WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.850 Brought to you by adminmonitor.com, will begin 00:00:02.850 --> 00:00:08.380 momentarily. Thank you for your patience. 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:11.070 Welcome to the Public Participation Hearing, where we 00:00:11.070 --> 00:00:14.369 will take public input on the Ponderosa Telephone Companies 00:00:14.380 --> 00:00:17.699 General Rate Case Application. On this day Wednesday, 00:00:17.710 --> 00:00:23.690 February 8, 2023. Your Honor you may begin. 00:00:23.690 --> 00:00:29.140 Thank you very much. Court Reporters, please confirm that 00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:33.609 you hear me and we are ready. 00:00:33.609 --> 00:00:38.340 Yes Judge, I hear you and we are ready. Thank you. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:42.549 We will now be on the record. The Commission will come 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:48.329 to order. Good evening. This is the time and place 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:53.049 for the Public Participation Hearing pertaining to 00:00:53.060 --> 00:01:03.289 Application 22-10-004. The application of the Ponderosa 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:08.269 Telephone Company to modify intrastate revenue 00:01:08.269 --> 00:01:14.239 requirement and rate design, and adjust selected rates. 00:01:16.370 --> 00:01:20.909 I am Marjorie L. Melvin, the assigned Administrative 00:01:20.909 --> 00:01:25.969 Law Judge for this proceeding. We are joined by the 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:30.769 Honorable Darcie Houck, who is the assigned Commissioner 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.739 for this proceeding. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:38.480 To those listening in that wish to speak, please call 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:48.629 the number on your screen. Which is 1-800-857-1917 and 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:58.959 input passcode: 1767567#, and then press *1 on 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:04.359 your phone to be placed in line. After pressing *1, 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:10.030 you will be prompted for your name. Please also 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:15.949 add if you are an elected official. You may decide 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:20.460 at any time before we end the forum to speak, simply 00:02:20.469 --> 00:02:26.259 by *1. The purpose of this evening's 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:31.590 hearing is to hear directly from the public about Ponderosa's 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:37.710 Application for a General Rate Increase. 00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:41.550 If you have a specific question regarding your bill 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:47.050 or service, we have a Ponderosa customer service representative 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:52.189 Cindy Callaway. Available on a separate line throughout 00:02:52.199 --> 00:03:02.620 the hearing. The number to call is area code 559-868- 00:03:03.590 --> 00:03:12.300 6311. And the same number is also displayed on the 00:03:12.310 --> 00:03:18.520 video slide. The Public Utilities Commission has 5 00:03:18.530 --> 00:03:22.379 Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor and 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:26.879 confirmed by the State Senate, including Commissioner 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.550 Houck. My responsibility is to manage the day-to-day 00:03:32.550 --> 00:03:37.099 activities of the case. And to help Commissioner Houck 00:03:37.110 --> 00:03:41.240 evaluate all of the evidence in the proceedings, including 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:46.340 your input. My job as the Administrative Law Judge 00:03:46.349 --> 00:03:49.830 is to evaluate the evidence in the proceeding, and to 00:03:49.830 --> 00:03:56.620 write a proposed decision based on that evidence. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:59.979 The five Commissioners are ultimately the ones who 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:04.550 will decide and vote on whether or not to grant Ponderosa's 00:04:04.569 --> 00:04:09.939 Application for a General Rate increase. 00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:14.270 Each piece of information on which we base our decision 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:19.009 is listed and available for you to review on a Commission 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:25.410 webpage, we call the docket card. In fact, your comments 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:29.610 this evening will also be listed and published on the 00:04:29.610 --> 00:04:34.019 docket card. Because our court reporters are transcribing 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:38.230 this evening's hearing, taking down everything that is 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:43.670 said. If an expedited transcript is ordered, it will 00:04:43.670 --> 00:04:48.370 be available 5 business days from the date of the 00:04:48.370 --> 00:04:50.660 hearing. 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:56.079 Non-expedited transcripts will be available 8 weeks 00:04:56.089 --> 00:04:59.459 from the date of the hearing. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:02.569 I thank you for spending your time with us this evening, 00:05:02.569 --> 00:05:06.769 to share your thoughts on Ponderosa's Application 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:11.810 for a General Rate Increase, Increase or perhaps just 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.899 to listen. The Commissioner and I will be paying close 00:05:15.899 --> 00:05:19.699 attention to what you say. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:23.959 This evening is not your only opportunity to share 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:27.800 your thoughts on Ponderosa's Application for a General 00:05:27.810 --> 00:05:33.069 Rate Increase. We accept written public comments through 00:05:33.069 --> 00:05:37.490 a form on our website, the public comments section 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:42.379 of the docket card. To accept, to access the docket 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:46.379 card, go to the Commission's website. Scroll down 00:05:46.389 --> 00:05:50.509 to the bottom of the page, then click on Proceedings 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:56.430 and Rulemaking. Then click on docket card, and then 00:05:56.430 --> 00:06:01.790 type A22 00:06:01.790 --> 00:06:11.079 10004, and click Search. When you land on the Proceedings 00:06:11.089 --> 00:06:18.500 page, then click on the Add Public Comment button. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:23.639 Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID and the Flu, 00:06:23.649 --> 00:06:27.180 as well as the positive public response to virtual 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:31.189 hearings. We have received from customers that, that 00:06:31.189 --> 00:06:35.339 virtual hearings are more convenient and easier, easier 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:40.709 to attend. We are continuing that format here. The 00:06:40.709 --> 00:06:46.629 basic purpose of this evening's hearing is to hear directly 00:06:46.629 --> 00:06:50.569 from Ponderosa's customers, and members of the public 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:55.449 about this particular application. Again, we are very 00:06:55.449 --> 00:06:58.579 appreciative that you have joined us this evening. 00:06:59.149 --> 00:07:04.420 Now we will hear from Commissioner Houck. 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:08.110 Thank you Judge Melvin. Good evening everyone. Um, as 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:10.860 the Judge indicated, my name is Darcie Houck and I'm the 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:14.129 assigned Commissioner for this General Rate Case. I'd 00:07:14.129 --> 00:07:17.060 like to thank everyone for attending the Public Participation 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:19.550 Hearing this evening. The Commission's decisions are 00:07:19.550 --> 00:07:22.209 made better with public input from Californians, such 00:07:22.209 --> 00:07:25.089 as yourselves. We're here this evening to hear from 00:07:25.089 --> 00:07:27.839 all of you regarding your issues and experiences, as 00:07:27.850 --> 00:07:31.199 customers of Ponderosa Telephone Company. At a high 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.750 level, these issues may include the rates you pay for 00:07:33.750 --> 00:07:37.329 Ponderosa service. As well as the quality or reliability 00:07:37.329 --> 00:07:41.110 of the services you receive. Ponderosa's revenue requirement 00:07:41.110 --> 00:07:44.589 is subsidized by state funds referred to as the California 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:48.100 High Cost Fund-A. We at the Commission are charged 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:51.649 with ensuring Ponderosa's customers have access to affordable 00:07:51.649 --> 00:07:54.920 safe and reliable telephone service. And while ensuring 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:57.579 that the burden on the High Cost Fund is not excessive. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:00.750 I appreciate the Staff and parties here today, that 00:08:00.750 --> 00:08:03.050 will help ensure the Commission has information it 00:08:03.050 --> 00:08:06.459 needs to make these important determinations. Again, 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:09.490 thank you as the public for being here this evening. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:12.290 I'm also interested to hear from members of the public 00:08:12.290 --> 00:08:15.680 regarding, how we should address any requests for broadband 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:17.949 infrastructure build out? And whether we should take 00:08:17.949 --> 00:08:20.819 into account whether an affordable broadband plan is 00:08:20.829 --> 00:08:24.279 offered when evaluating requests? I'd like to also 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:27.560 thank everyone that made today's meeting possible. Including 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.199 our Public Advisor's Office Staff, our dedicated IT 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:33.379 professionals. Our excellent court reporters, Carly 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:36.799 Powers and Andrea Ross, and last but certainly not least. 00:08:36.809 --> 00:08:38.950 I want to thank Judge Melvin for her management of 00:08:38.950 --> 00:08:41.679 the proceeding in our event this evening. And with that, 00:08:41.690 --> 00:08:45.409 we'll turn it back to the Judge. 