WEBVTT
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(upbeat music)
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Welcome to the
public participation hearing,
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here we will take public inputs
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on the San Jose's Water
Company's General Rate Case
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Application for the
years 2022 through 2024
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on this day, Thursday May 13th, 2021.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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Thank you, Operator
and Interpreter.
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Can the court reporters please confirm
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she is ready to begin?
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Yes, I am Judge.
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We are on the record, the
Commission will come to order.
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Today is Thursday, May 13, 2021,
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And this is the remote
public participation hearing
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on San Jose Water Company,
General Rate Case Application
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to increase water rates
for years 2022 to 2024
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for application number 21-01-003.
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This public participation
hearing is live streamed
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through AdminMonitor and
the Verizon Conference line
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and interpreted simultaneously
from English to Spanish.
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I am Daphne Lee, the assigned
Administrative Law Judge
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to this proceeding.
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I am joined today by the
assigned Commissioner,
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Martha Guzman Aceves.
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Thank you for your attendance,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
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Commissioner Guzman
Aceves, before we proceed further
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would you like to make
any opening remarks?
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Yes, thank you, Judge Lee.
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Thank you very much.
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I just wanna first and
foremost thank the public
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for taking the time to join us today.
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I am very appreciative of all
of the much needed oversight
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that is required
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in reviewing one of
these general rate cases
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and the requested rate increases.
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I know that one of the
things I'll be looking for
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in reviewing this and certainly
in hearing from the public
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is all the interest
in really scrutinizing
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some of the infrastructure
investments and other costs.
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Everything from labor costs,
to many other investments
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that are proposed in this application.
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But most of all, again, I
wanna thank the public
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for taking the time to participate
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and share their thoughts, concerns
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and any ideas that they have
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as it relates to their water service.
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Thank you very much, Judge Lee.
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Thank you, Commissioner.
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The purpose of today's
hearing is for the Commission
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to hear from San Jose
Water Company's customers
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and members of the
public about this application.
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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 will then hear brief statements
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from San Jose Water Company,
the Public Advocate's Office
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and Water Rates for
Transparency, Equity,
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and Sustainability, or WRATES
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before we receive public comments.
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If you are participating today
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and would like to
provide public comments
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please press star one on your phone,
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please provide the
operator with your name,
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and if you are comfortable,
your city of residence.
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This will alert the operator
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who will begin to queue public speakers.
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If you are a public official
please notify the operator
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of your title and position,
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in addition to your name
and city of residence.
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Now some background on the Commission.
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The Commission is the
state agency that decides
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how much privately owned utility
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such as San Jose Water
Company may earn and charge
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as approved rates for its 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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evaluate this evidence and
prepare a proposed decision
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based on that evidence.
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This proposed decision
will then be considered
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by the five Commissioners
who will ultimately decide
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whether to adopt the proposed
decision from the judge
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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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anticipates that the
Commission will likely deliberate
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and vote on the proposed decision
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in the first quarter of 2022.
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Now, I will provide a summary
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of San Jose Water
Company's pending application.
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San Jose Water Company
filed its original application
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on January 4th, 2021,
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and pursuant to Commission
requirements, a 45 day update
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on March 4th, 2021,
seeking Commission approval
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for their expected costs for owning
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and operating the company
for the years 2022 through 2024.
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The update requests a
lower revenue requirement
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and rate increase than
its original application.
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The updated increase in revenue
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that San Jose Water Company
is requesting to be funded
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through customer water bills
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for 2022 is 32,906,008.06% increase
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above presently authorized revenues.
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For 2023, it is 18,775,000
a 4.26% increase
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above proposed 2022 revenues.
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And for 2024, it is
22,249,000 a 4.86% increase
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above proposed 2023 revenues.
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According to San Jose Water Company,
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the main contributors to
the proposed rate increase
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include infrastructure replacement,
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depreciation expenses, outside
services, increase pension
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and benefit costs and
increase labor expenses.
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San Jose Water Company also explained
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that its expenses
include increased costs
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of environmental and
cybersecurity compliance,
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additional employee head
count and capital improvements
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such as reservoirs,
water treatment plants,
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and pipeline repair and replacement.
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If approved as proposed, the
impact on residential customers
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with a three-quarter inch
meter using 11 CCF per month
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in San Jose Water Company service area,
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would be an average
monthly residential bill increase
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by approximately $8.79 or
9.36% from $93.96 at present rates
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to $102.75 in 2022, by $3.90
or 3.80% to $106.65 in 2023,
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and by $4.39 or 4.11%
to $111.04 in 2024.
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These rates include current
authorized surcharges
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and requested surcharges and fees
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in San Jose Water's General
Rate Case application.
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These requested rate increases
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represent a three-year
cumulative impact of 17.27%.
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Also a part of the
correspondence in this proceeding
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is a letter I received on May 11, 2021
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from the Office of the City Attorney
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for the City of San Jose,
voicing its residents concerns
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and opposition to the
application in four main categories,
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the pandemic related
burden on rate payers,
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the incomprehensible rate making process
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and inability for customers to budget
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and anticipate water rates
due to pending proceedings,
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the lack of itemized costs
and end dates of projects
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and the cost born from San
Jose Water Company's merger
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with Connecticut Water Company.
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I have directed the
court reporters to attach
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this correspondence
with the attached transcript
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from the city council meeting
dated March 23rd, 2021
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and San Jose Water Company's response
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to the memorandum from City
Mayor Sam Liccardo's memorandum
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dated March 23rd, 2021
to the end of this transcript
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so that it is part of the public
comments we receive today
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and can be viewed
by the public in a week
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when the transcript is published.
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Web links of additional
comments from public officials
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can be posted in the
public comments section
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on the Docket Card
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at
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https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/A2101003comments.
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Our practice and
procedures provide the Utility
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an opportunity to post a
response to any public comment.
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Now we are here today to
receive comments from the public
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on this application by
San Jose Water Company.
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Comments from the public
will help the Commission
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reach an informed decision.
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The Commissioners and
I will pay close attention
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to the comments expressed
during today's public hearing.
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A court reporter will be transcribing
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everything that is said today.
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This hearing is also
simultaneously interpreted
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from English to Spanish.
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If you speak, please
speak slowly and clearly
00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:23.710
so that the court reporter
and the Spanish interpreter
00:13:23.710 --> 00:13:26.423
can capture everything 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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In addition to submitting
oral comments today
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written comments on San Jose
Water Company's application
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may be submitted on the
Docket Card for this proceeding,
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by going to again,
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https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/A2101003comments.
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As of today we have received
over 800 written comments.
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I will now invite Ms. Juanita Hill
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of the Commission's
Public Advisor's Office
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to provide guidance on
participation in this proceeding.
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Ms. Hill, please proceed.
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Thank you, Judge,
and welcome everyone.
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My name is Juanita Hill
and I am the supervisor
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in the CPUC's Public Advisor's Office.
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The Public Advisor's Office
assists and advises the public
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with participation in
Commission proceedings.
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First, I wanna thank you
all for participating today,
00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.250
as the judge and the
Commissioner stated,
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public participation
and input are essential
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to the Commission's
decision-making process.
00:14:55.470 --> 00:14:59.170
This is your opportunity to be
heard, to share your thoughts
00:14:59.170 --> 00:15:01.807
on the application with the
Administrative Law Judge
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and the assigned Commissioner.
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If you have specific
questions about the application
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or your service, please reach out
00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:11.060
to the Public Advisor's Office
00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:14.973
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov,
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or visit the CPUC or
the Utilities website
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for more information.
00:15:25.410 --> 00:15:28.240
Second, if you or anyone you know
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is not able to make a comment
today, as the Judge said,
00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:35.510
there are several other
ways to become involved.
00:15:35.510 --> 00:15:39.820
If you wish to find more
information on becoming a party,
00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:42.110
subscribing to this proceeding
00:15:42.110 --> 00:15:45.340
or submitting comments
via email, the phone
00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:48.280
or the Docket Card,
please go to our website
00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:53.280
www.ca, I'm sorry, www.cpuc.ca.gov
00:15:58.070 --> 00:16:03.070
or email the Public Advisor at
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:09.880
All of this information is on the notice
00:16:09.880 --> 00:16:13.190
that you received for this
public participation hearing.
00:16:13.190 --> 00:16:15.330
We look forward to your comments today.
00:16:15.330 --> 00:16:16.163
Thank you.
00:16:18.330 --> 00:16:20.050
Thank you, Ms. Hill.
00:16:20.050 --> 00:16:22.700
Before turning to public comments today
00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:24.990
we will hear briefly
from each of the parties
00:16:24.990 --> 00:16:28.120
in this proceeding beginning
with the representative
00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.290
for San Jose Water Company
00:16:30.290 --> 00:16:33.723
followed by the Public
Advocate's Office and WRATES.
00:16:35.370 --> 00:16:37.423
Mr. Tang, please proceed.
00:16:39.230 --> 00:16:40.200
Thank you, Your Honor.
00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.540
Good afternoon, Commissioner,
Your Honor, Water Division,
00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:46.070
Cal Advocates, staff and customers.
00:16:46.070 --> 00:16:48.400
My name is John Tang, Vice
President of Regulatory Affairs
00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.400
at San Jose Water.
00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:50.920
We appreciate not only the opportunity
00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:52.700
to present information about our filings
00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:54.900
but also hear from our customers.
00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:55.850
Next slide, please.
00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:01.220
We know some customers
they have specific questions
00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.490
about their service or bill,
00:17:02.490 --> 00:17:04.240
our customer service
advocates are standing by
00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.780
to speak with you
one-on-one to ensure privacy,
00:17:06.780 --> 00:17:09.930
please email
customer.service@sjwater.com
00:17:09.930 --> 00:17:12.160
and include the information requested.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.730
We will make contact
with you in the order
00:17:13.730 --> 00:17:15.060
the requests are received.
00:17:15.060 --> 00:17:16.010
Next slide, please.
00:17:18.791 --> 00:17:22.090
San Jose Water's roots in the
community span over 154 years.
00:17:22.090 --> 00:17:24.610
Over that time, our core
values have not changed,
00:17:24.610 --> 00:17:27.720
we are committed to delivering
on our public health mission
00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.990
making your rate dollars
stretch as far as possible
00:17:29.990 --> 00:17:32.560
without jeopardizing
safety or reliability,
00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:33.590
protecting the environment
00:17:33.590 --> 00:17:35.380
'cause water touches almost everything
00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.530
that is important to us
00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:40.630
and supporting the community
where we live, work and serve.
00:17:40.630 --> 00:17:41.870
Next slide, please.
00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:45.110
We recognize that
there are many customers
00:17:45.110 --> 00:17:46.770
who are impacted by the pandemic,
00:17:46.770 --> 00:17:48.470
our customer assistance
programs are geared
00:17:48.470 --> 00:17:50.160
towards helping manage their consumption
00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:52.180
and ultimately their bills.
00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.880
We also have a special
low-income program
00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:56.810
for customers who qualify as
part of our ongoing commitment
00:17:56.810 --> 00:17:58.770
to supporting the local community,
00:17:58.770 --> 00:18:02.150
we are increasing our
supportive nonprofit organizations,
00:18:02.150 --> 00:18:05.460
encouraging employees to
volunteer in their communities
00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:09.020
through our employee
led 501c3 Foundation
00:18:09.020 --> 00:18:10.560
and supporting the local economy
00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:12.830
through our supply diversity program.
00:18:12.830 --> 00:18:16.270
I'm proud to report that
almost 30% or $30 million
00:18:16.270 --> 00:18:19.190
were spend in 2020 involved
diverse business enterprises
00:18:19.190 --> 00:18:22.250
led by women, minorities,
disabled veterans
00:18:22.250 --> 00:18:24.070
and the LGBT community,
00:18:24.070 --> 00:18:26.070
surpassing the 21
and a half percent goal
00:18:26.070 --> 00:18:27.280
set by the Commission.
00:18:27.280 --> 00:18:28.490
Next slide, please.
00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.570
We have recently updated our request
00:18:31.570 --> 00:18:34.000
as required by the Commission
based on the updates,
00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:37.180
the 2022 increase for the
typical residential customer
00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.570
it's proposed at 9.36%,
00:18:38.570 --> 00:18:41.170
and this is inclusive
of surcharges and fees,
00:18:41.170 --> 00:18:42.870
some of which are temporary.
00:18:42.870 --> 00:18:45.200
We do consider the
rate impact to customers
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.100
and have proposed
expenses and investments
00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:48.050
that we believe in-
00:18:48.050 --> 00:18:52.320
Mr. Tang, please slow
down as the court reporter
00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:54.770
is trying to catch
everything that is being said.
00:18:55.630 --> 00:18:56.463
Thank you.
00:18:56.463 --> 00:18:59.770
Yes, will do Your
Honor, my apologies.
00:18:59.770 --> 00:19:00.603
No problem.
00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:04.580
We do consider the
rate impact to customers
00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:06.703
and have proposed
expenses and investments
00:19:06.703 --> 00:19:09.440
that we believe are
necessary to deliver safe
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.410
and reliable water service.
00:19:11.410 --> 00:19:13.850
Given the choice, I would
rather have conversations
00:19:13.850 --> 00:19:16.410
where I can share information
on how San Jose Water
00:19:16.410 --> 00:19:18.920
is looking to deliver on
our public health mission
00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.690
and serve the next generation,
00:19:20.690 --> 00:19:23.670
than to have conversations
that many American communities
00:19:23.670 --> 00:19:25.370
are having about the consequences
00:19:25.370 --> 00:19:27.710
of not doing enough to
deliver on their mission.
00:19:27.710 --> 00:19:28.917
Next slide please.
00:19:30.760 --> 00:19:33.830
The key drivers in our
application are infrastructure
00:19:33.830 --> 00:19:38.140
or an M costs, taxes,
appreciation, and water charges.
00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:40.390
The infograph shows
how every dollar we collect
00:19:40.390 --> 00:19:42.370
from customers is broken down.
00:19:42.370 --> 00:19:44.820
Almost half, or 45 cents of every dollar
00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:46.830
goes to pay for water charges and taxes,
00:19:46.830 --> 00:19:48.743
both of which are beyond our control.
00:19:50.130 --> 00:19:52.830
Some customers have
inquired about process.
00:19:52.830 --> 00:19:54.870
The reality is that utility rates
00:19:54.870 --> 00:19:56.960
are not designed to turn a profit,
00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.600
rather, the rate making construct
00:19:58.600 --> 00:20:01.320
allows us to recover our
costs, reasonable expenses
00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:02.567
to deliver service
00:20:02.567 --> 00:20:05.210
and a fair return on the
investments we make.
00:20:05.210 --> 00:20:07.820
That return is reflected
in the cost of capital
00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:10.850
at 10 cents as shown on the dollar bill.
00:20:10.850 --> 00:20:12.007
Next slide please.
00:20:13.910 --> 00:20:16.520
This infographic comes
from our award-winning
00:20:16.520 --> 00:20:18.310
enterprise asset management plan
00:20:18.310 --> 00:20:20.680
proposed in our application.
00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:22.050
The plan provides a roadmap
00:20:22.050 --> 00:20:23.850
for where we should
focus our investments
00:20:23.850 --> 00:20:25.480
in the coming years.
00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:28.510
Any category that shows an
image other than a full circle
00:20:28.510 --> 00:20:31.410
points to areas where we
still have some work to do
00:20:31.410 --> 00:20:33.700
to ensure we can deliver
safe and reliable service
00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.120
for our customers.
00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:37.420
This includes our tanks and reservoirs,
00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:40.320
groundwater supply and water needs.
00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.810
The need for infrastructure investments
00:20:41.810 --> 00:20:43.610
is impacting the entire industry,
00:20:43.610 --> 00:20:46.810
the USCPA, the American
Waterworks Association
00:20:46.810 --> 00:20:48.850
and the American
Society of Civil Engineers
00:20:48.850 --> 00:20:52.403
all speak at length about these
challenges on their website.
00:20:53.370 --> 00:20:55.370
San Jose water is working
to address these challenges
00:20:55.370 --> 00:20:57.370
through our filings with the Commission.
00:20:58.430 --> 00:21:00.670
There's ample evidence
of the harm caused
00:21:00.670 --> 00:21:03.170
by deferred maintenance and
the tremendous collective risk
00:21:03.170 --> 00:21:05.790
we all face due to
the failure to invest in
00:21:05.790 --> 00:21:07.850
and improve our
infrastructure and utilities.
00:21:07.850 --> 00:21:09.047
Next slide please.
00:21:11.260 --> 00:21:14.710
Customers will often ask
or point to rate comparisons.
00:21:14.710 --> 00:21:15.980
Before speaking to this chart
00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:19.020
please know that these
comparisons are not very meaningful.
00:21:19.020 --> 00:21:20.890
Every utility will have different needs
00:21:20.890 --> 00:21:22.570
depending on the age, size
00:21:22.570 --> 00:21:24.450
and condition of their water system.
00:21:24.450 --> 00:21:26.970
It's very difficult to
paint broad conclusions
00:21:26.970 --> 00:21:29.490
without diving deeper into the details.
00:21:29.490 --> 00:21:32.040
A higher or low bill does
not necessarily mean
00:21:32.040 --> 00:21:34.900
you're receiving good or bad service.
00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:37.670
It's also inherently
unfair for me to weigh in
00:21:37.670 --> 00:21:41.000
on how any pure utility is
delivering on their mission,
00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.350
simply by looking at a bill comparison.
00:21:43.350 --> 00:21:45.590
Comparing rates or bills
in the manner shown here
00:21:45.590 --> 00:21:47.770
has been perceived as calling out a peer
00:21:47.770 --> 00:21:50.300
which I am no way doing.
00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:52.030
This chart shows that San Jose water
00:21:52.030 --> 00:21:54.510
does not have the
highest furloughs though.
00:21:54.510 --> 00:21:56.650
It also underscores
the infrastructure needs
00:21:56.650 --> 00:21:58.870
that utilities are grappling with.
00:21:58.870 --> 00:22:01.740
The bill for San Francisco
customers is largely driven
00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:04.090
by the San Francisco
Public Utility Commission's
00:22:04.090 --> 00:22:06.980
recently completed four
and a half billion dollar
00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:09.660
capital program to shore
up their water supply
00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:12.600
and infrastructure needs
for the next generation.
00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:15.690
Similarly, San Jose Water has
made significant investments
00:22:15.690 --> 00:22:18.050
in our water system
over the last decade,
00:22:18.050 --> 00:22:20.310
totalling more than a billion dollars.
00:22:20.310 --> 00:22:21.210
Next slide please.
00:22:23.170 --> 00:22:27.923
In closing, I wanna thank the
Commissioner, Cal Advocates
00:22:27.923 --> 00:22:31.080
and the Water Division and our customers
00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:35.260
for holding and participating
in this forum today.
00:22:35.260 --> 00:22:36.810
We know this is a difficult time
00:22:36.810 --> 00:22:38.977
and we'll absolutely continue
to support our customers
00:22:38.977 --> 00:22:42.490
and the community where
we live, work and serve.
00:22:42.490 --> 00:22:45.700
We also remain committed
to our public health mission
00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:47.700
to deliver safe and
reliable water service
00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:50.610
in the face of the pandemic
as well as other disasters
00:22:50.610 --> 00:22:54.444
stemming from wildfires,
droughts, floods, PSPS
00:22:54.444 --> 00:22:57.277
and (indistinct).
00:22:59.230 --> 00:23:01.600
Thank you, Mr. Tang.
00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.660
We will now hear
00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:05.500
from Public Advocates
Office representative.
00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:07.563
Mr. Yuen, please proceed.
00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:13.000
Good afternoon Commissioner
Guzman, Judge Lee
00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.200
and members of the public.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:17.830
My name is Pong Yuen
I'm here this afternoon
00:23:17.830 --> 00:23:20.770
representing the
public advocate's office
00:23:20.770 --> 00:23:24.520
at the California Public
Utilities Commission.
00:23:24.520 --> 00:23:28.240
The Public Advocate's Office
is an independent organization
00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:32.670
within the California
Public Utilities Commission.
00:23:32.670 --> 00:23:34.240
Our statutory mission
00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:39.240
is to obtain the lowest possible
utility rates for customers
00:23:39.300 --> 00:23:42.600
consistent with safe
and reliable service
00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:46.140
and meet the state's
environmental goals.
00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:50.650
We also strive to ensure
that no one is left behind
00:23:50.650 --> 00:23:54.950
and that all communities
have access to safe
00:23:54.950 --> 00:23:57.450
and affordable electric, gas,
00:23:57.450 --> 00:24:01.340
water and communications
utility services.
00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:03.350
I'm the lead coordinator
00:24:03.350 --> 00:24:07.360
in the current San Jose Water
Company's General Rate Case.
00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:11.260
And with me this afternoon
is Mukunda Dawadi
00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:16.080
the oversight supervisor of the case.
00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:18.380
Our team is currently reviewing
00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:23.380
the company's rate case
application to determine the fair,
00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:27.960
just and reasonable
expenses and water rates
00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:30.700
paid by San Jose's customers.
