WEBVTT 00:00:01.308 --> 00:00:04.030 My name is amid noon and I am the assigned administrative 00:00:04.038 --> 00:00:07.179 law judge to this proceeding. The assigned commissioner 00:00:07.190 --> 00:00:09.679 is Commissioner Darcy Hauck. Commissioner Hauck is 00:00:09.689 --> 00:00:12.038 not on the line with us this evening, but she will 00:00:12.050 --> 00:00:15.140 be reviewing the transcript for this evening's hearing 00:00:15.148 --> 00:00:18.329 and I will be conveying the feedback that we have received 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:23.329 in my meeting with her. 00:00:23.329 --> 00:00:26.269 Let's be on the record. 00:00:26.269 --> 00:00:28.350 The purpose of today's hearing is for the commission 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:30.850 to hear from Golden State Water Company customers and 00:00:30.859 --> 00:00:34.109 members of the public about this application. I'll 00:00:34.118 --> 00:00:36.899 begin by providing some background on the California 00:00:36.908 --> 00:00:39.728 Public Utilities Commission and the general rate case 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:44.548 application if you're participating this evening and 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.728 would like to provide public comment, please press 00:00:47.740 --> 00:00:51.639 star one on your phone and the operator will begin 00:00:51.649 --> 00:00:55.098 to queue public speakers. Now, for some background 00:00:55.109 --> 00:00:58.560 on the California Public Utilities Commission. The 00:00:58.569 --> 00:01:01.719 California Public Utilities Commission is the state 00:01:01.728 --> 00:01:05.239 agency that reviews applications for rate increases 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.959 from utilities such as Golden State Water Companies 00:01:08.739 --> 00:01:12.629 The commission is comprised of five commissioners who 00:01:12.638 --> 00:01:15.579 were appointed by the governor and confirmed by the 00:01:15.588 --> 00:01:19.359 California State Senate as the judge in this proceeding 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.219 I manage the day to day activities of the case. A while 00:01:24.230 --> 00:01:26.879 the five commissioners are the ones who will decide 00:01:26.888 --> 00:01:30.138 with a vote on whether to approve Golden State Water 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:34.510 Company's request. My role as the judge is to evaluate 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.209 all of the evidence in the proceeding and to write 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:41.540 a proposed decision based on that evidence, this proposed 00:01:41.549 --> 00:01:44.909 decision will then be considered by the five commissioners 00:01:44.918 --> 00:01:47.790 who will decide whether to adopt the proposed decision 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:51.689 from the judge or to adopt their own alternate decision 00:01:51.698 --> 00:01:55.000 based on the evidence in the proceeding, the current 00:01:55.010 --> 00:01:58.500 schedule for this proceeding indicates that the commission 00:01:58.510 --> 00:02:01.278 will vote on the decision in this proceeding in the 00:02:01.290 --> 00:02:05.629 final quarter of 2024. 00:02:05.629 --> 00:02:09.610 Now I'll provide a brief summary of Golden State Waters 00:02:11.028 --> 00:02:14.338 application. 00:02:14.338 --> 00:02:17.808 Last August Golden State Water Company submitted its 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:20.838 general rate case application seeking commission approval 00:02:20.849 --> 00:02:24.319 of their expected costs for owning and operating the 00:02:24.330 --> 00:02:31.710 company for the years 2025 2026 and 2027. 00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:34.169 The expenses included in Golden State Water Company's 00:02:34.179 --> 00:02:37.699 application will allow Golden State Water to invest 00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:41.008 in plants, property and other equipment needed to provide 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:44.990 safe and reliable service to its customers. 00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:47.349 We're here this evening to receive comments from the 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:51.050 public on Golden State Water companies request to increase 00:02:51.058 --> 00:03:03.288 rates by 22.95% in 2025 by 4.42% in 2026 and by 4.57% 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:08.919 in 2027 comments from you. Members of the public help 00:03:08.929 --> 00:03:11.729 the Public Utilities Commission reach an informed decision 00:03:13.069 --> 00:03:15.159 The commissioners and I will pay close attention to 00:03:15.169 --> 00:03:17.909 the opinions expressed during this evening's public 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.149 hearing. 00:03:20.149 --> 00:03:22.808 As a reminder, there is a court reporter present who 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:25.368 will be transcribing everything that is said today 00:03:26.409 --> 00:03:29.689 Therefore, I ask that if you speak, you speak slowly 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:32.270 and clearly so that the reporter is able to capture 00:03:32.278 --> 00:03:34.939 everything that is said, 00:03:34.939 --> 00:03:40.469 the ring transcript 00:03:40.469 --> 00:03:42.969 of this evening's hearing will be posted publicly on 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:46.270 the docket card for this proceeding. In addition to 00:03:46.278 --> 00:03:49.808 submitting oral comments today, written comments on 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:53.449 Golden State Water Company's application may be submitted 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:56.270 on the docket card for this proceeding by going to 00:03:56.949 --> 00:04:05.169 A PPS dot CPUC dot ca 00:04:05.169 --> 00:04:13.990 dot gov backslash c backslash A 2308010. 