WEBVTT

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<v Narrator>The feed for
this streaming event</v>

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brought to by.

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<v Operator>Participation hearing.</v>

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Here we will take public input

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on the San Jose Water companies

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general rate case application

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for the years 2022 through 2024

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on this day, Thursday, May 13th, 2021.

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(speaks in foreign language)

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<v ->Thank you, operator
and interpreter.</v>

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Can the court reporters please confirm

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that she is ready to begin?

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<v Court Reporter>Ready judge.</v>

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Thank you.

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<v ->Thank you.</v>

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We are on the record.

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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 companies
general rate case application

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to increase water rates
for years 2022 through 2024

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for application number 21-01-003.

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This is the public participation
hearing that is live stream

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through Admin Monitor 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
and her advisor, Justin Fong.

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Thank you for your attendance
Commissioner Guzman Aceves

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and advisor Fong.

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Commissioner Guzman
Aceves and advisor Fong

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before we proceed further,

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would you like to make
any opening remarks?

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<v Justin>Thank you judge Lee.</v>

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I do apologize for the
absence of the Commissioner,

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but I just wanted to say

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that we are looking
forward to hearing the public

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and learn again what our parties set.

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<v ->Thank you,
Commissioner, strike that,</v>

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thank you advisor Fong.

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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 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
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 and Sustainability

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or WRATES 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 cue 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

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that decides 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 were appointed by the Governor

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and confirmed by the
California State Senate.

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As the judge of this proceeding,

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I manage the day-to-day
activities of the case,

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evaluate the evidence and
prepare a proposed decision based

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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 based

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on the evidence in the proceeding.

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The current schedule for
this proceeding anticipate

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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 and pursuant

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to Commission
requirements a 45 day update

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on March 4th, 2021, seeking
up Commission approval

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of their expected costs for owning

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and operating the company

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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 update increase in revenue
that San Jose Water company

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is requesting to be funded
through customer water bills

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for 2022 is 32,906,000 a 8.6% 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 and for 2024,

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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 increases

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include infrastructure
replacement, depreciation expenses,

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outside services, increased
pension and benefits costs

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and increased labor expenses.

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San Jose Water company also explained

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that its expenses included
increased costs of environmental

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and cyber security compliance,
additional employee headcount

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and capital improvements
such as reservoirs,

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water treatment plants and
pipeline repair and replacement.

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If approved as proposed the
impact on residential customers

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with 3/4 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

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at present rates to $102.75 in 2022.

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By $3.90 or 3.80% to $106.65 in 2023

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and by $4.39 or 4.11% to $111.4 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 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 city attorney

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or for the city of San Jose
voicing its resident's concerns

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and opposition to the
application informing categories.

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One, the pandemic related
burden on rate payers.

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Two, 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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Three, the lack of itemized
costs and end dates of projects,

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and four, the costs borne by
San Jose Water companies merger

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with Connecticut Water Company.

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I've directed the court reporters

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to attach 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 to the memorandum

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from the city mayor, Sam
Liccardo 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 received 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 session

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on the docket card

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at
https:\\www.cpuc.ca.gov\a2101003comment.

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Our practice and
procedures provide a utility

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and opportunity to post a
response to any public comment.

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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

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will help the Commission
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 everything

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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

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so that the court reporter
and the Spanish interpreter

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can capture everything that is said.

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Written transcripts 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

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https:\\www.cpuc.ca.gov\a2101003comments.

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As of today, we have received

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over 800 written public 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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<v ->Thank you, judge
and welcome everyone.</v>

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My name is Juanita Hill
and I am the supervisor

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in the CPUC public advisor's office.

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The public advisor's office
assist and advises the public

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with participation in
Commission proceedings.

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First, I wanna thank you
all for participating today.

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As judge and the
Commissioner's advisor stated

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public participation
and input are essential

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to the Commission's
decision making process.

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This is your opportunity to be
heard, to share your thoughts

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on the application with the
Administrative Law Judge

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and the assigned Commissioner.

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If you have specific about
the application or your service,

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please reach out to the
public advisor's office

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at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
or visit the CPUC

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or San Jose Water's
website for more information.

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Second, if you or anyone you know

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is not able to make a comment today,

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as judge said there
are several other ways

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to become involved.

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If you wish to find more information

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on becoming a party
subscribing to this proceeding

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or submitting comments
via email, the phone

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or to the docket card,

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please go to our website www.cpuc.ca.gov

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or email the public advisor at
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

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All of this information
is also on the notice

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that you received for this
public participation hearing.

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We look forward to your comments today.

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Thank you.

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<v ->Thank you, Ms. Hill.</v>

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Before turning to public comments today,

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we will hear briefly
from each of the parties

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in this proceeding beginning
with a representative

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from San Jose Water company followed

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by the public advocate's
office and then WRATES.

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To begin, the representative

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for San Jose Water company,
Mr. Tang, please proceed.

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<v ->Thank you your honor.</v>

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I can get the presentation
to be uploaded.

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There you go, thank you.

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Good evening Commissioner your honor

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water division and Cal
advocates staff and customers.

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My name is John Tang, vice
president of regulatory affairs.

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<v Daphne>Mr. Tang, can
you please slow down</v>

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your presentation to
ensure that the interpreter

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can interpret everything being said.

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Thank you.

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<v ->Yes, thank you.</v>

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We appreciate not only the opportunity

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to present information about our filing,

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but also to hear from our customers.

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Next slide, please.

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We know some customers
may have specific questions

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about their service or bill.

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Our customer service
advocates are standing by

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to speak with you
one-on-one to ensure privacy.

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Please email
customer.service@sjwater.com

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and include the information requested.

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We'll will make contact with you

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in the order of the
requests are received.

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To respect your time,

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we will not make contact
after 9:00 p.m tonight.

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If there are too many requests,

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we will contact you the next day.

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Next slide, please.

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San Jose Water roots in the
community span over 154 years.

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Over that time, our core
values have not changed.

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We are committed to delivering
on our public health mission,

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making your rate dollars
stretch as far as possible

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without jeopardizing
safety or reliability,

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protecting the environment

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since water touches almost everything

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that is important to us,

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and supporting the community
where we live, work and serve.

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Next slide, please.

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We recognize that
there are many customers

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who are impacted by the pandemic.

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Our customer assistance programs

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are geared towards helping
them manage their consumption

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and ultimately their bills.

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We also have a special
low-income program

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for customers who qualify.

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As part of our ongoing commitment

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to supporting the local community

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we are increasing our
supportive non-profit organization

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encouraging employees to
volunteer in their communities

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through our employee
led 501C3 foundation

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and supporting the local community

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through our supplier diversity program.

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I'm proud to report that
almost 30% or $30 million

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of our spend in 2020 involves
diverse business enterprises

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led by women, minority,
disabled veterans

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and the LGBT community
surpassing the 21 1/2% goals set

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by the Commission.

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Next slide, please.

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We have recently updated our requests

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as required by the Commission.

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Based on the update, the 2022 increase

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for the typical residential
customer suppose at 9.36%

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and this is inclusive of
surcharges and fees some

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of which are temporary.

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We do consider the
rate impact to customers

00:20:09.218 --> 00:20:11.480
have proposed expenses and investments

00:20:12.411 --> 00:20:15.020
that we believe are
necessary to deliver safe

00:20:15.020 --> 00:20:16.370
and reliable water service.

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:20.860
Given the choice, so we'd
rather have conversations

00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:22.620
where I can share information

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:25.390
on how San Jose
Water is looking to deliver

00:20:25.390 --> 00:20:28.290
on our public health mission
and serve the next generation

00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:32.570
and to have the conversation
that many American communities

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.510
are having about the
consequences of not doing enough

00:20:37.510 --> 00:20:39.530
to deliver on their mission.

00:20:39.530 --> 00:20:40.480
Next slide, please.

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.110
The key drivers in our application

00:20:45.110 --> 00:20:50.110
are infrastructure, O and
M costs, taxes, appreciation

00:20:51.800 --> 00:20:52.793
and water charges.

00:20:53.670 --> 00:20:56.720
The info graph shows
how every dollar we collect

00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:00.180
from customers is
broken down almost half

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:03.090
or 45 cents of every dollar goes to pay

00:21:03.090 --> 00:21:05.960
for water charges
and taxes both of which

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.110
are beyond our control.

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:11.450
Some customers have
inquired about the process.

00:21:12.330 --> 00:21:14.110
The reality is that utility rates

00:21:14.110 --> 00:21:17.470
are not designed to turn a profit

00:21:17.470 --> 00:21:21.660
rather the rate making
construct allows us to recover

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:25.280
at cost reasonable
expenses to deliver service

00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:29.180
and a fair return on the
investments we make.

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:33.290
That return is reflected in
the cost of capital 10 cents

00:21:33.290 --> 00:21:35.220
that's shown on the dollar bill.

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.380
Next slide, please.

00:21:39.110 --> 00:21:41.050
This infographic comes from

00:21:41.050 --> 00:21:45.300
our award-winning enterprise
asset management plan proposed

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:47.190
in our application.

00:21:47.190 --> 00:21:49.960
The plan provides a roadmap
for where we should focus

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:51.923
our investments in the coming years.

00:21:53.030 --> 00:21:55.960
Any category that shows an image other

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.755
than a full circle points to areas

00:21:57.755 --> 00:22:00.200
where we still have some work to do

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:04.530
to ensure we can deliver
safe and reliable service

00:22:04.530 --> 00:22:06.340
for our customers.

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:09.150
This includes our tanks and reservoirs

00:22:09.150 --> 00:22:11.683
around water supply and water meets.

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:15.570
The need for infrastructure investments

00:22:15.570 --> 00:22:18.500
is impacting the entire industry.

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:22.180
The USCPA, the American
Water Works Association

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:26.260
and the American Society
of Civil Engineers all speak

00:22:26.260 --> 00:22:29.473
as of late about these
challenges on their websites.

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:33.730
San Jose water is working
to address these challenges

00:22:33.730 --> 00:22:35.883
through our filings with the Commission.

00:22:36.850 --> 00:22:39.110
There is ample evidence
of the harm caused

00:22:39.110 --> 00:22:42.170
by deferred maintenance and
the tremendous collective risks

00:22:42.170 --> 00:22:45.780
we all face due to
the failure to invest in

00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:49.200
and improve our
infrastructure and utilities.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.357
Next slide please.

00:22:52.910 --> 00:22:55.903
Customers will often ask
for points of rate comparison.

00:22:56.770 --> 00:22:58.630
Before speaking to this chart,

00:22:58.630 --> 00:23:02.030
please know that these
comparisons are not very meaningful.

00:23:02.030 --> 00:23:04.630
Every utility will have
different needs depending

00:23:04.630 --> 00:23:08.740
on the age, size and
condition of their water system.

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.840
It's very difficult to
paint broad conclusions

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:14.563
without diving deeper into the details.

00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:18.490
A higher or lower bill
does not necessarily mean

00:23:18.490 --> 00:23:20.923
you are receiving bad or good stuff.

00:23:22.170 --> 00:23:26.070
It's also inherently
unfair for me to weigh in

00:23:26.070 --> 00:23:28.760
on how any period utility is delivering

00:23:28.760 --> 00:23:32.153
on their mission simply
by looking at it, comparison.

00:23:33.280 --> 00:23:36.150
Comparing rates or bills
in the manner shown here

00:23:36.150 --> 00:23:39.120
has been perceived as calling out a peer

00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.983
which I am no way doing.

00:23:41.910 --> 00:23:44.720
This chart shows that San Jose Water

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:47.177
does not have the highest
or lowest (indistinct).

00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:50.850
It also underscores
the infrastructure needs

00:23:50.850 --> 00:23:52.743
that utilities are grappling with.

00:23:53.710 --> 00:23:57.610
The bill for San Francisco
customers is largely driven

00:23:57.610 --> 00:24:01.950
by the San Francisco
Public Utilities Commission

00:24:01.950 --> 00:24:05.360
recently completed
four and 1/2 billion dollar

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:09.260
capital program to shore
up their water supply

00:24:09.260 --> 00:24:11.853
and infrastructure needs
for the next generation.

00:24:12.990 --> 00:24:16.480
Similarly, San Jose Water has
made significant investments

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:19.230
in our water system over the last decade

00:24:19.230 --> 00:24:20.943
totaling more than $1 billion.

00:24:22.020 --> 00:24:23.447
Next slide please.

00:24:25.150 --> 00:24:29.010
In closing, I wanna thank the
Commission Cal advocates,

00:24:29.010 --> 00:24:31.940
water division and our customers

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:35.810
for holding and participating
in this forum tonight.

00:24:35.810 --> 00:24:37.700
We know this is a difficult time

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:40.710
and we'll absolutely continue
to support our customers

00:24:40.710 --> 00:24:45.170
and the community where
we live, work and serve.

00:24:45.170 --> 00:24:50.170
We also remain committed
to our public health mission

00:24:50.390 --> 00:24:52.940
to deliver safe and
reliable water service

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:54.800
in the face of the pandemic

00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:58.470
as well as other disasters
stemming from wildfires,

00:24:58.470 --> 00:25:00.873
droughts, floods,
PSPS, and (indistinct).

00:25:05.780 --> 00:25:07.223
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Tang.</v>

00:25:08.290 --> 00:25:09.770
It is my understanding

00:25:09.770 --> 00:25:14.770
that the Commissioner Martha
Guzman Aceves has joined us

00:25:14.930 --> 00:25:16.033
at this point.

00:25:17.270 --> 00:25:20.360
Commissioner Guzman
Aceves before we proceed further

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:23.450
would you like to make some remarks?

00:25:23.450 --> 00:25:26.580
<v Martha>Oh, thank you, judge
Lee and I apologize greatly</v>

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:28.560
for my conflict earlier.

00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:30.410
Thank you for your patience.

00:25:30.410 --> 00:25:33.100
Mostly I wanted to
really thank the public

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:37.160
for taking the time
today to really come out

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:41.130
and share with us their
thoughts on this proposal.

00:25:41.130 --> 00:25:42.980
We heard a lot earlier today

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:45.930
from many of your fellow customers

00:25:45.930 --> 00:25:50.590
on many of the concerns
from the proposed fixed charges

00:25:50.590 --> 00:25:54.820
to the faults of the low-income
program to the concern

00:25:54.820 --> 00:25:59.030
about certain investments
and carrying a benefit

00:25:59.030 --> 00:26:00.680
for all the customers.

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:04.010
So many concerns, I can't list them,

00:26:04.010 --> 00:26:06.700
but I really appreciate hearing them.

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:10.310
So they guide our
further and deeper review

00:26:10.310 --> 00:26:14.250
of where there really is
a good concern comes

00:26:15.516 --> 00:26:16.349
from all of you.

00:26:16.349 --> 00:26:20.400
So with that, let us move
forward here hearing

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:23.470
from some of our critical topics

00:26:23.470 --> 00:26:26.440
and I look forward to
hearing from all of you.

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.453
Thank you very much.

00:26:29.250 --> 00:26:30.960
<v ->Thank you, Commissioner.</v>

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.630
Thank you, Commissioner.

00:26:34.630 --> 00:26:35.630
We will now hear

00:26:35.630 --> 00:26:38.540
from the public advocate's
office representative.

00:26:38.540 --> 00:26:40.493
Mr. Yuen, you may proceed.

00:26:42.561 --> 00:26:46.830
<v ->Good evening Commissioner
Guzman Aceves, advisor Fong,</v>

00:26:46.830 --> 00:26:49.470
judge Lee, members of the public.

00:26:49.470 --> 00:26:51.630
My name is Ting Yuen.

00:26:51.630 --> 00:26:56.190
I'm here tonight representing
the public advocates office

00:26:56.190 --> 00:27:01.000
at the California Public
Utilities Commission.

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:06.000
The public advocate's office
independent organization

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:10.720
was in the California
Public Utilities Commission.

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:13.800
Our statutory mission is to obtain

00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:18.800
the lowest possible utility
rates for customers consistent

00:27:20.470 --> 00:27:23.450
with a reliable service

00:27:23.450 --> 00:27:26.860
and meet the state's
environmental goals.

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:31.240
We also strive to ensure
that no one is left behind

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:35.530
and that all communities
have access to safe

00:27:35.530 --> 00:27:39.270
and affordable electric, gas, water

00:27:39.270 --> 00:27:43.200
and communications utility services.

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.070
I'm the lead coordinator

00:27:45.070 --> 00:27:49.220
in the current San Jose Water
company's general rate case

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:54.170
and with me this evening
is Makunda Sawali,

00:27:54.170 --> 00:27:56.763
the oversight supervisor of the case.

00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:00.460
Our team is currently reviewing

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:03.780
the company's rate case application

00:28:03.780 --> 00:28:08.730
to determine the fair, just
and reasonable expenses

00:28:08.730 --> 00:28:13.730
and water rates paid
by San Jose's customers.

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:18.610
We will file our report
with our recommendations

00:28:18.610 --> 00:28:21.063
to the Commission on May 25th.

00:28:22.300 --> 00:28:25.200
Our report will be
available for you to reveal

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:28.833
on the Commission's
website after May 25th.

00:28:29.710 --> 00:28:33.650
I'm very pleased to see
many of you participating

00:28:33.650 --> 00:28:38.410
and attending this meeting this evening.

00:28:38.410 --> 00:28:42.230
Your presence here is significant to us

00:28:42.230 --> 00:28:46.412
and we are looking forward to listening

00:28:46.412 --> 00:28:49.940
to your comments and concerns.

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:53.460
With that said, I want to emphasize

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:57.390
that now this is your
meeting to lend your voice

00:28:57.390 --> 00:29:00.560
and opinions and ratio concerns.

00:29:00.560 --> 00:29:04.670
We are very interested to
hear your views and thoughts

00:29:04.670 --> 00:29:05.900
on this case.

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.733
Thank you.

00:29:08.930 --> 00:29:10.323
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Yuen.</v>

00:29:11.490 --> 00:29:14.260
We will now hear from
Water Rates Advocates

00:29:14.260 --> 00:29:17.490
for Transparency
Equity and Sustainability

00:29:17.490 --> 00:29:21.080
representative Ms.
Benton, please proceed.

00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:22.490
<v ->Thank you.</v>

00:29:22.490 --> 00:29:26.250
Good evening Commissioner
Guzman Aceves and law judge Lee.

00:29:26.250 --> 00:29:27.710
My name is Rita Benton

00:29:27.710 --> 00:29:30.220
and I am one of the
co-founders of WRATES.

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:33.230
I'd like to thank law judge Lee
for allowing WRATES to speak

00:29:33.230 --> 00:29:36.300
on behalf of rate payers
of San Jose Water.

00:29:36.300 --> 00:29:37.810
Due to the five minute constraint,

00:29:37.810 --> 00:29:39.790
I will only be able to touch the surface

00:29:39.790 --> 00:29:43.290
of the many pressing issues
in this GRC and how they are.

