WEBVTT
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Welcome
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to the California Public
Utilities Commission.
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This is public participation hearing
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on Southern California Edison,
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Southern California Edison company
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for Authority to increase rates
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for its Class C, Catalina Water Utility
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and recover costs from
water and electric customers.
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On this day, Tuesday, March 30th, 2021.
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Your honor, you may begin.
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Thank you operator.
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We will now be on the record.
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The Commission will come to order.
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It is Tuesday, March 30th, 2021.
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And this is the remote
public participation hearing
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for Southern California Edison
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Santa Catalina Water Utility
General Rate Case Application.
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The application number is 20-10-018.
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Before we begin, I'd like to inform everyone
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that this meeting is
being transcribed as well,
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electronically recorded.
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If you do not wish to be
recorded, please remove yourself
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from the speaker tool.
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My name is Garrett Toy
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and I'm the assigned Administrative Law Judge
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on this proceeding.
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Martha Guzman Aceves is
the assigned Commissioner.
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Advisor Justin Fong is here on her behalf.
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Mr. Fong, would you like to
make any opening remarks?
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Yes, I would.
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Thank you, Tudge Toy.
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I just want to echo from
our previous meeting today
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that the Commissioner's
office is very excited
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to listen to the comments
and possible solutions
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during this PPH
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as well as listening to
what parties have to say
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regarding possible
increases with this proceeding.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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The purpose of today's hearing
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is for the Commission to hear
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from Santa Catalina Water Utility customers
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and members of the public
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about Southern California Edison
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application to increase rates
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related to the Santa Catalina Water Utility.
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If you have a customer specific question,
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such as a question
about your bills or service
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we encourage you to please contact SCE
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at the following phone number for help.
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909-824-4547.
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I'll begin by providing some background
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on the California Public Utilities Commission
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and the General Rate Case Application
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and then turn it over to Ms. Juanita Hill
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from the Commission's
public advisor's office.
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We'll then hear brief statements
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from Southern California Edison,
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the Public Advocate's
Office, Utility Reform Network
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and the joint Catalina parties
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before we begin the public comments.
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You're participating today,
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and would like to provide public comments.
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You may do so by calling 800-857-1917
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entering passcode 518-0519
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and pressing star one on your phone.
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This will let the operator
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will begin to queue to public speaker.
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Please provide your name and location.
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If you are a public official,
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please notify the operator
of your title and position,
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in addition to your name.
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Please refer to the slide on the screen.
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You will not be answering questions
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about the application at today's hearing.
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Now, some background
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on the California Public
Utilities Commission.
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The Public Utilities
Commission is a state agency
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that decides how much money
the Santa Catalina Water Utility
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may earn and the rates that will be included
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on your bills for water service.
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The Commission is comprised
of five Commissioners
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who are appointed by the Governor
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and confirmed by the California State Senate.
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As the judge in this proceeding,
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I manage the day-to-day
activities of the case.
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The five Commissioners
are the ones who will decide
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with a vote on whether to approve
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Southern California Edison's request.
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My role as the judge is
to evaluate the evidence
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in the proceeding
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and to write a proposed
decision based on that evidence.
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This proposed decision
will then be considered
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by the five Commissioners
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who will decide whether to
adopt the proposed decision
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from the judge or to adopt
their own alternate decision
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based on the evidence in the proceeding.
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The current schedule for this proceeding
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indicates that the Commissioners will vote
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on the decision in the first quarter of 2022.
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Now I will provide a summary
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of Southern California Edison's application.
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This past October, Southern California Edison
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submitted its General Rate Case Application
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for the Santa Catalina Water Utility
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seeking Commission
approval of their expected costs
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for owning and operating the company
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for the years 2022 through 2026.
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The expenses included in
Edison's Rate Case Application
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cover increased costs,
its capital expenditures,
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as well as drought related expenses.
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(indistinct) for the public to restraint
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and ready possibly (indistinct)
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Your honor, I apologize.
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This is...
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You're breaking up and I did not make out
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anything after the expenditure
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as well as drought related expenses.
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I apologize you broke up.
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(indistinct) starting the expenses then
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just to pick that up.
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Back on the record?
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The expenses included in
Edison's Rate Case Application
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cover increased costs of capital expenditures
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and drought related expenses.
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We are here today to receive comments
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from the public on SCE's requests
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to increase rates and revenue
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for costs related to the
Santa Catalina Water Utility.
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SCE has currently proposed to increase rates
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for Santa Catalina Water Utility customers
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as well as electric utility customers.
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The proposal would increase rates
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precent at Santa Catalina
Water Utility customers
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a 1.04 million each year from 2022 to 2026.
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Amounting to increases of
25% above present revenues
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in 2022, 20% in 2023 over
proposed 2022 revenues.
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17% in 2024 over proposed 2023 revenues.
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14% in 2025 over proposed 2024 revenues
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and 13% in 2026 over 2025 revenues.
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The proposal also asked for approval
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to increase SCE's electrical
customers surcharge revenue
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by $5.8 million annually
for the years 2022 to 2026.
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This proposal would see average summer bills
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rise from $78.51 cents in 2019
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to $222.84 cents in 2027.
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SCE has also put forth a proposal
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in which the proposed revenue requirement
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is supplied completely by
Catalina Island Water customers
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resulting in a rise in revenue collections,
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at 39.7% each year in 2022 through 2026.
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That's a 50% drop in 2027.
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This proposal would see an
average summer bill increase
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from $78 and 51 cents in
2019 to $474 46 cents in 2026.
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Please see the water division fact sheet
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for additional information
about these proposals.
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Although we would typically
receive comments in person,
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current conditions have
precluded that option.
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Your participation today is
nonetheless greatly appreciated.
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Comments from the public
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help the public utilities Commission
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reach an informed decision.
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You may also leave written comments
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on the Commissions online docket card.
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The Commission is and
I will pay close attention
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to the opinions expressed
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during today's public hearing.
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A court reporter will be
transcribing everything
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that is said today.
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If you speak, I ask that
you speak slowly and clearly
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so the court reporter is
able to capture everything
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that is said.
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The written transcript of today's hearing
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will be posted publicly on the docket card
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for this proceeding
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and a recording of the audio and video
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will also be posted on
the Commission's website.
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Written comments maybe submitted
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at cpuc.ca.gov/A2010018comments.
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As of today, we have received
243 written public comments.
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I will now invite Ms. Juanita Hill
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of the Commission public advisor's office
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to provide guidance on participation
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in this proceeding.
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Ms. Hill, please proceed.
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Thank you, judge.
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Welcome everyone.
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My name is Juanita Hill
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and I am the supervisor in
the CPC public advisor's office.
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The public advisor's office
assist and advises the public
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with participation in Commission proceedings.
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First, I wanna thank all of you
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for participating today.
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As the judge and the
Commissioner's advisor stated
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public participation and input are essential
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to the Commission's decision making process.
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This is your opportunity to be heard,
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to share your thoughts on the application
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with the Administrative Law
Judge and the Commissioner.
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If you have specific questions
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about the application or your service,
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please reach out to the
public advisor's office
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at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
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or visit the CPC or the
utilities website for more.
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Second, if you or anyone you know,
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is not able to make a comment today
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there are several other
ways to become involved.
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If you wish to find more
information on becoming a party,
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subscribing to this proceeding
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or submitting comments
via email or the phone,
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please go to our website cpuc@ca.f...
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I'm sorry, cpuc.ca.gov
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or email the Public Advisor at
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
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All of this information is
also in the notice you received
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for this public participation hearing.
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So we look forward to your comments today.
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Thank you.
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Thank you, Ms. Hill.
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We will now hear from some
of the parties in this proceeding
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beginning with a representative
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from Southern California Edison,
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followed by the public advocate's office,
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TURN and the joint Catalina parties.
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Mr. Douglas Snow on behalf
of SCE, please proceed.
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Good evening.
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And thank you Judge Toy.
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And thank you everyone for taking time
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out of your busy schedule and participating
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in this very important
public participation hearing.
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My name is Doug Snow
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and I'm the director of the General Rate Case
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for Southern California
Edison's Catalina Water Utility.
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It's a privilege to be here
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to learn from you and to listen to your input
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and concerns you may have regarding
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the 2022 Catalina Water General Rate Case.
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Edison recognizes this proceeding
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is taking place during unprecedented time.
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We understand that our customers
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and the communities we serve
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including Catalina Island
are facing hardships
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during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic
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and they need help with their bill.
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SCE is sensitive to rate
increases during this time
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and we're working hard
to continue providing safe
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and reliable service
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while mitigating rate
increases as much as possible.
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SCE has also put into place
important customer protections
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to help customers with
difficulty paying their bills.
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If you need more information
on those customer protection
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please go to sce.com/billhelp
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or call 800-367-8851 for information
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on money saving programs and tools.
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Additionally, Mr. Jaime Catan
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from our customer service organization
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is in attendance today to provide a contact
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that helps resolve any customer issues
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or questions you may have.
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Now turning back to the General Rate Case.
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We are currently in the middle
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of what's called discovery period
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where parties to the proceeding
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are learning more about our application
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and cost recovery proposals.
00:14:58.810 --> 00:15:01.610
Next in the proceeding,
other interested parties
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including consumer advocates
will submit their testimonies
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to present their analysis of our application
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and recommend adjustments to our proposal.
00:15:11.130 --> 00:15:13.810
In September, there will
be an evidentiary hearing
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so that the Commission can continue to build
00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:18.710
the official record of our proposal.
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Now it's easy to get caught up in the process
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but at the end of the day,
the General Rate Case
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is about funding projects,
programs and people
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to provide you safe and reliable service
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and improve that service continuously.
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The focus of our requests
in this General Rate Case
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mostly include spending
to approve three things.
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Safety, reliability and drought resiliency.
00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:45.890
Our requests for funding
covers both historical
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and future costs for
the Catalina Water Utility
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including capital projects
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completed since our last General Rate Case,
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costs related to the recent historic drought,
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that impact of the Island
and operating expenses
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updating since our last
General Rate Case as well
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which we filed back in 2010.
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And finally forecasts capital improvements.
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We recognize that SCE has not
submitted a General Rate Case
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for the Catalina Water
Utility in several years
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and that we are requesting a
substantial increase in revenue
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but we believe our cost recovery proposal
00:16:21.760 --> 00:16:24.390
strike the reasonable
balance for recovering costs
00:16:24.390 --> 00:16:27.790
for routine system operations and management
00:16:27.790 --> 00:16:30.103
and unplanned costs
due to exceptional events.
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Our GOC seeks to provide adequate funding
00:16:34.090 --> 00:16:37.750
to continue providing the
approximately 4,000 residents
00:16:37.750 --> 00:16:40.750
and roughly 1 million
annual visitors to the Island
00:16:40.750 --> 00:16:43.003
with safe and reliable water service.
00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.980
Ultimately the CPC will decide
00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.540
the appropriate level of funding
00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:51.050
after a thorough and rigorous legal process
00:16:51.050 --> 00:16:54.310
that includes all stakeholders
with different viewpoints
00:16:54.310 --> 00:16:58.090
including consideration of
the comments you share today.
00:16:58.090 --> 00:17:01.730
So that brings us to
paying for the work, your bill.
00:17:01.730 --> 00:17:03.630
We are very mindful of the impact
00:17:03.630 --> 00:17:05.140
of these costs on your bill
00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.400
and have developed a cost recovery proposal
00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:09.530
that recognizes that.
00:17:09.530 --> 00:17:11.720
Our GRC proposals to recover revenues
00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.220
from Catalina Water customers
00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.320
to cover the normal operations,
00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:18.433
maintenance and capital
improvements made by the utility.
00:17:19.335 --> 00:17:21.810
SCE is also proposing
to phase in their revenue
00:17:21.810 --> 00:17:23.820
increase over a five-year period
00:17:23.820 --> 00:17:26.450
to spread out the increase
and reduce the rate impact
00:17:26.450 --> 00:17:27.443
in year one.
00:17:28.540 --> 00:17:32.050
We proposed to recover
the balance of the utility costs,
00:17:32.050 --> 00:17:33.810
including exceptional drought
00:17:33.810 --> 00:17:36.690
and environmental costs and deferred revenues
00:17:36.690 --> 00:17:40.560
resulting from the
five-year phase in proposal
00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:43.463
from SCE's system-wide electric customers.
00:17:44.430 --> 00:17:47.530
If SCE cost recover proposal is approved
00:17:47.530 --> 00:17:49.550
it will increase an average residential bill
00:17:49.550 --> 00:17:54.107
by about $32 for non-income
qualified customers,
00:17:54.107 --> 00:17:58.910
$19 for income qualified customers
00:17:58.910 --> 00:18:02.223
and $32 for commercial customers in 2022.
00:18:03.410 --> 00:18:05.440
The increase would be additional $23
00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.567
for non-income qualified
rates with customers,
00:18:08.567 --> 00:18:11.940
$24 for income qualified customers
00:18:13.090 --> 00:18:16.050
and $45 for commercial
customers for each year
00:18:16.050 --> 00:18:18.353
for the years 2023 through 2026.
00:18:20.520 --> 00:18:23.840
Alternatively, if all costs
were to be recovered
00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:26.230
just from Catalina Water customers,
00:18:26.230 --> 00:18:28.370
again, based it over the five years,
00:18:28.370 --> 00:18:30.110
it would increase an average monthly bill
00:18:30.110 --> 00:18:34.757
by about $41 for non-income
qualified residential customers,
00:18:34.757 --> 00:18:38.380
$40 for enrolled income qualified customers
00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:41.680
and $88 for commercial customers in 22
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:46.680
with additional increases
growing to $123, $108 and $239
00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:50.113
in 2026 respectively.
00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:54.310
I realized the GRC is
impactful for many of you
00:18:54.310 --> 00:18:56.420
and the timing is not ideal
00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:59.300
but the GRC is necessary
to recover aging costs
00:18:59.300 --> 00:19:01.670
of historical projects and events
00:19:01.670 --> 00:19:03.410
while generating the necessary revenues
00:19:03.410 --> 00:19:06.140
to continue providing safe
and reliable water service
00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.740
to the Island.
00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:10.080
We believe our proposals
strike the printed balance
00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:13.340
between the essential
services we provide to you
00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:15.933
and what it costs to provide those services.
00:19:16.810 --> 00:19:19.680
We realize any increase
in bills can be challenging
00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:21.970
and we have several programs, tips and tool
00:19:21.970 --> 00:19:24.780
to help reduce bill impacts
that may come in handy.
00:19:24.780 --> 00:19:26.050
So again, as I mentioned earlier
00:19:26.050 --> 00:19:30.350
please visit sce.com/billhelp
00:19:30.350 --> 00:19:35.350
or call 800-367-8851 for
information on these resources.
00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:40.900
Again, thank you for spending
some time this evening.
00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:44.603
I look forward to hearing your
comments and your feedback.
