
I'm calling in respect
to agenda item 21.
01:55:11.270 --> 01:55:13.830
And to be clear, I'm in opposition.
01:55:13.830 --> 01:55:15.382
I can't add any additional concerns
01:55:15.382 --> 01:55:16.750
that you haven't already heard today,
01:55:16.750 --> 01:55:18.360
but I would like to
respond to a few things
01:55:18.360 --> 01:55:20.200
that have been brought up today.
01:55:20.200 --> 01:55:22.190
First, with respect to the MMD report
01:55:22.190 --> 01:55:25.240
that has been submitted, if
what I've heard here today,
01:55:25.240 --> 01:55:27.960
I'd go so far as to say that SDG&E
01:55:27.960 --> 01:55:29.870
was intentionally deceitful with respect
01:55:29.870 --> 01:55:32.100
to some of the analysis that was done.
01:55:32.100 --> 01:55:35.520
I can only assume they hoped
this would fly under the radar.
01:55:35.520 --> 01:55:36.500
Based on this alone,
01:55:36.500 --> 01:55:39.187
I would hope that the
Commission would require an EIR.
01:55:40.480 --> 01:55:42.060
And just to provide a brief definition,
01:55:42.060 --> 01:55:44.950
an EIR is a document
that outlines the impact
01:55:44.950 --> 01:55:48.110
of a proposed project on
its surrounding environment,
01:55:48.110 --> 01:55:50.290
and is meant to inform
the work and decisions
01:55:50.290 --> 01:55:52.930
of policymakers and community leaders.
01:55:52.930 --> 01:55:55.940
I can say that I don't feel
anyone on this call today
01:55:55.940 --> 01:55:57.290
has been properly informed.
01:55:58.430 --> 01:55:59.373
To the small percentage that have called
01:55:59.373 --> 01:56:01.650
and supported this agenda item,
01:56:01.650 --> 01:56:04.010
they seem to revolve around two issues.
01:56:04.010 --> 01:56:05.743
Number one being reliable power.
01:56:06.910 --> 01:56:09.320
SDG&E will shut down
power during high winds,
01:56:09.320 --> 01:56:12.580
causing interrupted service
and unknown economic loss
01:56:12.580 --> 01:56:13.910
to businesses.
01:56:13.910 --> 01:56:16.400
So I think that's a mute argument.
01:56:16.400 --> 01:56:18.300
The second being rate increases.
01:56:18.300 --> 01:56:21.670
If a fire should happen
due to downed power lines,
01:56:21.670 --> 01:56:22.810
this will cause loss,
01:56:22.810 --> 01:56:24.960
which will be translated
to rate increases.
01:56:25.820 --> 01:56:28.890
So regardless if you think
this is above line power
01:56:28.890 --> 01:56:30.860
is the right thing to do right now,
01:56:30.860 --> 01:56:33.800
if a fire happens because of
these above-ground power lines,
01:56:33.800 --> 01:56:35.050
your rates will increase.
01:56:36.140 --> 01:56:38.170
With the technology that we have today,
01:56:38.170 --> 01:56:39.360
and with the safety concerns,
01:56:39.360 --> 01:56:41.470
the right thing to do would
be to place these power lines
01:56:41.470 --> 01:56:42.950
under the ground.
01:56:42.950 --> 01:56:44.793
I would like to see at a minimum,
01:56:44.793 --> 01:56:47.620
in addition to the
environmental impact report,
01:56:47.620 --> 01:56:49.990
an economic analysis of
what the cost of this project
01:56:49.990 --> 01:56:53.360
versus the cost of the
fire damage to taxpayers.
01:56:53.360 --> 01:56:54.560
Thank you for your time.
01:56:56.073 --> 01:56:58.873
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
01:57:00.462 --> 01:57:02.198
Our next
caller is Emily Dosaul,
01:57:02.198 --> 01:57:04.180
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:57:04.180 --> 01:57:05.030
You may go ahead.
01:57:06.250 --> 01:57:09.680
Hi, my name is
Emily. I'm not an engineer.
01:57:09.680 --> 01:57:14.190
I don't have an understanding
when it comes to the,
01:57:14.190 --> 01:57:16.760
like, high end areas of, you know,
01:57:16.760 --> 01:57:18.330
more detailed pieces of this,
01:57:18.330 --> 01:57:20.740
but I'm more so just
a concerned citizen.
01:57:20.740 --> 01:57:25.740
When it comes to having
the above-ground power lines,
01:57:26.033 --> 01:57:29.860
it's just a high risk with fires
and the whole west coast
01:57:29.860 --> 01:57:31.090
right now it seems like is on fire.
01:57:31.090 --> 01:57:32.846
The air quality has been terrible.
01:57:32.846 --> 01:57:37.846
And, to add additional
above-ground power lines,
01:57:37.935 --> 01:57:41.738
it just doesn't really make
sense to me, you know, for us,
01:57:41.738 --> 01:57:45.273
and I'm sure many
additional residents here,
01:57:46.490 --> 01:57:48.660
safety is the number one
concern and making sure
01:57:48.660 --> 01:57:52.220
that your home is somewhere
you feel safe and protected in.
01:57:52.220 --> 01:57:56.350
And so, already being
in a high fire risk area,
01:57:56.350 --> 01:57:57.590
adding additional power lines
01:57:57.590 --> 01:57:59.950
which could increase that risk,
01:57:59.950 --> 01:58:02.810
just doesn't seem to make sense to me.
01:58:02.810 --> 01:58:04.130
And so I just wanted to call in
01:58:04.130 --> 01:58:06.000
and voice my concern with that.
01:58:06.000 --> 01:58:08.510
You know, I don't have any
statistics or anything like that,
01:58:08.510 --> 01:58:11.460
but I used to actually
live in Florida, and there,
01:58:11.460 --> 01:58:13.630
they also had underground power lines,
01:58:13.630 --> 01:58:16.878
and they're not considered
like, a high fire-risk area.
01:58:16.878 --> 01:58:20.840
So to me, in California
and especially where we are,
01:58:20.840 --> 01:58:23.570
it's just something that I
feel like I would appreciate
01:58:23.570 --> 01:58:26.630
if that's being taken in
consideration when you vote today,
01:58:26.630 --> 01:58:29.560
because I know that
safety and everyone's family
01:58:29.560 --> 01:58:31.860
is the reason why everyone's calling in.
01:58:31.860 --> 01:58:34.770
You know, they wanna
make sure that their home,
01:58:34.770 --> 01:58:36.520
they can feel safe in.
01:58:36.520 --> 01:58:38.630
And so I just wanted to
call in and kind of voice
01:58:38.630 --> 01:58:42.893
my opposition to have above power lines.
01:58:44.781 --> 01:58:47.170
That's all. Thank you.
Thank you.
01:58:47.170 --> 01:58:48.670
Operator, next caller, please.
01:58:51.501 --> 01:58:53.450
And our next
caller is Brian Wood,
01:58:53.450 --> 01:58:54.860
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:58:54.860 --> 01:58:55.710
You may go ahead.
01:58:57.110 --> 01:58:58.240
Great. Thank you very much.
01:58:58.240 --> 01:58:59.580
Hello, name's Brian Woods,
01:58:59.580 --> 01:59:02.440
seven-year resident of San Elijo Hills.
01:59:02.440 --> 01:59:05.130
I'm calling in to request in
environmental impact report,
01:59:05.130 --> 01:59:09.190
or for you to mandate moving
the power lines underground,
01:59:09.190 --> 01:59:10.960
for the reason everyone
else has outlined,
01:59:10.960 --> 01:59:15.960
fire risk, aesthetics, impact
the wildlife, insurance rates,
01:59:16.160 --> 01:59:20.030
and ultimately all those add
up to home values and safety.
01:59:20.030 --> 01:59:22.670
So again, please insist on an EIR,
01:59:22.670 --> 01:59:25.220
or mandate the underground
construction, thank you.
01:59:26.710 --> 01:59:29.510
Thank you.
Next caller, please, operator.
01:59:31.299 --> 01:59:33.410
And our next
caller is Ryan Lipscomb,
01:59:33.410 --> 01:59:35.087
a San Elijo Hills resident.
01:59:35.087 --> 01:59:35.993
You may go ahead.
01:59:36.940 --> 01:59:37.773
Hi, thank you.
01:59:37.773 --> 01:59:40.070
I'm calling regarding agenda item 24.
01:59:40.070 --> 01:59:43.380
I'm a ten-year resident
of San Elijo Hills.
01:59:43.380 --> 01:59:46.120
I am a native San Diegan,
and have lived every one
01:59:46.120 --> 01:59:49.080
of my 61 years in either
Lemon Grove, San Diego,
01:59:49.080 --> 01:59:50.800
or San Marcos.
01:59:50.800 --> 01:59:53.060
Politics and global warming aside,
01:59:53.060 --> 01:59:55.860
I'm not sure why there
seem to be wildfires,
01:59:55.860 --> 01:59:57.430
major wildfires, every year.
01:59:57.430 --> 02:00:00.840
Whereas, when I was a
kid, they were somewhat rare.
02:00:00.840 --> 02:00:02.780
I'm sure stupid people are a cause,
02:00:02.780 --> 02:00:04.550
but there were lots of
stupid people around
02:00:04.550 --> 02:00:06.590
in the 60s and 70s too.
02:00:06.590 --> 02:00:08.160
There's a lot more development now,
02:00:08.160 --> 02:00:11.570
but that's displaced a lot
of brush that fuels wildfires.
02:00:11.570 --> 02:00:13.720
So you'd think that's not a cause,
02:00:13.720 --> 02:00:17.020
or would at least lessen
the scope of wildfires.
02:00:17.020 --> 02:00:19.770
Mother Nature still throws
her share of lightening
02:00:19.770 --> 02:00:22.610
probably on par with what
she tossed in the 60s and 70s,
02:00:22.610 --> 02:00:24.620
so I gotta think that's not a cause.
02:00:24.620 --> 02:00:28.347
Maybe the increased number
of above-ground power lines
02:00:28.347 --> 02:00:30.270
is the cause, I don't know.
02:00:30.270 --> 02:00:33.366
But I'm sure there are
some smart apolitical people
02:00:33.366 --> 02:00:35.630
who know the honest answer.
02:00:35.630 --> 02:00:38.510
Before approving any more
above-ground power lines
02:00:38.510 --> 02:00:40.480
and creating more
critical control points
02:00:40.480 --> 02:00:43.760
that can trigger fires, I
ask that you please pause
02:00:43.760 --> 02:00:45.887
and take the time necessary
to conduct and review
02:00:45.887 --> 02:00:48.490
an the environmental research report.
02:00:48.490 --> 02:00:51.910
And if you've not already
done so, I respectfully ask
02:00:51.910 --> 02:00:54.240
that you please drive
through our community,
02:00:54.240 --> 02:00:56.660
meander through Elfin Forest.
02:00:56.660 --> 02:00:59.200
See for yourself the impact that more
02:00:59.200 --> 02:01:01.730
above-ground power
lines would have on habitats
02:01:01.730 --> 02:01:03.660
that are rapidly disappearing.
02:01:03.660 --> 02:01:06.090
Those of us who live
here, including the people,
02:01:06.090 --> 02:01:08.950
animal, birds, even Larry the lizard
02:01:08.950 --> 02:01:11.937
who climbs my wall every
day, would really appreciate that.
02:01:11.937 --> 02:01:14.350
Thank you.
02:01:14.350 --> 02:01:18.233
Thank you.
Operator, next caller, please.
02:01:20.410 --> 02:01:22.100
Our next caller
is Heman Bellaforia,
02:01:22.100 --> 02:01:24.660
a San Elijo Hills resident.
02:01:24.660 --> 02:01:25.510
You may go ahead.
02:01:26.354 --> 02:01:28.700
Hi. My name
is Heman Bellaforia.
02:01:28.700 --> 02:01:33.700
I would echo, I'm absolutely
opposed for this (indistinct).
02:01:34.430 --> 02:01:37.640
I would basically request an EIR study,
02:01:37.640 --> 02:01:40.690
as well as moving those
power lines underground,
02:01:40.690 --> 02:01:44.800
not only are they
hazardous in the event of fire,
02:01:44.800 --> 02:01:47.730
look at what's going on
all over California right now.
02:01:47.730 --> 02:01:51.860
And one of those was
caused by a generator spark
02:01:51.860 --> 02:01:56.047
that has taken, damaged,
caused some loss,
02:01:57.650 --> 02:02:02.650
and inflict of property damage
and economic damage as well.
02:02:03.965 --> 02:02:08.965
So I, again, strongly oppose
above-line power lines,
02:02:10.550 --> 02:02:14.380
and would recommend
an environmental study,
02:02:14.380 --> 02:02:17.233
as well as moving those
power lines underground.
02:02:19.887 --> 02:02:21.260
Okay, thank you.
02:02:21.260 --> 02:02:22.960
Operator, the next caller, please.
02:02:25.180 --> 02:02:26.013
President Batjer,
02:02:26.013 --> 02:02:27.210
there are no more participants
02:02:27.210 --> 02:02:29.790
on the public comment telephone line.
02:02:29.790 --> 02:02:31.430
Okay, thank you.
02:02:31.430 --> 02:02:33.980
With no more callers on the public line,
02:02:33.980 --> 02:02:37.270
that will end our public
comment period for now.
02:02:37.270 --> 02:02:39.060
I'm going to call on
Commissioner Shiroma,
02:02:39.060 --> 02:02:41.383
I believe you have some remarks.
02:02:43.200 --> 02:02:45.690
Yes. Thank you,
President Badger.
02:02:45.690 --> 02:02:50.420
I understand that for
the viewing audience
02:02:50.420 --> 02:02:55.420
and for all of the public
folks who called in today,
02:02:56.140 --> 02:02:57.863
thank you for your participation.
02:02:58.990 --> 02:03:02.830
During the regular agenda
for today's voting meeting,
02:03:02.830 --> 02:03:07.830
I will be providing an overview
presentation on item 21.
02:03:09.830 --> 02:03:14.090
And if we are taking a
lunch break before then
02:03:15.200 --> 02:03:16.420
for folks who are interested,
02:03:16.420 --> 02:03:19.280
they can log back in or call back in
02:03:19.280 --> 02:03:22.793
to hear the presentation
and our deliberations.
02:03:23.720 --> 02:03:25.022
Thank you.
02:03:25.022 --> 02:03:26.060
Thank
you, Commissioner.
02:03:26.060 --> 02:03:31.060
We will be taking a
break for 45 minutes.
02:03:31.200 --> 02:03:36.200
So we'll call that 12:50, 12-5-0.
02:03:36.900 --> 02:03:39.730
If you all will be back
in your seats at that time
02:03:39.730 --> 02:03:43.570
and we will then begin
the rest of our agenda.
02:03:43.570 --> 02:03:44.770
Thank you all very much.
02:03:57.130 --> 02:03:58.940
The feed
for this streaming event
02:03:58.940 --> 02:04:02.860
brought to you by adminmonitor.com,
will begin momentarily.
02:04:02.860 --> 02:04:04.260
Thank you for your patience.
02:04:08.380 --> 02:04:09.350
Thank you
all for standing by,
02:04:09.350 --> 02:04:10.900
today's conference has resumed.
02:04:12.280 --> 02:04:14.030
Thank you, operator.
02:04:14.920 --> 02:04:19.010
We will be taking up
next the agenda changes.
02:04:19.010 --> 02:04:21.620
But before we do that, I
would like to have the roll called
02:04:21.620 --> 02:04:23.333
so we can establish quorum.
02:04:24.553 --> 02:04:26.535
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:04:26.535 --> 02:04:27.368
Present.
02:04:28.622 --> 02:04:31.228
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
02:04:31.228 --> 02:04:32.450
Present.
02:04:32.450 --> 02:04:34.491
Commissioner Randolph.
02:04:34.491 --> 02:04:35.990
Here.
02:04:35.990 --> 02:04:38.076
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:04:38.076 --> 02:04:39.340
Present.
02:04:39.340 --> 02:04:41.360
President Batjer.
02:04:41.360 --> 02:04:42.900
Here. Thank you.
02:04:42.900 --> 02:04:46.610
Before we take up the agenda changes,
02:04:46.610 --> 02:04:49.003
I would like to turn to
Commissioner Randolph.
02:04:51.660 --> 02:04:53.230
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:04:53.230 --> 02:04:58.230
I wanted to make a motion to move item,
02:04:58.530 --> 02:05:00.795
sorry, now I'm losing my
02:05:00.795 --> 02:05:02.260
item number.
22.
02:05:02.260 --> 02:05:03.582
22, thank you.
02:05:03.582 --> 02:05:05.430
For some reason I wrote
down 21 in my notes.
02:05:05.430 --> 02:05:06.330
I was like, no, that's not right.
02:05:06.330 --> 02:05:07.294
Well we remember-
Item 22.
02:05:07.294 --> 02:05:09.080
We had that, yes.
02:05:09.080 --> 02:05:11.340
Yeah. Item 22, the
interconnection item.
02:05:11.340 --> 02:05:13.903
I would like to make a
motion to move to consent.
02:05:15.810 --> 02:05:17.860
Okay. Is there a second?
I second the motion.
02:05:17.860 --> 02:05:19.130
Okay, great.
Second.
02:05:19.130 --> 02:05:19.963
It's been
moved and seconded
02:05:19.963 --> 02:05:24.573
to move item 22 from the
regular agenda today to consent.
02:05:25.464 --> 02:05:28.113
Could the agenda clerk
please call the role?
02:05:29.644 --> 02:05:31.543
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:05:31.543 --> 02:05:33.019
Aye.
02:05:33.019 --> 02:05:34.763
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
02:05:34.763 --> 02:05:36.642
Aye.
02:05:36.642 --> 02:05:38.351
Commissioner Randolph.
02:05:38.351 --> 02:05:39.852
Yes.