00:29:43.290 --> 00:29:44.240
<v Daphne>Ms. Benton.</v>

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.073
<v Benton>Yes.</v>

00:29:45.073 --> 00:29:46.490
<v Daphne>Can you
slow down a little bit</v>

00:29:46.490 --> 00:29:48.430
to ensure that the Spanish interpreter

00:29:48.430 --> 00:29:50.340
can interpret everything you say?

00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:52.223
Thank you.
<v Benton>Sure, my apologies.</v>

00:29:54.690 --> 00:29:58.800
There are obvious inequities
and sustainability issues

00:29:58.800 --> 00:30:03.010
especially in our low income
struggling communities.

00:30:03.010 --> 00:30:05.460
We, the rate payers are the only members

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:09.163
of this proceeding
volunteering our unpaid time.

00:30:10.230 --> 00:30:13.100
The only reason it is
necessary for rate payers

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:17.420
to be involved is because
rate payers have zero trust

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:20.840
in San Jose Water
and all its subsidiaries,

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:23.600
and San Jose Water
continues to increase our rates

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:27.400
at discriminatory, inequitable, obscure

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:29.660
and unsustainable levels.

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:33.490
The rate payers view the
CPUC as either complicit

00:30:33.490 --> 00:30:35.090
or enabling this behavior

00:30:35.090 --> 00:30:36.603
by allowing the following.

00:30:37.450 --> 00:30:41.100
A multitude of single issue
rate making mechanisms

00:30:41.100 --> 00:30:43.550
not subject to an earnings test

00:30:43.550 --> 00:30:46.300
to recover so-called lost revenue

00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:50.580
such as SRM, drought surcharge, WCMA,

00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:54.690
Monterey style Ram, balancing
and memorandum accounts

00:30:54.690 --> 00:30:56.660
just to name a few.

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:58.920
We urge the CPUC to not allow

00:30:58.920 --> 00:31:03.160
the over $18 million San Jose
Water company is requesting

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:06.660
in this GRC from under
collection in the balancing

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:10.693
and memorandum accounts
until an earnings test is applied.

00:31:11.610 --> 00:31:13.300
San Jose Water is considering

00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:15.200
adding a WRAP balancing account

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:18.200
to recover debt forgiveness
for WRAP members.

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:20.830
This will only burden the
non WRAP rate payers

00:31:20.830 --> 00:31:22.770
with even higher rates.

00:31:22.770 --> 00:31:26.283
This should be paid for by the
shareholders not rate payers.

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:30.650
We implore the CPUC
in this GRC to correct

00:31:30.650 --> 00:31:34.620
the previous discriminatory
drought surcharges applied only

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:38.480
to residential customers,
which were used to offset cost

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.690
that should have been the responsibility

00:31:40.690 --> 00:31:42.463
of all customer classes.

00:31:43.410 --> 00:31:47.170
The CPUC should
allow no further recovery

00:31:47.170 --> 00:31:50.337
of the capital investment
for the $62 million

00:31:50.337 --> 00:31:52.250
of the Montevina water treatment plant

00:31:52.250 --> 00:31:55.380
which all San Jose Water
company customers paid for.

00:31:55.380 --> 00:32:00.380
This plant has zero, zero
benefit for 90% of its customers

00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:04.470
and only provides seasonal
water for the other 10%

00:32:04.470 --> 00:32:08.130
of its customers for less
than six months out of the year

00:32:08.130 --> 00:32:12.073
and is currently completely
offline due to low water supply.

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:18.200
The $117.3 million three-year
cap ex budget increase

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:21.780
which includes aggressive
pipeline replacement,

00:32:21.780 --> 00:32:24.170
discriminates against
low-income customers

00:32:24.170 --> 00:32:27.003
in ethnically and age
diverse communities.

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:30.360
The Commission should place a moratorium

00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:32.760
on non-essential infrastructure projects

00:32:32.760 --> 00:32:35.890
till these communities can reestablish.

00:32:35.890 --> 00:32:38.670
With the potential $2
trillion federal aid bill

00:32:38.670 --> 00:32:42.380
for to pass Congress,
San Jose Water company

00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:44.780
can use federal money for infrastructure

00:32:44.780 --> 00:32:46.023
not rate payer money.

00:32:47.310 --> 00:32:49.770
With potential drought
emergency being enacted

00:32:49.770 --> 00:32:53.250
by Governor Newsom, potential
drought surcharges invoked

00:32:53.250 --> 00:32:55.220
by San Jose Water company,

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.940
the federal moratorium on bills

00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:59.300
not being paid coming to an end

00:32:59.300 --> 00:33:03.870
and valley water increasing
rates by nine to 10% annually.

00:33:03.870 --> 00:33:07.030
This is a perfect storm for
more low-income rate payers

00:33:07.030 --> 00:33:09.200
to fall further behind.

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:12.260
Has the CPUC or San
Jose Water company applied

00:33:12.260 --> 00:33:14.410
for low-income home water funds

00:33:14.410 --> 00:33:17.143
to help COVID-19 impacted communities.

00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:20.810
San Jose Water company's customer base

00:33:20.810 --> 00:33:24.080
has not increased enough
to warrant their request

00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:27.020
to increase staff with 29 new positions

00:33:27.020 --> 00:33:29.613
at a cost to rate
payers of $1.9 million.

00:33:30.710 --> 00:33:33.870
We request that the
CPUC stop the practice

00:33:33.870 --> 00:33:37.560
of being unduly influenced
by San Jose Water executives,

00:33:37.560 --> 00:33:39.900
attorneys, lobbyists, union,

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:42.220
special interest groups, et cetera.

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:44.440
<v Daphne>Ms. Benton,
please slow down.</v>

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.273
Thank you.

00:33:46.290 --> 00:33:49.350
<v ->The rate payers continue
to be very concerned</v>

00:33:49.350 --> 00:33:52.980
that the CPUC sets
utilities goals higher

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:55.433
than the rate payers
public interest issues.

00:33:56.591 --> 00:34:00.080
23,000 people in the
richest county in the nation

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:02.610
are threatened with disconnection.

00:34:02.610 --> 00:34:05.230
San Jose Water company
has already submitted

00:34:05.230 --> 00:34:07.820
their transition program plan.

00:34:07.820 --> 00:34:12.820
The communities targeted
have 20% to 36% child poverty.

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:16.500
In our opinion, year after year,

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.970
San Jose Water company achieves higher

00:34:18.970 --> 00:34:21.060
than authorized earnings.

00:34:21.060 --> 00:34:23.980
In part because the
reasons I just stated

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:28.250
and also because San Jose
Water presents misinformation,

00:34:28.250 --> 00:34:31.400
inaccurate assertions, half-truths,

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:33.270
false and misleading claims

00:34:33.270 --> 00:34:35.803
to the rates payers and the CPUC.

00:34:36.690 --> 00:34:40.690
An example of this is from the 2018 GRC.

00:34:40.690 --> 00:34:42.440
San Jose Water company presented

00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:46.120
multiple inaccurate
assertions and false claims

00:34:46.120 --> 00:34:50.600
to the rates payers and CPUC
regarding the rate increase

00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:52.763
of a typical residential customer.

00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:57.230
Since the flood 2018 GRC decision

00:34:57.230 --> 00:35:01.890
does not meet the
requirements of CPUC rule 12.1D.

00:35:01.890 --> 00:35:05.430
The current GRC should
contain recalculation

00:35:05.430 --> 00:35:09.680
which provide refunds to
rate payers for the overages.

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:13.963
A forensic audit should
also be ordered in this GRC.

00:35:15.350 --> 00:35:18.893
I'll end by saying that
2020 has been quite a year.

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:23.610
I personally lost my mother, my sister

00:35:23.610 --> 00:35:26.430
and our family pet of 18 years

00:35:26.430 --> 00:35:29.010
along with all the
other struggles of life

00:35:29.010 --> 00:35:32.620
and COVID-19 I am sharing
this personal information

00:35:32.620 --> 00:35:34.410
to illustrate that the rate payers

00:35:34.410 --> 00:35:39.410
of San Jose Water have very
busy trying complicated lives

00:35:39.590 --> 00:35:41.313
with very little free time.

00:35:42.330 --> 00:35:44.700
I would like to acknowledge
all the rate payers calling

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:46.570
in today because many are about

00:35:46.570 --> 00:35:48.700
to face having their water cut off

00:35:48.700 --> 00:35:52.680
with droughts COVID illness
and some with long haul syndrome

00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:56.083
job loss and loss of loved ones like me.

00:35:57.060 --> 00:35:59.390
Our hope is that
Commissioner Guzman Aceves

00:35:59.390 --> 00:36:02.100
and law judge Lee have
a better understanding

00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:04.420
of how their requests of San Jose Water

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:09.090
and the decisions of the CPUC
negatively affect rate payers

00:36:09.090 --> 00:36:10.950
and the communities we live in.

00:36:10.950 --> 00:36:15.280
We remain hopeful that the
culture at CPUC will change.

00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:18.190
Utilities will be properly regulated

00:36:18.190 --> 00:36:20.720
and the decisions for this GRC

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:24.910
and future proceedings
are just and reasonable.

00:36:24.910 --> 00:36:26.110
Thank you for your time.

00:36:27.870 --> 00:36:29.203
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Benton.</v>

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:33.780
We will now turn to
public comments segment

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:36.660
to hear from members of the public.

00:36:36.660 --> 00:36:38.440
To those who wish to speak,

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:41.110
if you have not done so already,

00:36:41.110 --> 00:36:44.540
please press star one on your phone

00:36:45.450 --> 00:36:49.113
and the operator will add
you to the queue of speakers.

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:53.140
Based on the number of
speakers currently in queue

00:36:54.130 --> 00:36:58.410
and to ensure everyone has a
chance to provide comments,

00:36:58.410 --> 00:37:00.330
those who have made comments

00:37:00.330 --> 00:37:05.080
in the previous public
participation hearing at 1:30

00:37:05.080 --> 00:37:09.300
will be limited to a one minute comments

00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:14.190
to allow for new commenters to speak

00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:18.883
with a two minutes limits,

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:23.730
but chime will sound
when your one minute

00:37:23.730 --> 00:37:25.383
or two minutes are up.

00:37:26.970 --> 00:37:30.160
A reminder to those
waiting on the phone,

00:37:30.160 --> 00:37:32.720
please speak slowly and clearly

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:36.830
so that the court reporter
and the Spanish interpreter

00:37:36.830 --> 00:37:39.393
can capture everything that is said.

00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:44.070
If you are commenting
in Spanish, please pause

00:37:44.070 --> 00:37:48.760
between each statement to
allow accurate interpretation

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:52.100
of each statement
from Spanish to English

00:37:52.100 --> 00:37:54.720
without any overlap in speech

00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:59.720
between the Spanish
commenter and the interpreter.

00:38:01.830 --> 00:38:05.860
The court reporter can only
capture one speaker at a time

00:38:06.720 --> 00:38:08.733
and what is spoken in English.

00:38:10.100 --> 00:38:13.820
Before you begin your
comments please state

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:15.820
and spell your name

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:18.853
and if you like the city
you are calling from.

00:38:20.410 --> 00:38:24.670
We will be able to hear
you best if you speak directly

00:38:24.670 --> 00:38:27.760
into your phone or headset.

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:30.610
Please avoid having your
phone on speakerphone

00:38:30.610 --> 00:38:32.603
when you are providing comments.

00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:39.203
Operators, are there any
public officials on the line?

00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:43.180
<v Operator>I am showing
no public officials</v>

00:38:43.180 --> 00:38:44.013
at this time.

00:38:46.890 --> 00:38:51.890
<v ->Operator, do we have any
commenters on the English line?</v>

00:38:54.860 --> 00:38:57.070
<v Operator>Yes, ma'am we do.</v>

00:38:57.070 --> 00:39:01.620
Our first commenter is Carolyn Schultz.

00:39:01.620 --> 00:39:02.987
Your line is open.

00:39:04.070 --> 00:39:05.870
<v ->Go ahead Ms. Schultz.</v>

00:39:05.870 --> 00:39:08.600
<v Carolyn>This is Carolyn Schultz,</v>

00:39:08.600 --> 00:39:13.600
C-A-R-O-L-Y-N S-C-H-U-L-T-Z

00:39:18.830 --> 00:39:21.810
and I'm a rate payer in Cupertino.

00:39:21.810 --> 00:39:24.380
I have a couple of comments.

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:26.680
The first one is a
little bit of history.

00:39:26.680 --> 00:39:31.380
I've lived in my house
since the early 1960s.

00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:34.910
I weathered through the
seven-year drought we had

00:39:34.910 --> 00:39:38.790
in the 70's and I would
like to say to San Jose,

00:39:38.790 --> 00:39:42.660
you allowed so much water to each home

00:39:42.660 --> 00:39:45.573
depending on how many
people lived in the home.

00:39:46.640 --> 00:39:51.520
You got a surcharge if you
went over what you were allowed

00:39:51.520 --> 00:39:55.280
and if you had used
less than that amount,

00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:58.700
the amount went into a bank

00:39:58.700 --> 00:40:02.300
and then at the end of the
drought after seven years,

00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:05.210
this bank should have
been able to be used

00:40:05.210 --> 00:40:07.000
during the time of the drought,

00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:10.600
but when it ended and
we didn't use any of ours,

00:40:10.600 --> 00:40:14.060
we never even got a thank you

00:40:14.060 --> 00:40:17.150
or what happened to
all that stuff we saved.

00:40:17.150 --> 00:40:21.990
The 35% increase in rates

00:40:21.990 --> 00:40:26.990
or actually I guess it was
for the service charge monthly

00:40:26.990 --> 00:40:31.040
about 35% never got taken off it.

00:40:31.040 --> 00:40:32.340
Everything just went forward

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:33.710
like none of that ever happened.

00:40:33.710 --> 00:40:37.940
So therefore I have a
very bad taste in my mouth

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:39.220
going on at this point.

00:40:39.220 --> 00:40:42.970
Along with my current
bill, this is the second thing.

00:40:42.970 --> 00:40:47.970
My current bill is charging
me a rate right now

00:40:48.650 --> 00:40:53.320
for something that should happen in 2024

00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:55.460
and I don't understand that.

00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:58.580
I had all new pipes
put in, the pipes leaked

00:40:58.580 --> 00:41:01.600
because of the company making a mistake

00:41:01.600 --> 00:41:05.630
and the fire department
was out here twice

00:41:05.630 --> 00:41:08.240
to turn off the water
because it was spewing

00:41:08.240 --> 00:41:11.040
like a fire hydrant had been hit

00:41:11.040 --> 00:41:12.800
and my bill of course, doubled

00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:14.580
and I was expecting a big bill.

00:41:14.580 --> 00:41:19.580
However, between
February 25 and April 28th,

00:41:20.470 --> 00:41:24.317
I was charged for a total of 16 CCF.

00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:33.573
Six of those CCF were
billed to me at the rate of 3.377

00:41:35.010 --> 00:41:37.050
which is acceptable.

00:41:37.050 --> 00:41:41.430
Then you have charged me 10 more CCF

00:41:41.430 --> 00:41:45.640
at the rate of $5.066.

00:41:45.640 --> 00:41:49.550
I would like to know why
I am paying a rate today

00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:54.163
that's not supposed
to happen until 2024.

00:41:55.400 --> 00:41:57.770
That's my biggest concern right now

00:41:57.770 --> 00:42:00.920
of how accurate your records are,

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:04.850
who the oversight is
on all of these things

00:42:04.850 --> 00:42:07.590
and I think this needs to be audited

00:42:07.590 --> 00:42:10.310
by whoever audits your stuff.

00:42:10.310 --> 00:42:12.920
I say, thank you for
sending me this in the mail.

00:42:12.920 --> 00:42:15.890
I take, watch it every single year.

00:42:15.890 --> 00:42:17.400
I know what you're doing,

00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:20.730
but I have no control
over what you're doing.

00:42:20.730 --> 00:42:22.570
So I thank you for your time

00:42:22.570 --> 00:42:26.160
and hopefully all of these charges

00:42:26.160 --> 00:42:29.823
that they're putting on us
should not be happening,

00:42:31.030 --> 00:42:33.530
and I listened for an hour
and a half earlier today

00:42:33.530 --> 00:42:37.660
to everything and go
along with all the rate payers

00:42:37.660 --> 00:42:42.350
of what they all had to say
and I can back them up totally.

00:42:42.350 --> 00:42:45.563
Thank you very much
and goodbye to everybody.

00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:50.000
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Schultz
for your comments.</v>

00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:53.040
I want to know that if you
have questions relating

00:42:53.040 --> 00:42:56.010
to your bill, please direct your inquiry

00:42:56.010 --> 00:42:59.500
to one of the three people,

00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:03.550
Tom Vanyami, manager of customer service

00:43:03.550 --> 00:43:07.800
at (408) 279-7906.

00:43:10.200 --> 00:43:14.810
Lily Ana Trujillo customer
service coordinator

00:43:14.810 --> 00:43:16.023
at (408) 918-8208.

00:43:21.890 --> 00:43:26.740
Or Karen Gazelle at
customer service coordinator

00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:31.740
at (408) 918-8215.

00:43:33.790 --> 00:43:38.560
Or you can email San Jose Water company

00:43:38.560 --> 00:43:41.720
at customer.service@sjwater.com

00:43:46.450 --> 00:43:48.260
with the subject line of PPH

00:43:50.530 --> 00:43:55.000
and in the body state your
customer name, account number

00:43:56.480 --> 00:44:01.380
and your concerns and
someone with San Jose Water

00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:03.873
is to respond to your inquiry.

00:44:09.690 --> 00:44:13.220
You may also contact the
public advisor for assistance

00:44:15.550 --> 00:44:20.550
by emailing them at
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:30.640
Thank you for your comment Ms. Schultz.

00:44:30.640 --> 00:44:34.333
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

00:44:36.700 --> 00:44:37.533
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

00:44:37.533 --> 00:44:40.540
Our next comment
comes from Elaine Evans,

00:44:40.540 --> 00:44:41.533
your line is open.

00:44:42.660 --> 00:44:47.660
<v Elaine>Yes,
E-L-A-I-N-E E-V-A-N-S.</v>

00:44:48.470 --> 00:44:51.400
I'm a property manager
of a couple of buildings

00:44:51.400 --> 00:44:53.833
in San Jose and in Mountain View.

00:44:55.160 --> 00:44:57.810
One thing that the vice president,

00:44:57.810 --> 00:45:00.950
the first speaker John Tang
from the San Jose Water

00:45:00.950 --> 00:45:04.570
said was that it's not
always a valid comparison

00:45:04.570 --> 00:45:08.390
to make between rates
and I wanna say that

00:45:08.390 --> 00:45:13.200
in this letter that I'm looking
at announcing proposed rate

00:45:13.200 --> 00:45:18.200
increases in Mountain View
that will be heard on June 22nd.

