Operator: Welcome
to the California Public Utilities Commission.
This is public participation hearing
on Southern California Edison,
Southern California Edison company
for Authority to increase rates
for its Class C, Catalina Water Utility
and recover costs from water and electric customers.
On this day, Tuesday, March 30th, 2021.
Your honor, you may begin.
-: Thank you operator.
We will now be on the record.
The Commission will come to order.
It is Tuesday, March 30th, 2021.
And this is the remote public participation hearing
for Southern California Edison
Santa Catalina Water Utility General Rate Case Application.
The application number is 20-10-018.
Before we begin, I'd like to inform everyone
that this meeting is being transcribed as well,
electronically recorded.
If you do not wish to be recorded, please remove yourself
from the speaker tool.
My name is Garrett Toy
and I'm the assigned Administrative Law Judge
on this proceeding.
Martha Guzman Aceves is the assigned Commissioner.
Advisor Justin Fong is here on her behalf.
Mr. Fong, would you like to make any opening remarks?
-: Yes, I would.
Thank you, Tudge Toy.
I just want to echo from our previous meeting today
that the Commissioner's office is very excited
to listen to the comments and possible solutions
during this PPH
as well as listening to what parties have to say
regarding possible increases with this proceeding.
Thank you.
-: Thank you.
The purpose of today's hearing
is for the Commission to hear
from Santa Catalina Water Utility customers
and members of the public
about Southern California Edison
application to increase rates
related to the Santa Catalina Water Utility.
If you have a customer specific question,
such as a question about your bills or service
we encourage you to please contact SCE
at the following phone number for help.
909-824-4547.
I'll begin by providing some background
on the California Public Utilities Commission
and the General Rate Case Application
and then turn it over to Ms. Juanita Hill
from the Commission's public advisor's office.
We'll then hear brief statements
from Southern California Edison,
the Public Advocate's Office, Utility Reform Network
and the joint Catalina parties
before we begin the public comments.
You're participating today,
and would like to provide public comments.
You may do so by calling 800-857-1917
entering passcode 518-0519
and pressing star one on your phone.
This will let the operator
will begin to queue to public speaker.
Please provide your name and location.
If you are a public official,
please notify the operator of your title and position,
in addition to your name.
Please refer to the slide on the screen.
You will not be answering questions
about the application at today's hearing.
Now, some background
on the California Public Utilities Commission.
The Public Utilities Commission is a state agency
that decides how much money the Santa Catalina Water Utility
may earn and the rates that will be included
on your bills for water service.
The Commission is comprised of five Commissioners
who are appointed by the Governor
and confirmed by the California State Senate.
As the judge in this proceeding,
I manage the day-to-day activities of the case.
The five Commissioners are the ones who will decide
with a vote on whether to approve
Southern California Edison's request.
My role as the judge is to evaluate the evidence
in the proceeding
and to write a proposed decision based on that evidence.
This proposed decision will then be considered
by the five Commissioners
who will decide whether to adopt the proposed decision
from the judge or to adopt their own alternate decision
based on the evidence in the proceeding.
The current schedule for this proceeding
indicates that the Commissioners will vote
on the decision in the first quarter of 2022.
Now I will provide a summary
of Southern California Edison's application.
This past October, Southern California Edison
submitted its General Rate Case Application
for the Santa Catalina Water Utility
seeking Commission approval of their expected costs
for owning and operating the company
for the years 2022 through 2026.
The expenses included in Edison's Rate Case Application
cover increased costs, its capital expenditures,
as well as drought related expenses.
(indistinct) for the public to restraint
and ready possibly (indistinct)
Woman: Your honor, I apologize.
This is...
You're breaking up and I did not make out
anything after the expenditure
as well as drought related expenses.
I apologize you broke up.
-: (indistinct) starting the expenses then
just to pick that up.
Back on the record?
The expenses included in Edison's Rate Case Application
cover increased costs of capital expenditures
and drought related expenses.