00:04:13.990 --> 00:04:17.600 As of today, we have received close to 200 written 00:04:17.608 --> 00:04:21.228 public comments as there are many from the public who 00:04:21.238 --> 00:04:23.918 wish to speak this evening. I ask that each speaker 00:04:23.927 --> 00:04:29.000 limit their comments to a few minutes 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.139 for the time being. Uh I ask that each speaker limit 00:04:32.149 --> 00:04:36.230 their comments to three minutes as a reminder, press 00:04:36.238 --> 00:04:39.358 star one on your phone now so that the operator may 00:04:39.369 --> 00:04:43.470 begin to form the speaking queue. A now we'll go and 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.600 hear from members of the public. 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.238 A chime will sound when the three minutes is up. As 00:04:50.250 --> 00:04:53.358 a reminder to those waiting on the phone, please speak 00:04:53.369 --> 00:04:55.519 slowly and clearly so that the reporter is able to 00:04:55.528 --> 00:04:59.869 capture everything that is said. Before you begin your 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:03.709 comment, please state and spell your name. And if you'd 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:06.649 like the city you're calling from, we'll be able to 00:05:06.660 --> 00:05:09.509 hear you best. If you speak directly into your phone 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:12.920 or headset, please avoid having your phone on speaker 00:05:12.928 --> 00:05:16.009 When you are providing comments, operator. Can you 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:19.879 please call on the first speaker? Thank you. Our first 00:05:19.889 --> 00:05:22.899 public comment comes from Nancy Minty, your line is 00:05:22.910 --> 00:05:24.928 open. 00:05:24.928 --> 00:05:30.600 My name is Nancy Minty. That's spelled Mintie. I'm 00:05:30.608 --> 00:05:34.338 a resident of Claremont, California. I've learned that 00:05:34.350 --> 00:05:37.480 Golden State that proposes to raise our water rates 00:05:37.488 --> 00:05:45.500 over 60% from 2023 to 2027 has a CEO who quote unquote 00:05:45.649 --> 00:05:52.309 earned 3.4 million in salary and bonuses in 2022. And 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.009 I've learned that Golden State and its parent company 00:05:55.019 --> 00:06:00.519 had net earnings of profit of $78 million in 2022. 00:06:01.230 --> 00:06:04.850 If you allow them to continue to gouge us in this way 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:08.439 and you are nothing more than an enabler for a forced 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:11.730 transfer of wealth from ordinary citizens who cannot 00:06:11.738 --> 00:06:15.269 live without water to Golden State's wealthy investors 00:06:15.278 --> 00:06:19.649 such as Black Rock and Wells Fargo. I say this with 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:24.170 a heavy heart because I have heard that the CPU functionaries 00:06:24.178 --> 00:06:27.540 are in bed with the water companies who wine and dine 00:06:27.548 --> 00:06:31.298 them lavishly to buy their support. Please prove me 00:06:31.309 --> 00:06:42.209 wrong tonight. 00:06:42.209 --> 00:06:48.350 Thank you for your comment. 00:06:48.350 --> 00:06:51.369 Our next public comment comes from Anna Garcia. Your 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:56.170 line is open. 00:06:56.170 --> 00:07:01.809 Yes. Can you hear me? 00:07:01.809 --> 00:07:07.189 Hello? We can, we can hear you. My name is Anna Garcia 00:07:07.509 --> 00:07:14.338 My last name is spelled Gar CIA. I'm a resident of 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:18.988 a small community in southern California, Calipatria 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:25.649 California, Calipatria and the next community of Nyland 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:32.309 our water rates will be raised by 33% between 2025 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:39.009 and 2027. I want to piggyback on what the lady said 00:07:39.019 --> 00:07:45.488 before me yet. How do you justify a 33% raise to a 00:07:45.790 --> 00:07:51.028 disadvantaged, impoverished community where more than 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:57.519 50% live below the poverty line. Yet, the CEO for the 00:07:57.528 --> 00:08:05.798 Golden State Water Company does receive 3 million $860,000 00:08:05.809 --> 00:08:14.100 as his total compensation for the year 1 million. $163,950 00:08:14.108 --> 00:08:19.798 was a bonus. So our question is, how can you allow 00:08:21.149 --> 00:08:26.488 for such huge bonuses to be given to the CEO? Yet you 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:32.820 continue to make the quality of life for residents 00:08:32.830 --> 00:08:37.379 already struggling even harder. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:48.330 Thank you. 00:08:48.330 --> 00:08:51.788 Thank you for your comment. 00:08:51.788 --> 00:08:58.969 Our next public comment comes from Cam Kashmere 7730 00:08:58.979 --> 00:09:04.259 Briar Glen Loop Stanton, California. 