WEBVTT
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(bright ambient music)
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Welcome to the
Public Participation Hearing,
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here we will take public input
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on the Golden State Water Company's
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General Rate Case Applications
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on this day, Wednesday, May 25th, 2021.
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Thank you, Operator.
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Ms. Powers, are you ready
to begin court reporting?
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Yes Judge, thank you.
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Thank you.
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All right, we will go on the record now.
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The Commission will come to order.
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It is Wednesday, May 26, 2021
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at exactly 1:30 PM in the afternoon.
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And this is a remote
Public Participation Hearing
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on the Golden State Water
Company's General Rate Case
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and its application
for rates to be charged
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in years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
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The application number is A20-07-012.
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And before I go any
further, I wanna just say
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because we have many
people in Northern California
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who are customers of Golden
State Water in it's region one
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which is today's focus.
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If any of you have
any friends or relatives
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who have been victimized
by the unfortunate incidents
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in San Jose this morning,
let me offer my own,
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and on behalf of the whole Commission
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our condolences for you.
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It's a terrible tragedy
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and it's hope that we can somehow
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or other prevent these
from ever happening again.
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Okay, so today we will be focused on
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Golden State's customers
in what is referred to
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as Golden States Region One Rate Area.
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Region one is comprised
of the cities, towns,
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and areas known as
Arden Cordova, Bay Point,
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Clearlake,
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Los Osos, Santa
Maria, and Simi Valley.
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If your monthly bill indicates
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that you reside in region two,
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we held the public
participation proceedings
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for your region yesterday
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but you need not be
concerned if you miss them.
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You can ask access
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yesterday's Public
Participation Hearings
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by going to the following
website, adminmonitor.com.
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That's spelled A-D-M-I-N,
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M as in Mary O-N as
in Nancy, I-T-O-R.com.
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Once on their website, click on the link
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for California Public
Utilities Commission
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and then click on the
link for Past Hearings
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and scroll to yesterday's date.
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There you'll find a
complete recording in English
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of yesterday's Public Participation
Hearings for region two.
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If your monthly bill's indicates
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that you're part of Golden
States Region Three Rate Area
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the Public Participation Hearings
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for your area will be held
tomorrow, Thursday, May 27th
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at the same times as the
one scheduled for today,
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1:30 in the afternoon
and 6:30 in the evening.
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The call-in number
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and the password are exactly the same,
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(800) 857-1917
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and passcode 7218384.
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As with customers in region two,
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you're welcome to listen in today,
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but keep in mind that today's
Public Participation Hearings
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are for the benefit of
customers in region one
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and we will be focusing
on their particular issues,
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not those that are related
to region two or region three.
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My name is Charles Ferguson
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and I am the assigned
Administrative Law Judge
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for this proceeding.
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My job is to collect your
comments and suggestions today
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and be mindful of them
as I assemble the evidence
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in support of one view or the other
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as to whether and how
much your rates should change
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for the three years of the rates cycle.
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After I've assembled a record,
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I will write my proposed decision
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and submit it to the five
CPUC Commissioners
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for them to vote on it.
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It takes three Commissioners
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for my proposed decision to be accepted.
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Any of the Commissioners can prepare
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an alternate decision to my decision
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but the alternate must be
based on the record evidence
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and must be supported by at least three
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of the Commissioners.
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Pardon me just a minute.
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Now the purpose of today's hearings
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is mainly for us at the Commission
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to hear from you, the
customers of Golden State,
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about how you feel and what
you think about its application
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for an increase in your rates.
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We, as the Commission
have already prepared
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what we call Fact Sheets.
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And Golden State has delivered them
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to you either electronically,
if you are billed by email
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or by regular US mail
to help you understand
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exactly how much new revenue
Golden State wishes to receive
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and aggregate from you
and all the other customers
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in your assigned rate area,
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which in general is
referred to as region one.
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But region one is somewhat distinct
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from the other two regions in this way.
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It's subdivided into specific rate areas
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by city, town or location boundaries.
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Each subdivision of region
one is its own rate area.
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So those of you living in Clearlake
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have a different rate
structure than those of you
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who happen to be living in Simi Valley
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and likewise for all the other
subdivisions of region one.
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If you have not received
a CPUC Fact Sheet
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for your location in region
one, or you've misplaced it,
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you can find a copy
on the CPUCs website.
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Go to the CPUC website,
which is www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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Enter the words Public Advisor.
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That's A-D-V-I-S-O-R in the search bar.
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And on the right-hand
side of the of the homepage
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for the Public Advisor,
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you'll find a link for Public
Participation Hearings.
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Click on that link and scroll
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to the Golden State Water
Company Rate Proceedings.
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And you'll find the CPUCs Fact Sheets
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for all of the subdivisions
of region one.
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I encourage you to let,
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even if you have your
own Fact Sheet in hand
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keep in mind the
instructions I just gave you
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about how to find your Fact
Sheet on the CPUC website.
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And if one of your neighbors
or friends in your rate area
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has lost their Fact Sheet
or never received one,
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then you can just simply explain to them
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how they can obtain one by
getting on the CPUC website.
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You can also obtain a Fact Sheet
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directly from Golden State
by addressing an email request
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to the following email address,
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2022GRC@gswater.com.
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Include your billing
address in your email
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so that the proper Fact
Sheet can be sent to you.
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And finally, if you don't
have any internet access
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and are simply participating
here by telephone
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you can still get a
copy of the Fact Sheet
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for your specific rate area
by calling Golden State Water
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at the following telephone number
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(877) 288-8816.
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Let me repeat that.
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(877) 288-8816.
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Now these Fact Sheets
for your particular rate area
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are intended to give
you food for thought
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about the proposed rate
increases in your rate area.
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What you need to do
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is to begin by collecting
all of your old bills
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for the 12 months of 2020.
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Those bills will tell you exactly
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how much water you used
month by month during 2020.
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Using those numbers on
a month by month basis
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and the information in the Fact Sheet
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that we've prepared for you
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you can project how
much it will cost you
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to use exactly the same amount
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of water each month in
2022, 2023, and 2024.
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If, and it's a big if, if we,
the Commission approve
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of Golden State's
request in its entirety.
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It doesn't often happen that we approve
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a water company's
request in its entirety
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but at least you can project
what a worst case scenario
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from your viewpoint might be
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if you continue to use exactly
the same amount of water
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as you used in 2020,
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and the Commission does approve
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of Golden State's rate
increases in their entirety.
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What you need to do
is make a calculation
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for each individual month,
January through December
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and each year of 2022, 2023 and 2024.
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You begin each month
with the fixed service charge
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which you can find on the charts
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provided in the Fact Sheets.