We are here today to receive comments
from the public on SCE's requests
to increase rates and revenue
for costs related to the Santa Catalina Water Utility.
SCE has currently proposed to increase rates
for Santa Catalina Water Utility customers
as well as electric utility customers.
The proposal would increase rates
precent at Santa Catalina Water Utility customers
a 1.04 million each year from 2022 to 2026.
Amounting to increases of 25% above present revenues
in 2022, 20% in 2023 over proposed 2022 revenues.
17% in 2024 over proposed 2023 revenues.
14% in 2025 over proposed 2024 revenues
and 13% in 2026 over 2025 revenues.
The proposal also asked for approval
to increase SCE's electrical customers surcharge revenue
by $5.8 million annually for the years 2022 to 2026.
This proposal would see average summer bills
rise from $78.51 cents in 2019
to $222.84 cents in 2027.
SCE has also put forth a proposal
in which the proposed revenue requirement
is supplied completely by Catalina Island Water customers
resulting in a rise in revenue collections,
at 39.7% each year in 2022 through 2026.
That's a 50% drop in 2027.
This proposal would see an average summer bill increase
from $78 and 51 cents in 2019 to $474 46 cents in 2026.
Please see the water division fact sheet
for additional information about these proposals.
Although we would typically receive comments in person,
current conditions have precluded that option.
Your participation today is nonetheless greatly appreciated.
Comments from the public
help the public utilities Commission
reach an informed decision.
You may also leave written comments
on the Commissions online docket card.
The Commission is and I will pay close attention
to the opinions expressed
during today's public hearing.
A court reporter will be transcribing everything
that is said today.
If you speak, I ask that you speak slowly and clearly
so the court reporter is able to capture everything
that is said.
The written transcript of today's hearing
will be posted publicly on the docket card
for this proceeding
and a recording of the audio and video
will also be posted on the Commission's website.
Written comments maybe submitted
at cpuc.ca.gov/A2010018comments.
As of today, we have received 243 written public comments.
I will now invite Ms. Juanita Hill
of the Commission public advisor's office
to provide guidance on participation
in this proceeding.
Ms. Hill, please proceed.
-: Thank you, judge.
Welcome everyone.
My name is Juanita Hill
and I am the supervisor in the CPC public advisor's office.
The public advisor's office assist and advises the public
with participation in Commission proceedings.
First, I wanna thank all of you
for participating today.
As the judge and the Commissioner's advisor stated
public participation and input are essential
to the Commission's decision making process.
This is your opportunity to be heard,
to share your thoughts on the application
with the Administrative Law Judge and the Commissioner.
If you have specific questions
about the application or your service,
please reach out to the public advisor's office
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
or visit the CPC or the utilities website for more.
Second, if you or anyone you know,
is not able to make a comment today
there are several other ways to become involved.
If you wish to find more information on becoming a party,
subscribing to this proceeding
or submitting comments via email or the phone,
please go to our website cpuc@ca.f...
I'm sorry, cpuc.ca.gov
or email the Public Advisor at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
All of this information is also in the notice you received
for this public participation hearing.
So we look forward to your comments today.
Thank you.
-: Thank you, Ms. Hill.
We will now hear from some of the parties in this proceeding
beginning with a representative
from Southern California Edison,
followed by the public advocate's office,
TURN and the joint Catalina parties.
Mr. Douglas Snow on behalf of SCE, please proceed.
-: Good evening.
And thank you Judge Toy.
And thank you everyone for taking time
out of your busy schedule and participating
in this very important public participation hearing.
My name is Doug Snow
and I'm the director of the General Rate Case
for Southern California Edison's Catalina Water Utility.
It's a privilege to be here
to learn from you and to listen to your input
and concerns you may have regarding
the 2022 Catalina Water General Rate Case.
Edison recognizes this proceeding
is taking place during unprecedented time.