00:19:49.070 --> 00:19:50.170
Thank you, Mr. Snow.
00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:54.660
You will now hear from
the public advocates offices,
00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.553
Menboob Aslam.
00:19:57.070 --> 00:19:58.550
Going off the record for a second.
00:19:58.550 --> 00:20:01.413
Can we please get the presentation pulled up?
00:20:12.936 --> 00:20:14.310
Your honor, I think with Stanford
00:20:14.310 --> 00:20:16.113
we're getting the invitation put up.
00:20:17.270 --> 00:20:18.383
Great. Okay.
00:20:19.230 --> 00:20:20.430
Mr. Aslam are you ready?
00:20:22.990 --> 00:20:25.100
Just let me go back on the record.
00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:27.533
Okay. We'll back on the record.
00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:30.380
Now that the presentation is ready,
00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:33.093
we will hear from the
public advocates office.
00:20:36.390 --> 00:20:38.060
Good afternoon, everybody.
00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:41.200
My name is Mehboob
Aslam and I'm a (indistinct).
00:20:45.300 --> 00:20:47.684
Sorry, off the record for a second.
00:20:47.684 --> 00:20:51.063
Can we come in really choppy Mr. Aslam?
00:20:51.950 --> 00:20:52.783
There...
00:20:54.790 --> 00:20:57.363
Okay. Better now?
00:20:58.280 --> 00:20:59.700
That's a lot better.
00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.350
Still a little bit choppy though.
00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:08.295
I am talking into the phone directly now,
00:21:08.295 --> 00:21:11.010
I'm bringing the phone up to my mouth here.
00:21:11.010 --> 00:21:11.983
Is that Jason?
00:21:14.130 --> 00:21:19.130
Okay, back on the record,
please continue Mr. Aslam.
00:21:20.710 --> 00:21:23.320
Good afternoon folks, my
name is Mehboob Aslam,
00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:25.110
I'm a project lead
00:21:25.110 --> 00:21:27.850
for California Public Utilities Commission.
00:21:27.850 --> 00:21:28.910
We have an independent office
00:21:28.910 --> 00:21:31.897
called Public Advocates Office
00:21:33.130 --> 00:21:37.300
Today I would like to introduce PPI,
00:21:37.300 --> 00:21:40.565
our Public Advocates Office (indistinct)
00:21:40.565 --> 00:21:42.870
and just generate application.
00:21:42.870 --> 00:21:44.307
Next slide please.
00:21:46.374 --> 00:21:48.906
We're also known as Cal Advocates.
00:21:48.906 --> 00:21:51.440
So we're an independent
offfice within the CPUC
00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:54.543
that represents the interest of ratepayers.
00:21:55.390 --> 00:21:58.597
We are multidisciplinary staff
00:21:58.597 --> 00:22:01.590
and with expertise engineering, economic,
00:22:01.590 --> 00:22:04.086
accounting and finance.
00:22:04.086 --> 00:22:07.780
Cal Advocates office view do not necessarily
00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:10.860
reflect the Commission's view.
00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:13.370
This is because we have
an independent function
00:22:13.370 --> 00:22:17.120
to perform in California
Public Utilities Commission
00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:20.003
and we are one of it's advocates.
00:22:21.050 --> 00:22:22.580
Next slide, please.
00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:27.980
Our mission is to obtain
the lowest possible rate
00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:32.750
for service consistent with
reliable and safe service level.
00:22:32.750 --> 00:22:37.210
As you can imagine, it's
pretty tightrope to walk,
00:22:37.210 --> 00:22:42.030
we have to make sure
that the utilities are reliable
00:22:42.030 --> 00:22:45.290
and they deliver reliable and safe water.
00:22:45.290 --> 00:22:46.123
In the meantime,
00:22:46.123 --> 00:22:49.120
we have to keep the rates as low as possible.
00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:50.310
Next slide, please.
00:22:53.290 --> 00:22:57.590
In this particular GRC, Cal Advocates
00:22:57.590 --> 00:23:02.590
we'll be presenting our
analysis in a form of a report
00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.077
and the utility rate increase
00:23:04.077 --> 00:23:08.050
we will analyze the utility
rate increase request
00:23:08.050 --> 00:23:09.710
and make recommendation on issues
00:23:09.710 --> 00:23:13.040
considering in all general rate cases
00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:16.390
including issues such as capital investment,
00:23:16.390 --> 00:23:20.450
sales and great design,
conservation and operating expenses,
00:23:20.450 --> 00:23:24.306
low-income rate assistance,
and the tax expenses.
00:23:24.306 --> 00:23:25.256
Next slide, please.
00:23:27.910 --> 00:23:31.150
At the end of our analysis,
00:23:31.150 --> 00:23:35.029
we will be issuing a report
that would be available
00:23:35.029 --> 00:23:39.820
on our website after July 9th, 2021.
00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:43.210
And our address, online address
00:23:43.210 --> 00:23:45.227
is www.publicadvocates,
00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:50.077
that's one word, .cpuc.ca.gov.
00:23:51.280 --> 00:23:53.370
I'd like to repeat that address again.
00:23:53.370 --> 00:23:58.370
It's www.publicadvocates,
one word .cpuc.ca.gov.
00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:04.500
And I really like to take this opportunity
00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.080
that we're looking forward to hear
00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:11.150
from our ratepayers in
this particular proceeding.
00:24:11.150 --> 00:24:12.420
Appreciate the opportunity.
00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.253
Thank you.
00:24:14.850 --> 00:24:16.400
Thank you, Mr. Aslam.
00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:20.713
We will now hear from
Bob Finkelstein for TURN.
00:24:22.296 --> 00:24:23.846
Mr. Finkelstein, are you ready?
00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.970
I am your honor. Thank you.
00:24:26.970 --> 00:24:29.100
Right. Go ahead whenever.
00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:30.900
Great. Good evening.
00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:34.170
My name is Robert Finkelstein
and I'm one of the attorneys
00:24:34.170 --> 00:24:38.320
for The Utility Reform Network
00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:41.543
which goes by the acronym of TURN, T-U-R-N.
00:24:42.520 --> 00:24:46.410
TURN is a nonprofit consumer
advocacy organization
00:24:46.410 --> 00:24:48.970
that focuses on utility issues.
00:24:48.970 --> 00:24:51.320
We represent the interests of residential
00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:53.110
and small business customers
00:24:53.110 --> 00:24:56.030
of the state's major energy utilities.
00:24:56.030 --> 00:24:56.863
Hang on.
00:24:56.863 --> 00:24:58.213
Mr. Finkelstein sorry.
00:25:00.010 --> 00:25:01.610
Off the record for a second.
00:25:01.610 --> 00:25:03.370
Shannon, are you still there?
00:25:03.370 --> 00:25:04.203
You know what?
00:25:04.203 --> 00:25:06.593
My screen is frozen, but I am here writing.
00:25:08.050 --> 00:25:08.883
Okay.
00:25:08.883 --> 00:25:09.740
Can you hear me?
00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.573
Now you're...
00:25:10.573 --> 00:25:12.853
Yeah. So continue then.
Thank you, Judge.
00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:18.040
Okay. Sorry about that, Mr. Finkelstein.
00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:20.040
Go ahead. Back on the record.
00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:21.890
Go ahead again whenever you're ready.
00:25:23.450 --> 00:25:24.283
I'll continue.
00:25:24.283 --> 00:25:25.620
Thank you, your honor.
00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:28.620
In this proceeding, we
want to see the Commission
00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:31.450
adopt fair and reasonable rates
00:25:31.450 --> 00:25:34.460
for Edison's Catalina Water Service
00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:38.180
but without assigning
costs of water utility service
00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:40.763
to Edison's Electric Utility customers.
00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.990
We think this can be achieved
00:25:42.990 --> 00:25:47.110
through setting Edison's
authorized cost recovery,
00:25:47.110 --> 00:25:50.170
adjusting reasonable
levels for its water service
00:25:50.170 --> 00:25:51.170
and collecting amounts
00:25:51.170 --> 00:25:53.740
from Catalina Island Water customers,
00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:56.570
consistent with maintaining the affordability
00:25:56.570 --> 00:25:58.330
of water service.
00:25:58.330 --> 00:26:02.580
We also think that alternative
sources of cost recovery
00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:06.204
such as fees collected
from Catalina Island visitors
00:26:06.204 --> 00:26:08.160
would help offset the impact
00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:11.573
on Catalina Island's
residents and businesses.
00:26:12.710 --> 00:26:13.550
Thank you very much
00:26:13.550 --> 00:26:15.773
and we look forward to hearing your comments.
00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:21.030
Thank you, Mr. Finkelstein.
00:26:23.210 --> 00:26:26.480
We will now hear from
the joint Catalina parties.
00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.930
Going off the record for a second
00:26:28.930 --> 00:26:30.830
until we can pull up the presentation.
00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:35.120
Mr. Bishton, are you ready
to give your presentation?
00:26:35.120 --> 00:26:37.170
Yes, I am. (clears throat)
00:26:37.170 --> 00:26:40.903
Okay. Just before you
begin, I'd like to remind you.
00:26:40.903 --> 00:26:42.660
Just try to keep it a little bit shorter
00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.940
than the time.
00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.810
I will try. Good evening.
00:26:49.890 --> 00:26:51.133
Court reporter ready?
00:26:52.885 --> 00:26:54.825
Yes your honor.
00:26:54.825 --> 00:26:55.658
Good evening.
00:26:55.658 --> 00:26:58.157
My name is- Back
on the... Oh, sorry.
00:26:58.157 --> 00:26:59.170
Hold on, back on the record.
00:26:59.170 --> 00:27:00.657
Go ahead whenever you're ready Mr. Bishton
00:27:00.657 --> 00:27:04.173
and remember to give
instructions to change the slide.
00:27:05.090 --> 00:27:05.923
Good evening.
00:27:05.923 --> 00:27:07.470
My name is Norris Bishton,
00:27:07.470 --> 00:27:11.100
I represent the Catalina
parties whose names are there
00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.660
on the screen.
00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.570
City of Avalon
00:27:13.570 --> 00:27:17.740
where 95% of the water
ratepayers are located.
00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.610
The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce
00:27:19.610 --> 00:27:24.610
which represents almost all
of the 220 some businesses
00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:26.290
on Catalina Island.
00:27:26.290 --> 00:27:29.600
The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy,
00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:32.030
which owns 88% of the Island and is a source
00:27:32.030 --> 00:27:37.030
of all of the non DSL
water that is sold by Edison.
00:27:37.370 --> 00:27:40.460
Guided Discoveries which
run three of the eight camps
00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:42.563
and represents all of the campgrounds.
00:27:43.630 --> 00:27:46.670
I forgot they had one Santa
Catalina Island company
00:27:46.670 --> 00:27:49.517
which is... Owns the
other 11% of the Island.
00:27:49.517 --> 00:27:52.000
And it has many businesses on the Island.
00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:55.440
And lastly, the Hamilton
Cove Homeowners Association
00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:00.440
which has 13% of the
residential users on the Island
00:28:00.890 --> 00:28:04.430
and some 30 commercial accounts
00:28:04.430 --> 00:28:07.120
which is about 6% of the commercial.
00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:09.610
I am not new to Catalina Island.
00:28:09.610 --> 00:28:13.270
I've been... I've owned
condos there since 1988.
00:28:13.270 --> 00:28:16.240
I'm president of Hamilton
Cove Homeowners Association
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:18.240
since 1998.
00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:20.610
I represented various businesses
00:28:20.610 --> 00:28:22.930
as an attorney on the Island.
00:28:22.930 --> 00:28:24.180
And I was for 18 years
00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:27.350
on the Board of the Santa
Catalina Island Conservancy.
00:28:27.350 --> 00:28:28.613
Next slide, please.
00:28:32.330 --> 00:28:35.490
Catalina parties are not
representing the interests
00:28:35.490 --> 00:28:39.100
of any particular member of the group.
00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:44.070
We are not advocating
one group against another.
00:28:44.070 --> 00:28:46.030
We are solely representing the interests
00:28:46.030 --> 00:28:47.960
of all the water ratepayers.
00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:49.820
The Catalina parties participated
00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:53.373
in the last four-year long General Rate Case.
00:28:54.290 --> 00:28:56.480
And we meet on a regular basis
00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.790
to discuss and speak with one voice
00:28:58.790 --> 00:29:01.863
concerning the water issues on Catalina.
00:29:02.792 --> 00:29:05.902
Catalina parties are assisted by Brian Brady,
00:29:05.902 --> 00:29:10.140
a professional engineer who
was 35 years of engineering
00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:12.550
and management experience in both the public
00:29:12.550 --> 00:29:16.350
and private sectors of Western
Electric and Water Utilities.
00:29:16.350 --> 00:29:19.010
And early in his career was an employee
00:29:19.010 --> 00:29:23.883
of Southern Catalina...
Of the Edison.
00:29:25.010 --> 00:29:25.960
Next slide, please.
00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:31.990
Our goal is what is stated by all people
00:29:31.990 --> 00:29:35.780
whoever talk about what does the goal of rate
00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:39.110
and regulation adequate service
00:29:39.110 --> 00:29:41.870
at reasonable rates without discrimination.
00:29:41.870 --> 00:29:44.010
According to the California Supreme Court,
00:29:44.010 --> 00:29:47.340
clean, safe and reliable
water at reasonable rates
00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:50.853
is what the CUPC says it stand for.
00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:54.080
The key word there is reasonable.
00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:55.103
Next slide please.
00:29:59.310 --> 00:30:02.920
How does Southern Catalina
Island Water company
00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.090
compare to other water companies?
00:30:05.090 --> 00:30:06.670
There were over a hundred water companies
00:30:06.670 --> 00:30:09.010
regulated by the PUC.
00:30:09.010 --> 00:30:10.650
One way to compare water companies
00:30:10.650 --> 00:30:12.580
is to divide the revenue received
00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:14.410
by the number of customers.
00:30:14.410 --> 00:30:16.270
Water companies report this information
00:30:16.270 --> 00:30:19.213
to the PUC every year in an annual report.
00:30:20.260 --> 00:30:22.780
Edison is a Class C water company.
00:30:22.780 --> 00:30:27.610
The following chart compares
Edison's 2019 revenue
00:30:27.610 --> 00:30:31.440
per customer to other Class C water company.
00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.273
Next slide.
00:30:36.260 --> 00:30:40.940
These are the largest 10 of
the 19 Class C water companies.
00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:43.895
By far the largest was 3,670,000,
00:30:43.895 --> 00:30:48.895
top C 29 in revenue is Edison.
00:30:50.010 --> 00:30:54.763
Edison's per customer rate is 1,822.
00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:59.930
It is 184% higher
00:30:59.930 --> 00:31:03.233
than the average of the
other remaining Class C.
00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:08.120
It is by far at the Island.
00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:11.620
The Island ratepayers have
the highest rates in California
00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:13.750
including higher rates than all,
00:31:13.750 --> 00:31:17.660
any of the Class A or
Class B water utilities.