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The fixed service charge is
independent of your water usage
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whether you use no water
or a whole lot of water,
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the monthly service charge
is a once a month fixed charge
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that you have to pay.
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Add to that number the usage charge
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for the amount of water you
use for the same month in 2020.
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Usage charges are generally expressed
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in hundreds of cubic feet,
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100 cubic feet of water, or one CCF
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is equal to 748 gallons of water.
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Use the column that says
effective January 1st, 2022
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to project your usage
charge for January, 2022.
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The proposed cost
structure for all of 2022
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is a portion of the lower
half of the rate charts,
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the proposed rate charts
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that you'll find in your Fact Sheet.
00:12:47.140 --> 00:12:49.940
There are two exceptions in your region
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and those are Clearlake
and Aden Cordova.
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Those two rate areas do not
have what we call tiered rates.
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They just simply have a single rate
00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:06.140
for every particular unit of water,
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in this case a CCF of water
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and that never changes,
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no matter how much water residents
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in those areas actually use.
00:13:17.650 --> 00:13:21.430
The rest of the locations
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that make up region
one have tiered rates.
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That is a certain number
of CCFs will be available
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for a low cost.
00:13:31.640 --> 00:13:36.640
Another additional
section of water usage
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will be billed at a mid cost rate.
00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:45.830
And finally, anything
above that will be charged
00:13:45.830 --> 00:13:50.830
at a much higher rate in order
to encourage conservation.
00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:57.880
When you have figured out
00:13:57.880 --> 00:14:02.880
how much you're projected
January, 2022, bill will be
00:14:04.670 --> 00:14:07.010
you will have added
both the service charge
00:14:07.010 --> 00:14:09.840
and the usage charge, and
then you have to proceed
00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.630
and do the same thing for February
00:14:11.630 --> 00:14:13.943
and March and April
and so on and so forth.
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As you can compare that
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what you're gonna pay in the future
00:14:21.850 --> 00:14:24.383
to what you paid back in 2020.
00:14:27.810 --> 00:14:30.870
We also have listed on your Fact Sheets
00:14:30.870 --> 00:14:34.840
the main reasons that
we think as the CPUC
00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.260
at this point, Golden
State is requesting
00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.293
an increase in your rates.
00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:46.510
Those reasons are
different for each town,
00:14:46.510 --> 00:14:48.703
city and location in region one.
00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.830
Each of those towns
and cities and locations
00:14:53.830 --> 00:14:56.300
will have specific unique reasons
00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:58.963
for why a rate increase is required.
00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:03.370
And I encourage you to get
familiar with those reasons
00:15:03.370 --> 00:15:04.840
and let us know whether you think
00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.350
they are necessary expenses
00:15:07.350 --> 00:15:10.833
or adequate reasons for a rate increase.
00:15:12.410 --> 00:15:17.410
There's one more unusual
feature in a region one
00:15:17.650 --> 00:15:21.180
that does not exist
in region two or three,
00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:25.483
and it involves the cities of
Los Osos and Santa Maria.
00:15:26.890 --> 00:15:29.530
These are two cities that
are roughly 40 miles apart
00:15:29.530 --> 00:15:31.250
from each other.
00:15:31.250 --> 00:15:34.960
And to my knowledge, at
this point in the proceeding
00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:38.260
there's no physical
interconnection between the two
00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:40.473
in terms of their water systems.
00:15:41.990 --> 00:15:45.840
And there is no physical
interconnection proposed
00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.780
by the utility.
00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:52.000
What is proposed by Golden
State is to have customers
00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.410
in both of those locations,
Los Osos and Santa Maria
00:16:02.230 --> 00:16:09.350
share in the cost
of providing water
00:16:09.350 --> 00:16:13.100
to each of those two cities.
00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:16.133
The Commission allows
this to happen occasionally.
00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:20.250
A consolidation for
rate purposes can occur
00:16:20.250 --> 00:16:22.820
between towns that are as far apart
00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:24.713
as 100 miles from one another.
00:16:25.900 --> 00:16:29.360
Usually the reason
offered by the utility
00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:33.230
for consolidating two separate
rate areas for rate purposes
00:16:33.230 --> 00:16:35.430
is to spread the cost of maintaining
00:16:35.430 --> 00:16:37.920
and operating the two water systems
00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:40.840
among the customers in both areas,
00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.480
in an effort to control
the billing increases
00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:47.933
over the long run for
both sets of customers.
00:16:50.250 --> 00:16:52.540
Whether I or the Commission will approve
00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:54.140
of the proposed consolidation
00:16:54.140 --> 00:16:56.303
and this proceeding
is still to be decided.
00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:59.300
The evidence is yet
to be presented to me
00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:01.300
in an evidentiary hearing,
00:17:01.300 --> 00:17:05.160
and that hearing won't take
place until later this summer.
00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.680
For purposes of your own calculation
00:17:08.520 --> 00:17:10.763
of possible future bills,
00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:16.050
the Commission in its
Fact Sheets has given
00:17:16.050 --> 00:17:20.440
the residents in Los Osos and
Santa Maria enough information
00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:24.060
for those customers to see
what their rates would look like
00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:27.740
if the Commission did or did not approve
00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:32.740
of Golden State's proposed
consolidation of these two areas.
00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:38.553
So that's a unique issue that we have,
00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:43.890
the Commission has to decide
with respect to region one
00:17:43.890 --> 00:17:47.936
but it only affects those
two cities, Los Osos
00:17:47.936 --> 00:17:49.123
and Santa Maria.
00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:52.730
Now in general there's a way to avoid
00:17:52.730 --> 00:17:54.600
paying for new rate increases.
00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:57.320
And that is something that's known
00:17:57.320 --> 00:18:00.400
to everybody in
California, conserving water
00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:04.073
on a more rigorous basis.
00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:08.830
A graph in each one of
the Fact Sheets shows you
00:18:08.830 --> 00:18:13.830
how your water consumption in year 2020
00:18:14.260 --> 00:18:16.130
compares to all the customers
00:18:16.130 --> 00:18:18.963
in your specific rate area
during the same year.
00:18:20.430 --> 00:18:24.490
In region one, the average
water use varies greatly
00:18:24.490 --> 00:18:26.580
throughout the whole region.
00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:31.217
So for example, it's as high as 14 CCFs
00:18:32.330 --> 00:18:35.200
in Santa Maria as an average
00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:39.797
and as low as five CCFs in Clearlake.
00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.800
But no matter where you are,
00:18:42.800 --> 00:18:45.740
if you're using more
than an average customer
00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:50.740
in your particular rate
area, then I humbly suggest
00:18:50.990 --> 00:18:53.660
that you should consider
reducing your water usage
00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:56.073
even though you can
afford a rate increase.