We understand that our customers
and the communities we serve
including Catalina Island are facing hardships
during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic
and they need help with their bill.
SCE is sensitive to rate increases during this time
and we're working hard to continue providing safe
and reliable service
while mitigating rate increases as much as possible.
SCE has also put into place important customer protections
to help customers with difficulty paying their bills.
If you need more information on those customer protection
please go to sce.com/billhelp
or call 800-367-8851 for information
on money saving programs and tools.
Additionally, Mr. Jaime Catan
from our customer service organization
is in attendance today to provide a contact
that helps resolve any customer issues
or questions you may have.
Now turning back to the General Rate Case.
We are currently in the middle
of what's called discovery period
where parties to the proceeding
are learning more about our application
and cost recovery proposals.
Next in the proceeding, other interested parties
including consumer advocates will submit their testimonies
to present their analysis of our application
and recommend adjustments to our proposal.
In September, there will be an evidentiary hearing
so that the Commission can continue to build
the official record of our proposal.
Now it's easy to get caught up in the process
but at the end of the day, the General Rate Case
is about funding projects, programs and people
to provide you safe and reliable service
and improve that service continuously.
The focus of our requests in this General Rate Case
mostly include spending to approve three things.
Safety, reliability and drought resiliency.
Our requests for funding covers both historical
and future costs for the Catalina Water Utility
including capital projects
completed since our last General Rate Case,
costs related to the recent historic drought,
that impact of the Island and operating expenses
updating since our last General Rate Case as well
which we filed back in 2010.
And finally forecasts capital improvements.
We recognize that SCE has not submitted a General Rate Case
for the Catalina Water Utility in several years
and that we are requesting a substantial increase in revenue
but we believe our cost recovery proposal
strike the reasonable balance for recovering costs
for routine system operations and management
and unplanned costs due to exceptional events.
Our GOC seeks to provide adequate funding
to continue providing the approximately 4,000 residents
and roughly 1 million annual visitors to the Island
with safe and reliable water service.
Ultimately the CPC will decide
the appropriate level of funding
after a thorough and rigorous legal process
that includes all stakeholders with different viewpoints
including consideration of the comments you share today.
So that brings us to paying for the work, your bill.
We are very mindful of the impact
of these costs on your bill
and have developed a cost recovery proposal
that recognizes that.
Our GRC proposals to recover revenues
from Catalina Water customers
to cover the normal operations,
maintenance and capital improvements made by the utility.
SCE is also proposing to phase in their revenue
increase over a five-year period
to spread out the increase and reduce the rate impact
in year one.
We proposed to recover the balance of the utility costs,
including exceptional drought
and environmental costs and deferred revenues
resulting from the five-year phase in proposal
from SCE's system-wide electric customers.
If SCE cost recover proposal is approved
it will increase an average residential bill
by about $32 for non-income qualified customers,
$19 for income qualified customers
and $32 for commercial customers in 2022.
The increase would be additional $23
for non-income qualified rates with customers,
$24 for income qualified customers
and $45 for commercial customers for each year
for the years 2023 through 2026.
Alternatively, if all costs were to be recovered
just from Catalina Water customers,
again, based it over the five years,
it would increase an average monthly bill
by about $41 for non-income qualified residential customers,
$40 for enrolled income qualified customers
and $88 for commercial customers in 22
with additional increases growing to $123, $108 and $239
in 2026 respectively.
I realized the GRC is impactful for many of you
and the timing is not ideal
but the GRC is necessary to recover aging costs
of historical projects and events
while generating the necessary revenues
to continue providing safe and reliable water service
to the Island.
We believe our proposals strike the printed balance
between the essential services we provide to you
and what it costs to provide those services.
We realize any increase in bills can be challenging
and we have several programs, tips and tool
to help reduce bill impacts that may come in handy.
So again, as I mentioned earlier
please visit sce.com/billhelp
or call 800-367-8851 for information on these resources.
Again, thank you for spending some time this evening.