02:05:39.852 --> 02:05:41.683
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:05:41.683 --> 02:05:43.338
Yes.
02:05:43.338 --> 02:05:44.916
President Batjer.
02:05:44.916 --> 02:05:48.135
Yes. Thank you.
02:05:48.135 --> 02:05:51.767
So item 22 will be moved
to the consent calendar.
02:05:51.767 --> 02:05:52.691
All right.
02:05:52.691 --> 02:05:56.941
Now I will take up the
changes to the agenda today.
02:05:59.458 --> 02:06:01.399
These are the following changes.
02:06:01.399 --> 02:06:05.445
Item two has been
held and will be taken up
02:06:05.445 --> 02:06:08.612
with the regular agenda today.
02:06:08.612 --> 02:06:13.612
Item 23 has been held to
10-8-20 Commission meeting.
02:06:16.574 --> 02:06:18.164
All right.
02:06:18.164 --> 02:06:19.956
Now with the change that we just made,
02:06:19.956 --> 02:06:22.461
we will now take up the consent items.
02:06:22.461 --> 02:06:23.961
Is there a motion?
02:06:24.917 --> 02:06:25.834
So moved.
02:06:27.675 --> 02:06:29.393
And I'll second it.
Second.
02:06:29.393 --> 02:06:30.667
It has been
moved and seconded
02:06:30.667 --> 02:06:33.084
to take up the consent items.
02:06:35.959 --> 02:06:40.251
Can I please have the agenda
clerk, please call the roll.
02:06:40.251 --> 02:06:42.536
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:06:42.536 --> 02:06:43.963
Aye.
02:06:43.963 --> 02:06:46.019
Commissioner
Guzman Aceves .
02:06:46.019 --> 02:06:46.852
Aye.
02:06:47.979 --> 02:06:49.953
Commissioner Randolph.
02:06:49.953 --> 02:06:50.786
Yes.
02:06:51.815 --> 02:06:53.717
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:06:53.717 --> 02:06:55.233
Yes.
02:06:55.233 --> 02:06:56.737
President Batjer.
02:06:56.737 --> 02:06:57.570
Yes.
02:06:57.570 --> 02:06:59.910
The Consent Agenda items
have passed unanimously.
02:06:59.910 --> 02:07:00.743
Thank you.
02:07:03.270 --> 02:07:05.340
I believe that we have,
some of the Commissioners
02:07:05.340 --> 02:07:07.160
would like to speak to some of the items
02:07:07.160 --> 02:07:11.123
that were on the consent, or
are on the Consent Agenda.
02:07:12.540 --> 02:07:14.040
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:07:14.040 --> 02:07:16.513
I believe you would like
to speak on item four.
02:07:18.070 --> 02:07:20.040
Yes. Thank you,
President Batjer.
02:07:20.040 --> 02:07:22.720
I wanted to make remarks on item four,
02:07:22.720 --> 02:07:24.600
which we just voted out.
02:07:24.600 --> 02:07:28.730
It is the decision to deny
Southern California Edison's
02:07:28.730 --> 02:07:31.390
proposed transaction with
02:07:31.390 --> 02:07:33.700
the Bonneville Power Administration.
02:07:33.700 --> 02:07:37.720
Now in that application,
Southern California Edison
02:07:37.720 --> 02:07:42.052
was requesting approval
for a continuous purchase
02:07:42.052 --> 02:07:45.414
of five megawatts
of surplus electricity,
02:07:45.414 --> 02:07:50.414
which was described as
a surplus for Bonneville
02:07:50.750 --> 02:07:52.980
through its energy efficiency program.
02:07:52.980 --> 02:07:57.500
And we denied the contract
for two primary reasons.
02:07:57.500 --> 02:08:02.500
First, the cost was twice
that what Edison estimates
02:08:03.980 --> 02:08:07.233
for its 2020 energy efficiency costs.
02:08:08.170 --> 02:08:13.170
The proposal was costed
out at $139 per megawatt hour,
02:08:15.000 --> 02:08:17.520
and Edison's energy efficiency cost
02:08:17.520 --> 02:08:22.520
is a little less than
$72 per megawatt hour.
02:08:22.670 --> 02:08:26.288
Now the second reason
is that the resource,
02:08:26.288 --> 02:08:30.530
when analyzed and through the review
02:08:30.530 --> 02:08:32.063
of the proposed contract,
02:08:33.560 --> 02:08:37.570
does not qualify as greenhouse-gas free.
02:08:37.570 --> 02:08:40.260
Our staff's analysis determined
02:08:40.260 --> 02:08:45.260
that this inter-regional
energy efficiency transfer
02:08:45.600 --> 02:08:49.290
was actually a standard
surplus energy contract
02:08:49.290 --> 02:08:51.378
with the Bonneville Power Administration
02:08:51.378 --> 02:08:55.930
and does not have the zero
emission factor assigned to it
02:08:55.930 --> 02:08:58.841
by the California Air Resources Board.
02:08:58.841 --> 02:09:03.841
And as such, it doesn't
qualify as carbon free,
02:09:04.800 --> 02:09:09.800
and also does not meet things
like our resource adequacy,
02:09:10.696 --> 02:09:12.710
and had not been studied
02:09:12.710 --> 02:09:15.110
through our integrated
resource planning process.
02:09:15.110 --> 02:09:18.944
Now, having said all
that, I do want to applaud
02:09:18.944 --> 02:09:21.730
Edison's innovative efforts,
02:09:21.730 --> 02:09:26.059
their vision in proposing
this, their collaboration
02:09:26.059 --> 02:09:28.610
with the Bonneville
Power Administration,
02:09:28.610 --> 02:09:33.610
and the Northwest Power
Council on Conservation.
02:09:34.660 --> 02:09:37.090
And of course this was supported
02:09:37.090 --> 02:09:40.180
by the Natural Resources
Defense Council.
02:09:40.180 --> 02:09:43.450
So I want to encourage
Southern California Edison
02:09:43.450 --> 02:09:47.737
and the others to work
with our energy divisions,
02:09:47.737 --> 02:09:51.140
energy efficiency teams,
02:09:51.140 --> 02:09:54.890
our resource adequacy and
integrated resource plan teams,
02:09:54.890 --> 02:09:58.190
as well as the California
Air Resources Board,
02:09:58.190 --> 02:10:02.580
any other stakeholders,
on looking at this out of state
02:10:02.580 --> 02:10:07.113
kind of resource that could
really help our California.
02:10:08.590 --> 02:10:10.580
All in all, I do wanna also thank
02:10:10.580 --> 02:10:13.963
Administrative Law
Judge Scarlett Liang-Uejio,
02:10:15.044 --> 02:10:17.750
and Administrative
Law Judge Burt Mattson.
02:10:17.750 --> 02:10:21.800
Also from our legal
division, Elizabeth Dorman,
02:10:21.800 --> 02:10:25.930
and the cross-divisional
teams from energy efficiency,
02:10:25.930 --> 02:10:29.710
resource adequacy,
integrated resource planning,
02:10:29.710 --> 02:10:34.710
Sasha Merigan, Hal Kane,
Jamie Gannon, Nathan Barcic,
02:10:34.770 --> 02:10:36.480
and Lauren Reiser.
02:10:36.480 --> 02:10:39.930
So again, I do want to encourage Edison
02:10:39.930 --> 02:10:44.320
to seek new opportunities
02:10:44.320 --> 02:10:47.510
that can meet all of these requirements.
02:10:47.510 --> 02:10:50.360
And in particular, to
assure that we are getting
02:10:50.360 --> 02:10:55.360
a zero greenhouse gas resource.
02:10:55.639 --> 02:10:57.810
Thank you. Thank you, President Batjer.
02:10:57.810 --> 02:10:59.320
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma,
02:10:59.320 --> 02:11:00.457
and Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:11:00.457 --> 02:11:02.245
and I believe you would
like to make some remarks
02:11:02.245 --> 02:11:04.013
on item four as well.
02:11:05.050 --> 02:11:06.847
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:11:08.270 --> 02:11:10.310
I agree with Commissioner
Shiroma in part,
02:11:10.310 --> 02:11:15.310
and I have a different
perspective in part,
02:11:15.400 --> 02:11:16.440
which is why it's good for us
02:11:16.440 --> 02:11:18.530
to have these public conversations.
02:11:18.530 --> 02:11:22.310
I agree with denying this
decision for all the reasons
02:11:22.310 --> 02:11:24.280
that Commissioner Shiroma suggested,
02:11:24.280 --> 02:11:26.220
and the decision laid out.
02:11:26.220 --> 02:11:29.240
I would also add
there was the possibility
02:11:29.240 --> 02:11:32.590
of resource shuffling,
and the lack of any showing
02:11:32.590 --> 02:11:34.650
that these resources were additional
02:11:34.650 --> 02:11:36.610
to what would've otherwise occurred,
02:11:36.610 --> 02:11:39.620
which the judge's
careful decision lays out.
02:11:39.620 --> 02:11:43.480
And, the decision does
lay out what in my mind
02:11:43.480 --> 02:11:46.116
are some appropriately
stringent requirements
02:11:46.116 --> 02:11:50.650
that would have to be satisfied
to approve this transaction,
02:11:50.650 --> 02:11:52.533
type of transaction going forward.
02:11:53.610 --> 02:11:56.690
I understand the
superficial appeal of this,
02:11:56.690 --> 02:12:00.060
and I agree with Commissioner
Shiroma that it's important
02:12:00.060 --> 02:12:02.260
to pursue innovative ideas,
02:12:02.260 --> 02:12:05.874
and I'm not ruling out the
possibility that something
02:12:05.874 --> 02:12:08.800
that would work could come forward.
02:12:08.800 --> 02:12:13.720
But I do have to say, I'm
largely skeptical of the concept,
02:12:13.720 --> 02:12:15.603
at least as it came before us.
02:12:16.440 --> 02:12:19.520
For one thing, energy
efficiency investments
02:12:19.520 --> 02:12:22.200
provide concrete
benefits to Californians
02:12:23.060 --> 02:12:25.800
beyond just the energy savings created.
02:12:25.800 --> 02:12:28.760
And these include
improvements to health, safety,
02:12:28.760 --> 02:12:31.090
and comfort among others
that would not be realized
02:12:31.090 --> 02:12:33.143
if the benefits occur out of state.
02:12:34.140 --> 02:12:36.543
For another, I think
our neighboring states,
02:12:36.543 --> 02:12:39.390
such as Washington and Oregon,
02:12:39.390 --> 02:12:42.200
have their own increasingly
ambitious clean energy
02:12:42.200 --> 02:12:44.630
and energy efficiency policies.
02:12:44.630 --> 02:12:47.011
So I, although Bonneville is maybe
02:12:47.011 --> 02:12:49.340
in a bit of a unique situation,
02:12:49.340 --> 02:12:52.450
as its revenues haven't
been decoupled from its sales.
02:12:52.450 --> 02:12:54.880
I'm not so sure we're gonna
find a lot of low hanging
02:12:54.880 --> 02:12:58.023
energy efficiency fruit in other states.
02:12:58.860 --> 02:13:01.800
And I'm also far from
sure that we've run out of
02:13:01.800 --> 02:13:05.910
innovative energy efficiency
investments here in California.
02:13:05.910 --> 02:13:09.370
And I want our utilities to
keep their eye on that ball.
02:13:09.370 --> 02:13:11.100
I think this is especially true
02:13:11.100 --> 02:13:13.630
as we consider fuel switching,
02:13:13.630 --> 02:13:16.120
from gas to electric appliances.
02:13:16.120 --> 02:13:17.712
That is an efficiency measure,
02:13:17.712 --> 02:13:19.210
it's gonna grow in importance.
02:13:19.210 --> 02:13:22.820
And we have now approved
efficiency incentives for those.
02:13:22.820 --> 02:13:24.800
So again, while I
haven't made up my mind,
02:13:24.800 --> 02:13:28.220
and I do think there are
good reasons to largely focus
02:13:28.220 --> 02:13:31.853
our efficiency efforts on California.
02:13:32.940 --> 02:13:35.820
President Batjer, if I could,
I also wanted to talk about
02:13:37.809 --> 02:13:40.213
item nine that we just approved.
02:13:41.558 --> 02:13:45.000
Yes, but I wasn't going
to speak on item four,
02:13:45.000 --> 02:13:47.410
but hearing your comments,
02:13:47.410 --> 02:13:50.330
I'd like to add something on item four
02:13:50.330 --> 02:13:53.390
prior to turning it back to you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:13:53.390 --> 02:13:55.870
for your remarks on item nine.
02:13:55.870 --> 02:13:59.500
And I just, given the rolling blackouts
02:13:59.500 --> 02:14:02.040
that we experienced recently,
02:14:02.040 --> 02:14:06.510
and some of that was due to, well,
02:14:06.510 --> 02:14:09.160
the blackouts weren't, but
we lost energy coming in
02:14:09.160 --> 02:14:11.950
from the northwest inner tie.
02:14:11.950 --> 02:14:16.950
And that was very important
imports to California.
02:14:18.130 --> 02:14:20.940
So I just wanted to underscore
that pursuant to federal law,
02:14:20.940 --> 02:14:24.660
the contract cannot
guarantee the delivery
02:14:24.660 --> 02:14:27.255
of the round-the-clock surplus power
02:14:27.255 --> 02:14:32.080
if BPA needs the power
to serve its own customers.
02:14:32.080 --> 02:14:35.700
And the transaction could
therefore not be relied upon
02:14:35.700 --> 02:14:37.760
to prevent future blackouts.
02:14:37.760 --> 02:14:41.570
Further, Edison also
states that the transaction
02:14:41.570 --> 02:14:43.670
is not needed for reliability or to meet
02:14:43.670 --> 02:14:45.710
its energy efficiency targets.
02:14:45.710 --> 02:14:48.870
And therefore, the contract
would not provide Edison
02:14:48.870 --> 02:14:50.730
any RA capacity value.
02:14:50.730 --> 02:14:53.264
I just wanted to underscore
that because I don't want
02:14:53.264 --> 02:14:56.850
to give anyone the impression
that this is somehow power
02:14:56.850 --> 02:14:59.190
that we would not be
able to be importing
02:14:59.190 --> 02:15:02.493
in a time of great need for California.
02:15:04.510 --> 02:15:08.720
So, with that, I think you do
wanna make some comments
02:15:08.720 --> 02:15:13.590
on item nine,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:15:13.590 --> 02:15:14.690
Thank you very much.
02:15:15.794 --> 02:15:19.120
This decision that we just approved,
02:15:19.120 --> 02:15:22.260
which grants an exemption from rule 18
02:15:22.260 --> 02:15:26.760
for medium-duty and
heavy duty charging stations
02:15:26.760 --> 02:15:30.027
is extremely timely, given
all that we've been doing
02:15:30.027 --> 02:15:34.963
as a state to accelerate
transportation electrifications.
02:15:34.963 --> 02:15:38.450
Of course, this includes
the zero emission truck rule
02:15:38.450 --> 02:15:40.640
that was adopted by
the Air Resources Board
02:15:40.640 --> 02:15:44.370
earlier this summer, that
requires 50% of trucks
02:15:44.370 --> 02:15:47.110
to be electric by 2035.
02:15:47.110 --> 02:15:50.360
And the Governor's bold
executive order yesterday,
02:15:50.360 --> 02:15:52.030
setting a target of a hundred percent
02:15:52.030 --> 02:15:56.840
trucks and buses being electric by 2045.
02:15:56.840 --> 02:16:00.530
So what this decision does is,
it exempts charging providers
02:16:00.530 --> 02:16:04.670
who provide electricity to
medium and heavy-duty vehicles,
02:16:04.670 --> 02:16:07.310
as well as electric off-road
vehicles and equipment
02:16:07.310 --> 02:16:11.420
from being classified
as public utilities.
02:16:11.420 --> 02:16:15.120
We've had this type of
exemption for the chargers,
02:16:15.120 --> 02:16:17.620
charging providers of
light duty electric vehicles
02:16:18.540 --> 02:16:23.477
since 2010, and it's important
because, for many reasons,
02:16:23.477 --> 02:16:26.784
but one of the goals of SB
350 that sets us on the path
02:16:26.784 --> 02:16:29.390
for transportation electrification,
02:16:29.390 --> 02:16:33.630
is to have a competitive
charging market.
02:16:33.630 --> 02:16:35.707
When we last considered this in 2010,
02:16:35.707 --> 02:16:39.600
there was no commercial
marketplace for charging
02:16:39.600 --> 02:16:41.780
of medium and heavy-duty vehicles
02:16:41.780 --> 02:16:44.000
because there were
effectively no electric
02:16:44.000 --> 02:16:46.600
medium heavy-duty vehicles on the road.
02:16:46.600 --> 02:16:50.090
That of course has changed,
and it's changing very rapidly.
02:16:50.090 --> 02:16:52.890
We now have a number of
different models of electric buses
02:16:52.890 --> 02:16:57.193
and electric trucks, new
ones emerging all the time.
02:16:57.193 --> 02:17:00.140
The PUC has authorized
hundreds of millions of dollars
02:17:00.140 --> 02:17:02.710
for the utilities to
build infrastructure
02:17:02.710 --> 02:17:05.350
for these medium and heavy duty vehicles
02:17:05.350 --> 02:17:07.520
and for off-road vehicle charging.
02:17:07.520 --> 02:17:10.280
And as I noted, the state
has adopted broad mandates
02:17:10.280 --> 02:17:12.290
for electrification.
02:17:12.290 --> 02:17:16.160
We have a number of
projects funded by us,
02:17:16.160 --> 02:17:18.620
funded by the Air
Resources Board and others
02:17:18.620 --> 02:17:22.910
waiting for this exemption
in order to move forward.
02:17:22.910 --> 02:17:25.940
And there's little or
no reason to regulate
02:17:25.940 --> 02:17:29.290
these charging providers as utilities.