00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:35.700
We will have our report
with our recommendations
00:24:37.750 --> 00:24:40.700
to the Commission on May 25th.
00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:44.620
Our report will be
available for you to review
00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:48.730
on the Commission's
website after May 25th.
00:24:48.730 --> 00:24:52.620
I'm very pleased to see
many of you participating
00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:55.670
and attending those
meetings this afternoon.
00:24:55.670 --> 00:24:58.390
Your presence here is significant to us
00:24:58.390 --> 00:24:59.720
and we are looking forward
00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:03.240
to listening to your
comments and concerns.
00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:06.130
With that said, I want to emphasize now,
00:25:06.130 --> 00:25:08.910
this is your meeting to lend your voice
00:25:08.910 --> 00:25:11.470
and opinions and raise your concerns.
00:25:11.470 --> 00:25:13.940
We are very interested
to hear your views
00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.450
and thoughts on the case.
00:25:15.450 --> 00:25:16.283
Thank you.
00:25:17.890 --> 00:25:20.010
Thank you, Mr. Yuen.
00:25:20.010 --> 00:25:23.050
We will now hear from
Water Rates Advocates
00:25:23.050 --> 00:25:26.760
for Transparency, Equity, and
Sustainability representative,
00:25:26.760 --> 00:25:29.860
Ms. Benton Please proceed.
00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:33.880
Thank you, good afternoon
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:35.370
and Law Judge Lee.
00:25:35.370 --> 00:25:36.620
My name is Rita Benton,
00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:39.320
and I am one of the
co-founders of WRATES.
00:25:39.320 --> 00:25:42.330
I'd like to thank Law Judge
Lee for allowing WRATES
00:25:42.330 --> 00:25:45.720
to speak on behalf of the
rate payers of San Jose Water.
00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.130
Due to the five minute constraint,
00:25:47.130 --> 00:25:49.290
I will only be able to touch the surface
00:25:49.290 --> 00:25:52.500
of the many pressing issues
in this general rate case
00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:54.510
and how there are obvious inequities
00:25:54.510 --> 00:25:56.400
and sustainability issues,
00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.820
especially in our low-income
struggling communities.
00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:02.870
We, the rate payers are the
only members of this proceeding
00:26:02.870 --> 00:26:05.870
volunteering our unpaid time.
00:26:05.870 --> 00:26:08.280
The only reason it is
necessary for rate payers
00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:11.760
to be involved is because
rate payers have zero trust
00:26:11.760 --> 00:26:15.320
in San Jose Water and
all of its subsidiaries.
00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:18.480
And San Jose Water
continues to increase our rates
00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.130
at discriminatory, inequitable, obscure
00:26:22.130 --> 00:26:24.070
and unsustainable levels.
00:26:24.070 --> 00:26:28.050
The rate payers view the
CPUC as either complicit
00:26:28.050 --> 00:26:31.930
or enabling this behavior
by allowing the following,
00:26:31.930 --> 00:26:35.430
a multitude of single issue
rate making mechanisms,
00:26:35.430 --> 00:26:38.660
not subject to an
earnings test to recover
00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:43.070
the so-called lost revenues
such as SRM, drought surcharge,
00:26:43.070 --> 00:26:47.810
WCMA, Monetary style Ram,
balancing and memorandum accounts
00:26:47.810 --> 00:26:49.750
just to name a few.
00:26:49.750 --> 00:26:51.830
We urge the CPUC to not allow
00:26:51.830 --> 00:26:55.230
the over $18 million San Jose
Water Company is requesting
00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:58.400
in this GRC from under
collection in balancing
00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:02.363
and memorandum accounts
until an earnings test is applied.
00:27:03.290 --> 00:27:05.770
We implore the CPUC in this GRC
00:27:05.770 --> 00:27:08.920
to correct the previous
discriminatory drought surcharges
00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:11.300
applied only to residential customers.
00:27:11.300 --> 00:27:14.920
The CPUC should
allow no further recovery
00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:17.580
of capital investments for
the 62 million monitoring
00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:19.310
of water treatment plant
00:27:19.310 --> 00:27:22.680
which all San Jose Water
Company customers paid for.
00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:27.680
This plant has zero, zero
benefit for 90% of its customers
00:27:27.870 --> 00:27:29.810
and only provides seasonal water
00:27:29.810 --> 00:27:32.300
to the other 10% of its customers
00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:34.580
for less than six months out of the year
00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:39.020
and is currently completely
offline due to low water supply.
00:27:39.020 --> 00:27:43.830
The $117.3 million three-year
CapEx budget increase,
00:27:43.830 --> 00:27:46.620
which includes aggressive
pipeline replacement,
00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:48.710
discriminates against
low-income customers
00:27:48.710 --> 00:27:51.530
in ethnically and
age-diverse communities.
00:27:51.530 --> 00:27:53.540
The Commission should place a moratorium
00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:56.070
on nonessential infrastructure projects
00:27:56.070 --> 00:27:59.120
so these communities can reestablish.
00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:02.000
With the potential $2
trillion federal aid bill
00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.300
for infrastructure to pass Congress,
00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:06.650
San Jose Water Company
can use federal money
00:28:06.650 --> 00:28:09.610
for infrastructure,
not rate payer money.
00:28:09.610 --> 00:28:12.170
With potential drought
emergency being enacted
00:28:12.170 --> 00:28:15.100
by Governor Newsom,
potential drought surcharges
00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:17.096
invoked by San Jose Water Company,
00:28:17.096 --> 00:28:20.030
the federal moratorium
on bills not being paid
00:28:20.030 --> 00:28:23.320
coming to an end and
Valley Water increasing rates
00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:27.730
by nine to 10% annually,
this is a perfect storm
00:28:27.730 --> 00:28:29.740
for more low-income rate payers
00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.640
to fall further behind.
00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:34.120
Has the CPUC or San Jose Water Company
00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:36.530
applied for low-income home water funds
00:28:36.530 --> 00:28:38.963
to help COVID-19 impacted communities?
00:28:39.861 --> 00:28:43.330
San Jose Water Company's
customer base has not increased
00:28:43.330 --> 00:28:45.420
enough to warrant their request
00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:48.310
to increase staff with 29 new positions
00:28:48.310 --> 00:28:50.983
at a cost to rate
payers of $1.9 million.
00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:55.030
We request that the
CPUC stop the practice
00:28:55.030 --> 00:28:59.040
of being unduly influenced
by San Jose Water executives,
00:28:59.040 --> 00:29:01.420
attorneys, lobbyists, unions,
00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:03.830
special interest groups, et cetera.
00:29:03.830 --> 00:29:06.410
The rate payers continue
to be very concerned
00:29:06.410 --> 00:29:09.210
that the CPUC sets utilities goals
00:29:09.210 --> 00:29:12.250
higher than the rate
payers public interest issues.
00:29:12.250 --> 00:29:15.920
23,000 people in the
richest county in the nation
00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.240
are threatened with disconnection.
00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.670
San Jose Water Company
has already submitted
00:29:20.670 --> 00:29:22.870
their transition program plans.
00:29:22.870 --> 00:29:24.600
The communities that are targeted
00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:28.320
have 26 to 36% child poverty.
00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:30.090
In our opinion, year after year,
00:29:30.090 --> 00:29:32.160
San Jose Water Company achieves higher
00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.950
than authorized earnings,
00:29:33.950 --> 00:29:36.440
in part because of the
reasons I just stated
00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:39.710
and also because San Jose
Water presents misinformation,
00:29:39.710 --> 00:29:42.820
inaccurate assertions
half-truths and false
00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:46.890
and misleading claims to
rate payers and the CPUC.
00:29:46.890 --> 00:29:48.080
San Jose Water Company
00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:51.100
presented multiple inaccurate
assertions and false claims
00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:54.510
to the rate payers and CPUC
regarding the rate increase
00:29:54.510 --> 00:29:59.453
of a typical residential customer
in the previous 2018 GRC.
00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.010
Since the Flood 2018 GRC decision
00:30:03.010 --> 00:30:06.650
does not meet the
requirements of rule 12.1D,
00:30:06.650 --> 00:30:09.820
this current GRC should
contain recalculations
00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:13.360
which provide refunds to
rate payers for all the overages
00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:17.363
and a forensic audit should
also be ordered in this GRC.
00:30:18.350 --> 00:30:21.563
I'll end by saying 2020
has been quite a year,
00:30:22.760 --> 00:30:25.480
I personally lost my mother, my sister,
00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:27.970
and our family pet of 18 years,
00:30:27.970 --> 00:30:31.493
along with all the other
struggles of life and COVID-19.
00:30:32.350 --> 00:30:34.930
I'm sharing this personal
information to illustrate
00:30:34.930 --> 00:30:36.775
that the rate payers of San Jose Water
00:30:36.775 --> 00:30:40.010
have very busy,
trying, complicated lives
00:30:40.010 --> 00:30:42.310
with very little free time.
00:30:42.310 --> 00:30:44.470
I would like to acknowledge
all of the rate payers
00:30:44.470 --> 00:30:47.470
calling in today because
many are about to face
00:30:47.470 --> 00:30:51.000
having their water cut off
with drought, COVID illness
00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:53.030
and some with long haul syndrome,
00:30:53.030 --> 00:30:56.660
job loss and loss of loved ones like me.
00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:59.800
Our hope is that
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:02.500
and Law Judge Lee have
a better understanding
00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:04.950
of how the requests of San Jose Water
00:31:04.950 --> 00:31:08.500
and the decisions of the CPUC
negatively affect rate payers
00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:10.600
and the communities we live in.
00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:14.340
We remain hopeful that the
culture at the CPUC will change,
00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:16.810
utilities will be properly regulated,
00:31:16.810 --> 00:31:18.880
and the decisions for this GRC
00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:22.690
and future proceedings
are just and reasonable.
00:31:22.690 --> 00:31:23.890
Thank you for your time.
00:31:25.650 --> 00:31:26.963
Thank you, Ms. Benton.
00:31:28.828 --> 00:31:31.350
We will now turn to
public comment segment
00:31:31.350 --> 00:31:33.513
to hear from members of the public.
00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:37.980
To those who wish to speak, if
you have not done so already,
00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.630
please press star one on your phone
00:31:40.630 --> 00:31:44.730
and the operator will add
you to the queue of speakers.
00:31:44.730 --> 00:31:47.837
Based on the number of
speakers currently in queue
00:31:47.837 --> 00:31:52.050
and to ensure everyone has
the chance to provide comment,
00:31:52.050 --> 00:31:55.263
each speaker will have a
time limit of two minutes.
00:31:56.110 --> 00:31:59.223
A chime will sound when
the two minutes are up.
00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:03.320
A reminder to those
waiting on the phone,
00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:07.610
please speak slowly and
clearly so that the court reporter
00:32:07.610 --> 00:32:11.090
and the Spanish interpreter
can capture everything
00:32:11.090 --> 00:32:12.820
that is said.
00:32:12.820 --> 00:32:16.650
If you are commenting
in Spanish, please pause
00:32:16.650 --> 00:32:20.240
between each statement to
allow accurate interpretation
00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:23.160
of each statement
from Spanish to English
00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:25.530
without any overlap in speech
00:32:25.530 --> 00:32:29.173
between the Spanish
commenter and the interpreter.
00:32:30.020 --> 00:32:34.200
The court reporter can only
capture one speaker at a time,
00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:36.583
and what is spoken in English.
00:32:37.670 --> 00:32:39.960
Before you begin your comment,
00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:42.960
please state and spell your name,
00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:45.773
and if you like, the
city you are calling from.
00:32:47.049 --> 00:32:49.560
We will be able to hear you best
00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:54.030
if you speak directly into
your phone or headset.
00:32:54.030 --> 00:32:56.840
Please avoid having your
phone on speakerphone,
00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:58.843
when you are providing comments.
00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:05.433
Operator, are there any
public officials on the line?
00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:08.120
Not at this time.
00:33:09.490 --> 00:33:14.263
Thank you, please call the
first person in the queue then.
00:33:15.760 --> 00:33:18.880
The first comment
is from Aileen Gulesserian,
00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:20.423
your line is now open.
00:33:21.890 --> 00:33:26.890
My name is Aileen
Gulesserian that's A-I-L-E-E-N.
00:33:27.770 --> 00:33:32.770
Last name, Gulesserian,
G-U-L-E-S-S like Sam, E-R-I-A N.
00:33:34.190 --> 00:33:36.103
And I'm a resident of Los Gatos.
00:33:37.020 --> 00:33:41.150
I'm calling to ask the
CPUC to deny staff increase
00:33:41.150 --> 00:33:43.053
and reduce current staff.
00:33:44.070 --> 00:33:45.870
Dear Commissioner Guzman Aceves
00:33:45.870 --> 00:33:48.740
and Administrative Law Judge Lee,
00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:51.110
not only should the CPUC
00:33:51.110 --> 00:33:55.250
reject San Jose Water
Company's request to increase staff
00:33:55.250 --> 00:34:00.250
of 29 new positions at a cost
to rate payers of 1.9 million
00:34:00.820 --> 00:34:03.260
but CPUC should decrease
00:34:03.260 --> 00:34:05.960
San Jose Water Company's current staff
00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:08.580
and order a forensic audit.
00:34:08.580 --> 00:34:13.160
San Jose Water Group is using
San Jose Water Company staff
00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:15.220
for their Texas operation.
00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:17.860
San Jose Water Company's customer base
00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:22.010
has not increased to warrant
more staff and positions.
00:34:22.010 --> 00:34:24.380
And because the Montevina
Water Treatment Plant
00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:28.240
is currently offline positions
and staff at that plant
00:34:28.240 --> 00:34:30.110
are no longer needed.
00:34:30.110 --> 00:34:32.830
Also, during the extreme
cold winter weather
00:34:32.830 --> 00:34:36.240
experienced in Texas
San Jose Water Group,
00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:39.780
the parent company use
San Jose Water Company staff
00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:42.740
to field calls from Texas customers
00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:45.320
to assist with customer notifications
00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:49.670
as well as website, social
media and news media updates.
00:34:49.670 --> 00:34:54.240
Why is the CPUC allowing
San Jose Water Group
00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:57.860
to commingle their staff
with affiliate companies
00:34:57.860 --> 00:35:01.650
at San Jose Water
Company rate payer expense?
00:35:01.650 --> 00:35:03.150
We should not be paying
00:35:03.150 --> 00:35:06.810
for staff working for
any of the affiliates.
00:35:06.810 --> 00:35:10.520
The request for more staff
appears in other applications
00:35:10.520 --> 00:35:12.820
and memorandum account requests
00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:14.950
and should not only be rejected
00:35:14.950 --> 00:35:17.410
but this should trigger a forensic audit
00:35:17.410 --> 00:35:20.960
of San Jose Water Group
and all its subsidiaries.
00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.240
The Commission should reject
00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:25.980
San Jose Water Company's
request for more personnel,
00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:28.500
overtime expense and part-time labor
00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:30.930
and reduce current staff and positions
00:35:30.930 --> 00:35:33.240
and order a forensic audit.
00:35:33.240 --> 00:35:34.073
Thank you.
00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:38.693
Thank you, Ms. Gulesserian
for your comments.
00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:42.793
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
00:35:43.770 --> 00:35:46.560
The next
commenter is Jeffrey Bollini,
00:35:46.560 --> 00:35:48.003
your line is now open.
00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:52.020
Hi, my name
is Jeffrey Bollini.
00:35:52.020 --> 00:35:57.020
It's spelled J-E-F-F-R-E-Y B-O-L-L-I-N-I
00:35:59.660 --> 00:36:02.070
and I'm a resident of San Jose.
00:36:02.070 --> 00:36:04.240
I am a first-time
participant on these calls
00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:06.960
so a little nervous,
but I'm calling today
00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:09.410
because I wanted to voice my concerns
00:36:09.410 --> 00:36:11.956
that the rate increase is being done
00:36:11.956 --> 00:36:15.430
based on the service charge
00:36:15.430 --> 00:36:19.080
and a decrease to the water usage,
00:36:19.080 --> 00:36:21.640
I feel it should be the reverse.
00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:23.810
For somebody who's done a very good job
00:36:23.810 --> 00:36:26.670
of doing water conservation,
00:36:26.670 --> 00:36:31.480
I feel that people should be
charged more on what they use
00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:34.770
and less on just having
a general hookup.
00:36:34.770 --> 00:36:37.820
In my case, I looked at
my last two month bill,
00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:42.300
which was through March
4th, 80% of my service charge
00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:44.780
in water usage fees combined
00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:47.950
was towards service charge, that's $139.
00:36:47.950 --> 00:36:49.390
And mine was 139
00:36:49.390 --> 00:36:53.530
because I apparently have
a one-inch meter hookup
00:36:53.530 --> 00:36:57.060
even though I didn't ask for
one, that's what my home has.
00:36:57.060 --> 00:36:59.130
After this proposed rate increase,
00:36:59.130 --> 00:37:03.830
I recalculated what my
2022 rates would have been
00:37:03.830 --> 00:37:08.060
and it goes up by $47 for my hookup
00:37:08.060 --> 00:37:10.360
and this is for two months,
00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:14.480
and it goes down by only
$2 on my water usage.
00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:19.480
So it's now a ratio of 85% of
my hookup or service charge
00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:22.890
and 15% for my water usage.
00:37:22.890 --> 00:37:26.460
It just feels that for somebody
who's done such a good job
00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:30.820
of doing what the water
company and really the community
00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:33.800
has asked us to do,
which is conserve water
00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:38.140
that I would be getting hit
so hard on my hookup fee,
00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:42.320
my service fee, and that
people who are water hogs
00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:44.470
and run their sprinklers nonstop
00:37:44.470 --> 00:37:48.720
are actually getting the benefit
of some amount of discount.
00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:52.590
I can see that over 18
CCF it's an actual increase
00:37:52.590 --> 00:37:53.610
and it's pretty sizable
00:37:53.610 --> 00:37:56.560
but still I think it
should be all targeted
00:37:56.560 --> 00:38:01.470
towards your water usage
and not towards your hookup.
00:38:01.470 --> 00:38:03.920
And that concludes what
I wish to say, thank you.
00:38:06.198 --> 00:38:07.198
Thank you.
00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:14.900
Operator, please next commenter.
00:38:16.350 --> 00:38:18.760
The next
commenter is David Bini.
00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:20.293
Your line is now open.
00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:25.287
Thank you, David
Bini, last name B-I-N-I
00:38:25.287 --> 00:38:27.040
and a resident of San Jose
00:38:27.040 --> 00:38:30.760
and I am a customer of San Jose Water.
00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:33.120
I'm the Executive
Director of the Santa Clara
00:38:33.120 --> 00:38:36.680
and San Benito Counties
Building and Trades Council,
00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:37.920
and on behalf of the council,
00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:39.680
I would like to provide comments
00:38:39.680 --> 00:38:42.760
on this General Rate Case Application.
00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:46.320
The water industry is currently
facing a critical challenge
00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:48.510
involving the need to
replace infrastructure
00:38:48.510 --> 00:38:51.090
that was constructed a generation ago.
00:38:51.090 --> 00:38:52.760
And this is compounded
00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:56.830
by increasingly stringent
water quality regulations
00:38:56.830 --> 00:38:58.550
and water supply challenges
00:38:58.550 --> 00:39:01.180
that are stemming from climate change.
00:39:01.180 --> 00:39:03.450
These challenges have
been well-documented
00:39:03.450 --> 00:39:05.873
in President Biden's
infrastructure plan.
00:39:06.740 --> 00:39:08.930
San Jose Water is not
immune to these challenges
00:39:08.930 --> 00:39:10.810
and is working to address them
00:39:10.810 --> 00:39:12.800
through their filings
with the Commission.
00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:16.350
Their goal has and
continues to rest on the ability
00:39:16.350 --> 00:39:18.570
to deliver on their
public health mission
00:39:18.570 --> 00:39:20.710
through the provision
of safe, high-quality
00:39:20.710 --> 00:39:24.550
and reliable water service,
which I think we all understand
00:39:24.550 --> 00:39:26.500
that that's something we need.
00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:28.640
The investments that
San Jose Water proposes
00:39:28.640 --> 00:39:32.490
support well-paying jobs
for members of this council
00:39:32.490 --> 00:39:34.040
and for residents of this area.
00:39:35.040 --> 00:39:36.150
San Jose Water is investing
00:39:36.150 --> 00:39:37.730
about a hundred million dollars a year
00:39:37.730 --> 00:39:41.630
in their water system, they
replace wells, tanks and mains.
00:39:41.630 --> 00:39:46.050
These investments directly
provide 41 jobs for our members,
00:39:46.050 --> 00:39:48.280
in addition, for every $1 million
00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:52.390
invested in water
infrastructure over nine indirect
00:39:52.390 --> 00:39:54.570
and induced jobs are created,
00:39:54.570 --> 00:39:56.530
and that's according
to the economic benefits
00:39:56.530 --> 00:39:58.960
of investing in water infrastructure,
00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:02.260
which was published by the
Value of Water Campaign.