00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:23.220
The letter mentions that
the City of Mountain View,

00:45:23.220 --> 00:45:25.040
the rates are influenced

00:45:25.040 --> 00:45:28.420
by the San Francisco
Public Utilities Commission

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:32.030
as well as the Santa
Clara Valley Water District

00:45:32.030 --> 00:45:33.760
which so I believe that it's probably

00:45:33.760 --> 00:45:38.760
in the same ballpark as
San Jose in basing its rates.

00:45:39.170 --> 00:45:42.550
Well, I'm looking at some bills here

00:45:42.550 --> 00:45:46.790
and we proposed the
current rate per five days

00:45:46.790 --> 00:45:49.450
to 3/4 inch water supply line

00:45:49.450 --> 00:45:52.220
and Mountain View
is going to increase it

00:45:52.220 --> 00:45:56.310
from 1,355 this month to 1,575

00:45:56.310 --> 00:46:00.920
if the amount proposed
in the hearing is accepted.

00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:03.090
In San Jose by comparison

00:46:03.090 --> 00:46:05.150
the current rate per five days

00:46:05.150 --> 00:46:09.410
to 3/4 inch water supply line is $40.47

00:46:10.290 --> 00:46:14.763
and the proposed increase
in 2022 will be the $56.37

00:46:17.010 --> 00:46:19.590
which is about three and 1/2 times

00:46:19.590 --> 00:46:22.573
as much as in Mountain
View increase for that one year.

00:46:23.600 --> 00:46:25.200
The other building that I manage

00:46:25.200 --> 00:46:26.670
it doesn't have any yet.

00:46:26.670 --> 00:46:27.520
<v ->Ms. Evans.</v>

00:46:27.520 --> 00:46:28.353
<v Elaine>Hello.</v>

00:46:28.353 --> 00:46:32.260
<v ->Please Ms. Evans, can
you please speak slowly</v>

00:46:32.260 --> 00:46:33.950
so that the Spanish interpreter

00:46:33.950 --> 00:46:37.290
can interpret everything
that is being said.

00:46:37.290 --> 00:46:41.490
<v Elaine>All right, the
one and a half inch</v>

00:46:41.490 --> 00:46:46.420
water supply line is in one
other building that I have.

00:46:46.420 --> 00:46:48.700
The building only has
two tenants at the moment

00:46:48.700 --> 00:46:50.823
because we're restoring the building.

00:46:51.770 --> 00:46:55.360
The current rate for the one
and a half inch line per month

00:46:56.610 --> 00:46:59.160
in Mountain View, if that
were not in Mountain View

00:46:59.160 --> 00:47:04.160
would be $62.20 and in the next year

00:47:04.460 --> 00:47:07.033
if the proposed rate
increase goes through

00:47:07.033 --> 00:47:11.480
it will be $63.80 per month increase.

00:47:11.480 --> 00:47:16.480
In San Jose, that same line
would be charged $134.90

00:47:18.950 --> 00:47:23.770
and next year, if the proposal
of the GRC goes through,

00:47:23.770 --> 00:47:28.770
it'll be 187.92 and
then taking it into 2024,

00:47:31.450 --> 00:47:35.300
that same 100 and a half in
next line would be $199.47.

00:47:38.010 --> 00:47:39.670
And on top of all those fees

00:47:39.670 --> 00:47:43.963
the city of San Jose
charges a 5% utility charge.

00:47:45.060 --> 00:47:49.070
Now, I don't know how this can happen

00:47:49.070 --> 00:47:52.820
because you don't
have a lot of repair work

00:47:52.820 --> 00:47:56.960
with existing meters that
are installed inside of buildings

00:47:56.960 --> 00:47:58.730
and it seems to me that every time

00:47:58.730 --> 00:48:01.350
there's a rate increase
is over everything

00:48:01.350 --> 00:48:06.350
whether it's the rates, the
services, meters whatever it is.

00:48:07.260 --> 00:48:09.230
Oh, in the building in San Jose,

00:48:09.230 --> 00:48:14.020
the one and a half inch line
also has a fire service line

00:48:14.020 --> 00:48:18.140
which has sat unused
since 1979 I believe.

00:48:18.140 --> 00:48:21.020
No water has ever
been used to put out a fire

00:48:21.020 --> 00:48:23.180
yet that's charged with $73

00:48:24.399 --> 00:48:29.077
and that will no doubt be
going up by 8.62% next year.

00:48:29.077 --> 00:48:30.710
And I wanna say that.

00:48:31.600 --> 00:48:34.550
<v ->Ms. Evans, can
you slow down please</v>

00:48:34.550 --> 00:48:37.470
to ensure that the Spanish interpreter

00:48:37.470 --> 00:48:40.580
can interpret everything
that is being said.

00:48:40.580 --> 00:48:43.840
We wanna make sure
that everyone understands

00:48:43.840 --> 00:48:45.790
what you have said as well.

00:48:45.790 --> 00:48:46.720
Thank you.

00:48:46.720 --> 00:48:50.053
<v Elaine>Lucy and
Tom you'll wait in car.</v>

00:48:51.660 --> 00:48:53.610
So all of that I've said now,

00:48:53.610 --> 00:48:55.870
I can't really repeat all of that.

00:48:57.730 --> 00:48:59.240
<v ->That is fine, Ms. Evans.</v>

00:48:59.240 --> 00:49:03.770
I just wanna make sure
that, I know a lot of times

00:49:03.770 --> 00:49:05.940
that can get kind of nerve wracking

00:49:05.940 --> 00:49:08.640
and then people speak faster.

00:49:08.640 --> 00:49:10.040
I might just want to remind you.

00:49:10.040 --> 00:49:10.873
Thank you.

00:49:11.846 --> 00:49:13.381
<v Elaine>Yeah, thanks.</v>

00:49:13.381 --> 00:49:14.810
Yeah, sorry, I'm a
terrible public speaker.

00:49:14.810 --> 00:49:17.020
I should probably have written a letter

00:49:17.020 --> 00:49:19.983
because I'm a better letter
writer than a public speaker.

00:49:21.110 --> 00:49:23.590
<v ->Ms. Evans, you are doing fine.</v>

00:49:23.590 --> 00:49:26.160
I just wanted to remind you don't worry,

00:49:26.160 --> 00:49:28.440
you are doing perfectly fine.

00:49:28.440 --> 00:49:30.420
<v Elaine>Okay, yeah, I
don't have much else</v>

00:49:30.420 --> 00:49:34.610
to say except that I'm really
a private enterprise person,

00:49:34.610 --> 00:49:38.650
you know, I believe that
that's really the way to go,

00:49:38.650 --> 00:49:41.560
but when I see these kinds of increases

00:49:41.560 --> 00:49:44.273
and then they are kind
of shielded by the CPUC,

00:49:45.660 --> 00:49:48.380
may be there's an incentive
to not be so responsible

00:49:48.380 --> 00:49:50.010
as a private company.

00:49:50.010 --> 00:49:53.050
I hope that's not the
case with San Jose Water,

00:49:53.050 --> 00:49:58.050
but I wish someone would
guarantee me an 8% increase

00:49:58.880 --> 00:50:00.610
for the first year to always

00:50:00.610 --> 00:50:03.550
be reviewed year after year after year,

00:50:03.550 --> 00:50:06.660
but meanwhile, the rates in San Jose,

00:50:06.660 --> 00:50:10.780
thanks to that bureaucracy
are limited to 5% a year.

00:50:10.780 --> 00:50:13.010
So no matter what San Jose charges

00:50:13.010 --> 00:50:15.750
it puts everything else behind.

00:50:15.750 --> 00:50:16.857
That's all I have to say

00:50:16.857 --> 00:50:19.943
and thank you for your
patience with my past speech.

00:50:23.020 --> 00:50:26.100
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Evans
for your comments.</v>

00:50:26.100 --> 00:50:29.783
Operator please introduce
the next commenter.

00:50:31.290 --> 00:50:32.123
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

00:50:32.123 --> 00:50:35.060
Our next comment
comes from Dianne Carillio,

00:50:35.060 --> 00:50:36.163
your line is open.

00:50:38.360 --> 00:50:41.270
<v Dianne>Hello, can
you hear me, hello?</v>

00:50:41.270 --> 00:50:43.430
<v ->Yes, yes we can hear you.</v>

00:50:43.430 --> 00:50:44.460
Go ahead.

00:50:44.460 --> 00:50:46.473
<v Dianne>Okay, thank you kindly.</v>

00:50:48.180 --> 00:50:52.280
I just wanna know how
the 39% was calculated.

00:50:52.280 --> 00:50:54.420
One that's my first question.

00:50:54.420 --> 00:50:59.420
Second question I have
is why, I have never had

00:51:01.170 --> 00:51:05.970
such a huge increase in any
utilities anywhere I've lived

00:51:05.970 --> 00:51:07.520
as opposed to this.

00:51:07.520 --> 00:51:09.730
<v ->Before you start
on your comment,</v>

00:51:09.730 --> 00:51:12.860
please spell your first and last name

00:51:12.860 --> 00:51:14.360
and if you're comfortable

00:51:14.360 --> 00:51:16.760
the city that you are calling from.

00:51:18.260 --> 00:51:19.840
<v Dianne>I'm so sorry, sure.</v>

00:51:19.840 --> 00:51:24.840
Dianne, D-I-A-N-N-E.

00:51:24.880 --> 00:51:29.880
Carillio, C-A-R-I-L-L-I-O.

00:51:32.830 --> 00:51:34.870
And I live in San Jose.

00:51:34.870 --> 00:51:38.103
I have lived in San Jose since 1981.

00:51:41.380 --> 00:51:42.843
<v ->Go ahead, Ms. Carillio.</v>

00:51:43.860 --> 00:51:46.510
<v Dianne>Okay, I have a question.</v>

00:51:46.510 --> 00:51:49.600
First, was how was this 39% figured.

00:51:49.600 --> 00:51:54.600
I heard this word winning whatever.

00:51:57.670 --> 00:52:01.110
There's a (indistinct) 39% increase.

00:52:01.110 --> 00:52:04.530
<v ->Ms. Carillio, you
are cutting in and out.</v>

00:52:04.530 --> 00:52:08.063
If you can be closer to your
phone, that might be helpful.

00:52:08.940 --> 00:52:11.190
And if you are on speakerphone,

00:52:11.190 --> 00:52:13.830
please take us off of speaker phone

00:52:13.830 --> 00:52:17.650
and put the phone next to
your ear would be most helpful

00:52:17.650 --> 00:52:20.820
so that we can make
sure that the court reporter

00:52:20.820 --> 00:52:23.170
can hear everything that is being said

00:52:23.170 --> 00:52:25.800
as well as the Spanish interpreter.

00:52:25.800 --> 00:52:26.633
Thank you.

00:52:29.560 --> 00:52:32.253
<v Dianne>Okay, can you
hear me a little better now?</v>

00:52:33.150 --> 00:52:34.400
<v ->Much better, thank you.</v>

00:52:35.240 --> 00:52:40.240
<v Dianne>Okay, I repeated
this is the third time.</v>

00:52:41.130 --> 00:52:45.040
How was 39% figured?

00:52:45.040 --> 00:52:46.140
That's one thing.

00:52:46.140 --> 00:52:47.930
Two, I'd like to comment.

00:52:47.930 --> 00:52:51.630
I have lived here since 1981.

00:52:51.630 --> 00:52:56.630
I have never, ever anywhere
I've lived in San Jose

00:52:56.810 --> 00:53:01.520
since I have lived here had
this type of huge rate increase.

00:53:01.520 --> 00:53:03.870
It wasn't enough that they increased

00:53:03.870 --> 00:53:08.870
it already a number of times,
and they're doing it again.

00:53:09.100 --> 00:53:14.100
I don't know anyone of my
friends, neighbors, relatives

00:53:15.120 --> 00:53:19.750
that have had a giant job in pay

00:53:19.750 --> 00:53:22.343
that can help cover any of these costs.

00:53:23.260 --> 00:53:28.260
Now I would like know what
have developers, builders,

00:53:29.080 --> 00:53:34.080
contractors, et cetera
contributed towards anything,

00:53:34.690 --> 00:53:39.400
towards the improvements
and modification and renovation

00:53:39.400 --> 00:53:43.893
of San Jose Waters
lines and their equipment?

00:53:45.710 --> 00:53:50.710
Another question I have,
why am I paying the same rate

00:53:52.960 --> 00:53:55.190
and there's only one person.

00:53:55.190 --> 00:53:59.450
There's only me now
who is residing in my home.

00:53:59.450 --> 00:54:02.530
I am paying the same rate as somebody

00:54:02.530 --> 00:54:06.630
who has five people
residing in their home as far,

00:54:06.630 --> 00:54:08.450
in terms of the service charge,

00:54:08.450 --> 00:54:12.010
you're basing this
sheerly on meter size.

00:54:12.010 --> 00:54:15.960
To me that doesn't seem
equitable for any residents

00:54:15.960 --> 00:54:19.733
unless of course they're
paying the same service charge.

00:54:21.224 --> 00:54:24.850
I also like to know how
much of the federal funds

00:54:28.920 --> 00:54:33.620
has San Jose Water
company utilized over the years.

00:54:33.620 --> 00:54:36.360
They've been awarded
different federal funds

00:54:36.360 --> 00:54:38.540
for different projects.

00:54:38.540 --> 00:54:42.463
As a rate payer, I
don't think it's right.

00:54:45.860 --> 00:54:48.680
I don't feel that water should be,

00:54:48.680 --> 00:54:53.130
this service charge should
be as high as it is considering

00:54:53.130 --> 00:54:55.790
the amount of service
we're getting for this.

00:54:55.790 --> 00:55:00.790
I don't see any improvements as of yet

00:55:01.220 --> 00:55:04.170
and to put this onto
the current rate payers

00:55:04.170 --> 00:55:07.380
and a lot of us living
on very fixed incomes,

00:55:07.380 --> 00:55:08.900
it's not the answer.

00:55:08.900 --> 00:55:12.170
If this is surely to make
the shareholders happy,

00:55:12.170 --> 00:55:13.920
they need to find you another way to go

00:55:13.920 --> 00:55:16.480
about making their shareholders happy

00:55:16.480 --> 00:55:19.223
as opposed to sticking
it to the rate payers.

00:55:20.100 --> 00:55:22.023
And those are my comments.

00:55:23.390 --> 00:55:24.490
Thank you for listening.

00:55:24.490 --> 00:55:25.983
I appreciate your time.

00:55:27.590 --> 00:55:30.540
<v ->Thank you, Ms.
Carillio for your comments</v>

00:55:30.540 --> 00:55:33.130
and for those who have questions related

00:55:33.130 --> 00:55:35.690
to the general rate case application,

00:55:35.690 --> 00:55:39.580
you can direct them to
John Tang, vice president

00:55:39.580 --> 00:55:44.277
of government relations at
John, john.tang@sjwater.com

00:55:51.810 --> 00:55:54.023
or call him at (408) 279-7933.

00:56:00.330 --> 00:56:03.663
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

00:56:04.870 --> 00:56:05.703
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

00:56:05.703 --> 00:56:08.540
Our next comment comes from Wahab Ahmed.

00:56:08.540 --> 00:56:09.483
your line is open.

00:56:10.440 --> 00:56:14.550
<v Wahab>Oh, hi, my
name is Wahab Ahmed.</v>

00:56:14.550 --> 00:56:19.550
I live in San Jose and
I do agree the water.

00:56:22.340 --> 00:56:23.190
<v ->Ahmed.</v>

00:56:23.190 --> 00:56:24.233
<v Wahab>Yes ma'am.</v>

00:56:25.220 --> 00:56:28.710
<v ->Can you please spell your
first and last name please?</v>

00:56:28.710 --> 00:56:30.520
<v Wahab>Sure, sorry about that.</v>

00:56:30.520 --> 00:56:35.520
W-A-H-A-B, Wahab.

00:56:36.170 --> 00:56:37.640
This is my first name.

00:56:37.640 --> 00:56:41.523
Last name is Ahmed, A-H-M-E-D.

00:56:44.110 --> 00:56:45.233
<v ->Go ahead Ms. Ahmed.</v>

00:56:46.984 --> 00:56:50.923
<v Wahab>All right, so
you know the water, A,</v>

00:56:51.860 --> 00:56:55.140
we are paying a lot of money.

00:56:55.140 --> 00:57:00.140
B, the quality of water is
terrible, and we cannot drink.

00:57:03.880 --> 00:57:07.760
Me and my mother lives
in the home, mobile home.

00:57:07.760 --> 00:57:11.000
We cannot drink the water because

00:57:11.000 --> 00:57:15.060
there is a lot of sediment in the water

00:57:15.060 --> 00:57:17.893
and taste as I said horrible.

00:57:18.980 --> 00:57:23.980
Then what we do, we go
and buy the bottle of water,

00:57:24.850 --> 00:57:27.830
for example, Kirkland bottles.

00:57:27.830 --> 00:57:32.830
I am paying 2.99, almost
$3 for a carton of water

00:57:36.457 --> 00:57:41.457
and then on that water, I pay $2 CRV.

00:57:41.530 --> 00:57:46.153
This is another extra
cost and on the top of it,

00:57:47.180 --> 00:57:50.040
the water bill is high.

00:57:50.040 --> 00:57:55.040
Please help us all, help me what to do

00:57:55.370 --> 00:57:58.780
so that the quality and the quantity

00:57:58.780 --> 00:58:03.290
of water is improved, quality of water.

00:58:03.290 --> 00:58:04.123
Please.

00:58:07.640 --> 00:58:10.730
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Ahmed
for your comments.</v>

00:58:10.730 --> 00:58:11.730
<v Wahab>Thank you.</v>

00:58:13.250 --> 00:58:16.763
<v ->Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.</v>

00:58:18.560 --> 00:58:21.260
<v Operator>Thank you, our
next commenter comes from.</v>

00:58:23.220 --> 00:58:26.993
<v ->Ms. Ahmed, did you have
something you wanted to add?</v>

00:58:32.250 --> 00:58:34.293
<v Operator>One moment then.</v>
<v ->Okay, operator.</v>

00:58:37.120 --> 00:58:40.280
Why don't we go off
the record at this time?

00:58:40.280 --> 00:58:41.113
<v Wahab>Okay.</v>

00:58:43.060 --> 00:58:44.810
<v Operator>I have Ms. Ahmed back.</v>

00:58:47.580 --> 00:58:50.338
<v Wahab>Hi, am I speaking.</v>

00:58:50.338 --> 00:58:52.760
<v ->Ms. Ahmed, wait a minute.</v>

00:58:52.760 --> 00:58:54.660
Court reporter, are we off the record?

00:58:56.480 --> 00:58:58.000
<v ->Yes, we are.</v>

00:58:58.000 --> 00:58:59.550
<v ->Thank you.</v>

00:58:59.550 --> 00:59:03.070
Ms. Ahmed, did you have
more you wanted to say?