02:17:29.290 --> 02:17:30.410
That's expensive.
02:17:30.410 --> 02:17:34.050
It's a total change of business
model for these companies.
02:17:34.050 --> 02:17:38.240
And it's also not what
the legislature intended.
02:17:38.240 --> 02:17:40.130
And it could slow down the growth
02:17:40.130 --> 02:17:42.113
of this much-needing infrastructure.
02:17:43.355 --> 02:17:44.680
I wanna mention one final thing.
02:17:44.680 --> 02:17:49.008
Initially, the decision
extended this exemption
02:17:49.008 --> 02:17:52.591
just to traditional medium
and heavy-duty vehicles
02:17:52.591 --> 02:17:55.740
and some off-road vehicles,
02:17:55.740 --> 02:17:58.680
but after receiving
comments from the parties,
02:17:58.680 --> 02:18:01.260
we revised the decision to include
02:18:01.260 --> 02:18:03.280
off-road vehicle equipment,
02:18:03.280 --> 02:18:06.563
along with a broader
variety of off-road vehicles.
02:18:07.410 --> 02:18:10.240
The Air Resources Board
is encouraging electrification
02:18:10.240 --> 02:18:12.840
of these types of equipment as well.
02:18:12.840 --> 02:18:17.020
And, this broader exemption
will advance those policies.
02:18:17.020 --> 02:18:19.097
Means we don't have to come back again
02:18:19.097 --> 02:18:21.210
and take additional
actions in the future
02:18:21.210 --> 02:18:23.133
to exempt this equipment.
02:18:24.000 --> 02:18:27.530
I wanna thank our electric vehicle team,
02:18:27.530 --> 02:18:29.789
which is a pleasure to work with,
02:18:29.789 --> 02:18:31.940
and everyone who worked on this.
02:18:31.940 --> 02:18:36.070
Judge Doherty for his remarkable
thoroughness and speed.
02:18:36.070 --> 02:18:38.079
Ed Pike in the energy division,
02:18:38.079 --> 02:18:40.774
and our former staffer and now judge,
02:18:40.774 --> 02:18:45.085
her honor Carrie Sisto, our
legal advisor, Theresa Buckley,
02:18:45.085 --> 02:18:48.121
and my advisor, Yuliya Schimdt.
02:18:48.121 --> 02:18:49.400
Thank you.
02:18:49.400 --> 02:18:50.530
Okay, well thank you,
02:18:50.530 --> 02:18:51.851
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:18:51.851 --> 02:18:53.087
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
02:18:53.087 --> 02:18:57.010
I believe you want to speak on item 22.
02:18:57.010 --> 02:18:58.760
Yes. Thank you,
President Batjer.
02:18:59.800 --> 02:19:01.810
This decision adopts recommendations
02:19:01.810 --> 02:19:04.660
from three working
group reports regarding
02:19:04.660 --> 02:19:08.230
the interconnection of
distributed energy resources
02:19:08.230 --> 02:19:11.410
under our electric tariff rule 21.
02:19:11.410 --> 02:19:16.410
We took recommendations that
reflect 60 formal working group
02:19:16.750 --> 02:19:19.780
meetings over the last two years.
02:19:19.780 --> 02:19:22.830
It's truly a tremendous
amount of work that's been done
02:19:22.830 --> 02:19:26.790
by all the diverse parties,
and especially our staff
02:19:26.790 --> 02:19:28.230
and our judge.
02:19:28.230 --> 02:19:30.670
So I wanna start first by thanking them.
02:19:30.670 --> 02:19:34.740
Judge Hymes, who's really
made this very technical decision
02:19:36.540 --> 02:19:41.540
understandable to the public,
Justin Regnier, Sophie Meyer,
02:19:42.460 --> 02:19:47.460
Jose Aliaga-Caro, David
Lee, and Jimmy Mahady.
02:19:48.100 --> 02:19:50.419
All of them have been extremely busy
02:19:50.419 --> 02:19:52.130
over the last two years.
02:19:52.130 --> 02:19:53.986
I know there was a little stint there
02:19:53.986 --> 02:19:56.470
in Commissioner
Shiroma's office as well.
02:19:56.470 --> 02:20:01.470
So, just wanna give you a few
examples of the many reforms
02:20:02.260 --> 02:20:05.750
that have taken place with this effort,
02:20:05.750 --> 02:20:08.940
and will continue to
take place with this effort.
02:20:08.940 --> 02:20:12.543
And, I wanna highlight just
a few to give you a sense.
02:20:13.640 --> 02:20:16.550
In the effort to
maximize the integration
02:20:16.550 --> 02:20:19.560
of renewables, what
will be happening now
02:20:19.560 --> 02:20:22.060
is we'll be leveraging the
information that we have
02:20:22.060 --> 02:20:25.470
with the integration capacity analysis,
02:20:25.470 --> 02:20:29.400
the API tool, during the
interconnection process,
02:20:29.400 --> 02:20:32.964
so that we can set limits for adding
02:20:32.964 --> 02:20:36.431
distributed energy resources
to the existing circuits
02:20:36.431 --> 02:20:39.010
for every month of the year,
02:20:39.010 --> 02:20:42.380
and allow those resources
to export up to those limits.
02:20:42.380 --> 02:20:46.940
It's a level of granularity
that's gonna be afforded
02:20:46.940 --> 02:20:50.853
for greater participation of
optimizing these resources.
02:20:51.730 --> 02:20:55.030
In addition, as it relates to a topic
02:20:55.030 --> 02:20:57.600
that Commissioner
Rechtschaffen just spoke to,
02:20:57.600 --> 02:21:02.010
vehicle to grid interconnection,
integration of that.
02:21:02.010 --> 02:21:05.200
We have many reforms, but
I'll just give you an example.
02:21:05.200 --> 02:21:08.227
We are gonna now be
allowing to use as this,
02:21:08.227 --> 02:21:11.020
and as you know, the
interconnection under rule 21
02:21:11.020 --> 02:21:13.220
is the expedited process.
02:21:13.220 --> 02:21:15.400
So we'll be allowing the EV chargers
02:21:15.400 --> 02:21:19.020
that are currently
capable of direct current,
02:21:19.020 --> 02:21:22.623
EVG vehicles, to use
the rule 21 process.
02:21:23.860 --> 02:21:28.860
And just as a overall
streamlining and transparency
02:21:29.270 --> 02:21:32.830
and automation, a lot more optimization
02:21:35.303 --> 02:21:39.540
of the updated hardware that's
being used for the inverters.
02:21:39.540 --> 02:21:41.030
And just as another example,
02:21:41.030 --> 02:21:45.460
we are able to expand and
use this fast track process
02:21:45.460 --> 02:21:49.850
for interconnection for
projects now of all sizes.
02:21:49.850 --> 02:21:52.550
So really we're kind of
going away from a size cap
02:21:52.550 --> 02:21:57.450
to really more of the capacity
of the types of integration
02:21:57.450 --> 02:22:00.130
and technology that's available.
02:22:00.130 --> 02:22:02.410
So that's a great thing
because it doesn't set
02:22:02.410 --> 02:22:05.900
a arbitrary cap on the projects.
02:22:05.900 --> 02:22:08.400
Okay, so, lots more in here,
02:22:08.400 --> 02:22:10.630
but I just wanted to give
you a little bit of a taste
02:22:10.630 --> 02:22:12.440
of some of the reforms.
02:22:12.440 --> 02:22:15.070
And again, thank all the
staff and all the stakeholders
02:22:15.070 --> 02:22:19.990
who've been working on this
so diligently for two years now.
02:22:19.990 --> 02:22:20.990
Thank you very much.
02:22:23.190 --> 02:22:25.930
Thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
02:22:25.930 --> 02:22:30.470
for that very helpful
explanation on item 22.
02:22:30.470 --> 02:22:35.023
All right. We will now take
up the regular agenda items.
02:22:37.060 --> 02:22:40.410
And I will start with item number two,
02:22:40.410 --> 02:22:42.640
and that's Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:22:43.946 --> 02:22:45.140
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:22:45.140 --> 02:22:47.060
Actually Commissioner Randolph and I
02:22:47.060 --> 02:22:49.170
are gonna be presenting this jointly.
02:22:49.170 --> 02:22:52.370
I will start off with an
introduction and background
02:22:52.370 --> 02:22:54.670
and some discussion, and
then Commissioner Randolph
02:22:54.670 --> 02:22:57.490
will continue and talk about next steps.
02:22:57.490 --> 02:22:59.243
So, I'll go first.
02:23:01.270 --> 02:23:05.550
Just by way of background,
this resolution is the product
02:23:05.550 --> 02:23:09.650
of the work of our policy
and governance committee.
02:23:09.650 --> 02:23:12.810
About two years ago,
we initiated a review
02:23:12.810 --> 02:23:16.230
of our rules of procedure and practice
02:23:16.230 --> 02:23:18.760
in order to accomplish a few goals.
02:23:18.760 --> 02:23:22.150
We wanted our rules is
to be more transparent,
02:23:22.150 --> 02:23:24.180
provide greater
accessibility to the public,
02:23:24.180 --> 02:23:26.710
and make the proceedings more effective.
02:23:26.710 --> 02:23:29.530
Of course, these rules
govern how all our parties,
02:23:29.530 --> 02:23:30.930
utilities, advocacy groups,
02:23:30.930 --> 02:23:33.880
and others participate in our processes.
02:23:33.880 --> 02:23:37.770
It's the guidebook for our procedures.
02:23:37.770 --> 02:23:40.680
Very importantly, this has
been an iterative process,
02:23:40.680 --> 02:23:43.640
informed by feedback
from many stakeholders
02:23:43.640 --> 02:23:45.600
and many staff members.
02:23:45.600 --> 02:23:49.910
We held workshops in 2018, in 2019.
02:23:49.910 --> 02:23:53.670
We heard from a lot of
people, frequent practitioners,
02:23:53.670 --> 02:23:57.071
community-based organizations,
local government agencies,
02:23:57.071 --> 02:23:58.273
and others.
02:23:59.140 --> 02:24:01.430
I'd like to thank all
of the stakeholders
02:24:01.430 --> 02:24:03.100
who've been engaged in this process
02:24:03.100 --> 02:24:07.390
and offered very, very
thoughtful feedback.
02:24:07.390 --> 02:24:12.320
The resolution makes roughly
30 updates to Commission rules,
02:24:12.320 --> 02:24:14.810
not all significant, some
more minor than others,
02:24:14.810 --> 02:24:18.140
but they fall into four
general categories.
02:24:18.140 --> 02:24:23.109
One is changes that we were
required to make by statute.
02:24:23.109 --> 02:24:25.710
And then there're three additional areas
02:24:25.710 --> 02:24:29.000
where we wanted to make improvements.
02:24:29.000 --> 02:24:33.380
First, rules that clarify
things in our existing rules.
02:24:33.380 --> 02:24:36.150
Second, that expedite our processes,
02:24:36.150 --> 02:24:40.033
and third, rules that
improve public accessibility.
02:24:41.040 --> 02:24:42.670
So with that background,
I wanna highlight
02:24:42.670 --> 02:24:45.303
a few of the more significant changes.
02:24:46.380 --> 02:24:51.340
First, there's a new
catastrophic wildfire
02:24:51.340 --> 02:24:56.340
proceeding category,
and that's implementing
02:24:56.850 --> 02:24:59.957
a statutory directive in SB 901,
02:25:01.690 --> 02:25:04.283
I'm sorry, in AB 1054.
02:25:05.360 --> 02:25:08.240
We've integrated the
requirements of that statute
02:25:08.240 --> 02:25:11.960
into various parts of the
rule so that the schedule
02:25:11.960 --> 02:25:15.053
established by statute
is now in our rule.
02:25:16.409 --> 02:25:20.270
Second interrelated,
there's a new rule 2.9,
02:25:20.270 --> 02:25:23.330
and comparable to
the legislative directive
02:25:23.330 --> 02:25:26.953
for expediting catastrophic
wildfire proceedings,
02:25:27.860 --> 02:25:32.860
we've created a new rule
for expedited proceedings.
02:25:33.206 --> 02:25:37.470
And in particular, a streamlined process
02:25:37.470 --> 02:25:42.470
to make sure that
applications that concern,
02:25:42.600 --> 02:25:46.180
especially time sensitive matters
02:25:46.180 --> 02:25:51.180
with a public safety impact
or major financial implications.
02:25:52.430 --> 02:25:55.450
In those cases, this process will ensure
02:25:55.450 --> 02:25:59.480
that they can be resolved expeditiously.
02:25:59.480 --> 02:26:02.220
So what this rule says
does, is it establishes
02:26:02.220 --> 02:26:06.970
a standardized timeline for
how milestones in the proceeding
02:26:06.970 --> 02:26:08.023
will go forward.
02:26:08.870 --> 02:26:11.570
That ensures that the
proceedings will move forward
02:26:11.570 --> 02:26:14.483
consistently and predictably.
02:26:15.320 --> 02:26:19.256
Our current rules provide
that in rate setting cases
02:26:19.256 --> 02:26:22.520
and in quasi-legislator proceedings,
02:26:22.520 --> 02:26:25.820
we need to resolve the
matter within 18 months
02:26:25.820 --> 02:26:28.660
from the time that it was started.
02:26:28.660 --> 02:26:31.950
Here, in proceedings
where we grant a request
02:26:31.950 --> 02:26:34.400
for an expedited schedule,
02:26:34.400 --> 02:26:37.020
the schedule provides
that a proposed decision
02:26:37.020 --> 02:26:41.010
will be issued within
12 months from the start.
02:26:41.010 --> 02:26:45.380
Important to note, this
schedule is subject to change
02:26:45.380 --> 02:26:50.290
if unanticipated factors
necessitate more time
02:26:50.290 --> 02:26:51.543
for consideration.
02:26:53.170 --> 02:26:57.050
Third, I wanna talk
about rules 7.2 and 13.3,
02:26:59.360 --> 02:27:02.450
that deal with remote participation.
02:27:02.450 --> 02:27:04.860
We've been working for
some time, as I mentioned,
02:27:04.860 --> 02:27:09.860
to make our processes more
broadly accessible to the public,
02:27:10.330 --> 02:27:11.853
easier to navigate.
02:27:12.750 --> 02:27:15.870
Of course, these efforts,
like so many other things,
02:27:15.870 --> 02:27:20.353
have been accelerated by our
shelter in place requirements.
02:27:21.400 --> 02:27:25.590
Those made it necessary
for us to move our work online
02:27:25.590 --> 02:27:27.730
and to allow for remote participation
02:27:27.730 --> 02:27:29.820
in all of our activities.
02:27:29.820 --> 02:27:33.640
And that's been a positive
thing in many respects.
02:27:33.640 --> 02:27:36.780
The rule revisions here,
codify some of the changes
02:27:36.780 --> 02:27:39.730
we've made to how we
conduct our business,
02:27:39.730 --> 02:27:42.530
and they reflect our broader desire
02:27:42.530 --> 02:27:47.530
to make remote participation possible,
02:27:47.600 --> 02:27:50.310
encourage remote
participation wherever possible,
02:27:50.310 --> 02:27:53.210
as a way of improving the
accessibility for our processes.
02:27:54.580 --> 02:27:57.300
This is a significant undertaking.
02:27:57.300 --> 02:27:59.723
We hope it will enhance participation.
02:28:00.690 --> 02:28:02.500
We hope it'll save people travel costs.
02:28:02.500 --> 02:28:03.920
California's a very big state,
02:28:03.920 --> 02:28:07.260
people have to come a long
way to some of our proceedings,
02:28:07.260 --> 02:28:12.253
and reduce GHG and other
transportation-related emissions.
02:28:13.706 --> 02:28:15.430
And then lastly, before I turn it over
02:28:15.430 --> 02:28:20.430
to Commissioner Randolph,
Rule 14.2 deals with
02:28:21.400 --> 02:28:24.423
the issuance of recommended decisions.
02:28:25.540 --> 02:28:30.400
And in response to a number
of stakeholder requests,
02:28:30.400 --> 02:28:35.400
this rule commits us to
serve proposed decisions
02:28:35.680 --> 02:28:38.410
to parties in uncontested proceeding,
02:28:38.410 --> 02:28:40.890
where the proposed
decision does not mail
02:28:40.890 --> 02:28:42.740
for public comment.
02:28:42.740 --> 02:28:45.390
We also agree, and put in the rule,
02:28:45.390 --> 02:28:47.830
that we will serve revisions
to proposed decisions
02:28:47.830 --> 02:28:51.810
so that affected parties
are aware of the outcome
02:28:51.810 --> 02:28:54.440
and rationale of all decisions
02:28:54.440 --> 02:28:56.370
before the Commission acts on a matter.
02:28:56.370 --> 02:28:58.050
This is a way to ensure
that everyone knows
02:28:58.050 --> 02:29:00.020
exactly what we're voting on,
02:29:00.020 --> 02:29:02.490
even if changes are made right before
02:29:02.490 --> 02:29:04.900
or the week of a decision.
02:29:04.900 --> 02:29:06.620
In this one instance,
02:29:06.620 --> 02:29:10.180
we are requesting from the
Office of Administrative Law,
02:29:10.180 --> 02:29:12.770
that the rule change be put into effect
02:29:12.770 --> 02:29:14.900
at a later effective date.
02:29:14.900 --> 02:29:18.637
And this will allow us time
to improve our own internal
02:29:18.637 --> 02:29:23.210
IT systems in order to
implement this practice.
02:29:23.210 --> 02:29:25.860
With that I'll turn it over to
Commissioner Randolph.
02:29:26.920 --> 02:29:27.847
Thank you, Commissioner
Rechtschaffen.
02:29:27.847 --> 02:29:31.480
I'm gonna go over a few
more of the rule changes,
02:29:31.480 --> 02:29:33.140
and then I'm gonna,
02:29:33.140 --> 02:29:35.160
I get the honor of doing the thank yous
02:29:35.160 --> 02:29:37.491
and talking about next step.