00:40:02.260 --> 00:40:06.250
All told San Jose Water
investments create almost 1000 jobs
00:40:06.250 --> 00:40:08.250
for our members and the public at large.
00:40:09.190 --> 00:40:11.550
San Jose Water is also
committed to serving their customers
00:40:11.550 --> 00:40:13.360
and supporting their community,
00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:15.920
they're working daily to
help customers manage bills
00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:20.470
including a very flexible payment plans,
00:40:20.470 --> 00:40:25.070
a 15% discount program
for income-eligible customers
00:40:25.070 --> 00:40:27.160
and other assistance programs.
00:40:27.160 --> 00:40:29.520
The company also increased its support
00:40:29.520 --> 00:40:33.040
for nonprofit organizations
including homeless shelters,
00:40:33.040 --> 00:40:35.410
food banks and health organizations
00:40:35.410 --> 00:40:37.290
to provide direct assistance
00:40:37.290 --> 00:40:40.343
to those most effected by
the pandemic in the past year.
00:40:42.140 --> 00:40:45.200
In summary our council
supports San Jose Water's efforts
00:40:45.200 --> 00:40:48.230
to ensure continued
delivery of safe, high-quality
00:40:48.230 --> 00:40:50.575
and reliable water
service to the residents
00:40:50.575 --> 00:40:54.410
of Santa Clara Valley as
they have for over 154 years.
00:40:54.410 --> 00:40:55.243
Thank you.
00:40:56.490 --> 00:40:57.903
Thank you, Mr. Bini.
00:41:01.411 --> 00:41:05.050
Operator, are there any
public officials on the line?
00:41:05.050 --> 00:41:07.140
None at this time.
00:41:07.140 --> 00:41:10.683
Thank you, Operator, please
introduce the next commenter.
00:41:11.520 --> 00:41:15.100
The next
commenter is Patricia Blevins.
00:41:15.100 --> 00:41:16.900
Your line is now open.
00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.920
Thank you.
00:41:17.920 --> 00:41:22.920
That's Patricia P-A-T-R-I-C-I-A,
Blevins B like boy
00:41:24.390 --> 00:41:27.433
L-E-V, like Victor, I-N-S.
00:41:28.710 --> 00:41:30.740
The CPUC has allowed San Jose Water
00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:32.500
to charge a monthly service charge,
00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:35.500
according to the size
pipe exiting the water meter
00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:39.100
which can vary from five,
eight inch to 10 inches.
00:41:39.100 --> 00:41:41.110
On my last bill, the service charge
00:41:41.110 --> 00:41:43.170
was twice the amount I was charged
00:41:43.170 --> 00:41:45.470
for the actual water used.
00:41:45.470 --> 00:41:49.260
I currently pay $500 a
year for the service charge
00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:51.053
on a three-quarter inch water pipe.
00:41:51.930 --> 00:41:56.690
If the CPUC approved San
Jose Water is 2022 GRC,
00:41:56.690 --> 00:42:01.470
by 2024 I will pay $719 per year,
00:42:01.470 --> 00:42:05.610
and that's before I am charged
one single drop of water.
00:42:05.610 --> 00:42:07.430
How does the CPUC consider
00:42:07.430 --> 00:42:11.210
this so-called service
charge fair and just?
00:42:11.210 --> 00:42:14.330
And the CPUC allow San
Jose Water charges customers
00:42:14.330 --> 00:42:16.530
according to the size
of their water meter pipe,
00:42:16.530 --> 00:42:20.360
i.e. five eight-inch to 10 inches.
00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:24.700
By 2024, San Jose Water wants to charge
00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:28.950
those with one-inch water
meter pipes, $1,200 per year
00:42:28.950 --> 00:42:33.660
and those with 10-inch
pipes, $55,000 per year
00:42:33.660 --> 00:42:37.590
and again, that's before one
single drop of water is used.
00:42:37.590 --> 00:42:40.830
In 2012, Governor Brown signed AB 685
00:42:40.830 --> 00:42:43.660
which states that every human being
00:42:43.660 --> 00:42:45.840
has the right to safe,
clean, affordable,
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:48.610
and accessible water,
adequate for human consumption,
00:42:48.610 --> 00:42:50.630
cooking and sanitary purposes.
00:42:50.630 --> 00:42:53.710
The law requires state
agencies like the CPUC
00:42:53.710 --> 00:42:55.470
to consider the right to water
00:42:55.470 --> 00:42:57.863
when establishing
policies and regulations.
00:42:59.050 --> 00:43:00.430
With San Jose Water's ability
00:43:00.430 --> 00:43:02.440
to spend 1 billion plus dollars
00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:05.430
in the recent purchase of
Connecticut Water Company
00:43:05.430 --> 00:43:07.830
it has proven it does
not need more money
00:43:07.830 --> 00:43:09.350
from its rate payers,
00:43:09.350 --> 00:43:13.390
it's quite solvent and capable
of covering its own expenses.
00:43:13.390 --> 00:43:15.950
Therefore, I am asking the CPUC
00:43:15.950 --> 00:43:20.950
to completely deny San Jose
Waters, 2022 General Rate Case.
00:43:21.020 --> 00:43:21.853
Thank you.
00:43:24.150 --> 00:43:27.200
Thank you, Ms. Blevins
for your comments.
00:43:27.200 --> 00:43:30.263
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
00:43:31.260 --> 00:43:33.820
The next
commenter is Tony Loeb,
00:43:33.820 --> 00:43:36.170
your line is now open.
00:43:36.170 --> 00:43:38.620
Yes, Commissioner
Guzman Aceves
00:43:38.620 --> 00:43:41.210
and Administrative Law Judge Lee,
00:43:41.210 --> 00:43:45.761
My name is Tony Loeb,
last name L-O-E-B as in boy.
00:43:45.761 --> 00:43:47.337
I am a resident of San Jose
00:43:47.337 --> 00:43:50.023
and a current customer of
San Jose Water Company.
00:43:50.943 --> 00:43:51.947
Mr. Loeb.
00:43:51.947 --> 00:43:53.320
Can you hear me okay?
00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:54.910
So yes.
00:43:54.910 --> 00:43:58.270
Mr. Loeb, please spell
your first name as well.
00:43:58.270 --> 00:44:00.623
All right, Tony T-O-N-Y.
00:44:02.100 --> 00:44:02.933
Thank you.
00:44:02.933 --> 00:44:05.960
Okay, the Montevina
Water Treatment Plant
00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:08.830
capital investment recovery
was already mentioned
00:44:08.830 --> 00:44:10.910
in rate's opening statements,
00:44:10.910 --> 00:44:13.340
but it is worth elaborating on.
00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:15.500
San Jose Water
Company has actually spent
00:44:15.500 --> 00:44:20.500
over $73 million on the
Montevina Water Treatment Plant,
00:44:21.970 --> 00:44:26.530
which all San Jose Water
Company customers have paid for.
00:44:26.530 --> 00:44:29.720
This plant has been a boondoggle
for San Jose Water Company
00:44:29.720 --> 00:44:33.380
with zero benefits for
90% of its customers
00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:35.370
and it provides only seasonal water
00:44:35.370 --> 00:44:37.470
to the other 10% of its customers,
00:44:37.470 --> 00:44:39.723
less than six months out of the year.
00:44:41.512 --> 00:44:43.610
It is currently completely offline,
00:44:43.610 --> 00:44:48.140
due to low water supply and
could potentially be off line
00:44:48.140 --> 00:44:53.140
long-term if we receive
significant rainfall
00:44:54.270 --> 00:44:56.960
to (indistinct).
00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:59.070
The Montevina Water Treatment Plant
00:44:59.070 --> 00:45:02.700
is not in the best
interest of the rate payer
00:45:02.700 --> 00:45:05.175
it is inequitable and discriminatory
00:45:05.175 --> 00:45:09.030
and it is a contributing
factor to our increased rates.
00:45:09.030 --> 00:45:12.453
It is particularly detrimental
to low-income communities.
00:45:14.080 --> 00:45:16.210
We, rate payers are
left scratching our heads
00:45:16.210 --> 00:45:18.420
as to why the Commission ever approved
00:45:18.420 --> 00:45:22.510
such extravagant upgrade
with an excessive price tag
00:45:22.510 --> 00:45:25.190
with very little benefit
to only a few customers
00:45:25.190 --> 00:45:29.380
for a short period of time,
all current and future requests
00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:33.600
from San Jose Water Company
to recover capital investments
00:45:33.600 --> 00:45:36.300
for this plant should be denied.
00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:38.160
Furthermore, there
should be a complete audit
00:45:38.160 --> 00:45:41.510
of all previous CPUC authorizations
00:45:41.510 --> 00:45:43.210
for San Jose Water Company
00:45:43.210 --> 00:45:46.690
to recover the capital
investments for this plant.
00:45:46.690 --> 00:45:50.670
We, the rate payers request
that the Commission in this GRC
00:45:50.670 --> 00:45:53.010
order a refund for
the millions of dollars
00:45:53.010 --> 00:45:56.530
rate payers were charged in
order for San Jose Water Company
00:45:56.530 --> 00:45:58.460
to recover the capital investments
00:45:58.460 --> 00:46:00.270
for this water treatment plant.
00:46:00.270 --> 00:46:01.475
Thank you very much.
00:46:01.475 --> 00:46:04.210
(bell chiming)
00:46:04.210 --> 00:46:08.370
Thank you, Mr. Loeb,
for your comments.
00:46:08.370 --> 00:46:11.540
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter
00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:15.780
The next
commenter is Edward Turner,
00:46:15.780 --> 00:46:17.213
your line is now open.
00:46:18.080 --> 00:46:19.680
Thank you,
I'm Edward Turner
00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:24.680
E-D-W-A-R-D T-U-R-N-E-R
a resident of Monte Sereno,
00:46:25.490 --> 00:46:29.340
and I am representing
a group of local residents
00:46:29.340 --> 00:46:32.030
that are lobbying our county council
00:46:32.030 --> 00:46:34.420
to get rid of San Jose Water
00:46:34.420 --> 00:46:38.100
in favor of municipal water utility.
00:46:38.100 --> 00:46:42.270
Water is a basic human right,
these rapidly increasing costs
00:46:42.270 --> 00:46:44.070
that we are seeing from San Jose Water
00:46:44.070 --> 00:46:46.920
are making the product
no longer affordable.
00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:50.590
The rate increases the
CPUC is allowing the company
00:46:50.590 --> 00:46:52.370
to charge are negatively affecting
00:46:52.370 --> 00:46:57.030
all the customers, the
environment, and especially seniors,
00:46:57.030 --> 00:47:01.220
the low-income and
child-impoverished communities.
00:47:01.220 --> 00:47:04.570
In 2010, the so-called typical customer
00:47:04.570 --> 00:47:08.610
with a three-quarter inch
meter using 11 CCF water
00:47:08.610 --> 00:47:11.450
was paying $88 every two months.
00:47:11.450 --> 00:47:13.990
In 2015 that typical customer
00:47:13.990 --> 00:47:17.080
was paying $130 every two months.
00:47:17.080 --> 00:47:21.030
Currently the typical
customer is paying $188
00:47:21.030 --> 00:47:22.240
every two months.
00:47:22.240 --> 00:47:24.920
In 10 years our rates
have more than doubled
00:47:24.920 --> 00:47:28.520
in the last five years
since the WRATES group
00:47:28.520 --> 00:47:32.130
has actively been involved
in trying to get the CPUC
00:47:32.130 --> 00:47:34.980
to reign in the center the
water company's increases,
00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:38.300
our rates have increased more than 45%.
00:47:38.300 --> 00:47:42.130
It just doesn't appear that
the CPUC is hearing us.
00:47:42.130 --> 00:47:46.380
Has the CPUC looked any
further back than the current GRC
00:47:46.380 --> 00:47:48.350
to understand just how rapidly
00:47:48.350 --> 00:47:51.430
and unsustainable our
rates are increasing?
00:47:51.430 --> 00:47:54.690
Due to COVID-19 many
people have lost their jobs,
00:47:54.690 --> 00:47:56.300
seniors on fixed incomes
00:47:56.300 --> 00:47:58.810
have not seen their
social security double,
00:47:58.810 --> 00:48:01.960
low-income communities have
not seen their incomes double,
00:48:01.960 --> 00:48:04.680
the general public has not
seeing their incomes double,
00:48:04.680 --> 00:48:07.710
yet the CPUC continues
to allow San Jose Water
00:48:07.710 --> 00:48:09.780
to make water unaffordable.
00:48:09.780 --> 00:48:11.770
The Commissioners can no longer regulate
00:48:11.770 --> 00:48:13.480
under the assumption that the Utilities
00:48:13.480 --> 00:48:17.050
know the industry best and
therefore what they request
00:48:17.050 --> 00:48:19.270
is in the best interest
of the rate payers.
00:48:19.270 --> 00:48:21.260
San Jose Water as a company
00:48:21.260 --> 00:48:24.250
is not looking out for the
best interest of the rate payers,
00:48:24.250 --> 00:48:27.220
they're looking out for San
Jose Water and its shareholders.
00:48:27.220 --> 00:48:29.270
And I have looked at their financials,
00:48:29.270 --> 00:48:31.720
and going back five years
00:48:31.720 --> 00:48:34.420
I expected to find a stodgy old utility
00:48:34.420 --> 00:48:36.520
and what I found was a growth company.
00:48:36.520 --> 00:48:39.510
They've got a price
earnings ratio around 45,
00:48:39.510 --> 00:48:41.073
probably three times
what it needs to be.
00:48:41.073 --> 00:48:42.600
(bell chiming)
00:48:42.600 --> 00:48:44.670
Thanks.
Mr. Turner.
00:48:44.670 --> 00:48:45.810
Yes.
00:48:45.810 --> 00:48:47.463
Thank you for your comments.
00:48:48.600 --> 00:48:51.633
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
00:49:00.040 --> 00:49:00.883
Operator?
00:49:02.120 --> 00:49:04.530
Thank you, Mr. Turner,
for your comments,
00:49:04.530 --> 00:49:07.970
Operator please introduce
the next commenter.
00:49:07.970 --> 00:49:08.900
Yes, thank you,
00:49:08.900 --> 00:49:12.013
our next comment comes from
Tim McRae, your line is open.
00:49:13.970 --> 00:49:16.550
Thank you, my
name is Tim McRae,
00:49:16.550 --> 00:49:20.853
T-I-M M-C-R-A-E.
00:49:22.220 --> 00:49:25.010
Thank you Commissioner
Guzman Aceves and Judge Lee
00:49:25.010 --> 00:49:26.400
for the opportunity to speak.
00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:29.220
I work on behalf of the Silicon
Valley Leadership Group,
00:49:29.220 --> 00:49:31.860
where I'm the Vice President
for Energy and Environment,
00:49:31.860 --> 00:49:36.480
we represent over 370 member
companies in Silicon Valley.
00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:38.190
San Jose Water's application
00:49:38.190 --> 00:49:40.580
promotes water supply reliability
00:49:40.580 --> 00:49:43.000
and infrastructure modernization.
00:49:43.000 --> 00:49:45.970
The company has
delivered safe, high quality
00:49:45.970 --> 00:49:50.680
and reliable water service
to the Valley since 1866.
00:49:50.680 --> 00:49:53.090
Today San Jose Water is responsible
00:49:53.090 --> 00:49:55.840
for more than 2,400 miles of pipes
00:49:55.840 --> 00:49:58.470
and other critical water infrastructure,
00:49:58.470 --> 00:50:02.310
much of which was
constructed over 50 years ago.
00:50:02.310 --> 00:50:05.300
More than $1 billion in
system improvements
00:50:05.300 --> 00:50:07.840
have been spent so
far in the last decade,
00:50:07.840 --> 00:50:10.960
and additional investments
require increases
00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:12.870
in water rates to help pay
00:50:12.870 --> 00:50:16.060
for continued system improvements.
00:50:16.060 --> 00:50:17.390
These investments have resulted
00:50:17.390 --> 00:50:21.200
in a resilient water system
that has and continues
00:50:21.200 --> 00:50:23.890
to provide safe and reliable service
00:50:23.890 --> 00:50:28.870
through wildfires, floods, power
outages, and the pandemic.
00:50:28.870 --> 00:50:31.170
They're critical to San
Jose Water's ability
00:50:31.170 --> 00:50:34.700
to deliver on their public
health protection mission.
00:50:34.700 --> 00:50:37.320
These investments in
local water infrastructure
00:50:37.320 --> 00:50:39.990
also create hundreds of jobs locally
00:50:39.990 --> 00:50:41.580
and help ensure resiliency
00:50:41.580 --> 00:50:44.760
and reliability for future generations.
00:50:44.760 --> 00:50:47.360
There is ample evidence
of the harm caused
00:50:47.360 --> 00:50:51.180
by deferred maintenance and
the tremendous collective risks
00:50:51.180 --> 00:50:54.190
we all face due to
the failure to invest in
00:50:54.190 --> 00:50:57.350
and improve our
infrastructure and utilities.
00:50:57.350 --> 00:50:59.860
Now is the time to best implement
00:50:59.860 --> 00:51:02.760
these necessary changes
to improve our water supply
00:51:02.760 --> 00:51:04.860
and distribution system.
00:51:04.860 --> 00:51:06.870
The Leadership Group
and I should mentioned,
00:51:06.870 --> 00:51:08.630
I live in San Jose,
00:51:08.630 --> 00:51:12.070
recognizes that some
customers are facing difficulties
00:51:12.070 --> 00:51:13.810
during this pandemic.
00:51:13.810 --> 00:51:16.320
We know that San Jose
Water is working daily
00:51:16.320 --> 00:51:18.730
to help customers manage their bills
00:51:18.730 --> 00:51:22.670
including flexible payment
plans, a 15% discount program
00:51:22.670 --> 00:51:26.860
for income eligible customers
and other assistance programs.
00:51:26.860 --> 00:51:29.610
The Leadership Group
supports San Jose Water efforts
00:51:29.610 --> 00:51:33.440
to ensure continued
delivery of safe, high-quality
00:51:33.440 --> 00:51:36.720
and reliable water service to
Santa Clara Valley residents
00:51:36.720 --> 00:51:38.370
as proposed in their application.
00:51:40.260 --> 00:51:41.093
Thank you.
00:51:43.950 --> 00:51:45.313
Thank you, Mr. McRae.
00:51:46.570 --> 00:51:50.133
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
00:51:51.570 --> 00:51:54.690
Our next comment
comes from Brian Berkeley,
00:51:54.690 --> 00:51:55.713
Your line is open.
00:51:57.920 --> 00:52:00.620
Thank you, my
name is Brian Berkeley,
00:52:00.620 --> 00:52:05.620
B-R-I-A-N, last name is
Berkeley, B-E-R-K-E-L-E-Y,
00:52:07.070 --> 00:52:08.253
like the university.
00:52:09.580 --> 00:52:12.550
Thank you to the Commission
for the opportunity to speak
00:52:12.550 --> 00:52:15.640
on behalf of San Jose Waters customers
00:52:15.640 --> 00:52:20.640
in Saratoga, Cupertino,
Monte Sereno, Los Gatos
00:52:20.760 --> 00:52:22.950
and of course, San Jose.
00:52:22.950 --> 00:52:24.610
San Jose Water is very skilled
00:52:24.610 --> 00:52:27.410
at presenting rate
case increase requests.
00:52:27.410 --> 00:52:29.080
However, I urge the Commission
00:52:29.080 --> 00:52:31.370
to reject this latest request,
00:52:31.370 --> 00:52:33.770
which is nothing short of outrageous.
00:52:33.770 --> 00:52:35.820
Please consider the following.
00:52:35.820 --> 00:52:38.420
I have tracked my
water rates over the years
00:52:38.420 --> 00:52:40.610
and these have been
included as an exhibit
00:52:40.610 --> 00:52:42.350
in the public comment.
00:52:42.350 --> 00:52:44.930
As already noted by
other members of the public
00:52:44.930 --> 00:52:46.960
San Jose Water's increases
00:52:46.960 --> 00:52:49.310
have far outstripped
the rate of inflation
00:52:49.310 --> 00:52:52.270
and they fail any test
for reasonableness.
00:52:52.270 --> 00:52:54.840
Even without any rate
increase as proposed,
00:52:54.840 --> 00:52:58.720
we, rate payers are already
charged a 30% premium
00:52:58.720 --> 00:53:02.010
over neighboring utilities
as already documented well
00:53:02.010 --> 00:53:02.943
by Mr. Tang.
00:53:04.465 --> 00:53:06.090
San Jose Water Company
has recorded higher
00:53:06.090 --> 00:53:07.360
than authorized profits
00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:09.770
and their executives are highly paid,
00:53:09.770 --> 00:53:11.270
a full accounting should be conducted
00:53:11.270 --> 00:53:12.990
by the Commission in order to understand
00:53:12.990 --> 00:53:16.110
why San Jose Water
benchmarks so unfavorably
00:53:16.110 --> 00:53:18.110
compared to neighboring water companies.
00:53:19.130 --> 00:53:21.240
In addition, San Jose
Water is unresponsive
00:53:21.240 --> 00:53:22.750
to customer concerns.