00:59:03.070 --> 00:59:05.183
<v Wahab>Yeah, my question is.</v>

00:59:07.200 --> 00:59:10.750
<v ->Ms. Ahmed, before
you continue to comment,</v>

00:59:10.750 --> 00:59:12.780
let me make sure that the court reporter

00:59:12.780 --> 00:59:15.840
is ready to take down
everything that you say.

00:59:15.840 --> 00:59:16.940
<v Wahab>Okay, sorry.</v>

00:59:19.000 --> 00:59:20.980
<v ->Court reporter is
saying that she is ready</v>

00:59:20.980 --> 00:59:24.220
to get back on the record.

00:59:24.220 --> 00:59:27.620
So we will go back on
the record at this time.

00:59:27.620 --> 00:59:31.320
It appears that Ms. Ahmed
had additional comments.

00:59:31.320 --> 00:59:32.673
Go ahead, Ms. Ahmed.

00:59:33.970 --> 00:59:35.510
<v Wahab>Yeah, my concerns are,</v>

00:59:35.510 --> 00:59:39.001
why not we having more reservoir

00:59:39.001 --> 00:59:41.501
or have desalination of water?

00:59:43.744 --> 00:59:46.030
We are around the ocean.

00:59:46.030 --> 00:59:51.030
We have a lot of water,
but it's not being used.

00:59:51.900 --> 00:59:54.430
For example, desalination.

00:59:54.430 --> 00:59:56.133
Is that going to help us?

01:00:00.100 --> 01:00:02.900
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Ahmed.</v>

01:00:02.900 --> 01:00:07.580
I believe you can direct those
questions to Mr. John Tang,

01:00:07.580 --> 01:00:10.910
who may be able to
answer your questions.

01:00:10.910 --> 01:00:13.660
If you are watching Admin Monitor,

01:00:13.660 --> 01:00:16.560
his information is on the slide

01:00:16.560 --> 01:00:19.250
that is currently being displayed.

01:00:19.250 --> 01:00:23.367
Also, you can call him at (408) 279-7933

01:00:28.430 --> 01:00:30.813
for further inquiry to your question.

01:00:32.900 --> 01:00:37.900
<v Wahab>27933, I didn't
get all the numbers, please.</v>

01:00:40.120 --> 01:00:41.563
<v ->Let's go off the record.</v>

01:00:44.640 --> 01:00:46.000
Ms. Ahmed.

01:00:46.000 --> 01:00:48.640
<v Wahab>Yes, we did not
get the number please,</v>

01:00:48.640 --> 01:00:50.440
the phone number.

01:00:50.440 --> 01:00:55.440
<v ->Yes, Ms. Ahmed,
Mr.Tang's phone number</v>

01:00:55.730 --> 01:00:57.227
is area code 408.

01:00:58.967 --> 01:01:00.801
<v Wahab>Okay.</v>

01:01:00.801 --> 01:01:02.997
<v ->279.</v>

01:01:02.997 --> 01:01:04.564
<v Wahab>Okay.</v>

01:01:04.564 --> 01:01:09.564
<v ->7933 and you can direct
your questions relating</v>

01:01:10.080 --> 01:01:15.080
to water sources to him
or if you need assistance,

01:01:15.810 --> 01:01:19.680
you can contact our
public advocates office

01:01:19.680 --> 01:01:24.680
by email at public.,
not public advocates,

01:01:27.180 --> 01:01:32.180
public advisors at
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

01:01:40.080 --> 01:01:40.913
<v Wahab>Okay.</v>

01:01:41.860 --> 01:01:46.860
<v ->And their phone number
is, give me one minute.</v>

01:01:50.290 --> 01:01:51.290
<v Wahab>Thank you.</v>

01:01:54.830 --> 01:01:59.830
<v ->I believe the phone
number is on the slide as well.</v>

01:02:01.120 --> 01:02:01.953
<v Wahab>Okay.</v>

01:02:03.580 --> 01:02:08.303
<v ->And I believe Claudia, can
you please give Ms. Ahmed</v>

01:02:16.090 --> 01:02:21.090
your phone number to call
for public advocates office.

01:02:22.950 --> 01:02:25.720
<v Claudia>Yes, this is Claudia.</v>

01:02:25.720 --> 01:02:27.850
Phone number for the
public advisor's office

01:02:27.850 --> 01:02:29.407
is 866 849 8390.

01:02:42.020 --> 01:02:43.090
<v Wahab>I thank you.</v>

01:02:43.090 --> 01:02:46.400
Thank you very much for
giving me the second chance.

01:02:46.400 --> 01:02:47.373
Have a good day.

01:02:48.700 --> 01:02:49.533
Thank you.

01:02:51.110 --> 01:02:51.943
<v ->Thank you.</v>

01:02:54.670 --> 01:02:58.233
Court reporter, are we
ready to start up again?

01:02:59.250 --> 01:03:01.973
Okay, we are back on the record.

01:03:03.390 --> 01:03:07.293
Operator, please introduce
our next commenter.

01:03:08.940 --> 01:03:09.860
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:03:09.860 --> 01:03:12.430
Our next comment comes from Ms. Cabot

01:03:12.430 --> 01:03:13.593
Your line is open.

01:03:18.730 --> 01:03:19.683
<v ->Ms. Cabot?</v>

01:03:25.730 --> 01:03:27.360
Are you there?

01:03:27.360 --> 01:03:29.620
We will go off the record to make sure

01:03:29.620 --> 01:03:31.713
that Ms. Cabot is able to hear us.

01:03:33.850 --> 01:03:36.693
Ms. Cabot, are you still there?

01:03:38.230 --> 01:03:39.360
We cannot hear you.

01:03:39.360 --> 01:03:40.920
You might be muted.

01:03:40.920 --> 01:03:43.523
Can you check your phone
to see if you are muted.

01:03:54.470 --> 01:03:56.963
Operator, is Ms.
Cabot still on the line?

01:03:58.230 --> 01:04:00.680
<v Operator>Yes, Ms.
Cabot's line is still open.</v>

01:04:02.870 --> 01:04:07.870
<v ->Ms. Cabot I believe you might
still have your phone muted.</v>

01:04:09.360 --> 01:04:11.603
You might want to unmute your phone.

01:04:15.680 --> 01:04:17.083
We can not hear you.

01:04:24.790 --> 01:04:29.790
Ms. Cabot we are continuing
to have problems hearing you.

01:04:37.660 --> 01:04:42.660
It may be helpful to
call us back if necessary,

01:04:49.460 --> 01:04:52.990
and you can call us
back at (800) 857-1917

01:05:00.360 --> 01:05:04.423
and put in the passcode
7218384 and press star one

01:05:10.270 --> 01:05:12.800
and they will put you back in the queue

01:05:12.800 --> 01:05:14.203
so for you to comment.

01:05:21.360 --> 01:05:23.930
Since we cannot hear
you, we will have to move on

01:05:23.930 --> 01:05:27.363
to the next commenter.

01:05:29.520 --> 01:05:34.520
Court reporter are we ready
to go back on the record?

01:05:37.040 --> 01:05:39.603
Okay, we are back on the record.

01:05:41.020 --> 01:05:43.640
We were not able to hear Ms. Cabot.

01:05:43.640 --> 01:05:47.053
So operator please
introduce the next commenter.

01:05:49.890 --> 01:05:50.723
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:05:50.723 --> 01:05:53.337
Our next comment comes
from Matthew Tenuta,

01:05:54.620 --> 01:05:56.003
your line is open.

01:05:58.690 --> 01:06:01.710
<v Matthew>Good evening, my name is.</v>

01:06:01.710 --> 01:06:06.320
<v ->Mr. Tenuta,
please spell your first</v>

01:06:06.320 --> 01:06:08.563
and last name for the court reporter.

01:06:10.130 --> 01:06:11.310
<v Matthew>Sure.</v>

01:06:11.310 --> 01:06:16.310
M-A-T-T-H-E-W T-E-N-U-T-A.

01:06:18.210 --> 01:06:19.963
A rate payer in Los Gatos.

01:06:21.090 --> 01:06:23.683
<v ->Thank you,
Mr. Tenuta, go ahead.</v>

01:06:25.530 --> 01:06:29.280
<v Matthew>The matter at hand
is San Jose Water's request</v>

01:06:29.280 --> 01:06:34.130
for a $435 million capital
investment program

01:06:34.130 --> 01:06:37.350
to ensure a safe and
resilient water system

01:06:37.350 --> 01:06:40.288
for the customers and
communities they serve.

01:06:40.288 --> 01:06:42.660
I understand now that this
request has been revised.

01:06:42.660 --> 01:06:44.683
<v ->I apologize, Mr. Tenuta.</v>

01:06:45.600 --> 01:06:47.843
I forgot to go back on the record,

01:06:48.700 --> 01:06:51.650
so I want to make sure
that we are on the record

01:06:51.650 --> 01:06:54.123
with the court reporter
before you proceed.

01:06:55.076 --> 01:06:57.450
Okay, go ahead, Mr. Tenuta.

01:06:59.067 --> 01:07:00.083
<v Matthew>Do I start over?</v>

01:07:02.860 --> 01:07:05.130
<v ->No the court reporter has been</v>

01:07:05.130 --> 01:07:06.840
on the record at that time.

01:07:06.840 --> 01:07:08.043
Thank you.

01:07:08.043 --> 01:07:10.369
<v Matthew>Thank you.</v>

01:07:10.369 --> 01:07:12.890
I understand now that this
request has been revised down,

01:07:12.890 --> 01:07:16.740
but as I have not had an
opportunity to review the changes

01:07:16.740 --> 01:07:19.870
I will speak to my
original points this evening.

01:07:19.870 --> 01:07:22.530
As a portion of my comments,
I have some questions

01:07:22.530 --> 01:07:24.040
I would like to raise.

01:07:24.040 --> 01:07:26.260
I may pause briefly after the questions,

01:07:26.260 --> 01:07:29.143
but we'll continue through
until the comment is complete.

01:07:30.220 --> 01:07:33.470
This is obviously a
particularly egregious request

01:07:33.470 --> 01:07:35.810
which has caused me
considerable consternation

01:07:35.810 --> 01:07:38.500
despite my relatively passive acceptance

01:07:38.500 --> 01:07:42.560
of numerous San Jose Water
rate increases over the years.

01:07:42.560 --> 01:07:45.730
Most recently, a 50% base rates increase

01:07:45.730 --> 01:07:49.260
was approved by CPUC in 2019.

01:07:49.260 --> 01:07:52.570
The 2018 rate case,
again, requested approval

01:07:52.570 --> 01:07:56.620
to charge rate payers
$14 million for lost revenue

01:07:56.620 --> 01:08:00.700
from decreased water sales
due to mandatory conservation

01:08:00.700 --> 01:08:03.010
and $88 million over three years

01:08:03.010 --> 01:08:05.883
to again, replace aging infrastructure.

01:08:06.840 --> 01:08:09.840
At the next available
opportunity three years later,

01:08:09.840 --> 01:08:14.320
San Jose Water is again
asking for $117 million

01:08:14.320 --> 01:08:18.180
to replace paging infrastructure
and this will be on top

01:08:18.180 --> 01:08:21.810
of Santa Clara Valley
Water District increases

01:08:21.810 --> 01:08:24.970
in water charge costs which
have already been announced

01:08:24.970 --> 01:08:27.280
to occur over the next three years.

01:08:27.280 --> 01:08:29.790
San Jose Water will of
course pass these through

01:08:29.790 --> 01:08:32.860
to rate payers and I would
expect further requests

01:08:32.860 --> 01:08:35.490
from San Jose Water
to increase base rates

01:08:35.490 --> 01:08:38.610
to cover lost income for
mandatory conservation

01:08:38.610 --> 01:08:40.000
over the course of the new drought

01:08:40.000 --> 01:08:41.383
we have just entered into.

01:08:42.280 --> 01:08:44.900
San Jose Water notes
in the application that

01:08:44.900 --> 01:08:47.350
and I quote, "the company
has served customers

01:08:47.350 --> 01:08:51.450
since 1866 and it's aging
infrastructure must be replaced

01:08:51.450 --> 01:08:54.350
as it reaches the
end of its service life."

01:08:54.350 --> 01:08:56.020
The same announcement
was made in the form

01:08:56.020 --> 01:08:58.600
of a press release to
prospective shareholders

01:08:58.600 --> 01:09:03.600
of SJW group in January 12th,
2021 press release available

01:09:05.750 --> 01:09:07.050
on Business Wire.

01:09:07.050 --> 01:09:09.760
In the press release,
Andy Gere president

01:09:09.760 --> 01:09:14.270
and COO of San Jose
Water is quoted as saying

01:09:14.270 --> 01:09:16.780
at about a penny a
gallon water remains one

01:09:16.780 --> 01:09:20.120
of the greatest values
and most critical resources

01:09:20.120 --> 01:09:22.490
that we rely on in our daily lives.

01:09:22.490 --> 01:09:26.580
He continues, safe and
reliable water delivery system

01:09:26.580 --> 01:09:28.900
is essential to hygiene
and public safety

01:09:29.790 --> 01:09:33.820
and also supports fire
protection and economic vibrancy.

01:09:33.820 --> 01:09:36.550
I find it concerning
that three days later,

01:09:36.550 --> 01:09:39.830
another press release
was issued by SJW group

01:09:39.830 --> 01:09:43.600
in relation to another
subsidiary, Connecticut Water

01:09:43.600 --> 01:09:48.600
on January 15th, 2021 also
available on Business Wire.

01:09:48.840 --> 01:09:51.220
San Jose Water requested an application

01:09:51.220 --> 01:09:53.860
to recover more than $265 million

01:09:54.871 --> 01:09:57.400
in infrastructure
improvements made in systems

01:09:57.400 --> 01:10:00.223
that are not in current rates.

01:10:01.160 --> 01:10:03.530
In this press release, there is a quote

01:10:03.530 --> 01:10:07.050
from Maureen T Westbrook,
president of Connecticut Water

01:10:07.050 --> 01:10:10.560
where she states one of the
primary drivers of this request

01:10:10.560 --> 01:10:13.660
is the more than $265
million of investments

01:10:13.660 --> 01:10:16.540
in our water system
infrastructure that have been made

01:10:16.540 --> 01:10:19.470
since 2010 to ensure reliable service

01:10:19.470 --> 01:10:22.590
and safe drinking water
for families and communities

01:10:22.590 --> 01:10:24.963
which are not included
in current water rates.

01:10:25.940 --> 01:10:29.050
This sounds very similar
and almost a direct quote

01:10:29.050 --> 01:10:31.980
for the case being made in San Jose.

01:10:31.980 --> 01:10:34.360
Both press releases
formed a good foundation

01:10:34.360 --> 01:10:38.770
for the dividend increase
announced to SJW group investors

01:10:38.770 --> 01:10:41.333
on January 28th, 2021.

01:10:42.447 --> 01:10:46.580
In this press release, SJW
group noted a 68% increase

01:10:46.580 --> 01:10:50.290
in dividend payouts
to investors since 2016

01:10:50.290 --> 01:10:53.870
when SJW group began
acquiring other water utilities

01:10:53.870 --> 01:10:55.860
throughout the United States.

01:10:55.860 --> 01:10:59.650
This is undoubtedly enabled
by the significant increases

01:10:59.650 --> 01:11:03.470
in operating income at
the SJW group parent

01:11:03.470 --> 01:11:08.470
most recently 250% from
Q3 2019 at $17,084,000

01:11:11.150 --> 01:11:15.070
to Q3 2020 at $41,883,000.

01:11:17.200 --> 01:11:19.500
This income must be
generated by rate payers

01:11:19.500 --> 01:11:22.400
and is being passed through
to shareholders in the form

01:11:22.400 --> 01:11:26.300
of higher earnings per share
and increase dividend payouts

01:11:26.300 --> 01:11:28.763
and links are available if needed.

01:11:29.970 --> 01:11:32.580
These rate increases read
more like corporate mandates

01:11:32.580 --> 01:11:35.820
from SJW group versus expenses necessary

01:11:35.820 --> 01:11:38.243
to maintain public infrastructure.

01:11:39.900 --> 01:11:41.920
San Jose Water needs to provide answers

01:11:41.920 --> 01:11:43.810
as to how these
infrastructure improvements

01:11:43.810 --> 01:11:45.060
are being financed.

01:11:45.060 --> 01:11:47.753
Are they being financed
with long-term debt

01:11:47.753 --> 01:11:50.060
(bell rings)

01:11:50.060 --> 01:11:52.930
or is SJW group charging
rate payers upfront

01:11:52.930 --> 01:11:54.930
to fund future acquisitions and growth

01:11:54.930 --> 01:11:57.830
of the holding company
as they list over and over

01:11:57.830 --> 01:12:00.480
as a company priority in press releases?

01:12:00.480 --> 01:12:01.651
My first question.

01:12:01.651 --> 01:12:05.310
<v ->Mr. Tenuta, your two
minutes is coming up.</v>

01:12:05.310 --> 01:12:08.490
Can you please finish off?

01:12:08.490 --> 01:12:09.800
<v Matthew>Yes, thank you.</v>

01:12:09.800 --> 01:12:13.350
My first question, will CPUC
be evaluating these aspects

01:12:13.350 --> 01:12:15.520
of the proposed rates increase?

01:12:15.520 --> 01:12:17.830
As rate payers we have
absolutely no choice

01:12:17.830 --> 01:12:19.830
in who provides our water service

01:12:19.830 --> 01:12:22.390
even in case of Comcast
practical monopoly

01:12:22.390 --> 01:12:24.520
over high-speed
broadband, I could choose

01:12:24.520 --> 01:12:26.400
to sacrifice performance for cost

01:12:26.400 --> 01:12:28.520
if I needed to or so chose.

01:12:28.520 --> 01:12:30.270
When it comes to
water service rate payers

01:12:30.270 --> 01:12:32.330
have absolutely no choice in the matter.

01:12:32.330 --> 01:12:35.500
It is up to CPUC to
scrutinize these expenses

01:12:35.500 --> 01:12:37.950
and correspondingly
the profitability at yields

01:12:37.950 --> 01:12:39.560
for the parent company.

01:12:39.560 --> 01:12:42.230
However, I have
trouble trusting the CPUC

01:12:42.230 --> 01:12:43.920
to hold rate payers best interest

01:12:43.920 --> 01:12:46.550
as highest priority
in these negotiations.

01:12:46.550 --> 01:12:49.010
My reasoning for this is Elaine Howle,

01:12:49.010 --> 01:12:50.920
California state auditor's findings

01:12:50.920 --> 01:12:55.730
in the December 2018 report, 2018-118.