02:29:37.491 --> 02:29:40.270
So, some of the additional rule changes
02:29:40.270 --> 02:29:43.123
are a new meet and confer process.
02:29:44.670 --> 02:29:49.510
This rule was added in 12.1.
02:29:49.510 --> 02:29:51.820
It requires parties to meet and confer
02:29:51.820 --> 02:29:53.850
after rebuttal testimony is served
02:29:53.850 --> 02:29:56.590
and before evidentiary hearings.
02:29:56.590 --> 02:29:58.560
This provides an opportunity for parties
02:29:58.560 --> 02:30:01.210
to narrow contested facts and issues
02:30:01.210 --> 02:30:02.630
and explore a settlement,
02:30:02.630 --> 02:30:06.130
in the hopes of making the
proceedings more effective.
02:30:06.130 --> 02:30:08.480
The assigned Administrative
Law Judge will have
02:30:08.480 --> 02:30:12.000
the flexibility to modify
this requirement as needed.
02:30:12.000 --> 02:30:14.630
But we really wanted to
institute something similar
02:30:14.630 --> 02:30:17.190
to requirements in civil court,
02:30:17.190 --> 02:30:19.780
at the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission,
02:30:19.780 --> 02:30:22.760
and other regulatory agencies,
02:30:22.760 --> 02:30:25.063
where parties are
required to meet and confer.
02:30:26.980 --> 02:30:31.980
Rule 7.5 and Rule 1.3 include changes
02:30:32.970 --> 02:30:36.490
to our quasi-legislative
proceeding category.
02:30:36.490 --> 02:30:39.400
These revisions better
define and distinguish
02:30:39.400 --> 02:30:41.100
quasi-legislative proceedings
02:30:41.100 --> 02:30:43.610
from other types of
Commission proceedings,
02:30:43.610 --> 02:30:46.840
and standardized
procedural requirements.
02:30:46.840 --> 02:30:50.230
These rules identify the
primary public engagement
02:30:50.230 --> 02:30:52.120
and information-sharing tool
02:30:52.120 --> 02:30:54.122
in a quasi-legislative proceeding,
02:30:54.122 --> 02:30:58.061
such as staff reports
and proposals, workshops,
02:30:58.061 --> 02:31:01.400
and then public engagement workshops.
02:31:01.400 --> 02:31:04.470
The purpose of the new
language is to provide transparency
02:31:04.470 --> 02:31:06.310
and to better inform the public
02:31:06.310 --> 02:31:08.890
about how quasi-legislative
proceedings work
02:31:08.890 --> 02:31:11.540
as distinguished from the
other types of proceedings.
02:31:12.720 --> 02:31:16.840
Rule 13.6 was revised
to clarify the standard
02:31:16.840 --> 02:31:19.250
for admission and use
of relevant evidence
02:31:19.250 --> 02:31:21.490
in hearings at the Commission.
02:31:21.490 --> 02:31:23.600
We wanted to distinguish these rules
02:31:23.600 --> 02:31:26.630
from the restrictions
applied in court proceedings,
02:31:26.630 --> 02:31:29.210
while still ensuring the
integrity of the evidence
02:31:29.210 --> 02:31:31.310
and protecting the
right types of parties.
02:31:32.400 --> 02:31:34.620
I will note that we
had originally intended
02:31:34.620 --> 02:31:37.700
to add our tribal land
policy to the rules,
02:31:37.700 --> 02:31:39.934
but ultimately decided it
would be better to do that
02:31:39.934 --> 02:31:44.740
after the guidelines implementing
that policy are finalized.
02:31:44.740 --> 02:31:48.193
So we will include that in our
next package of rule changes.
02:31:50.040 --> 02:31:51.650
The next step in our process
02:31:51.650 --> 02:31:54.130
is for the state's Office
of Administrative Law
02:31:54.130 --> 02:31:57.460
to review our proposed
revisions to the rules.
02:31:57.460 --> 02:32:00.400
Both rounds of party
comments on the draft resolution,
02:32:00.400 --> 02:32:02.530
and today's adopted resolution,
02:32:02.530 --> 02:32:06.040
will go into the
rulemaking record at OAL.
02:32:06.040 --> 02:32:09.300
We're on schedule to go
through that process this fall
02:32:09.300 --> 02:32:11.360
in order for the rules
to be made effective
02:32:11.360 --> 02:32:14.390
January 1st, 2021.
02:32:14.390 --> 02:32:16.680
And we look forward to sharing updates
02:32:16.680 --> 02:32:19.763
after OAL has completed its review.
02:32:21.279 --> 02:32:26.279
So, in closing, I want to
thank everyone involved
02:32:26.960 --> 02:32:28.280
in this proceeding.
02:32:28.280 --> 02:32:33.280
This process was a
very participatory process.
02:32:33.740 --> 02:32:36.890
We had, as Commissioner
Rechtschaffen mentioned,
02:32:36.890 --> 02:32:40.350
several workshops, and we
got a lotta party comments.
02:32:40.350 --> 02:32:43.743
So I really wanted to take a
moment to thank those parties.
02:32:44.700 --> 02:32:48.660
We got excellent feedback from
people who have been involved
02:32:48.660 --> 02:32:51.950
with Commission proceedings for decades,
02:32:51.950 --> 02:32:56.430
and people who have just
recently tried to understand
02:32:56.430 --> 02:32:57.840
and navigate the process.
02:32:57.840 --> 02:33:01.290
And so having that range of
feedback was really important.
02:33:01.290 --> 02:33:04.830
So I wanna thank the Union
of Concerned Scientists,
02:33:04.830 --> 02:33:07.220
of course the large energy utilities,
02:33:07.220 --> 02:33:10.900
So Cal Gas, SDG&E,
Southern California Edison,
02:33:10.900 --> 02:33:13.615
PG&E, Southwest Gas.
02:33:13.615 --> 02:33:16.730
The California Cable and
Telecommunications Association
02:33:16.730 --> 02:33:18.830
was very active.
02:33:18.830 --> 02:33:22.800
TURN was very active,
and provided many years
02:33:22.800 --> 02:33:24.933
of expertise and experience.
02:33:26.320 --> 02:33:28.573
The Commission's
public advocate's office,
02:33:29.470 --> 02:33:32.580
Matt Vespa on behalf of
Earthjustice and Sierra Club
02:33:32.580 --> 02:33:34.550
shared some really good information
02:33:34.550 --> 02:33:37.580
about his experiences
in individual proceeding.
02:33:37.580 --> 02:33:42.520
AT&T, the Coalition of
California Utility Employees,
02:33:42.520 --> 02:33:46.840
the California Water
Association, and Goodin MacBride.
02:33:46.840 --> 02:33:50.544
In particular, I wanna thank
Tom MacBride for again,
02:33:50.544 --> 02:33:54.740
providing a lot of perspective over time
02:33:54.740 --> 02:33:56.733
about how proceedings have gone.
02:33:57.640 --> 02:34:00.550
And we're very
appreciative of the feedback
02:34:00.550 --> 02:34:03.510
from the Rural County
Representatives of California,
02:34:03.510 --> 02:34:05.940
who actively engaged in this effort
02:34:05.940 --> 02:34:08.470
and offered really valuable input.
02:34:08.470 --> 02:34:10.770
And of course, we didn't
always take the input
02:34:10.770 --> 02:34:13.170
of all of the stakeholders,
02:34:13.170 --> 02:34:16.120
but we really considered
it very carefully,
02:34:16.120 --> 02:34:18.953
and just very much appreciate your time.
02:34:20.926 --> 02:34:24.370
And within the CPUC, I want to thank
02:34:24.370 --> 02:34:27.510
the following individuals
for their dedicated work.
02:34:27.510 --> 02:34:30.210
From the ALJ division,
the lead drafters,
02:34:30.210 --> 02:34:34.900
Sophia Park and Hallie
Yacknin, and chief LJ Anne Simon.
02:34:36.570 --> 02:34:39.330
All of these judges worked very hard
02:34:39.330 --> 02:34:42.710
and had very, very thoughtful input.
02:34:42.710 --> 02:34:46.680
Our attorneys, Chris Nolan,
Jason Reiger, Jack Mulligan,
02:34:46.680 --> 02:34:48.123
and Geoff Dryvynsyde.
02:34:49.320 --> 02:34:52.750
My fellow Commissioners and
their advisors for participation
02:34:52.750 --> 02:34:55.100
in the policy and governance
committee meetings
02:34:55.100 --> 02:34:57.880
and workshops, and strong
interest in engagement
02:34:57.880 --> 02:34:59.560
in this topic.
02:34:59.560 --> 02:35:02.900
Of course, (indistinct)
partner and fellow policy
02:35:02.900 --> 02:35:05.900
and governance committee
member, Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:35:07.340 --> 02:35:12.340
and all of our staff, Sean
Simon, Simi George,
02:35:12.490 --> 02:35:16.677
Nicole Cropper, Anand
Durvasula, and Suzanne Casazza.
02:35:16.677 --> 02:35:18.785
And a shout out to Rachel Peterson,
02:35:18.785 --> 02:35:22.840
my former chief of staff, for
leading the process early on.
02:35:22.840 --> 02:35:27.470
So that's it for my presentation.
Thank you very much.
02:35:27.470 --> 02:35:29.570
And I ask your support
of this resolution.
02:35:30.960 --> 02:35:31.843
Thank you.
02:35:31.843 --> 02:35:36.843
I wanna just say, this is
a big damn deal. (laughs)
02:35:37.140 --> 02:35:42.140
And I am extremely excited
about these rule changes,
02:35:43.416 --> 02:35:45.910
as discussed in item two.
02:35:45.910 --> 02:35:49.356
This resolution represents
an extraordinary collaboration
02:35:49.356 --> 02:35:52.340
among Commissioner Rechtschaffen
and Commissioner Randolph
02:35:52.340 --> 02:35:55.760
and their respective
staff, and the ALJ division
02:35:55.760 --> 02:35:57.654
and the legal division.
02:35:57.654 --> 02:36:01.480
Truly, this has been a
tremendous amount of work
02:36:01.480 --> 02:36:02.740
and so important.
02:36:02.740 --> 02:36:05.900
I just wanna shout it from the rooftops.
02:36:05.900 --> 02:36:07.750
The changes contained in the resolution
02:36:07.750 --> 02:36:10.800
are intended to make, as has been stated
02:36:10.800 --> 02:36:13.490
by Commissioner Randolph
and Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:36:13.490 --> 02:36:16.510
to make the Commission's
processes more accessible
02:36:16.510 --> 02:36:17.630
and effective.
02:36:17.630 --> 02:36:21.256
But as we know, and have
experienced, the speed and focus
02:36:21.256 --> 02:36:24.370
with which they are applied
in the day-to-day business
02:36:24.370 --> 02:36:26.817
of the Commission will greatly determine
02:36:26.817 --> 02:36:30.770
their true level of
accessibility and effectiveness
02:36:30.770 --> 02:36:32.320
in the days to come.
02:36:32.320 --> 02:36:34.750
When Governor Newsom appointed me,
02:36:34.750 --> 02:36:37.750
I clearly understood
that part of my charge
02:36:37.750 --> 02:36:39.960
is to implement the
organizational changes
02:36:39.960 --> 02:36:42.930
that would facilitate
converting our best ideas
02:36:42.930 --> 02:36:46.020
into actions at a pace fast
enough to solve a problem
02:36:46.020 --> 02:36:48.430
when it counts most.
02:36:48.430 --> 02:36:52.160
This is how we maintain the
confidence of those we serve.
02:36:52.160 --> 02:36:53.930
I didn't know at the time, however,
02:36:53.930 --> 02:36:57.140
that such great tremendous
work was underway
02:36:57.140 --> 02:37:00.221
by Commissioner Rechtschaffen
and Commissioner Randolph.
02:37:00.221 --> 02:37:03.180
As was stated, 33 major changes,
02:37:03.180 --> 02:37:06.383
extremely important to
making us more effective,
02:37:07.260 --> 02:37:11.490
and serving our public more effectively.
02:37:11.490 --> 02:37:14.990
Over the last year, we
have worked collectively
02:37:14.990 --> 02:37:17.820
to realize this intent,
as we have fast-tracked
02:37:17.820 --> 02:37:19.960
establishing new wildfire-related rules
02:37:19.960 --> 02:37:22.840
and added the most dangerous
periods of wildfire season,
02:37:22.840 --> 02:37:24.990
as well as through our
responses and actions
02:37:24.990 --> 02:37:28.560
to protect customers
from financial impacts
02:37:28.560 --> 02:37:30.870
of COVID-19 pandemic.
02:37:30.870 --> 02:37:33.570
The speed and focus of
these actions were propelled
02:37:33.570 --> 02:37:35.450
by the urgency of the moment.
02:37:35.450 --> 02:37:39.570
As we all well know, there
are additional priorities,
02:37:39.570 --> 02:37:42.010
including those of reliability
and climate change,
02:37:42.010 --> 02:37:43.540
that require similar responses
02:37:43.540 --> 02:37:45.460
in the months and years ahead.
02:37:45.460 --> 02:37:47.160
If we were going to
meet these challenges,
02:37:47.160 --> 02:37:51.940
the change we felt to our
speed and focus this last year
02:37:51.940 --> 02:37:54.400
must become the norm.
02:37:54.400 --> 02:37:56.600
And these changes
will help us realize that.
02:37:56.600 --> 02:37:59.520
These modified rules
will work towards this goal.
02:37:59.520 --> 02:38:01.988
I look forward to working with you all
02:38:01.988 --> 02:38:04.950
in their implementation.
02:38:04.950 --> 02:38:07.937
And again, I really wanna thank
Commissioner Rechtschaffen
02:38:07.937 --> 02:38:11.594
and Commissioner Randolph
for their spearheading
02:38:11.594 --> 02:38:14.903
this effort and hanging in there,
02:38:14.903 --> 02:38:17.903
working diligently and innovatively,
02:38:19.296 --> 02:38:21.980
and most importantly,
pushing us all forward.
02:38:21.980 --> 02:38:23.493
So thank you very much.
02:38:23.493 --> 02:38:26.543
Are there any other
comments on item number two?
02:38:29.540 --> 02:38:33.883
Yes, Commissioner, I think
Martha Guzman Aceves was first.
02:38:35.710 --> 02:38:37.849
Okay, thank you,
President Batjer,
02:38:37.849 --> 02:38:42.849
and I do think this is a lot
of work and a lot of patience,
02:38:44.170 --> 02:38:49.170
and I just wanted to reflect
that one of the rules here,
02:38:50.660 --> 02:38:55.570
Rule 4.1, related to complaints
by mobile home park tenants,
02:38:56.690 --> 02:38:59.620
I know some of you know
the story I've told before,
02:38:59.620 --> 02:39:04.200
but my first exposure to
the PUC was when I was at
02:39:04.200 --> 02:39:07.100
California Rural Legal
Assistance Foundation,
02:39:07.100 --> 02:39:09.590
and their lobbyist in
our Coachella office
02:39:09.590 --> 02:39:12.630
had an attorney working with some of the
02:39:12.630 --> 02:39:15.850
mobile home residents at a
mobile home park in Oasis
02:39:17.060 --> 02:39:20.450
that was charging them in some cases,
02:39:20.450 --> 02:39:22.723
over a thousand
dollars a month for water.
02:39:23.940 --> 02:39:28.260
This was a mobile home
park in an agricultural area.
02:39:28.260 --> 02:39:30.763
So most of the folks were farm workers.
02:39:30.763 --> 02:39:32.010
Anyway-
Martha.
02:39:32.010 --> 02:39:33.010
Martha, sorry to interrupt you.
02:39:33.010 --> 02:39:35.920
Could you speak a little
bit closer to your mic?
02:39:35.920 --> 02:39:37.638
Oh, okay, sure.
02:39:37.638 --> 02:39:39.314
That's
much better. Thank you.
02:39:39.314 --> 02:39:40.147
Thank you, much better.
Okay. Thank you.
02:39:41.440 --> 02:39:45.310
Anyway, it took about two
years for our attorney there
02:39:45.310 --> 02:39:50.310
to even get the PUC
to look at this issue.
02:39:50.970 --> 02:39:55.780
Subsequently, Commissioner
Sandoval took on the issue,
02:39:55.780 --> 02:39:58.430
and there even had to
be, subsequent to that,
02:39:58.430 --> 02:40:03.000
legislation to provide a
remedy for those residents.
02:40:03.000 --> 02:40:06.860
So, I guess kinda coming full circle,
02:40:06.860 --> 02:40:09.960
I'm very happy to see that
we have a clear rule here
02:40:09.960 --> 02:40:12.330
for our practice and
procedures that these tenants
02:40:12.330 --> 02:40:15.120
have a right to file
these complaints here,
02:40:15.120 --> 02:40:18.193
as it was a very hard process back,
02:40:19.230 --> 02:40:20.930
oh, over 10 years ago now.
02:40:20.930 --> 02:40:24.453
So, it takes a while to get
some of these changes in place.
02:40:26.510 --> 02:40:30.180
But I do hope that
the realities of COVID
02:40:30.180 --> 02:40:35.180
that have really created a
necessity where we have created
02:40:35.500 --> 02:40:39.520
so many changes and
a greater accessibility,
02:40:39.520 --> 02:40:42.550
as we saw even this morning
in the ability for the public
02:40:42.550 --> 02:40:44.900
to participate in our processes,
02:40:44.900 --> 02:40:49.900
that we really take the time
to formalize the best practices
02:40:50.070 --> 02:40:54.400
that we're using in our COVID times.
02:40:54.400 --> 02:40:56.670
Many of our good
practices that we're using
02:40:56.670 --> 02:41:01.670
with our pre-hearing
conferences, our workshops,
02:41:02.280 --> 02:41:07.020
our accessibility issues,
continue to be a challenge.