00:53:22.750 --> 00:53:25.020
An elderly neighbor of
mine called San Jose Water
00:53:25.020 --> 00:53:28.110
to express concerns over
skyrocketing water rates.
00:53:28.110 --> 00:53:29.660
My neighbor was asked where she lives
00:53:29.660 --> 00:53:31.910
and she explained that
she lives in Saratoga.
00:53:32.880 --> 00:53:34.700
The San Jose Water representative said
00:53:34.700 --> 00:53:37.190
and I quote, "Oh, you live in Saratoga,
00:53:37.190 --> 00:53:39.507
Why are you concerned
about water rates?"
00:53:41.030 --> 00:53:43.380
Such a position is nothing
less than arrogance.
00:53:44.410 --> 00:53:46.340
While, executives have
received large payouts
00:53:46.340 --> 00:53:49.640
and spent irresponsibly,
the company has no incentive
00:53:49.640 --> 00:53:52.200
to manage itself in an efficient way.
00:53:52.200 --> 00:53:55.570
We call upon the CPUC to
conduct a complete forensic audit
00:53:55.570 --> 00:53:58.410
and to disallow any further
rate increase requests
00:53:58.410 --> 00:54:00.820
until San Jose Water's
efficiency and finances
00:54:00.820 --> 00:54:02.343
can be carefully analyzed.
00:54:03.235 --> 00:54:04.068
Thank you.
00:54:05.234 --> 00:54:06.543
Thank you, Mr. Berkeley.
00:54:07.760 --> 00:54:10.363
Operator, any public
official on the line?
00:54:12.830 --> 00:54:13.980
No, ma'am,
00:54:13.980 --> 00:54:16.080
there is no public
officials at this time.
00:54:17.660 --> 00:54:18.960
Thank you Operator.
00:54:18.960 --> 00:54:20.993
Please introduce the next commenter.
00:54:22.600 --> 00:54:25.890
Our next comment
comes from Stanford Stickney,
00:54:25.890 --> 00:54:26.833
your line is open.
00:54:28.250 --> 00:54:30.750
Hello, my
name is Stanford Stickney,
00:54:30.750 --> 00:54:35.750
S-T-A-N-F-O-R-D, last name
Stickney, S-T-I-C-K-N-E-Y,
00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:38.340
live in Los Gatos.
00:54:38.340 --> 00:54:40.150
We live in the mountains.
00:54:40.150 --> 00:54:43.050
Mr, Stickney can you
please speak slower
00:54:43.050 --> 00:54:47.190
as this is being interpreted
simultaneously as you speak.
00:54:47.190 --> 00:54:49.020
I'm mindful
of the time limit
00:54:49.020 --> 00:54:51.053
and wanna make sure I'm able to share.
00:54:52.480 --> 00:54:54.020
I understand.
00:54:54.020 --> 00:54:57.993
We have lived in
the same home since 1950s.
00:54:59.380 --> 00:55:03.660
We have a two-inch
line, there are two homes
00:55:03.660 --> 00:55:06.390
that are connected to the same bill.
00:55:06.390 --> 00:55:09.403
In the 1950s that bill was $18,
00:55:10.250 --> 00:55:13.413
today in the summer that
bill can be over $3,000.
00:55:15.190 --> 00:55:17.760
To what end do the increases go?
00:55:17.760 --> 00:55:20.880
And why are we penalized,
the one who's lived here
00:55:20.880 --> 00:55:22.503
and is just trying to survive?
00:55:24.010 --> 00:55:26.210
The 18% is not really reflective
00:55:26.210 --> 00:55:29.420
of the true cost that's born on us.
00:55:29.420 --> 00:55:34.143
If you look at the 6% unit
or the six units at $3.77,
00:55:34.980 --> 00:55:38.463
the next up to 30
units, is a 50% increase,
00:55:39.391 --> 00:55:40.900
that's our current day.
00:55:40.900 --> 00:55:45.900
And then after that jump it's
another 33% to over $6.75.
00:55:46.330 --> 00:55:50.110
If you start at the 3.77 to
the end of a higher charge,
00:55:50.110 --> 00:55:52.133
it's over doubling our rate.
00:55:54.350 --> 00:55:56.560
To what end do we
have these increases for?
00:55:56.560 --> 00:55:59.000
Why are we penalized
for simply existing?
00:55:59.000 --> 00:56:01.410
Why are we not charging new people
00:56:02.270 --> 00:56:04.670
as opposed to those who
are simply trying to survive
00:56:04.670 --> 00:56:05.503
and get by?
00:56:06.810 --> 00:56:08.170
If there was an open market
00:56:08.170 --> 00:56:12.470
and we had a choice to choose
another alternative we would
00:56:12.470 --> 00:56:14.750
but we're not given that ability.
00:56:14.750 --> 00:56:16.880
So in effect, we are held hostage
00:56:17.840 --> 00:56:20.633
and that is not right,
nor is it appropriate.
00:56:21.690 --> 00:56:24.290
We are asking for
equity of quality of life
00:56:24.290 --> 00:56:28.900
so that we can live and
survive and the current charges
00:56:28.900 --> 00:56:31.333
make it extremely prohibited to do so.
00:56:32.390 --> 00:56:36.410
We ask for justice, we ask for equality
00:56:36.410 --> 00:56:38.750
and fairness for those
who have lived here
00:56:38.750 --> 00:56:40.563
to be able to continue to do so.
00:56:43.050 --> 00:56:45.790
I thank you for your
time and consideration,
00:56:45.790 --> 00:56:49.090
and we ask for some
consideration to be made
00:56:49.090 --> 00:56:50.650
for those who have lived here
00:56:50.650 --> 00:56:52.960
and for some formal grandfather clause
00:56:52.960 --> 00:56:54.593
so we can continue to do so.
00:56:56.370 --> 00:56:58.870
We have a right to exist and to live
00:56:58.870 --> 00:57:00.780
and not be pushed out of our homes
00:57:00.780 --> 00:57:02.480
by the mere fact that we are here.
00:57:05.640 --> 00:57:07.460
We did not choose where
we live, but nonetheless
00:57:07.460 --> 00:57:09.710
we were born here,
raised here, lived here,
00:57:09.710 --> 00:57:11.450
God willing, we'll die here.
00:57:11.450 --> 00:57:12.531
Let us have that opportunity.
00:57:12.531 --> 00:57:15.114
(bell chiming)
00:57:19.490 --> 00:57:22.773
Thank you, Mr. Stickney
for your comments.
00:57:23.640 --> 00:57:27.633
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
00:57:29.920 --> 00:57:31.920
We do
have a public official
00:57:31.920 --> 00:57:33.400
that has called in.
00:57:34.480 --> 00:57:37.423
Please introduce
the public official, then.
00:57:38.850 --> 00:57:42.163
It's Rishi
Kumar, your line is open.
00:57:44.420 --> 00:57:48.000
Okay, thank you so
much, it's great to be here.
00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:50.803
My name is Rishi
Kumar, I'm gonna spell it.
00:57:51.710 --> 00:57:56.710
R-I-S-H-I, last name K-U-M-A-R.
00:57:58.790 --> 00:58:01.830
And I'm a council member
here in the city of Saratoga,
00:58:01.830 --> 00:58:05.570
in my second term, and
I've been pushing back
00:58:05.570 --> 00:58:08.663
these water rate increases since 2016.
00:58:09.810 --> 00:58:13.320
It is a significant problem
for a million people,
00:58:13.320 --> 00:58:15.520
and I've actually spent
like hundreds of hours
00:58:15.520 --> 00:58:19.463
working towards pushing back
this water challenge on hand.
00:58:20.320 --> 00:58:24.960
I really appreciate the
support of our rate payers
00:58:24.960 --> 00:58:28.490
in helping reject to reduce the suspense
00:58:28.490 --> 00:58:31.210
eight water rate increases,
00:58:31.210 --> 00:58:33.680
and I do wanna thank our Commissioners,
00:58:33.680 --> 00:58:38.520
our water division, public
advocates office, for engaging
00:58:38.520 --> 00:58:41.383
and being hinged to the
concern that we are raising.
00:58:42.750 --> 00:58:47.750
I also wanna thank everyone
who's here to wipe our concerns,
00:58:47.800 --> 00:58:49.460
let us continue to engage
00:58:49.460 --> 00:58:51.660
our collective voice
will make a difference.
00:58:52.500 --> 00:58:54.670
So let's talk a little bit
about the pandemic,
00:58:54.670 --> 00:58:58.350
it has a totally overwhelmed people
00:58:58.350 --> 00:59:01.710
and I really like what the
Santa Clara County has done
00:59:01.710 --> 00:59:03.790
in overwhelming circumstances
00:59:03.790 --> 00:59:05.680
and rolling out like
drive-through clinics
00:59:05.680 --> 00:59:08.220
for testing, vaccination
much, much more.
00:59:08.220 --> 00:59:12.510
For example, a moratorium
on addiction, Valley Water,
00:59:12.510 --> 00:59:14.900
the county water agency
decided it could not
00:59:14.900 --> 00:59:17.440
increase the water rates last year.
00:59:17.440 --> 00:59:18.860
Many examples like this
00:59:18.860 --> 00:59:21.519
that demonstrate
goodwill for the people,
00:59:21.519 --> 00:59:25.100
families are struggling
with paycheck challenges,
00:59:25.100 --> 00:59:26.390
businesses are shutting down
00:59:26.390 --> 00:59:28.390
and employees are
struggling to find a footing
00:59:28.390 --> 00:59:29.513
in this economy.
00:59:30.370 --> 00:59:33.230
But, but when I observed the actions
00:59:33.230 --> 00:59:37.290
of San Jose Water Company,
I'm absolutely dismayed
00:59:37.290 --> 00:59:39.960
and alarmed at the same time.
00:59:39.960 --> 00:59:42.120
But why should I be surprised?
00:59:42.120 --> 00:59:45.350
You know in 2016, a drought year,
00:59:45.350 --> 00:59:50.350
when we were all conserving
water by 20%, 30%, even 40%,
00:59:51.370 --> 00:59:53.300
San Jose Water
Company's profit ballooned
00:59:53.300 --> 00:59:57.963
from a baseline of 22
billion to $52 million.
00:59:59.651 --> 01:00:00.690
Where did that money come from?
01:00:00.690 --> 01:00:02.803
It came from the people.
01:00:03.690 --> 01:00:06.130
But interestingly, right after,
01:00:06.130 --> 01:00:08.450
they actually wanted
to increase the rate
01:00:08.450 --> 01:00:13.160
as they did not attain
their revenue threshold.
01:00:13.160 --> 01:00:17.370
I'm not making this up, this
is exactly what happened.
01:00:17.370 --> 01:00:21.923
The insanity of a monopoly,
when a reduction in demand,
01:00:22.870 --> 01:00:27.810
also known as conservation,
leads to a price increase,
01:00:27.810 --> 01:00:30.330
is just absolutely crazy.
01:00:30.330 --> 01:00:31.163
But you know what?
01:00:31.163 --> 01:00:33.870
This story keeps repeating and repeating
01:00:33.870 --> 01:00:35.680
and the customers of San Jose Water
01:00:35.680 --> 01:00:37.610
are at the receiving end.
01:00:37.610 --> 01:00:38.670
When can we stop this?
01:00:38.670 --> 01:00:40.143
How can you stop this?
01:00:41.110 --> 01:00:43.910
Visit rishikumar.com/water
01:00:43.910 --> 01:00:46.950
to see the historical data of this.
01:00:46.950 --> 01:00:51.520
I live in Saratoga, we have 2000 people
01:00:51.520 --> 01:00:54.183
who are at or below the poverty lines.
01:00:55.220 --> 01:00:58.943
Silicon Valley has a significant
population that is hurting.
01:00:59.880 --> 01:01:03.290
Some have called me
crying, seeing their water bills,
01:01:03.290 --> 01:01:06.600
they cannot bear the
increasing cost of water
01:01:06.600 --> 01:01:09.140
and then the pandemic with
an already stressed out system,
01:01:09.140 --> 01:01:11.540
people are feeling the angst.
01:01:11.540 --> 01:01:12.540
San Jose Water Company
01:01:12.540 --> 01:01:14.730
has decided to increase
the service charge
01:01:14.730 --> 01:01:17.170
by cumulative 18%.
01:01:17.170 --> 01:01:21.490
Why would anyone want
to do that in a pandemic?
01:01:21.490 --> 01:01:24.370
It completely defies logic.
01:01:24.370 --> 01:01:28.070
In 10 years San Jose Water
Company's net income after tax
01:01:28.070 --> 01:01:30.803
with a total of $342 billion.
01:01:31.980 --> 01:01:34.450
They have done extremely well,
01:01:34.450 --> 01:01:36.730
the bottom line is I'm opposed
01:01:36.730 --> 01:01:40.140
to San Jose Water
Company's GRC Application
01:01:41.470 --> 01:01:43.760
and my suggestion and recommendations
01:01:43.760 --> 01:01:46.820
to not increase any rates at all.
01:01:46.820 --> 01:01:49.660
So let's look at the GRC it's
for infrastructure improvement
01:01:49.660 --> 01:01:52.270
water quality, and cybersecurity.
01:01:52.270 --> 01:01:55.750
I'm curious as to how
much money has been spent
01:01:55.750 --> 01:01:57.520
over the last 10 years.
01:01:57.520 --> 01:01:59.360
How have these profits being applied
01:01:59.360 --> 01:02:01.960
to these types of improvements
01:02:01.960 --> 01:02:05.310
including water main,
valve replacements,
01:02:05.310 --> 01:02:08.340
enhancements to pumping
stations, valve tubes,
01:02:08.340 --> 01:02:11.680
water tank upgrades and replacements
01:02:11.680 --> 01:02:14.010
through to all centers
of water companies,
01:02:14.010 --> 01:02:16.720
140 square mile area?
01:02:16.720 --> 01:02:21.500
I call upon CPUC to freeze
the water rates increases
01:02:21.500 --> 01:02:24.250
and undertake a complete audit
01:02:24.250 --> 01:02:27.760
of San Jose Water Company's
operations and finances
01:02:27.760 --> 01:02:31.630
and to benchmark these
against other water utilities
01:02:31.630 --> 01:02:34.040
within CPUC's jurisdictions.
01:02:34.040 --> 01:02:37.220
How is San Jose Water
Company making the investment?
01:02:37.220 --> 01:02:38.900
You need to understand that.
01:02:38.900 --> 01:02:40.750
Is this money that they're asking,
01:02:40.750 --> 01:02:42.860
going to be put to good use?
01:02:42.860 --> 01:02:45.310
How have they managed these three issues
01:02:45.310 --> 01:02:47.780
over the last few decades?
01:02:47.780 --> 01:02:49.920
How have they managed the profits?
01:02:49.920 --> 01:02:52.837
We need CPUC's help
to get to the bottom of this
01:02:53.720 --> 01:02:56.480
and also to help San Jose Water Company
01:02:56.480 --> 01:02:59.950
get to a point of operational efficiency
01:02:59.950 --> 01:03:02.400
and market rate competitiveness.
01:03:02.400 --> 01:03:05.030
Please do not approve
any rate increase request
01:03:05.030 --> 01:03:08.050
until San Jose Water
Company can benchmark
01:03:08.050 --> 01:03:11.660
roughly at parity
with other water utility.
01:03:11.660 --> 01:03:13.470
Please consider comparison metrics
01:03:13.470 --> 01:03:17.510
for all other public and
private utilities in the Bay Area
01:03:17.510 --> 01:03:20.650
determine in deciding
the appropriate cost
01:03:20.650 --> 01:03:25.290
of capital adjustments and
rate increases for future years.
01:03:25.290 --> 01:03:28.682
I urge you all to visit this URL,
01:03:28.682 --> 01:03:32.010
tinyurl.com/sjwcappendix
01:03:33.285 --> 01:03:35.510
for a summary of financial
data, rate increases,
01:03:35.510 --> 01:03:37.710
and a few pertinent case studies.
01:03:37.710 --> 01:03:39.850
I also invite you to review the petition
01:03:39.850 --> 01:03:42.219
to replace San Jose Water Company
01:03:42.219 --> 01:03:44.100
with the Municipal Utility Company.
01:03:44.100 --> 01:03:47.503
It is that tinyurl.com/nomoresjwc,
01:03:49.160 --> 01:03:53.320
yet I filed the petition
along with 6,200 others.
01:03:53.320 --> 01:03:57.351
Thank you, thank you again,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
01:03:57.351 --> 01:03:59.337
Honorable Judge Lee, Water Division
01:03:59.337 --> 01:04:00.830
and Public Advocate's Office.
01:04:00.830 --> 01:04:04.120
I really appreciate you
taking the time to hear us out
01:04:04.120 --> 01:04:06.370
and please do make the right choice,
01:04:06.370 --> 01:04:09.610
make the right decision,
that will address the angst
01:04:09.610 --> 01:04:12.150
that so many are feeling in the city
01:04:12.150 --> 01:04:15.500
of San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte
Sereno, Campbell and Saratoga.
01:04:15.500 --> 01:04:16.820
Thank you so much.
01:04:16.820 --> 01:04:18.420
Thank you, really appreciate it.
01:04:19.502 --> 01:04:20.335
Thank you.
01:04:20.335 --> 01:04:22.120
Thank you, Councilman Kumar
01:04:22.120 --> 01:04:27.120
and providing your website
information during the comment.
01:04:29.780 --> 01:04:33.363
Operator, any other public official?
01:04:35.150 --> 01:04:37.700
No more
public officials at this time.
01:04:39.620 --> 01:04:44.593
Thank you, Operator,
any further commenter?
01:04:45.850 --> 01:04:50.400
Yes, next comment
comes from Martha O'Connell,
01:04:50.400 --> 01:04:51.413
your line is open.
01:04:52.760 --> 01:04:54.700
Hi, my name
is Martha O'Connell,
01:04:54.700 --> 01:04:58.810
I live in San Jose and I'm a
San Jose Water customer.
01:04:58.810 --> 01:05:03.810
M-A-R-T-H-A, O'Connell
O-'- C-O-N-N-E-L-L.
01:05:09.080 --> 01:05:11.813
I am the Regional Manager for GSMOL,
01:05:13.660 --> 01:05:18.230
which is the Golden State
Manufactured Homeowners League.
01:05:18.230 --> 01:05:20.940
We represent the folks who live
01:05:20.940 --> 01:05:24.870
in the 59 mobile home park in San Jose,
01:05:24.870 --> 01:05:28.953
roughly 35,000 people
live in these park.
01:05:29.810 --> 01:05:34.810
They are disproportionately
seniors, working poor,
01:05:35.350 --> 01:05:38.113
disabled and immigrants.
01:05:38.970 --> 01:05:42.310
At best, they are moderate income,
01:05:42.310 --> 01:05:46.040
many, many of them are low income.
01:05:46.040 --> 01:05:49.120
These rates are unconscionable,
01:05:49.120 --> 01:05:53.890
mobile homes are the last
bastion of affordable housing
01:05:53.890 --> 01:05:57.773
and these folks are being
priced out of this area
01:05:57.773 --> 01:06:01.363
because of rate increases like this.
01:06:02.200 --> 01:06:06.140
I will make a comment on the program,
01:06:06.140 --> 01:06:10.940
your RAP Program,
it is inadequate at best
01:06:10.940 --> 01:06:13.610
and a farce at worst.
01:06:13.610 --> 01:06:18.610
The income thresholds are higher
01:06:19.940 --> 01:06:24.940
than the income
thresholds set by the state.
01:06:25.100 --> 01:06:27.780
You need to revise those thresholds
01:06:29.150 --> 01:06:31.240
to make them more equitable.
01:06:31.240 --> 01:06:35.140
And I'm sorry, but a 15% discount
01:06:35.140 --> 01:06:40.140
on top of an unconscionable
rate increase is meaningless.
01:06:41.590 --> 01:06:45.320
I also support what
other folks have said,
01:06:45.320 --> 01:06:48.840
an earnings test for San Jose Water
01:06:48.840 --> 01:06:52.650
and a complete forensic audit.
01:06:52.650 --> 01:06:57.260
I echo the comment, use
federal money for infrastructure
01:06:57.260 --> 01:06:59.620
not from the rate payers.
01:06:59.620 --> 01:07:03.130
And I would like to know why I am paying
01:07:03.130 --> 01:07:08.130
for people to take calls
from customers in Texas.
01:07:08.560 --> 01:07:12.090
If I had a choice, I
would leave this company.
01:07:12.090 --> 01:07:17.090
I cannot, it is a monopoly
and I cannot do without water,
01:07:18.430 --> 01:07:21.280
human beings need water.
01:07:21.280 --> 01:07:25.830
Couple of- (bell chiming)
01:07:25.830 --> 01:07:27.973
Ms. O'Connell
you can finish up.
01:07:29.350 --> 01:07:32.100
I was just going to
say that someone earlier
01:07:32.100 --> 01:07:36.270
talked about fair and
just, it is not fair and just
01:07:36.270 --> 01:07:41.070
for the CEO to be making $625,000.