01:12:55.730 --> 01:12:59.466
In this report, finding
three the state auditor found

01:12:59.466 --> 01:13:01.700
the CPUC failed to conduct
audits of water utilities

01:13:01.700 --> 01:13:04.200
as it is required to do under law.

01:13:04.200 --> 01:13:07.880
In this finding, it stated
the CPUC lacks policies

01:13:07.880 --> 01:13:09.130
and procedures detailing

01:13:09.130 --> 01:13:11.370
how it will conduct
legally required audits

01:13:11.370 --> 01:13:13.370
of the largest water utilities

01:13:13.370 --> 01:13:15.820
and it has not conducted
the majority of audits

01:13:15.820 --> 01:13:18.700
of the smaller water
utilities as required by law.

01:13:18.700 --> 01:13:20.690
Without timely and effective audits,

01:13:20.690 --> 01:13:23.560
the CPUC lacks assurance
that these water utilities

01:13:23.560 --> 01:13:26.110
are complying with the
applicable requirements

01:13:26.110 --> 01:13:28.180
which could affect the rates and service

01:13:28.180 --> 01:13:29.323
its customers receive.

01:13:30.253 --> 01:13:33.130
In their response, the CPUC
agreed with this assessment

01:13:33.130 --> 01:13:36.040
and then its response
indicated the utility audit branch

01:13:36.040 --> 01:13:39.200
does not possess resources
and procedures necessary

01:13:39.200 --> 01:13:41.490
to perform effective
audits of the utilities

01:13:41.490 --> 01:13:43.340
they are responsible for regulating.

01:13:43.340 --> 01:13:46.870
My second and final question
for CPUC in this matter

01:13:46.870 --> 01:13:48.680
is that I would like to know what steps

01:13:48.680 --> 01:13:51.190
the CPUC has taken since this filing

01:13:51.190 --> 01:13:52.880
to mitigate this violation

01:13:52.880 --> 01:13:53.810
and ensure they are able

01:13:53.810 --> 01:13:56.970
to effectively represent
rate payers in these matters.

01:13:56.970 --> 01:13:58.170
Thank you for your time.

01:13:59.340 --> 01:14:02.753
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Tenuta
for your public comment.</v>

01:14:03.910 --> 01:14:07.993
Operator, do we have any
public officials on the line?

01:14:09.750 --> 01:14:12.263
<v Operator>I am showing
no public at this time.</v>

01:14:13.530 --> 01:14:18.530
<v ->And are there any Spanish
speakers waiting to be speaking?</v>

01:14:22.880 --> 01:14:24.230
<v Operator>And there
are no Spanish speakers</v>

01:14:24.230 --> 01:14:25.930
in the queue at this time as well.

01:14:26.860 --> 01:14:31.860
<v ->Thank you, please introduce
the next public commenter.</v>

01:14:34.440 --> 01:14:37.460
<v Operator>Our next comment
comes from Robert Tragni</v>

01:14:37.460 --> 01:14:38.523
your line is open.

01:14:40.040 --> 01:14:41.950
<v Robert>Hello, my
name is Robert Tragni,</v>

01:14:41.950 --> 01:14:46.950
R-O-B-E-R-T T-R-A-G-N-I.

01:14:48.160 --> 01:14:52.263
I've been a resident
of San Jose since 1947.

01:14:53.780 --> 01:14:56.770
So I've had a long
history with San Jose.

01:14:56.770 --> 01:15:00.891
This is a travesty what the
San Jose Water company

01:15:00.891 --> 01:15:03.583
is trying to do with this huge increase.

01:15:04.460 --> 01:15:08.300
The person before me, I
think it was Mr. Tenuta hit

01:15:08.300 --> 01:15:10.200
so many points on the head

01:15:10.200 --> 01:15:12.710
and someone needs to
answer all these questions

01:15:12.710 --> 01:15:16.400
that he brought out especially the PUC

01:15:16.400 --> 01:15:21.340
'cause they're failing to
serve the people of San Jose.

01:15:21.340 --> 01:15:22.810
This meeting should have been held

01:15:22.810 --> 01:15:25.780
in San Jose openly not online.

01:15:25.780 --> 01:15:28.470
It's a travesty what
you're doing here tonight.

01:15:28.470 --> 01:15:33.470
Anyway, going forward San
Jose waterworks in 19, excuse me,

01:15:34.830 --> 01:15:39.610
in 2013 had 272,000 customers.

01:15:39.610 --> 01:15:44.610
Today's date they
have 660,000 customers.

01:15:45.430 --> 01:15:49.540
Again, 660,000 customers.

01:15:49.540 --> 01:15:53.650
You put that and of course
they use the number lower

01:15:53.650 --> 01:15:57.720
that's really reported per meter.

01:15:57.720 --> 01:16:02.520
It's more like about
120 to $125 per meter.

01:16:02.520 --> 01:16:05.210
You add that up and it tolls up

01:16:05.210 --> 01:16:10.210
almost $75 million a year,
a year that they are getting.

01:16:11.310 --> 01:16:13.780
They do not need any increase.

01:16:13.780 --> 01:16:18.780
If you go back to 2020,
just in their third quarter

01:16:19.280 --> 01:16:21.350
and I've been doing this for weeks

01:16:21.350 --> 01:16:24.330
looking at different websites
trying to get information

01:16:24.330 --> 01:16:29.120
on San Jose Water company that in 2020

01:16:29.120 --> 01:16:34.120
just the third quarter they
made $26 million in interest,

01:16:35.527 --> 01:16:39.570
$26 million in interest.

01:16:39.570 --> 01:16:42.560
Why don't they spend that money

01:16:42.560 --> 01:16:44.490
and utilize it on these things

01:16:44.490 --> 01:16:47.123
they're asking us to pay for again?

01:16:49.310 --> 01:16:50.370
The next item.

01:16:50.370 --> 01:16:55.370
In 2000, gonna say
(mumbles) we're in the drought,

01:16:56.160 --> 01:17:01.090
but we San Jose and
Santa Clara county went

01:17:01.090 --> 01:17:06.090
and saved 33% of the water
and they go back to the PUC again

01:17:08.450 --> 01:17:12.770
and ask for a increase because
they were getting their money

01:17:12.770 --> 01:17:14.120
that they should have made.

01:17:14.970 --> 01:17:19.150
This has been going on
since, for almost four years

01:17:19.150 --> 01:17:21.420
we've paid this extra charge

01:17:21.420 --> 01:17:24.160
on that money that we saved them,

01:17:24.160 --> 01:17:28.830
but everybody knows the
water, the rain, the dams

01:17:28.830 --> 01:17:31.230
got all filled, everything was fine,

01:17:31.230 --> 01:17:33.110
everybody started watering again

01:17:33.110 --> 01:17:35.440
but they still held that rate on.

01:17:35.440 --> 01:17:39.560
That rate should be reduced
from that point going forward

01:17:39.560 --> 01:17:42.590
because we paid for all that.

01:17:42.590 --> 01:17:43.423
The next thing.

01:17:43.423 --> 01:17:46.910
I'm looking at my water
bill with San Jose Water

01:17:46.910 --> 01:17:50.470
and they're asking for an
increase for safe drinking water.

01:17:50.470 --> 01:17:52.810
What the hell is that!

01:17:52.810 --> 01:17:55.767
We're already paying
since 2006 eight cents

01:17:56.751 --> 01:18:00.470
and 2006, excuse me, 2006 eight cents

01:18:00.470 --> 01:18:03.430
and another four cents 2008.

01:18:03.430 --> 01:18:08.430
That's 12 cents for almost over 12 years

01:18:09.200 --> 01:18:12.150
we've been giving them
money for safe drinking water.

01:18:12.150 --> 01:18:15.720
We also, anybody that
knows Santa Clara county,

01:18:15.720 --> 01:18:18.940
our tax rate there is
also from the county

01:18:18.940 --> 01:18:21.540
we get safe drinking water charge.

01:18:21.540 --> 01:18:23.820
They're in charge of the
water treatment plants

01:18:23.820 --> 01:18:25.760
not San Jose Waterworks.

01:18:25.760 --> 01:18:28.130
So I don't know what
they're talking about.

01:18:28.130 --> 01:18:31.280
The infrastructure of San of Jose Water

01:18:31.280 --> 01:18:34.420
they're saying they're performing
all those work all around.

01:18:34.420 --> 01:18:38.020
I would like to see it documented
where they're performed

01:18:38.020 --> 01:18:41.950
because with an increase of 660,000

01:18:41.950 --> 01:18:44.410
which is almost 2/3 increase

01:18:44.410 --> 01:18:47.023
over almost not quite eight years,

01:18:47.920 --> 01:18:50.520
they do not perform any of the work

01:18:50.520 --> 01:18:52.170
in that new construction.

01:18:52.170 --> 01:18:54.700
It's all done by the developer.

01:18:54.700 --> 01:18:59.700
The developer does all the
extensions of piping the water

01:19:00.080 --> 01:19:02.320
even to, all they do is come out

01:19:02.320 --> 01:19:04.730
and put a meat slap a meter on.

01:19:04.730 --> 01:19:07.570
Most of the, I think
most of the problems

01:19:08.832 --> 01:19:12.950
is when they have issues
that they do perform some work

01:19:12.950 --> 01:19:14.650
in the streets, but not much.

01:19:14.650 --> 01:19:17.660
I would like to see an
inventory of all the work

01:19:17.660 --> 01:19:21.470
they've performed in San
Jose redoing their selves,

01:19:21.470 --> 01:19:25.080
redoing pipes that are aged.

01:19:25.080 --> 01:19:27.190
I'd like to see accounting for that

01:19:27.190 --> 01:19:29.983
and see what that totals up to per year.

01:19:31.148 --> 01:19:33.580
So again, this company has failed

01:19:33.580 --> 01:19:35.730
the people of Santa Clara county.

01:19:35.730 --> 01:19:40.260
They need to be personally
no more private company,

01:19:40.260 --> 01:19:45.260
stop paying people
that are on the saki chain

01:19:46.700 --> 01:19:49.360
so they can make even more money.

01:19:49.360 --> 01:19:51.400
I heard something that,
someone said something

01:19:51.400 --> 01:19:52.650
about pensions.

01:19:52.650 --> 01:19:56.450
The pension is a
responsibility of the employer

01:19:56.450 --> 01:19:59.930
not the people of California
or the people of San Jose.

01:19:59.930 --> 01:20:01.560
They should be paying that themselves

01:20:01.560 --> 01:20:05.130
and I would like to
know, are they in the red

01:20:05.130 --> 01:20:07.710
because the federal
government comes in on the DOL.

01:20:07.710 --> 01:20:08.760
Are they in the red

01:20:08.760 --> 01:20:13.420
'cause they'd given too much
good benefits to the people

01:20:13.420 --> 01:20:15.800
and now the burden is on them

01:20:15.800 --> 01:20:19.320
and they're taking it to the rate payers

01:20:19.320 --> 01:20:21.890
to pay for their misjudgment

01:20:21.890 --> 01:20:26.150
and giving too many big
increases to their employees.

01:20:26.150 --> 01:20:27.213
That is unfaithful.

01:20:29.490 --> 01:20:33.350
Again in the end, this is this travesty,

01:20:33.350 --> 01:20:35.000
I'm so disappointed.

01:20:35.000 --> 01:20:37.210
I'm disappointed with the PUC.

01:20:37.210 --> 01:20:39.430
They should be all fired.

01:20:39.430 --> 01:20:43.300
They should be all fired
and I'm working with others.

01:20:43.300 --> 01:20:45.550
We're gonna try to
get this all turn around

01:20:45.550 --> 01:20:48.528
because people.

01:20:48.528 --> 01:20:51.490
(bell rings)

01:20:51.490 --> 01:20:55.320
It's all about money
and that's a travesty.

01:20:55.320 --> 01:20:58.777
Thank you for your
time and God help us all.

01:21:00.920 --> 01:21:04.200
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Tragni
for your comments.</v>

01:21:04.200 --> 01:21:09.100
I want to remind those that
are watching on Admin Monitor

01:21:09.100 --> 01:21:14.100
that you can call in for
putting in your comments

01:21:15.850 --> 01:21:20.850
at (800) 857-1917.

01:21:21.350 --> 01:21:25.650
For the Spanish line
the passcode is 8147204.

01:21:30.530 --> 01:21:32.890
For the English line is 7218384.

01:21:36.900 --> 01:21:41.590
Press star one to talk to the operator

01:21:41.590 --> 01:21:44.240
and inform the operator your name,

01:21:44.240 --> 01:21:46.460
and if you're comfortable,

01:21:46.460 --> 01:21:48.480
the city that you are calling from

01:21:49.540 --> 01:21:52.030
and you will be put into the queue

01:21:53.058 --> 01:21:57.360
to give your public comment.

01:21:58.310 --> 01:22:03.310
If you are a public official,
please advise the operator

01:22:03.530 --> 01:22:08.530
that you are a public official.

01:22:10.150 --> 01:22:10.983
Thank you.

01:22:12.600 --> 01:22:17.600
Operator, can you please introduce

01:22:18.480 --> 01:22:21.243
the next speaker or commenter.

01:22:22.590 --> 01:22:23.760
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:22:23.760 --> 01:22:27.110
Our next comment comes
from Benjamin White.

01:22:27.110 --> 01:22:28.063
Your line is open.

01:22:32.410 --> 01:22:35.700
<v Benjamin>Hello, my
name is Benjamin White,</v>

01:22:35.700 --> 01:22:40.700
B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N W-H-I-T-E.

01:22:44.010 --> 01:22:49.010
I live in San Jose
and I had liked to say

01:22:50.310 --> 01:22:55.310
that the amount being
requested for this increase is,

01:22:58.940 --> 01:23:03.600
you know, far in excess of inflation

01:23:03.600 --> 01:23:06.510
as another speaker said,
far in excess of the raises

01:23:06.510 --> 01:23:09.310
most of us are getting
in, you know, our pay

01:23:10.250 --> 01:23:15.250
and in particular, the increase
in the connection charge

01:23:15.560 --> 01:23:17.393
for residential customers.

01:23:18.910 --> 01:23:22.310
It is an insult to people who are trying

01:23:22.310 --> 01:23:24.550
to conserve water in a drought.

01:23:24.550 --> 01:23:28.980
It's essentially it is
shifting the cost of water

01:23:28.980 --> 01:23:32.980
from big users to people
who are conserving.

01:23:32.980 --> 01:23:35.960
It's sending the wrong message to people

01:23:35.960 --> 01:23:39.103
who are trying to conserve
this precious resource.

01:23:41.090 --> 01:23:46.090
I don't think the totality
of this rate increase

01:23:47.320 --> 01:23:52.320
is necessary but if there
is going to be an increase,

01:23:52.650 --> 01:23:55.913
the burden should be on the
people who use the most water.

01:23:57.930 --> 01:24:02.930
And if I may also make
one administrative comment,

01:24:04.861 --> 01:24:08.863
I would say that the
charts or the slides

01:24:09.950 --> 01:24:13.550
in the Admin Monitor presentation
are kind of hard to read.

01:24:13.550 --> 01:24:18.550
I hope the IT people will
work on getting better clarity

01:24:20.800 --> 01:24:23.000
for future presentation.

01:24:23.000 --> 01:24:23.833
Thank you.

01:24:37.710 --> 01:24:40.028
Hello, am I.

01:24:40.028 --> 01:24:42.123
<v ->Thank you, Mr. White.</v>

01:24:43.200 --> 01:24:44.810
Thank you.

01:24:44.810 --> 01:24:46.220
<v Benjamin>Okay.</v>

01:24:46.220 --> 01:24:48.893
<v ->Thank you Mr. White
for your comments.</v>

01:24:49.910 --> 01:24:52.843
Operator please introduce
the next commenter.

01:24:55.780 --> 01:24:56.613
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:24:56.613 --> 01:24:59.250
Next comment comes from Tiffini Patil.

01:24:59.250 --> 01:25:00.253
Your line is open.

01:25:02.430 --> 01:25:04.220
<v Tiffini>Yes, good evening.</v>

01:25:04.220 --> 01:25:08.190
The spelling is T-I-F-F-I-N-I.

01:25:08.190 --> 01:25:11.640
My last name is Patil P as in Paul, A,

01:25:11.640 --> 01:25:13.247
T as in Tom, I (mumbles) I L.

01:25:17.882 --> 01:25:18.715
L as in Larry.

01:25:20.130 --> 01:25:21.190
I would like to make a point.

01:25:21.190 --> 01:25:25.260
I am a rate payer from
San Jose, California

01:25:25.260 --> 01:25:28.280
and over for 15 years and I agree with

01:25:29.310 --> 01:25:31.023
what everybody else is saying.

01:25:32.140 --> 01:25:35.680
But I would like to look at more

01:25:35.680 --> 01:25:37.980
at the business side of this.

01:25:37.980 --> 01:25:39.280
If you were to look at their stock

01:25:39.280 --> 01:25:43.200
which a lot of people have
not looked at at the closing

01:25:43.200 --> 01:25:46.910
it was 62.85 after hours at 60.

01:25:46.910 --> 01:25:48.020
I'm going to say this.

01:25:48.020 --> 01:25:51.910
Anybody who knows or
understands the stock market,

01:25:51.910 --> 01:25:56.223
they are doing extremely
well as a business.

01:25:57.060 --> 01:26:01.787
PCUC I challenge you to
get me independent auditor

01:26:02.920 --> 01:26:05.820
to come in to really
look at the business side.

01:26:05.820 --> 01:26:07.210
I don't care about the state.

01:26:07.210 --> 01:26:09.180
I don't care about the PCUC.

01:26:09.180 --> 01:26:12.440
I would like an
independent auditor come in

01:26:12.440 --> 01:26:14.400
to really look at the business side

01:26:14.400 --> 01:26:16.660
to really see where this
money is going to add.

01:26:16.660 --> 01:26:21.480
As rate payers, MPCUC
should have the right

01:26:21.480 --> 01:26:22.993
to be able to ask that.

01:26:24.300 --> 01:26:28.690
39% is a hefty increase.

01:26:28.690 --> 01:26:31.870
I also believe there's
discrimination going on

01:26:31.870 --> 01:26:36.700
where as we are in the
highest income earners

01:26:37.640 --> 01:26:40.980
in the United States on
average and I'm talking about

01:26:40.980 --> 01:26:45.720
as a whole and we our
zip code all the way up

01:26:45.720 --> 01:26:50.720
is the highest socioeconomic
in terms of financing

01:26:52.160 --> 01:26:53.710
in the U.S.

01:26:53.710 --> 01:26:57.980
I would challenge PCUC to look at this.

01:26:57.980 --> 01:27:00.890
Is there some discrimination going on?

01:27:00.890 --> 01:27:05.143
To push out or more of
those who are on fixed income.