02:41:07.020 --> 02:41:11.540
So I really do hope
that we can take this
02:41:11.540 --> 02:41:15.640
silver lining of COVID, and
make this next round of updates
02:41:15.640 --> 02:41:18.560
to our rules even more aggressive.
02:41:18.560 --> 02:41:21.223
But, thank you very
much for all of your work.
02:41:33.600 --> 02:41:35.753
President Batjer
should I go next?
02:41:38.880 --> 02:41:41.210
I'm sorry, I've been
on mute, didn't realize it.
02:41:41.210 --> 02:41:44.010
Yes, I was calling on you. Thank you.
02:41:44.010 --> 02:41:45.290
All right, thank you.
02:41:45.290 --> 02:41:47.970
Thank you, I just wanted
to add my thank yous,
02:41:47.970 --> 02:41:50.070
Commissioner Rechtschaffen
and Commissioner Randolph,
02:41:50.070 --> 02:41:51.043
tremendous work.
02:41:51.890 --> 02:41:56.040
Tremendous work from our
Administrative Law Judges,
02:41:56.040 --> 02:41:57.743
Judge Yacknin, Judge Park.
02:41:58.640 --> 02:42:03.610
I appreciate how changing
rules of practice and procedure,
02:42:03.610 --> 02:42:08.030
it is a big deal, especially
when folks have been used to
02:42:08.030 --> 02:42:10.760
doing things the same way for decades.
02:42:10.760 --> 02:42:15.760
So, I appreciate all the effort
and especially the workshop
02:42:16.630 --> 02:42:18.860
that occurred about a year ago,
02:42:18.860 --> 02:42:23.860
where I could listen to
the seasoned practitioners,
02:42:23.930 --> 02:42:27.160
the stakeholders, have a conversation,
02:42:27.160 --> 02:42:29.930
a dialogue with our judges.
02:42:29.930 --> 02:42:32.320
It was fascinating.
02:42:32.320 --> 02:42:36.173
And I think the result, it
really does move us forward.
02:42:37.670 --> 02:42:41.610
The standardizing of the
public participation hearings
02:42:41.610 --> 02:42:44.250
to make us more
accessible is really important.
02:42:44.250 --> 02:42:48.144
And I really appreciate the efficiencies
02:42:48.144 --> 02:42:51.915
folded into the procedures,
02:42:51.915 --> 02:42:55.520
and also that we're encouraging parties
02:42:55.520 --> 02:42:58.210
to find common ground where possible,
02:42:58.210 --> 02:43:01.130
which increases the
efficiencies manyfold.
02:43:01.130 --> 02:43:05.200
So, I'll be voting "aye,"
when the time comes for this.
02:43:05.200 --> 02:43:06.033
Thank you.
02:43:07.850 --> 02:43:10.060
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:43:10.060 --> 02:43:13.620
Okay, with that, I would like to get,
02:43:13.620 --> 02:43:16.240
are there any other
comments on item two?
02:43:16.240 --> 02:43:19.300
Okay, seeing none, I
would ask the agenda clerk
02:43:19.300 --> 02:43:20.563
to please call the roll.
02:43:22.267 --> 02:43:25.128
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:43:25.128 --> 02:43:25.961
Aye.
02:43:27.087 --> 02:43:29.167
Commissioner
Guzman Aceves .
02:43:29.167 --> 02:43:30.000
Aye.
02:43:31.374 --> 02:43:33.434
Commissioner Randolph.
02:43:33.434 --> 02:43:34.563
Yes.
02:43:36.347 --> 02:43:38.100
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:43:38.100 --> 02:43:38.933
Yes.
02:43:40.103 --> 02:43:40.936
President Batjer.
02:43:41.790 --> 02:43:43.640
Enthusiastically, yes.
02:43:44.785 --> 02:43:48.340
The vote is unanimous
for item number two.
02:43:48.340 --> 02:43:52.577
Moving on now to item
21, Commissioner Shiroma.
02:43:54.145 --> 02:43:56.257
All right, thank
you, President Batjer.
02:43:57.430 --> 02:44:01.123
We heard many public
comments this morning on this item.
02:44:03.100 --> 02:44:06.710
This proposed decision would approve
02:44:06.710 --> 02:44:10.920
San Diego Gas and Electric
Company's application
02:44:10.920 --> 02:44:15.160
for a permit to construct,
and the mitigated
02:44:15.160 --> 02:44:19.840
negative declaration for
its infrastructure rebuild
02:44:19.840 --> 02:44:24.380
and expansion of 12
miles on the San Marcos
02:44:24.380 --> 02:44:26.980
Escondido transmission line.
02:44:26.980 --> 02:44:29.160
I would like to start by acknowledging
02:44:29.160 --> 02:44:31.810
the importance of public participation
02:44:31.810 --> 02:44:34.870
and express my
appreciation for all of those
02:44:34.870 --> 02:44:38.610
who made public comments
throughout the process,
02:44:38.610 --> 02:44:42.450
made them on the record,
and the folks who called in
02:44:42.450 --> 02:44:46.233
at our last voting meeting
and also today's voting meeting.
02:44:47.090 --> 02:44:50.150
Our ability to make informed
and rational decisions
02:44:50.150 --> 02:44:53.170
do depend on robust
public participation.
02:44:53.170 --> 02:44:56.070
And we received that in this process.
02:44:56.070 --> 02:45:00.150
And I do want to assure all of those
02:45:00.150 --> 02:45:01.610
who participated in the process
02:45:01.610 --> 02:45:06.610
that safety is a core
mission for this Commission.
02:45:09.530 --> 02:45:11.343
It's foremost on all of our minds,
02:45:12.490 --> 02:45:17.490
and that is what we have
strived for in numerous decisions
02:45:17.650 --> 02:45:22.270
that we have taken,
especially those dealing with
02:45:22.270 --> 02:45:24.820
wildfire and wildfire mitigation.
02:45:24.820 --> 02:45:29.820
Now, this proposed project is
located in San Diego County
02:45:29.850 --> 02:45:33.210
within the cities of the
Carlsbad, Escondido,
02:45:33.210 --> 02:45:35.120
San Marcos, and Vista,
02:45:35.120 --> 02:45:40.120
as well as in areas of
unincorporated San Diego County.
02:45:40.360 --> 02:45:42.700
Again, the line travels
a total of 12 miles
02:45:42.700 --> 02:45:46.190
in existing rights of way.
02:45:46.190 --> 02:45:50.270
In addition to converting
approximately 36
02:45:50.270 --> 02:45:52.733
older wooden poles to steel poles,
02:45:53.952 --> 02:45:56.310
and thus improving their durability,
02:45:56.310 --> 02:45:59.340
safety, and resistance
to wildfire conditions,
02:45:59.340 --> 02:46:04.340
the project includes a new
2.8 mile segment of steel poles
02:46:04.470 --> 02:46:06.750
to provide an additional circuit
02:46:06.750 --> 02:46:08.580
to serve this growing community
02:46:08.580 --> 02:46:11.940
and to ensure reliable service.
02:46:11.940 --> 02:46:14.593
The project is split
into three segments.
02:46:15.440 --> 02:46:19.880
The right of way for segment
one is made up of 10 easements
02:46:20.970 --> 02:46:25.403
established between
1944 and the year 2000.
02:46:26.250 --> 02:46:31.250
Segment two includes rights
of way established in 1940,
02:46:31.547 --> 02:46:35.370
1965 and 1966.
02:46:35.370 --> 02:46:38.090
And segment three is
made up of easements
02:46:38.090 --> 02:46:41.290
established in 1940.
02:46:41.290 --> 02:46:43.958
The fundamental
objectives of this project
02:46:43.958 --> 02:46:48.010
are to mitigate North
American Reliability Corporation,
02:46:48.010 --> 02:46:50.830
or NERC, violations at the federal,
02:46:50.830 --> 02:46:52.620
of the federal requirements.
02:46:52.620 --> 02:46:55.163
There've been violations on this line.
02:46:56.680 --> 02:46:59.903
The objectives are to
eliminate congestion,
02:47:01.150 --> 02:47:05.310
to meet mandatory NERC
reliability criteria, again,
02:47:05.310 --> 02:47:08.660
in this growing Escondido
and San Marcos area,
02:47:08.660 --> 02:47:11.840
and to improve power service reliably
02:47:11.840 --> 02:47:14.680
by providing an additional feed
02:47:14.680 --> 02:47:17.370
to the existing San Marcos substation.
02:47:17.370 --> 02:47:20.800
The project was originally
identified as needed
02:47:20.800 --> 02:47:24.120
starting during the 2013 and 2014 CISO,
02:47:26.440 --> 02:47:29.355
or California Independent
System Operator
02:47:29.355 --> 02:47:32.600
transmission planning process.
02:47:32.600 --> 02:47:35.300
And the project continues to be needed
02:47:35.300 --> 02:47:39.433
in that transmission planning
process since that time.
02:47:40.490 --> 02:47:43.473
Now to issue a permit to construct,
02:47:43.473 --> 02:47:47.490
pursuant to our general order 131-D,
02:47:47.490 --> 02:47:52.470
the CPUC must find that the
project complies with CEQA.
02:47:53.830 --> 02:47:56.310
In evaluating whether
to approve the project,
02:47:56.310 --> 02:47:57.900
CEQA requires the leading agency,
02:47:57.900 --> 02:48:01.705
and in this case that's the
CPUC, to conduct a review
02:48:01.705 --> 02:48:06.080
to identify environmental
impacts of the project,
02:48:06.080 --> 02:48:09.423
and ways to avoid or reduce
environmental damage.
02:48:10.470 --> 02:48:13.000
And that initial assessment,
02:48:13.000 --> 02:48:15.470
that mitigated negative declaration,
02:48:15.470 --> 02:48:20.470
the appendices alone are
over 2,000 pages of analysis.
02:48:21.880 --> 02:48:23.240
If the initial study shows
02:48:23.240 --> 02:48:24.990
that there is no substantial evidence
02:48:24.990 --> 02:48:28.260
that the proposed project
may have a significant impact
02:48:28.260 --> 02:48:29.610
on the environment,
02:48:29.610 --> 02:48:32.090
or if the initial study identifies
02:48:32.090 --> 02:48:35.120
potentially significant effects,
02:48:35.120 --> 02:48:39.960
and the project proponent
makes or agrees to revisions
02:48:39.960 --> 02:48:43.960
to the project that will
reduce all project-related
02:48:43.960 --> 02:48:48.052
environmental impacts to
less than significant levels,
02:48:48.052 --> 02:48:52.760
then the lead agency shall
prepare a negative declaration
02:48:52.760 --> 02:48:56.180
or a mitigated negative declaration,
02:48:56.180 --> 02:48:57.870
that is subject to public notice
02:48:57.870 --> 02:49:02.370
and the opportunity for the
public review and comment.
02:49:02.370 --> 02:49:05.480
These are the steps,
these are the procedures
02:49:05.480 --> 02:49:10.383
that are provided and outlined
and required under CEQA.
02:49:12.890 --> 02:49:17.700
As you know, we had a
groundswell of public engagement,
02:49:17.700 --> 02:49:20.270
including the public
comments again made today,
02:49:20.270 --> 02:49:21.620
at our last voting meeting.
02:49:22.585 --> 02:49:27.080
I want to highlight a number
of things that the CPUC
02:49:28.170 --> 02:49:31.290
CEQA team did in response.
02:49:31.290 --> 02:49:33.980
First of all, the team
made some extra efforts
02:49:33.980 --> 02:49:38.450
not required by CEQA
review for this project.
02:49:38.450 --> 02:49:42.620
The team expanded the
noticing of the project required
02:49:42.620 --> 02:49:47.620
in general order 131-D
from 300 feet to 600 feet
02:49:48.500 --> 02:49:51.820
from the edge of the right of ways.
02:49:51.820 --> 02:49:55.929
The staff also increased
the public comment period
02:49:55.929 --> 02:50:00.929
from 30 days that are required
by the statute, to 60 days.
02:50:01.780 --> 02:50:06.070
The staff also responded
to the over 1,000 comments
02:50:06.070 --> 02:50:08.660
in the mitigated negative declaration.
02:50:08.660 --> 02:50:12.530
Under CEQA, through a
mitigated negative declaration,
02:50:12.530 --> 02:50:15.600
the lead agency is
not required to respond
02:50:15.600 --> 02:50:19.453
to the comments, however
here, the staff did so.
02:50:20.840 --> 02:50:24.310
Our staff also met with
the city of San Marcos
02:50:24.310 --> 02:50:26.020
to add additional mitigation measures
02:50:26.020 --> 02:50:29.380
for wildfire prevention
during construction,
02:50:29.380 --> 02:50:33.210
including additional agency coordination
02:50:33.210 --> 02:50:35.940
with the San Diego unit of Cal Fire,
02:50:35.940 --> 02:50:37.980
the San Diego County Fire Authority,
02:50:37.980 --> 02:50:41.140
and the fire departments
of the cities of Carlsbad,
02:50:41.140 --> 02:50:44.003
Escondido, San Marcos, and in Vista.
02:50:45.460 --> 02:50:47.280
During the environmental review period,
02:50:47.280 --> 02:50:49.520
many comments from the public requested
02:50:49.520 --> 02:50:53.556
that an environmental
impact review, an EIR,
02:50:53.556 --> 02:50:58.556
be conducted instead of a
mitigated negative declaration.
02:50:58.830 --> 02:51:01.960
However, a mitigated
negative declaration
02:51:01.960 --> 02:51:03.723
was found to be appropriate,
02:51:04.570 --> 02:51:06.670
to be the appropriate
environmental document
02:51:06.670 --> 02:51:10.060
because mitigation measures included
02:51:10.060 --> 02:51:14.220
as conditions of the
project were found to reduce
02:51:14.220 --> 02:51:19.033
significant impacts to less
than significant under CEQA.
02:51:20.810 --> 02:51:24.220
And again, the analysis done
02:51:24.220 --> 02:51:29.220
for the mitigated negative
declaration is over 2,000 pages.
02:51:31.300 --> 02:51:34.490
And that's all in the
materials for this project.
02:51:34.490 --> 02:51:39.160
Now, it is typical and standard to use
02:51:39.160 --> 02:51:41.570
a mitigated negative declaration
02:51:41.570 --> 02:51:44.110
for these types of
transmission line proposals.
02:51:44.110 --> 02:51:48.866
So again, in the sequence
of things that the CPUC staff
02:51:48.866 --> 02:51:53.866
are required to do, when that
mitigated negative declaration
02:51:55.574 --> 02:52:00.574
has found that the
measures will bring the impact
02:52:01.350 --> 02:52:02.950
to less than significant,
02:52:02.950 --> 02:52:06.400
it proceeds with the
mitigated negative declaration.
02:52:06.400 --> 02:52:08.930
Now the staff analysis determined that
02:52:08.930 --> 02:52:10.760
if San Diego Gas and Electric
02:52:10.760 --> 02:52:13.290
completes all of the mitigation measures
02:52:13.290 --> 02:52:16.970
included in the mitigated
negative declaration,
02:52:16.970 --> 02:52:19.810
that all the impacts of the
project would be reduced
02:52:19.810 --> 02:52:21.553
to less than significant.
02:52:22.696 --> 02:52:27.210
Further, there are several
areas of public comment
02:52:27.210 --> 02:52:28.910
that I wanna highlight
02:52:28.910 --> 02:52:33.910
that the mitigated negative
declaration does address.
02:52:34.620 --> 02:52:37.293
On the evaluation of aesthetic impact,
02:52:38.160 --> 02:52:42.730
the CPUC used the Federal
Highway Administration
02:52:42.730 --> 02:52:46.410
methodology, which is
the standard methodology
02:52:46.410 --> 02:52:49.403
for evaluating aesthetics.
02:52:50.560 --> 02:52:54.340
It is used to analyze
the potential effects
02:52:54.340 --> 02:52:58.200
to visual resources in CEQA review.
02:52:58.200 --> 02:53:00.400
Public views are considered under CEQA,
02:53:00.400 --> 02:53:04.740
but not private views, which
are not protected under CEQA.
02:53:04.740 --> 02:53:09.200
And that has been upheld
in California case law.
02:53:09.200 --> 02:53:12.260
The CPUC staff conducted several,
02:53:12.260 --> 02:53:17.260
and their experts consultants,
they conducted several
02:53:17.540 --> 02:53:21.500
visual simulations as
part of its initial review.
02:53:21.500 --> 02:53:24.980
And after four additional
visual simulations,
02:53:24.980 --> 02:53:28.290
the final mitigated negative declaration
02:53:28.290 --> 02:53:31.150
found that the aesthetic impact remained
02:53:31.150 --> 02:53:32.540
less than significant,
02:53:32.540 --> 02:53:36.110
based on that Federal
Highway Administration standard
02:53:36.110 --> 02:53:38.110
for public views.
02:53:38.110 --> 02:53:42.980
Even so, San Diego Gas
and Electric added measures,
02:53:42.980 --> 02:53:46.730
such as aligning the new
poles with the existing poles,
02:53:46.730 --> 02:53:50.440
and keeping the height of the
new lines at the same height
02:53:50.440 --> 02:53:51.783
as the existing lines.
02:53:52.710 --> 02:53:56.170
The issue of property values was raised.
02:53:56.170 --> 02:54:00.993
However, under CEQA, it is
not required to be evaluated.
02:54:02.170 --> 02:54:05.560
And this is pursuant
to California case law.
02:54:05.560 --> 02:54:08.653
Now, on wildfire safety
and evacuation safety,
02:54:09.550 --> 02:54:14.550
the team reviewed the facts
related to evacuation and egress
02:54:14.822 --> 02:54:19.240
from the San Elijo Hills and
surrounding communities,
02:54:19.240 --> 02:54:22.960
and determined that these
are existing baseline conditions
02:54:22.960 --> 02:54:25.643
that are not attributable
to the project.