00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:20.340
We pay the highest possible rates
00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:23.330
that are assistance in California.
00:31:23.330 --> 00:31:24.163
Next slide.
00:31:26.390 --> 00:31:29.250
As the judge indicated,
there are two separate plans.
00:31:29.250 --> 00:31:34.250
The first plan is to pass
$30 million in pass electric,
00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.440
pass costs to the electric ratepayers.
00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:38.270
So are nothing for the future.
00:31:38.270 --> 00:31:39.910
This is for the past.
00:31:39.910 --> 00:31:43.820
It would result in the year
one revenue requirement
00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:46.400
of 5,314,000
00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:49.390
which would grow by year five to 10 million.
00:31:49.390 --> 00:31:51.533
That would be a year one.
00:31:51.533 --> 00:31:54.560
That would be 269% higher
00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:59.560
than the average Class C ratepayer pays now.
00:31:59.930 --> 00:32:02.970
Our customer, percentage of customer revenue
00:32:02.970 --> 00:32:03.803
in the pilot.
00:32:03.803 --> 00:32:08.500
By the time of year
five, it'll be 500% higher.
00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:12.350
Then what is the average
revenue per customer?
00:32:12.350 --> 00:32:16.430
Now that's a plan A we're gonna go ahead.
00:32:16.430 --> 00:32:19.787
Plan A is the passing of 30,000...
00:32:19.787 --> 00:32:24.090
$30 million of past costs
to electric ratepayers
00:32:24.090 --> 00:32:27.683
has been opposed by both
Cal Advocates and by TURN.
00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:30.963
Plan B... Next slide, please.
00:32:33.760 --> 00:32:34.653
Plan B,
00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:39.270
when the entire 30 million would be passed
00:32:39.270 --> 00:32:42.560
on to Catalina ratepayers.
00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:44.080
The revenue requirement would jump
00:32:44.080 --> 00:32:49.080
from 5,777,000 in year one
to $22 million in year five.
00:32:51.230 --> 00:32:52.720
It would resolve in...
00:32:54.490 --> 00:32:58.450
Compared to other water...
Class C water companies
00:32:58.450 --> 00:33:01.670
through almost a 300%
increase in the first year
00:33:01.670 --> 00:33:05.463
and 1117% increase in the second year.
00:33:06.780 --> 00:33:08.770
The fifth year, pardon me.
00:33:08.770 --> 00:33:10.910
Yeah, in terms of rates, we would...
00:33:10.910 --> 00:33:13.930
Currently, typical rate would be...
00:33:13.930 --> 00:33:17.600
Average rate would be about $75 and 84 cents.
00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:21.630
And someone who uses
this 2000 gallons a month
00:33:21.630 --> 00:33:23.360
which is not much.
00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:26.140
In year one, it would jump to $110.
00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:29.940
And by year five, the monthly bill
00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:33.280
for a resident using
just 2000 gallons of water
00:33:33.280 --> 00:33:35.680
would be $456.
00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:37.340
It's astronomical.
00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:41.930
In the words of TURN
eye-popping amount of revenue.
00:33:41.930 --> 00:33:44.350
You cannot... You
have to carefully study.
00:33:44.350 --> 00:33:46.530
The notice that was sent out by Edison
00:33:46.530 --> 00:33:50.200
does not reflect in any way the impact.
00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:53.320
Among other things they
use as an average usage
00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:58.320
1466 gallons per month,
that's 47 gallons a day.
00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:03.580
The capacity of a standard
bathtub is only 42 gallons.
00:34:03.580 --> 00:34:07.170
This means a four-person
household would use 12 gallons
00:34:07.170 --> 00:34:09.210
per person per day.
00:34:09.210 --> 00:34:12.090
The average residential
water use in California
00:34:12.090 --> 00:34:14.640
is 85 gallons per person per day
00:34:14.640 --> 00:34:16.463
but that includes flushing toilets.
00:34:17.540 --> 00:34:20.220
It is just an astronomical amount of money
00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:22.560
that's totally unpayable.
00:34:22.560 --> 00:34:27.560
It would destroy the entire
population and businesses
00:34:27.950 --> 00:34:32.950
on Catalina at $456 a month
for 2000 gallons of water.
00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.943
Next slide, please.
00:34:38.410 --> 00:34:39.243
Next slide.
00:34:39.243 --> 00:34:40.076
I'm sorry.
00:34:40.076 --> 00:34:40.909
I skipped one though.
00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:45.053
The drought affected everybody.
00:34:46.110 --> 00:34:49.520
During the drought Catalina Water ratepayers
00:34:49.520 --> 00:34:53.570
were urge to reduce water
usage by 25% by the Governors.
00:34:53.570 --> 00:34:55.160
That was the goal.
00:34:55.160 --> 00:34:57.840
They reduced it by 40%.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.560
As a result, Edison did
not receive the revenue
00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:03.510
for the water they did not use.
00:35:03.510 --> 00:35:07.150
Plan B requires Catalina
ratepayers to pay $6 million,
00:35:07.150 --> 00:35:12.150
plus 500,000 in interest
for water they did not use
00:35:12.810 --> 00:35:17.400
plus an additional 5 million
in drought related expenses.
00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:19.880
It is totally unreasonable and unfair
00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:23.850
to first cause people to not use water
00:35:23.850 --> 00:35:27.500
and then ask them to
pay for it in the future.
00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:30.563
We the Catalina parties totally opposed that.
00:35:33.110 --> 00:35:34.063
Next slide.
00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:37.220
The issue is water burden.
00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:41.080
How much burden can people handle for water?
00:35:41.080 --> 00:35:43.180
The average household income in California
00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:48.040
according to the US
Census Bureau is $106,000.
00:35:48.040 --> 00:35:50.780
The average household
income on Catalina Island
00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:55.170
according to Edison and
their application is $61,000.
00:35:55.170 --> 00:35:57.680
The issue is how much water burden
00:35:57.680 --> 00:36:00.010
can Catalina ratepayers bear
00:36:00.010 --> 00:36:01.673
and are there other sources?
00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:05.800
The other sources have
been tapped over the years.
00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:08.820
Catalina parties have
been trying for 10 years
00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:11.013
to try to find alternative sources.
00:36:12.605 --> 00:36:16.830
There are no identifiable
alternative services.
00:36:16.830 --> 00:36:19.970
This is a investor owned utility.
00:36:19.970 --> 00:36:22.640
The government doesn't provide money normally
00:36:22.640 --> 00:36:24.940
to give us their own utilities.
00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:27.753
We have some help from
the cattle... From the...
00:36:29.610 --> 00:36:31.560
With DCL from government entities,
00:36:31.560 --> 00:36:35.300
but ongoing as residue will
not be paid by other resources
00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:40.300
including a fee and the
ferry service that comes here.
00:36:40.540 --> 00:36:42.660
I appreciate everybody's attention.
00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:47.660
This is a major, major
problem with water ratepayers
00:36:47.720 --> 00:36:49.130
on Catalina Island.
00:36:49.130 --> 00:36:50.610
Thank you for your attendance.
00:36:50.610 --> 00:36:51.443
Thank you.
00:36:53.830 --> 00:36:55.080
Thank you, Mr. Bishton.
00:36:57.560 --> 00:37:00.023
You will now hear from members of the public.
00:37:01.130 --> 00:37:04.610
To those who wish to speak,
if you've not already done so
00:37:04.610 --> 00:37:07.287
please press star one on your phone
00:37:07.287 --> 00:37:10.083
and the operator will add
you to the queue of speakers.
00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:14.820
I remind you that if you
participate as a speaker,
00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.063
you will be recorded.
00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.750
If you are not currently queued
00:37:19.750 --> 00:37:21.650
at any time during the session
00:37:21.650 --> 00:37:24.310
and you later decide you would like to speak,
00:37:24.310 --> 00:37:27.500
a line will remain open for you to join.
00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:28.680
Please provide the speaker
00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:30.630
with your name and location.
00:37:30.630 --> 00:37:31.890
Operates... Excuse me.
00:37:31.890 --> 00:37:34.690
Please provide the operator
with your name and location.
00:37:35.810 --> 00:37:37.770
If you are a public officials,
00:37:37.770 --> 00:37:40.910
please notify the operator
of your title and position
00:37:40.910 --> 00:37:42.313
in addition to your name.
00:37:46.820 --> 00:37:48.110
Off the record for a second.
00:37:48.110 --> 00:37:50.093
Mr. Bishton, I think you're not muted.
00:37:51.090 --> 00:37:52.683
If you could please mute yourself.
00:37:54.520 --> 00:37:55.470
Back on the record.
00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:59.680
A reminder to those waiting on the phone,
00:37:59.680 --> 00:38:01.850
please speak slowly and clearly
00:38:01.850 --> 00:38:03.150
so that our court reporter
00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:06.330
may accurately transcribe your comments
00:38:08.077 --> 00:38:11.063
and the operator let's you
know it is your turn to speak.
00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:15.600
Please start your comments
by providing your full name,
00:38:15.600 --> 00:38:19.983
spelling your last name, and
also providing your location.
00:38:22.130 --> 00:38:23.820
We will be able to hear you best
00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:26.793
if you speak directly into
your phone or headset.
00:38:28.210 --> 00:38:31.320
Please avoid having your phone on speaker
00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:33.223
when you're providing comments.
00:38:34.540 --> 00:38:36.860
Keep comments brief and concise
00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:38.643
to ensure we can hear everyone.
00:38:41.870 --> 00:38:44.783
Operator, are there any
public officials on the line?
00:38:49.990 --> 00:38:51.313
Not at this time?
00:38:53.570 --> 00:38:54.810
Thank you.
00:38:54.810 --> 00:38:58.837
Can you please call on the
first person in the queue then?
00:38:58.837 --> 00:39:01.310
The first speaker is Susan Miller.
00:39:01.310 --> 00:39:02.403
Your line is open.
00:39:04.344 --> 00:39:05.177
All right.
00:39:05.177 --> 00:39:09.367
Susan Miller, M-I-L-L-E-R. Victorville.
00:39:10.750 --> 00:39:15.110
Don't believe at this time
can afford any increase.
00:39:15.110 --> 00:39:17.503
So no on the increase. Thank you.
00:39:20.250 --> 00:39:21.450
Thank you, Ms. Miller.
00:39:22.370 --> 00:39:25.820
Could we have the next
caller please, operator?
00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:28.570
The next speaker is
Mr. Whitehead, your line is open.
00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:32.153
Hello?
00:39:32.153 --> 00:39:34.800
I'm Mr. Whitehead of Bellflower, California.
00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.633
And I'm calling
00:39:35.633 --> 00:39:40.580
because I don't appreciate
being told to save on power.
00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:46.480
When I... From
Ms. Jill C. Anderson,
00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:48.940
senior vice president customer service,
00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:50.420
occasionally sends me emails
00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:54.300
when there's gonna be power issues.
00:39:54.300 --> 00:39:55.990
And I don't appreciate that
00:39:55.990 --> 00:39:58.840
because I get charged extra on my bill
00:39:58.840 --> 00:40:00.943
because I don't use enough electricity.
00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:09.120
So hopefully in time more
infrastructure can be built.
00:40:09.120 --> 00:40:12.560
And because it sounds
like the state's transitioning
00:40:12.560 --> 00:40:14.030
to electric cars.
00:40:14.030 --> 00:40:17.880
So I understand the need for rates increase
00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:20.830
but as far as that one
goes, hopefully in time
00:40:20.830 --> 00:40:22.270
we'll have sufficient infrastructure
00:40:22.270 --> 00:40:24.330
for the population we've already got
00:40:24.330 --> 00:40:25.750
and is possibly growing.
00:40:25.750 --> 00:40:26.900
Thank you and good day.
00:40:28.060 --> 00:40:28.893
Thank you Mr. Whitehead.
00:40:28.893 --> 00:40:30.600
Could you please spell your name,
00:40:30.600 --> 00:40:33.720
last name again for the transcriber?
00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:36.220
One moment, your honor
while I open up his line.
00:40:41.070 --> 00:40:42.870
Sir, your line is open for spelling.
00:40:44.010 --> 00:40:47.413
W-H-I-T-E-H-E-A-D.
00:40:49.110 --> 00:40:49.943
Thank you.
00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:55.020
Operator, are there any callers on the line?
00:40:57.210 --> 00:40:59.310
There are no other callers at this time.
00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:04.603
Okay, given that there are no other callers
00:41:04.603 --> 00:41:07.680
that we have not yet run too long
00:41:07.680 --> 00:41:09.980
and people may still be
coming home from work,
00:41:10.890 --> 00:41:15.890
we're going to take a
short break until 7:00 pm
00:41:18.550 --> 00:41:20.870
and we will come back at seven
00:41:20.870 --> 00:41:24.550
to see if anybody else
additionally has queued up
00:41:24.550 --> 00:41:25.550
to provide comments.
00:41:26.560 --> 00:41:27.393
Off the record.
00:41:35.720 --> 00:41:38.320
Short break to allow other people to queue in
00:41:38.320 --> 00:41:40.550
to provide public comments.
00:41:40.550 --> 00:41:43.193
Operator, could you
please call on the first caller?
00:41:45.489 --> 00:41:46.463
A moment please.
00:41:55.010 --> 00:41:55.843
Thank you.
00:41:55.843 --> 00:41:57.900
Our first caller is Wayne Paysen.
00:41:57.900 --> 00:41:59.263
Your line is open.
00:42:01.150 --> 00:42:02.830
Hi, my name is Wayne Paysen.
00:42:02.830 --> 00:42:06.670
The last name is spelled P-A-Y-S-E-N.
00:42:06.670 --> 00:42:08.980
And it's with the afternoon session
00:42:08.980 --> 00:42:12.010
I feel compelled to underscore
00:42:12.010 --> 00:42:16.110
for all the stakeholders,
the practical consequences
00:42:16.110 --> 00:42:17.193
of these proposals.
00:42:18.330 --> 00:42:21.670
You have in some kind of,
00:42:21.670 --> 00:42:25.552
I guess Southern California Edison company
00:42:25.552 --> 00:42:29.940
with defacto monopoly on a utility no less
00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:33.363
with billions of dollars in annual revenue.
00:42:35.040 --> 00:42:38.800
Attempting to transfer the
costs for capital investments
00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:43.800
and operational costs
for an isolated community
00:42:44.689 --> 00:42:47.000
with low long-term residents
00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:52.223
and essentially a vacation community
00:42:52.223 --> 00:42:56.140
take their operational
costs for water utilities
00:42:56.140 --> 00:42:58.370
for that isolated region and transfer it
00:42:59.882 --> 00:43:04.080
to users throughout Southern California
00:43:04.080 --> 00:43:08.610
including unfortunately,
those electrical users
00:43:08.610 --> 00:43:11.653
who can least afford the extra burden.