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:06.928 Your line is open. 00:09:06.928 --> 00:09:11.149 Hi, my name is Kam Kway. First name is K am last 00:09:11.158 --> 00:09:16.830 name Kas Ma E I, I'm a resident of Sandton, California 00:09:17.149 --> 00:09:21.158 I've been a resident since March of 2017 and I use 00:09:21.168 --> 00:09:25.918 Golden State Water for my water services. Um, since 00:09:25.928 --> 00:09:29.798 I started, um, living here, I had numerous problems 00:09:29.808 --> 00:09:34.399 with the water quality and um I complained they send 00:09:34.408 --> 00:09:38.288 a technician over. Um, I would have itchy towels, itchy 00:09:38.298 --> 00:09:41.038 body. After a shower. I never drank the water, but 00:09:41.048 --> 00:09:43.879 every time I would use it in ice to make ice or 00:09:43.889 --> 00:09:48.190 coffee or tea. There's a weird taste and color and 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.349 odor to it. I had a technician come from Golden State 00:09:51.408 --> 00:09:53.609 He basically started arguing with me in front of the 00:09:53.619 --> 00:09:57.029 door telling me that. No, no, it's not the case. So 00:09:57.038 --> 00:09:59.969 I took the sample of the water to Home Depot twice 00:09:59.979 --> 00:10:02.070 They tested it for me twice and they told me that they 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:04.879 had the highest amount of calcium that is available 00:10:04.889 --> 00:10:08.000 in hard water. I said that again to Golden State. I 00:10:08.009 --> 00:10:11.519 got ignored by Golden State. So what I have had to 00:10:11.529 --> 00:10:16.009 do is on every faucet in my house. I've had to put 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:20.859 brand new, um, filters that I have to replace. Every 00:10:20.869 --> 00:10:23.519 six months. These filters all throughout the house 00:10:23.529 --> 00:10:28.038 cost me somewhere between 600 to $750 every six months 00:10:28.219 --> 00:10:31.379 that I have to pay just so I can have good water 00:10:31.389 --> 00:10:34.070 not drinkable water just so it doesn't make my body 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.440 itch. I still don't have it on my washer and I don't 00:10:37.450 --> 00:10:39.609 have it on the days of my bathroom. Sorry for talking 00:10:39.619 --> 00:10:43.389 about that. But this is still causing problems in the 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.349 areas that I don't have filters. So you're telling 00:10:45.359 --> 00:10:48.519 me on top of the amount that I pay, I pay every 00:10:48.529 --> 00:10:54.308 year, I pay over $1000 just in filtration. 00:10:54.308 --> 00:10:58.649 I pay close to 1500 every year and I pay Golden State 00:10:58.658 --> 00:11:02.250 and they have ignored my uh complaints multiple times 00:11:02.269 --> 00:11:06.619 Now, they're requesting more money from us 25% more 00:11:06.658 --> 00:11:10.369 This is just not right. If a company is ignoring the 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:14.428 quality of water, they have no right to be increasing 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:16.928 the prices. The first thing that you need to show us 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:22.599 is better water quality, even better customer service 00:11:22.918 --> 00:11:25.219 There's the only reason I'm here complaining about 00:11:25.229 --> 00:11:28.359 this is because they ignore me. If they had not ignore 00:11:28.369 --> 00:11:31.200 me, I would have been ok with this. Thank you very 00:11:31.210 --> 00:11:33.349 much for hearing me. Sorry if I'm a little bit heated 00:11:35.969 --> 00:11:39.340 Thank you for your comment. 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:41.619 If you'd like to leave a public comment, please press 00:11:41.629 --> 00:11:46.009 star one unmute your phone and clearly state your first 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.869 and last name for public comment. Introduction. Our 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:51.859 next public comment comes from Lawrence Morata. She 00:11:51.869 --> 00:11:55.139 your line is open. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:58.658 Hello? Can you hear me? 00:11:58.658 --> 00:12:03.658 Yes, we can hear you. Thank you. My name is Lawrence 00:12:03.668 --> 00:12:13.658 Morata. She last name Murat A hyphen shih, I'm from 00:12:13.668 --> 00:12:17.820 Claremont, California. I am calling in tonight to protest 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:21.369 Golden State Water Companies had great increase request 00:12:22.570 --> 00:12:26.229 as the first caller has said we've already had a rate 00:12:26.239 --> 00:12:31.469 increase from 2022 to 2024. And now the latest one 00:12:31.489 --> 00:12:36.349 we're looking at roughly a 50.7% increase from 2023 00:12:36.489 --> 00:12:41.099 to 2027. They're asking for a doubling of our water 00:12:41.109 --> 00:12:43.940 rates at a time when people are struggling with the 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:48.808 cost of living. They want to increase the cost of a 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:53.058 basic necessity of life. Upon review of their investor 00:12:53.070 --> 00:12:56.918 presentation in March 2024. They've seen the parent 00:12:56.928 --> 00:12:59.918 company of Golden State Water Company, American States 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:05.229 They've seen a consistent dividend increase over the 00:13:05.239 --> 00:13:08.769 last 10 years were to increase shareholder payouts 00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:12.808 They beat the S and P 500 index in the last 10 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:17.269 years. Increasing the dividends paid to shareholders 