02:54:26.650 --> 02:54:28.307
They are based on land use decisions
02:54:28.307 --> 02:54:30.043
of the local jurisdiction.
02:54:32.470 --> 02:54:35.380
However, as mentioned
before, as I said before,
02:54:35.380 --> 02:54:38.810
the project transitions
would post a steel pole,
02:54:38.810 --> 02:54:42.032
which does reduce the risk of wildfire
02:54:42.032 --> 02:54:45.320
ignited by infrastructure.
02:54:45.320 --> 02:54:49.670
Further mitigation measures
added by San Diego Gas Electric
02:54:49.670 --> 02:54:53.170
meet higher wildfire tier levels
02:54:53.170 --> 02:54:56.733
than what is actually
designated for that area.
02:54:57.590 --> 02:55:02.030
The final project also includes
02:55:02.030 --> 02:55:04.530
construction fire prevention plans,
02:55:04.530 --> 02:55:06.980
and those were developed in coordination
02:55:06.980 --> 02:55:10.130
with the fire departments.
02:55:10.130 --> 02:55:13.670
And they do include that
San Diego Gas Electric,
02:55:13.670 --> 02:55:18.670
and/or its contractors shall
have water tanks, water trucks,
02:55:19.790 --> 02:55:22.360
or portable water backpacks,
02:55:22.360 --> 02:55:26.163
where there isn't space
for the trucks or tanks.
02:55:28.060 --> 02:55:32.600
And these will be available
within the study area
02:55:32.600 --> 02:55:36.240
for fire protection
within the impacted area.
02:55:36.240 --> 02:55:38.680
All construction vehicles
shall have fire suppression
02:55:38.680 --> 02:55:42.300
equipment, and San Diego
Gas Electric shall ensure
02:55:42.300 --> 02:55:45.590
that all construction
workers receive training
02:55:45.590 --> 02:55:48.700
on the proper use of
firefighting equipment
02:55:48.700 --> 02:55:52.343
and procedures to be
followed in the event of a fire.
02:55:54.924 --> 02:55:59.340
Now, beyond that, the
Commission had previously adopted
02:56:03.550 --> 02:56:06.430
San Diego Gas Electric's
wildfire mitigation plan.
02:56:06.430 --> 02:56:10.230
We approved those
in June, this past June.
02:56:10.230 --> 02:56:15.230
They are available for reading,
02:56:15.525 --> 02:56:19.623
and further information on our website,
02:56:20.630 --> 02:56:24.940
and also on the San Diego
Gas and Electric website,
02:56:24.940 --> 02:56:29.940
SDGE.com/2020WildfireMitigationPlan.
02:56:31.947 --> 02:56:36.813
And that has been the major,
02:56:37.880 --> 02:56:41.480
really massive effort by
San Diego Gas and Electric
02:56:41.480 --> 02:56:46.110
and the Commission in
updating wildfire mitigation
02:56:46.110 --> 02:56:50.603
procedures for the
entire San Diego district.
02:56:52.590 --> 02:56:57.590
So, overall the proposal by
San Diego Gas and Electric,
02:56:58.980 --> 02:57:03.540
the 12 miles of rebuilding,
reconductoring, and so forth
02:57:04.830 --> 02:57:09.220
is proposed by the utility
to address NERC violations,
02:57:09.220 --> 02:57:12.670
meet NERC reliability,
to eliminate congestion
02:57:12.670 --> 02:57:15.750
in a growing area, to
address what (indistinct)
02:57:15.750 --> 02:57:17.890
has identified as what's needed
02:57:17.890 --> 02:57:20.180
in the transmission planning process.
02:57:20.180 --> 02:57:23.910
It qualified for a mitigated
negative declaration
02:57:23.910 --> 02:57:26.970
because the utility will reduce impact
02:57:26.970 --> 02:57:31.970
to less than the significant
level under the CEQA criteria.
02:57:32.290 --> 02:57:35.240
With the replacement of
wood poles, reconductoring,
02:57:35.240 --> 02:57:39.863
and so forth, wildfire
risks are reduced.
02:57:40.860 --> 02:57:45.860
And again, there was a very thorough
02:57:47.640 --> 02:57:49.083
environmental assessment.
02:57:50.680 --> 02:57:52.890
And I refer to the over 2,000 pages,
02:57:52.890 --> 02:57:56.933
and the panoply of review,
02:57:57.840 --> 02:58:02.840
the staff assured compliance with CEQA.
02:58:02.880 --> 02:58:06.270
And so I would like to
conclude by thanking our staff
02:58:06.270 --> 02:58:08.820
on the project first.
02:58:08.820 --> 02:58:13.330
Lisa Orsaba is the project
manager at the CPUC
02:58:13.330 --> 02:58:15.110
who has worked on
shepherding his project
02:58:15.110 --> 02:58:17.949
through the thorough
environmental review,
02:58:17.949 --> 02:58:20.970
going the extra mile to be responsive
02:58:20.970 --> 02:58:22.800
to the surrounding community.
02:58:22.800 --> 02:58:26.113
I would also like to thank
legal counsel, Jack Mulligan,
02:58:26.973 --> 02:58:31.500
our previous project
manager, Joyce Steingass,
02:58:31.500 --> 02:58:33.710
who's now working on microgrids,
02:58:35.030 --> 02:58:37.290
our Administrative Law
Judge, Brian Stevens,
02:58:37.290 --> 02:58:40.594
and my chief of staff, Leuwam Tesfai.
02:58:40.594 --> 02:58:43.940
And with that, I respectfully
ask my fellow Commissioners
02:58:43.940 --> 02:58:47.770
for your aye vote on
approving the permit to construct
02:58:47.770 --> 02:58:49.790
and the mitigated negative declaration.
02:58:49.790 --> 02:58:51.330
Thank you.
02:58:51.330 --> 02:58:52.580
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma
02:58:52.580 --> 02:58:56.370
for that excellent and
very thorough explanation,
02:58:56.370 --> 02:58:57.480
appreciate it greatly.
02:58:57.480 --> 02:58:59.583
Are there any comments on item 21?
02:59:02.280 --> 02:59:04.500
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
02:59:04.500 --> 02:59:05.553
please call the roll.
02:59:07.140 --> 02:59:09.023
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:59:09.023 --> 02:59:11.220
Commissioner, President Batjer.
02:59:11.220 --> 02:59:12.270
Oh,
excuse me, excuse me.
02:59:12.270 --> 02:59:13.730
Yes. I'm so sorry.
02:59:13.730 --> 02:59:17.303
Before we take the vote,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:59:17.303 --> 02:59:20.780
Yes, I just wanna
comment briefly.
02:59:20.780 --> 02:59:25.460
Commissioner Shiroma provided
a very thoughtful discussion,
02:59:25.460 --> 02:59:29.930
but I do wanna just
comment briefly to note how,
02:59:29.930 --> 02:59:33.980
that these infrastructure
decisions typically raise
02:59:33.980 --> 02:59:36.220
very important and difficult issues,
02:59:36.220 --> 02:59:38.100
and this case is no exception.
02:59:38.100 --> 02:59:41.420
I wanna underscore my
thanks and appreciation
02:59:41.420 --> 02:59:43.940
for the speakers today who
represented their community
02:59:43.940 --> 02:59:47.550
so well, for returning
for today's discussion.
02:59:47.550 --> 02:59:51.520
We could hear their concerns
and their worries about
02:59:51.520 --> 02:59:53.010
larger wildfire risks.
02:59:53.010 --> 02:59:55.530
And, I don't question their perspective
02:59:55.530 --> 02:59:57.620
on how they view this project,
02:59:57.620 --> 03:00:00.140
but I agree with Commissioner Shiroma
03:00:00.140 --> 03:00:02.400
in going forward with this decision
03:00:02.400 --> 03:00:05.470
for all the reasons she outlined.
03:00:05.470 --> 03:00:08.390
I just wanna underscore
that there's an immediate
03:00:08.390 --> 03:00:11.600
reliability risk that
itself poses public safety
03:00:11.600 --> 03:00:13.173
and economic risk to these communities
03:00:13.173 --> 03:00:15.123
that the project will address.
03:00:16.550 --> 03:00:19.340
I looked very carefully at the concerns
03:00:19.340 --> 03:00:22.630
about introducing a new ignition source,
03:00:22.630 --> 03:00:27.630
given that wildfire risk is
undeniable today in California.
03:00:28.120 --> 03:00:31.840
But I think Commissioner
Shiroma laid out very carefully
03:00:31.840 --> 03:00:35.260
why the decision comes
out in the right place.
03:00:35.260 --> 03:00:39.630
It requires that the
specifications for this project
03:00:39.630 --> 03:00:41.180
meet the highest safety standards,
03:00:41.180 --> 03:00:43.340
the very highest safety standards,
03:00:43.340 --> 03:00:46.240
that there'd be extra safety
measures during construction,
03:00:47.240 --> 03:00:50.450
and that the utility
coordinate carefully
03:00:50.450 --> 03:00:54.760
with local agencies
because of various elements
03:00:54.760 --> 03:00:57.810
of the project, including
converting the three dozen
03:00:57.810 --> 03:01:00.150
wooden posts to steel.
03:01:00.150 --> 03:01:02.040
The result is that on balance,
03:01:02.040 --> 03:01:05.770
the project will decrease
overall risk in this area
03:01:05.770 --> 03:01:09.020
compared to existing infrastructures.
03:01:09.020 --> 03:01:11.380
It's never an easy decision
when there's the kind of
03:01:11.380 --> 03:01:14.409
well-organized community
feeling in opposition
03:01:14.409 --> 03:01:15.635
as there is in this case.
03:01:15.635 --> 03:01:17.232
But given the facts here,
03:01:17.232 --> 03:01:19.606
I believe going forward
with the proposed decision
03:01:19.606 --> 03:01:22.239
is the right one, thank you.
03:01:22.239 --> 03:01:25.118
Thank you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:01:25.118 --> 03:01:27.670
I'm sorry I didn't notice
your hand up earlier.
03:01:27.670 --> 03:01:30.633
Are there any other comments on item 21?
03:01:32.090 --> 03:01:34.670
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:01:34.670 --> 03:01:35.720
please call the roll.
03:01:37.109 --> 03:01:39.225
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:01:39.225 --> 03:01:40.058
Aye.
03:01:41.511 --> 03:01:43.681
Commissioner
Guzman Aceves .
03:01:43.681 --> 03:01:44.514
Aye.
03:01:46.232 --> 03:01:48.380
Commissioner Randolph.
03:01:48.380 --> 03:01:49.213
Yes.
03:01:50.226 --> 03:01:52.335
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:01:52.335 --> 03:01:53.990
Yes.
03:01:53.990 --> 03:01:55.723
And President Batjer
03:01:55.723 --> 03:01:56.720
Yes.
03:01:56.720 --> 03:02:00.000
Thank you. The vote is
unanimous on item 21.
03:02:00.000 --> 03:02:02.733
Moving now to item 24,
Commissioner Randolph.
03:02:04.922 --> 03:02:06.780
Thank you.
03:02:06.780 --> 03:02:11.360
This is an order extending
statutory deadline
03:02:11.360 --> 03:02:14.560
in the application of California Water
03:02:14.560 --> 03:02:16.053
for its general rate case.
03:02:17.390 --> 03:02:20.305
We have extended the
deadline in this case before,
03:02:20.305 --> 03:02:23.293
that was extended to
September 30th, 2020,
03:02:24.732 --> 03:02:28.100
but the proposed decision
has not yet been mailed.
03:02:28.100 --> 03:02:32.970
So a short extension to
November 20th, 2020 is needed.
03:02:32.970 --> 03:02:35.330
That will allow time
for the comment period
03:02:35.330 --> 03:02:36.830
and Commission review.
03:02:36.830 --> 03:02:38.633
I ask for your support of item 24.
03:02:44.812 --> 03:02:46.140
Okay. Thank you.
03:02:46.140 --> 03:02:48.770
Are there any questions
for Commissioner Randolph
03:02:48.770 --> 03:02:50.083
on item 24?
03:02:52.260 --> 03:02:54.160
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:02:54.160 --> 03:02:55.210
please call the roll?
03:02:56.617 --> 03:02:58.836
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:02:58.836 --> 03:02:59.669
Aye.
03:03:00.650 --> 03:03:02.913
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:03:02.913 --> 03:03:03.746
Aye.
03:03:05.080 --> 03:03:07.130
Commissioner Randolph.
03:03:07.130 --> 03:03:07.963
Yes.
03:03:09.430 --> 03:03:11.580
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:03:11.580 --> 03:03:12.413
Yes.
03:03:13.456 --> 03:03:15.190
And President Batjer.
03:03:15.190 --> 03:03:16.260
Yes.
03:03:16.260 --> 03:03:19.690
The vote on item 24 is
unanimous. Thank you.
03:03:19.690 --> 03:03:24.690
Item 25 will be withdrawn,
as it was voted on in item 15
03:03:26.050 --> 03:03:30.694
in the public Consent Agenda.
03:03:30.694 --> 03:03:34.910
So we will be moving on then to item 26,
03:03:34.910 --> 03:03:36.580
which is Commissioner Shiroma.
03:03:45.020 --> 03:03:47.120
All right.
Looks like you're on mute.
03:03:48.590 --> 03:03:49.493
Yes. And you know what?
03:03:49.493 --> 03:03:53.370
I just, myself, and I have to apologize.
03:03:53.370 --> 03:03:57.053
I am looking for my notes on item-
03:03:59.050 --> 03:04:01.270
Well, we can give you a
minute, and then we can move on
03:04:01.270 --> 03:04:03.307
to item 27-
Okay, thank you.
03:04:03.307 --> 03:04:04.514
And come back. Okay.
03:04:04.514 --> 03:04:05.347
Commissioner Randolph.
Thank you.
03:04:05.347 --> 03:04:06.180
Thank you very much.
03:04:06.180 --> 03:04:07.440
Thank you.
No problem.
03:04:07.440 --> 03:04:12.381
No problem, we'll take up 27,
and while you are searching,
03:04:12.381 --> 03:04:16.320
and Commissioner Randolph, item 27.
03:04:16.320 --> 03:04:19.480
This is one of those orders
extending statutory deadlines
03:04:19.480 --> 03:04:23.970
that's anticipated because
this has been structured
03:04:23.970 --> 03:04:27.210
to be a multi-year rulemaking.
03:04:27.210 --> 03:04:29.250
It was open to consider strategies
03:04:29.250 --> 03:04:31.810
to integrate climate
change adaptation planning
03:04:31.810 --> 03:04:33.333
in Commission proceedings.
03:04:34.170 --> 03:04:37.130
In October of 2019,
the Commission adopted
03:04:37.130 --> 03:04:39.360
the first decision in this proceeding,
03:04:39.360 --> 03:04:41.780
which defined climate adaptation
03:04:43.670 --> 03:04:46.040
for energy utilities in California,
03:04:46.040 --> 03:04:48.860
identified the California
Fourth Climate Assessment,
03:04:48.860 --> 03:04:51.880
and subsequent assessments
as the primary sources
03:04:51.880 --> 03:04:55.680
of climate forecast,
pathways, and scientific study,
03:04:55.680 --> 03:04:59.230
and established criteria for
any further data or models
03:04:59.230 --> 03:05:01.260
that energy utilities may develop
03:05:01.260 --> 03:05:02.903
to understand climate impacts.
03:05:03.920 --> 03:05:07.180
Then, last month, this Commission
issued a second decision
03:05:07.180 --> 03:05:08.030
in the proceeding,
03:05:08.030 --> 03:05:11.260
which adopted climate
adaptation reporting requirements
03:05:11.260 --> 03:05:13.980
and community outreach
plan requirements,
03:05:13.980 --> 03:05:16.710
so that the energy utilities
are prepared to upgrade
03:05:16.710 --> 03:05:19.410
their infrastructure,
operations, and services
03:05:19.410 --> 03:05:22.357
to adapt to climate
change and to ensure safe
03:05:22.357 --> 03:05:24.930
and reliable service
to all Californians,
03:05:24.930 --> 03:05:28.800
including those most
vulnerable and disadvantaged.
03:05:28.800 --> 03:05:32.020
So this decision closes
phase one of the proceeding,
03:05:32.020 --> 03:05:34.310
and extends it an additional 12 months,
03:05:34.310 --> 03:05:37.310
to September 30th, 2021,
03:05:37.310 --> 03:05:40.200
which will allow enough
time to issue a phase two
03:05:40.200 --> 03:05:43.530
scoping memo and
ruling on additional topics,
03:05:43.530 --> 03:05:47.170
convene working groups,
to elicit written comments,
03:05:47.170 --> 03:05:51.160
and allow time for the
Commission to issue decisions
03:05:51.160 --> 03:05:55.210
on climate adaptation
as related to other utilities.
03:05:55.210 --> 03:05:58.160
With that, I ask for the support
of my fellow Commissioner.
03:05:59.124 --> 03:06:00.965
Okay. Thank you.
03:06:00.965 --> 03:06:04.623
Are there any questions of
Commissioner Randolph on item 27?
03:06:06.990 --> 03:06:09.720
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:06:09.720 --> 03:06:10.770
please call the roll.
03:06:11.915 --> 03:06:13.931
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:06:13.931 --> 03:06:14.764
Aye.
03:06:15.728 --> 03:06:17.569
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:06:17.569 --> 03:06:19.230
Aye.
03:06:19.230 --> 03:06:21.370
Commissioner Randolph.
03:06:21.370 --> 03:06:22.203
Yes.
03:06:24.310 --> 03:06:26.220
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:06:26.220 --> 03:06:27.880
Yes.
03:06:27.880 --> 03:06:29.230
President Batjer.
03:06:30.090 --> 03:06:33.530
Yes. Item 27
has passed unanimously.
03:06:33.530 --> 03:06:38.263
Thank you. Commissioner
Shiroma, on item 26.