01:27:06.228 --> 01:27:09.630
For those who are
minorities who are not getting

01:27:09.630 --> 01:27:13.510
the higher rate of income
as their predecessors

01:27:13.510 --> 01:27:16.160
or even those succeeding them

01:27:16.160 --> 01:27:20.030
or even though those who are Caucasian,

01:27:20.030 --> 01:27:21.864
have you looked at that.

01:27:21.864 --> 01:27:24.840
(bell rings)

01:27:24.840 --> 01:27:29.840
It is for profit company and therefore

01:27:30.100 --> 01:27:32.060
they are going to look at

01:27:32.060 --> 01:27:37.060
who can pay these rates on that.

01:27:37.060 --> 01:27:39.960
And if you don't, then
this is discrimination

01:27:39.960 --> 01:27:43.170
across the board for
those who are minorities.

01:27:43.170 --> 01:27:44.003
Thank you.

01:27:45.630 --> 01:27:49.880
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Patil
for your comments.</v>

01:27:49.880 --> 01:27:53.413
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:27:54.790 --> 01:27:55.830
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:27:55.830 --> 01:27:58.790
Our next comment comes from Guy Lohman.

01:27:58.790 --> 01:27:59.703
Your line is open.

01:28:02.150 --> 01:28:03.230
<v Guy>Good evening.</v>

01:28:03.230 --> 01:28:05.160
My name is Guy Lohman.

01:28:05.160 --> 01:28:07.450
The first name is spelled G-U-Y

01:28:07.450 --> 01:28:11.110
and the last name is L-O-H-M-A-N.

01:28:11.110 --> 01:28:14.880
I've been a resident
of San Jose since 1982

01:28:14.880 --> 01:28:17.240
although I got water
from Great Oaks Water

01:28:17.240 --> 01:28:19.640
for five or six years

01:28:19.640 --> 01:28:22.593
before I was a San
Jose Water rate payer.

01:28:23.890 --> 01:28:25.470
The reason I'm opposed
to this application

01:28:25.470 --> 01:28:29.750
is I think it has two major fatal flaws.

01:28:29.750 --> 01:28:31.940
The first is that there

01:28:31.940 --> 01:28:34.760
is insufficient justification for this.

01:28:34.760 --> 01:28:39.380
The notice that we got
had three one-line bullets.

01:28:39.380 --> 01:28:42.130
I tried to go and find details

01:28:42.130 --> 01:28:44.410
on each of those bullets and could not.

01:28:44.410 --> 01:28:48.030
I spent an hour going through the sites

01:28:48.030 --> 01:28:52.650
on San Jose Water and could
find no detailed justification.

01:28:52.650 --> 01:28:56.460
I Googled, I could not
find any justification.

01:28:56.460 --> 01:29:00.480
If this is so compelling
and so important a cost,

01:29:00.480 --> 01:29:04.040
there should surely
be detailed information

01:29:04.040 --> 01:29:07.730
about exactly what each
of these items will cost

01:29:07.730 --> 01:29:11.270
and when each will be
completed, a detailed schedule.

01:29:11.270 --> 01:29:14.930
And even if it's not made
available to the public,

01:29:14.930 --> 01:29:18.180
it should be made available to the CPUC.

01:29:18.180 --> 01:29:21.530
Does the CPUC have
that detailed information?

01:29:21.530 --> 01:29:26.360
If not, they must, must
reject this application

01:29:26.360 --> 01:29:28.490
as insufficiently justified.

01:29:28.490 --> 01:29:31.850
If they do have that data,
they need to make it available

01:29:31.850 --> 01:29:33.900
to the entire public.

01:29:33.900 --> 01:29:37.270
I find it insulting to the rate payers

01:29:37.270 --> 01:29:40.320
of the City of San
Jose and related cities

01:29:40.320 --> 01:29:42.170
that they think that they can come in

01:29:42.170 --> 01:29:44.510
and just say with a one-liner,

01:29:44.510 --> 01:29:47.230
we need this to implement infrastructure

01:29:47.230 --> 01:29:49.490
and not get a lick of details.

01:29:49.490 --> 01:29:52.310
That is insulting to the
rate payers intelligence.

01:29:52.310 --> 01:29:54.000
We're not that stupid.

01:29:54.000 --> 01:29:56.090
Don't treat us that way.

01:29:56.090 --> 01:30:00.283
The second major
fatal law is as one of the,

01:30:00.283 --> 01:30:02.380
I think it was Mr. White pointed out

01:30:02.380 --> 01:30:07.240
that by increasing the
connection charge by 39%,

01:30:07.240 --> 01:30:09.780
what you're doing is
you're transferring the cost

01:30:09.780 --> 01:30:11.760
to the people who
actually are conserving.

01:30:11.760 --> 01:30:16.040
This is not encouraging
people to conserve water.

01:30:16.040 --> 01:30:20.620
It is burdening everybody
equally on that connection

01:30:20.620 --> 01:30:23.900
and particularly poorer
people are paying

01:30:23.900 --> 01:30:27.200
for this necessity at increasing costs

01:30:27.200 --> 01:30:31.450
rather than charging
those who are using more

01:30:31.450 --> 01:30:34.330
of the water to discourage consumption.

01:30:34.330 --> 01:30:36.660
We're now on the second year of drought

01:30:36.660 --> 01:30:38.880
and this drought may
go five or seven years

01:30:38.880 --> 01:30:40.570
like the last one.

01:30:40.570 --> 01:30:44.130
And so the whole rate
schedule should be penalizing

01:30:44.130 --> 01:30:46.740
those who are consuming the most water,

01:30:46.740 --> 01:30:50.168
but that's not what this
rate increase is doing.

01:30:50.168 --> 01:30:53.370
(bell rings)

01:30:53.370 --> 01:30:56.570
So, I believe that for
both of these reasons

01:30:56.570 --> 01:30:58.680
that this application
needs to be rejected

01:30:58.680 --> 01:31:00.630
so narrowly by the CPUC.

01:31:00.630 --> 01:31:05.630
The CPUC has to be a
watchdog not a lapdog.

01:31:05.720 --> 01:31:07.245
Thank you very much.

01:31:07.245 --> 01:31:09.662
(bell rings)

01:31:12.090 --> 01:31:14.883
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Lohman
for your comments.</v>

01:31:15.870 --> 01:31:19.083
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:31:20.890 --> 01:31:21.723
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:31:21.723 --> 01:31:24.630
Our next comment
comes from Sue Jamieson.

01:31:24.630 --> 01:31:25.543
Your line is open.

01:31:26.940 --> 01:31:31.940
<v Sue>Hi there, Sue Jamieson,
S-U-E J-A-M-I-E-S-O-N.</v>

01:31:33.860 --> 01:31:37.370
I'd like to share tonight
is something to consider.

01:31:37.370 --> 01:31:38.830
San Jose Water company charges

01:31:38.830 --> 01:31:41.290
among the highest in the nation.

01:31:41.290 --> 01:31:44.030
However, with the
proposed rate increases

01:31:44.030 --> 01:31:46.030
have we asked the question,

01:31:46.030 --> 01:31:49.460
can we be assured
our water supply is safe?

01:31:49.460 --> 01:31:51.230
I think it would be prudent to ensure

01:31:51.230 --> 01:31:54.810
that our water quality
is within EPA limits

01:31:54.810 --> 01:31:59.810
with specific focus on levels
of dichloromethane sodium

01:32:00.530 --> 01:32:02.310
and chloroform.

01:32:02.310 --> 01:32:04.700
Over 12 years we've
been funding this initiative

01:32:04.700 --> 01:32:05.800
for safe water.

01:32:05.800 --> 01:32:08.700
Is there something that's
not being disclosed relative

01:32:08.700 --> 01:32:10.600
to the safety of our drinking water?

01:32:10.600 --> 01:32:13.810
Why is this up for discussion again?

01:32:13.810 --> 01:32:15.960
Not only do I object
to the rate increase,

01:32:15.960 --> 01:32:18.210
I feel it's important to
look at the accountability

01:32:18.210 --> 01:32:21.300
of past performance
before requesting rate payers

01:32:21.300 --> 01:32:24.560
to absorb the cost of mismanagement.

01:32:24.560 --> 01:32:25.393
Thank you.

01:32:28.950 --> 01:32:31.970
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Jamieson
for your comments.</v>

01:32:31.970 --> 01:32:35.470
I wanna point out that you
can get additional information

01:32:35.470 --> 01:32:39.880
about the application
including the information

01:32:41.958 --> 01:32:46.958
from the CPUC fact sheet on the website,

01:32:48.170 --> 01:32:51.247
https:\\www.cpuc.ca.gov\pph.

01:33:08.420 --> 01:33:13.420
Again, the website is
www.cpuc.ca.gov\pph.

01:33:23.070 --> 01:33:28.070
Thank you and operator, please
introduce the next commenter.

01:33:30.500 --> 01:33:31.480
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:33:31.480 --> 01:33:34.800
Our next comment comes
from Gary Likhagchav.

01:33:34.800 --> 01:33:36.140
Your line is open.

01:33:39.840 --> 01:33:40.673
<v Gary>Hello?</v>

01:33:41.950 --> 01:33:43.600
<v Daphne>Hello, Mr. Likhagchav.</v>

01:33:45.540 --> 01:33:49.610
<v Gary>Hello, my name
is Gary Likhagchav,</v>

01:33:49.610 --> 01:33:54.610
G-A-R-Y, last name L-I-K-H-A-G-C-H-A-V.

01:34:04.530 --> 01:34:05.802
<v ->Go ahead.</v>

01:34:05.802 --> 01:34:08.370
<v Gary>I would like
to make a comment</v>

01:34:08.370 --> 01:34:12.340
to the procedure of this hearing.

01:34:12.340 --> 01:34:17.340
I believe that these
URL for the websites

01:34:19.560 --> 01:34:24.560
should be posted on the page
which we are viewing currently.

01:34:26.360 --> 01:34:31.360
So instead of just announcing
those URLs by voice

01:34:31.790 --> 01:34:34.913
they should be provided on the page.

01:34:37.470 --> 01:34:38.303
That's it.

01:34:39.410 --> 01:34:40.243
Thank you.

01:34:42.550 --> 01:34:47.550
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Likhagchav
for your comments</v>

01:34:49.510 --> 01:34:54.510
and the comments about
the links on the page.

01:34:58.890 --> 01:35:02.623
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:35:05.800 --> 01:35:06.633
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:35:06.633 --> 01:35:08.450
Our next comment
comes from Robert Adams.

01:35:08.450 --> 01:35:09.523
Your line is open.

01:35:13.040 --> 01:35:16.710
<v Robert>Hello, this
is Robert Adams,</v>

01:35:16.710 --> 01:35:21.710
R-O-B-E-R-T A-D-A-M-S.

01:35:22.600 --> 01:35:24.423
I'm a resident of San Jose.

01:35:26.260 --> 01:35:28.190
Thank you for hearing me.

01:35:28.190 --> 01:35:33.020
I'd like to echo the sentiments
expressed by Rita Benton

01:35:33.020 --> 01:35:38.020
of WRATES as well as many
other rate payers this evening.

01:35:39.200 --> 01:35:44.200
I find San Jose Water
bills to be inequitable,

01:35:44.500 --> 01:35:47.173
obscure and ambiguous.

01:35:48.510 --> 01:35:53.000
In my specific
situation, it is impossible

01:35:53.000 --> 01:35:57.950
to adequately tend to the
size of the parcel of land

01:35:57.950 --> 01:36:01.350
that I have with the amount of water

01:36:01.350 --> 01:36:05.243
that I am budgeted at
fair and reasonable rates.

01:36:06.820 --> 01:36:11.010
Many years ago, I went
to a town hall meeting

01:36:11.010 --> 01:36:15.240
in Mascoutah where
Mr. John Tang was attempting

01:36:15.240 --> 01:36:18.843
to address rate
concerns from the public.

01:36:19.840 --> 01:36:24.840
I along with many others
attempted to bring to Mr. Tang

01:36:25.240 --> 01:36:28.790
the concerns that I mentioned above.

01:36:28.790 --> 01:36:33.790
Mr. Tang quickly became
antagonistic and argumentative

01:36:34.550 --> 01:36:37.530
and did not present the image of someone

01:36:37.530 --> 01:36:41.370
who truly wanted to
partner with the public

01:36:41.370 --> 01:36:45.983
or cared about the best
interests for the public at large.

01:36:47.110 --> 01:36:49.260
As a result of that meeting

01:36:49.260 --> 01:36:53.590
and the unbelievably large
bills I continue to receive

01:36:53.590 --> 01:36:57.020
from San Jose Water as well as seemingly

01:36:57.020 --> 01:37:01.930
never ending rate increase
requests from San Jose Water,

01:37:01.930 --> 01:37:06.930
I could not trust that
Mr. Tang or San Jose Water

01:37:07.250 --> 01:37:10.520
are acting in the best
interest of the public.

01:37:10.520 --> 01:37:14.820
And I advocate rejecting
this rate increase

01:37:14.820 --> 01:37:19.820
until there is a more
fair, detailed, itemized

01:37:20.060 --> 01:37:23.373
and cost effective plan set forth.

01:37:24.390 --> 01:37:27.083
Thank you for your time
and hearing my concerns.

01:37:29.400 --> 01:37:32.533
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Adams
for your comments.</v>

01:37:33.650 --> 01:37:36.863
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:37:39.280 --> 01:37:41.232
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:37:41.232 --> 01:37:43.350
Next comment comes
from Stanford Stickney,

01:37:43.350 --> 01:37:44.443
your line is open.

01:37:47.300 --> 01:37:52.300
Mr. Stickney, yeah, I understand
you have commented before.

01:37:52.620 --> 01:37:57.167
Because you have commented
actually twice the prior PPH,

01:37:59.720 --> 01:38:02.310
you will be limited to one minute.

01:38:02.310 --> 01:38:04.880
Please spell your first and last name

01:38:05.870 --> 01:38:08.420
and if you're comfortable the city

01:38:08.420 --> 01:38:11.100
that you were calling from, thank you.

01:38:11.100 --> 01:38:12.500
<v Stanford>Absolutely.</v>

01:38:12.500 --> 01:38:17.500
My first name is Stanford,
S-T-A-N-F-O-R-D.

01:38:18.073 --> 01:38:22.050
My last name is
Stephanie S-T-I-C-K-N-E-Y.

01:38:22.050 --> 01:38:25.430
We reside in Los Gatos, California.

01:38:25.430 --> 01:38:28.923
We have lived here since 1955.

01:38:30.190 --> 01:38:32.980
Our water consumption has not changed.

01:38:32.980 --> 01:38:36.390
Our costs have gone up dramatically.

01:38:36.390 --> 01:38:38.690
We're in a time of a pandemic.

01:38:38.690 --> 01:38:43.690
We do not need to have an
increase cost of $88 million.

01:38:43.760 --> 01:38:46.840
People are trying
to get buy in for life.

01:38:46.840 --> 01:38:50.950
I would ask that the Commission consider

01:38:50.950 --> 01:38:53.570
not putting this additional rate

01:38:53.570 --> 01:38:55.500
and holding off for a couple of years

01:38:55.500 --> 01:38:58.810
as we get our bearings
of moving forward.

01:38:58.810 --> 01:39:01.780
I would also ask if the possibility

01:39:01.780 --> 01:39:05.880
why we always have to
have these increase rates

01:39:05.880 --> 01:39:08.130
and how it benefits the consumers

01:39:08.130 --> 01:39:12.570
when we do not have
another utility option or choice

01:39:12.570 --> 01:39:16.760
and we are essentially
helpless with these rates,

01:39:16.760 --> 01:39:19.300
the rates which they're
suggesting do not reflect

01:39:19.300 --> 01:39:23.600
the actual rates which
consumers are being charged.

01:39:23.600 --> 01:39:25.700
When you go from the higher tier system,

01:39:25.700 --> 01:39:28.769
we have two homes
that live up in the hills.

01:39:28.769 --> 01:39:31.150
(bell rings)

01:39:31.150 --> 01:39:34.230
Bottom line is it's
negatively affecting our family

01:39:34.230 --> 01:39:36.810
and we hope that we can have some form

01:39:36.810 --> 01:39:38.910
of justice moving
forward and I so thank you

01:39:38.910 --> 01:39:40.510
for your time and consideration.

01:39:41.470 --> 01:39:46.470
<v ->Thank you, Mr. Stickney
for your comments.</v>

01:39:47.570 --> 01:39:51.023
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:39:53.080 --> 01:39:54.260
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:39:54.260 --> 01:39:56.963
I am showing no further
comments at this time.

01:39:58.950 --> 01:40:00.520
<v ->Thank you operator.</v>

01:40:00.520 --> 01:40:04.050
At this time, we will
take a five minute break.

01:40:04.050 --> 01:40:08.870
I will remind everyone who
is interested in commenting

01:40:08.870 --> 01:40:13.640
to please call into the
phone line and press star one

01:40:16.360 --> 01:40:19.370
and give the operator
your first and last name

01:40:19.370 --> 01:40:23.060
and if you're comfortable,
the city you are calling from.

01:40:23.060 --> 01:40:27.010
If you are a public
official, please also advise

01:40:27.010 --> 01:40:30.320
the operator that you
are a public official

01:40:30.320 --> 01:40:33.780
and we will take the five
minute break at this time.

01:40:33.780 --> 01:40:35.253
We are off the record.

01:40:41.191 --> 01:40:43.774
(upbeat music)

01:40:46.190 --> 01:40:47.913
Yes, okay.

01:40:49.080 --> 01:40:50.973
Then we will go back on the record.

01:40:55.650 --> 01:41:00.650
After a five minute break,
I will remind all those

01:41:01.030 --> 01:41:03.400
who are waiting on the phone

01:41:03.400 --> 01:41:06.810
to please speak slowly and clearly

01:41:06.810 --> 01:41:09.560
so that the court reporter
and Spanish interpreter

01:41:09.560 --> 01:41:13.060
can capture everything
that is being said.

01:41:13.060 --> 01:41:16.130
If you are commenting
in Spanish, please pause

01:41:16.130 --> 01:41:20.350
between each statement to
allow accurate interpretation

01:41:20.350 --> 01:41:23.240
of each statement
from Spanish to English

01:41:23.240 --> 01:41:25.210
without any overlap in speech

01:41:25.210 --> 01:41:29.720
between the Spanish
commenter and the interpreter.

01:41:29.720 --> 01:41:33.550
The court reporter can only
capture one speaker at a time

01:41:33.550 --> 01:41:35.513
and what is spoken in English.

01:41:36.480 --> 01:41:40.030
Before you begin your
comments, please state

01:41:40.030 --> 01:41:43.280
and spell your name and if you liked

01:41:43.280 --> 01:41:45.023
the city you are calling from.

01:41:46.290 --> 01:41:49.840
We will be able to hear
you best if you speak directly

01:41:49.840 --> 01:41:52.760
into your phone or headset.

01:41:52.760 --> 01:41:56.230
Please avoid having your
phone on speakerphone

01:41:56.230 --> 01:41:58.563
when you are providing comments.