01:07:41.070 --> 01:07:43.050
So thank you for your consideration,
01:07:43.050 --> 01:07:46.743
please reject this
unconscionable rate increase.
01:07:48.650 --> 01:07:51.270
Thank you Ms. O'Connell
for your comments.
01:07:51.270 --> 01:07:54.053
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:07:55.030 --> 01:07:57.920
Our next comment
comes from Sylvia Carroll,
01:07:57.920 --> 01:07:58.990
your line is open.
01:08:10.214 --> 01:08:13.358
Ms. Carroll your line is open.
01:08:13.358 --> 01:08:14.775
Okay-
01:08:18.533 --> 01:08:21.430
Ms. Carroll, we
are not hearing you.
01:08:21.430 --> 01:08:23.180
I guess my
phone isn't working,
01:08:23.180 --> 01:08:26.010
I'm sorry, I would have
liked to have spoken.
01:08:26.010 --> 01:08:28.380
Ms. Carroll, we
can now hear you.
01:08:28.380 --> 01:08:33.380
Oh, okay, well
S-Y-L-V-I-A, C-A-R-R-O-L-L,
01:08:36.780 --> 01:08:38.023
I live in San Jose.
01:08:39.740 --> 01:08:43.020
San Jose is the only major U.S. city
01:08:43.020 --> 01:08:45.150
with a privately owned water company,
01:08:45.150 --> 01:08:47.550
does anybody realize that?
01:08:47.550 --> 01:08:50.993
We all need water, we
can't drill wells ourselves.
01:08:51.870 --> 01:08:56.140
I'm really concerned
about San Jose Water,
01:08:56.140 --> 01:09:00.930
having interest in water
companies in Hawaii, Texas,
01:09:00.930 --> 01:09:03.340
New Mexico, Washington,
and then the merger
01:09:03.340 --> 01:09:06.000
with Connecticut, it makes no sense.
01:09:06.000 --> 01:09:07.760
Why are we paying for that?
01:09:07.760 --> 01:09:10.050
We mustn't be paying for that,
01:09:10.050 --> 01:09:12.090
and it's all been shrouded in mystery,
01:09:12.090 --> 01:09:14.520
I am very concerned about that.
01:09:14.520 --> 01:09:17.130
We get a pie chart on each of our bills,
01:09:17.130 --> 01:09:19.340
it shows the expenses of the company,
01:09:19.340 --> 01:09:23.130
and clearly there's
no pie slice for profit.
01:09:23.130 --> 01:09:24.970
And we know they're making a profit,
01:09:24.970 --> 01:09:27.360
that's what they're in business to do,
01:09:27.360 --> 01:09:30.723
this is very suspicious,
shouldn't we look into that?
01:09:32.600 --> 01:09:36.490
I hope we will deny their
rate request increase.
01:09:36.490 --> 01:09:37.323
Thank you.
01:09:39.180 --> 01:09:41.510
Thank you, Ms. Carroll,
for your comments.
01:09:41.510 --> 01:09:44.203
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:09:46.190 --> 01:09:49.150
Our next comment
comes from Kevyn Nei,
01:09:49.150 --> 01:09:50.223
your line is open.
01:09:53.630 --> 01:09:54.823
Hello, can you hear me?
01:09:55.990 --> 01:09:56.823
Yes, we can.
01:09:58.391 --> 01:09:59.224
Hi, good
afternoon, Your Honor,
01:09:59.224 --> 01:10:00.640
My name is Kevyn Nei.
01:10:00.640 --> 01:10:05.310
K-E-V-Y-N N-E-I, I'm
a resident of San Jose.
01:10:05.310 --> 01:10:07.560
On behalf of Operating Engineers Local 3
01:10:08.517 --> 01:10:09.570
I'll provide the following comments
01:10:09.570 --> 01:10:10.950
on San Jose Water Company's
01:10:10.950 --> 01:10:14.010
pending January case application.
01:10:14.010 --> 01:10:16.490
We fully empathize the customers
01:10:16.490 --> 01:10:19.400
are facing difficulty times
during the pandemic.
01:10:19.400 --> 01:10:20.590
SJ Water's working daily
01:10:20.590 --> 01:10:22.230
to help customers manage their bills
01:10:22.230 --> 01:10:25.014
including from very
flexible payment plans,
01:10:25.014 --> 01:10:27.737
a 50% discount program
for income eligible customers
01:10:27.737 --> 01:10:29.790
and other assisted programs.
01:10:29.790 --> 01:10:32.670
The company also increases
support on nonprofit organization
01:10:32.670 --> 01:10:34.560
including homeless shelter, food banks
01:10:34.560 --> 01:10:37.270
and health organization
to provide direct assistance
01:10:37.270 --> 01:10:40.600
to those most effected by
the pandemic in the past year.
01:10:40.600 --> 01:10:43.520
The issue of rising water
rates impact the entire industry,
01:10:43.520 --> 01:10:45.190
it is not unique to San Jose Water
01:10:45.190 --> 01:10:46.990
and not certainly unique to invest
01:10:46.990 --> 01:10:48.790
your own water utilities.
01:10:48.790 --> 01:10:50.850
The industry is currently
facing a perfect storm
01:10:50.850 --> 01:10:53.770
involving the need of replacing
infrastructure constructed
01:10:53.770 --> 01:10:56.830
a generation ago to comply
with increasingly stringent
01:10:56.830 --> 01:10:58.450
water quality regulations
01:10:58.450 --> 01:11:00.650
and to address water supply challenges
01:11:00.650 --> 01:11:02.300
stemming from the climate change.
01:11:03.510 --> 01:11:08.140
These challenges are well
documented by U.S. AEPA and ASCD.
01:11:08.140 --> 01:11:10.420
San Jose is not immune
to these challenges,
01:11:10.420 --> 01:11:12.240
and is working to address them
01:11:12.240 --> 01:11:14.083
through their filing with the CPUC.
01:11:16.330 --> 01:11:18.410
The investment sounds the water company
01:11:18.410 --> 01:11:20.880
are proposing supports low
paying jobs in our members
01:11:20.880 --> 01:11:22.750
and residents in this area.
01:11:22.750 --> 01:11:25.540
They are investing about a
hundred million dollars a year
01:11:26.451 --> 01:11:27.284
to their water system,
01:11:27.284 --> 01:11:29.253
we pay for the wells, tanks and mains.
01:11:30.490 --> 01:11:33.603
These investments directly
provide 41 jobs for our members.
01:11:34.520 --> 01:11:38.180
San Jose also promotes
economic vibrancy for the community
01:11:38.180 --> 01:11:40.670
throughout the supply diversity program.
01:11:40.670 --> 01:11:43.250
In 2020 approximately $29 million
01:11:43.250 --> 01:11:48.040
representing 30.1% of their
addressable spent was procured
01:11:48.040 --> 01:11:50.400
with their diverse business enterprises
01:11:50.400 --> 01:11:53.630
surpassing the CPUC's goal of 21.5%
01:11:53.630 --> 01:11:55.910
for its regulated utilities.
01:11:55.910 --> 01:11:58.410
In summary, Operating Engineers Local 3
01:11:58.410 --> 01:12:00.390
support San Jose Water Company's efforts
01:12:00.390 --> 01:12:03.720
to ensure continued
delivery of safe high quality
01:12:03.720 --> 01:12:05.090
and reliable water service
01:12:05.090 --> 01:12:07.130
to the residents of Santa Clara Valley
01:12:07.130 --> 01:12:10.740
as they have for over 154 years.
01:12:10.740 --> 01:12:12.350
We also have confidence
01:12:12.350 --> 01:12:14.570
in the CPUC's thorough review process
01:12:14.570 --> 01:12:17.730
in sending water rates
that are just and reasonable
01:12:17.730 --> 01:12:21.160
while also ensuring safe
and reliable infrastructures.
01:12:21.160 --> 01:12:25.020
I thank you for your time.
01:12:25.020 --> 01:12:27.440
Thank you Mr. Nei
for your comments.
01:12:27.440 --> 01:12:30.183
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:12:31.320 --> 01:12:33.690
Our next comment
comes from Bryon Face,
01:12:33.690 --> 01:12:34.693
your line is open.
01:12:37.610 --> 01:12:38.530
Good afternoon, Your Honor.
01:12:38.530 --> 01:12:40.453
My name is Brian Face.
01:12:41.670 --> 01:12:45.703
That's B-R-Y-O-N F-A-CE.
01:12:46.710 --> 01:12:49.670
I'm the President of the Utility
Workers Union of America,
01:12:49.670 --> 01:12:51.023
Local 259.
01:12:52.926 --> 01:12:55.070
On behalf of Local 259,
01:12:55.070 --> 01:12:56.660
I'm here to provide
the following comments
01:12:56.660 --> 01:12:59.430
on San Jose Waters
General Rate Case Application
01:12:59.430 --> 01:13:01.780
pending before the
Public Utilities Commission.
01:13:03.930 --> 01:13:08.930
San Jose Water provides over
188 jobs for my local members.
01:13:10.840 --> 01:13:12.810
These people are the ones who directly
01:13:12.810 --> 01:13:15.890
are putting these pipelines in place.
01:13:15.890 --> 01:13:18.080
The issue of rising water rates
01:13:18.080 --> 01:13:20.440
are not unique to our industry alone,
01:13:20.440 --> 01:13:24.290
this is affecting all utilities
across the nation currently
01:13:24.290 --> 01:13:26.593
because of outdated infrastructure.
01:13:28.310 --> 01:13:30.500
A simple Google search you can look up
01:13:30.500 --> 01:13:32.660
and see cities across the nation
01:13:32.660 --> 01:13:35.310
especially low-income
cities like Baltimore
01:13:35.310 --> 01:13:39.150
and other ones in the
South, are seeing higher rates
01:13:39.150 --> 01:13:41.373
than what we're seeing locally here.
01:13:43.030 --> 01:13:45.850
As somebody who works on these projects,
01:13:45.850 --> 01:13:48.160
the capital improvement projects,
01:13:48.160 --> 01:13:50.360
I just like to touch base
on some of the importance
01:13:50.360 --> 01:13:54.620
of the technology
changes in the (indistinct)
01:13:54.620 --> 01:13:56.560
that we're installing material
01:13:56.560 --> 01:13:58.860
that's gonna come to the ground now.
01:13:58.860 --> 01:14:02.410
For future when there's gonna
be leaks on these pipelines
01:14:02.410 --> 01:14:05.903
it's gonna be safer and
quicker to repair these,
01:14:07.110 --> 01:14:09.640
just due to the material
changes and the technology
01:14:09.640 --> 01:14:12.230
and the parts and type of materials
01:14:12.230 --> 01:14:15.270
and tools it takes to
cut the pipe sections out.
01:14:15.270 --> 01:14:19.330
We're also working weekly
on new valve programs
01:14:19.330 --> 01:14:23.623
to minimize the impact of
shutdowns to our customers.
01:14:24.950 --> 01:14:29.950
But without the capital
improvement projects,
01:14:30.100 --> 01:14:33.223
it's gonna really take away
from what we can get done.
01:14:34.260 --> 01:14:39.260
So, sorry, I'm just kind
of at a loss for words
01:14:39.568 --> 01:14:42.133
I'm working outside
and it's hot out right now.
01:14:43.520 --> 01:14:48.450
But UWA Local 259 supports SJW's efforts
01:14:48.450 --> 01:14:51.320
to ensure continued delivery
of safe and high-quality
01:14:51.320 --> 01:14:52.810
and reliable water service
01:14:52.810 --> 01:14:55.430
to the residents of Santa Clara Valley
01:14:55.430 --> 01:14:58.023
as they have for over 154 years.
01:14:58.900 --> 01:15:01.980
We have confidence in the
CPUC's thorough review process
01:15:01.980 --> 01:15:04.850
in setting water rates that
are just and reasonable
01:15:04.850 --> 01:15:08.610
while also ensuring safe
and reliable infrastructure.
01:15:08.610 --> 01:15:12.250
And I'd also like to comment
on some of the questions
01:15:12.250 --> 01:15:14.900
regarding the increasing staff levels.
01:15:14.900 --> 01:15:17.150
I know it seems like every rate case
01:15:17.150 --> 01:15:18.940
we are asking for more staffing levels,
01:15:18.940 --> 01:15:23.940
because as a private utility,
we operate at about 30%
01:15:24.110 --> 01:15:27.670
of what municipal water
systems operate with.
01:15:27.670 --> 01:15:29.720
And we really do run lean and mean,
01:15:29.720 --> 01:15:31.540
but at sometimes it does exhaust
01:15:31.540 --> 01:15:36.540
and it can seem like
it's hurtful or impactful
01:15:36.960 --> 01:15:38.760
to our response times on certain leaks
01:15:38.760 --> 01:15:42.283
because we do run with only
10 maintenance crews per day.
01:15:43.150 --> 01:15:48.150
So I feel that the body count
is necessary to evaluate.
01:15:50.098 --> 01:15:51.770
(bell chiming)
01:15:51.770 --> 01:15:53.770
That's my time, thank you for your time.
01:15:54.930 --> 01:15:58.603
Thank you, Mr. Face
for your comments.
01:16:00.300 --> 01:16:03.033
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:16:04.440 --> 01:16:07.360
Our next comment
comes from Brenda Dohmen,
01:16:07.360 --> 01:16:08.483
your line is open.
01:16:09.940 --> 01:16:12.667
Hi, yes, my
name is Brenda Dohmen,
01:16:12.667 --> 01:16:17.667
and that's B-R-E-N-D-A D-O-H-M-E-N.
01:16:22.130 --> 01:16:24.280
I'd like to comment about the recovery
01:16:24.280 --> 01:16:27.370
from SRM drought surcharges balancing
01:16:27.370 --> 01:16:30.340
and memorandum accounts.
01:16:30.340 --> 01:16:35.340
Commissioner Guzman
Aceves and Judge Lee,
01:16:35.350 --> 01:16:38.760
the recovery of lost
revenues, such as RSM,
01:16:38.760 --> 01:16:42.270
drought surcharges,
balancing and recovery
01:16:42.270 --> 01:16:45.800
memorandum accounts
has given San Jose Water
01:16:45.800 --> 01:16:50.150
windfall earnings and
costs the rate payers millions
01:16:50.150 --> 01:16:52.720
and inequitable, discriminatory
01:16:52.720 --> 01:16:55.720
and unsustainable rate increases.
01:16:55.720 --> 01:17:00.030
Two examples, the SRM first.
01:17:00.030 --> 01:17:04.780
CPUC rejected advice letter 501 in 2017,
01:17:04.780 --> 01:17:09.360
requesting an SRM
adjustment of 13.9 million,
01:17:09.360 --> 01:17:14.360
only later to allow it, in the 2018 GRC.
01:17:14.370 --> 01:17:17.180
The rate payers urge the CPUC
01:17:17.180 --> 01:17:19.720
to not allow the over $18 million
01:17:20.700 --> 01:17:25.070
San Jose Water Company
is requesting in this GRC
01:17:25.070 --> 01:17:26.450
from under collection
01:17:26.450 --> 01:17:29.980
in the balancing and
memorandum accounts.
01:17:29.980 --> 01:17:33.940
The SRM decreases transparency
for both the Commission
01:17:33.940 --> 01:17:35.880
and the customer and doesn't look
01:17:35.880 --> 01:17:38.453
at the overall financial
health of the company.
01:17:39.350 --> 01:17:42.480
A full earnings tests
should be administered
01:17:42.480 --> 01:17:44.823
when rate increases are requested.
01:17:45.670 --> 01:17:47.920
Drought surcharges,
01:17:47.920 --> 01:17:51.610
the CPUC allowed San Jose Water Company
01:17:51.610 --> 01:17:55.520
to collect over 37 million
in drought surcharges,
01:17:55.520 --> 01:17:59.920
exclusively from residential
customers like me,
01:17:59.920 --> 01:18:03.070
which were used to offset
costs that should have been
01:18:03.070 --> 01:18:06.340
the responsibility of
all customer classes.
01:18:06.340 --> 01:18:08.080
Since it is likely,
01:18:08.080 --> 01:18:10.890
California is heading
into another drought,
01:18:10.890 --> 01:18:14.280
we implore the CPUC in this GRC
01:18:14.280 --> 01:18:18.560
to correct the previous
discriminatory drought surcharges
01:18:18.560 --> 01:18:21.680
and do not allow these
unjust, discriminatory,
01:18:21.680 --> 01:18:24.580
preferential practices
that are in violation
01:18:24.580 --> 01:18:27.957
of PUC code 728, which states,
01:18:27.957 --> 01:18:30.280
"Whenever the Commission finds
01:18:30.280 --> 01:18:35.280
that the rates charged or
collected by any public utility
01:18:35.350 --> 01:18:40.350
are unjust, unreasonable,
discriminatory, or preferential
01:18:41.090 --> 01:18:43.991
the Commission shall determine and fix
01:18:43.991 --> 01:18:47.167
to adjust reasonable
or sufficient rates."
01:18:48.160 --> 01:18:50.770
It is time to put a stop
to all the single issue
01:18:50.770 --> 01:18:55.730
rate making mechanism that
allows San Jose Water Company
01:18:55.730 --> 01:18:59.180
to increase our rates
unrealistic, unreasonable
01:18:59.180 --> 01:19:01.880
and unsustainable levels.
01:19:01.880 --> 01:19:04.280
I appreciate your time,
thank you for listening.
01:19:07.850 --> 01:19:09.260
Thank you, Ms. Dohmen
01:19:10.430 --> 01:19:15.430
I just want to reannounce
that if you are interested
01:19:16.000 --> 01:19:21.000
in making a comment,
please press star one
01:19:21.490 --> 01:19:26.490
and let the operators know your name.
01:19:26.600 --> 01:19:30.640
And if comfortable,
your city that you live in,
01:19:30.640 --> 01:19:33.210
and the operator will
put you in the queue
01:19:33.210 --> 01:19:34.553
to make your comments.
01:19:51.010 --> 01:19:51.893
Operator.
01:19:53.270 --> 01:19:56.800
Our next comment
comes from Judi Seip,
01:19:56.800 --> 01:19:57.700
your line is open.
01:19:59.880 --> 01:20:00.713
Thank you.
01:20:00.713 --> 01:20:05.340
This is Judi Seip J-U-D-I S
like sugar, E-I-P as in Papa.
01:20:07.310 --> 01:20:11.410
My concern is more human-oriented.
01:20:11.410 --> 01:20:14.120
I really appreciate the information
01:20:14.120 --> 01:20:15.690
from those who have analyzed
01:20:15.690 --> 01:20:19.910
and shared their specific
statistics and costs
01:20:19.910 --> 01:20:22.610
and where the money is going.
01:20:22.610 --> 01:20:26.517
I have a concern about
the growth and investment
01:20:26.517 --> 01:20:28.770
and if that is really appropriate,
01:20:28.770 --> 01:20:31.900
and I don't think that pays off for us.
01:20:31.900 --> 01:20:34.840
I am appalled as the repeated increases
01:20:34.840 --> 01:20:38.650
some of which are aggravated
by growth in investments
01:20:38.650 --> 01:20:40.053
that may be inappropriate.
01:20:40.940 --> 01:20:44.850
If increases were tied to
inflation and income of all users
01:20:44.850 --> 01:20:47.460
including low-income residents
01:20:47.460 --> 01:20:49.160
and those who do not have resources
01:20:49.160 --> 01:20:51.240
to even pay their current water bill,
01:20:51.240 --> 01:20:54.310
much less an increase of 17%,
01:20:54.310 --> 01:20:57.073
according to the water
company publication.
01:20:58.310 --> 01:21:02.140
Why are we choosing to do this now?
01:21:02.140 --> 01:21:05.940
I understand that the
infrastructure needs improving,
01:21:05.940 --> 01:21:09.350
while I do understand the needs for that
01:21:09.350 --> 01:21:13.570
and some of the specifics
that are stated about updating,
01:21:13.570 --> 01:21:15.530
deferring this by one or two years
01:21:15.530 --> 01:21:18.270
would allow applying
for proposed federal funds
01:21:18.270 --> 01:21:21.580
and permit the anticipated
economic growth
01:21:21.580 --> 01:21:24.040
that we all hope we are on the brink of.
01:21:24.040 --> 01:21:24.873
Thank you.
01:21:38.170 --> 01:21:39.420
Excuse me, Judge Lee,
01:21:39.420 --> 01:21:41.540
I'm not hearing you are you unmuted.
01:21:42.389 --> 01:21:44.020
It's the Court Reporter.
01:21:44.020 --> 01:21:44.853
Thank you.
01:21:46.860 --> 01:21:48.503
Thank you, Ms. Seip.
01:21:51.560 --> 01:21:54.563
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:21:56.661 --> 01:21:59.970
Yes, our next comment
comes from Taghi Saadati,
01:21:59.970 --> 01:22:01.073
your line is open.
01:22:10.460 --> 01:22:12.803
Ms. Saadati, we
cannot hear you.
01:22:20.400 --> 01:22:23.647
Ms. Saadati, or Mr. Saadati.