00:43:12.830 --> 00:43:15.170
We're talking about people
who are on fixed income
00:43:15.170 --> 00:43:17.500
because of their disability
00:43:17.500 --> 00:43:20.350
or because of the retirement status
00:43:20.350 --> 00:43:22.380
or people who are on very low income
00:43:22.380 --> 00:43:25.660
with no real expectation
for any wage increases
00:43:25.660 --> 00:43:27.010
anytime in the near future.
00:43:27.850 --> 00:43:29.530
And these are the very same people
00:43:29.530 --> 00:43:32.470
who couldn't even begin
to afford to take a trip
00:43:32.470 --> 00:43:33.513
over to Catalina.
00:43:34.450 --> 00:43:37.370
And yet they're being
expected to cover the utility costs
00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:40.053
for water for the Island.
00:43:41.410 --> 00:43:46.410
I think that sort of a
policy is not only unjust.
00:43:49.660 --> 00:43:51.653
It's really unconscionable.
00:43:53.572 --> 00:43:56.170
And again, if the infrastructure
00:43:56.170 --> 00:43:59.720
on the Island is so unmanageable
00:43:59.720 --> 00:44:02.530
that the only alternatives
00:44:02.530 --> 00:44:06.370
are either to increase
the electrical utility rates
00:44:06.370 --> 00:44:09.080
for the force among us
00:44:09.080 --> 00:44:13.790
throughout the Southern
California Edison's region
00:44:13.790 --> 00:44:16.030
or an astronomical increase
00:44:16.030 --> 00:44:20.730
for what few residents
there are on Catalina itself
00:44:20.730 --> 00:44:23.913
then I think an entirely new
model needs to be considered.
00:44:25.520 --> 00:44:29.998
Thank you, your honor for
you (indistinct) to speak today.
00:44:29.998 --> 00:44:32.460
Thank you Mr. Paysen.
00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.890
Before we get to the next call,
00:44:33.890 --> 00:44:35.460
I'd like to remind people on the line,
00:44:35.460 --> 00:44:36.740
if you'd like to make comments
00:44:36.740 --> 00:44:38.913
please press star one.
00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:44.830
Operator, could you please
call him the next speaker?
00:44:44.830 --> 00:44:46.430
The next speaker is James Turner.
00:44:46.430 --> 00:44:47.433
Your line is open.
00:44:49.830 --> 00:44:51.590
Hello, your honor and Board.
00:44:51.590 --> 00:44:55.610
My name is James Turner, T-U-R-N-E-R.
00:44:55.610 --> 00:44:56.703
I live in La Habra.
00:44:58.068 --> 00:45:01.170
It has been my experience
00:45:01.170 --> 00:45:06.170
as a Southern California
Edison customer for 50 years
00:45:08.170 --> 00:45:09.790
that there are continual petitions
00:45:09.790 --> 00:45:11.550
regardless of the economic climate
00:45:13.170 --> 00:45:16.343
in particular several recessions recently.
00:45:17.650 --> 00:45:20.800
The company has eliminated middle tiers
00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:22.130
of their rates years ago.
00:45:22.130 --> 00:45:26.910
So customers living the bottom tier
00:45:26.910 --> 00:45:30.340
which is equivalent to
about running a refrigerator
00:45:30.340 --> 00:45:34.900
and a light bulb are taken immediately
00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:38.033
into the upper tiers of consumption.
00:45:38.910 --> 00:45:43.650
I had solar panels put on my
roof six or seven years ago.
00:45:43.650 --> 00:45:46.520
I am still charged by
Southern California Edison
00:45:46.520 --> 00:45:49.447
for generation and delivery fees
00:45:52.830 --> 00:45:54.980
even though the power coming off my roof
00:45:54.980 --> 00:45:57.580
I'm still a victim of the
blackout or a brownout
00:45:58.770 --> 00:46:00.283
that still affects me.
00:46:01.940 --> 00:46:03.700
Southern California Edison has been shown
00:46:03.700 --> 00:46:06.580
to be and admitted to be at fault
00:46:06.580 --> 00:46:08.770
for several recent California fires
00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:13.640
which belies their
safety and liability claims
00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:15.430
and these reparations don't affect
00:46:15.430 --> 00:46:17.430
the company's bottom line.
00:46:17.430 --> 00:46:19.683
They just pass those costs on to consumers.
00:46:20.640 --> 00:46:23.140
Which top company officer or stockholders
00:46:23.140 --> 00:46:28.140
actually felt any of those
impacts their current dividends.
00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:32.710
5%, I'm sure the CFO and CEO
00:46:32.710 --> 00:46:34.653
haven't taken any cuts in salary.
00:46:36.970 --> 00:46:38.390
One of your speakers, Mr. Bishton
00:46:38.390 --> 00:46:39.990
noted that the Catalina customers
00:46:39.990 --> 00:46:43.370
are encouraged to reduce consumption by 25%.
00:46:43.370 --> 00:46:47.610
They in fact did it by 40% and the result
00:46:47.610 --> 00:46:49.020
is they're going to be...
00:46:53.710 --> 00:46:56.050
They're gonna be rewarded
with the highest rates
00:46:56.050 --> 00:46:57.220
in California.
00:46:57.220 --> 00:46:59.680
We found the same thing
to be true in Orange County.
00:46:59.680 --> 00:47:02.710
We were asked to cut
consumption several years ago,
00:47:02.710 --> 00:47:04.070
we did it.
00:47:04.070 --> 00:47:06.790
And I'm sure enough, we got a rate hike
00:47:06.790 --> 00:47:10.000
for doing exactly what we were asked to do.
00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:13.690
My last comment is why
would I pay for Catalina Water?
00:47:13.690 --> 00:47:16.123
I visited maybe two or three times.
00:47:16.959 --> 00:47:19.720
One of the proposals was to have visitors
00:47:19.720 --> 00:47:20.870
pick up some of the slack.
00:47:20.870 --> 00:47:22.030
And that's a good idea.
00:47:22.030 --> 00:47:27.030
I think if Edison can't make
the infrastructure work there,
00:47:30.063 --> 00:47:32.150
they should be given another company
00:47:32.150 --> 00:47:35.120
that does start forest fires
00:47:35.120 --> 00:47:37.873
and then expect their
consumers to pay for the penalties.
00:47:39.400 --> 00:47:41.883
Thank you for listening. Goodnight.
00:47:43.880 --> 00:47:45.080
Thank you, Mr. Turner.
00:47:45.970 --> 00:47:48.789
Operator, can we please
have the next speaker?
00:47:48.789 --> 00:47:50.780
The next speaker is Brenton Nielson.
00:47:50.780 --> 00:47:52.003
Your line is open.
00:47:54.680 --> 00:47:55.630
Good evening.
00:47:55.630 --> 00:48:00.630
My name is Brenton Nielson, N-I-E-L-S-O-N.
00:48:01.600 --> 00:48:02.760
And I'm the site manager
00:48:02.760 --> 00:48:05.930
at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island.
00:48:05.930 --> 00:48:08.370
I'd like to thank you all for
the opportunity to speak.
00:48:08.370 --> 00:48:13.320
I was able to attend the public
hearing earlier this morning
00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:15.740
and a little bit about us.
00:48:15.740 --> 00:48:20.510
We run a camp on the
westend of Catalina Island.
00:48:20.510 --> 00:48:22.350
Our property sees youth groups
00:48:22.350 --> 00:48:25.640
from February until November every year
00:48:25.640 --> 00:48:27.760
and like other camps,
we've made extreme efforts
00:48:27.760 --> 00:48:31.370
to conserve water over the last 10 years.
00:48:31.370 --> 00:48:33.680
We've replaced our faucets, shower heads.
00:48:33.680 --> 00:48:36.720
We put metered valves
in our sinks, our showers,
00:48:36.720 --> 00:48:39.080
we've put new meters in locations
00:48:39.080 --> 00:48:41.530
so that we can locate access usage.
00:48:41.530 --> 00:48:42.460
Through these efforts,
00:48:42.460 --> 00:48:46.410
we were able to dramatically
reduce our annual water usage.
00:48:46.410 --> 00:48:49.370
This price increase will be
detrimental to our business
00:48:49.370 --> 00:48:51.570
and offering program in the future to youth.
00:48:52.550 --> 00:48:54.090
We've not been able to have business
00:48:54.090 --> 00:48:56.700
on our property in over
a year due to COVID-19
00:48:56.700 --> 00:48:59.913
and that's put extreme
financial strain on our business.
00:49:01.660 --> 00:49:02.810
One thing I wanted to talk about
00:49:02.810 --> 00:49:06.420
is that early in our property,
00:49:06.420 --> 00:49:10.350
we purchased our own a water tank
00:49:10.350 --> 00:49:14.760
to supply pressure to our
fire system in our camp.
00:49:14.760 --> 00:49:18.610
And in 2014, our well on
the westend of our Island,
00:49:18.610 --> 00:49:22.550
which was located in another
camp called Helen's Landing
00:49:22.550 --> 00:49:24.730
had saltwater intrusion.
00:49:24.730 --> 00:49:29.730
And for weeks, we had to
serve our campers bottled water.
00:49:30.570 --> 00:49:33.390
Over the next year, we would
continue to pump this water
00:49:33.390 --> 00:49:36.910
through our water tank that
we bought our fire system,
00:49:36.910 --> 00:49:41.720
our showers, sinks, toilets,
sewer systems, water heaters
00:49:41.720 --> 00:49:44.430
and there's been irreversible
damage to a lot of our faucets
00:49:44.430 --> 00:49:45.383
and appliances.
00:49:46.670 --> 00:49:49.000
On Edison's online and to our camp,
00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:51.320
I've received several calls every year
00:49:51.320 --> 00:49:54.450
from hikers and boaters
that the galvanized pipe
00:49:54.450 --> 00:49:56.440
coming into our property is leaking.
00:49:56.440 --> 00:49:59.683
And at this point it is
more clients than it is pipe.
00:50:00.720 --> 00:50:03.960
I understand this is not a
meeting to discuss these details
00:50:03.960 --> 00:50:07.590
but I want to echo some
of the things that I've heard
00:50:07.590 --> 00:50:11.900
about paying for a continued
safe and reliable water.
00:50:11.900 --> 00:50:14.370
I'm not aware of safe and reliable water.
00:50:14.370 --> 00:50:17.450
And I've personally had to install filters
00:50:17.450 --> 00:50:19.900
on every building off of Edison's meter
00:50:19.900 --> 00:50:23.303
before it hits our tank
because of the debris in the line.
00:50:24.210 --> 00:50:27.860
With the other price increases to the Island,
00:50:27.860 --> 00:50:29.870
it did little to repair our water situation,
00:50:29.870 --> 00:50:31.920
and I'm concerned that adding more money
00:50:32.810 --> 00:50:35.200
will do little to fix a situation we have,
00:50:35.200 --> 00:50:36.890
and what's happened in the past.
00:50:36.890 --> 00:50:37.723
Thank you.
00:50:39.650 --> 00:50:41.270
Thank you, Mr. Nielson.
00:50:41.270 --> 00:50:44.443
Operator, can you please call me next caller?
00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:48.620
The next speaker is Neidine Newman.
00:50:48.620 --> 00:50:49.913
Your line is open.
00:50:51.140 --> 00:50:56.140
Hi, my name's Nieidin Newman, N-E-W-M-A-N.
00:50:56.380 --> 00:50:58.713
I live in San Dimas, California.
00:50:59.815 --> 00:51:02.350
This is my first time listening
to one of these meetings
00:51:02.350 --> 00:51:04.749
and I'm just appalled actually.
00:51:04.749 --> 00:51:09.749
I'm in 100% agreement
with the last three callers,
00:51:11.150 --> 00:51:13.930
but what I wanted to
say for myself personally
00:51:13.930 --> 00:51:18.636
is having gone through a pandemic
00:51:18.636 --> 00:51:21.750
that the whole world has gone through
00:51:21.750 --> 00:51:23.890
and many of us are out of work
00:51:23.890 --> 00:51:26.850
or we've lost one or more
incomes in our household
00:51:26.850 --> 00:51:29.240
and now our children are home
00:51:29.240 --> 00:51:31.520
which is increasing utility costs
00:51:31.520 --> 00:51:35.050
and we're struggling
even more to pay our bills.
00:51:35.050 --> 00:51:37.300
And now we're expected
00:51:37.300 --> 00:51:42.300
to cover the cost of the Edison problem
00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:45.850
that is not our own.
00:51:45.850 --> 00:51:48.050
And I'm just appalled
00:51:48.050 --> 00:51:52.520
because we get rate increases
every single year practically
00:51:52.520 --> 00:51:55.150
and we just can't afford to do it anymore
00:51:55.150 --> 00:51:57.820
with the lack of income
that we have right now
00:51:57.820 --> 00:51:59.190
because of the pandemic.
00:51:59.190 --> 00:52:03.540
And I just wanna say, I
am not for this increase.
00:52:03.540 --> 00:52:07.670
I think that it's something
that Edison needs to work on
00:52:07.670 --> 00:52:11.470
with Catalina Southern California
00:52:11.470 --> 00:52:15.170
or all of California, shouldn't have to pay
00:52:15.170 --> 00:52:19.233
for the problems that you
have with your infrastructure.
00:52:20.350 --> 00:52:21.493
Thank you very much.
00:52:23.430 --> 00:52:24.780
Thank you for calling in.
00:52:26.270 --> 00:52:28.743
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
00:52:29.700 --> 00:52:31.120
There is a speaker.
00:52:31.120 --> 00:52:35.613
It is Tenaya Jolly Bin
Cohen Your line is open.
00:52:37.520 --> 00:52:40.439
Hi, can everybody hear me well?
00:52:40.439 --> 00:52:41.828
Yeah.
00:52:41.828 --> 00:52:42.970
Okay.
00:52:42.970 --> 00:52:46.000
I have to be honest with you.
00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:49.253
The raising of the rates
is just totally unacceptable.
00:52:50.140 --> 00:52:53.171
I have been suffering.
00:52:53.171 --> 00:52:56.290
Sorry, hang on. There is a little bit-
00:52:56.290 --> 00:52:57.160
Can you hear me better.
00:52:57.160 --> 00:53:00.905
I'm not sure if it's you, or
if it's from somewhere else.
00:53:00.905 --> 00:53:02.250
Can you hear me better?
00:53:02.250 --> 00:53:03.857
Off the record for a second.
00:53:05.359 --> 00:53:06.192
Hello?
00:53:06.192 --> 00:53:08.690
Is there's someone
speaking behind you? Hello?
00:53:08.690 --> 00:53:11.617
No. It's TV. I will turn it off.
00:53:12.520 --> 00:53:14.320
Can you hear me now?
00:53:14.320 --> 00:53:15.153
Yes, that's much better.
00:53:15.153 --> 00:53:16.940
And when we get back on the record
00:53:16.940 --> 00:53:18.490
please start with your name,
00:53:18.490 --> 00:53:21.420
spelling your last name
for our court reporter.