I look forward to hearing your comments and your feedback.
-: Thank you, Mr. Snow.
You will now hear from the public advocates offices,
Menboob Aslam.
Going off the record for a second.
Can we please get the presentation pulled up?
Man: Your honor, I think with Stanford
we're getting the invitation put up.
Toy: Great. Okay.
Mr. Aslam are you ready?
Just let me go back on the record.
Okay. We'll back on the record.
Now that the presentation is ready,
we will hear from the public advocates office.
-: Good afternoon, everybody.
My name is Mehboob Aslam and I'm a (indistinct).
-: Sorry, off the record for a second.
Can we come in really choppy Mr. Aslam?
There...
-: Okay. Better now?
-: That's a lot better.
Still a little bit choppy though.
-: I am talking into the phone directly now,
I'm bringing the phone up to my mouth here.
-: Is that Jason?
-: Okay, back on the record, please continue Mr. Aslam.
-: Good afternoon folks, my name is Mehboob Aslam,
I'm a project lead
for California Public Utilities Commission.
We have an independent office
called Public Advocates Office
Today I would like to introduce PPI,
our Public Advocates Office (indistinct)
and just generate application.
Next slide please.
We're also known as Cal Advocates.
So we're an independent offfice within the CPUC
that represents the interest of ratepayers.
We are multidisciplinary staff
and with expertise engineering, economic,
accounting and finance.
Cal Advocates office view do not necessarily
reflect the Commission's view.
This is because we have an independent function
to perform in California Public Utilities Commission
and we are one of it's advocates.
Next slide, please.
Our mission is to obtain the lowest possible rate
for service consistent with reliable and safe service level.
As you can imagine, it's pretty tightrope to walk,
we have to make sure that the utilities are reliable
and they deliver reliable and safe water.
In the meantime,
we have to keep the rates as low as possible.
Next slide, please.
In this particular GRC, Cal Advocates
we'll be presenting our analysis in a form of a report
and the utility rate increase
we will analyze the utility rate increase request
and make recommendation on issues
considering in all general rate cases
including issues such as capital investment,
sales and great design, conservation and operating expenses,
low-income rate assistance, and the tax expenses.
Next slide, please.
At the end of our analysis,
we will be issuing a report that would be available
on our website after July 9th, 2021.
And our address, online address
is www.publicadvocates,
that's one word, .cpuc.ca.gov.
I'd like to repeat that address again.
It's www.publicadvocates, one word .cpuc.ca.gov.
And I really like to take this opportunity
that we're looking forward to hear
from our ratepayers in this particular proceeding.
Appreciate the opportunity.
Thank you.
-: Thank you, Mr. Aslam.
We will now hear from Bob Finkelstein for TURN.
Mr. Finkelstein, are you ready?
-: I am your honor. Thank you.
-: Right. Go ahead whenever.
-: Great. Good evening.
My name is Robert Finkelstein and I'm one of the attorneys
for The Utility Reform Network
which goes by the acronym of TURN, T-U-R-N.
TURN is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization
that focuses on utility issues.
We represent the interests of residential
and small business customers
of the state's major energy utilities.
-: Hang on.
Mr. Finkelstein sorry.
Off the record for a second.
Shannon, are you still there?
Shannon: You know what?
My screen is frozen, but I am here writing.
-: Okay.
Shannon: Can you hear me?
-: Now you're...
Yeah. So continue then. Shannon: Thank you, Judge.
Okay. Sorry about that, Mr. Finkelstein.
Go ahead. Back on the record.
Go ahead again whenever you're ready.
-: I'll continue.
Thank you, your honor.
In this proceeding, we want to see the Commission
adopt fair and reasonable rates
for Edison's Catalina Water Service
but without assigning costs of water utility service
to Edison's Electric Utility customers.
We think this can be achieved
through setting Edison's authorized cost recovery,
adjusting reasonable levels for its water service
and collecting amounts
from Catalina Island Water customers,
consistent with maintaining the affordability
of water service.