01:22:34.890 --> 01:22:36.550
Hello.
01:22:36.550 --> 01:22:37.713
Mr. Saadati.
01:22:38.620 --> 01:22:39.970
Hello.
01:22:39.970 --> 01:22:41.593
Hello, can you hear us?
01:22:46.510 --> 01:22:50.090
At this point, I am
going to go off the record
01:22:51.270 --> 01:22:55.223
so that we can address
any technical difficulties.
01:22:56.280 --> 01:22:57.453
We are off the record.
01:22:59.550 --> 01:23:03.213
Mr. Saadati, can you hear us?
01:23:04.060 --> 01:23:05.113
Can you hear me?
01:23:06.381 --> 01:23:08.033
Is this, Mr. Saadati?
01:23:09.070 --> 01:23:12.430
This is Saadati, S-A-A-D-A-T-I
01:23:13.630 --> 01:23:16.203
Mr. Saadati, can you hear us?
01:23:17.430 --> 01:23:19.280
Yes, I can hear you.
01:23:19.280 --> 01:23:21.430
Okay, if you will hold on,
01:23:21.430 --> 01:23:25.040
I will check if the court
reporter is ready to go back
01:23:25.040 --> 01:23:29.140
on the record and then
you can give your comments.
01:23:29.140 --> 01:23:31.480
Hold on, Court Reporter,
01:23:31.480 --> 01:23:34.320
are we ready to go back on the record?
01:23:34.320 --> 01:23:36.110
Ready, Judge thank you.
01:23:36.110 --> 01:23:39.870
Thank you, we are
back on the record,
01:23:39.870 --> 01:23:43.980
Mr. Saadati, go ahead.
01:23:43.980 --> 01:23:44.820
Good
afternoon Your Honor,
01:23:44.820 --> 01:23:49.593
my name is Taghi Saadati,
a Cupertino resident.
01:23:50.980 --> 01:23:55.980
My name is spelled T-A-G-H-I,
and last name S-A-A-D-A-T-I,
01:24:01.775 --> 01:24:03.663
and a customer of San Jose Water.
01:24:07.290 --> 01:24:11.840
I am calling to ask CPUC
to reject their request
01:24:14.790 --> 01:24:15.970
for a rate increase
01:24:19.150 --> 01:24:21.223
because it doesn't
seem to be reasonable.
01:24:23.810 --> 01:24:27.883
The water bill that I get,
mostly is the service charge,
01:24:29.812 --> 01:24:31.693
majority of it is service charge.
01:24:33.460 --> 01:24:36.590
So I wasn't told many
years ago when I questioned
01:24:36.590 --> 01:24:39.433
why that service charge at some point,
01:24:40.470 --> 01:24:43.673
the service charge is more
than two thirds of the bill.
01:24:47.150 --> 01:24:49.363
And they said that's for maintenance,
01:24:50.800 --> 01:24:51.687
that should be more than enough
01:24:51.687 --> 01:24:55.190
to cater for all the
capital improvements
01:24:55.190 --> 01:24:59.867
and the work that it's done,
efficiency and overtime.
01:25:04.530 --> 01:25:09.370
And also I reduced my
water use by (indistinct),
01:25:12.876 --> 01:25:17.010
and I'd read a lot of
graphs, but 15, 20 years ago,
01:25:17.010 --> 01:25:18.770
I had done laundry for drought
01:25:18.770 --> 01:25:23.400
and got a bill while there is this plan
01:25:24.620 --> 01:25:26.453
whether once a week or once a month.
01:25:27.830 --> 01:25:32.830
And the bill into the
proportion or the service charge
01:25:34.810 --> 01:25:38.608
is to the proportion
through the water usage,
01:25:38.608 --> 01:25:41.150
(indistinct) use more,
you pay more, (indistinct).
01:25:59.899 --> 01:26:03.960
Mr. Saadati, can you
repeat what you just said,
01:26:03.960 --> 01:26:06.160
neither the court reporter nor myself
01:26:06.160 --> 01:26:09.528
could hear the last
comment that you said.
01:26:09.528 --> 01:26:13.000
As other
speaker indicated
01:26:13.000 --> 01:26:18.000
I'm also in favor of a
forensic audit of San Jose
01:26:19.611 --> 01:26:23.724
to make sure that the
information is correct.
01:26:23.724 --> 01:26:28.037
Thank you for your time
and have a great afternoon,
01:26:28.037 --> 01:26:29.870
please take care, bye.
01:26:34.370 --> 01:26:36.933
Thank you, Mr. Sadaati
for your comments.
01:26:38.960 --> 01:26:42.803
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:26:43.950 --> 01:26:48.070
Our next comment
comes from Mary Ann Welch,
01:26:48.070 --> 01:26:49.437
your line is open.
01:26:50.910 --> 01:26:52.430
Yes, my
name is Mary Ann Welch,
01:26:52.430 --> 01:26:54.330
Saratoga, California.
01:26:54.330 --> 01:26:58.330
And I wanted to say that
I agree with Rita Benton,
01:26:58.330 --> 01:26:59.960
everything that she said.
01:26:59.960 --> 01:27:00.793
I think she-
01:27:00.793 --> 01:27:03.460
Ms.Welch, can you
please spell your first
01:27:03.460 --> 01:27:06.440
and last name first
for the court reporter?
01:27:06.440 --> 01:27:11.440
Okay, Mary Ann Welsh
M-A-R-Y capital A-N-N W-E-L-C-H.
01:27:14.020 --> 01:27:19.020
Ms. Wells, please speak
slowly so that it is easier
01:27:19.700 --> 01:27:24.033
for the interpreter to also
interpret simultaneously.
01:27:25.084 --> 01:27:25.917
Thank you.
01:27:27.120 --> 01:27:28.860
I agree
with Rita Benton,
01:27:28.860 --> 01:27:31.410
everything that she had commented
01:27:31.410 --> 01:27:34.250
and I agree with everything
that she said, number one,
01:27:34.250 --> 01:27:37.470
also with Rishi, I agree with him also.
01:27:37.470 --> 01:27:42.420
The service charge is
completely outrageous now
01:27:42.420 --> 01:27:47.420
because now what San Jose
Water does not tell the CPUC
01:27:47.890 --> 01:27:52.890
is actually how many
one-inch meters are there
01:27:53.610 --> 01:27:54.950
that they service.
01:27:54.950 --> 01:27:57.340
How many three quarters inch are there.
01:27:57.340 --> 01:28:00.740
How many five inch, two
inch, they don't say that.
01:28:00.740 --> 01:28:04.097
So when they present
the inch to the PUC,
01:28:06.770 --> 01:28:09.683
they used the lowest, three quarters,
01:28:11.370 --> 01:28:14.140
but they don't say how
many of those do they have
01:28:14.140 --> 01:28:16.610
in a district, that's sort of annoying?
01:28:16.610 --> 01:28:20.070
However, my service
charge based on the increases
01:28:20.070 --> 01:28:23.550
that these people wanna do,
will make my service charge
01:28:23.550 --> 01:28:28.550
go up to almost 183,
$184 a month, no water.
01:28:29.150 --> 01:28:31.610
I think it's absolutely outrageous,
01:28:31.610 --> 01:28:34.750
also, I believe that we
do need a forensic audit
01:28:34.750 --> 01:28:38.700
and not have KPMG
do it, but another auditor
01:28:38.700 --> 01:28:41.367
maybe do a forensic audit
01:28:41.367 --> 01:28:44.170
and then that's absolutely necessary.
01:28:44.170 --> 01:28:47.763
Also the Hill Country in
Texas, that they bought water,
01:28:49.430 --> 01:28:51.680
I'd like to know what's
going on there too.
01:28:51.680 --> 01:28:56.650
But however, the San
Jose Water Group stock
01:28:56.650 --> 01:29:00.000
overall is worth $1.9 billion.
01:29:00.000 --> 01:29:03.980
I would just like to how
much ounce a water
01:29:03.980 --> 01:29:08.860
contributes to that $1.9
billion, I'd like to know that.
01:29:08.860 --> 01:29:11.360
And also what I'm concerned about
01:29:11.360 --> 01:29:15.810
is that when San Jose Water
sends the paperwork to the PUC
01:29:15.810 --> 01:29:18.800
they send them 10,000
sheets of paper to read.
01:29:18.800 --> 01:29:21.580
There is no way that
the PUC could ever read
01:29:21.580 --> 01:29:23.300
that amount of paperwork.
01:29:23.300 --> 01:29:27.120
So basically they just
flood them with information
01:29:27.120 --> 01:29:29.780
without really doing a forensic audit.
01:29:29.780 --> 01:29:34.780
Also the managers that the
San Jose Water Group people get
01:29:35.730 --> 01:29:39.700
are pretty rich and
we are paying for that.
01:29:39.700 --> 01:29:43.320
I also want- (bell chiming)
01:29:43.320 --> 01:29:44.820
Am I done?
01:29:44.820 --> 01:29:46.663
Ms. Welch, please finish up.
01:29:47.530 --> 01:29:50.890
Okay, I believe
we need a forensic audit,
01:29:50.890 --> 01:29:54.880
I believe that I would like
the PUC tO vote no on this,
01:29:54.880 --> 01:29:57.470
And I think right now
that the rate payers
01:29:57.470 --> 01:30:01.500
have no choice, no voice and no rights.
01:30:01.500 --> 01:30:04.860
What we really need to do
is buy San Jose Water stock
01:30:04.860 --> 01:30:08.390
to have a real vote and
vote these people out of there.
01:30:08.390 --> 01:30:10.000
That would be my comment,
01:30:10.000 --> 01:30:13.780
but I hope that the PUC
will deny this increase
01:30:13.780 --> 01:30:15.970
'cause it's absolutely outrageous
01:30:15.970 --> 01:30:18.020
and excessive at this time,
01:30:18.020 --> 01:30:20.623
and we basically need
a moratorium at this time.
01:30:21.790 --> 01:30:23.673
That's my comment, Thank you.
01:30:24.730 --> 01:30:27.230
Thank you, Ms. Welch
for your comments.
01:30:27.230 --> 01:30:32.140
At this time, let me just
remind those who are watching
01:30:32.140 --> 01:30:37.140
that if you wish to call in
and provide a public comment,
01:30:38.250 --> 01:30:42.093
you can call in at
18008571917 for English,
01:30:46.980 --> 01:30:51.980
the pass code is 7218384
and for Spanish the pass code
01:30:55.710 --> 01:31:00.710
is 8147204, and I also want to remind
01:31:05.260 --> 01:31:10.260
those who are waiting on
the phone to speak slowly
01:31:11.910 --> 01:31:14.050
and clearly so that the court reporter
01:31:14.050 --> 01:31:16.030
and the Spanish interpreter
01:31:16.030 --> 01:31:18.843
can capture everything that is said.
01:31:19.860 --> 01:31:24.860
Please do not speak on
speakerphone as it is very difficult
01:31:25.910 --> 01:31:28.423
to understand what you say.
01:31:30.090 --> 01:31:33.000
If you are commenting in Spanish,
01:31:33.000 --> 01:31:34.890
please pause between each statement
01:31:34.890 --> 01:31:37.930
to allow accurate
interpretation of each statement
01:31:37.930 --> 01:31:42.130
from Spanish to English
without any overlap in speech
01:31:42.130 --> 01:31:45.253
between the Spanish
commenter and the interpreter.
01:31:46.230 --> 01:31:49.920
The court reporter can only
capture one speaker at a time
01:31:49.920 --> 01:31:52.980
and what is spoken in English.
01:31:52.980 --> 01:31:55.540
Before you begin your comments,
01:31:55.540 --> 01:31:57.500
please state and spell your name
01:31:57.500 --> 01:32:01.053
and if you like, the
city you are calling from.
01:32:02.390 --> 01:32:05.420
Again we will be able to hear you best,
01:32:05.420 --> 01:32:08.940
if you speak directly into
your phone or headset
01:32:08.940 --> 01:32:12.970
and avoid using your phone on speaker,
01:32:12.970 --> 01:32:14.713
when you're providing comments.
01:32:16.350 --> 01:32:20.223
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:32:21.670 --> 01:32:22.730
Thank you.
01:32:22.730 --> 01:32:27.730
Our next comment comes from
James Burrus, your line is open.
01:32:29.600 --> 01:32:34.600
Yes, this is James
Burrus, J-A-M-E-S B-U-R-R-U-S
01:32:40.150 --> 01:32:42.003
and I'm a San Jose resident.
01:32:44.888 --> 01:32:48.867
I think that the individuals
there at the PUC
01:32:49.990 --> 01:32:51.880
it's getting a pretty clear to them
01:32:51.880 --> 01:32:55.400
how unhappy the people of San Jose are
01:32:55.400 --> 01:33:00.000
with the San Jose Water
works and put it really bluntly,
01:33:00.000 --> 01:33:02.240
I think they're just criminals.
01:33:02.240 --> 01:33:05.970
Someone mentioned they
have a salary of 600,000,
01:33:05.970 --> 01:33:10.970
it's like a million plus
a bonus for the CEO,
01:33:12.010 --> 01:33:15.527
750,000 for the CFO.
01:33:19.070 --> 01:33:20.850
And purchasing all these buildings
01:33:20.850 --> 01:33:23.840
or all these other
businesses that they've done
01:33:23.840 --> 01:33:28.670
using cash money indicates also
01:33:28.670 --> 01:33:33.670
that they are certainly
fraudulent in what they're doing.
01:33:42.000 --> 01:33:44.340
As far as Rita Benton goes,
01:33:44.340 --> 01:33:46.360
I think that everybody will agree,
01:33:46.360 --> 01:33:48.750
she hit it right on target.
01:33:48.750 --> 01:33:50.820
That lady laid it out perfectly
01:33:50.820 --> 01:33:54.420
and that's exactly what San
Jose Waterworks is doing.
01:33:54.420 --> 01:33:56.440
And so that's why so
many of the residents
01:33:56.440 --> 01:34:01.340
are saying reject
everything they're asking
01:34:02.270 --> 01:34:05.630
because they're just
fraudulent in doing this.
01:34:05.630 --> 01:34:07.880
And when they talk
about their improvements
01:34:07.880 --> 01:34:09.880
you don't wait till your equipment dies,
01:34:09.880 --> 01:34:13.090
and then improve it or
raise your prices then,
01:34:13.090 --> 01:34:17.130
you're constantly doing your
improvements as you go along.
01:34:17.130 --> 01:34:19.680
I'm in business for myself too,
01:34:19.680 --> 01:34:23.190
and I can't all of a
sudden raise all my prices
01:34:23.190 --> 01:34:26.463
to pay for equipment that is going bad.
01:34:28.000 --> 01:34:30.277
Anyway, that's all I have, thank you.
01:34:32.350 --> 01:34:35.620
Thank you, Mr. Burrus
for your comments,
01:34:35.620 --> 01:34:38.483
Operator please introduce
the next commenter.
01:34:40.450 --> 01:34:43.182
Our next comment
comes from Bryan Mekechuk,
01:34:43.182 --> 01:34:44.682
your line is open.
01:34:47.820 --> 01:34:50.863
Hello, this is Bryan.
01:34:52.320 --> 01:34:55.790
My name is Bryan Mekechuk
and I am an elected official.
01:34:55.790 --> 01:34:59.090
I was elected to Monte
Sereno City Council
01:34:59.090 --> 01:35:01.810
and also I'm on the board of
the Joint Powers Authorities
01:35:01.810 --> 01:35:05.640
for West Valley Clean Water,
West Valley Solid Waste,
01:35:05.640 --> 01:35:07.330
and I'm an alternate Director
01:35:07.330 --> 01:35:10.560
of Silicon Valley Clean Energy, JPA.
01:35:10.560 --> 01:35:13.310
Spelling of my name B-R-Y-A-N,
01:35:13.310 --> 01:35:18.220
Last name Mekechuk, M-E-K-E-C-H-U-K.
01:35:20.480 --> 01:35:23.170
I would like to ensure that our letter
01:35:23.170 --> 01:35:26.620
sent by the City of Monte
Sereno has been received
01:35:26.620 --> 01:35:31.620
by the CPUC regarding
application A.21-014-003.
01:35:38.700 --> 01:35:41.880
Our Mayor, Shawn
Leuthold, signed that letter
01:35:41.880 --> 01:35:45.260
on behalf of the City of Monte Sereno,
01:35:45.260 --> 01:35:48.303
I will not repeat the
information in the letter.
01:35:49.640 --> 01:35:53.950
I do wanna underscore what
our constituents are telling us.
01:35:53.950 --> 01:35:55.290
The proposed water rates
01:35:55.290 --> 01:35:57.920
do not encourage water conservation,
01:35:57.920 --> 01:36:01.520
these rates should
promote conserving water.
01:36:01.520 --> 01:36:04.460
Many people in the City
Monte Sereno have invested
01:36:04.460 --> 01:36:08.420
to reduce our water usage
and the cost of that water.
01:36:08.420 --> 01:36:10.670
For example, people
have removed their grass
01:36:10.670 --> 01:36:15.300
and replaced it with turf and
drought tolerant vegetation.
01:36:15.300 --> 01:36:18.850
Also people have removed
their swimming pools,
01:36:18.850 --> 01:36:21.700
others have invested in
covering their swimming pools
01:36:21.700 --> 01:36:24.080
to prevent evaporation.
01:36:24.080 --> 01:36:26.230
Our constituents have invested
01:36:26.230 --> 01:36:28.360
in water conservation appliances,
01:36:28.360 --> 01:36:32.530
including low-flow toilets,
low-flow shower heads,
01:36:32.530 --> 01:36:34.700
low-consumption dishwashers,
01:36:34.700 --> 01:36:37.130
low-consumption washing machines.
01:36:37.130 --> 01:36:39.100
There's no way for property owners
01:36:39.100 --> 01:36:41.290
to reduce the size of their water meters
01:36:41.290 --> 01:36:43.460
so they can reduce
any portion of their bill
01:36:43.460 --> 01:36:46.693
after investing to reduce
their water consumption.
01:36:47.570 --> 01:36:49.650
On the other hand, I will say
01:36:49.650 --> 01:36:52.190
that some property
owners in Monte Sereno
01:36:52.190 --> 01:36:54.130
have built accessory dwelling units
01:36:54.130 --> 01:36:58.710
that are below market rates,
thus the overall water usage
01:36:58.710 --> 01:37:01.460
in Monte Sereno has
stayed relatively constant.
01:37:01.460 --> 01:37:05.270
We have reduced usage for
irrigation and other applications
01:37:05.270 --> 01:37:08.730
and increased usage for
cooking water, cleaning,
01:37:08.730 --> 01:37:13.730
and toilets as we've increased
our accessory dwelling units.
01:37:14.430 --> 01:37:17.540
Finally, I believe San
Jose Water Company
01:37:17.540 --> 01:37:19.680
is not investing in submeters
01:37:19.680 --> 01:37:22.330
to identify where leaks are occurring.
01:37:22.330 --> 01:37:25.190
San Jose Water should
understand the amount of water
01:37:25.190 --> 01:37:28.240
that is used by a
branch serving customers
01:37:28.240 --> 01:37:31.030
and then reconcile that water supplied
01:37:31.030 --> 01:37:33.380
to the water bill to the customers.
01:37:33.380 --> 01:37:37.040
The differences due in
large part to leakages.
01:37:37.040 --> 01:37:40.640
I spoke with John Tang and he
confirmed that San Jose Water
01:37:40.640 --> 01:37:43.983
has no way to reconcile
water supplied to water bills.
01:37:44.870 --> 01:37:48.250
Further, when the union
workers described their projects
01:37:48.250 --> 01:37:50.410
earlier in this call,
01:37:50.410 --> 01:37:53.653
no one mentioned installing
meters or submeters.
01:37:54.530 --> 01:37:57.720
I believe there would be a
phenomenal rate of return
01:37:57.720 --> 01:38:01.923
investing in metering
water sent to customers.
01:38:03.080 --> 01:38:03.913
Thank you.
01:38:06.470 --> 01:38:08.223
Thank you, Mr. Mekechuk.
01:38:10.440 --> 01:38:14.253
Operator, please
introduce the next comment.
01:38:16.838 --> 01:38:18.800
Our next comment
comes from Stephen Morrow,
01:38:18.800 --> 01:38:19.823
your line is open.
01:38:25.010 --> 01:38:26.780
Hello,
Stephen Morrow here.
01:38:26.780 --> 01:38:31.780
S-T-E-P-H-E-N, Morrow, M-O-R-R-O-W,
01:38:31.880 --> 01:38:34.140
I am a resident of Saratoga.
01:38:34.140 --> 01:38:38.510
In 2006, I was forced to
upgrade my water lines
01:38:38.510 --> 01:38:40.900
in three quarter to one and a half inch
01:38:40.900 --> 01:38:43.940
because I was required
to install fire sprinklers.
01:38:43.940 --> 01:38:45.983
At that time, (clears throat) excuse me,
01:38:46.900 --> 01:38:51.900
my service charge went from
$24 a month to $46 a month,
01:38:51.950 --> 01:38:55.480
that is 91% increase.