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:20.658 at the same time that their operating expenses for 00:13:20.668 --> 00:13:24.099 Golden State Water Company have gone down. They buy 00:13:24.109 --> 00:13:28.849 less water and yet they come back and ask us the ratepayers 00:13:29.210 --> 00:13:33.719 for more money. It doesn't make any sense. Well, no 00:13:33.729 --> 00:13:36.918 it does make sense because it seems as if they're trying 00:13:36.928 --> 00:13:43.250 to maintain those dividend payouts at the expense of 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:45.899 the ratepayers as the first court has mentioned. And 00:13:45.908 --> 00:13:48.969 I'll reiterate again, this seems nothing short but 00:13:49.769 --> 00:13:53.570 a transfer of wealth enriching shareholders at the 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:57.928 expense of repairs for a necessary resource. We cannot 00:13:57.940 --> 00:14:01.750 go out and shop on the open market for water. We have 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:04.729 to buy it from Golden State Water Companies and it 00:14:04.739 --> 00:14:10.308 is not right. It is not fair for this to fall upon 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:15.320 the backs of the poor, of students of retirees on fixed 00:14:15.330 --> 00:14:19.500 pension of families who are struggling to make ends 00:14:19.509 --> 00:14:23.359 meet. There is no real justification for this upon 00:14:23.369 --> 00:14:26.359 reviewing their 10-K statement, what kind of grand 00:14:26.369 --> 00:14:31.038 public projects are they doing to justify a 50.7% rate 00:14:31.048 --> 00:14:37.389 increase from 2023 to 2027? I can't think of one and 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.519 it is frankly outrageous. I mean, the CP I hasn't even 00:14:40.529 --> 00:14:44.599 risen that much and for their parent company to again 00:14:44.609 --> 00:14:47.859 outperform the S and P 500 index in the last 10 years 00:14:48.538 --> 00:14:51.950 I mean, frankly, this is I would if I may still be 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.168 so bold, this is basically extortion of ratepayers 00:14:55.178 --> 00:15:01.769 So I do urge for the CPU to reject these outrageous 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:04.788 rate increases because I will say this is not going 00:15:04.798 --> 00:15:08.538 to be forgotten by the people of my community. I won't 00:15:08.548 --> 00:15:11.450 forget that and we will lobby and we will continue 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:14.048 to fight, go to state water company and for it and 00:15:14.058 --> 00:15:19.450 we will continue gaby. 00:15:19.450 --> 00:15:21.759 Thank you. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:28.279 Thank you for your comments. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.259 Our next public comment, if you're holding to leave 00:15:31.269 --> 00:15:34.029 a public comment and your the last four digits of your 00:15:34.038 --> 00:15:37.830 telephone number, start with 5329. Your line is open 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:40.979 Can I get your name, please? If you're waiting to leave 00:15:40.989 --> 00:15:43.529 a public comment and the last four digits of your telephone 00:15:43.538 --> 00:15:49.529 number are 5329. Your line is open. 00:15:49.529 --> 00:15:53.820 Yeah, this is Chad Christopher. 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:58.139 So I, yeah, once again, say, I agree with almost everything 00:15:58.149 --> 00:16:00.729 that's been mentioned previously. But the one thing 00:16:00.739 --> 00:16:04.119 that I, that kind of hasn't been mentioned is where 00:16:05.739 --> 00:16:09.158 they ask us to conserve water. But the only thing that 00:16:09.168 --> 00:16:11.908 conservation really leads to is rate increases, they 00:16:11.918 --> 00:16:14.359 make money on selling gallons of water. And if we're 00:16:14.369 --> 00:16:17.219 using half as much water, that's half as many gallons 00:16:17.229 --> 00:16:21.428 being sold. But, you know, like, uh, any, any other 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.599 business in America, if things are getting a little 00:16:23.609 --> 00:16:25.460 bit tighter, you got to kind of re invent yourself 00:16:25.469 --> 00:16:28.428 and look at some other opportunities or ways to save 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:31.298 or make ends meet. Uh, you know, like the gentleman 00:16:31.308 --> 00:16:33.428 before said, he goes, you know, we don't have an open 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.369 market to go shopping. We can't go down the street 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:38.879 and buy it from someone else. We're, we're beholden 00:16:38.889 --> 00:16:41.239 to the guy with the water line in the, in the street 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:45.668 and it's about time that they need to kind of look 00:16:45.678 --> 00:16:47.788 back and see where they need to save or do things a 00:16:47.798 --> 00:16:50.729 little bit different and become a little more marketable 00:16:50.739 --> 00:16:54.739 not just, you know, not just call up and ask for a 00:16:54.750 --> 00:16:57.330 raise. I don't have that opportunity because the groceries 00:16:57.340 --> 00:17:00.469 got more expensive, you know, or the water bill or 00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:04.199 anything else we make what we make and it's about time 00:17:04.209 --> 00:17:06.068 that they kind of look at what they're doing and do 00:17:06.078 --> 00:17:09.900 the same, start making some, start making some changes 00:17:09.910 --> 00:17:12.529 