00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:01.360
Or if you're looking
for a way of avoiding
00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:03.560
the rate increase altogether,
00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:07.590
you can make calculations
based on cutting your water usage
00:19:07.590 --> 00:19:14.750
by 10, 15 or 20% in year
2022 as compared to 2020
00:19:14.750 --> 00:19:18.220
and using the Fact Sheet,
calculate what you would pay
00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:21.040
under the increased
rates for using less water
00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:22.543
than you had previously used.
00:19:23.677 --> 00:19:25.740
Again, the Commission encourages you
00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.280
to do some water reduction
00:19:27.280 --> 00:19:29.520
given the extreme drought conditions
00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:31.763
that we are facing throughout the state.
00:19:34.510 --> 00:19:36.440
Once you've finished your projections
00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:38.210
you can let us know what you think about
00:19:38.210 --> 00:19:40.280
the proposed rate increase.
00:19:40.280 --> 00:19:41.570
Some of you may conclude
00:19:41.570 --> 00:19:43.700
that you can reduce your water usage
00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:46.410
by enough to avoid any
change in the amount of money
00:19:46.410 --> 00:19:48.540
that you pay for water.
00:19:48.540 --> 00:19:50.570
In that case, you may feel comfortable
00:19:50.570 --> 00:19:53.940
about rates increasing in
order to pay for improvements
00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:56.460
in water quality or service.
00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:58.050
Others of you will be disturbed
00:19:58.050 --> 00:20:01.530
by how difficult it is to
cut your water usage
00:20:01.530 --> 00:20:04.930
and you'll be opposed
to any increases at all.
00:20:04.930 --> 00:20:08.010
The fact of the matter is we
at the Commission wanna hear
00:20:08.010 --> 00:20:09.033
from both of you.
00:20:10.520 --> 00:20:13.120
Now, let me give you
a little bit of background
00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:15.703
on the Public Utilities
Commission in general.
00:20:16.760 --> 00:20:18.650
It's the state agency that decides
00:20:18.650 --> 00:20:21.820
how much money Golden
State Water may earn
00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:24.380
and the rates that will
be included in your bills
00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:27.843
for water service for the
years, 2022 through 2024.
00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:31.680
As I mentioned before
there are five Commissioners
00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.450
who are appointed by the Governor
00:20:33.450 --> 00:20:35.453
and confirmed by the State Senate.
00:20:36.350 --> 00:20:37.990
As the Judge in this proceeding
00:20:37.990 --> 00:20:41.963
what I do is I manage the
day-to-day activities of the case.
00:20:42.870 --> 00:20:45.490
My role also includes
gathering and evaluating
00:20:45.490 --> 00:20:46.880
the evidence in the proceeding
00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.050
for and against the rate increase
00:20:49.050 --> 00:20:52.240
and to write a proposed decision on that
00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.823
based on that evidence.
00:20:54.780 --> 00:20:57.090
The proposed decision
will then be considered
00:20:57.090 --> 00:20:59.130
by the five Commissioners
who will decide
00:20:59.130 --> 00:21:01.010
whether to adopt the decision I write
00:21:01.010 --> 00:21:03.920
or to adopt their own alternate decision
00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:07.130
which also must be based on
the evidence in the proceeding
00:21:07.130 --> 00:21:10.270
and also requires at least three votes
00:21:10.270 --> 00:21:12.173
in order for it to become final.
00:21:13.930 --> 00:21:16.440
The current schedule for
this proceeding indicates
00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.110
that the Commission may
be able to vote on a decision
00:21:19.110 --> 00:21:24.110
by the end of this year and
certainly by sometime in 2022.
00:21:25.850 --> 00:21:27.160
Comments from the public
00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:29.590
like those of you listening here today,
00:21:29.590 --> 00:21:31.320
help the Public Utilities Commission
00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:33.740
reach an informed decision.
00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.140
The Commissioners and
I will pay close attention
00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:39.013
to the opinions expressed
during this public hearing.
00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:42.840
A court reporter is
transcribing everything
00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:46.860
that is said here today,
including your comments.
00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:49.350
If you choose to speak on the record
00:21:49.350 --> 00:21:52.230
which I heartily encourage,
00:21:52.230 --> 00:21:55.490
I ask you to speak slowly and clearly
00:21:55.490 --> 00:21:57.540
so that the reporter
can capture everything
00:21:57.540 --> 00:21:58.623
that you've said.
00:21:59.890 --> 00:22:03.250
Eventually the written
transcript of today's hearing
00:22:03.250 --> 00:22:06.570
will be posted publicly
on the Docket Card
00:22:06.570 --> 00:22:07.653
for this proceeding.
00:22:09.780 --> 00:22:14.730
And you can also, as
you may have realized
00:22:14.730 --> 00:22:17.470
when I was speaking
before about region two
00:22:17.470 --> 00:22:19.860
you can also access a recording
00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:23.793
of today's proceeding
at adminmonitor.com.
00:22:26.210 --> 00:22:28.730
In addition to submitting oral comments,
00:22:28.730 --> 00:22:31.440
written comments on
Golden State's application
00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:36.440
can be submitted to
the Public Comment tab
00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:38.853
on the Docket Card for this proceeding.
00:22:39.950 --> 00:22:43.810
You can get to the Docket
Card and the Public Comment tab
00:22:43.810 --> 00:22:47.507
by connecting to www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph.
00:22:56.050 --> 00:22:57.560
As of today, we've received
00:22:57.560 --> 00:23:00.380
over a hundred written public comments,
00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:02.943
some of them quite extensive.
00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:07.370
Now at this point,
00:23:07.370 --> 00:23:11.250
what I'd like to do is
invite a representative
00:23:11.250 --> 00:23:15.590
of the Public Advisor's
Office to speak to us.
00:23:15.590 --> 00:23:18.850
And after that, we will then
hear from the main parties
00:23:18.850 --> 00:23:20.670
in this proceeding,
00:23:20.670 --> 00:23:24.410
the Water Utility and the
Public Advocate's Office.
00:23:24.410 --> 00:23:28.000
But for right now I'd like
to invite a representative
00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.400
of the Public Advisor's Office
00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:35.400
to make whatever statement
she might want to make
00:23:35.570 --> 00:23:38.440
for those who are listening today.
00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.423
Please go ahead.
00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:43.260
Thank you, Judge
and welcome everyone.
00:23:43.260 --> 00:23:45.860
My name is Juanita Hill
and I am the Supervisor
00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:48.870
in the CPUCs Public Advisor's Office.
00:23:48.870 --> 00:23:52.460
The Public Advisor's Office
assist and advises the public
00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:55.480
with participation in
Commission proceedings.