00:08:45.409 --> 00:08:49.080 Thank you very much Commissioner Houck. We now turn 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.759 to the public. If you want to speak and have not already 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:57.840 done so, please press *1 on your phone now. And 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:02.120 the, and the operator will add you to the queue of speakers. 00:09:02.129 --> 00:09:06.429 Operator, how many individuals are in the queue? Your 00:09:06.429 --> 00:09:11.860 Honor, we currently have one public comment. 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:15.379 Thank you. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:19.929 If you do speak, we ask that you speak slowly and clearly. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:23.370 So that the reporter is able to capture everything 00:09:23.370 --> 00:09:27.750 that is said. We ask that you state and spell your 00:09:27.750 --> 00:09:31.610 name, and if you like the city you are calling from. 00:09:32.230 --> 00:09:35.669 You may decide at any time before we end the forum 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:41.049 to speak, simply by pressing *1. 00:09:41.049 --> 00:09:48.289 To help ensure that we hear from everyone. At this time, 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:53.149 we will limit, well I will not place any limits right 00:09:53.149 --> 00:09:59.240 now. As there is only one caller in the queue. Should 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:05.929 additional callers join the queue, then I may place 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:13.639 a time limit on these length of your comments. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:20.710 With that, I would like to begin by taking comments. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:25.309 But before I do that, let me also again provide the 00:10:25.309 --> 00:10:34.259 number for callers to call, as well as the input passcode. 00:10:34.269 --> 00:10:39.179 So again to call and provide comments, you may call 00:10:39.190 --> 00:10:55.769 1-800-857-1917, and enter the passcode which is 1767567#. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:01.820 Thank you. 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:07.269 Operator, would you please proceed to the first speaker 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:11.730 in the queue. Thank you. Our, our first public comment 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:15.649 comes from Tom Wheeler, Norfolk resident. Excuse me, 00:11:15.649 --> 00:11:19.830 North Fork resident. Tom, your line is open. Thank 00:11:19.830 --> 00:11:26.809 you. And uh, you got that right, North Fork. It's uh, 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:31.830 my name is Tom, T. O. M. Wheeler, W. H. E. E. L. 00:11:31.830 --> 00:11:37.690 E. R. And I the uh, Supervisor for Madera County in 00:11:37.690 --> 00:11:41.419 this District 5 for the last 16 years. And I've 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:47.080 lived up here since 1959. And I've had this phone number 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:51.679 not just on myself, but my 00:11:51.679 --> 00:12:01.070 dog, sorry. My uh, phone number to Ponderosa is 559-877-2222, 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:05.769 and I've had it since 1964. 00:12:05.769 --> 00:12:09.509 And uh, I appreciate you having this hearing. The public 00:12:09.509 --> 00:12:12.710 I hope there's more people coming on. I was at the 00:12:12.710 --> 00:12:16.379 last one 5 or 6 years ago when you had it. I was in- 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:20.000 person there at that one. And I always have concerns 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.500 with our citizens of uh, high cost of anything, especially 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:30.039 utilities. Willie, Willie shut up! 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:38.110 Sorry about that. Um I've uh, representing everybody 00:12:38.110 --> 00:12:41.370 up here for these last 16 years as the County Supervisor. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:46.779 Uh, I really got to see the 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:50.710 low income, that community like North Fork and O'Neals 00:12:50.710 --> 00:12:55.909 and Bass Lake (inaudible). And uh, anytime that we can have hearings 00:12:55.909 --> 00:13:00.559 like this. To try to keep the cost of telephones, you 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:04.480 know, electric or anything else down. That's always 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.779 been my goal as a Supervisor, and that's just a person 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:13.789 citizen in North Fork. I uh, I'm very lucky. I worked on a 00:13:13.789 --> 00:13:18.179 cattle ranch in North Fork for 41 years. And before 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:21.750 I retired and decided to become a politician. Which 00:13:21.750 --> 00:13:24.590 I never did call myself a politician. I was just a 00:13:24.590 --> 00:13:27.110 rancher. I wanted to try to make Madera County a better 00:13:27.110 --> 00:13:31.750 place to work, live and play. Uh, and one of the things 00:13:31.750 --> 00:13:35.370 that I really worked on was lowering fees for building 00:13:35.370 --> 00:13:40.659 permits, uh lot line adjustment, partial maps, anything 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:44.250 you can think of. To try to make Madera County grow, 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:48.539 especially in the Eastern Madera County, which Ponderosa Telephone 00:13:48.549 --> 00:13:51.769 uh represents. 