01:38:55.480 --> 01:39:00.060
Since then, my surcharge
for the one and a half inch line
01:39:00.060 --> 01:39:04.940
has gone up to $145 while the surcharge
01:39:04.940 --> 01:39:07.763
for a three-quarter inch
line has only gone up to $40.
01:39:08.630 --> 01:39:13.600
So my original 90% increase
for the larger waterline
01:39:13.600 --> 01:39:17.110
has gone up to an increase now of 216%
01:39:17.110 --> 01:39:19.557
over the cost of a
three-quarter inch homes.
01:39:19.557 --> 01:39:24.110
And the question is
what is a higher cost
01:39:24.110 --> 01:39:25.420
of a larger line in the ground?
01:39:25.420 --> 01:39:28.430
I'm actually using
considerably less water
01:39:28.430 --> 01:39:29.590
than many of my neighbors
01:39:29.590 --> 01:39:31.730
and I'm being charged considerably more
01:39:31.730 --> 01:39:33.440
for having a larger line.
01:39:33.440 --> 01:39:35.330
Now, according to California law,
01:39:35.330 --> 01:39:39.750
I believe that public
utilities are required
01:39:39.750 --> 01:39:42.160
to show the rate increases
are commensurate
01:39:42.160 --> 01:39:45.070
with the cost of providing the service.
01:39:45.070 --> 01:39:47.420
My question is what
is the increased cost
01:39:47.420 --> 01:39:50.080
to providing service to
one and a half inch line
01:39:50.080 --> 01:39:51.260
over three-quarter inch line?
01:39:51.260 --> 01:39:56.100
Certainly that difference
has not gone up
01:39:56.100 --> 01:39:59.770
by over 200% in the last 15 years.
01:39:59.770 --> 01:40:02.210
They haven't done anything,
there's been no new lines laid,
01:40:02.210 --> 01:40:03.350
it's just sitting there on the ground.
01:40:03.350 --> 01:40:04.650
How has their cost gone up?
01:40:04.650 --> 01:40:06.220
They've never provided data
01:40:06.220 --> 01:40:08.350
to show the cost of providing service
01:40:08.350 --> 01:40:10.180
is more for a larger line.
01:40:10.180 --> 01:40:13.900
They've simply tried
to use the higher cost
01:40:13.900 --> 01:40:15.680
as a justification for charging more.
01:40:15.680 --> 01:40:17.190
Oh, these people have a larger line
01:40:17.190 --> 01:40:18.850
therefore they use
more water, they're richer,
01:40:18.850 --> 01:40:21.040
they can spend more,
they're not gonna question it.
01:40:21.040 --> 01:40:24.430
Well, that's the reasoning
the CPUC needs to step in
01:40:24.430 --> 01:40:26.140
and hold them accountable to show
01:40:26.140 --> 01:40:30.140
that the charges are
actually commensurate
01:40:30.140 --> 01:40:32.350
with the cost of providing service.
01:40:32.350 --> 01:40:33.890
They need to provide data that shows
01:40:33.890 --> 01:40:37.150
the cost of providing service
to a one and a half inch line
01:40:37.150 --> 01:40:41.990
is actually 260% more than
that cost of providing service
01:40:41.990 --> 01:40:43.440
to a three-quarter inch line.
01:40:44.854 --> 01:40:47.386
(bell chiming)
01:40:47.386 --> 01:40:48.563
All right, thank you very much.
01:40:49.870 --> 01:40:52.323
Thank you, Mr. Morrow
for your comments.
01:40:53.980 --> 01:40:56.803
Operator, next commenter.
01:40:58.030 --> 01:41:00.870
Our next comment
comes from Joseph Wherry,
01:41:00.870 --> 01:41:02.120
your line is open.
01:41:05.810 --> 01:41:09.180
Good afternoon,
my name is Joseph Wherry,
01:41:09.180 --> 01:41:14.180
it's J-O-S-E-P-H, last name is
Wherry spelled W-H-E-R-R-Y.
01:41:16.615 --> 01:41:18.740
I'm a resident of Saratoga now,
01:41:18.740 --> 01:41:20.250
but had previously lived in San Jose
01:41:20.250 --> 01:41:23.310
and I've been a customer
of San Jose Water Company
01:41:23.310 --> 01:41:25.440
for almost 50 years.
01:41:25.440 --> 01:41:30.440
I would like to second the
comments by Rishi Kumar,
01:41:30.640 --> 01:41:34.310
my city Councilman, and
the Mr. Berkeley spoke earlier
01:41:34.310 --> 01:41:39.310
and several others who spoken
on behalf of the rate payers
01:41:39.320 --> 01:41:43.910
and suggested that the
rate increase requested
01:41:43.910 --> 01:41:47.180
by San Jose Water
Company now is exorbitant
01:41:59.463 --> 01:42:00.330
and should not be allowed.
01:42:00.330 --> 01:42:02.290
I would humbly request
01:42:02.290 --> 01:42:05.540
that the California Public
Utilities Commission
01:42:05.540 --> 01:42:09.740
not allow the proposed rate increases
01:42:09.740 --> 01:42:12.763
by the San Jose Water
Company at this time.
01:42:13.930 --> 01:42:17.590
Certainly many people, low-income people
01:42:17.590 --> 01:42:22.007
are being badly affected
by the rate increases,
01:42:22.007 --> 01:42:24.293
and have been badly
effected by the rate increases
01:42:24.293 --> 01:42:26.330
over the past several years,
01:42:26.330 --> 01:42:31.330
and the present rate
increase request are exorbitant.
01:42:32.470 --> 01:42:36.680
Thank you for your time and
for considering the arguments
01:42:36.680 --> 01:42:38.693
by us rate payers.
01:42:41.250 --> 01:42:44.780
Thank you, Mr. Wherry
for your comments.
01:42:44.780 --> 01:42:48.173
Operator, do we have any
public officials on the line?
01:42:50.740 --> 01:42:53.753
Showing no
public officials at this time.
01:42:55.510 --> 01:42:56.343
Thank you,
01:42:58.310 --> 01:43:01.883
then Operator, please
introduce the next commenter.
01:43:03.040 --> 01:43:05.617
Our next comment
comes from Donna Taisley,
01:43:05.617 --> 01:43:06.923
your line is open.
01:43:09.070 --> 01:43:13.693
Hi, Donna Taisley,
D-O-N-N-A T-A-I-S-L-E-Y.
01:43:14.830 --> 01:43:16.790
First, thank you to Rita Benton
01:43:16.790 --> 01:43:19.453
for caring about her entire community.
01:43:20.890 --> 01:43:25.720
We would not be here if it
were not for her and her group.
01:43:25.720 --> 01:43:30.570
So to the CPUC, John Tang, hello John,
01:43:30.570 --> 01:43:33.850
and the San Jose
Water, we've been talking
01:43:33.850 --> 01:43:37.763
about your water increases
rates for many, many years.
01:43:38.670 --> 01:43:42.290
Can you imagine if we
decentralized our water
01:43:42.290 --> 01:43:45.320
to a public company,
not a private company,
01:43:45.320 --> 01:43:47.650
placated by the stockholders
01:43:47.650 --> 01:43:51.090
and their present AP seniors salaries.
01:43:51.090 --> 01:43:54.110
When you need water, what's reasonable?
01:43:54.110 --> 01:43:59.080
Please contrast and compare
public and private communities.
01:43:59.080 --> 01:44:02.810
San Jose Water has sent me
down a reduced water event
01:44:02.810 --> 01:44:07.810
that has me take down
almost all of my lawn.
01:44:07.830 --> 01:44:12.150
Okay, but the cost of
doing business is still high.
01:44:12.150 --> 01:44:15.400
I live on an acre in Saratoga, sorry,
01:44:15.400 --> 01:44:20.400
been here for 25 years, I'm a
severe water conservationist
01:44:21.070 --> 01:44:23.160
and will tell you what
my family calls me
01:44:23.160 --> 01:44:27.393
but probably isn't appropriate
and so we'll move on.
01:44:28.340 --> 01:44:33.340
Please rethink this cost
increase as it is part of our bill,
01:44:33.760 --> 01:44:35.493
what if it was part of your bill?
01:44:39.300 --> 01:44:41.050
What I know to be true is the folks
01:44:41.050 --> 01:44:44.440
who work for San Jose
Water, get a reduced rate,
01:44:44.440 --> 01:44:47.650
John correct, again how would they feel
01:44:47.650 --> 01:44:50.230
if they paid what we pay?
01:44:50.230 --> 01:44:53.020
Too much money for
a necessity, thank you.
01:44:53.020 --> 01:44:57.370
As our entire community
grows older, I'm 65,
01:44:57.370 --> 01:44:59.353
lived here for 25 years,
01:45:00.760 --> 01:45:04.820
what price point should we
be worried about for water?
01:45:04.820 --> 01:45:08.650
How can we stay whole
or at the very least again,
01:45:08.650 --> 01:45:10.350
what are we willing to pay?
01:45:10.350 --> 01:45:12.090
What are you going to give up?
01:45:12.090 --> 01:45:12.923
Thank you.
01:45:15.890 --> 01:45:18.473
Thank you, Ms. Taisley
for your comments.
01:45:20.390 --> 01:45:24.010
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:45:24.010 --> 01:45:25.930
Our next
comment comes from Ann,
01:45:25.930 --> 01:45:27.083
your line is open.
01:45:29.970 --> 01:45:34.970
Hi, my name is
Ann, it's spelled A-N-N,
01:45:36.320 --> 01:45:41.320
I live in San Jose and
I just think that the city
01:45:42.430 --> 01:45:47.430
should use like federal
money for infrastructure projects
01:45:48.130 --> 01:45:49.990
and not use rate payers,
01:45:49.990 --> 01:45:54.990
and I think rate payers
should pay less like $5 a month.
01:45:56.510 --> 01:45:57.343
That's all.
01:46:01.500 --> 01:46:05.180
Thank you, Ms. Ann
for your comments.
01:46:05.180 --> 01:46:07.993
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:46:09.260 --> 01:46:14.190
Our next comment
comes from Vhulin Peng,
01:46:14.190 --> 01:46:15.263
your line is open.
01:46:17.180 --> 01:46:19.020
All right, thank you,
my name is Vhulin Peng.
01:46:19.020 --> 01:46:20.810
I'm the resident of San Jose
01:46:20.810 --> 01:46:22.780
and customer to San Jose Water Company.
01:46:22.780 --> 01:46:27.780
My name is spelled has the
V-H-U-L-I-N, last name P-E-N-G.
01:46:28.120 --> 01:46:30.120
I'm representing my
local Asian community,
01:46:30.120 --> 01:46:33.080
in Berryessa with around 500 people.
01:46:33.080 --> 01:46:35.570
And we respectfully opt to decline
01:46:35.570 --> 01:46:38.660
San Jose Water Company's
rate increasing proposal.
01:46:38.660 --> 01:46:40.950
Number one, we understand big company
01:46:40.950 --> 01:46:43.720
needs to survive in
economy and it needs profit.
01:46:43.720 --> 01:46:46.550
But I want to point out that
we have been already paying
01:46:46.550 --> 01:46:48.700
increasing bills years and years.
01:46:48.700 --> 01:46:52.610
Take myself as an
example, in 2018 January,
01:46:52.610 --> 01:46:57.610
I paid my service
charge alone with $51.86.
01:46:57.990 --> 01:47:02.990
And this year 2021, January
my service charge is $81.94.
01:47:04.930 --> 01:47:09.930
Okay, from 51 to 81, I
already had 58% increasing.
01:47:10.190 --> 01:47:12.570
Number two, I wanna
say we have been paying
01:47:12.570 --> 01:47:14.160
these increasing bills
01:47:14.160 --> 01:47:16.530
and making this company very healthy
01:47:16.530 --> 01:47:18.900
and they make huge profit every year
01:47:18.900 --> 01:47:21.750
they even use the cash money
to purchase other companies.
01:47:22.600 --> 01:47:27.600
They're now wanting to pay
another 39% more this year alone
01:47:28.567 --> 01:47:29.900
and I don't think that makes sense.
01:47:29.900 --> 01:47:32.930
And because this is for
infrastructure upwards,
01:47:32.930 --> 01:47:36.403
that is only in favor to
only 10% of the water users.
01:47:37.270 --> 01:47:40.410
Number three, today's
the only chance we have
01:47:40.410 --> 01:47:42.060
to make our voice heard.
01:47:42.060 --> 01:47:44.440
After today, if this is approved
01:47:44.440 --> 01:47:46.060
they will give us no other choice,
01:47:46.060 --> 01:47:49.150
they will force everyone to
pay that unnecessarily bill
01:47:50.600 --> 01:47:51.620
and this kind of thing
01:47:51.620 --> 01:47:56.130
makes us feel very upset and frustrated.
01:47:56.130 --> 01:47:59.660
And number four, I
wanna say it doesn't mean
01:47:59.660 --> 01:48:01.730
we don't like better infrastructure,
01:48:01.730 --> 01:48:04.840
but I'm saying that this is only
01:48:04.840 --> 01:48:08.250
in favor of small percentage of people
01:48:08.250 --> 01:48:09.780
and they have so many other ways
01:48:09.780 --> 01:48:12.297
to figure out a better
plan, instead of just saying,
01:48:12.297 --> 01:48:14.761
"Hey, I'm just too
lazy to think anything.
01:48:14.761 --> 01:48:17.580
Let me just throw the bill
onto all the small residents
01:48:17.580 --> 01:48:18.860
or the small business
01:48:18.860 --> 01:48:20.990
and they can't even escape away from it
01:48:20.990 --> 01:48:23.940
because I'm the only
water choice in this area."
01:48:23.940 --> 01:48:26.973
Okay, and that's my
voice, thank you very much.
01:48:29.410 --> 01:48:32.020
Thank you, Mr. Peng,
for your comments.
01:48:32.020 --> 01:48:33.650
I would like to point out
01:48:33.650 --> 01:48:36.250
that you can provide additional comments
01:48:36.250 --> 01:48:37.950
and may submit written comments
01:48:37.950 --> 01:48:40.520
on the Docket Card for this proceeding,
01:48:40.520 --> 01:48:43.200
which can be found on
the Commission's website
01:48:43.200 --> 01:48:44.278
at
01:48:44.290 --> 01:48:47.560
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/A2101003comments,
01:49:05.270 --> 01:49:09.210
or if you need assistance,
providing additional comments
01:49:09.210 --> 01:49:11.360
after today, you can also contact
01:49:11.360 --> 01:49:14.340
the Commission's
Public Advisor's Office,
01:49:14.340 --> 01:49:19.340
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
01:49:22.910 --> 01:49:27.693
Operator, can you please
introduce the next commenter.
01:49:30.140 --> 01:49:30.973
Thank you,
01:49:30.973 --> 01:49:34.323
our next comment comes from
Leo Zhang, your line is open.
01:49:41.430 --> 01:49:43.163
Mr. Zhang, are you on the line?
01:49:48.150 --> 01:49:49.550
Hello, can you hear?
01:49:52.930 --> 01:49:54.583
Mr. Zhang, we can hear you.
01:49:57.890 --> 01:49:59.290
Hello, can you hear?
01:50:02.000 --> 01:50:04.350
Why don't we go off
the record for a minute
01:50:04.350 --> 01:50:07.200
and make sure that Mr. Zhang can hear us
01:50:07.200 --> 01:50:11.700
and ensure that we can
get a clear comments.
01:50:11.700 --> 01:50:12.750
We're off the record.
01:50:14.070 --> 01:50:17.683
Mr. Zhang, can you hear us?
01:50:19.491 --> 01:50:21.413
I can hear, can you hear me?
01:50:21.413 --> 01:50:23.980
I can hear you clearly,
01:50:23.980 --> 01:50:27.710
I just wanna make sure
that you can hear me as well
01:50:31.817 --> 01:50:34.828
and you are prepared
to make your comments?
01:50:34.828 --> 01:50:36.210
Yes.
01:50:36.210 --> 01:50:38.440
Okay, if you will wait a moment
01:50:38.440 --> 01:50:40.440
we'll check if the
court reporter's ready
01:50:40.440 --> 01:50:42.130
to go back on the record
01:50:42.130 --> 01:50:43.800
and then we can go back on the record
01:50:43.800 --> 01:50:44.950
and take your comments.
01:50:46.660 --> 01:50:48.383
Thank you, thank you.
01:50:48.383 --> 01:50:51.913
Thank you, Court
Reporter, thank you.
01:50:55.090 --> 01:51:00.090
We are back on the
record, Mr. Zhang, go ahead,
01:51:00.780 --> 01:51:03.757
please spell your first and last name,
01:51:03.757 --> 01:51:07.603
and if you're comfortable
identify the city you live in.
01:51:09.400 --> 01:51:12.310
Hello everyone and
thank you so much for the time.
01:51:12.310 --> 01:51:14.490
I mean, thank you all the people online
01:51:14.490 --> 01:51:16.397
to give with (indistinct).
01:51:18.140 --> 01:51:22.900
So my name is Leo
Zhang, L-E-O Z-H-A-N-G,
01:51:22.900 --> 01:51:25.240
I live on North the San Jose area,
01:51:25.240 --> 01:51:29.760
So I strongly suggest
that the Commission
01:51:29.760 --> 01:51:32.210
to deny this proposal
01:51:32.210 --> 01:51:36.760
because I have a few like reasons here.
01:51:36.760 --> 01:51:40.460
The first one is like
since the San Jose Water
01:51:40.460 --> 01:51:44.320
already provided the safe
water for all the communities
01:51:44.320 --> 01:51:48.990
and there is no reason to
further increase the standard.
01:51:48.990 --> 01:51:50.410
If people want high standards
01:51:50.410 --> 01:51:52.760
they can install the
facilities themselves.
01:51:52.760 --> 01:51:56.130
If the people don't
wanna afford more money,
01:51:56.130 --> 01:52:00.080
if people they don't wanna
pay more money on the top of it
01:52:00.080 --> 01:52:02.420
they can use the (indistinct) water
01:52:02.420 --> 01:52:05.670
which meets the
national standard already.
01:52:05.670 --> 01:52:07.620
And the second is
that there is no reason
01:52:07.620 --> 01:52:09.730
to increase the service people.
01:52:09.730 --> 01:52:13.720
Already people they
don't use a drop of water.
01:52:13.720 --> 01:52:16.869
So this is very important
for the low income
01:52:16.869 --> 01:52:19.180
and also for the tenant.
01:52:19.180 --> 01:52:23.800
Like if they don't use water,
they want to save money,
01:52:23.800 --> 01:52:28.727
there is no way for them,
they have to pay every month.
01:52:28.727 --> 01:52:33.300
And also San Jose Water
already make a good profit,
01:52:33.300 --> 01:52:35.350
why not use the dividends to pay
01:52:35.350 --> 01:52:37.513
for the facility improvement?
01:52:41.810 --> 01:52:43.640
Okay, I think that's all for my point,
01:52:43.640 --> 01:52:45.010
thank you everybody on the line,
01:52:45.010 --> 01:52:46.383
I hope this is useful.
01:52:48.290 --> 01:52:51.700
Thank you, Mr. Zhang,
for your comments.
01:52:51.700 --> 01:52:55.223
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:52:56.250 --> 01:52:57.627
Your Honor,
there are no more speakers
01:52:57.627 --> 01:52:59.793
in the public comment telephone line.
01:53:01.330 --> 01:53:02.683
Thank you operator,
01:53:04.440 --> 01:53:07.490
since there are no
speakers at this point
01:53:07.490 --> 01:53:10.090
we will take a five minute break
01:53:10.090 --> 01:53:13.980
to give the public the
opportunity to call in
01:53:13.980 --> 01:53:16.450
if they wish to do so.
01:53:16.450 --> 01:53:20.200
Again, I will repeat the number
01:53:20.200 --> 01:53:25.200
that you are to be calling
in for your public comments
01:53:25.270 --> 01:53:27.583
to be 8008571917.
01:53:31.960 --> 01:53:36.440
If you're commenting in
English the pass code is 7218384
01:53:39.570 --> 01:53:42.221
and if you're commenting for Spanish
01:53:42.221 --> 01:53:46.280
the pass code is 8147204
and press star one
01:53:52.210 --> 01:53:57.210
if you wish to make a
comment, please let the operator
01:53:58.730 --> 01:54:01.910
know your name and
if you're comfortable,
01:54:01.910 --> 01:54:04.380
the city you are from.
01:54:04.380 --> 01:54:07.050
If you are a public official
01:54:07.050 --> 01:54:09.673
please also let the operator know.
01:54:10.850 --> 01:54:14.350
We are now off the record
for a five minute break.
01:54:14.350 --> 01:54:15.183
Thank you.
01:54:22.683 --> 01:54:26.777
Special hearing for the
application of 21-01-003,
01:54:31.470 --> 01:54:34.620
the application of San
Jose Water Company
01:54:37.700 --> 01:54:40.877
to increase rates for 2022 through 2024.
01:54:48.760 --> 01:54:52.400
Operator, at this time,
01:54:52.400 --> 01:54:55.973
do we have any public
commenters on the line?