00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:58.570
First, I wanna thank you
all for participating today.
00:23:58.570 --> 00:24:00.210
As the Judge stated,
00:24:00.210 --> 00:24:03.230
public participation
and input are essential
00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:06.300
to the Commission's
decision making process.
00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:08.570
This is your opportunity to be heard
00:24:08.570 --> 00:24:11.060
and to share your
thoughts on the application
00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:12.810
with the Administrative Law Judge
00:24:12.810 --> 00:24:14.840
in the assigned Commissioner.
00:24:14.840 --> 00:24:16.650
If you have specific questions
00:24:16.650 --> 00:24:19.380
about the application or your service,
00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:22.280
please reach out to the
Public Advisor's Office
00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:26.720
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
00:24:33.990 --> 00:24:37.737
or you can call us at 1 866-849-8390,
00:24:42.710 --> 00:24:44.610
or visit the CPUC
00:24:44.610 --> 00:24:47.970
or the Golden State
Water Company websites
00:24:47.970 --> 00:24:49.253
for more information.
00:24:50.130 --> 00:24:53.040
Second, if you or anyone you know
00:24:53.040 --> 00:24:55.610
is not able to make a comment today,
00:24:55.610 --> 00:24:58.630
as the Judge said, there
are several other ways
00:24:58.630 --> 00:25:00.250
to become involved.
00:25:00.250 --> 00:25:03.910
If you wish to find more
information on becoming a party,
00:25:03.910 --> 00:25:07.610
subscribing to this proceeding
or submitting comments
00:25:07.610 --> 00:25:10.233
via email, the phone or the Docket Card,
00:25:11.435 --> 00:25:14.850
please go to our website
at www.cpuc.ca.gov
00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:24.160
or email the Public Advisor
00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:28.563
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
00:25:34.370 --> 00:25:36.880
All of this information
is also on the notice
00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:40.060
that you received for this
Public Participation Hearing.
00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:42.970
We look forward to your comments today,
00:25:42.970 --> 00:25:44.813
so thank you and back to you, Judge.
00:25:45.970 --> 00:25:47.690
Thank you very much, Ms. Hill.
00:25:47.690 --> 00:25:51.023
I'd like to emphasize
something that Ms. Hill just said,
00:25:54.647 --> 00:25:58.920
if you want to make
some kind of statement
00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:02.890
however it is, in writing or otherwise,
00:26:02.890 --> 00:26:07.760
she is, and her group,
the Public Advisor's group
00:26:07.760 --> 00:26:09.550
is the group to go to.
00:26:09.550 --> 00:26:11.400
In a few minutes you're going to hear
00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:15.240
from the Public Advocate's group,
00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.750
that group is your representative
00:26:17.750 --> 00:26:21.090
in the actual evidentiary hearing
00:26:21.090 --> 00:26:24.330
that will take place later this summer.
00:26:24.330 --> 00:26:27.340
But I don't want you to get confused
00:26:27.340 --> 00:26:28.410
if you're listening to this
00:26:28.410 --> 00:26:30.560
and you do wanna make a comment.
00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:35.560
If you can't manage the
websites or the phone calls,
00:26:36.070 --> 00:26:38.550
forget what the number is,
00:26:38.550 --> 00:26:42.920
just get in contact with
the Public Advisor's Office
00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:46.520
at the CPUC, and they
will be more than happy
00:26:46.520 --> 00:26:50.830
to help you get your
comment into the docket
00:26:50.830 --> 00:26:54.200
or otherwise get you into proceeding
00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:56.300
in some way, shape or fashion.
00:26:56.300 --> 00:26:58.480
They're experts at doing that.
00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:02.420
Okay, now it is time in this evenings.
00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:05.280
I'm sorry, this afternoon's hearing
00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:08.770
for the two parties to speak to you
00:27:08.770 --> 00:27:13.770
so that you get some sense
of what the two viewpoints are
00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:17.720
on this rate case from both the Utility
00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:20.830
and your representative,
namely the Public Advocates.
00:27:20.830 --> 00:27:23.710
So Mr. Switzer, would you start off
00:27:23.710 --> 00:27:25.713
for Golden State Water, please?
00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.373
Yes, I will, thank you, Judge.
00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:33.540
Good afternoon, everybody.
00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:36.220
My name is Keith Switzer,
00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:39.080
I work for Golden State Water Company.
00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:41.620
I am the Vice-president of the company,
00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:46.000
responsible for managing the
regulatory affairs department.
00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.570
My department is responsible
00:27:47.570 --> 00:27:49.950
for filing the General Rate Case,
00:27:49.950 --> 00:27:50.900
which is the subject
00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:54.080
of today's Public Participation Hearing.
00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:57.660
I wanna welcome you to this
virtual hearing, remote hearing,
00:27:57.660 --> 00:28:00.710
and thank all of our customers
who have taken the time
00:28:00.710 --> 00:28:02.750
to join us this afternoon.
00:28:02.750 --> 00:28:04.550
We look forward to hearing from you.
00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:08.200
You just heard Judge Ferguson
provide a general overview
00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.410
of Golden State's application
00:28:10.410 --> 00:28:12.610
and the purpose of today's meeting
00:28:12.610 --> 00:28:16.200
in the Commission's
decision-making process.
00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:18.370
I'm going to take a
few minutes to expand
00:28:18.370 --> 00:28:20.693
on some of the Judge
Ferguson's comments.
00:28:21.890 --> 00:28:24.150
A General Rate Case is the process
00:28:24.150 --> 00:28:27.830
that establishes the
company's overall budget
00:28:27.830 --> 00:28:29.410
or what we more commonly refer to
00:28:29.410 --> 00:28:31.630
as our revenue requirements
00:28:31.630 --> 00:28:34.650
to operate the water system in a manner
00:28:34.650 --> 00:28:36.870
that will allow us to provide safe
00:28:36.870 --> 00:28:38.603
and reliable water service.
00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:42.030
The rate case also establishes the rates
00:28:42.030 --> 00:28:44.550
that we charge for that service.
00:28:44.550 --> 00:28:48.710
The rates are set at a level
that will generate the budget
00:28:48.710 --> 00:28:51.260
or revenue requirement
approved by the Commission
00:28:54.016 --> 00:28:57.500
at the levels of sales or
water usage that occurs
00:28:57.500 --> 00:29:00.100
at the forecasted levels, I'm sorry.
00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:02.350
The General Rate Case process
00:29:02.350 --> 00:29:05.060
is intended to be an open process
00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:08.320
where input from
different parties is welcome
00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:09.920
and encouraged.
00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:13.670
Your participation here this
afternoon is an important part
00:29:13.670 --> 00:29:15.600
of that process.