00:53:21.420 --> 00:53:22.253
All right.
00:53:22.253 --> 00:53:23.960
Court reporter ready?
00:53:23.960 --> 00:53:25.520
Yeah.
00:53:25.520 --> 00:53:27.420
Back on the record, please continue.
00:53:28.730 --> 00:53:30.780
Hi, I'm Tenaya Jolly Bin Cohen
00:53:31.830 --> 00:53:33.713
and I live in Monrovia, California.
00:53:35.490 --> 00:53:37.610
This is just really unacceptable.
00:53:37.610 --> 00:53:41.013
I have been struggling
paying the electric bill for...
00:53:43.990 --> 00:53:48.460
Since February of 2019.
00:53:48.460 --> 00:53:50.820
Originally I was supposedly on your Care Act
00:53:50.820 --> 00:53:53.810
and for some reason they kept taking me off
00:53:53.810 --> 00:53:55.790
without notification.
00:53:55.790 --> 00:53:58.980
And on top of that, most of
us are disabled in our house
00:53:58.980 --> 00:54:01.710
especially my mother who needs the energy
00:54:01.710 --> 00:54:05.223
in order to curb machines in
order to keep her breathing.
00:54:06.391 --> 00:54:10.990
And I've had moments
where they shut off the power
00:54:10.990 --> 00:54:15.750
and I had tried to cover and
just take money from my rent
00:54:15.750 --> 00:54:17.681
in order to cover the electric bill.
00:54:17.681 --> 00:54:22.040
And I... It's amazing
because I keep the last time
00:54:22.040 --> 00:54:24.700
you guys had this type of conference,
00:54:24.700 --> 00:54:27.720
I called in and I know what's on the record
00:54:27.720 --> 00:54:29.120
for that previous one.
00:54:29.120 --> 00:54:31.803
And they told me to speak with Mr. Aguilar.
00:54:33.070 --> 00:54:35.650
I called him since that conference.
00:54:35.650 --> 00:54:38.223
I called him for three months straight.
00:54:39.340 --> 00:54:43.453
He didn't call me back once, not once.
00:54:44.670 --> 00:54:47.603
And that was back when my bill was $1,000.
00:54:49.450 --> 00:54:52.907
My current electric bill is almost $4,000.
00:54:56.900 --> 00:54:58.150
That is more than my rent
00:54:59.900 --> 00:55:01.800
and nobody has been trying to help me.
00:55:04.280 --> 00:55:09.280
I have exhausted all of
the so-called programs
00:55:09.940 --> 00:55:14.200
and outside help that was supposedly
00:55:14.200 --> 00:55:16.490
supposed to be offered to me.
00:55:16.490 --> 00:55:19.310
And I stated at a
previous conference for this
00:55:20.600 --> 00:55:21.900
in the start of the pandemic
00:55:21.900 --> 00:55:24.190
when you guys were to
go to try to raise the rates.
00:55:24.190 --> 00:55:26.353
And I'm just... It's
just, it's amazing to me
00:55:26.353 --> 00:55:29.180
that they're still trying to raise the rates
00:55:29.180 --> 00:55:30.600
when the pandemic is not even over.
00:55:30.600 --> 00:55:32.600
There are people that have lost their jobs.
00:55:32.600 --> 00:55:37.070
I've taken... I've suffered
extensive pay cuts.
00:55:37.070 --> 00:55:39.300
My husband lost his job.
00:55:39.300 --> 00:55:42.413
We are struggling way
more than we were before.
00:55:45.489 --> 00:55:49.017
I know you guys have to agree $4,000,
00:55:49.017 --> 00:55:52.563
almost $4,000 for an electric bill.
00:55:55.098 --> 00:55:56.600
They should've been resolved.
00:55:56.600 --> 00:55:59.840
The problem should have
been resolved a long time ago.
00:55:59.840 --> 00:56:01.070
I kept making payments.
00:56:01.070 --> 00:56:03.870
For some
reason... I live in a...
00:56:03.870 --> 00:56:08.870
It's under 1100 square feet townhouse,
00:56:11.460 --> 00:56:16.460
and my monthly bills is almost $500 a month
00:56:18.660 --> 00:56:19.970
and we don't have,
00:56:19.970 --> 00:56:24.970
we only have two TVs and
one AC and a refrigerator.
00:56:29.390 --> 00:56:30.223
And that's it.
00:56:31.200 --> 00:56:32.866
We barely... We keep...
00:56:32.866 --> 00:56:34.400
We kept bothering, we use different programs
00:56:34.400 --> 00:56:35.980
in order to track for electric
00:56:36.870 --> 00:56:39.060
and they have like a ward systems as well.
00:56:39.060 --> 00:56:41.870
We've done all of that
to monitor our electricity.
00:56:41.870 --> 00:56:44.380
I've called an ask several times
00:56:44.380 --> 00:56:48.130
for somebody to come out and check our meter.
00:56:48.130 --> 00:56:51.270
And they kept saying it's
electric and that they can see it
00:56:51.270 --> 00:56:54.630
but there has to be some kind of cloth wiring
00:56:54.630 --> 00:56:58.243
that would turn our electric bill into 500,
00:56:59.174 --> 00:57:01.173
almost $500 a month.
00:57:02.520 --> 00:57:03.353
It's ridiculous.
00:57:05.140 --> 00:57:06.940
My townhouse could not possibly
00:57:06.940 --> 00:57:08.270
put out that much electricity,
00:57:08.270 --> 00:57:10.973
it's anything small, (indistinct) townhouse.
00:57:13.917 --> 00:57:14.988
And I'm just...
00:57:14.988 --> 00:57:19.670
I'm to be honest with you,
it's absolutely ridiculous
00:57:19.670 --> 00:57:24.350
to sit in the space for them
to still try to raise the rate
00:57:24.350 --> 00:57:25.800
especially during a pandemic.
00:57:32.480 --> 00:57:33.313
I'm sorry.
00:57:34.470 --> 00:57:35.303
It's not...
00:57:37.510 --> 00:57:39.880
I apologize for my anger.
00:57:39.880 --> 00:57:42.980
I'm just really upset that
nothing was resolved.
00:57:42.980 --> 00:57:44.900
I know that there's a
problem with the electricity.
00:57:44.900 --> 00:57:46.479
Nobody's tried to help me.
00:57:46.479 --> 00:57:49.660
And last time I spoke on a conference
00:57:49.660 --> 00:57:50.820
they said to speak
00:57:50.820 --> 00:57:53.030
to some of the representative Mr. Aguilar,
00:57:53.030 --> 00:57:54.430
that was supposed to be there
00:57:54.430 --> 00:57:56.223
to help to resolve this problem.
00:57:57.090 --> 00:58:00.503
And he just... He
didn't call me back at all.
00:58:01.810 --> 00:58:05.133
Nothing. I called him
for three months straight.
00:58:07.780 --> 00:58:08.753
No call back.
00:58:10.400 --> 00:58:13.663
I emailed too. No write back.
00:58:15.180 --> 00:58:16.350
I called his office.
00:58:16.350 --> 00:58:19.310
I called people that were
supposedly working under him
00:58:19.310 --> 00:58:22.773
saying that they would
reference the message, nothing.
00:58:25.050 --> 00:58:28.210
So I honestly, I feel
like Edison does not care
00:58:28.210 --> 00:58:29.650
about any of their customers.
00:58:29.650 --> 00:58:31.310
They only care about profits
00:58:31.310 --> 00:58:33.280
and getting as much money out of people
00:58:33.280 --> 00:58:35.353
that can barely pay as toxic.
00:58:36.490 --> 00:58:39.783
And for you to raise the rates is appalling.
00:58:42.980 --> 00:58:43.813
I'm done.
00:58:47.350 --> 00:58:48.967
Ms. Tenaya Bin Cohen.
00:58:48.967 --> 00:58:50.317
Did I pronounce that right?
00:58:51.330 --> 00:58:52.413
Tenaya, yes.
00:58:54.070 --> 00:58:57.070
Please contact our public advisor's office?
00:58:57.070 --> 00:59:00.300
I don't know if you have the WebEx up.
00:59:00.300 --> 00:59:03.953
Operator, can you please
call on the next caller?
00:59:05.980 --> 00:59:08.730
The next speaker is Neidine Newman,
00:59:08.730 --> 00:59:09.973
your line is open.
00:59:11.210 --> 00:59:13.960
Oh no, I
was... I already did it.
00:59:13.960 --> 00:59:16.323
I already spoke pass.
00:59:20.770 --> 00:59:23.600
Okay. Operator, is there
anyone else on the line?
00:59:23.600 --> 00:59:24.433
Yes, your honor.
00:59:24.433 --> 00:59:26.053
One moment while I get their name.
00:59:28.470 --> 00:59:29.933
Oh, sorry.
00:59:30.830 --> 00:59:32.483
Back on the record. Apologies.
00:59:33.600 --> 00:59:36.290
The next caller is Nicole Hohenstein.
00:59:36.290 --> 00:59:37.443
Your line is open.
00:59:39.140 --> 00:59:41.100
Hi, my name is Nicole Hohenstein.
00:59:41.100 --> 00:59:45.620
It's H-O-H-E-N-S-T-E-I-N.
00:59:45.620 --> 00:59:48.770
And I am the general manager
of the Holiday Inn Resort
00:59:48.770 --> 00:59:52.430
on Catalina Island and
also the Catalina Island Inn
00:59:52.430 --> 00:59:54.160
and I've been a resident for the...
00:59:54.160 --> 00:59:56.290
On the Island for the last six years.
00:59:56.290 --> 01:00:00.580
If we go ahead with these
prices, with the water,
01:00:00.580 --> 01:00:03.380
I don't know how our business will survive.
01:00:03.380 --> 01:00:07.370
We pay anywhere from eight to $15,000 a month
01:00:07.370 --> 01:00:09.170
as it is right now with the water
01:00:09.170 --> 01:00:10.410
and with the increases,
01:00:10.410 --> 01:00:14.100
I don't know how we could
keep going with our water.
01:00:14.100 --> 01:00:15.800
I would hate to have to go back.
01:00:15.800 --> 01:00:18.010
Our prices are already high enough
01:00:18.010 --> 01:00:20.390
'cause it costs so high to come to the Island
01:00:20.390 --> 01:00:23.670
and now we're gonna have to
put the cost of the water prices
01:00:23.670 --> 01:00:26.690
on our guests who are already
paying a good dollar amount
01:00:26.690 --> 01:00:27.990
to come to the Island.
01:00:27.990 --> 01:00:31.100
So I don't think this is
something we should be doing.
01:00:31.100 --> 01:00:32.090
There's bonding.
01:00:32.090 --> 01:00:34.540
There's other ways that
we can look at doing this.
01:00:34.540 --> 01:00:36.820
I understand that Edison wants to get,
01:00:36.820 --> 01:00:38.420
make up the money that they've lost
01:00:38.420 --> 01:00:40.240
but they asked us to cut back
01:00:40.240 --> 01:00:44.060
and we cut back and we cut
back big time at the businesses.
01:00:44.060 --> 01:00:45.910
And now they're gonna come back and hurt us.
01:00:45.910 --> 01:00:48.910
And I really think there
needs to be other options
01:00:48.910 --> 01:00:50.500
or ways to do this.
01:00:50.500 --> 01:00:52.250
So it doesn't come out of the businesses
01:00:52.250 --> 01:00:54.100
and for the poor residential
01:00:54.100 --> 01:00:58.730
because the residents who
are averaging $74 going to $224,
01:00:59.970 --> 01:01:01.570
I don't know how they can do that a month.
01:01:01.570 --> 01:01:03.450
It's just... It's
gonna be really hard
01:01:03.450 --> 01:01:06.490
and I really think Edison
needs to rethink this.
01:01:06.490 --> 01:01:07.690
Thank you and that's it.
01:01:13.840 --> 01:01:15.030
Thank you.
01:01:15.030 --> 01:01:17.230
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
01:01:18.494 --> 01:01:20.394
I show no other speakers.
01:01:21.900 --> 01:01:25.840
Okay. If anyone's on the
line, please press star one now,
01:01:25.840 --> 01:01:28.400
if you would like to make comments.
01:01:28.400 --> 01:01:30.150
I'm go off the record for a second.
01:01:32.794 --> 01:01:36.630
Transcriber, do you have anything else
01:01:36.630 --> 01:01:37.803
you need at this point?
01:01:40.610 --> 01:01:42.900
Your honor, are you talking to me?
01:01:42.900 --> 01:01:43.733
Yes. Sorry.
01:01:43.733 --> 01:01:44.698
Al right.
Jenny.
01:01:44.698 --> 01:01:46.870
I'm all good. We're good.
01:01:46.870 --> 01:01:48.202
Thank you.
01:01:48.202 --> 01:01:50.620
Okay, it looks like we got a caller
01:01:50.620 --> 01:01:54.440
so we'll go back on the record now.
01:01:54.440 --> 01:01:57.850
Operator, could you
please call on the speaker?
01:01:57.850 --> 01:01:59.300
Thank you.
01:01:59.300 --> 01:02:04.220
Yes. The first speaker is Laura Vandezande.
01:02:04.220 --> 01:02:05.463
Your line is open.
01:02:06.840 --> 01:02:09.510
Hello. My name is Laura Vandezande.
01:02:09.510 --> 01:02:14.510
V as in Victor, A-N-D-E-Z
as in zebra, A-N-D-E.
01:02:16.820 --> 01:02:18.240
Hello, your honor and Board.
01:02:18.240 --> 01:02:20.300
Thank you for taking my call.
01:02:20.300 --> 01:02:22.620
I'm a teacher in Avalon.
01:02:22.620 --> 01:02:24.010
Many of the residents here
01:02:24.010 --> 01:02:26.570
are low to middle income families.
01:02:26.570 --> 01:02:30.040
Some people have an image
of Catalina as a resort town
01:02:30.040 --> 01:02:33.010
filled with fancy homes
and people with money.
01:02:33.010 --> 01:02:34.820
The reality is many people here
01:02:34.820 --> 01:02:36.450
are working two to three jobs
01:02:36.450 --> 01:02:40.143
and they live with extended
families in one small apartment.
01:02:41.270 --> 01:02:44.183
Avalon's water rates are
already disproportionately high.
01:02:45.080 --> 01:02:48.060
During the drought, we as
a community came together
01:02:48.060 --> 01:02:50.850
and reduced our water usage significantly
01:02:50.850 --> 01:02:52.420
as we were asked to.
01:02:52.420 --> 01:02:54.100
It wasn't easy.
01:02:54.100 --> 01:02:58.760
Now we are being punished
so Edison can recoup their costs,
01:02:58.760 --> 01:03:01.113
their lost income during that time.
01:03:02.120 --> 01:03:04.550
And this is just not acceptable.