We also think that alternative sources of cost recovery
such as fees collected from Catalina Island visitors
would help offset the impact
on Catalina Island's residents and businesses.
Thank you very much
and we look forward to hearing your comments.
-: Thank you, Mr. Finkelstein.
We will now hear from the joint Catalina parties.
Going off the record for a second
until we can pull up the presentation.
Mr. Bishton, are you ready to give your presentation?
-: Yes, I am. (clears throat)
-: Okay. Just before you begin, I'd like to remind you.
Just try to keep it a little bit shorter
than the time.
-: I will try. Good evening.
-: Court reporter ready?
-: Yes your honor.
-: Good evening.
My name is- -: Back on the... Oh, sorry.
Hold on, back on the record.
Go ahead whenever you're ready Mr. Bishton
and remember to give instructions to change the slide.
-: Good evening.
My name is Norris Bishton,
I represent the Catalina parties whose names are there
on the screen.
City of Avalon
where 95% of the water ratepayers are located.
The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce
which represents almost all of the 220 some businesses
on Catalina Island.
The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy,
which owns 88% of the Island and is a source
of all of the non DSL water that is sold by Edison.
Guided Discoveries which run three of the eight camps
and represents all of the campgrounds.
I forgot they had one Santa Catalina Island company
which is... Owns the other 11% of the Island.
And it has many businesses on the Island.
And lastly, the Hamilton Cove Homeowners Association
which has 13% of the residential users on the Island
and some 30 commercial accounts
which is about 6% of the commercial.
I am not new to Catalina Island.
I've been... I've owned condos there since 1988.
I'm president of Hamilton Cove Homeowners Association
since 1998.
I represented various businesses
as an attorney on the Island.
And I was for 18 years
on the Board of the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy.
Next slide, please.
Catalina parties are not representing the interests
of any particular member of the group.
We are not advocating one group against another.
We are solely representing the interests
of all the water ratepayers.
The Catalina parties participated
in the last four-year long General Rate Case.
And we meet on a regular basis
to discuss and speak with one voice
concerning the water issues on Catalina.
Catalina parties are assisted by Brian Brady,
a professional engineer who was 35 years of engineering
and management experience in both the public
and private sectors of Western Electric and Water Utilities.
And early in his career was an employee
of Southern Catalina... Of the Edison.
Next slide, please.
Our goal is what is stated by all people
whoever talk about what does the goal of rate
and regulation adequate service
at reasonable rates without discrimination.
According to the California Supreme Court,
clean, safe and reliable water at reasonable rates
is what the CUPC says it stand for.
The key word there is reasonable.
Next slide please.
How does Southern Catalina Island Water company
compare to other water companies?
There were over a hundred water companies
regulated by the PUC.
One way to compare water companies
is to divide the revenue received
by the number of customers.
Water companies report this information
to the PUC every year in an annual report.
Edison is a Class C water company.
The following chart compares Edison's 2019 revenue
per customer to other Class C water company.
Next slide.
These are the largest 10 of the 19 Class C water companies.
By far the largest was 3,670,000,
top C 29 in revenue is Edison.
Edison's per customer rate is 1,822.
It is 184% higher
than the average of the other remaining Class C.
It is by far at the Island.
The Island ratepayers have the highest rates in California
including higher rates than all,
any of the Class A or Class B water utilities.
We pay the highest possible rates
that are assistance in California.
Next slide.
As the judge indicated, there are two separate plans.
The first plan is to pass $30 million in pass electric,
pass costs to the electric ratepayers.
So are nothing for the future.
This is for the past.
It would result in the year one revenue requirement
of 5,314,000
which would grow by year five to 10 million.
That would be a year one.
That would be 269% higher
than the average Class C ratepayer pays now.
Our customer, percentage of customer revenue
in the pilot.