work smarter, not harder, spend a little bit less and 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:16.239 and, and make some better, some better investments 00:17:16.949 --> 00:17:21.259 They, there's a lot of times that you hear about different 00:17:21.269 --> 00:17:25.410 companies, their water company included where they 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:27.368 have money left in the budget at the end of the year 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.430 and they got to go spend it and do something silly 00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:32.180 or pay this guy to do that or whatnot so that they 00:17:32.189 --> 00:17:34.650 can have that budget at the end of next year and, and 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:37.259 same with government spending, they do the same crap 00:17:37.598 --> 00:17:41.250 and it's about time that it's about 00:17:41.250 --> 00:17:45.059 often and made things realistic. Again, that that is 00:17:45.068 --> 00:17:52.799 a very excessive increase to ask for. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:57.059 Thank you, Mr Christopher. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:18:00.239 Our next public comment comes from Cheryl Herford. 00:18:00.250 --> 00:18:05.469 Your line is open. Thank you. 00:18:05.469 --> 00:18:07.709 I 00:18:07.709 --> 00:18:11.160 ok. My name is Cheryl Herford and I live in San Dimas 00:18:12.368 --> 00:18:14.750 and I agree with everything that's been said and I 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.949 especially agree with the last gentleman who said that 00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:21.239 we conserve water as we were asked to do, people pulled 00:18:21.250 --> 00:18:25.250 out lawns so they could conserve water. And so now 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.769 the water company wants to make up that loss that they 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:32.098 incurred because we weren't buying as much water, but 00:18:32.108 --> 00:18:35.098 something that hasn't been addressed yet. In addition 00:18:35.108 --> 00:18:39.529 to the shareholders being the big benefit fitters from 00:18:39.568 --> 00:18:44.799 uh increase is the meter charge increase. My meter 00:18:44.809 --> 00:18:51.140 charge will now be $99.69 a month. I don't even use 00:18:51.150 --> 00:18:55.368 that much water a month. So I am paying four times 00:18:55.380 --> 00:19:01.410 more for my meter than my actual water usage. It seems 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:05.680 to me that's wrong. There should be something that 00:19:05.689 --> 00:19:11.588 says if you use $25 worth of water, then your meter 00:19:11.598 --> 00:19:16.259 charge should be a portion of that maybe 25% of your 00:19:16.269 --> 00:19:20.088 actual water usage. But to charge basically $100 a 00:19:20.098 --> 00:19:23.269 month for me to have a meter for so I can get 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:27.750 water. That's insane. 00:19:27.750 --> 00:19:31.500 And I'd like to tie into what the first lady said that 00:19:31.509 --> 00:19:34.130 she's not heard good things about this commission. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:39.189 And I would say that the puc I've gone to public meetings 00:19:39.309 --> 00:19:44.039 for all of the various utilities and it seems that 00:19:44.049 --> 00:19:49.559 all that happens is what utility suggests for an increase 00:19:49.568 --> 00:19:53.838 And in this case, a 33% increase that the commissioners 00:19:53.848 --> 00:19:58.390 just approve it. I would like to see just one time 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:03.229 for one utility, whether it's gas water electric, that 00:20:03.239 --> 00:20:07.199 you refuse to allow this increase. I agree with the 00:20:07.209 --> 00:20:09.630 previous gentleman who said that they need to budget 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:13.019 their money. It's like everybody in government, everybody 00:20:13.029 --> 00:20:16.328 in utility companies, they're spending beyond their 00:20:16.338 --> 00:20:20.068 means. We can't spend beyond our means for our home 00:20:20.170 --> 00:20:24.390 budget. But everybody just seems to think that this 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:28.719 money is going to magically appear somewhere. 00:20:28.719 --> 00:20:32.549 The increase in the number of homeless people proves 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:36.410 that that can't happen eventually. Somebody hits, everybody 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:39.239 hits the wall and they have no more money to give. 00:20:41.189 --> 00:20:44.729 Thank you so much for listening. 00:20:44.729 --> 00:20:47.420 Thank you for your comment. 