01:41:59.950 --> 01:42:04.610
I also want to remind
everyone who is on the line

01:42:04.610 --> 01:42:07.240
if you wish to make a public comment,

01:42:07.240 --> 01:42:12.240
please press star one and
inform the operator your name

01:42:14.190 --> 01:42:18.100
and if you are comfortable,
the city you are calling from

01:42:18.100 --> 01:42:22.660
and if you are a public official,
please devise the operator

01:42:22.660 --> 01:42:24.970
that you are a public official.

01:42:24.970 --> 01:42:28.303
The operator will put
you in the queue to speak.

01:42:31.980 --> 01:42:36.980
Now operator, do we have
any public officials online?

01:42:40.480 --> 01:42:41.770
<v Operator>Yes, we do.</v>

01:42:41.770 --> 01:42:46.023
We have Rishi Kumar,
his line is now open.

01:42:48.200 --> 01:42:53.200
<v ->Councilman Kumar welcome
and please spell your first</v>

01:42:53.760 --> 01:42:57.433
and last name for the court reporter.

01:42:58.670 --> 01:43:02.310
<v Rishi>Yes, my
name is Rishi Kumar.</v>

01:43:02.310 --> 01:43:07.310
It's spelled like R-I-S-H-I K-U-M-A-R.

01:43:10.750 --> 01:43:14.630
So I'm very happy to be here to speak

01:43:14.630 --> 01:43:18.460
on this very important and urgent topic.

01:43:18.460 --> 01:43:22.640
So I'm currently in my
second term in the city council

01:43:22.640 --> 01:43:25.942
in the City of Saratoga,
and I've been pushing back

01:43:25.942 --> 01:43:30.070
these rate increases since 2016.

01:43:30.070 --> 01:43:33.590
It is a significant
problem for million people

01:43:33.590 --> 01:43:37.640
of Silicon Valley and I've
spent hundreds of ours working

01:43:37.640 --> 01:43:42.640
towards pushing back
and pushing back on many

01:43:42.770 --> 01:43:46.450
of these rate increases and to
see how we can work together

01:43:46.450 --> 01:43:50.900
with the people solve this
water challenge on hand.

01:43:50.900 --> 01:43:53.310
And I really appreciate the support

01:43:53.310 --> 01:43:58.310
of the CPUC Commissioners
and the water division tappers

01:43:59.410 --> 01:44:03.530
and public advocate
offices, office of staffers.

01:44:03.530 --> 01:44:05.350
I really appreciate their support

01:44:05.350 --> 01:44:08.260
in helping reject to (indistinct)

01:44:08.260 --> 01:44:11.740
or suspend it water
rate increases so far

01:44:12.610 --> 01:44:15.610
and, you know, this so something

01:44:15.610 --> 01:44:18.860
that has really caused a
lot of havoc for the people

01:44:20.010 --> 01:44:22.116
and I would like to spell it out

01:44:22.116 --> 01:44:24.280
through the course of
the next couple of minutes.

01:44:24.280 --> 01:44:28.760
And I also wanna tank
everyone who showed up today

01:44:28.760 --> 01:44:31.400
to speak and voice their concerns,

01:44:31.400 --> 01:44:34.800
and I've seemed like over
like 500-800 comments

01:44:34.800 --> 01:44:36.070
on the CPUC side.

01:44:36.070 --> 01:44:39.403
I really appreciate that and
let us continue to engage,

01:44:40.270 --> 01:44:43.510
our collective voice will
certainly make a difference

01:44:43.510 --> 01:44:46.173
just like what we have
seen over the last few years.

01:44:47.198 --> 01:44:48.031
I would like to say that,

01:44:48.031 --> 01:44:51.254
you know, everybody's
talking about the pandemic.

01:44:51.254 --> 01:44:54.790
The pandemic has absolutely
overwhelmed the people

01:44:54.790 --> 01:44:59.080
and there are folks who
are looking to (indistinct)

01:44:59.080 --> 01:45:03.140
and my hats off to the Santa
Clara county supervisors

01:45:03.140 --> 01:45:06.440
who have really done
that as much as they can

01:45:06.440 --> 01:45:09.910
as much as they could in
overwhelming circumstances.

01:45:09.910 --> 01:45:11.780
They're rolling out like
drive-through clinics

01:45:11.780 --> 01:45:15.290
for testing and vaccinations
and so much more.

01:45:15.290 --> 01:45:18.780
For example, a moratorium on evictions

01:45:18.780 --> 01:45:21.300
and then you look at valley water,

01:45:21.300 --> 01:45:24.860
the county water agency
last year they decided

01:45:24.860 --> 01:45:28.370
they would not increase the
water rate which was very nice.

01:45:28.370 --> 01:45:31.120
I mean, this is what
we need in a pandemic

01:45:31.120 --> 01:45:34.800
and essentially demonstrates
the goodwill for the people

01:45:34.800 --> 01:45:37.330
that our families are struggling,
the paycheck challenges,

01:45:37.330 --> 01:45:38.890
the businesses are shutting down

01:45:38.890 --> 01:45:40.920
and (indistinct) struggling to find

01:45:40.920 --> 01:45:42.140
putting in this weak economy.

01:45:42.140 --> 01:45:44.390
I mean, people are
struggling for healthcare,

01:45:45.470 --> 01:45:47.750
but, you know, when
I observed the actions

01:45:47.750 --> 01:45:51.360
of San Jose Water company,
I have to say I'm dismayed

01:45:51.360 --> 01:45:55.710
and alarmed at the same time,
but why should I be surprised?

01:45:55.710 --> 01:45:59.340
You know, in 2016,
that was a drought here.

01:45:59.340 --> 01:46:02.669
We had many residents from cities

01:46:02.669 --> 01:46:05.470
of San Jose, Los Gatos, Mountain
View, Campbell and Saratoga

01:46:05.470 --> 01:46:10.470
had conserved water by 20% or
30% or even 40%, but you know,

01:46:13.050 --> 01:46:17.010
you can surcharges San Jose
Water company's profit ballooned

01:46:17.010 --> 01:46:22.010
from a baseline of $22 million
to $52 million in a drought

01:46:22.610 --> 01:46:25.100
and the water bills were
just extremely painful.

01:46:25.100 --> 01:46:27.420
I mean, I've seen water
bills and, you know,

01:46:27.420 --> 01:46:31.200
in fact we have it in the,
we'll be talking about a link.

01:46:31.200 --> 01:46:33.260
So where did all this money come from?

01:46:33.260 --> 01:46:35.640
You know, how did
they get to $52 million?

01:46:35.640 --> 01:46:37.860
Obviously from the people,

01:46:37.860 --> 01:46:40.160
but interestingly right after that

01:46:40.160 --> 01:46:43.030
they proposed to raise the rates

01:46:43.030 --> 01:46:45.790
with the, they presented
the filing to PUC

01:46:45.790 --> 01:46:48.488
that they would like
to increase their rates

01:46:48.488 --> 01:46:50.200
in spite of this Bonanza profit

01:46:50.200 --> 01:46:53.780
because they said we couldn't
attain our revenue threshold.

01:46:53.780 --> 01:46:57.140
I mean, like really is that, you know,

01:46:57.140 --> 01:47:01.360
the insanity of a monopoly
when reduction in demand

01:47:02.200 --> 01:47:06.280
also known as conservation
leads to a price increase.

01:47:06.280 --> 01:47:08.120
It's absolutely crazy.

01:47:08.120 --> 01:47:11.300
Now this story keeps
repeating and the customers,

01:47:11.300 --> 01:47:13.710
the rate payers of San Jose of Water

01:47:13.710 --> 01:47:17.060
have been at the receiving
end for many, many years.

01:47:17.060 --> 01:47:18.013
Can we stop this?

01:47:19.024 --> 01:47:21.660
And I'm not making up this stuff.

01:47:21.660 --> 01:47:23.390
This is what people have been watching

01:47:23.390 --> 01:47:26.370
and that's the reason why you
have like hundreds of people

01:47:26.370 --> 01:47:29.200
who have spoken today
between the morning session

01:47:29.200 --> 01:47:30.510
and the evening session.

01:47:30.510 --> 01:47:33.210
So let's talk about living in Saratoga,

01:47:33.210 --> 01:47:37.380
you know, we have 2,000
people here in my community

01:47:37.380 --> 01:47:41.290
who are at or below the poverty line.

01:47:41.290 --> 01:47:45.207
And Silicon valley, you
know, when you look at

01:47:45.207 --> 01:47:47.700
the city of San Jose or Los
Gatos, (indistinct) every city

01:47:47.700 --> 01:47:50.540
there is a significant
population that is hurting

01:47:50.540 --> 01:47:52.540
because of these water bills.

01:47:52.540 --> 01:47:54.140
People have called me crying,

01:47:54.140 --> 01:47:56.480
just like really, really stressed out

01:47:56.480 --> 01:47:58.320
looking at the water bills

01:47:58.320 --> 01:48:00.910
and they just cannot bear
the increasing cost of water,

01:48:00.910 --> 01:48:04.410
and many of our seniors
there are on limited income

01:48:04.410 --> 01:48:07.220
and, you know, just a 100-$200 increase

01:48:07.220 --> 01:48:11.540
is also extremely difficult for
them to fathom or deal with.

01:48:11.540 --> 01:48:14.620
And in a pandemic with
already stressed out system,

01:48:14.620 --> 01:48:16.070
people are feeling (mumbles).

01:48:17.030 --> 01:48:19.370
San Jose Water company
has decided to increase

01:48:19.370 --> 01:48:23.050
their service charge by cumulative 80%.

01:48:23.050 --> 01:48:26.270
Why would anyone want
to do that in a pandemic?

01:48:26.270 --> 01:48:28.360
It completely defies logic.

01:48:28.360 --> 01:48:30.220
Yes, they talk about three components.

01:48:30.220 --> 01:48:31.200
Let's talk about that.

01:48:31.200 --> 01:48:34.557
But in 10 years, their
profit, net income,

01:48:34.557 --> 01:48:37.360
the San Jose Water
company's net income after tax

01:48:37.360 --> 01:48:42.360
is the total of a
staggering $342 million.

01:48:43.920 --> 01:48:45.620
They have done extremely well

01:48:45.620 --> 01:48:48.700
and I just, that's an understatement.

01:48:48.700 --> 01:48:51.380
And a bottom line is I'm opposed

01:48:51.380 --> 01:48:56.380
to their general rate GRC
increase and my suggestion

01:48:56.910 --> 01:49:01.120
and recommendation is
to not increase any rate,

01:49:01.120 --> 01:49:04.360
not support any rate
increase at this point.

01:49:04.360 --> 01:49:06.207
So let's look at the GRC.

01:49:06.207 --> 01:49:07.040
There are three competence, right?

01:49:07.040 --> 01:49:08.300
Which is what I see from the finding:

01:49:08.300 --> 01:49:11.000
infrastructure
improvement, water quality

01:49:11.000 --> 01:49:13.723
and addressing cyber
security data privacy project.

01:49:14.820 --> 01:49:16.860
Biden is rolling out
an infrastructure bill.

01:49:16.860 --> 01:49:18.760
There will be money
that will be distributed

01:49:18.760 --> 01:49:21.530
across to counties and to companies

01:49:21.530 --> 01:49:23.340
like San Jose Water company.

01:49:23.340 --> 01:49:25.810
I think we should wait
to see how much money

01:49:25.810 --> 01:49:29.660
will be obtained from that $615 billion

01:49:31.295 --> 01:49:33.720
and I'm not sure how much
we'll actually get passed,

01:49:33.720 --> 01:49:35.523
but that was the last I saw.

01:49:36.540 --> 01:49:38.900
Also, I've also heard that executives

01:49:38.900 --> 01:49:41.930
of San Jose Water company
have had large payouts

01:49:41.930 --> 01:49:44.750
and what I've been told is
that San Jose Water company

01:49:44.750 --> 01:49:48.160
has no incentive to manage
itself in an efficient way.

01:49:48.160 --> 01:49:49.210
I mean, there are lots of stories,

01:49:49.210 --> 01:49:51.470
but I'm not gonna get into details.

01:49:51.470 --> 01:49:53.953
It could appear that they have neglected

01:49:53.953 --> 01:49:56.790
their infrastructure
over the last 10 years

01:49:56.790 --> 01:49:59.780
and that is not a good
justification to raise rates.

01:49:59.780 --> 01:50:02.510
So can we understand, you
know, I expand on the three areas.

01:50:02.510 --> 01:50:05.090
What has exactly been
done for the three areas?

01:50:05.090 --> 01:50:07.350
What they have done
over the last 10 years

01:50:07.350 --> 01:50:09.180
or perhaps the last couple of decades

01:50:09.180 --> 01:50:11.850
to improvements
including like water main

01:50:11.850 --> 01:50:14.714
and valve replacement,
enhancement to pumping stations,

01:50:14.714 --> 01:50:16.780
(indistinct) water hang upgrades.

01:50:16.780 --> 01:50:18.560
What exactly have they done?

01:50:18.560 --> 01:50:20.280
So I call upon CPUC,

01:50:20.280 --> 01:50:23.510
please, please, please
leave these rate increases

01:50:23.510 --> 01:50:26.830
and undertake a complete
audit of their operations

01:50:26.830 --> 01:50:29.320
and finances and benchmark these

01:50:29.320 --> 01:50:32.950
against other water utilities
within CPUC jurisdiction.

01:50:32.950 --> 01:50:36.285
How is San Jose Water
company taking their profits?

01:50:36.285 --> 01:50:37.270
Where are they investing it?

01:50:37.270 --> 01:50:40.510
We need CPUC's help
to get to the bottom of this

01:50:40.510 --> 01:50:42.850
and to help San Jose
Water company get to a point

01:50:42.850 --> 01:50:47.070
of operational efficiency and
market rate competitiveness.

01:50:47.070 --> 01:50:50.320
Essentially their profits
is on the back of people

01:50:50.320 --> 01:50:54.770
and then we look at the City
of Santa Clara or Palo Alto.

01:50:54.770 --> 01:50:56.277
It's a municipal utility company

01:50:56.277 --> 01:50:58.740
and they don't have
these profit type issues.

01:50:58.740 --> 01:51:01.040
So my final take of this,

01:51:01.040 --> 01:51:03.660
please do not approve
any rate increase request

01:51:03.660 --> 01:51:07.274
until we can benchmark (indistinct)

01:51:07.274 --> 01:51:09.410
with other water utilities.

01:51:09.410 --> 01:51:11.243
And a couple of things, quick ones.

01:51:12.158 --> 01:51:15.580
Rishikumar.com/waters for
some compelling viewpoints

01:51:15.580 --> 01:51:17.060
with San Jose Water company.

01:51:17.060 --> 01:51:20.400
I also urge you to visit
tinyurl.com/sjwcappendix

01:51:23.350 --> 01:51:26.050
for summary financial
data, rate increases

01:51:26.050 --> 01:51:27.580
and a few pertinent case studies.

01:51:27.580 --> 01:51:30.030
And finally, please review the petition

01:51:30.030 --> 01:51:32.090
to replace San Jose Water company.

01:51:39.180 --> 01:51:40.730
To replace San Jose Water company

01:51:40.730 --> 01:51:42.630
with the municipal utility company

01:51:42.630 --> 01:51:47.460
which is at tinyurl.com/nomoresjwc.

01:51:47.460 --> 01:51:50.920
I've signed it along with 6,200 others.

01:51:50.920 --> 01:51:54.250
I really appreciate you
listening to what I have to say

01:51:54.250 --> 01:51:57.500
and thank you so much
for taking the time to join us.

01:51:57.500 --> 01:52:00.847
I really appreciate
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,

01:52:00.847 --> 01:52:05.847
judge Lee and water division
and the public advocate office.

01:52:06.050 --> 01:52:06.883
Thank you so much.

01:52:06.883 --> 01:52:07.920
I really appreciate this.

01:52:08.940 --> 01:52:10.870
<v ->Thank you, Councilman Kumar</v>

01:52:10.870 --> 01:52:14.140
and also thank you
for sharing the websites

01:52:14.140 --> 01:52:15.833
that you have referenced.

01:52:18.180 --> 01:52:23.180
Now, operator can you please
introduce the next commenter.

01:52:32.800 --> 01:52:33.633
Operator?

01:52:39.150 --> 01:52:41.140
Let's go off the record.

01:52:41.140 --> 01:52:43.040
<v Operator>I'm
sorry, yes, I'm here.</v>

01:52:45.150 --> 01:52:49.860
<v ->Okay, I wasn't sure if
anyone can hear me.</v>

01:52:49.860 --> 01:52:51.660
That's why I wanted to double check.

01:52:53.010 --> 01:52:55.783
Court reporter are we ready
to go back on the record?

01:52:56.990 --> 01:52:59.400
Okay, we'll go back.

01:52:59.400 --> 01:53:00.990
We're back on the record.

01:53:00.990 --> 01:53:03.793
Operator please introduce
the next commenter.

01:53:04.730 --> 01:53:06.050
<v Operator>Yes our
next comment comes</v>

01:53:06.050 --> 01:53:08.490
from Ms. Chavez, your line is open.

01:53:09.670 --> 01:53:10.503
<v Chau>Thank you.</v>

01:53:10.503 --> 01:53:14.450
First name C-H-A-U,
last name C-H-A-V-E-Z.

01:53:14.450 --> 01:53:15.780
Thank you for taking my call.

01:53:15.780 --> 01:53:18.480
I've been waiting for a long
time since the beginning.

01:53:19.650 --> 01:53:23.170
I just wanna make
comments that I hear a lot

01:53:23.170 --> 01:53:27.880
about lost revenue, but
if you go to the sec.gov,

01:53:27.880 --> 01:53:31.130
the San Jose Water
company has to file the 10Q

01:53:31.130 --> 01:53:35.480
which is a quarterly
filing of their financials

01:53:35.480 --> 01:53:39.070
and the 10K which is the
annual filing of that financial.

01:53:39.070 --> 01:53:44.070
On their 10K, year over
year for 2018 to 2019 to 2020

01:53:47.670 --> 01:53:50.740
they had an increase in
revenue when they lifted

01:53:50.740 --> 01:53:54.330
their segment revenue
for residential and business.

01:53:54.330 --> 01:53:59.330
From 2018 to 2019, that
increase in revenue was 7.8%.

01:54:01.565 --> 01:54:06.565
From 2019 to 2020, 26.85%
increase in their revenue.

01:54:08.450 --> 01:54:10.410
So I'm not sure why are they claiming

01:54:10.410 --> 01:54:11.830
that they are losing revenue

01:54:11.830 --> 01:54:15.350
when they are making year
over year increase in revenue.

01:54:15.350 --> 01:54:18.283
It has to come from
the people of San Jose.

01:54:20.540 --> 01:54:21.500
That's one.