00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:18.960
As customers of Golden
State Water, you received notice
00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:21.880
that Golden State had filed
its Rate Case Application
00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:23.763
back in July of 2020.
00:29:25.260 --> 00:29:28.010
That application requested changes
00:29:28.010 --> 00:29:31.010
in our revenue requirement and our rates
00:29:31.010 --> 00:29:34.343
to begin January, 2022.
00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:39.090
The Commission's final
decision on our application
00:29:39.090 --> 00:29:43.460
will set our revenue requirement
and the corresponding rates
00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:48.350
for a three-year period,
calendar years, 2022,
00:29:48.350 --> 00:29:51.773
2023, and 2024.
00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:54.150
A quick word about the timing
00:29:54.150 --> 00:29:56.720
of our application is appropriate.
00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:00.180
Golden State Water is obligated by law
00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:02.570
to file a General Rate Case Application
00:30:02.570 --> 00:30:05.010
once every three years.
00:30:05.010 --> 00:30:08.380
The Commission has a
preset schedule that establishes
00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.853
the date of our filing.
00:30:10.730 --> 00:30:14.500
The Commission's filing
schedule enables the Commission
00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:19.110
to process a General Rate
Case once every three years
00:30:19.110 --> 00:30:22.270
for all nine of the large
class A water utilities
00:30:22.270 --> 00:30:23.930
in the state.
00:30:23.930 --> 00:30:25.780
It's a tight schedule
00:30:25.780 --> 00:30:30.400
to process essentially three
different rate cases every year
00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:34.700
which is why the timing of
each application is mandated,
00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:37.600
enabling the Commission
to manage the workload
00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:40.220
of processing these cases.
00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.940
For Golden State Water,
00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:46.140
our last Rate Case Application
was filed in July, 2017
00:30:47.730 --> 00:30:50.070
and the Commission
decision established rates
00:30:50.070 --> 00:30:54.863
for the calendar years,
2019, 2020 and 2021.
00:30:56.060 --> 00:30:59.460
The filing of the rate
case in July of last year
00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:02.880
was the first step in a process
00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:06.130
that will take at least
18 months to complete.
00:31:06.130 --> 00:31:08.240
Once we filed our application,
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.590
the Office of the Public Advocate
00:31:10.590 --> 00:31:14.850
began an eight month process
of reviewing our application,
00:31:14.850 --> 00:31:18.340
conducting discovery and
ultimately issuing a report
00:31:18.340 --> 00:31:21.940
of their own recommendations
and findings to the Commission
00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:25.923
regarding what our 2022
revenue requirements should be.
00:31:26.850 --> 00:31:28.980
The next steps, the possible next steps
00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:33.980
in the process include
settlement negotiations, mediation,
00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:36.380
evidentiary hearings,
00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:39.020
and then ultimately
Judge Ferguson will issue
00:31:39.020 --> 00:31:42.580
a proposed decision that
will resolve all of the issues
00:31:42.580 --> 00:31:44.370
in the application.
00:31:44.370 --> 00:31:47.960
And finally, the five
Commissioners will vote
00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:51.130
either on adopting Judge
Ferguson's proposed decision
00:31:51.130 --> 00:31:53.850
or they could issue an alternate,
00:31:53.850 --> 00:31:56.393
and that will be the
final decision in the case.
00:31:59.110 --> 00:32:00.830
Today's hearing is for customers
00:32:00.830 --> 00:32:03.450
in six different rate making districts
00:32:03.450 --> 00:32:04.943
served by Golden State.
00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:09.440
These six rate making districts
are collectively referred to
00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.853
as our region one district.
00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:15.540
Each of these six rate making districts
00:32:15.540 --> 00:32:18.880
however does have its
own revenue requirement
00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:21.010
and its own set of rates,
00:32:21.010 --> 00:32:23.223
and they're all different
from one another.
00:32:24.150 --> 00:32:28.470
The rates in each rate making
district are based on costs
00:32:28.470 --> 00:32:32.223
that are specific or unique
to that particular district.
00:32:33.520 --> 00:32:35.370
While it would be impractical to address
00:32:35.370 --> 00:32:39.190
the specific reasons for the
revenue requirement changes
00:32:39.190 --> 00:32:42.180
for each of the six separate districts
00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:45.090
in the limited time that we have today,
00:32:45.090 --> 00:32:49.010
I can highlight the fact
that the primary cause
00:32:49.010 --> 00:32:51.210
in each of the six districts
00:32:51.210 --> 00:32:55.060
is the need to invest
in new infrastructure.
00:32:55.060 --> 00:32:59.103
Things like new or
replacement pipelines,
00:32:59.990 --> 00:33:01.520
the ply related projects
00:33:01.520 --> 00:33:05.720
such as new or replacement
wells and treatment facilities
00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:09.053
whether those be new
facilities or upgraded facilities.
00:33:10.150 --> 00:33:14.740
Overall, Golden State has
proposed approximately $50 million
00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.900
of new infrastructure projects
00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.640
in the six rate making districts
00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:22.473
that make up region one
over the next three years.
00:33:23.580 --> 00:33:26.950
And let me elaborate
on that point just a bit.
00:33:26.950 --> 00:33:30.890
As we make those
investments in infrastructure
00:33:30.890 --> 00:33:32.650
we do not recover the full cost
00:33:32.650 --> 00:33:35.090
of the investment right away.
00:33:35.090 --> 00:33:37.750
We fund the investments
with a combination
00:33:37.750 --> 00:33:40.750
of investor money, money that's raised
00:33:40.750 --> 00:33:44.090
through the issuing
of stock to investors
00:33:44.090 --> 00:33:45.270
or borrowed money,
00:33:45.270 --> 00:33:47.673
money that's raised
through issuing bonds.
00:33:48.690 --> 00:33:51.890
Once the investments
and infrastructure are made,
00:33:51.890 --> 00:33:54.580
the cost of those assets are recovered
00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:58.040
in rates over an
extended period of time,
00:33:58.040 --> 00:34:03.040
anywhere from five to 40 years,
depending upon the assets.
00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.640
As those investments are made,
00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:07.720
what gets incorporated into rates
00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:10.360
is not the full cost of the investment
00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:14.290
but rather the
depreciation of those assets
00:34:14.290 --> 00:34:18.310
which is in essence, the
repayment of the investment cost
00:34:18.310 --> 00:34:20.320
and the carrying costs for
the funds that were used
00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:22.240
to finance the investment,
00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:26.420
the interest on the debt and
the dividends to the investors.
00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:29.250
In addition to
infrastructure investments,
00:34:29.250 --> 00:34:33.620
one of the other common
reasons for rate increases
00:34:33.620 --> 00:34:36.700
or cost changes is significant increases
00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:39.690
for water treatment in some districts
00:34:39.690 --> 00:34:43.040
and increasing amounts of purchase water
00:34:43.040 --> 00:34:45.263
and purchase power in some districts.