By the time of year five, it'll be 500% higher.
Then what is the average revenue per customer?
Now that's a plan A we're gonna go ahead.
Plan A is the passing of 30,000...
$30 million of past costs to electric ratepayers
has been opposed by both Cal Advocates and by TURN.
Plan B... Next slide, please.
Plan B,
when the entire 30 million would be passed
on to Catalina ratepayers.
The revenue requirement would jump
from 5,777,000 in year one to $22 million in year five.
It would resolve in...
Compared to other water... Class C water companies
through almost a 300% increase in the first year
and 1117% increase in the second year.
The fifth year, pardon me.
Yeah, in terms of rates, we would...
Currently, typical rate would be...
Average rate would be about $75 and 84 cents.
And someone who uses this 2000 gallons a month
which is not much.
In year one, it would jump to $110.
And by year five, the monthly bill
for a resident using just 2000 gallons of water
would be $456.
It's astronomical.
In the words of TURN eye-popping amount of revenue.
You cannot... You have to carefully study.
The notice that was sent out by Edison
does not reflect in any way the impact.
Among other things they use as an average usage
1466 gallons per month, that's 47 gallons a day.
The capacity of a standard bathtub is only 42 gallons.
This means a four-person household would use 12 gallons
per person per day.
The average residential water use in California
is 85 gallons per person per day
but that includes flushing toilets.
It is just an astronomical amount of money
that's totally unpayable.
It would destroy the entire population and businesses
on Catalina at $456 a month for 2000 gallons of water.
Next slide, please.
Next slide.
I'm sorry.
I skipped one though.
The drought affected everybody.
During the drought Catalina Water ratepayers
were urge to reduce water usage by 25% by the Governors.
That was the goal.
They reduced it by 40%.
As a result, Edison did not receive the revenue
for the water they did not use.
Plan B requires Catalina ratepayers to pay $6 million,
plus 500,000 in interest for water they did not use
plus an additional 5 million in drought related expenses.
It is totally unreasonable and unfair
to first cause people to not use water
and then ask them to pay for it in the future.
We the Catalina parties totally opposed that.
Next slide.
The issue is water burden.
How much burden can people handle for water?
The average household income in California
according to the US Census Bureau is $106,000.
The average household income on Catalina Island
according to Edison and their application is $61,000.
The issue is how much water burden
can Catalina ratepayers bear
and are there other sources?
The other sources have been tapped over the years.
Catalina parties have been trying for 10 years
to try to find alternative sources.
There are no identifiable alternative services.
This is a investor owned utility.
The government doesn't provide money normally
to give us their own utilities.
We have some help from the cattle... From the...
With DCL from government entities,
but ongoing as residue will not be paid by other resources
including a fee and the ferry service that comes here.
I appreciate everybody's attention.
This is a major, major problem with water ratepayers
on Catalina Island.
Thank you for your attendance.
Thank you.
-: Thank you, Mr. Bishton.
You will now hear from members of the public.
To those who wish to speak, if you've not already done so
please press star one on your phone
and the operator will add you to the queue of speakers.
I remind you that if you participate as a speaker,
you will be recorded.
If you are not currently queued
at any time during the session
and you later decide you would like to speak,
a line will remain open for you to join.
Please provide the speaker
with your name and location.
Operates... Excuse me.
Please provide the operator with your name and location.
If you are a public officials,
please notify the operator of your title and position
in addition to your name.
Off the record for a second.
Mr. Bishton, I think you're not muted.
If you could please mute yourself.
Back on the record.
A reminder to those waiting on the phone,
please speak slowly and clearly
so that our court reporter
may accurately transcribe your comments
and the operator let's you know it is your turn to speak.
Please start your comments by providing your full name,
spelling your last name, and also providing your location.
We will be able to hear you best
if you speak directly into your phone or headset.
Please avoid having your phone on speaker
when you're providing comments.
Keep comments brief and concise
to ensure we can hear everyone.