01:54:58.850 --> 01:55:00.870
Yes, we do
have a public comment
01:55:00.870 --> 01:55:02.603
from Stanford Stickney.
01:55:05.810 --> 01:55:07.853
Go ahead, Mr. Stickney.
01:55:08.800 --> 01:55:11.530
Yes, my name
is Stanford Stickney,
01:55:11.530 --> 01:55:16.530
S-T-A-N-F-O-R-D, last name
Stickney, S-T-I-C K-N-E-Y,
01:55:17.310 --> 01:55:18.840
Los Gatos, California
01:55:19.730 --> 01:55:23.400
Would like to point out
that San Jose Water Group,
01:55:23.400 --> 01:55:27.920
their net income, their
profit in the last two years
01:55:27.920 --> 01:55:31.220
exceeds the amount
in which they are asking
01:55:31.220 --> 01:55:34.873
for the four-year water
increase of over $88 million.
01:55:37.500 --> 01:55:41.810
The CEO in a time of
COVID this year, when myself,
01:55:41.810 --> 01:55:45.680
my family, are struggling
to get by month-to-month
01:55:45.680 --> 01:55:47.790
as so many others are
01:55:47.790 --> 01:55:52.790
received a record
compensation of $3.2 million.
01:55:56.520 --> 01:56:00.180
There's justice that needs
to happen in this world
01:56:00.180 --> 01:56:01.430
of equality and fairness.
01:56:02.880 --> 01:56:06.090
We as consumers do not have a choice
01:56:06.090 --> 01:56:11.000
of accessing the free market to
choose another water company
01:56:11.000 --> 01:56:12.923
for these exorbitant rates charges.
01:56:14.750 --> 01:56:18.530
When my grandmother came to Los Gatos,
01:56:18.530 --> 01:56:22.370
we live in the Hills, there
was a two-inch line in place.
01:56:22.370 --> 01:56:24.550
That is the same line we have today,
01:56:24.550 --> 01:56:29.033
and yet the costs that we're
incurring are astronomical.
01:56:31.160 --> 01:56:36.017
For two homes in the summer,
the charge can be over $3,000.
01:56:37.774 --> 01:56:40.810
That is not right, that's not fair,
01:56:40.810 --> 01:56:44.645
we ask for an opportunity
to live in our home
01:56:44.645 --> 01:56:49.645
and to have some ability
to survive financially.
01:56:50.270 --> 01:56:54.390
Those who are already
here and have a larger line
01:56:54.390 --> 01:56:56.690
should have a grandfathered in clause,
01:56:56.690 --> 01:56:59.680
so they should not have
these exorbitant rates.
01:56:59.680 --> 01:57:03.063
We ask that you consider
the times of COVID,
01:57:04.270 --> 01:57:08.840
we ask that no increase
happen today or tomorrow
01:57:08.840 --> 01:57:11.190
so that we have an opportunity
01:57:11.190 --> 01:57:14.110
to try to get through
this horrendous time
01:57:14.110 --> 01:57:15.360
that we're all living it.
01:57:18.060 --> 01:57:19.760
If there needs to be infrastructure,
01:57:19.760 --> 01:57:21.663
let it be done on a federal basis.
01:57:23.350 --> 01:57:25.653
Forensic accounting
should absolutely occur,
01:57:28.720 --> 01:57:31.770
we should not be
beholden to paying rates
01:57:31.770 --> 01:57:35.110
when we don't have an
option for another party,
01:57:35.110 --> 01:57:37.890
another company to use.
01:57:37.890 --> 01:57:41.360
We ask for justice,
we ask for what is right,
01:57:41.360 --> 01:57:42.593
fair and honorable.
01:57:43.620 --> 01:57:45.820
I thank you for your
time and consideration.
01:57:47.910 --> 01:57:52.140
Thank you, Mr. Stickney,
for your additional comments.
01:57:52.140 --> 01:57:55.063
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
01:57:55.920 --> 01:57:58.120
The next
commenter is Mr. Hart.
01:58:02.210 --> 01:58:03.263
Mr. Hart go ahead.
01:58:04.590 --> 01:58:07.800
Thank you, thank
you all that are here.
01:58:07.800 --> 01:58:12.800
My name is Theo, T-H-E-O
last name, Hart, H-A-R-T
01:58:12.870 --> 01:58:15.520
resident of Saratoga.
01:58:15.520 --> 01:58:18.100
I'd like to voice my
support for Rita Benton
01:58:18.100 --> 01:58:21.840
and the rates initiative
and what she's doing
01:58:21.840 --> 01:58:23.670
and all the points that she's made.
01:58:23.670 --> 01:58:25.840
I would also like to say maybe it's time
01:58:25.840 --> 01:58:30.235
to refocus the mission of
San Jose Water Company
01:58:30.235 --> 01:58:34.210
as their mission seems
to be expanding nationwide
01:58:34.210 --> 01:58:38.350
into other states, other
businesses, other properties
01:58:38.350 --> 01:58:40.120
which is not their mission.
01:58:40.120 --> 01:58:42.860
Their mission is to provide water
01:58:42.860 --> 01:58:46.870
for the Santa Clara County
residents of San Jose
01:58:46.870 --> 01:58:50.130
and the surrounding
areas that it covers.
01:58:50.130 --> 01:58:53.320
I do believe that we need
to do a forensic accounting,
01:58:53.320 --> 01:58:56.380
I've been involved with
corporations a long time
01:58:56.380 --> 01:58:57.880
and when you read their balance sheets
01:58:57.880 --> 01:59:02.880
and how they bury
everybody in paperwork,
01:59:04.040 --> 01:59:07.580
I do believe that there
should be an accounting here.
01:59:07.580 --> 01:59:09.670
But again, the most
important issue I'd like to bring
01:59:09.670 --> 01:59:14.240
is that we need to refocus San
Jose Water Company's mission
01:59:14.240 --> 01:59:19.240
to local supply of water and
not expanding nationwide
01:59:19.717 --> 01:59:22.550
and to other states, other areas
01:59:22.550 --> 01:59:25.160
and trying to increase their profits.
01:59:25.160 --> 01:59:27.740
It seems to be counterproductive
01:59:27.740 --> 01:59:29.870
and I am in for, if they don't do that,
01:59:29.870 --> 01:59:32.797
I am for getting rid of them
01:59:32.797 --> 01:59:35.790
and making it a municipal water company.
01:59:35.790 --> 01:59:37.060
I think that's all I have to say,
01:59:37.060 --> 01:59:40.570
but again, I highly respect
Rita Benton and WRATES
01:59:40.570 --> 01:59:42.950
and what they're doing and
everything she did comment on
01:59:42.950 --> 01:59:46.360
and I hope that the Commission
takes that very seriously.
01:59:46.360 --> 01:59:47.193
Thank you.
01:59:48.670 --> 01:59:50.720
Thank you, Mr. Hart,
for your comments.
01:59:52.040 --> 01:59:55.373
Operator, are there any
public officials on the line?
02:00:01.420 --> 02:00:02.253
Operator?
02:00:05.610 --> 02:00:07.670
I do have
other public comments
02:00:07.670 --> 02:00:09.070
if you'd like to take those?
02:00:10.600 --> 02:00:14.440
My question was, was
there any public officials
02:00:14.440 --> 02:00:15.273
on the line?
02:00:20.100 --> 02:00:22.500
No, there
are no public officials.
02:00:22.500 --> 02:00:26.113
Thank you, Operator, please
introduce the next commenter.
02:00:27.120 --> 02:00:29.133
The next is Greg Holsen.
02:00:31.730 --> 02:00:33.940
Mr. Holsen, go ahead,
02:00:33.940 --> 02:00:36.900
please remember to spell
your first and last name
02:00:36.900 --> 02:00:40.290
and if you're comfortable
identify the city
02:00:40.290 --> 02:00:42.853
that you are a resident of.
02:00:44.740 --> 02:00:47.157
Thank you, my
name is Greg Holsen,
02:00:47.157 --> 02:00:52.157
and that's spelled G-R-E-G H-O-L-S-E-N,
02:00:52.330 --> 02:00:55.290
and I am a resident
of the City of San Jose.
02:00:55.290 --> 02:00:58.970
I've been a water
customer of San Jose Water
02:00:58.970 --> 02:01:03.970
for about 23 years and
have never seen a movement
02:01:04.260 --> 02:01:06.810
that has been a positive
movement by this company.
02:01:06.810 --> 02:01:08.910
I would like to also send out thanks
02:01:08.910 --> 02:01:11.140
as many other people
have done for Rita Benton.
02:01:11.140 --> 02:01:13.590
She's a true patriot in
regard to the work she's done
02:01:13.590 --> 02:01:16.010
that the PUC should actually
be doing as a watchdog
02:01:16.010 --> 02:01:18.620
of rates and business
nature of San Jose Water.
02:01:18.620 --> 02:01:20.180
And I agree with all the
speakers who have asked
02:01:20.180 --> 02:01:22.660
for an independent
and forensic accounting.
02:01:22.660 --> 02:01:23.820
Also, I'd like to see an accounting
02:01:23.820 --> 02:01:26.300
of all the beneficial
decisions the PUC has made
02:01:26.300 --> 02:01:27.920
for San Jose Water.
02:01:27.920 --> 02:01:31.620
My concern whines the tone
depth approach by the CPUC
02:01:31.620 --> 02:01:33.600
to hear the voice of taxpayers.
02:01:33.600 --> 02:01:36.580
None of my neighbors
believe that the CPUC
02:01:36.580 --> 02:01:39.130
is really looking out for
rate payers any longer
02:01:39.130 --> 02:01:42.360
as has been the situation
with the fires, PG&E
02:01:42.360 --> 02:01:45.170
and many other concerns that
have come out of the CPUC.
02:01:45.170 --> 02:01:47.330
But certainly no more
greater than what we've seen
02:01:47.330 --> 02:01:48.610
with the water decisions
02:01:48.610 --> 02:01:50.530
that have been made here in San Jose.
02:01:50.530 --> 02:01:53.320
You have a cozy relationship,
that's been at the CPUC
02:01:53.320 --> 02:01:54.680
has a cozy relationship
02:01:54.680 --> 02:01:56.780
with the California Water Association
02:01:56.780 --> 02:02:00.280
and it creates undue
influence on CPUC decisions.
02:02:00.280 --> 02:02:03.610
CPUC can stop the practice
of being unduly influenced
02:02:03.610 --> 02:02:04.443
by San Jose Water.
02:02:04.443 --> 02:02:07.430
San Jose Water Company
continuous misinformation,
02:02:07.430 --> 02:02:09.550
inaccurate assertions,
half-truths and false
02:02:09.550 --> 02:02:14.550
and misleading claims to
rate payers and to the CPUC.
02:02:14.820 --> 02:02:17.230
The question would be at what point
02:02:17.230 --> 02:02:20.100
are you going to address
the fact that first here,
02:02:20.100 --> 02:02:22.850
all three CCF allotment doesn't meet
02:02:22.850 --> 02:02:24.490
WHO's health standard.
02:02:24.490 --> 02:02:28.250
California Governor has
talked about giving money back
02:02:28.250 --> 02:02:29.980
to the state residents
02:02:33.810 --> 02:02:36.490
as remuneration for the COVID situation.
02:02:36.490 --> 02:02:38.730
but yet we continue to
take more and more money
02:02:38.730 --> 02:02:41.890
out of state resident's pockets
because of things like this
02:02:41.890 --> 02:02:44.910
where the CPUC continues
to give the rate charges
02:02:44.910 --> 02:02:46.630
and continues to give the increases
02:02:46.630 --> 02:02:48.540
that these companies are asking for.
02:02:48.540 --> 02:02:50.820
It's bleeding us out and
the fact of the matter is
02:02:50.820 --> 02:02:52.890
we're continuing to
pay for all the customers
02:02:52.890 --> 02:02:55.180
that can't pay for their
own water any longer.
02:02:55.180 --> 02:02:58.080
I'm not on a program where
I'm able to get discounted water
02:02:58.080 --> 02:03:00.430
and I know that my water
bills continue to increase,
02:03:00.430 --> 02:03:02.100
not only because of the company
02:03:02.100 --> 02:03:03.660
asking for more rate increases
02:03:03.660 --> 02:03:05.970
so that they can pay
themselves healthy salaries,
02:03:05.970 --> 02:03:09.310
have houses in Saratoga
and down in Pebble Beach
02:03:09.310 --> 02:03:13.700
but they also and you're now
paying for the additional costs
02:03:13.700 --> 02:03:15.850
of the rate payers that
can no longer afford.
02:03:15.850 --> 02:03:19.290
And it's 22,888 customers
who cannot afford
02:03:19.290 --> 02:03:21.820
to pay for water in California.
02:03:21.820 --> 02:03:24.399
And it's California public interest
02:03:24.399 --> 02:03:25.930
of 9,000 residential customers
02:03:25.930 --> 02:03:28.290
that are applying for
assistance to pay for water.
02:03:28.290 --> 02:03:29.510
I don't understand at what point
02:03:29.510 --> 02:03:32.760
when the state is gonna
consider that we need to stop
02:03:32.760 --> 02:03:34.610
rate increases so that
people can start paying
02:03:34.610 --> 02:03:36.320
for the very basics like water
02:03:36.320 --> 02:03:38.370
and it shouldn't cost
more than gasoline.
02:03:39.890 --> 02:03:41.890
I appreciate your time,
thank you very much.
02:03:41.890 --> 02:03:43.390
That's the end of my comments.
02:03:45.430 --> 02:03:49.210
Thank you, Mr. Holsen
for your comments,
02:03:49.210 --> 02:03:54.130
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
02:03:54.130 --> 02:03:56.430
The next
commenter is Dave Scott.
02:03:58.880 --> 02:04:03.880
Hello, my name is Dave
Scott, D-A-V-E S-C-O-T-T,
02:04:04.900 --> 02:04:07.536
I live in Saratoga, California,
02:04:07.536 --> 02:04:10.343
I've lived at this address for 33 years.
02:04:11.290 --> 02:04:15.210
And I'd like to thank
Rita Benton once again,
02:04:15.210 --> 02:04:19.590
for her hard work and our
local council person, Rishi Kumar
02:04:19.590 --> 02:04:22.490
and also the Monte Sereno City Council
02:04:22.490 --> 02:04:26.880
for taking a stand to
protest this water increase.
02:04:26.880 --> 02:04:30.330
I worked with Mr. Kumar in the past
02:04:30.330 --> 02:04:33.610
to provide him with raw
data on my experience here,
02:04:33.610 --> 02:04:37.940
I have an acre property,
well I had 62 mature trees
02:04:39.030 --> 02:04:44.030
when the rate increases started
approximately six years ago,
02:04:44.240 --> 02:04:49.040
I noted that San Jose
Water stock price was $28.74,
02:04:49.040 --> 02:04:50.970
today it's over double that.
02:04:50.970 --> 02:04:54.250
They proudly point
out in their disclosures
02:04:56.010 --> 02:04:59.720
that they've increased their
dividends 53 straight years,
02:04:59.720 --> 02:05:01.930
they pay their officer's
millions of dollars a year,
02:05:01.930 --> 02:05:03.030
and yet they come back to us
02:05:03.030 --> 02:05:05.283
and ask us for more money all the time,
02:05:06.270 --> 02:05:09.310
and somehow they get what they want.
02:05:09.310 --> 02:05:11.360
So it doesn't seem fair
02:05:11.360 --> 02:05:14.220
especially when I had to
take out three of my lawns
02:05:14.220 --> 02:05:17.260
put in drought tolerant
landscaping, drip lines,
02:05:17.260 --> 02:05:19.340
and I've cut my use by over 35%
02:05:19.340 --> 02:05:22.700
but my water bill has
gone up since then.
02:05:22.700 --> 02:05:25.530
I mentioned before I
had 62 mature trees,
02:05:25.530 --> 02:05:28.543
several have died from
stress for lack of water-
02:05:29.550 --> 02:05:30.490
Mr. Scott.
02:05:30.490 --> 02:05:31.323
Yes.
02:05:31.323 --> 02:05:34.740
We are interpreting
simultaneously in Spanish,
02:05:34.740 --> 02:05:38.340
can you please speak
slower so that it is easier
02:05:38.340 --> 02:05:42.130
for the interpreter to
interpret what you have said?
02:05:42.130 --> 02:05:44.830
Okay, I will speak slower.
02:05:44.830 --> 02:05:45.663
Thank you.
02:05:46.620 --> 02:05:49.750
Anyway, that was pretty
much the end of my comment.
02:05:49.750 --> 02:05:51.980
I can repeat anything you'd like
02:05:51.980 --> 02:05:56.980
but I just would urge the
CPUC to deny this rate increase.
02:05:58.150 --> 02:05:58.983
Thank you.
02:06:00.420 --> 02:06:03.200
Thank you, Mr. Scott,
for your comment.
02:06:03.200 --> 02:06:06.553
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
02:06:07.690 --> 02:06:10.433
The next
commenter is Cheriel Jensen.
02:06:12.130 --> 02:06:14.223
Yes, this
is Cheriel Jensen,
02:06:15.120 --> 02:06:17.040
I am a resident of Saratoga.
02:06:17.040 --> 02:06:22.040
My name is spelled
C-H-E-R-I-E-L J-E-N-S-E-N.
02:06:24.010 --> 02:06:26.200
What I'd like to stay is,
02:06:26.200 --> 02:06:29.790
I think there's two audits
that need to go forward.
02:06:29.790 --> 02:06:31.740
There needs to be an audit to find out
02:06:31.740 --> 02:06:33.423
where this money has gone.
02:06:35.230 --> 02:06:38.390
How is San Jose Water paying
for the things they're doing
02:06:38.390 --> 02:06:42.550
like buying the
Connecticut Water Company
02:06:42.550 --> 02:06:45.210
and spending money in Texas.
02:06:45.210 --> 02:06:47.180
We need to actually know that
02:06:47.180 --> 02:06:52.180
because did this PCU
authorize San Jose Water
02:06:52.780 --> 02:06:56.990
to spend money like that
and to divert our money
02:06:57.980 --> 02:07:02.480
that was paid in rates to these offshore
02:07:02.480 --> 02:07:04.573
or off-site projects?
02:07:05.650 --> 02:07:08.090
And then we need an ongoing audit,
02:07:08.090 --> 02:07:12.110
we need an ongoing
auditor there at the company
02:07:12.110 --> 02:07:15.293
to make sure that we don't
get scammed even more
02:07:20.820 --> 02:07:23.980
but we need to actually
see these numbers.
02:07:23.980 --> 02:07:28.290
And then we need to
actually divest San Jose
02:07:28.290 --> 02:07:29.943
from these projects.
02:07:32.970 --> 02:07:36.080
The job of the PUC is to protect us
02:07:36.080 --> 02:07:39.130
and we're not getting that protection,
02:07:39.130 --> 02:07:41.060
we have absolutely needed.
02:07:41.060 --> 02:07:45.210
I ask this PCU, deny this rate proposal
02:07:47.350 --> 02:07:50.680
and deny the former proposals
that are still on the table
02:07:51.740 --> 02:07:54.140
and then get the information we need
02:07:54.140 --> 02:07:56.440
to know what happened to our money.
02:07:56.440 --> 02:07:59.880
This is theft, it's out and out theft
02:07:59.880 --> 02:08:03.600
and we need to get our money back
02:08:03.600 --> 02:08:08.600
and get the rates in line with
something real, the real cost
02:08:13.860 --> 02:08:16.550
because that's the job of the PUC.
02:08:16.550 --> 02:08:17.523
So thank you.
02:08:20.290 --> 02:08:23.073
Thank you, Ms. Jensen
for your comments.
02:08:24.120 --> 02:08:27.393
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.
02:08:28.340 --> 02:08:30.060
Your Honor,
there are no more speakers
02:08:30.060 --> 02:08:31.963
in the public comment telephone line.
02:08:33.850 --> 02:08:34.683
Thank you.
02:08:40.530 --> 02:08:45.530
I wanna thank all of the
public for your participation
02:08:45.600 --> 02:08:49.290
in this public participation hearing
02:08:52.490 --> 02:08:56.453
and thank everyone
for participating today.
02:08:57.540 --> 02:09:00.350
If you would like to
provide additional comments
02:09:00.350 --> 02:09:02.160
you may submit written comments
02:09:02.160 --> 02:09:05.030
on the Docket Card for this proceeding
02:09:05.030 --> 02:09:08.480
which can be found on
the Commission's website
02:09:08.480 --> 02:09:09.718
at
02:09:09.730 --> 02:09:13.480
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/A2101003comments.
02:09:30.590 --> 02:09:33.580
For assistance with
providing additional comments,
02:09:33.580 --> 02:09:37.360
please contact the Commission's
Public Advisor's Office
02:09:37.360 --> 02:09:41.593
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
02:09:47.740 --> 02:09:49.440
This concludes this afternoon's
02:09:49.440 --> 02:09:52.090
public participation hearing.
02:09:52.090 --> 02:09:54.933
Thank you very much,
we are off the record.