00:34:46.680 --> 00:34:49.620
If you would like to contact
Golden State Water directly
00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:53.770
with a question during today's
Public Participation Hearing,
00:34:53.770 --> 00:34:57.253
you can do so either
by phone or by email.
00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.810
Golden State has set up
a special call in number
00:35:01.810 --> 00:35:04.380
for customers who would like...
00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:07.410
I'm sorry, for customers
who would like to speak
00:35:07.410 --> 00:35:11.500
to a company representative
about the Rate Case Application.
00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:14.810
That number, which is
shown here on the screen
00:35:14.810 --> 00:35:19.183
is 1-877-288-8816.
00:35:24.510 --> 00:35:27.010
Golden State Water
employees will be standing by
00:35:27.010 --> 00:35:29.523
at that number to
respond to your questions.
00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:33.850
If you prefer to ask
your question by email,
00:35:33.850 --> 00:35:37.080
we also have set up a
special email address,
00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:38.420
specifically for questions
00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:41.310
regarding the Rate Case Application.
00:35:41.310 --> 00:35:46.059
That email address, which
is also shown on the screen is
00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:51.059
2022GRC@gswater.com.
00:35:58.040 --> 00:36:00.490
Before concluding my comments today,
00:36:00.490 --> 00:36:02.460
I wanted to speak to the extraordinary
00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.890
and difficult circumstances
00:36:03.890 --> 00:36:06.870
that we find ourselves in right now.
00:36:06.870 --> 00:36:09.210
I'm very proud to say that
Golden State Water employees
00:36:09.210 --> 00:36:12.710
have been working very
hard throughout the pandemic,
00:36:12.710 --> 00:36:15.340
making sure that you, our customers
00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:18.550
have continued to
receive uninterrupted, safe
00:36:18.550 --> 00:36:21.163
and reliable water
service during this time.
00:36:22.410 --> 00:36:24.440
I also want to share that we recognize
00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:27.690
that many of our customers
are experiencing financial
00:36:27.690 --> 00:36:31.103
and economic hardships
during this pandemic situation.
00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:36.200
Despite the challenges of
the COVID-19 pandemic,
00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:41.200
our customer service team
has remained available 24/7
00:36:41.330 --> 00:36:44.803
to help customers answer
questions and solve problems.
00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:49.290
Golden State has
put in place protections
00:36:49.290 --> 00:36:52.500
to ensure that customers
continue to receive safe
00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.423
and reliable water service.
00:36:55.290 --> 00:36:58.150
Included in our rate case is a provision
00:36:58.150 --> 00:37:00.830
to offer a monthly credit on the bill
00:37:00.830 --> 00:37:04.203
for customers who meet
certain income criteria.
00:37:05.250 --> 00:37:08.666
If you go to our website,
www.gswater.com
00:37:14.050 --> 00:37:15.960
you will find a link on the home page
00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:18.950
for emergency disaster relief program
00:37:18.950 --> 00:37:22.780
and also for low-income
customer assistance programs
00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:25.130
which will describe
the various protections
00:37:25.130 --> 00:37:27.033
and programs that are available.
00:37:28.100 --> 00:37:30.930
With that, I will close
my comments today.
00:37:30.930 --> 00:37:34.390
Again, let me thank you
for taking the time to join
00:37:34.390 --> 00:37:38.060
in today's meeting, and I
look forward to your comments.
00:37:38.060 --> 00:37:40.933
Thank you Judge Ferguson
for this opportunity to speak.
00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:44.550
And thank you, Mr. Switzer.
00:37:44.550 --> 00:37:46.410
Before I turned to Mr. Chan,
00:37:46.410 --> 00:37:51.410
I realized that I omitted mentioning
00:37:52.010 --> 00:37:54.980
when I was describing the Fact Sheets
00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:59.430
that for those of you who
reside in either Los Osos
00:37:59.430 --> 00:38:02.153
or Santa Maria,
00:38:04.650 --> 00:38:09.230
the Fact Sheets are a little
bit more complicated in that,
00:38:09.230 --> 00:38:12.490
we at the Commission
tried to provide you
00:38:12.490 --> 00:38:14.520
with the information
00:38:14.520 --> 00:38:17.500
as to what the rate
structure might look like
00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:19.863
in your particular town,
00:38:21.210 --> 00:38:24.680
if the consolidation were approved
00:38:25.520 --> 00:38:30.120
and if the consolidation
were disapproved.
00:38:30.120 --> 00:38:34.033
So for customers in those two towns,
00:38:35.180 --> 00:38:38.180
you have a little bit more arithmetic
00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:41.700
that you're gonna have to
do in order to kind of assess
00:38:41.700 --> 00:38:44.643
what your future
situation might look like.
00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:49.550
But you do have enough information
00:38:49.550 --> 00:38:51.490
that we've provided in the Fact Sheets,
00:38:51.490 --> 00:38:54.540
so you can make those calculations.
00:38:54.540 --> 00:38:59.250
Okay, so without further
ado, now it's the opportunity
00:38:59.250 --> 00:39:02.730
for you to hear from
your representative,
00:39:02.730 --> 00:39:07.440
the individuals from the
Public Advocate's Office
00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:10.460
who will actually be carrying the ball
00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:13.670
in the evidentiary
hearing on your behalf.
00:39:13.670 --> 00:39:17.163
So Mr. Chan, please, it's
your opportunity to speak.
00:39:19.570 --> 00:39:21.020
Good afternoon, Judge Ferguson
00:39:21.020 --> 00:39:23.220
and thank you for the opportunity
00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:24.823
to speak at this PPH.
00:39:26.610 --> 00:39:29.830
And good afternoon for any public
00:39:29.830 --> 00:39:32.590
that's attending to the PPH.
00:39:32.590 --> 00:39:35.520
I will provide you with a overview
00:39:35.520 --> 00:39:37.890
of our role in this application,
00:39:37.890 --> 00:39:42.070
as well as our major recommendations
00:39:43.050 --> 00:39:44.513
to Golden State's request.
00:39:45.740 --> 00:39:49.640
The Public Advocate's
Office or Cal Advocates
00:39:49.640 --> 00:39:51.110
it's an independent office
00:39:51.110 --> 00:39:54.170
within the California
Public Utilities Commission
00:39:54.170 --> 00:39:57.390
that represents the
interests of rate payers.
00:39:57.390 --> 00:40:01.430
Our statutory mission is to
obtain the lowest possible rates
00:40:01.430 --> 00:40:04.120
for service consistent with reliable
00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:05.393
and rate service level.