00:13:51.769 --> 00:13:54.799 I think they've done a great job in the old days. I 00:13:54.799 --> 00:14:00.480 remember one time uh, it was in probably the 70's. Uh, 00:14:00.490 --> 00:14:02.909 phone service wasn't the best. There was always a lot 00:14:02.909 --> 00:14:05.960 of, any time we had bad weather. We had a lot of 00:14:05.970 --> 00:14:10.059 uh, phones that'd be really a lot of static. Uh, that'd just 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:13.240 quit or what have you. I remember calling Bob Bigelow 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:17.240 one time at 2 in the morning. Because I got a call 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.429 from one of my relatives out of state. And uh, it was 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:25.149 so bad, that the static that I called him. And I, and because they 00:14:25.149 --> 00:14:30.009 couldn't find it for months, the static. So when I called 00:14:30.009 --> 00:14:34.299 him at 2 in the morning. And I said Bob, he could barely hear 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:36.649 me. I said this is Tom Wheeler, I hope you can hear 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:40.759 the static on the phone now. And uh, they got it fixed 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:44.399 within a couple of weeks. But uh, they've always been 00:14:44.409 --> 00:14:48.070 really great service. They've always done that up here 00:14:48.070 --> 00:14:52.649 for many, many, many, many years. And uh, whatever we can 00:14:52.649 --> 00:14:56.710 do to keep these rates lowered for our public. We got 00:14:56.710 --> 00:15:01.039 a lot of American Indians, the Mono Tribe and Chukchansi that live here 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:09.129 in Madera County. And uh, they a lot of poor people. Even 00:15:09.129 --> 00:15:13.720 like myself and my family is very poor. And uh, anytime 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:19.090 we can keep the rates as is or lower. I'm for that, 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:23.610 to do that. So I'm just hoping this Commission uh, really 00:15:23.610 --> 00:15:28.769 takes that in consideration of the area we live in. And 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:35.049 uh, uh keep the rates as low as we can. I've helped uh, 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:38.379 Mono Tribe with a lot of their new buildings up here. 00:15:38.389 --> 00:15:43.000 Like the ones I, I guess you're over at the uh, the 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:48.220 Community Center for live. And I've been trying to be 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.899 there tonight, but I just couldn't make it. So I thought 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:55.490 I'd do this call in. But we helped them many times and 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:58.990 you had time when you first got here. Right above the 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.529 Community Center there, they're building some great 00:16:01.529 --> 00:16:04.419 apartment. They've already built some. That I helped 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:07.759 them get there right away for the, for the utilities 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.419 even from a neighbor. That really didn't want to participate 00:16:11.429 --> 00:16:14.919 with them. And it took me a couple of 3 months 00:16:14.929 --> 00:16:19.330 negotiating with them with the family, a man and a 00:16:19.330 --> 00:16:22.750 woman. To uh, get the right away so they could have 00:16:22.750 --> 00:16:27.379 utilities. And an escape route that the State requires 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:32.669 on any kind of uh, division of land anymore. And uh, 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:35.690 so we did get that, that just happened about two years 00:16:35.690 --> 00:16:40.769 ago actually. And uh, maybe 2 1/2, and so they're building 00:16:40.769 --> 00:16:45.789 now. And up there and they uh, I try to help them all 00:16:45.789 --> 00:16:48.970 we can. And this is a prime example of what we really 00:16:48.970 --> 00:16:52.370 want to try to keep their rates down. That they can 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:57.629 afford to have a phone, especially for emergency. You 00:16:57.629 --> 00:17:00.509 know, it's really important up here, so in the mountains 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.610 with fires. I don't know if you realize, but last Summer 00:17:03.610 --> 00:17:08.619 we lost 21 homes. And probably approximately half of 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:14.819 them were uh, Tribal members homes. And uh, uh that 00:17:14.829 --> 00:17:18.450 fire went through so fast. And they wouldn't have phones getting 00:17:18.450 --> 00:17:21.890 ahold of the people. Uh, we probably would have lost 00:17:21.890 --> 00:17:26.700 so lives, luckily we didn't. And uh, it uh one of the 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:31.180 reasons is because two things. The County, since I've 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:34.509 been elected, we started a 311 number. That you can 00:17:34.509 --> 00:17:37.750 call the County and always have, to get ahold of somebody. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.410 As long as you're calling in Madera County, from Madera 00:17:40.410 --> 00:17:45.289 County. And then we got our emergency response telephone 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:48.450 system, that our sheriff. When that fire stuff, they 00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:51.500 can draw a line around the area, where that needs to 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:55.390 have evacuations and stuff. And they can call every 00:17:55.390 --> 00:18:00.299 person in that area. And that's what we did at the Fork 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:04.160 Fire, they call that uh, Summer. That they got ahold of 00:18:04.170 --> 00:18:07.490 everybody almost instantly when the fire broke out, 00:18:07.690 --> 00:18:11.799 and it saved lots of lives. And if those people didn't 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:14.950 have their phone, we might have lost some lives. So 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:20.170 whatever we can do to keep these uh, prices down. I 00:18:20.170 --> 00:18:25.549 would thank you, thank you, thank you. And that's all 00:18:25.549 --> 00:18:28.660 I can think of right now. Uh, you got any questions 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:34.230 of me? Please feel free to ask me. 00:18:34.230 --> 00:18:38.400 Thank you very much for joining us this evening, Supervisor 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:43.250 Wheeler and thank you for your comments. 00:18:43.250 --> 00:18:49.069 Operator, um is there anyone else in the queue? There 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:52.319 is. We have a few more, a few more public comments. 00:18:52.329 --> 00:18:55.319 Our next public comment comes from Kathy Hilton, Beasore 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:59.960 Meadows. Your line is open. And let me say before Ms. Hilton 00:19:00.430 --> 00:19:04.180 begins. We are going to place a 3 minute time limit 00:19:04.190 --> 00:19:09.170 on each commenters, uh comments. So, 3 minutes and 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:13.730 a time will be sounded when the minute is up. We will 00:19:13.730 --> 00:19:17.000 be able to hear you most clearly, if you speak directly 00:19:17.009 --> 00:19:22.990 into your phone or headset. Thank you. 00:19:22.990 --> 00:19:26.829 Caller, you may begin. Good evening. My name is Kathy 00:19:26.829 --> 00:19:30.859 Hilton and I grew up in North Fork. And when we first 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:34.839 got our phone lines, we had party lines. And that was 00:19:34.849 --> 00:19:37.970 back, Mom and I kind of figured probably in the 60's 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:41.930 sometime. Have dealt with Ponderosa the entire time. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:45.250 Um, they've always had excellent, excellent customer 00:19:45.250 --> 00:19:49.349 service. And most recently, was their project where they 00:19:49.349 --> 00:19:54.250 put landlines and DSL lines in the Beasore Meadows 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:58.500 subdivision and surrounding area up there. Um, we have 00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:02.190 never had phone service up there. Other than perhaps 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:05.109 driving 5 miles out to get a cell phone connection. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:09.880 So having these phones up there is awesome. Um, the 00:20:09.890 --> 00:20:14.829 fact that Ponderosa is has been so grateful in getting 00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:19.299 us all hooked up. And um, their communication with 00:20:19.309 --> 00:20:22.880 the cabin owners has been great. Many, many, many of 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:27.720 us have subscribed to not only the the telephone, but 00:20:27.730 --> 00:20:33.069 the DSL service as well. And we're looking forward to 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:35.440 having that because it just got hooked up, but kind 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:39.200 of the end of last season. So um, I think we only 00:20:39.210 --> 00:20:42.609 had a month before we closed up our cabin for the season. 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:46.660 So, but what we have had has been great. We have been 00:20:46.670 --> 00:20:50.440 assured that yes we can turn it off seasonally. For 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.119 us it's great, because Mom and I don't go up there 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:56.119 in the snowy Winter time. But there's many others that 00:20:56.119 --> 00:21:01.150 do. Um, I think they had a problem a couple of weeks 00:21:01.150 --> 00:21:04.450 ago, but it was fixed quickly. Um, we currently have 00:21:04.450 --> 00:21:08.220 about 14 ft of snow up there. So, you know, if somebody 00:21:08.230 --> 00:21:12.539 is in an emergency and needs to use a phone. That will 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:16.890 be fantastic. Because we used to have one cabin owner 00:21:16.890 --> 00:21:20.220 that had a satellite phone. And that was what we had 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:23.599 to use in case of emergency. And