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:49.588 If you'd like to make a public comment, please press 00:20:49.598 --> 00:20:52.750 star one, unmute your phone and clearly state your 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:55.439 first and last name for public comment. Introduction 00:20:55.459 --> 00:20:57.729 If you'd like to retract your public comment, please 00:20:57.739 --> 00:21:00.630 press star two. Our next public comment comes from 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:06.568 Linda Chains. Your line is open. 00:21:06.568 --> 00:21:12.088 Thank you. My name is Linda Salmons. That's S am Mon 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:19.439 Si live in your Belinda California. So we like to say 00:21:19.449 --> 00:21:24.500 that we moved in here in at the end of 1979. So 00:21:24.509 --> 00:21:31.858 for the last 24 years to use Golden State Water and 00:21:31.910 --> 00:21:35.529 I had to immediately get a water conditioner because 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:40.578 the water tasted so bad. 00:21:40.578 --> 00:21:44.519 Ok, ma'am. Can you please m your television so that 00:21:44.529 --> 00:21:48.459 we can hear your comments? Ok, I think it sounds like 00:21:50.719 --> 00:21:54.098 Yeah, let's try. Now, 00:21:54.098 --> 00:21:58.969 are you still on the line? Yes. Ok. We can hear you 00:21:58.979 --> 00:22:01.930 better now. Let's be on the record. Um ma'am, would 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:03.848 you mind starting from the beginning so we can capture 00:22:03.858 --> 00:22:07.309 all of your comments? Ok. I'm sorry, Linda Sammons 00:22:08.150 --> 00:22:14.049 S am Mons from Yorba Linda California. And we moved 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:18.160 in to this house in Ya Linda in 1979 at the end 00:22:18.170 --> 00:22:22.680 of 1979. So for the last 24 years, we've had Golden 00:22:22.689 --> 00:22:27.029 State Water and I immediately had to buy a water conditioner 00:22:27.239 --> 00:22:30.338 because the water tasted so bad. I couldn't drink the 00:22:30.348 --> 00:22:36.000 water out of the faucet. And my husband passed away 00:22:36.009 --> 00:22:39.039 a little over a year ago. So I've been getting the 00:22:39.049 --> 00:22:44.328 bills and paying them one bill I got, and my son was 00:22:44.338 --> 00:22:50.979 here and it was $208. I called Golden State and didn't 00:22:50.989 --> 00:22:55.539 get much of a response or any, any reasonable response 00:22:55.549 --> 00:22:59.979 for that much of a bill come to find out they hadn't 00:22:59.989 --> 00:23:04.910 read the meter, they just estimated. And I got a credit 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:09.799 for the next two months. Again, this last month, I 00:23:09.809 --> 00:23:14.209 get double the bill that I usually get. And now I'm 00:23:14.219 --> 00:23:20.130 one person in the home and they said, oh no, someone 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:23.660 came out and read the meter. So I guess we'll find 00:23:23.670 --> 00:23:27.439 out what happened. And of course, all the other fees 00:23:27.449 --> 00:23:32.828 and surcharges are twice as much to four times as much 00:23:32.979 --> 00:23:37.789 because they said I had used that much water. So I 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:41.969 don't know why I use that much water, but I'm still 00:23:41.979 --> 00:23:46.309 leery that I used double the amount of water and I'm 00:23:46.318 --> 00:23:51.019 one person here. It's just too much. I don't have any 00:23:51.029 --> 00:23:56.670 other recourse. I can't consolidate much more because 00:23:57.108 --> 00:24:01.858 it's either reduced food or medicine to pay these bills 00:24:01.868 --> 00:24:05.199 and they keep increasing at a phenomenal rate. I do 00:24:05.209 --> 00:24:08.828 not like this increase and I recommend that they do 00:24:08.838 --> 00:24:14.239 not approve it. Thank you. 00:24:14.239 --> 00:24:17.130 Thank you for your comment. 00:24:17.130 --> 00:24:19.568 Your honor. We currently have no additional public 00:24:19.578 --> 00:24:31.630 comments at this time. 00:24:31.630 --> 00:24:34.410 Ok. So just as a reminder to those listening, if you'd 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:37.828 like to make a comment, please call, enter the passcode 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:43.618 and press star one on your phone as an additional reminder 00:24:44.269 --> 00:24:47.150 If you'd like to make a written comment, we can do 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:49.799 so on 00:24:49.799 --> 00:25:01.078 the proceedings docket card by going to a ps.cpu.ca.gov 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:11.818 backslash C back slash A 2308010. 00:25:11.818 --> 00:25:15.160 Seeing as how we don't have any additional callers 00:25:15.170 --> 00:25:18.000 at this moment, I'm gonna take a five minute recess 00:25:18.529 --> 00:25:21.078 and we will reconvene and see if we have any callers 00:25:21.088 --> 00:25:23.939 at that point. So for the time being, let's be off 00:25:23.949 --> 00:25:28.789 the record. You by admin monitor.com will begin momentarily 00:25:29.250 --> 00:25:36.660 Operator. Are you ready for us to be live again? 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:40.118 Operator? Are you ready for us to be live again? I 00:25:40.130 --> 00:25:45.598 am we're all set. Ok. 00:25:45.598 --> 00:25:49.019 Ok. Uh Let's be on the record. Uh We're returning from 00:25:49.029 --> 00:25:53.140 a five minute recess uh to give folks an opportunity 00:25:53.150 --> 00:25:55.680 to call in. I understand we have a few callers in queue 00:25:56.049 --> 00:25:58.098 operator. Can you please call on the first caller? 00:25:59.029 --> 00:26:03.469 Our next of the comet comes from 00:26:03.469 --> 00:26:07.130 Lia Schmidt. 00:26:07.130 --> 00:26:11.009 Your line is open. 00:26:11.009 --> 00:26:15.239 Hi, my name is Lila Schmidt. I am currently a landlord 00:26:15.250 --> 00:26:19.239 in Arcadia. Um I lived there for 30 years and now it's 00:26:19.250 --> 00:26:22.818 uh a rental and I pay the water for this property. 