03:06:41.100 --> 03:06:45.300
I apologize, if you
could take up item 28,
03:06:45.300 --> 03:06:46.133
then I will be-
No problem.
03:06:46.133 --> 03:06:47.763
Right back with item 20.
03:06:48.631 --> 03:06:49.980
Thank you so much.
No, it's quite all right.
03:06:49.980 --> 03:06:51.260
Thank you.
03:06:51.260 --> 03:06:52.370
Not a problem.
03:06:52.370 --> 03:06:55.073
All right, moving on to item 28,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:06:56.530 --> 03:06:59.370
Well let me tell you a
long story about item 28.
03:06:59.370 --> 03:07:02.280
In the beginning, way back when.
03:07:02.280 --> 03:07:05.410
No, this is a complaint case.
03:07:05.410 --> 03:07:10.040
The current statutory
deadline is September 30th.
03:07:10.040 --> 03:07:12.920
We need a relatively short
three months extension
03:07:12.920 --> 03:07:16.040
for the assigned
Administrative Law Judge
03:07:16.040 --> 03:07:19.800
to finalize the presiding
officer decision.
03:07:19.800 --> 03:07:23.160
That will be issued
imminently, and then of course,
03:07:23.160 --> 03:07:25.960
we need to provide parties
with, when it's time to decide
03:07:25.960 --> 03:07:28.210
whether or not to accept the decision
03:07:28.210 --> 03:07:30.820
or file an appeal of the pod.
03:07:30.820 --> 03:07:34.973
So, I ask for your support
for a three-month extension.
03:07:38.850 --> 03:07:41.150
Okay, are there
any comments or questions
03:07:41.150 --> 03:07:44.193
of Commissioner
Rechtschaffen on item 28?
03:07:46.360 --> 03:07:49.720
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:07:49.720 --> 03:07:50.823
please call the roll.
03:07:51.878 --> 03:07:53.833
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:07:53.833 --> 03:07:55.282
Aye.
03:07:55.282 --> 03:07:57.304
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:07:57.304 --> 03:07:58.137
Aye.
03:07:59.100 --> 03:08:01.170
Commissioner Randolph.
03:08:01.170 --> 03:08:02.003
Yes.
03:08:03.470 --> 03:08:05.290
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:08:05.290 --> 03:08:06.808
Yes.
03:08:06.808 --> 03:08:08.470
President Batjer.
03:08:08.470 --> 03:08:09.810
Yes.
03:08:09.810 --> 03:08:13.103
Unanimous vote to approve item 28.
03:08:14.170 --> 03:08:17.830
All right, Commissioner
Shiroma. (laughing)
03:08:17.830 --> 03:08:19.226
I'm ready.
03:08:19.226 --> 03:08:20.777
Okay, there you go.
03:08:20.777 --> 03:08:22.442
Take it away.
Thank you so much.
03:08:22.442 --> 03:08:27.442
Item 26, which is A. 19-04-002,
03:08:30.010 --> 03:08:32.280
order extending statutory deadline.
03:08:32.280 --> 03:08:37.280
It is the application
of Phillips 66 Pipeline
03:08:37.410 --> 03:08:39.980
for authority to increase rates
03:08:39.980 --> 03:08:44.540
for pipeline transportation
services within California.
03:08:44.540 --> 03:08:49.540
We anticipate that the
PD will mail very shortly,
03:08:51.530 --> 03:08:56.530
but insofar as the
logistics of all of that,
03:08:56.950 --> 03:09:00.240
and bringing it forward for
a vote by the Commission,
03:09:00.240 --> 03:09:04.870
I'm asking for an extension
to December 30th of 2020.
03:09:04.870 --> 03:09:05.703
Thank you.
03:09:06.552 --> 03:09:07.563
Okay. Thank
you, Commissioner Shiroma.
03:09:08.570 --> 03:09:11.213
Any questions on item 26?
03:09:12.870 --> 03:09:15.670
Seeing none, will the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
03:09:16.570 --> 03:09:18.713
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:09:18.713 --> 03:09:19.546
Aye.
03:09:20.460 --> 03:09:22.475
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:09:22.475 --> 03:09:23.308
Aye.
03:09:24.190 --> 03:09:25.403
Commissioner Randolph.
03:09:26.373 --> 03:09:27.785
Yes.
03:09:27.785 --> 03:09:29.689
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:09:29.689 --> 03:09:31.184
Yes.
03:09:31.184 --> 03:09:32.830
President Batjer.
03:09:32.830 --> 03:09:33.770
Yes.
03:09:33.770 --> 03:09:36.830
The vote is unanimous on item 26.
03:09:36.830 --> 03:09:37.810
So thank you all.
03:09:37.810 --> 03:09:40.480
That takes care of our
regular agenda for today.
03:09:40.480 --> 03:09:43.565
We will now move on
to management reports.
03:09:43.565 --> 03:09:46.660
There's no report for item 29,
03:09:46.660 --> 03:09:48.610
which is the report and discussion
03:09:48.610 --> 03:09:53.273
on recent consumer
protection and safety activities.
03:09:54.130 --> 03:09:57.180
I will turn now to the
acting executive director,
03:09:57.180 --> 03:09:59.300
Rachel Peterson, for item 30,
03:09:59.300 --> 03:10:02.510
which is management report
on administrative activities.
03:10:02.510 --> 03:10:03.343
Rachel.
03:10:05.130 --> 03:10:07.980
Thank you, President
Batjer and Commissioners.
03:10:08.870 --> 03:10:11.050
We have a management report today
03:10:11.050 --> 03:10:14.649
from Chief Administrative
Law Judge Anne Simon.
03:10:14.649 --> 03:10:15.482
Anne.
03:10:17.350 --> 03:10:18.763
Thank you, Rachel.
03:10:18.763 --> 03:10:22.660
Commissioners, I would like
to formally introduce to you
03:10:22.660 --> 03:10:26.460
our seven new Administrative Law Judges
03:10:26.460 --> 03:10:31.460
who began work in their roles
at the Commission in August.
03:10:33.250 --> 03:10:36.600
So boringly alphabetically by last name,
03:10:36.600 --> 03:10:40.970
I will introduce or
reintroduce Joanna Gubman,
03:10:40.970 --> 03:10:42.450
who is rejoining the Commission
03:10:42.450 --> 03:10:44.630
as an Administrative Law Judge.
03:10:44.630 --> 03:10:48.660
She's previously served
as an advisor to two of you,
03:10:48.660 --> 03:10:52.240
Commissioner Randolph and
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:10:52.240 --> 03:10:55.170
and to former Commissioner Peterman.
03:10:55.170 --> 03:10:57.920
She's been a supervisor
of the energy efficiency
03:10:57.920 --> 03:11:01.300
residential programs and
portfolio approval section
03:11:01.300 --> 03:11:03.200
in energy division.
03:11:03.200 --> 03:11:06.230
And she has been an analyst
in the resource adequacy
03:11:06.230 --> 03:11:10.790
and procurement oversight
section in that division.
03:11:10.790 --> 03:11:13.010
She returns to the
Commission from her third
03:11:13.010 --> 03:11:15.230
research fellowship in Germany.
03:11:15.230 --> 03:11:17.640
On this one, she studied e-scooters
03:11:17.640 --> 03:11:19.783
and micro-mobility policy.
03:11:20.850 --> 03:11:23.400
She received her bachelors
and masters degrees
03:11:23.400 --> 03:11:27.430
in mechanical engineering
from Stanford university.
03:11:27.430 --> 03:11:29.880
Joanna has a lifelong love of turtles,
03:11:29.880 --> 03:11:32.300
and she will hasten
to add, of tortoise's too,
03:11:32.300 --> 03:11:34.340
so they don't feel left out.
03:11:34.340 --> 03:11:39.010
And in her free time, she
enjoys yoga, urbanism advocacy,
03:11:39.010 --> 03:11:41.150
and spending time outdoors.
03:11:41.150 --> 03:11:43.800
We are very happy to have Joanna back
03:11:43.800 --> 03:11:46.188
at the Commission with us.
03:11:46.188 --> 03:11:49.210
Next, John Larsen, who has served
03:11:49.210 --> 03:11:51.590
as an Administrative
Law Judge and mediator
03:11:51.590 --> 03:11:55.800
for the California Department
of Insurance since 2011,
03:11:55.800 --> 03:11:58.090
prior to coming to the Commission.
03:11:58.090 --> 03:11:59.720
At the department of insurance,
03:11:59.720 --> 03:12:02.957
his jurisdiction included a
variety of complex matters
03:12:02.957 --> 03:12:07.540
throughout the state,
including large rate proceedings.
03:12:07.540 --> 03:12:10.160
Prior to serving at the
Department of Insurance,
03:12:10.160 --> 03:12:12.610
he adjudicated felony, misdemeanor,
03:12:12.610 --> 03:12:14.930
and parole suitability hearings
03:12:14.930 --> 03:12:18.140
for the California Board
of Parole hearings.
03:12:18.140 --> 03:12:19.950
He has a bachelor of science degree
03:12:19.950 --> 03:12:22.713
in mechanical engineering
from UC-Berkeley,
03:12:22.713 --> 03:12:27.320
a JD degree from Santa
Clara University School of Law,
03:12:27.320 --> 03:12:29.500
and a masters in judicial studies
03:12:29.500 --> 03:12:31.650
from the judicial studies program
03:12:31.650 --> 03:12:35.040
at the University of
Nevada-Reno, in collaboration
03:12:35.040 --> 03:12:37.233
with the National Judicial Council.
03:12:38.450 --> 03:12:42.070
When he was an engineer, he
managed construction projects
03:12:42.070 --> 03:12:44.290
for the Corps of Engineers,
and helped oversee
03:12:44.290 --> 03:12:46.090
environmental remediation projects
03:12:46.090 --> 03:12:48.570
in the U.S. Department of Energy,
03:12:48.570 --> 03:12:50.163
prior to going to law school.
03:12:51.000 --> 03:12:53.590
He was born in Oakland
and has lived in the East Bay
03:12:53.590 --> 03:12:57.449
most of his life, where
he lives with his wife
03:12:57.449 --> 03:12:59.270
and three children.
03:12:59.270 --> 03:13:04.203
He enjoys hiking and biking
when the weather allows.
03:13:06.210 --> 03:13:11.210
Our next new Administrative
Law Judge is Daphne Lee.
03:13:12.660 --> 03:13:16.800
She was born in Hong Kong
and grew up in Sacramento.
03:13:16.800 --> 03:13:19.050
She earned a bachelors
degree in architecture
03:13:19.050 --> 03:13:21.460
from the University
of California-Berkeley,
03:13:21.460 --> 03:13:25.165
before attending law school
at Southern Illinois University
03:13:25.165 --> 03:13:28.040
in Carbondale, Illinois.
03:13:28.040 --> 03:13:32.630
She was admitted to the
California state bar in 1998.
03:13:32.630 --> 03:13:34.640
Prior to joining the CPUC,
03:13:34.640 --> 03:13:36.730
Daphne was an Administrative Law Judge
03:13:36.730 --> 03:13:40.500
with the California Unemployment
Insurance Appeals Board,
03:13:40.500 --> 03:13:44.000
reviewing unemployment
compensation, disability insurance,
03:13:44.000 --> 03:13:45.890
and tax appeals.
03:13:45.890 --> 03:13:47.680
Prior to her service
03:13:47.680 --> 03:13:51.090
at the Unemployment
Insurance Appeals Board,
03:13:51.090 --> 03:13:54.140
she represented the California
Department of Social Services
03:13:54.140 --> 03:13:55.540
enforcement unit,
03:13:55.540 --> 03:13:58.040
and the Department of Health Services
03:13:58.040 --> 03:14:01.210
in administrative litigation
involving licensing,
03:14:01.210 --> 03:14:03.263
employment, and regulatory issues.
03:14:04.170 --> 03:14:07.820
When she's not working,
Daphne enjoys spending time
03:14:07.820 --> 03:14:11.223
with her husband, her boys,
and her spoiled Labradoodle.
03:14:13.413 --> 03:14:18.400
Susan Lee, our next new judge
03:14:18.400 --> 03:14:21.240
was most recently also an
Administrative Law Judge
03:14:21.240 --> 03:14:24.530
with California Unemployment
Insurance Appeals Board.
03:14:24.530 --> 03:14:27.790
During her more than
17 years with that board,
03:14:27.790 --> 03:14:31.350
she served as an ALJ I, an ALJ II,
03:14:31.350 --> 03:14:35.300
an acting presiding Administrative
Law Judge in Oakland,
03:14:35.300 --> 03:14:36.493
the city of her birth.
03:14:37.480 --> 03:14:40.410
Last year, she was elected
president of the voluntary
03:14:40.410 --> 03:14:43.940
Association of the
Administrative Law Judges
03:14:43.940 --> 03:14:47.313
at the Unemployment
Compensation Appeals Board.
03:14:48.170 --> 03:14:50.150
Prior to her judicial roles,
03:14:50.150 --> 03:14:52.040
Susan was a supervising attorney
03:14:52.040 --> 03:14:54.900
with the East Bay Community Law Center,
03:14:54.900 --> 03:14:56.393
working on tenants' rights.
03:14:57.240 --> 03:15:00.170
Her state service career began in 1996
03:15:00.170 --> 03:15:04.070
as a field representative in
the California State Assembly.
03:15:04.070 --> 03:15:06.120
She also served as committee analyst
03:15:06.120 --> 03:15:09.210
for the California Integrated
Waste Management Board,
03:15:09.210 --> 03:15:12.610
and is a research attorney
for the State Bar of California.
03:15:12.610 --> 03:15:15.810
She's proud of her ability
to speak Cantonese.
03:15:15.810 --> 03:15:18.560
She and her husband have two children
03:15:18.560 --> 03:15:21.450
characterized as
beautiful, a characterization
03:15:21.450 --> 03:15:23.453
I'm sure you will all agree with.
03:15:25.800 --> 03:15:28.360
Next I'd like to introduce
Suman Mathews,
03:15:28.360 --> 03:15:31.240
who is coming back to the Commission
03:15:31.240 --> 03:15:34.210
after having served as a
deputy attorney general
03:15:35.060 --> 03:15:36.630
in the civil division
03:15:36.630 --> 03:15:39.760
of the California
Attorney General's Office.
03:15:39.760 --> 03:15:42.940
There, she represented
the Franchise Tax Board,
03:15:42.940 --> 03:15:46.440
the California Department of
Tax and Fee Administration,
03:15:46.440 --> 03:15:49.770
the Department of Real Estate,
the Department of Insurance,
03:15:49.770 --> 03:15:51.330
the State Controller's Office,
03:15:51.330 --> 03:15:53.736
and the Employment
Development Department
03:15:53.736 --> 03:15:57.000
in state and federal courts.
03:15:57.000 --> 03:16:00.120
Prior to being at the
Attorney General's Office,
03:16:00.120 --> 03:16:01.990
Suman worked at the Commission
03:16:01.990 --> 03:16:05.880
as a senior regulatory
analyst and rotational attorney.
03:16:05.880 --> 03:16:06.910
She has also worked
03:16:06.910 --> 03:16:09.300
at the State Office
of Administrative Law
03:16:09.300 --> 03:16:11.003
and in private legal practice.
03:16:11.980 --> 03:16:16.120
In her spare time, Suman
enjoys spending lots of time
03:16:16.120 --> 03:16:20.780
outdoors and in nature, and
something she will hopefully
03:16:20.780 --> 03:16:22.230
be able to do soon again,
03:16:22.230 --> 03:16:26.430
exploring new local and distant places.
03:16:26.430 --> 03:16:30.080
She also enjoys finding
new recipes to try out
03:16:30.080 --> 03:16:31.823
on family and friends.
03:16:34.350 --> 03:16:38.740
Carrie Sisto most recently
served as the senior analyst
03:16:38.740 --> 03:16:41.150
in the Commission's energy division,
03:16:41.150 --> 03:16:44.020
transportation electrification team,
03:16:44.020 --> 03:16:47.830
and Commissioner Rechtschaffen
mentioned her earlier today.
03:16:47.830 --> 03:16:50.740
With nearly four years of
experience helping focus
03:16:50.740 --> 03:16:53.365
IOU infrastructure investment programs
03:16:53.365 --> 03:16:57.100
on specific market segments,
and developing rate designs
03:16:57.100 --> 03:16:59.392
that encourage
third-party electric vehicle
03:16:59.392 --> 03:17:01.373
infrastructure development.
03:17:02.340 --> 03:17:04.910
Prior to coming to the CPUC,
03:17:04.910 --> 03:17:07.530
Carrie helped launch a new
environmental commodities
03:17:07.530 --> 03:17:10.930
trading desk for a
Michigan-based utility,
03:17:10.930 --> 03:17:12.900
and spent eight years learning about,
03:17:12.900 --> 03:17:15.650
and educating compliance entities about,
03:17:15.650 --> 03:17:18.060
the nuances and lowest cost strategies
03:17:18.060 --> 03:17:19.820
for meeting emissions reductions
03:17:19.820 --> 03:17:21.943
and renewable energy obligations.
03:17:22.940 --> 03:17:25.540
She has bachelor of science
degree in natural resources
03:17:25.540 --> 03:17:28.950
management and a masters
degree in international finance,
03:17:28.950 --> 03:17:30.800
both from the University of Kentucky.
03:17:31.744 --> 03:17:34.270
She currently lives in San Francisco
03:17:34.270 --> 03:17:36.680
and takes every possible opportunity
03:17:36.680 --> 03:17:39.290
to take a hike or go camping.
03:17:39.290 --> 03:17:43.390
Again, activities that
we also will be able to do
03:17:43.390 --> 03:17:48.390
successfully in the future,
as well as the present.