00:40:06.970 --> 00:40:10.130
Cal Advocates has a
multidisciplinary staff
00:40:10.130 --> 00:40:13.630
who have expertise in
engineering, economics,
00:40:13.630 --> 00:40:15.413
accounting, and finance.
00:40:16.250 --> 00:40:18.860
Cal Advocate's views do not necessarily
00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:20.683
reflect those of the Commission.
00:40:22.160 --> 00:40:25.930
In February, 2021, Cal
Advocates serve it's testimony
00:40:25.930 --> 00:40:27.370
on Golden State Water Company's
00:40:27.370 --> 00:40:32.370
General Rate Case
Application, number 20-07-012,
00:40:32.410 --> 00:40:35.830
in which Golden State Water
Company request rate increases
00:40:35.830 --> 00:40:38.763
for its regions one, two,
and three service areas.
00:40:40.080 --> 00:40:42.750
Cal Advocate's testimony
presented analysis
00:40:42.750 --> 00:40:45.670
and recommendations
and a wide range of issues,
00:40:45.670 --> 00:40:49.390
including capital
investment, sales, rate design,
00:40:49.390 --> 00:40:53.633
conservation, operating
expenses and tax rates.
00:40:55.040 --> 00:40:57.460
Compared to Golden State
Water Company's requests
00:40:57.460 --> 00:41:02.460
of 11.9% increase for its
entire region one service area,
00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:04.100
Cal Advocates recommend
00:41:04.100 --> 00:41:07.900
that no more than a
2.48% increase in revenue
00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.673
in the average system rates.
00:41:12.847 --> 00:41:15.170
Some of the following recommendations
00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:18.780
can be applied to across the board
00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:21.490
to all the rate making areas.
00:41:21.490 --> 00:41:24.980
These are the significant
and specific recommendations
00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:28.530
provided by the Cal Advocates.
00:41:28.530 --> 00:41:30.480
First, we authorize funding
00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:33.133
for a more moderate
pipeline replacement program.
00:41:35.060 --> 00:41:36.910
We reduce Golden State Water Company's
00:41:36.910 --> 00:41:39.673
proposed salary increase a new position.
00:41:40.650 --> 00:41:44.040
Third, we decrease expenses
and capital investments
00:41:44.040 --> 00:41:46.313
on Golden State Water
Company general office.
00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:49.940
Forth, we remove unfinished projects
00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:52.090
that are not providing
rate payers benefits
00:41:53.316 --> 00:41:56.193
from the opportunity for
the company to earn a return.
00:41:58.070 --> 00:42:02.200
I should also clarify
that the 11.9% increase
00:42:02.200 --> 00:42:04.930
requested by Golden State Water Company
00:42:04.930 --> 00:42:07.930
and the 2.48% increase recommended
00:42:07.930 --> 00:42:09.683
by the Public Advocate's Office
00:42:09.683 --> 00:42:12.000
are for the combined region one,
00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:14.130
six different rate making areas.
00:42:14.130 --> 00:42:16.560
Namely, Arden Cordova, Bay Point,
00:42:16.560 --> 00:42:21.560
Clearlake, Los Osos,
Santa Maria and Simi Valley.
00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:25.270
And for each of these rate making area,
00:42:25.270 --> 00:42:26.730
Golden State Water Company's requested
00:42:26.730 --> 00:42:29.700
a different rate increase
00:42:29.700 --> 00:42:31.620
where as Cal Advocates recommended
00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:32.543
a reduced amount.
00:42:33.410 --> 00:42:35.020
Cal Advocates recommendations
00:42:35.020 --> 00:42:38.350
for this specific rate making area
00:42:38.350 --> 00:42:41.543
can be found in it's surf report.
00:42:42.390 --> 00:42:45.680
And to view Cal Advocates
report you can visit
00:42:45.680 --> 00:42:48.713
www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov,
00:42:54.210 --> 00:42:56.700
and look for the Lang
to Cal Advocate report
00:42:56.700 --> 00:43:00.013
on GSWC 2020 GRC application.
00:43:01.270 --> 00:43:03.420
And with that, I conclude my remarks
00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:05.620
and I look forward to
hearing your comments.
00:43:07.200 --> 00:43:10.570
Thank you, Mr. Chan,
I appreciate that.
00:43:10.570 --> 00:43:15.520
So now you have heard from us
00:43:15.520 --> 00:43:18.940
and the time has come
for us to hear from you,
00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:20.630
which is really important
00:43:20.630 --> 00:43:24.860
because what you're
going to say will be recorded
00:43:24.860 --> 00:43:27.813
and I will be reviewing it,
00:43:28.810 --> 00:43:33.050
the Commissioners
themselves will review it
00:43:33.050 --> 00:43:36.870
and make their decisions as will I
00:43:36.870 --> 00:43:41.120
with your comments
and thoughts in our minds.
00:43:41.120 --> 00:43:43.810
So I highly recommend
00:43:43.810 --> 00:43:48.210
that you speak up here in this hearing.
00:43:48.210 --> 00:43:53.210
The way you do it is you press *1
00:43:53.910 --> 00:43:55.090
on your phone
00:43:55.090 --> 00:43:58.300
and the Operator will put you in line.
00:43:58.300 --> 00:44:01.743
We have both English
and Spanish customers,
00:44:02.790 --> 00:44:05.220
English speaking and
Spanish speaking customers
00:44:05.220 --> 00:44:08.341
listening tonight,
today, this afternoon.
00:44:08.341 --> 00:44:10.033
I'm already ahead of myself.
00:44:11.490 --> 00:44:16.490
And so I will try to alternate
every three speakers,
00:44:17.130 --> 00:44:20.870
I'll go back and forth
between English and Spanish.
00:44:20.870 --> 00:44:23.680
I will allow everybody
a couple of minutes
00:44:24.760 --> 00:44:26.483
to make their comments.
00:44:27.420 --> 00:44:29.900
If you can't make all of your comments
00:44:29.900 --> 00:44:31.360
within the two minutes,
00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:34.880
remember you have a
lot of other alternatives.
00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:38.350
One of which is to put a written comment
00:44:38.350 --> 00:44:40.800
in the actual docket sheet
00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:45.090
and you can get advice from
the Public Advisor's Office
00:44:45.090 --> 00:44:48.440
by calling them or
contacting them by email.
00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:53.440
Or you can review the
video tomorrow or later
00:44:55.560 --> 00:44:56.963
on adminmonitor.com
00:45:01.020 --> 00:45:02.800
and listen to what I had to say
00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:05.650
about the numbers and
what not to contact us
00:45:05.650 --> 00:45:08.450
and put things into the docket sheet.