01:54:21.500 --> 01:54:23.430
If they are a private company

01:54:23.430 --> 01:54:26.590
they should be treated as such meaning

01:54:26.590 --> 01:54:30.980
if there is a proclaimed
loss of revenue somebody

01:54:30.980 --> 01:54:32.940
should be losing heads

01:54:32.940 --> 01:54:34.940
because they are not planning correctly.

01:54:36.010 --> 01:54:40.490
Well, incompetent work for
the failure to plan a budget

01:54:41.380 --> 01:54:43.070
somebody should have been losing heads

01:54:43.070 --> 01:54:46.860
instead of coming back to
the residents of San Jose

01:54:46.860 --> 01:54:51.000
to keep asking us for
increasing to supplement

01:54:51.000 --> 01:54:53.450
for their incompetent work.

01:54:53.450 --> 01:54:55.100
If we are in a private industry

01:54:55.100 --> 01:54:58.580
we would have been laid
off if we didn't do our job.

01:54:58.580 --> 01:55:01.310
So why are they not
being held accountable

01:55:02.717 --> 01:55:04.100
for not doing their job?

01:55:04.100 --> 01:55:08.670
I'm looking at, just back in 2019,

01:55:08.670 --> 01:55:11.540
the salary of a previous president

01:55:11.540 --> 01:55:13.860
of the San Jose Water company,

01:55:13.860 --> 01:55:18.313
someone got paid 6.5 million a year.

01:55:19.730 --> 01:55:24.730
The CFO of San Jose Water
company is being paid right now

01:55:24.970 --> 01:55:26.863
probably in excess of a million.

01:55:28.430 --> 01:55:33.430
Why are the residents of
San Jose being asked to pay

01:55:34.010 --> 01:55:36.030
for their incompetent work?

01:55:36.030 --> 01:55:38.860
They're being paid to think
logically and strategically

01:55:39.930 --> 01:55:43.483
on alternatives to make it
better for the city of San Jose.

01:55:44.800 --> 01:55:45.633
They are not.

01:55:46.470 --> 01:55:51.470
I strongly oppose this rate increase.

01:55:51.940 --> 01:55:53.540
It's unreasonable.

01:55:53.540 --> 01:55:54.783
It's excessive.

01:55:56.060 --> 01:55:57.793
It's not justifiable.

01:55:59.430 --> 01:56:01.270
Like GAE they will keep increasing.

01:56:01.270 --> 01:56:04.160
GAE means general
administrative expenses.

01:56:04.160 --> 01:56:05.610
Why are they increasing that?

01:56:06.580 --> 01:56:08.630
They're not explaining
it in the pancake.

01:56:11.740 --> 01:56:13.710
We as the city of San Jose,

01:56:13.710 --> 01:56:17.530
the residents of San Jose
is asked to conserve water

01:56:17.530 --> 01:56:20.550
because brown is the new green.

01:56:20.550 --> 01:56:22.270
We had to forgo our lawn.

01:56:22.270 --> 01:56:24.370
We had to give up a lot

01:56:24.370 --> 01:56:27.673
and now we're being
asked to pay more for less?

01:56:32.010 --> 01:56:35.580
Now with the pandemic we're
being asked, most of employees

01:56:35.580 --> 01:56:38.010
if we have lucky to keep out jobs,

01:56:38.010 --> 01:56:40.430
let alone having any
kind of merit increase

01:56:42.110 --> 01:56:43.800
to work from home which means

01:56:43.800 --> 01:56:47.120
we have to use more utilities from home.

01:56:47.120 --> 01:56:50.660
Employers are not
compensating us for using things

01:56:50.660 --> 01:56:54.840
that we used to be able
to use when we in the office

01:56:54.840 --> 01:56:58.780
which means water,
electricity, Internet, all of that

01:56:58.780 --> 01:57:01.113
now being burdened by the employee.

01:57:02.890 --> 01:57:04.130
So why are we paying more?

01:57:04.130 --> 01:57:08.010
We are living in the greatest
city if we call ourselves that

01:57:08.010 --> 01:57:09.960
but now we're being burden.

01:57:09.960 --> 01:57:12.317
We're burdening the residents of Cal.

01:57:13.863 --> 01:57:14.803
This is unreasonable.

01:57:14.803 --> 01:57:16.900
This is not justifiable.

01:57:16.900 --> 01:57:19.950
San Jose Water company
needs to be accountable.

01:57:19.950 --> 01:57:21.640
They are the monopoly

01:57:21.640 --> 01:57:23.360
so they can dictate whatever they want.

01:57:23.360 --> 01:57:26.963
So I do hope that is some
kind of accountability for them.

01:57:28.860 --> 01:57:31.883
They cannot just reward
themselves with the stock price.

01:57:33.130 --> 01:57:36.080
The executives, the employees
of San Jose Water company

01:57:36.080 --> 01:57:38.880
are being compensated with salary

01:57:38.880 --> 01:57:41.863
in addition to the stock
option that they do get.

01:57:43.290 --> 01:57:47.073
We should not be paying
them to do incompetent work.

01:57:48.690 --> 01:57:51.980
So I strongly oppose and with many other

01:57:51.980 --> 01:57:54.290
that seems to be voicing
their opinions opposing

01:57:54.290 --> 01:57:55.690
this rate increase.

01:57:55.690 --> 01:57:56.523
Thank you.

01:57:58.610 --> 01:58:01.043
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Chavez
for your comments.</v>

01:58:02.260 --> 01:58:05.043
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

01:58:07.250 --> 01:58:08.360
<v Operator>Thank you.</v>

01:58:08.360 --> 01:58:12.803
Our next comment comes
from Raluca Abrahami,

01:58:13.810 --> 01:58:15.090
your line is open.

01:58:17.210 --> 01:58:19.343
<v Raluca>Hello, can you hear me?</v>

01:58:20.760 --> 01:58:22.260
<v ->We can hear you.</v>

01:58:22.260 --> 01:58:25.312
<v Raluca>Yeah, hi, my name
is spelled Raluca Abrahami.</v>

01:58:25.312 --> 01:58:28.370
It's spelled R-A-L-U-C-A.

01:58:28.370 --> 01:58:33.370
Last name is A-B-R-A-H-A-M-I
from San Jose.

01:58:34.820 --> 01:58:39.820
So I'm calling in regard to the
San Jose Water rate increase

01:58:41.140 --> 01:58:46.140
and protesting and opposing
totally this rate increase.

01:58:46.610 --> 01:58:51.080
I've been living in San
Jose for many years

01:58:51.080 --> 01:58:54.200
and over the years, we get the same memo

01:58:54.200 --> 01:58:57.160
from San Jose Water
company every other year.

01:58:57.160 --> 01:59:00.683
So in 2018, 2016, 2015, 2011,

01:59:03.230 --> 01:59:05.940
we get the same thing
over and over again.

01:59:05.940 --> 01:59:10.940
We're gonna increase your
rate, what you pay for water

01:59:13.500 --> 01:59:15.183
and looks like it's like,

01:59:16.192 --> 01:59:18.680
it's the same memo
we get every other year.

01:59:18.680 --> 01:59:21.710
No explanation what will be done.

01:59:21.710 --> 01:59:25.453
No explanation what was
done from the previous memo,

01:59:26.550 --> 01:59:28.090
from the previous letter

01:59:28.090 --> 01:59:32.420
and no explanation what the plan is.

01:59:32.420 --> 01:59:35.370
So accountability for
me it's equal to zero.

01:59:35.370 --> 01:59:40.210
San Jose Water company has
to, if they want a rate increase,

01:59:40.210 --> 01:59:42.980
they have to explain what actually

01:59:42.980 --> 01:59:44.580
is it gonna be doing with our money

01:59:44.580 --> 01:59:49.470
because for years, we didn't get any,

01:59:49.470 --> 01:59:53.986
you know, the expenses that,

01:59:53.986 --> 01:59:57.884
you know, the heavy expenses and costs.

01:59:57.884 --> 02:00:01.551
They are not transparent
to the citizens of,

02:00:03.358 --> 02:00:05.210
you know, to San Jose.

02:00:05.210 --> 02:00:10.210
And it's really, really annoying
and we have to stop this.

02:00:11.210 --> 02:00:13.710
Actually, we are in the
middle of a pandemic

02:00:13.710 --> 02:00:15.520
and many people lost their jobs,

02:00:15.520 --> 02:00:17.120
many people lost their businesses.

02:00:17.120 --> 02:00:19.760
Many people got affected
one way or the other

02:00:19.760 --> 02:00:20.660
from this pandemic.

02:00:20.660 --> 02:00:24.800
So this is not the right
time to increase the rates,

02:00:24.800 --> 02:00:25.663
the water rates.

02:00:27.890 --> 02:00:31.000
I believe the San Jose Water company

02:00:31.000 --> 02:00:33.370
can find other ways to cut costs.

02:00:33.370 --> 02:00:35.860
Definitely, there maybe other ways

02:00:35.860 --> 02:00:37.740
and to increase their productivity

02:00:37.740 --> 02:00:41.203
without placing the
burden on the citizens.

02:00:44.160 --> 02:00:47.040
And I'd like to say that
San Jose Water company

02:00:47.040 --> 02:00:51.120
is a full monopoly and
don't have any other option.

02:00:51.120 --> 02:00:52.540
We don't know where to go.

02:00:52.540 --> 02:00:56.100
We don't have any other
way to find the companies

02:00:56.100 --> 02:00:58.570
that has better rates.

02:00:58.570 --> 02:01:02.720
So we are kind of, we
don't know what to do

02:01:02.720 --> 02:01:05.140
when the rates go up than to pay them

02:01:06.030 --> 02:01:09.840
and the citizens are punished.

02:01:09.840 --> 02:01:12.520
We did water
conservation over the years,

02:01:12.520 --> 02:01:16.120
probably, you know, the rates,
I mean, we pay less money

02:01:16.120 --> 02:01:17.630
so they don't have enough money

02:01:17.630 --> 02:01:22.297
for their salary, benefits,
pensions, 401ks, stock options.

02:01:23.570 --> 02:01:25.680
So that's why they increase the rates.

02:01:25.680 --> 02:01:29.690
So I'm sorry, I'm totally
opposing to the rate increase.

02:01:29.690 --> 02:01:30.523
Thank you.

02:01:42.790 --> 02:01:44.280
<v ->Excuse me, judge.</v>

02:01:44.280 --> 02:01:46.873
This is the court
reporter, you're on mute.

02:02:17.500 --> 02:02:19.984
<v Martha>This is Commissioner
Guzman Aceves.</v>

02:02:19.984 --> 02:02:22.581
I was just clarifying that
I'm not hearing anyone.

02:02:25.770 --> 02:02:29.243
<v Justin>Commissioner
this is your advisor.</v>

02:02:30.560 --> 02:02:31.523
Is anybody else on?

02:02:36.096 --> 02:02:36.929
<v Robert Stanford>Yeah,
Commissioner,</v>

02:02:36.929 --> 02:02:39.393
it's Robert Stanford, I
guess I confirm I'm on.

02:02:43.070 --> 02:02:45.720
<v Juanita>Robert it looks
like the judge is speaking,</v>

02:02:45.720 --> 02:02:47.460
but I don't hear anything.

02:02:47.460 --> 02:02:48.393
This is Juanita.

02:02:49.360 --> 02:02:51.073
<v Operator>She's styling back in.</v>

02:02:52.227 --> 02:02:54.630
(man laughs)

02:02:54.630 --> 02:02:56.400
<v Martha>One moment.</v>

02:02:56.400 --> 02:02:57.883
<v ->Hello, can anyone hear me?</v>

02:03:00.231 --> 02:03:01.140
<v ->Judge, this is
the court reporter.</v>

02:03:01.140 --> 02:03:02.750
I can hear you now.

02:03:02.750 --> 02:03:05.430
<v ->Yeah, thanks.</v>

02:03:05.430 --> 02:03:06.263
Thank you.

02:03:07.350 --> 02:03:10.350
Thank you, Ms. Abrahami
for your comments

02:03:13.260 --> 02:03:18.260
and operator please
introduce the next commenter.

02:03:22.460 --> 02:03:24.130
<v Operator>Yes ma'am.</v>

02:03:24.130 --> 02:03:27.610
The next commenter is MaryAnn Welch,

02:03:27.610 --> 02:03:28.703
your line is open.

02:03:30.060 --> 02:03:31.720
<v MaryAnn>Yes, thank you.</v>

02:03:31.720 --> 02:03:35.560
MaryAnn Welch, M-A-R-Y capital A-N-N.

02:03:35.560 --> 02:03:38.530
<v ->Ms. Welch, please speak slowly.</v>

02:03:38.530 --> 02:03:41.750
You are speaking too
fast for the court reporter

02:03:41.750 --> 02:03:44.410
and the Spanish interpreter

02:03:44.410 --> 02:03:48.510
and because you had commented previously

02:03:48.510 --> 02:03:52.460
in the prior PPH you will be limited

02:03:52.460 --> 02:03:54.583
to one minute commenting.

02:03:56.213 --> 02:03:57.046
<v MaryAnn>Yeah, I understand.</v>

02:03:58.070 --> 02:04:00.083
You want me to give you my name again?

02:04:01.430 --> 02:04:05.370
<v ->Yes, please speak
slowly and clearly</v>

02:04:05.370 --> 02:04:08.850
and spell your first
and last name again.

02:04:08.850 --> 02:04:12.240
<v MaryAnn>Okay, MaryAnn Welch,</v>

02:04:12.240 --> 02:04:17.083
M-A-R-Y capital A-N-N W-E-L-C-H

02:04:18.500 --> 02:04:20.680
from Saratoga, California.

02:04:20.680 --> 02:04:24.630
I just wanna reiterate, I
agree with Rita Benton totally.

02:04:24.630 --> 02:04:26.200
We need a forensic audits.

02:04:26.200 --> 02:04:30.220
<v ->Ms. Welch, you're
speaking too fast</v>

02:04:30.220 --> 02:04:33.180
for the interpreter
and the court reporter.

02:04:33.180 --> 02:04:35.780
Can you please slow down?

02:04:35.780 --> 02:04:37.653
<v MaryAnn>Okay, I guess
because you've told me</v>

02:04:37.653 --> 02:04:39.040
I only have one minute

02:04:39.040 --> 02:04:42.110
I guess I'm trying to
speak too fast, sorry.

02:04:42.110 --> 02:04:45.020
Okay, I'll start again.

02:04:45.020 --> 02:04:49.883
I agree with Rita Benton
totally, every thing she said.

02:04:51.450 --> 02:04:52.530
That's one thing.

02:04:52.530 --> 02:04:56.650
Second thing, we definitely
need a forensic audit,

02:04:56.650 --> 02:05:00.430
not KPMG but independent auditor.

02:05:00.430 --> 02:05:02.840
The service charges are ranges for,

02:05:02.840 --> 02:05:05.460
even my house I have a one inch meter.

02:05:05.460 --> 02:05:08.700
It's going to be costing me over $185

02:05:08.700 --> 02:05:12.430
with all these goofy increases of 39%.

02:05:12.430 --> 02:05:16.370
Also water safety is not
true for the Willow Glen

02:05:16.370 --> 02:05:17.560
if you recall.

02:05:17.560 --> 02:05:19.783
The water was contaminated, all right.

02:05:21.926 --> 02:05:27.360
Also what portion
of the (bell rings)

02:05:27.360 --> 02:05:30.110
does San Jose Water
contribute to the bottom line

02:05:30.110 --> 02:05:31.573
of San Jose Water group.

02:05:32.800 --> 02:05:37.250
I believe we need to possibly
by San Jose Water group

02:05:37.250 --> 02:05:40.860
stopped to really have
a voice and a vote.

02:05:40.860 --> 02:05:44.620
I truly believe that
the rate payers are hurt

02:05:44.620 --> 02:05:47.360
at every turn forever.

02:05:47.360 --> 02:05:49.433
I thank you very much for your time.

02:05:51.540 --> 02:05:54.550
<v ->Thank you, Ms. Welch
for your comments.</v>

02:05:54.550 --> 02:05:57.693
Operator, please introduce
the next commenter.

02:06:01.660 --> 02:06:04.603
<v Operator>I am showing no
further comments at this time.</v>

02:06:05.520 --> 02:06:06.353
<v ->Thank you.</v>

02:06:07.550 --> 02:06:11.660
Before we adjourn
Commissioner Guzman Aceves

02:06:11.660 --> 02:06:14.433
do you want to make a closing remark?

02:06:15.400 --> 02:06:18.400
<v Martha>Yes, thank you, judge
Lee and I thank you so much</v>

02:06:18.400 --> 02:06:21.010
for all of the public comments.

02:06:21.010 --> 02:06:24.070
I am very appreciative of hearing some

02:06:24.070 --> 02:06:27.500
of the tremendous
research that many of you

02:06:27.500 --> 02:06:28.883
have done on your own.

02:06:29.810 --> 02:06:33.100
You've given us very
much, a lot to think about

02:06:33.100 --> 02:06:36.170
and some very great
specifics to really delve into

02:06:36.170 --> 02:06:37.653
as I mentioned earlier.

02:06:39.430 --> 02:06:42.410
And I just wanna appreciate
you for taking the time

02:06:42.410 --> 02:06:45.660
and this evening to participate.

02:06:45.660 --> 02:06:50.573
I think you have seen on
the Webex there on the TV

02:06:51.850 --> 02:06:55.133
how you can not the
TV, not to (mumbles).

02:06:57.307 --> 02:06:59.570
How you can continue to participate

02:06:59.570 --> 02:07:01.583
and we really encourage you to do so,

02:07:02.672 --> 02:07:05.190
but thank you very much
for all the time you've taken.

02:07:05.190 --> 02:07:06.023
Thank you.

02:07:07.670 --> 02:07:10.090
<v ->Thank you Commissioner
Guzman Aceves</v>

02:07:10.090 --> 02:07:12.830
and everyone who participated today.

02:07:12.830 --> 02:07:15.660
If you would like to provide
additional comments,

02:07:15.660 --> 02:07:19.250
you may submit written
comments on the docket card

02:07:19.250 --> 02:07:21.920
for this proceeding which can be found

02:07:21.920 --> 02:07:23.960
on the Commission's website

02:07:23.960 --> 02:07:27.870
at www.cpuc.ca.gov\a2101003comments.

02:07:40.860 --> 02:07:44.440
For assistance with
providing additional comments,

02:07:44.440 --> 02:07:48.917
please contact the Commissions
public advisor's office

02:07:48.917 --> 02:07:52.223
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

02:07:59.830 --> 02:08:04.090
This concludes this evening's
public participation hearing.

02:08:04.090 --> 02:08:05.523
We are off the record.

02:08:08.020 --> 02:08:10.403
Thank you everyone
for your participation.

02:08:13.010 --> 02:08:16.820
I understand that the
slides are difficult to read.