so all of us having 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:28.200 phones up there now is awesome. Um, we appreciate it 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:31.609 and we really appreciate them keeping the cost down 00:21:31.609 --> 00:21:34.869 for us. So if they can keep doing that, we really want 00:21:34.869 --> 00:21:38.990 them to do that. And I will tell you that um, the 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:43.230 entire Ponderosa family, starting at the very, very 00:21:43.230 --> 00:21:47.920 top. President and um, family all the way down through 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:52.119 all. They are awesome, awesome people. They give back 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:57.029 to the community a lot. Both in physical time, but also 00:21:57.029 --> 00:22:03.220 in money, and um staff support. And so, you know, we 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:06.940 appreciate the local guy. So if you guys can help out 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:10.539 the local guy, and the local guy can help us out. We 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:14.190 are thrilled to death with that. So thank you very 00:22:14.190 --> 00:22:18.029 much Ponderosa. I certainly appreciate your many, many 00:22:18.029 --> 00:22:22.259 many, many years of service to our mountain community. 00:22:22.269 --> 00:22:26.599 And keeping us safe with emergency notifications and 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:29.890 all of that. And so we really appreciate it and we thank 00:22:29.890 --> 00:22:33.140 you very much. 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:37.099 Thank you very much Miss Meadows for your comments. Operator, 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:42.259 please announce the next commenter. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:46.779 Our next comment comes from Joseph Wilder from Coarsegold, California. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:50.480 Joseph, your line is open. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.930 Good evening, Your Honor and members of the Commission. 00:22:52.930 --> 00:22:55.559 My name is Joseph Wilder. I work for the Madera County 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:58.569 Sheriff's Office. I am the County Emergency Manager. 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:01.720 I would just like to take a moment and highlight Ponderosa's 00:23:01.730 --> 00:23:06.049 participation with us and public safety. Ponderosa 00:23:06.049 --> 00:23:09.200 has been a great company to work with, they are engaging 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:13.269 with us. And trying to find innovative ways to expand 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:16.220 service not only to the public, but to law enforcement 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:20.930 and fire. Many of the areas that Ponderosa does serve, 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:24.609 do not have cell phone service. Which hinders some of 00:23:24.609 --> 00:23:27.339 our response efforts. And Ponderosa is always working 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:30.849 to assist us in being more effective with responding 00:23:30.849 --> 00:23:35.089 to incidents and disasters. During the recent flood 00:23:35.089 --> 00:23:38.630 issues we've had, Ponderosa was able to get us access 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:42.630 to a facility near a location that constantly floods. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:46.740 And providing us with access for to place cameras and 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:50.670 things like that. To observe and monitor the creek levels. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:55.069 Um with no, no question from them. They are, their 00:23:55.069 --> 00:23:59.230 support is unwavering. And to uh, tag on the prior comments 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:03.299 by the prior resident of Beasore Meadows. I am also 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:05.569 the Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Department. 00:24:05.569 --> 00:24:09.880 And responses into the back country are complicated 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:14.369 for us. Uh, with no cell phone service and just places 00:24:14.369 --> 00:24:17.440 where people are infrequently at, and finding out about 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:20.460 emergencies late. Um, but the expanded service that 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:22.940 Ponderosa was able to provide to Beasore Meadows. 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:26.920 We did have a snow rescue two weeks ago which allowed 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:29.839 us to get real time information about what was occurring. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:32.470 And allowed our crews to safely deploy with our snowcat. 00:24:32.470 --> 00:24:36.720 To affect a rescue of those folks who were unprepared 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.990 for the snow level that was up there. I just want the 00:24:39.990 --> 00:24:42.609 Commission just to realize. That the Ponderosa Telephone 00:24:42.609 --> 00:24:46.839 is a willing participant in always able to assist where 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:49.769 they can to the local law enforcement and fire. Thank you 00:24:49.769 --> 00:24:53.319 very much. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:56.990 Thank you very much Joseph Wilder. And thank you for 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:02.170 joining us today. Um Operator, please announce the 00:25:02.170 --> 00:25:06.000 next commenter. Thank you. Our next comment comes from 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.079 Sean Beatty. He's an attorney for Ponderosa Telephone. 00:25:09.089 --> 00:25:13.950 Sean, your line is open. Thank you. Your Honor, Sean Beatty 00:25:13.950 --> 00:25:18.579 here. First name Sean, S. E. A. N. Last name's Beatty, 00:25:18.589 --> 00:25:23.119 B. E. A. T. T. Y. And uh, I understand we're not 00:25:23.130 --> 00:25:27.279 permitted to present. However, I did have concern in 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:31.349 the way that you described Ponderosa's Application. 00:25:31.349 --> 00:25:34.250 And given that this is on the record and Commissioner 00:25:34.250 --> 00:25:37.380 Houck is here as well. I just wanted to make sure that 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:40.630 it's absolutely clear that Ponderosa's Application 00:25:40.630 --> 00:25:46.079 is not seeking a General Rate Increase. In fact, Ponderosa 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:50.500 has not proposed to increase rates. And I noticed in 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:54.569 your introduction that um, more than once you had described 00:25:54.569 --> 00:25:58.720 the Application as one for a General Rate Increase. 00:25:58.730 --> 00:26:02.130 I just want to make it absolutely clear that Ponderosa 00:26:02.130 --> 00:26:05.859 is not seeking a rate increase. That this filing is 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:11.359 merely a General Rate Case for Review of the Revenue 00:26:11.369 --> 00:26:15.210 Requirement and Rate Design. And all the other elements 00:26:15.210 --> 00:26:18.160 that go into a General Rate Case. And that's all I had 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:22.890 to say, apologize for intervening. 00:26:22.890 --> 00:26:28.599 Sean Beatty, thank you for your comments. Uh Operator, please 00:26:28.609 --> 00:26:32.819 announce the next commenter. If you'd like to make 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:35.950 a public comment, please press *1. Unmute your 00:26:35.950 --> 00:26:38.900 phone and clearly state your name and location for 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:41.400 public comment introduction. If you'd like to retract 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:44.579 your public comment, please press *2, one moment. 00:27:02.029 --> 00:27:04.339 I currently have no additional public comments at this 00:27:04.349 --> 00:27:12.339 time. 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:15.480 Thank you operator. At this time I'd like to take a 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:22.609 short uh, 5 minute break. Uh, to allow for any additional 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:27.450 speakers who might join us. So at this time we will 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:30.579 go off the record and take a 5 minute break. Thank 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:37.789 you. 00:27:37.789 --> 00:27:41.839 On record. 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:48.099 Operator, how many people, how many speakers in the 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:52.700 queue? Your Honor, we currently have no additional public 00:27:52.710 --> 00:28:11.390 comments at this time. 00:28:11.390 --> 00:28:16.809 That concludes all the speakers who signed up to speak. 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:22.240 If anyone would like to provide additional input or 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:27.359 comments after this hearing. You may submit written 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:31.180 comments on the docket card for this proceeding. 00:28:31.809 --> 00:28:36.220 Which can be found on the Commission's website at 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:48.220 apps.cpuc.ca. 00:28:48.230 --> 00:29:00.690 gov/c/A2210004 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:08.690 If you need assistance with providing additional 00:29:08.690 --> 00:29:14.769 comments, please contact the Commission Public Advisor's 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:25.730 Office at cpuc.ca.gov/ 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:30.680 pph/. Commissioner Houck, would you like to 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:34.730 add any additional comments? I just wanted to thank 00:29:34.730 --> 00:29:37.269 everyone that took their time to provide comments this 00:29:37.269 --> 00:29:40.289 evening, and thank our Staff. Thank you Judge Melvin, 00:29:40.289 --> 00:29:44.069 our court reporters and IT support. Um, for making tonight's 00:29:44.069 --> 00:29:47.450 hearing possible. So thank you. 00:29:47.450 --> 00:29:51.470 Thank you Commissioner Houck. That concludes this evening's 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:54.869 Public Participation Hearing. Thank you all for your 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:59.589 input and comments. We are adjourned and will be off 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:04.619 the record. Thank you. This concludes today's conference.