00:45:08.450 --> 00:45:11.003
So with that,
00:45:11.930 --> 00:45:15.640
I will just simply remind
you, as I said before,
00:45:15.640 --> 00:45:20.640
when you're making your
comments here today on the phone,
00:45:21.510 --> 00:45:22.963
first give us your name,
00:45:23.830 --> 00:45:26.160
then spell your name,
00:45:26.160 --> 00:45:29.790
tell us what city or town you come from.
00:45:29.790 --> 00:45:34.780
As you can understand by
now that's important today
00:45:34.780 --> 00:45:39.780
because each town and
city has its own rate structure.
00:45:39.810 --> 00:45:43.890
So make sure you tell
us where you're residing
00:45:43.890 --> 00:45:47.280
and then give us your
comment, but speak slowly
00:45:47.280 --> 00:45:50.560
because the court reporters
have to take everything down
00:45:50.560 --> 00:45:53.310
and I want them to get it accurately.
00:45:53.310 --> 00:45:56.770
So with that, let me ask the Operator,
00:45:56.770 --> 00:45:59.993
do we have anybody in
the speakers queue as yet?
00:46:00.967 --> 00:46:01.800
Yes, sir.
00:46:01.800 --> 00:46:06.090
We do have a person that
would like to make a comment
00:46:06.090 --> 00:46:07.660
at this time.
Okay.
00:46:07.660 --> 00:46:10.030
English or Spanish?
00:46:10.030 --> 00:46:12.550
That is
the English line.
00:46:12.550 --> 00:46:14.330
Okay, well let's go ahead
00:46:14.330 --> 00:46:16.113
and open the line for that speaker.
00:46:17.270 --> 00:46:18.990
Thank you, sir.
00:46:18.990 --> 00:46:21.490
Our first comment
comes from Peter Bressler,
00:46:21.490 --> 00:46:22.493
your line is open.
00:46:24.090 --> 00:46:26.310
Hello, can you hear me?
00:46:26.310 --> 00:46:28.090
Yes, we can.
00:46:28.090 --> 00:46:28.923
Sound great.
00:46:28.923 --> 00:46:31.340
Okay, my name is Peter Bresler.
00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:33.700
I live in Los Osos, California here.
00:46:33.700 --> 00:46:36.263
I've lived here for about 30 years now.
00:46:37.910 --> 00:46:39.770
Peter, before
you go any further,
00:46:39.770 --> 00:46:43.310
can you spell your
whole name for us slowly?
00:46:43.310 --> 00:46:44.250
Okay, Peter.
00:46:44.250 --> 00:46:46.290
P-E-T-E-R.
00:46:46.290 --> 00:46:50.080
Bresler, B-R-E-S-L-E-R.
00:46:50.080 --> 00:46:54.400
And I reside at 328, Travis
Drive here in Los Osos
00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:57.630
T-R-A-V-I-S, Drive, 93402.
00:46:57.630 --> 00:47:00.230
I've been here since 1991.
00:47:00.230 --> 00:47:02.320
Obviously I've been a customer
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:06.370
of Golden State ever since
they took over the system here
00:47:06.370 --> 00:47:10.593
which previously had a different owner.
00:47:11.630 --> 00:47:14.350
So should I go ahead
with my comments then?
00:47:14.350 --> 00:47:15.980
Yes, go ahead.
00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:18.210
All right, well,
here in Los Osos,
00:47:18.210 --> 00:47:21.333
Golden State Water rates
are already exorbitant.
00:47:23.480 --> 00:47:25.790
I know in the last five years rates here
00:47:25.790 --> 00:47:28.300
have approximately tripled.
00:47:28.300 --> 00:47:31.100
Golden State has asked for 50%
00:47:31.100 --> 00:47:34.050
and a 100% rate increases here.
00:47:34.050 --> 00:47:38.410
The rates already are
in excess of $20 a unit
00:47:38.410 --> 00:47:41.433
which you know is you
said are about 700 gallons.
00:47:42.380 --> 00:47:44.347
A low water bill here is about...
00:47:44.347 --> 00:47:47.597
(bright ambient music)
00:48:13.590 --> 00:48:16.140
Okay, Carly,
are you ready to go back
00:48:16.140 --> 00:48:17.023
on the record?
00:48:18.340 --> 00:48:20.270
Yes Judge, thank you.
00:48:20.270 --> 00:48:22.760
Okay, all right.
00:48:22.760 --> 00:48:25.513
It's now 2:30, let's
go back on the record.
00:48:27.270 --> 00:48:32.270
It's 2:30 PM and we have
been in a 12 minute recess.
00:48:34.760 --> 00:48:36.360
Will the Operator please tell me
00:48:36.360 --> 00:48:39.883
whether or not we have
anybody in the speaker's queue?
00:48:42.980 --> 00:48:44.430
Sir, I am sorry,
00:48:45.334 --> 00:48:47.030
no comments at this time,
00:48:47.030 --> 00:48:49.043
either on the English or Spanish side.
00:48:50.490 --> 00:48:53.220
Okay, then if that's the case
00:48:53.220 --> 00:48:55.630
I wanna thank everybody who participated
00:48:55.630 --> 00:49:00.630
in this Public Participation
Hearing this afternoon.
00:49:01.200 --> 00:49:04.490
We will have another
one beginning at 6:30
00:49:04.490 --> 00:49:07.343
for the public this evening.
00:49:08.940 --> 00:49:13.900
If you would like to
provide a written comment
00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:17.480
then, as I've said before,
and others have said
00:49:17.480 --> 00:49:21.460
what you have to do is go
to the Commission's website
00:49:21.460 --> 00:49:26.020
www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph
00:49:30.330 --> 00:49:33.297
and look for proceeding A20-07-012.
00:49:38.470 --> 00:49:40.420
Click on that link
00:49:40.420 --> 00:49:44.020
and you'll see the Docket
Card for this proceeding
00:49:44.020 --> 00:49:47.200
and then click on the Public Comment tab
00:49:48.190 --> 00:49:50.910
and you'll be able to
leave your comment.
00:49:50.910 --> 00:49:52.540
If you have trouble doing that
00:49:52.540 --> 00:49:56.850
you can always contact
the Public Advisor's Office
00:49:56.850 --> 00:50:01.850
and their email
address is public.advisor.
00:50:01.930 --> 00:50:06.007
A-D-V-I-S-O-R @cpuc.ca.gov.
00:50:09.650 --> 00:50:11.240
So that will conclude
00:50:11.240 --> 00:50:14.420
this afternoon's Public
Participation Hearing
00:50:14.420 --> 00:50:16.280
and we'll go off the record now.
00:50:16.280 --> 00:50:17.543
Thank you very much.