03:17:49.150 --> 03:17:52.830
Finally, I'm very happy
to say that Garrett Toy
03:17:52.830 --> 03:17:56.650
is rejoining the Administrative
Law Judge division
03:17:56.650 --> 03:17:59.630
from his time in legal division,
03:17:59.630 --> 03:18:01.852
where he has spent the last three years
03:18:01.852 --> 03:18:04.450
working on public records act requests,
03:18:04.450 --> 03:18:08.100
confidentiality matters,
rehearing decisions,
03:18:08.100 --> 03:18:10.473
and representing the
public advocate's office.
03:18:11.490 --> 03:18:13.390
Prior to getting swiped by legal,
03:18:13.390 --> 03:18:15.910
he interned in the ALJ division
03:18:15.910 --> 03:18:18.483
and worked on the
intervener compensation team.
03:18:19.690 --> 03:18:22.800
He also has experience
working at Cal EPA
03:18:22.800 --> 03:18:25.150
on environmental justice issues.
03:18:25.150 --> 03:18:27.930
Garrett majored in
biochemistry and political science
03:18:27.930 --> 03:18:32.490
at UC-Davis and attended
law school at UCLA.
03:18:32.490 --> 03:18:35.610
A native San Franciscan,
on most days you can find him
03:18:35.610 --> 03:18:38.840
running in Golden Gate
Park with a Giant's hat.
03:18:38.840 --> 03:18:41.760
I don't know how tall the Giant's hat is
03:18:41.760 --> 03:18:43.410
to keep up with him,
03:18:43.410 --> 03:18:48.410
but his other hobbies
include traveling, milk tea,
03:18:48.990 --> 03:18:53.190
and internally debating the
merits of his online purchases,
03:18:53.190 --> 03:18:56.730
a mode of purchasing that we are all now
03:18:56.730 --> 03:18:58.293
all too familiar with.
03:18:59.360 --> 03:19:02.870
And with that, I thank
you for your attention
03:19:02.870 --> 03:19:06.680
and complete my introduction
of a wonderful class
03:19:06.680 --> 03:19:09.033
of summer 2020 ALJs.
03:19:09.920 --> 03:19:10.753
Thank you.
03:19:12.900 --> 03:19:13.960
Thank you, Anne.
03:19:13.960 --> 03:19:17.190
And, that concludes the
management report for today,
03:19:17.190 --> 03:19:18.623
President Batjer.
03:19:18.623 --> 03:19:21.130
We're all shaking
our hands and waving.
03:19:21.130 --> 03:19:24.253
Congratulations, what
a great class, Anne.
03:19:25.730 --> 03:19:29.360
Outstanding credentials.
03:19:29.360 --> 03:19:33.690
And welcome back to those
who are returners. Great to hear.
03:19:33.690 --> 03:19:35.710
Thank you very much for the presentation
03:19:35.710 --> 03:19:39.073
and thanks to each of
them for their public service.
03:19:40.245 --> 03:19:42.433
Okay, Rachel, thank you.
03:19:43.380 --> 03:19:46.160
That concludes our
management reports for today.
03:19:46.160 --> 03:19:48.850
So we will move on to
Commissioner reports.
03:19:48.850 --> 03:19:49.973
Who'd like to begin?
03:19:52.180 --> 03:19:54.740
Trying to see hands.
Are there any hands up?
03:19:54.740 --> 03:19:57.387
Yes, Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:19:58.610 --> 03:19:59.950
Oh, thank you,
President Batjer.
03:19:59.950 --> 03:20:02.470
I just wanted to give a couple updates.
03:20:02.470 --> 03:20:04.730
I'll start with the fun one,
03:20:04.730 --> 03:20:08.670
which is to remind
everyone of our upcoming
03:20:08.670 --> 03:20:10.810
Hispanic heritage events.
03:20:10.810 --> 03:20:12.540
And I wanna thank Commissioner Shiroma
03:20:12.540 --> 03:20:16.430
for kicking it off this week
with Professor Mendez,
03:20:16.430 --> 03:20:18.310
that talked about some of the climate
03:20:19.200 --> 03:20:23.603
and emergency response issues
and vulnerable communities.
03:20:24.780 --> 03:20:29.780
Next week we have on
Friday, October 2nd, at noon,
03:20:31.974 --> 03:20:35.010
I will have the privilege
of moderating a discussion
03:20:35.010 --> 03:20:37.310
with Dolores Huerta,
03:20:37.310 --> 03:20:42.310
and the following week
on October 5th at 1:00 p.m.,
03:20:42.550 --> 03:20:46.260
President Batjer will
be having a coffee chat
03:20:46.260 --> 03:20:49.550
with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales.
03:20:49.550 --> 03:20:54.550
And then our final speaker
will be on October 9th,
03:20:55.300 --> 03:20:58.150
where Commissioner Randolph
will be moderating a discussion
03:20:58.150 --> 03:21:03.150
with David Hayes-Bautista,
that is a excellent historian
03:21:04.900 --> 03:21:09.200
slash social demographer out of UCLA.
03:21:09.200 --> 03:21:12.460
And then, last but not least,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
03:21:12.460 --> 03:21:15.650
on October 15th at 3:00 p.m.,
03:21:15.650 --> 03:21:20.650
will be hosting the celebration
of art, culture, and food
03:21:21.590 --> 03:21:23.270
for Hispanic Heritage Month.
03:21:23.270 --> 03:21:26.670
So hopefully, staff is able to join.
03:21:26.670 --> 03:21:30.650
I know we had a great
over, I think, 220 participants
03:21:30.650 --> 03:21:33.160
on the first discussion.
03:21:33.160 --> 03:21:35.580
So I really look forward to continuing
03:21:35.580 --> 03:21:38.023
to have these dialogues with our staff.
03:21:38.023 --> 03:21:41.263
It's very, hopefully, and also not the,
03:21:42.190 --> 03:21:44.950
hopefully the kickoff of
more months of celebration
03:21:44.950 --> 03:21:47.883
of our diversity here at the
Commission and the state.
03:21:50.000 --> 03:21:52.360
In addition to that, I
did want to thank you,
03:21:52.360 --> 03:21:55.840
President Batjer for your
followup letter to AT&T
03:21:55.840 --> 03:22:00.840
in regards to their efforts
with their current customers
03:22:02.510 --> 03:22:05.670
VoIP service, and
their efforts on fiber.
03:22:05.670 --> 03:22:07.800
I just wanted to share
this because it came
03:22:07.800 --> 03:22:11.220
at such a timely moment,
where I've been in discussions
03:22:11.220 --> 03:22:13.640
just this past week with
two separate communities
03:22:13.640 --> 03:22:18.610
in our state that are
dependent on AT&T DSL.
03:22:18.610 --> 03:22:22.040
And, in one case, in both cases,
03:22:22.040 --> 03:22:25.270
one case down in Monterey
County in San Hildago,
03:22:25.270 --> 03:22:27.090
we first became aware of this community
03:22:27.090 --> 03:22:30.980
because the children
in that school district,
03:22:30.980 --> 03:22:34.930
just outside of Salinas,
were given hotspots
03:22:34.930 --> 03:22:36.830
that didn't work in their communities.
03:22:36.830 --> 03:22:40.463
This is a small farm worker co-op,
03:22:41.328 --> 03:22:42.610
it's a farm worker camp,
03:22:42.610 --> 03:22:45.163
essentially right outside of Salinas.
03:22:47.103 --> 03:22:52.103
And, so they have this old
landline going in from AT&T,
03:22:52.980 --> 03:22:54.950
and they have satellite.
03:22:54.950 --> 03:22:58.120
And it was interesting to
me in the letter that AT&T
03:22:58.120 --> 03:23:00.410
responded to you that, you know,
03:23:00.410 --> 03:23:03.050
they're helping folks transition.
03:23:03.050 --> 03:23:04.240
We don't see that.
03:23:04.240 --> 03:23:06.910
And that if they don't
help them, essentially,
03:23:06.910 --> 03:23:08.430
I'm oversimplifying here,
03:23:08.430 --> 03:23:10.270
essentially they have other options
03:23:10.270 --> 03:23:12.040
because there's competition.
03:23:12.040 --> 03:23:13.500
And it's just not a fact.
03:23:13.500 --> 03:23:14.830
That's not a fact in San Hildago,
03:23:14.830 --> 03:23:18.540
and it's also not a fact
in the other community
03:23:18.540 --> 03:23:20.660
that we recently talked to,
03:23:20.660 --> 03:23:25.010
which was brought to our
attention by a former Commissioner
03:23:25.010 --> 03:23:25.970
as well.
03:23:25.970 --> 03:23:28.310
And that's up in Mendocino County,
03:23:28.310 --> 03:23:32.293
the community of Kanchi,
that also has AT&T DSL,
03:23:35.180 --> 03:23:38.900
voice, and broadband through
that DSL, very low speeds,
03:23:38.900 --> 03:23:40.570
about three down one up.
03:23:40.570 --> 03:23:44.240
And they wanted to, you know,
03:23:44.240 --> 03:23:47.130
there's actually an AT&T
fiber line going through
03:23:47.130 --> 03:23:48.540
the community there.
03:23:48.540 --> 03:23:51.260
And so it's a perhaps
more egregious case there
03:23:51.260 --> 03:23:54.883
where there's the ability to serve,
03:23:55.930 --> 03:23:58.423
and these communities are really just,
03:23:59.480 --> 03:24:02.840
they're alarming of what we
should be concerned about
03:24:02.840 --> 03:24:05.680
for the future here, that
we don't have a provider
03:24:05.680 --> 03:24:08.230
of last resort there,
there's no competition.
03:24:08.230 --> 03:24:12.180
And, particularly where
there's children today that have,
03:24:12.180 --> 03:24:16.550
continue to lack access
for their own education.
03:24:16.550 --> 03:24:18.350
Anyhow, I just wanted to share those
03:24:18.350 --> 03:24:22.140
'cause it's really weighing
on me in that we don't have
03:24:22.140 --> 03:24:24.670
an immediate solution for these
03:24:24.670 --> 03:24:27.270
other than if AT&T were to step up.
03:24:27.270 --> 03:24:29.370
So I look forward to
their further response
03:24:29.370 --> 03:24:32.940
to your questions, President
Batjer, on your letter.
03:24:32.940 --> 03:24:37.370
And I hope that we don't
lose sight of these communities
03:24:37.370 --> 03:24:41.530
and that, hopefully, we
can develop some solutions.
03:24:41.530 --> 03:24:45.460
But ultimately I fear
that we need a different
03:24:45.460 --> 03:24:48.300
social construct and
regulatory construct
03:24:48.300 --> 03:24:50.650
that really depends on
some federal leadership.
03:24:51.710 --> 03:24:56.100
So I'll stop there, but I just
wanted to share my concern,
03:24:56.100 --> 03:24:58.450
and certainly my
commitment to do what we can
03:24:58.450 --> 03:25:03.170
with our current structures
and incentive programs
03:25:03.170 --> 03:25:04.320
with these communities.
03:25:05.940 --> 03:25:07.850
Thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:25:07.850 --> 03:25:12.080
and thank you for underscoring
by important example,
03:25:12.080 --> 03:25:16.760
some of the things that
were illustrated or questioned
03:25:16.760 --> 03:25:19.110
in the letter that I sent
to AT&T yesterday,
03:25:19.110 --> 03:25:21.810
which I do believe can
be found on our website,
03:25:21.810 --> 03:25:23.160
but I'll double check that.
03:25:25.040 --> 03:25:27.360
Are there any other
Commissioner reports today?
03:25:27.360 --> 03:25:30.350
Yes, Commissioner Shiroma.
03:25:30.350 --> 03:25:31.940
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:25:31.940 --> 03:25:33.800
Yes, last week I attended
03:25:33.800 --> 03:25:36.520
the Low Income Oversight Board Meeting,
03:25:36.520 --> 03:25:38.565
the third meeting of the year.
03:25:38.565 --> 03:25:42.310
The last meeting of the
year will be in December.
03:25:42.310 --> 03:25:46.280
We heard an update from
the utilities on many things,
03:25:46.280 --> 03:25:49.100
but I wanted to point
out that we heard about
03:25:49.100 --> 03:25:50.160
the impact of COVID
03:25:50.160 --> 03:25:53.300
on the Energy Savings
Assistance Program,
03:25:53.300 --> 03:25:55.070
it's known as ESAP.
03:25:55.070 --> 03:25:58.360
ESAP contractors are back at work,
03:25:58.360 --> 03:26:02.123
installing weatherization
measures in customers' homes,
03:26:03.010 --> 03:26:07.130
now that the COVID
stop-work order has been lifted.
03:26:07.130 --> 03:26:11.763
But, this is happening in
fewer numbers than before,
03:26:12.730 --> 03:26:16.920
because many customers
are, you know, understandably,
03:26:16.920 --> 03:26:21.190
very nervous still about having
contractors in their homes.
03:26:21.190 --> 03:26:24.345
The contractors are
following all of the criteria,
03:26:24.345 --> 03:26:28.220
all of the safety criteria
that they're supposed to,
03:26:28.220 --> 03:26:31.390
but it will likely be some
time before the ESAP
03:26:31.390 --> 03:26:35.910
treatment figures return
back to the pre-COVID levels.
03:26:35.910 --> 03:26:38.440
But there are folks back at work.
03:26:38.440 --> 03:26:41.090
And we also received
excellent presentations
03:26:41.090 --> 03:26:45.150
from the energy division
staff on the many recent
03:26:45.150 --> 03:26:47.860
CPUC decisions and initiatives
03:26:47.860 --> 03:26:50.070
to assist low-income customers,
03:26:50.070 --> 03:26:55.070
including the SGIP equity
and equity resiliency budgets.
03:26:55.170 --> 03:26:57.811
By the way, the SGIP equity,
03:26:57.811 --> 03:27:02.030
the program for the
low-income communities,
03:27:02.030 --> 03:27:04.603
the folks who've experienced PSPS,
03:27:05.670 --> 03:27:08.540
there is a great
hunger for that program,
03:27:08.540 --> 03:27:11.820
Commissioner
Rechtschaffen, and the monies
03:27:11.820 --> 03:27:16.820
are being earmarked for
quite a few different projects.
03:27:18.140 --> 03:27:21.940
We also heard about the
recent disconnection proceeding
03:27:23.520 --> 03:27:27.623
spearheaded by
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:27:28.670 --> 03:27:30.340
the affordability proceedings
03:27:30.340 --> 03:27:32.990
and climate adaption decisions.
03:27:32.990 --> 03:27:35.170
And then there'll be
some upcoming workshops
03:27:35.170 --> 03:27:37.920
on the California climate credit.
03:27:37.920 --> 03:27:42.270
And I wanna thank
our staff, Kapil Kulkarni,
03:27:42.270 --> 03:27:45.920
Adam Banasiak, Nora
Hawkins, David Matusiak,
03:27:45.920 --> 03:27:50.510
and Ankit Jain for their
very important presentations
03:27:50.510 --> 03:27:55.400
that really highlight
the great expertise
03:27:55.400 --> 03:27:57.290
that rests with our staff.
03:27:57.290 --> 03:27:58.950
And then the only other
thing is that there was
03:27:58.950 --> 03:28:01.830
a lifeline advisory committee meeting,
03:28:01.830 --> 03:28:04.440
it's called the universal
lifeline telephone service
03:28:04.440 --> 03:28:07.440
administrative committee,
that was held earlier this week.
03:28:07.440 --> 03:28:10.917
I was not able to attend
personally, but my chief of staff,
03:28:10.917 --> 03:28:13.950
Leuwam Tesfai, my advisor, Terence Shia,
03:28:13.950 --> 03:28:15.400
were able to attend.
03:28:15.400 --> 03:28:18.750
And one of the key things
that this advisory committee
03:28:18.750 --> 03:28:21.517
needs to do is to do an annual report
03:28:21.517 --> 03:28:22.880
for the Commission each year.
03:28:22.880 --> 03:28:27.358
It's due this fall towards
the end of the year.
03:28:27.358 --> 03:28:30.584
And I'm happy to report
that the advisory committee
03:28:30.584 --> 03:28:34.717
is hard at work on that report for us.
03:28:34.717 --> 03:28:38.590
And I'm hoping that we
will be able to see that report
03:28:38.590 --> 03:28:41.760
and have it shared with the
Commission later on this year.
03:28:41.760 --> 03:28:45.640
And it was really a privilege
to participate in the kickoff
03:28:45.640 --> 03:28:47.940
of the Hispanic Heritage Month.
03:28:47.940 --> 03:28:51.160
The conversation with
Dr. Michael Mendez,
03:28:51.160 --> 03:28:55.000
who I think I first met when
he was here in Sacramento
03:28:55.000 --> 03:29:00.000
and volunteering time on
the City Planning Commission,
03:29:00.550 --> 03:29:04.010
and talk about a tough gig. (laughs)
03:29:04.010 --> 03:29:05.300
You serve on the planning Commission,
03:29:05.300 --> 03:29:09.907
you're dealing with all sorts
of projects of various sizes
03:29:09.907 --> 03:29:12.850
and all over the geographical area.
03:29:12.850 --> 03:29:15.422
And he did, it was
amazing what he's doing
03:29:15.422 --> 03:29:17.450
at University of California-Irvine.
03:29:17.450 --> 03:29:19.590
And again, thank you for the privilege
03:29:19.590 --> 03:29:22.510
of facilitating that discussion.
03:29:22.510 --> 03:29:24.365
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:29:24.365 --> 03:29:25.198
Yes, certainly.
03:29:25.198 --> 03:29:26.775
Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma.
03:29:26.775 --> 03:29:30.192
Are there any other
reports at this time?
03:29:31.636 --> 03:29:36.636
Okay, seeing none, the public
meeting is now adjourned.
03:29:38.220 --> 03:29:41.963
Please log off and dial
into the WebEx invitation
03:29:41.963 --> 03:29:44.320
that has been sent out by staff.
03:29:44.320 --> 03:29:45.153
Thank you.