Operator, are there any public officials on the line?
Operator: Not at this time?
-: Thank you.
Can you please call on the first person in the queue then?
Operator: The first speaker is Susan Miller.
Your line is open.
Susan: All right.
Susan Miller, M-I-L-L-E-R. Victorville.
Don't believe at this time can afford any increase.
So no on the increase. Thank you.
-: Thank you, Ms. Miller.
Could we have the next caller please, operator?
-: The next speaker is Mr. Whitehead, your line is open.
Mr. Whitehead: Hello?
I'm Mr. Whitehead of Bellflower, California.
And I'm calling
because I don't appreciate being told to save on power.
When I... From Ms. Jill C. Anderson,
senior vice president customer service,
occasionally sends me emails
when there's gonna be power issues.
And I don't appreciate that
because I get charged extra on my bill
because I don't use enough electricity.
So hopefully in time more infrastructure can be built.
And because it sounds like the state's transitioning
to electric cars.
So I understand the need for rates increase
but as far as that one goes, hopefully in time
we'll have sufficient infrastructure
for the population we've already got
and is possibly growing.
Thank you and good day.
-: Thank you Mr. Whitehead.
Could you please spell your name,
last name again for the transcriber?
-: One moment, your honor while I open up his line.
Sir, your line is open for spelling.
Mr. Whitehead: W-H-I-T-E-H-E-A-D.
-: Thank you.
Operator, are there any callers on the line?
-: There are no other callers at this time.
-: Okay, given that there are no other callers
that we have not yet run too long
and people may still be coming home from work,
we're going to take a short break until 7:00 pm
and we will come back at seven
to see if anybody else additionally has queued up
to provide comments.
Off the record.
Short break to allow other people to queue in
to provide public comments.
Operator, could you please call on the first caller?
Operator: A moment please.
Thank you.
Our first caller is Wayne Paysen.
Your line is open.
Wayne: Hi, my name is Wayne Paysen.
The last name is spelled P-A-Y-S-E-N.
And it's with the afternoon session
I feel compelled to underscore
for all the stakeholders, the practical consequences
of these proposals.
You have in some kind of,
I guess Southern California Edison company
with defacto monopoly on a utility no less
with billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Attempting to transfer the costs for capital investments
and operational costs for an isolated community
with low long-term residents
and essentially a vacation community
take their operational costs for water utilities
for that isolated region and transfer it
to users throughout Southern California
including unfortunately, those electrical users
who can least afford the extra burden.
We're talking about people who are on fixed income
because of their disability
or because of the retirement status
or people who are on very low income
with no real expectation for any wage increases
anytime in the near future.
And these are the very same people
who couldn't even begin to afford to take a trip
over to Catalina.
And yet they're being expected to cover the utility costs
for water for the Island.
I think that sort of a policy is not only unjust.
It's really unconscionable.
And again, if the infrastructure
on the Island is so unmanageable
that the only alternatives
are either to increase the electrical utility rates
for the force among us
throughout the Southern California Edison's region
or an astronomical increase
for what few residents there are on Catalina itself
then I think an entirely new model needs to be considered.
Thank you, your honor for you (indistinct) to speak today.
-: Thank you Mr. Paysen.
Before we get to the next call,
I'd like to remind people on the line,
if you'd like to make comments
please press star one.
Operator, could you please call him the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker is James Turner.
Your line is open.
James: Hello, your honor and Board.
My name is James Turner, T-U-R-N-E-R.
I live in La Habra.
It has been my experience
as a Southern California Edison customer for 50 years
that there are continual petitions
regardless of the economic climate
in particular several recessions recently.
The company has eliminated middle tiers
of their rates years ago.
So customers living the bottom tier
which is equivalent to about running a refrigerator
and a light bulb are taken immediately
into the upper tiers of consumption.
I had solar panels put on my roof six or seven years ago.