00:26:22.828 --> 00:26:26.930 So it's maintained properly uh for the community and 00:26:26.939 --> 00:26:29.430 we are capped at how much we can raise the rent on 00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:34.459 a tenant, however, not capping the utility bills and 00:26:34.469 --> 00:26:37.608 their increases is unacceptable. We will not be able 00:26:37.618 --> 00:26:43.739 to maintain our properties at all. And also the CFO 00:26:43.750 --> 00:26:46.890 or CEO of a company making in the millions of dollars 00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:49.459 when people are having to live on the streets and can't 00:26:49.469 --> 00:26:51.739 pay our bills and have to go through this to complain 00:26:51.750 --> 00:26:54.838 to you is totally unacceptable. I'd like that person 00:26:54.848 --> 00:26:58.049 to justify how they think they earn or deserve that 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:01.459 amount of money per year. I agree with everyone else 00:27:01.469 --> 00:27:04.979 ahead of me. Um, the water is disgusting. I will agree 00:27:05.088 --> 00:27:08.289 and your rate increase is unconscionable. Please do 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:13.469 not allow this to happen. 00:27:13.469 --> 00:27:16.689 Thank you for your comment. 00:27:16.689 --> 00:27:19.439 Our next public comment comes from Cynthia Santana 00:27:19.509 --> 00:27:22.430 Your line is open. 00:27:22.430 --> 00:27:29.618 Hello. My name is Cynthia Centeno, Senteno. I live 00:27:29.630 --> 00:27:36.449 in Rossmoor, California. Um ok, I get notice in the 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:39.269 mail about your increase and that you're gonna have 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:44.479 this meeting the very next day. My water is full of 00:27:44.489 --> 00:27:49.328 rust right after I flushed the toilet. We had to flush 00:27:49.338 --> 00:27:52.500 the lines in the front of the house. So the water didn't 00:27:52.509 --> 00:27:57.900 continue through the whole house. And yet you're saying 00:27:57.910 --> 00:28:04.789 that that would justify increasing 33% over the next 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:09.400 three years. They can't even maintain what they're 00:28:09.410 --> 00:28:13.049 doing now and we're supposed to give them more money 00:28:13.709 --> 00:28:19.209 just like everybody else is trying to do. I oppose 00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:25.049 this increase. I Adamy asked for an investigation into 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:31.189 the ceo's and to this company for their fraudulent 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:35.489 increases on the public. 00:28:35.489 --> 00:28:38.969 Thank you. 00:28:38.969 --> 00:28:41.838 Thank you for your comment. 00:28:41.838 --> 00:28:43.900 If you'd like to make a public comment, please press 00:28:43.910 --> 00:28:46.930 star one, unmute your phone and clearly state your 00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:50.989 first and last name for public public comment. Introduction 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:53.828 Our next public comment comes from Karen Schultz. Your 00:28:53.838 --> 00:28:56.279 line is open. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:29:06.189 Hello, my name is Karen Schultz, uh Karenschultze and 00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:13.549 I also live in Rossmoor, California R Os Smoor. And 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:19.608 I urge the CPAC to reject Golden State's proposed rate 00:29:19.618 --> 00:29:23.969 hike. I think that it is immoral to impose such a high 00:29:23.979 --> 00:29:27.568 rate for a necessity of life where we customers have 00:29:27.578 --> 00:29:32.989 no other options and many are on fixed incomes. I also 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:37.809 urged a cap on the rate hikes allowable per year on 00:29:37.818 --> 00:29:41.420 Golden State Water and I appreciate your time. Thank 00:29:41.430 --> 00:29:44.838 you. Bye bye. 00:29:44.838 --> 00:29:48.380 Thank you for your comment. 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:51.680 Our next public comment comes from Peter Violi. Your 00:29:51.689 --> 00:29:54.180 line is open. 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:59.608 Yes, I am a, my name is Peter Vignoli. I'm a 60 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:06.009 year resident of Claremont. And when I got this uh 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:09.358 proposed increase, I had to do a double take on it 00:30:09.789 --> 00:30:12.719 I'm 94 years old, but I can still read pretty well 00:30:12.729 --> 00:30:19.939 And that 25% 24.7% residential increase just shocked 00:30:19.949 --> 00:30:24.680 me to the marrow. I never in all of my lifetime, lived 00:30:24.689 --> 00:30:30.529 in any area or region. Seeing a one year increase of 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:35.608 that order of magnitude. I urge the commission and 00:30:35.618 --> 00:30:40.858 the governing body to investigate and review in depth 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:46.598 the costs associated with what percentage is going 00:30:46.608 --> 00:30:51.108 to improvement of the water system? What is the increase 00:30:51.118 --> 00:30:55.769 in the purchased water component? And to look at the 00:30:55.779 --> 00:31:00.709 depreciation expenses and especially the other operation 00:31:00.719 --> 00:31:04.759 expenses in the general office and district office 00:31:04.769 --> 00:31:09.838 expense area. Uh That order of magnitude of increase 00:31:10.750 --> 00:31:14.328 uh probably couldn't be found in any other region in 00:31:14.338 --> 00:31:18.729 the comp company country at this time. So I urge the 00:31:18.739 --> 00:31:22.750 commission to reject that first year increase and make 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:26.880 it more in the order of magnitude if they do need the 00:31:26.890 --> 00:31:30.459 added expenses of the other years. Thank you for your 00:31:30.469 --> 00:31:37.189 time and consideration. 