01:03:04.550 --> 01:03:08.520
Edison, which has a monopoly
on the utilities on the Island
01:03:08.520 --> 01:03:12.270
is proposing these
astronomical rate increases
01:03:12.270 --> 01:03:15.973
and individuals cannot afford
these increases as proposed.
01:03:16.900 --> 01:03:19.190
Here in Avalon we are a small community
01:03:19.190 --> 01:03:21.430
of less than 4,000 people.
01:03:21.430 --> 01:03:25.580
We're literally isolated
on an Island by ourselves.
01:03:25.580 --> 01:03:28.430
Unlike any other community
in Southern California,
01:03:28.430 --> 01:03:32.250
we have no other options
for our water resources.
01:03:32.250 --> 01:03:35.150
Our small communities
simply cannot bear the burden
01:03:35.150 --> 01:03:37.320
of these costs alone.
01:03:37.320 --> 01:03:38.950
And I just appreciate you
01:03:38.950 --> 01:03:41.050
considering the individuals in Avalon,
01:03:41.050 --> 01:03:44.920
as you make a decision
about this rate increase.
01:03:44.920 --> 01:03:46.620
Thank you very much for your time.
01:03:48.905 --> 01:03:49.738
Thank you Ms. Vandezande.
01:03:50.741 --> 01:03:54.070
Operator, could you please
call on the next speaker?
01:03:54.070 --> 01:03:56.540
The next speaker is Sean Laws O'Neill.
01:03:56.540 --> 01:03:57.533
Your line is open.
01:03:59.970 --> 01:04:01.615
Hello, your honor and everyone.
01:04:01.615 --> 01:04:04.180
This is... My name
is Sean Laws O'Neil.
01:04:04.180 --> 01:04:06.580
Last name is Laws, L as in Larry,
01:04:06.580 --> 01:04:09.360
A as in Apple, W as in William, S as in Sam,
01:04:09.360 --> 01:04:10.620
next word O'Neill.
01:04:10.620 --> 01:04:14.880
O apostrophe, N as in
Nancy, E-I-L as in Larry.
01:04:14.880 --> 01:04:19.860
This is my first time attending
one of these meetings.
01:04:19.860 --> 01:04:24.860
And I'm appalled that SCE
even proposing these increases.
01:04:29.090 --> 01:04:33.773
My senior citizen mother
already has a bill that comes in
01:04:37.450 --> 01:04:41.750
and there's astronomical
increases when nothing has changed
01:04:41.750 --> 01:04:46.290
in her activity and nothing
has changed in our activity.
01:04:46.290 --> 01:04:51.290
And so now to try and get even more increases
01:04:51.330 --> 01:04:53.510
from everybody just in itself
01:04:53.510 --> 01:04:57.820
is appalling to be honest with you.
01:04:57.820 --> 01:04:58.960
That on top of the fact
01:04:58.960 --> 01:05:03.000
that we are already in an economic crisis
01:05:03.000 --> 01:05:04.850
and potentially going into a recession,
01:05:04.850 --> 01:05:07.100
then you have so many people out of work.
01:05:07.100 --> 01:05:10.183
It seems to me that there
should be a way for SCE
01:05:11.460 --> 01:05:13.370
just like everybody else has done
01:05:13.370 --> 01:05:17.060
to cut into their bottom line.
01:05:17.060 --> 01:05:18.450
It might be that they're...
01:05:18.450 --> 01:05:20.120
Unfortunately, their executives
01:05:20.120 --> 01:05:21.650
might not be able to get bonuses,
01:05:21.650 --> 01:05:25.350
their shareholders might
have to cut back on some things
01:05:25.350 --> 01:05:26.940
to incur these costs
01:05:26.940 --> 01:05:30.937
because it's not fair to pass it on to SCE,
01:05:35.480 --> 01:05:38.570
people that have SCE in general at large,
01:05:38.570 --> 01:05:40.820
across Southern California
01:05:40.820 --> 01:05:44.450
where are we having to take
on this burden that's not ours.
01:05:44.450 --> 01:05:47.600
And also as a granddaughter
and a great-granddaughter
01:05:47.600 --> 01:05:51.440
of Portuguese descendants who used to work
01:05:51.440 --> 01:05:55.580
and live on the Catalina Island years ago.
01:05:55.580 --> 01:05:58.376
I also understand and appreciate
01:05:58.376 --> 01:06:02.560
the previous caller that the
people that are actually live
01:06:02.560 --> 01:06:05.360
on that Island and work on that Island
01:06:05.360 --> 01:06:07.110
are not rich by any means
01:06:07.110 --> 01:06:11.690
and cannot afford to
incur this burden as well.
01:06:11.690 --> 01:06:13.850
So I don't know what the solution is.
01:06:13.850 --> 01:06:16.770
Maybe if someone earlier suggested
01:06:16.770 --> 01:06:20.080
maybe it's for people
that are going to the Island
01:06:20.080 --> 01:06:22.970
maybe there's a simple,
you know, some sort of tax
01:06:22.970 --> 01:06:27.250
almost like hotels have taxs some places,
01:06:27.250 --> 01:06:29.950
'cause if you're buying a
ticket, if you're going over
01:06:30.900 --> 01:06:32.300
then you're incurring that cost
01:06:32.300 --> 01:06:33.370
because the reality is that
01:06:33.370 --> 01:06:35.400
not all of us go over to Catalina.
01:06:35.400 --> 01:06:39.120
And so why are we having
to take on that burden?
01:06:39.120 --> 01:06:41.750
Although I do appreciate wanting to make sure
01:06:41.750 --> 01:06:43.950
that everybody over
there that's living over there
01:06:43.950 --> 01:06:47.410
as well as guests over there
have the proper electricity,
01:06:47.410 --> 01:06:50.210
proper drinking water, and
obviously clean drinking water
01:06:50.210 --> 01:06:54.010
because we know that that can be a problem
01:06:54.010 --> 01:06:56.480
as we've seen in Flint Town, Flint, Michigan,
01:06:56.480 --> 01:06:57.750
and several other places.
01:06:57.750 --> 01:07:01.680
So, but I think that having this burden go on
01:07:01.680 --> 01:07:06.680
to the community at large
and even onto the individuals
01:07:07.290 --> 01:07:10.570
that live in Catalina, that's unacceptable
01:07:10.570 --> 01:07:12.910
and that SCE needs to
figure out a different plan.
01:07:12.910 --> 01:07:17.910
And in my opinion, they need
to take on some of these costs
01:07:19.050 --> 01:07:21.880
for their own and cut
into their profit margin.
01:07:21.880 --> 01:07:23.180
I thank you for your time.
01:07:25.470 --> 01:07:26.800
Thank you Ms. Laws O'Neill.
01:07:26.800 --> 01:07:30.108
Operator, could you
please call the next speaker?
01:07:30.108 --> 01:07:31.610
The next speaker is Steven Miller.
01:07:31.610 --> 01:07:32.573
Your line is open.
01:07:34.260 --> 01:07:38.070
Hi, my name is Stephen Miller, M-I-L-L-E-R.
01:07:38.070 --> 01:07:40.103
I live in Victorville, California.
01:07:41.620 --> 01:07:46.620
I attended Camp Cherry Valley
as a boy scout 40 years ago.
01:07:46.810 --> 01:07:49.810
The only time I've ever been
to the Island, beautiful place.
01:07:51.730 --> 01:07:53.710
I reciprocate everything
01:07:53.710 --> 01:07:56.200
all the previous callers had to say,
01:07:56.200 --> 01:07:58.230
as it increases at this point,
01:07:58.230 --> 01:08:01.200
especially at this point
in our economy and time,
01:08:01.200 --> 01:08:03.883
the pandemic has just really out of control.
01:08:06.430 --> 01:08:08.340
I also have a solar customer.
01:08:08.340 --> 01:08:11.449
I put solar on my house 12 years ago.
01:08:11.449 --> 01:08:16.449
I pay fat Edison bills
at the end of every year.
01:08:16.731 --> 01:08:21.540
I economize my electricity use big time.
01:08:21.540 --> 01:08:23.680
I turn off lights, I burn candles.
01:08:23.680 --> 01:08:25.230
I don't even use my air conditioner.
01:08:25.230 --> 01:08:27.120
I put a swamp cooler in
01:08:27.120 --> 01:08:29.410
and still pay big fat cheques
01:08:29.410 --> 01:08:31.230
to Edison within every single year
01:08:31.230 --> 01:08:33.280
even with solar on my house
01:08:33.280 --> 01:08:38.010
and yeah to increase rates
during a pandemic, come on, man.
01:08:38.010 --> 01:08:39.740
It's out of control.
01:08:39.740 --> 01:08:41.060
It's really just out of control.
01:08:41.060 --> 01:08:45.440
Edison needs to get a grip
and then take some of the losses
01:08:45.440 --> 01:08:47.030
especially the loss of the their fault
01:08:47.030 --> 01:08:48.530
for fires and stuff like that.
01:08:48.530 --> 01:08:51.380
That's where everybody to just have to pay
01:08:51.380 --> 01:08:54.650
for their mistakes is just wrong.
01:08:54.650 --> 01:08:56.200
It's just wrong and ever since the word.
01:08:56.200 --> 01:08:58.960
So, yeah, I had a big time
vote no for this increase.
01:08:58.960 --> 01:09:01.583
So thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
01:09:03.845 --> 01:09:05.100
Thank you, Mr. Miller.
01:09:05.100 --> 01:09:07.980
Operator, could we please
have the next speaker.
01:09:07.980 --> 01:09:09.640
Next speaker is Laurie givens.
01:09:09.640 --> 01:09:10.623
Your line is open.
01:09:11.980 --> 01:09:14.070
Hi, this is Laurie Givens.
01:09:14.070 --> 01:09:18.360
The surname is spelled
G-I-V as in Victor, E-N-S.
01:09:18.360 --> 01:09:20.870
First, thank you for allowing me to comment.
01:09:20.870 --> 01:09:23.570
It is my first time as well.
01:09:23.570 --> 01:09:27.170
I've listened to a lot of comments
01:09:27.170 --> 01:09:30.790
and overwhelmingly agree
01:09:30.790 --> 01:09:34.390
that you know these proposed rate increases
01:09:34.390 --> 01:09:36.690
are beyond agregious.
01:09:36.690 --> 01:09:40.940
I am incredibly just baffled
01:09:40.940 --> 01:09:43.130
that there is a school of thought
01:09:43.130 --> 01:09:45.900
that it would even be remotely appropriate
01:09:45.900 --> 01:09:50.700
to pass this financial
burden onto the customers.
01:09:50.700 --> 01:09:53.490
I know my family, you know our ourselves
01:09:53.490 --> 01:09:55.080
have gone to great strides,
01:09:55.080 --> 01:09:59.960
taken great strides to be very conscientious
01:09:59.960 --> 01:10:03.060
and to reduce our water
consumption in particular.
01:10:03.060 --> 01:10:05.788
And to think that proposing these rates
01:10:05.788 --> 01:10:08.970
is something that would be acceptable
01:10:08.970 --> 01:10:11.410
is just beyond the wildest of imagination.
01:10:11.410 --> 01:10:15.940
So I would say 100% adamantly that
01:10:15.940 --> 01:10:17.670
I am absolutely against this.
01:10:17.670 --> 01:10:20.990
And I do believe that SCE
needs to really go back
01:10:20.990 --> 01:10:22.120
and rethink this.
01:10:22.120 --> 01:10:25.430
And I think I heard earlier
some of the comments
01:10:25.430 --> 01:10:28.980
where it isn't just about
maintaining profit margins.
01:10:28.980 --> 01:10:31.550
Sometimes you do have
to take one for the team
01:10:31.550 --> 01:10:32.800
as we, the customers have
01:10:32.800 --> 01:10:36.090
and maybe it's time for
SCE to consider that as well.
01:10:36.090 --> 01:10:37.223
Thank you very much.
01:10:39.210 --> 01:10:40.917
Thank you, Ms. Givens.
01:10:40.917 --> 01:10:44.100
Operator, could we please
have the next speaker?
01:10:44.100 --> 01:10:46.030
Next speaker is Bart Glass.
01:10:46.030 --> 01:10:47.103
Your line is open.
01:10:49.050 --> 01:10:50.117
Hi, I'm Bart Glass.
01:10:50.117 --> 01:10:52.923
I've lived on the Island about 35 years.
01:10:54.890 --> 01:10:57.220
We've all gone through the same things here.
01:10:57.220 --> 01:10:59.550
Drought, drought, drought.
01:10:59.550 --> 01:11:03.190
I know when Hamilton first started,
01:11:03.190 --> 01:11:05.330
they donated a diesel plant to Edison.
01:11:05.330 --> 01:11:08.340
They gave him a million,
750 to run that plant
01:11:08.340 --> 01:11:09.550
which they never did.
01:11:09.550 --> 01:11:11.330
They let it sit and rot.
01:11:11.330 --> 01:11:15.300
And then the city dumping
more money into the diesel,
01:11:15.300 --> 01:11:17.110
which finally we're making diesel water.
01:11:17.110 --> 01:11:19.830
But again, we have no place to store it.
01:11:19.830 --> 01:11:22.200
It doesn't seem like anyone's looked ahead.
01:11:22.200 --> 01:11:25.040
We were told for years to save water
01:11:25.040 --> 01:11:27.940
or any customers we had to be Island
01:11:27.940 --> 01:11:29.280
were told to save water.
01:11:29.280 --> 01:11:32.070
Everyone had, and you simply
didn't have the commodity
01:11:32.070 --> 01:11:32.903
to sell us.
01:11:33.880 --> 01:11:35.700
But since you didn't have
the commodity to sell us
01:11:35.700 --> 01:11:39.330
now you supposedly can
just raise the rates on us
01:11:39.330 --> 01:11:40.640
because there's...
01:11:40.640 --> 01:11:43.070
You didn't make enough
money during that time.
01:11:43.070 --> 01:11:44.140
My business personally
01:11:44.140 --> 01:11:45.840
has been closed about five and a half months
01:11:45.840 --> 01:11:46.963
out of the last year.
01:11:48.110 --> 01:11:50.890
I can't tell you how much we've lost
01:11:50.890 --> 01:11:54.420
and things we've had to
sell just to try to stay alive.
01:11:54.420 --> 01:11:56.970
And raising water rates on all of us
01:11:56.970 --> 01:12:00.860
will be one of the final
nails in the coffin for Avalon.
01:12:00.860 --> 01:12:01.693
You...
01:12:01.693 --> 01:12:04.120
The amounts of money
that you're talking about here
01:12:04.120 --> 01:12:08.653
are raising two and three and
400% over the years is insane.
01:12:10.010 --> 01:12:12.020
I think like anyone else,
01:12:12.020 --> 01:12:13.750
if you didn't have something to sell us,
01:12:13.750 --> 01:12:15.700
we sure as heck shouldn't be responsible
01:12:15.700 --> 01:12:17.950
for paying you for something you didn't have.