00:31:37.189 --> 00:31:40.660 Thank you for your comment. 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:43.630 Our next public comment comes from Alex Laura. Your 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:47.750 line is open. Hello? Yes, this is Alex Lara. I am a 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:52.949 12 year residence in Claremont, California and I urge 00:31:52.959 --> 00:31:57.269 the administrative law judge to strike down this application 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:00.250 as my other neighbor just mentioned right now, you 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:04.750 know that 24 plus percent increase in one year is insane 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:09.189 Um You know, if, if they cannot even, you know, do 00:32:09.390 --> 00:32:12.549 if, if Golden State cannot even um actually do any 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.719 improvements with what, you know, the resources that 00:32:14.729 --> 00:32:17.500 they already have, they won't be able to do anything 00:32:17.509 --> 00:32:19.439 better with this increase. It just sounds like this 00:32:19.449 --> 00:32:22.500 money is literally just pouring down the drain. So 00:32:22.509 --> 00:32:28.150 I completely urge the judge to strike this down and 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:31.630 to have consideration for the residents in California 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:35.358 This is just another policy that is just going to push 00:32:35.368 --> 00:32:38.868 us out of this beautiful state that we have and you 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:42.009 know, it's just not affordable anymore. And this is 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:44.269 just another straw that's going to break the camel's 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:48.439 back. Thank you. 00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:51.189 Thank you for your comment. 00:32:51.189 --> 00:32:54.299 Our next public comment comes from Felicia Stromal 00:32:54.309 --> 00:32:58.670 Your line is open. Hello, my name is Felicia Stroma 00:32:59.130 --> 00:33:02.979 and I'm a resident of Claremont, California and I wanted 00:33:02.989 --> 00:33:08.640 to encourage that this policy be not be implemented 00:33:08.789 --> 00:33:13.559 as a retired person on a fixed income. This rate increase 00:33:13.568 --> 00:33:18.789 would highly impact or negatively impact my livelihood 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:23.134 and my ability to meet all of my financial obligations 00:33:23.334 --> 00:33:28.164 A rate increase of almost 25% is just outrageous knowing 00:33:28.174 --> 00:33:32.265 that the CEO is receiving such large bonuses that could 00:33:32.275 --> 00:33:36.545 instead be invested back into the company and infrastructure 00:33:36.914 --> 00:33:40.219 Thank you very much. 00:33:40.219 --> 00:33:43.608 Thank you for your comment. 00:33:43.608 --> 00:33:46.368 Our next public comment comes from Linda Chains. Your 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:51.108 line is open. Yes, this is Linda Sammons again and 00:33:51.118 --> 00:33:57.338 my last name is S am Mon Si just wanted to ask 00:33:57.348 --> 00:34:02.509 um uh I would like to know how much the water meter 00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:05.019 costs me 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:08.619 and how much I have paid for it through these monthly 00:34:08.628 --> 00:34:13.969 fees. And I've been here 40 years. You would think 00:34:13.978 --> 00:34:17.699 I would have it paid for by now rather than just renting 00:34:17.708 --> 00:34:21.179 it monthly. So apparently this is just another source 00:34:21.188 --> 00:34:24.750 of income for you because it's never paid off. I have 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:27.969 to pay a monthly fee for you to charge me for my 00:34:27.978 --> 00:34:32.239 water. So how can I find out what that meter costs 00:34:32.250 --> 00:34:39.320 you? Golden State. Can I find out the cost? 00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:43.969 Thank you. 00:34:43.969 --> 00:34:47.907 Thank you for your comment. 00:34:47.907 --> 00:34:50.887 I have no additional question. Excuse me. No additional 00:34:50.898 --> 00:34:57.157 public comments at this time. 00:34:57.157 --> 00:35:05.789 Ok. Um 00:35:05.789 --> 00:35:08.019 Once again, I'd like to note to those listening that 00:35:08.030 --> 00:35:11.219 if you would like to submit a written comment, you 00:35:11.228 --> 00:35:14.119 may do so by going to the docket card for this proceeding 00:35:14.708 --> 00:35:23.559 at A PS dot CPUC dot C a.gov, backslash C backslash 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:32.550 A 2308010. 00:35:32.550 --> 00:35:36.860 Aye, I understand that there are no additional callers 00:35:36.869 --> 00:35:41.659 on the line. So I'd like to thank everyone that participated 00:35:41.668 --> 00:35:46.239 this evening 00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:48.539 for assistance with providing additional comments. 00:35:48.550 --> 00:35:51.780 Please contact the commission's public adviser's office 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:59.728 at Public Advisor at cpuc.ca.gov. 00:35:59.728 --> 00:36:02.550 This concludes this evening's public participation 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.639 hearing. We will now be off the record.