01:12:19.360 --> 01:12:20.470
I just can't tell you
01:12:20.470 --> 01:12:23.250
how much I think it will do to our economy
01:12:23.250 --> 01:12:26.490
and all of our businesses and our livelihoods
01:12:26.490 --> 01:12:29.080
and those that don't live here and come out
01:12:29.080 --> 01:12:30.210
and use the Island
01:12:30.210 --> 01:12:33.100
and have a hard time
holding onto what they have.
01:12:33.100 --> 01:12:35.370
I think it all needs to be reconsidered.
01:12:35.370 --> 01:12:39.060
And you know, like the last call said,
01:12:39.060 --> 01:12:41.540
hey, you gotta take one
once in a while as well
01:12:41.540 --> 01:12:43.110
'cause we've all taken one.
01:12:43.110 --> 01:12:45.330
Our businesses are all shot to hell
01:12:45.330 --> 01:12:48.383
and no, we can't just
raise the rates on everyone.
01:12:49.370 --> 01:12:50.230
That's all I've got to say.
01:12:50.230 --> 01:12:51.560
Have a nice day.
01:12:51.560 --> 01:12:53.407
Thanks for listening.
Thank you.
01:12:53.407 --> 01:12:55.960
Mr. Glass, could you
please spell your last name
01:12:55.960 --> 01:12:57.850
for the court reporter?
01:12:57.850 --> 01:13:00.273
G-L-A-S-S, Glass.
01:13:01.160 --> 01:13:03.510
Thank you for your call.
Thank you.
01:13:05.900 --> 01:13:08.610
A reminder if anyone's on
the line and wishes to speak
01:13:08.610 --> 01:13:10.253
please press star one.
01:13:11.440 --> 01:13:15.813
Operator, could you please
pull up the next speaker?
01:13:16.704 --> 01:13:18.590
The next speaker is Brenda Claros.
01:13:18.590 --> 01:13:19.663
Your line is open.
01:13:22.490 --> 01:13:23.720
Hi, my name is Brenda Claros.
01:13:23.720 --> 01:13:28.450
Last name is spelled C-L-A-R-O-S
01:13:28.450 --> 01:13:29.643
and I would just like to say,
01:13:29.643 --> 01:13:32.312
just like everyone has mentioned earlier,
01:13:32.312 --> 01:13:36.940
voting no on this increase the Socal Edison
01:13:36.940 --> 01:13:40.550
is just something that a lot of residents
01:13:40.550 --> 01:13:42.790
throughout California
are dealing with right now.
01:13:42.790 --> 01:13:44.680
And it's, especially during the pandemic
01:13:44.680 --> 01:13:49.480
it's not something that is
useful for our communities.
01:13:49.480 --> 01:13:52.450
And especially like if there's
people working from home
01:13:52.450 --> 01:13:55.600
and also like if you have little ones at home
01:13:55.600 --> 01:13:58.420
and just so many things going on right now,
01:13:58.420 --> 01:14:01.150
just utilities are already
a monopoly right now.
01:14:01.150 --> 01:14:05.050
And right now it's kind of
hard to get the residents
01:14:05.050 --> 01:14:06.330
any options as it is.
01:14:06.330 --> 01:14:10.670
We have been assigned
Socal Edison to certain areas
01:14:10.670 --> 01:14:14.470
in Carlifornia and whatever
rates they choose to raise
01:14:14.470 --> 01:14:18.860
is what we end up having to pay upfront.
01:14:18.860 --> 01:14:22.270
So it's hard on our community
and our families right now
01:14:22.270 --> 01:14:23.240
during our pandemic.
01:14:23.240 --> 01:14:26.870
It's still ongoing and the
rates are constantly increasing
01:14:26.870 --> 01:14:31.870
and there's no accountability
or proof of those improvements
01:14:32.080 --> 01:14:35.190
or of what that money is being used for.
01:14:35.190 --> 01:14:38.670
If Catalina Island is an issue,
01:14:38.670 --> 01:14:41.600
maybe there's another way that we can see
01:14:41.600 --> 01:14:43.507
how that can be resolved
01:14:43.507 --> 01:14:47.180
and also the residents there as well
01:14:47.180 --> 01:14:49.420
should have like a system
01:14:49.420 --> 01:14:51.320
where something should be in place.
01:14:51.320 --> 01:14:55.400
And also talking about how Socal Edison
01:14:55.400 --> 01:14:57.897
having to now go through that
01:14:57.897 --> 01:15:01.464
and have to put the bill
for that expense as well
01:15:01.464 --> 01:15:06.100
is something that is, just
right now not a great timing
01:15:06.100 --> 01:15:07.840
especially during the pandemic.
01:15:07.840 --> 01:15:09.050
And it's just...
01:15:09.050 --> 01:15:14.050
It gets people kind of
worried about their income
01:15:14.543 --> 01:15:18.590
and, you know right now
with businesses closing
01:15:18.590 --> 01:15:21.300
and things like that it's
just the water and powers
01:15:21.300 --> 01:15:23.870
are necessities for our communities.
01:15:23.870 --> 01:15:26.330
And it's just kind of getting...
01:15:28.250 --> 01:15:33.170
It's getting harder for folks
to be able to provide that,
01:15:33.170 --> 01:15:34.760
if there's an uncertainty
01:15:34.760 --> 01:15:37.580
within their income or their families.
01:15:37.580 --> 01:15:39.630
So that's another thing that I would say.
01:15:40.700 --> 01:15:43.010
Just having the utility companies,
01:15:43.010 --> 01:15:44.270
thinking a little bit closer
01:15:44.270 --> 01:15:46.960
about how they can use that infrastructure
01:15:46.960 --> 01:15:51.960
to fix some of those problems
like that can be change
01:15:52.220 --> 01:15:54.680
within their company without having customers
01:15:54.680 --> 01:15:59.680
have to get an increase
in their monthly bill.
01:15:59.780 --> 01:16:02.320
So that's one way that I would say,
01:16:02.320 --> 01:16:03.889
something that thinks about
01:16:03.889 --> 01:16:06.880
and I vote no on this rate increase.
01:16:06.880 --> 01:16:07.713
Thank you.
01:16:09.590 --> 01:16:10.423
Thank you.
01:16:11.290 --> 01:16:14.073
Operator, could we please
have the next speaker?
01:16:20.320 --> 01:16:23.420
The next speaker is Gail Fornasiere
01:16:23.420 --> 01:16:24.563
Your line is open.
01:16:26.430 --> 01:16:27.263
Hi, thank you.
01:16:27.263 --> 01:16:28.290
My name is Gail Fornasiere.
01:16:28.290 --> 01:16:30.520
I worked for a nonprofit on the Island
01:16:30.520 --> 01:16:34.730
and of course like many,
everyone has suffered.
01:16:34.730 --> 01:16:36.570
I worked for a museum that's been closed
01:16:36.570 --> 01:16:37.980
for almost a whole year.
01:16:37.980 --> 01:16:41.440
And for the museum side of things,
01:16:41.440 --> 01:16:42.780
there was no way we can afford
01:16:42.780 --> 01:16:45.570
to have these kinds of increases.
01:16:45.570 --> 01:16:48.940
We're trying to do great
things for the community
01:16:48.940 --> 01:16:51.850
and offer services when others,
01:16:51.850 --> 01:16:54.850
when people can't afford to do them
01:16:54.850 --> 01:16:56.370
especially after this pandemic
01:16:56.370 --> 01:17:00.480
and to kind of raise these
rates is really devastating.
01:17:00.480 --> 01:17:01.690
But also for me personally,
01:17:01.690 --> 01:17:03.730
I've lived on the Island for 14 years
01:17:03.730 --> 01:17:05.570
and it's always been home
01:17:05.570 --> 01:17:09.070
into all people who live
here to conserve water
01:17:09.070 --> 01:17:11.960
and be conscious and all that.
01:17:11.960 --> 01:17:16.710
And it's amazing what
Islanders have done to do so.
01:17:16.710 --> 01:17:18.760
And then two, it doesn't really matter
01:17:18.760 --> 01:17:20.650
because in the end you either get punished
01:17:20.650 --> 01:17:22.930
because you've used too much water
01:17:22.930 --> 01:17:25.880
or you get punished because
you haven't used enough water.
01:17:25.880 --> 01:17:28.410
And so it can't be both ways.
01:17:28.410 --> 01:17:29.660
It seems like on the Island
01:17:29.660 --> 01:17:34.300
that the Edison seems tends
to make improvements and stuff
01:17:34.300 --> 01:17:36.970
which is great, but they
tend to do it in the wrong way
01:17:36.970 --> 01:17:38.090
where they do it first
01:17:38.090 --> 01:17:41.330
and then ask for these
rate increases afterwards.
01:17:41.330 --> 01:17:45.840
And it just is not the
right way to do things.
01:17:45.840 --> 01:17:48.040
I mean, there's so much suffering,
01:17:48.040 --> 01:17:50.230
especially now after the pandemic.
01:17:50.230 --> 01:17:54.770
Well, I agree with what
Bark Glass' comments were,
01:17:54.770 --> 01:17:57.100
there are businesses that
have closed, but if you...
01:17:57.100 --> 01:18:02.010
If these rate increases are to be imposed,
01:18:02.010 --> 01:18:04.600
then there's certainly more dire things
01:18:04.600 --> 01:18:07.170
that are gonna happen to some
businesses here on the Island.
01:18:07.170 --> 01:18:10.430
And we should be also looked at
01:18:10.430 --> 01:18:13.990
as a benefit for the state of California
01:18:13.990 --> 01:18:17.150
and its residents and all the
things that we offer as well.
01:18:17.150 --> 01:18:19.160
So it's super unfair
01:18:19.160 --> 01:18:22.180
and they really need to think
about their business model.
01:18:22.180 --> 01:18:24.930
Obviously, they wanted to sell the water
01:18:24.930 --> 01:18:27.210
but since that didn't happen
01:18:27.210 --> 01:18:29.400
now we're just gonna
continue to get punished.
01:18:29.400 --> 01:18:30.930
It just doesn't seem right.
01:18:30.930 --> 01:18:31.763
And I really hope
01:18:31.763 --> 01:18:34.870
that you'll consider the people who live here
01:18:34.870 --> 01:18:37.030
and provide a great getaway
01:18:37.030 --> 01:18:40.863
for people all over the
country and the world. Thanks.
01:18:41.907 --> 01:18:44.640
Ms. Fornasiere, could you
please spell your last name
01:18:44.640 --> 01:18:45.790
for the court reporter?
01:18:46.690 --> 01:18:51.690
Yes. F as in Frank, O-R-N as in Nancy,
01:18:51.900 --> 01:18:55.283
A-S as in Sam, I-E-R-E.
01:18:56.410 --> 01:18:58.420
Great. Thank you for your comments.
01:18:58.420 --> 01:18:59.253
Thanks.
01:19:00.600 --> 01:19:03.560
Operator, could you please
call him the next speaker?
01:19:03.560 --> 01:19:04.440
The next speaker
01:19:04.440 --> 01:19:07.980
is City of Avalon council
member, Lisa Lavelle.
01:19:07.980 --> 01:19:09.063
Your line is open.
01:19:10.270 --> 01:19:11.103
Thank you.
01:19:11.103 --> 01:19:13.220
And thank you, judge again
for being here this evening
01:19:13.220 --> 01:19:16.540
and hearing the comments both from ratepayers
01:19:16.540 --> 01:19:19.200
throughout Southern
California and the City of Avalon.
01:19:19.200 --> 01:19:21.050
I did speak earlier today,
01:19:21.050 --> 01:19:23.000
but just didn't wanna bring up the fact
01:19:24.010 --> 01:19:26.110
in terms of funding and looking at ways
01:19:26.110 --> 01:19:29.680
that the City of Avalon is
trying to partner with Edison.
01:19:29.680 --> 01:19:33.790
We were able to gain
disadvantaged community status.
01:19:33.790 --> 01:19:36.200
And because of that Prop 1 funds
01:19:36.200 --> 01:19:38.530
funded a large number of projects
01:19:38.530 --> 01:19:42.510
that did not have to come
out of Edison's pocket.
01:19:42.510 --> 01:19:43.730
I think that that's something
01:19:43.730 --> 01:19:45.670
that is being massively overlooked
01:19:45.670 --> 01:19:48.870
when it comes to some of
these requests for rate increases
01:19:48.870 --> 01:19:52.550
and that we have tried
and are continuing to try
01:19:52.550 --> 01:19:56.010
and will continue to do
so to partner with Edison,
01:19:56.010 --> 01:19:59.710
to ensure that what we're doing
is making sense for everyone
01:19:59.710 --> 01:20:01.170
and going after grant funds,
01:20:01.170 --> 01:20:03.530
that we as a city are able to access
01:20:03.530 --> 01:20:06.810
to help improve the
water system on the Island.
01:20:06.810 --> 01:20:10.200
So there a $10 million grant fund when,
01:20:10.200 --> 01:20:12.860
from the Prop 1 money that just to place
01:20:12.860 --> 01:20:13.980
a couple of years ago,
01:20:13.980 --> 01:20:17.020
and I began once COVID starts happening
01:20:17.020 --> 01:20:19.170
that project will commence.
01:20:19.170 --> 01:20:20.700
But there are things that I think
01:20:20.700 --> 01:20:22.680
are not being addressed here
01:20:22.680 --> 01:20:26.650
and an overburden on
the public being put in place
01:20:26.650 --> 01:20:29.493
for, again, as Ms. Fornasiere
Gail just mentioned.
01:20:30.487 --> 01:20:33.020
The amount of things that are being completed
01:20:33.020 --> 01:20:35.190
and asked to be paid for after the fact
01:20:35.190 --> 01:20:37.350
or you over-performed at saving water.
01:20:37.350 --> 01:20:40.180
And now we're asking you to pay more again.
01:20:40.180 --> 01:20:42.021
So I'll keep my comments brief this time.
01:20:42.021 --> 01:20:43.827
And I thank you for your time once again
01:20:43.827 --> 01:20:47.610
and also just had one quick question.
01:20:47.610 --> 01:20:48.443
I know you had mentioned
01:20:48.443 --> 01:20:51.370
that public comments can
still be made on the website.
01:20:51.370 --> 01:20:53.560
I wondered how long those public comments
01:20:53.560 --> 01:20:55.020
were being accepted.
01:20:55.020 --> 01:20:57.480
And also if people wanted
to provide public comment
01:20:57.480 --> 01:21:00.150
in writing or over the phone in Spanish,
01:21:00.150 --> 01:21:01.470
how they might do that.
01:21:01.470 --> 01:21:02.403
Thank you so much.
01:21:03.490 --> 01:21:05.050
Oh, and my last name is Lavelle.
01:21:05.050 --> 01:21:08.620
L-A-V as in Victor, E-L-L-E.
01:21:08.620 --> 01:21:09.453
Thank you.
01:21:10.610 --> 01:21:12.410
Thank you, Council Member Lavelle.
01:21:15.070 --> 01:21:16.833
Off the record for a second.
01:21:17.800 --> 01:21:20.190
Public advocates...
Public advisor's office,
01:21:20.190 --> 01:21:22.167
I believe comments can be submitted
01:21:22.167 --> 01:21:24.367
for the duration of the proceeding, correct?
01:21:27.840 --> 01:21:29.420
Hi, this is Alison Brown.
01:21:29.420 --> 01:21:31.620
Yes. I'm public advisor with the Commission.
01:21:32.460 --> 01:21:37.460
Yes, so public comments
are accepted in any form
01:21:37.570 --> 01:21:41.610
until the application is voted out.
01:21:41.610 --> 01:21:42.960
So throughout the duration.
01:21:44.050 --> 01:21:45.490
That's at least 2022
01:21:45.490 --> 01:21:48.140
is what it sounded like
on the earlier call, correct?
01:21:49.340 --> 01:21:51.610
It varies depending on the schedule of this
01:21:51.610 --> 01:21:53.900
but yes, once the schedule is determined,
01:21:53.900 --> 01:21:58.210
you'll be able to the online how long it is,
01:21:58.210 --> 01:22:00.160
but yes, throughout the duration of it.
01:22:01.242 --> 01:22:03.480
I'm not sure what the estimated is.
01:22:03.480 --> 01:22:04.313
I don't know
01:22:04.313 --> 01:22:07.872
Projected right now is
2022, early 2022. Okay.
01:22:07.872 --> 01:22:09.510
Okay.
01:22:09.510 --> 01:22:14.130
And then you can submit comments via...
01:22:14.130 --> 01:22:19.023
You can send an email to
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
01:22:22.851 --> 01:22:24.268
Okay.
01:22:25.130 --> 01:22:27.650
Or you can in any language.
01:22:27.650 --> 01:22:30.840
And we will translate comments that come in
01:22:30.840 --> 01:22:32.867
that are not in English.
01:22:32.867 --> 01:22:33.700
Okay.
01:22:33.700 --> 01:22:35.640
That's probably the easiest way.
01:22:35.640 --> 01:22:37.210
We do also have a phone line,
01:22:37.210 --> 01:22:39.160
but that gets a little more complicated
01:22:40.440 --> 01:22:43.520
and comments can also be
submitted to our docket card
01:22:43.520 --> 01:22:47.210
and that information you
can find on our website
01:22:47.210 --> 01:22:50.250
but you can also email questions
01:22:50.250 --> 01:22:51.880
to the public advisor email address
01:22:51.880 --> 01:22:55.340
as can anyone who's
listening to this comments
01:22:55.340 --> 01:22:56.330
or any questions
01:22:56.330 --> 01:23:00.310
and we'll help direct you to the right place
01:23:00.310 --> 01:23:01.660
if it's not us.
01:23:01.660 --> 01:23:02.493
Perfect.
01:23:02.493 --> 01:23:03.800
I did send an email just tonight
01:23:03.800 --> 01:23:05.790
at the beginning of the proceeding,
01:23:05.790 --> 01:23:07.090
asking those questions as well.
01:23:07.090 --> 01:23:08.810
So if you'd be able to reply back to me
01:23:08.810 --> 01:23:11.120
with that phone number information,
01:23:11.120 --> 01:23:14.210
many of the public comments in Spanish
01:23:14.210 --> 01:23:17.570
they may not be as
comfortable providing an email
01:23:17.570 --> 01:23:19.470
or a typewritten message,
01:23:19.470 --> 01:23:21.980
but would be happy to
leave public comment verbally
01:23:21.980 --> 01:23:23.240
on a phone message.
01:23:23.240 --> 01:23:25.230
And I'd love to be able to
get that out to the community
01:23:25.230 --> 01:23:26.180
if we could please.
01:23:28.490 --> 01:23:30.130
Absolutely and I apologize.
01:23:30.130 --> 01:23:32.410
I should have the numbers (indistinct).
01:23:32.410 --> 01:23:33.300
Oh, no, that I okay.
01:23:33.300 --> 01:23:35.620
But on the email response is fine.
01:23:35.620 --> 01:23:36.730
No rush.
01:23:36.730 --> 01:23:37.563
This is fine.
01:23:37.563 --> 01:23:39.132
We have plenty of time. Thank you.
01:23:39.132 --> 01:23:39.965
(indistinct) To respond to that
01:23:39.965 --> 01:23:40.800
and says it out loud.
01:23:40.800 --> 01:23:43.210
And the number is on the screen
01:23:43.210 --> 01:23:45.990
that steps for admin
monitor for this right now.
01:23:45.990 --> 01:23:46.980
Okay. Perfect.
01:23:46.980 --> 01:23:48.810
I will copy that. Thank you.
01:23:48.810 --> 01:23:50.220
(indistinct)
01:23:50.220 --> 01:23:54.380
This is the ALJ regarding
your earlier comments
01:23:54.380 --> 01:23:56.930
in the prior PPH
01:23:56.930 --> 01:24:01.323
about having another
public participation hearing.
01:24:02.420 --> 01:24:05.320
We looked and it looked
logistically fairly difficult
01:24:05.320 --> 01:24:09.630
to have another one, but
we are exploring various ways
01:24:09.630 --> 01:24:14.630
that we can somehow
increase notice and attention
01:24:14.890 --> 01:24:16.580
to this proceeding on the Island.
01:24:16.580 --> 01:24:19.343
So we hope to work on that
01:24:19.343 --> 01:24:22.820
and working with the
public advisor's office on that.
01:24:22.820 --> 01:24:23.653
Perfect. Thank you.
01:24:23.653 --> 01:24:24.610
I appreciate you both.
01:24:24.610 --> 01:24:26.190
And I appreciate your time and work on that.
01:24:26.190 --> 01:24:27.910
If we can make it happen, great.
01:24:27.910 --> 01:24:29.880
If not, we can at least get the phone number
01:24:29.880 --> 01:24:33.260
and email contact information out to everyone
01:24:33.260 --> 01:24:34.900
who would like to provide further comment.
01:24:34.900 --> 01:24:38.010
I know that many have
already come online tonight
01:24:38.010 --> 01:24:41.050
and have gone online to
provide written comment as well.
01:24:41.050 --> 01:24:41.970
So I appreciate that.
01:24:41.970 --> 01:24:42.803
Thank you.
01:24:44.330 --> 01:24:49.330
Okay. Court reporter ready? Okay.
01:24:49.330 --> 01:24:50.660
We'll go back on the record.
01:24:50.660 --> 01:24:54.180
Off the record we discussed
with Council Member Lavelle
01:24:54.180 --> 01:24:59.180
various ways that the public
can continue to provide comment
01:25:00.290 --> 01:25:01.130
on this proceeding,
01:25:01.130 --> 01:25:03.530
whether it's the online to our docket card
01:25:03.530 --> 01:25:08.530
at cpc.ca.gov/A2010018comments
01:25:10.900 --> 01:25:13.630
or by contacting the public advisor's office
01:25:13.630 --> 01:25:18.630
in any language at public.advisor@cpc.ca.gov
01:25:19.900 --> 01:25:24.900
or calling 186-684-98390.
01:25:27.530 --> 01:25:30.300
We also discussed that
an earlier comment made
01:25:30.300 --> 01:25:33.360
by the council member about the possibility
01:25:33.360 --> 01:25:36.410
of holding public participation hearing.
01:25:36.410 --> 01:25:41.110
And we stated that we were
considering other methods
01:25:41.110 --> 01:25:42.370
for increasing notice
01:25:42.370 --> 01:25:44.203
of this proceeding on the Island.
01:25:45.500 --> 01:25:49.000
Operator, are there any
additional callers on the line?
01:25:49.000 --> 01:25:50.040
I do have another speaker
01:25:50.040 --> 01:25:52.190
and that is Thomas Salinas
01:25:52.190 --> 01:25:55.390
with Catalina Island Vacation Rentals.
01:25:55.390 --> 01:25:56.523
Your line is open.
01:25:58.410 --> 01:25:59.243
Hi there.
01:25:59.243 --> 01:26:00.313
This is Thomas.
01:26:01.320 --> 01:26:06.173
Thank you for the hearing
and for your work here.
01:26:07.120 --> 01:26:11.253
A little bit echoing on what Lisa had to say.
01:26:12.330 --> 01:26:15.520
You know, we really do as a community,
01:26:15.520 --> 01:26:20.210
try to not take advantage
of any of our situations.
01:26:20.210 --> 01:26:25.090
And rather than that we're trying to kind of
01:26:26.420 --> 01:26:29.560
cause everything like all boats to rise
01:26:29.560 --> 01:26:34.560
and right now we have problems with water.
01:26:36.270 --> 01:26:38.200
We have a dual sewer system.
01:26:38.200 --> 01:26:43.200
I understand that that
infrastructure bears on Lisa's plate
01:26:44.320 --> 01:26:47.263
and on SCE's plate.
01:26:48.910 --> 01:26:52.930
But seriously in the
interruption on the weekend
01:26:52.930 --> 01:26:57.930
in water service can cost
the city thousands of dollars
01:26:58.710 --> 01:27:03.710
in tax revenue like per hour.
01:27:03.940 --> 01:27:08.940
So after coming out of
this pretty crippling situation
01:27:11.210 --> 01:27:15.810
that I understand that
everyone is going through
01:27:15.810 --> 01:27:17.093
and not just us,
01:27:18.718 --> 01:27:23.000
I just feel like it's a really tough time
01:27:23.000 --> 01:27:27.880
when we just got some interruptions recently
01:27:27.880 --> 01:27:32.820
to a really big project in town.
01:27:32.820 --> 01:27:34.300
I don't...
01:27:35.337 --> 01:27:40.337
I just hope that we can keep the community
01:27:40.380 --> 01:27:43.770
who actually lives there and pays the bills
01:27:45.120 --> 01:27:48.200
to be able to make it work
01:27:48.200 --> 01:27:50.780
because sometimes a lot
of the community members
01:27:50.780 --> 01:27:53.410
are really stretched
01:27:54.730 --> 01:27:58.980
and have been very adversely affected
01:28:00.790 --> 01:28:05.790
by lack of tourism, which was kind of...
01:28:09.255 --> 01:28:11.250
It kind of affects everybody
01:28:11.250 --> 01:28:13.500
because that's our only industry.
01:28:13.500 --> 01:28:17.380
So, for them to be hit right now
01:28:19.170 --> 01:28:24.170
it's a little bit of a tough bill to sell.
01:28:24.680 --> 01:28:28.540
But the... I mean
even businesses
01:28:28.540 --> 01:28:32.280
can't really absorb the proposed increases
01:28:33.120 --> 01:28:36.500
on top of everything with that we've done
01:28:36.500 --> 01:28:39.243
with drought migration.
01:28:40.390 --> 01:28:43.430
And we started that even before the pandemic.
01:28:43.430 --> 01:28:48.430
And now this has really,
really restrained our economy.
01:28:49.270 --> 01:28:54.270
And I think maybe if it's possible,
01:28:54.440 --> 01:28:56.480
Edison could find a better system
01:28:56.480 --> 01:28:59.020
for managing the Island's services.
01:28:59.020 --> 01:29:02.830
And I'm sure that all of the council members
01:29:02.830 --> 01:29:05.240
and city representatives would be open
01:29:05.240 --> 01:29:08.650
to trying to find a better way.
01:29:08.650 --> 01:29:13.450
If we need to go back to putting little...
01:29:14.860 --> 01:29:18.540
What we used to do with
as a vacation rental company,
01:29:18.540 --> 01:29:23.540
we use to put in little timers,
01:29:24.520 --> 01:29:28.270
like a little hourglass
timers in every shower.
01:29:28.270 --> 01:29:30.320
We say, like, turn it over
01:29:30.320 --> 01:29:33.670
and that's how much time you have to shower.
01:29:33.670 --> 01:29:36.720
And we're using low flow
01:29:36.720 --> 01:29:40.350
and we're trying to figure all that out.
01:29:40.350 --> 01:29:43.970
But I think it's kind of at this point,
01:29:43.970 --> 01:29:46.850
I would hope that it's on SCE's shoulders
01:29:46.850 --> 01:29:51.850
to kind of work with us
to find a better system
01:29:52.530 --> 01:29:54.430
rather than increasing rates
01:29:54.430 --> 01:29:58.670
maybe increasing
productivity or decreasing costs.
01:29:58.670 --> 01:30:01.603
Like let's talk about that possibly.
01:30:03.250 --> 01:30:07.810
So I think all of the appropriate channels
01:30:07.810 --> 01:30:09.910
are already established and understood,
01:30:09.910 --> 01:30:12.460
but that was my point.
01:30:12.460 --> 01:30:14.433
And thank you for hearing me.
01:30:16.470 --> 01:30:17.770
Thank you, Mr. Salinas.
01:30:17.770 --> 01:30:20.523
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
01:30:21.420 --> 01:30:24.130
There are no speakers at this time.
01:30:24.130 --> 01:30:27.000
Okay. I think we have
time for one more caller.
01:30:27.000 --> 01:30:30.740
So if you'd like to speak,
please press star one now
01:30:32.040 --> 01:30:33.490
and keep your comments brief.
01:30:38.201 --> 01:30:40.130
Off the record for a second.
01:30:42.079 --> 01:30:43.950
Court Reporter Jason,
01:30:43.950 --> 01:30:46.763
do you need anything else
assuming no one else calls in.
01:30:48.660 --> 01:30:49.720
No Judge, we're all good.
01:30:49.720 --> 01:30:50.553
Thank you.
01:30:51.450 --> 01:30:52.283
Thanks.
01:30:55.400 --> 01:30:57.063
Okay. Back on the record.
01:30:57.950 --> 01:31:00.640
Operator, are there any additional callers?
01:31:00.640 --> 01:31:02.663
There are no additional callers.
01:31:03.510 --> 01:31:07.863
Okay. Thank you to
everyone who participated today.
01:31:08.890 --> 01:31:09.723
We will be closing
01:31:09.723 --> 01:31:12.570
the public comment portion of this hearing.
01:31:12.570 --> 01:31:15.040
If you would like to provide
additional comments,
01:31:15.040 --> 01:31:16.490
you may submit written comments
01:31:16.490 --> 01:31:18.930
on the docket card for this proceeding,
01:31:18.930 --> 01:31:21.050
which can be found on
the Commission's website
01:31:21.050 --> 01:31:24.833
at cpuc.ca.gov/A2010018comments.
01:31:33.290 --> 01:31:35.450
For assistance with
providing additional comments,
01:31:35.450 --> 01:31:39.160
please contact the Commission's
public advisor's office
01:31:39.160 --> 01:31:44.160
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
01:31:46.850 --> 01:31:50.502
This concludes this evening's
public participation hearing.
01:31:50.502 --> 01:31:52.002
We will now be off the record.