I am still charged by Southern California Edison
for generation and delivery fees
even though the power coming off my roof
I'm still a victim of the blackout or a brownout
that still affects me.
Southern California Edison has been shown
to be and admitted to be at fault
for several recent California fires
which belies their safety and liability claims
and these reparations don't affect
the company's bottom line.
They just pass those costs on to consumers.
Which top company officer or stockholders
actually felt any of those impacts their current dividends.
5%, I'm sure the CFO and CEO
haven't taken any cuts in salary.
One of your speakers, Mr. Bishton
noted that the Catalina customers
are encouraged to reduce consumption by 25%.
They in fact did it by 40% and the result
is they're going to be...
They're gonna be rewarded with the highest rates
in California.
We found the same thing to be true in Orange County.
We were asked to cut consumption several years ago,
we did it.
And I'm sure enough, we got a rate hike
for doing exactly what we were asked to do.
My last comment is why would I pay for Catalina Water?
I visited maybe two or three times.
One of the proposals was to have visitors
pick up some of the slack.
And that's a good idea.
I think if Edison can't make the infrastructure work there,
they should be given another company
that does start forest fires
and then expect their consumers to pay for the penalties.
Thank you for listening. Goodnight.
-: Thank you, Mr. Turner.
Operator, can we please have the next speaker?
-: The next speaker is Brenton Nielson.
Your line is open.
-: Good evening.
Nielson: My name is Brenton Nielson, N-I-E-L-S-O-N.
And I'm the site manager
at Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island.
I'd like to thank you all for the opportunity to speak.
I was able to attend the public hearing earlier this morning
and a little bit about us.
We run a camp on the westend of Catalina Island.
Our property sees youth groups
from February until November every year
and like other camps, we've made extreme efforts
to conserve water over the last 10 years.
We've replaced our faucets, shower heads.
We put metered valves in our sinks, our showers,
we've put new meters in locations
so that we can locate access usage.
Through these efforts,
we were able to dramatically reduce our annual water usage.
This price increase will be detrimental to our business
and offering program in the future to youth.
We've not been able to have business
on our property in over a year due to COVID-19
and that's put extreme financial strain on our business.
One thing I wanted to talk about
is that early in our property,
we purchased our own a water tank
to supply pressure to our fire system in our camp.
And in 2014, our well on the westend of our Island,
which was located in another camp called Helen's Landing
had saltwater intrusion.
And for weeks, we had to serve our campers bottled water.
Over the next year, we would continue to pump this water
through our water tank that we bought our fire system,
our showers, sinks, toilets, sewer systems, water heaters
and there's been irreversible damage to a lot of our faucets
and appliances.
On Edison's online and to our camp,
I've received several calls every year
from hikers and boaters that the galvanized pipe
coming into our property is leaking.
And at this point it is more clients than it is pipe.
I understand this is not a meeting to discuss these details
but I want to echo some of the things that I've heard
about paying for a continued safe and reliable water.
I'm not aware of safe and reliable water.
And I've personally had to install filters
on every building off of Edison's meter
before it hits our tank because of the debris in the line.
With the other price increases to the Island,
it did little to repair our water situation,
and I'm concerned that adding more money
will do little to fix a situation we have,
and what's happened in the past.
Thank you.
-: Thank you, Mr. Nielson.
Operator, can you please call me next caller?
Operator: The next speaker is Neidine Newman.
Your line is open.
Newman: Hi, my name's Nieidin Newman, N-E-W-M-A-N.
I live in San Dimas, California.
This is my first time listening to one of these meetings
and I'm just appalled actually.
I'm in 100% agreement with the last three callers,
but what I wanted to say for myself personally
is having gone through a pandemic
that the whole world has gone through
and many of us are out of work
or we've lost one or more incomes in our household
and now our children are home
which is increasing utility costs
and we're struggling even more to pay our bills.
And now we're expected
to cover the cost of the Edison problem
that is not our own.
And I'm just appalled
because we get rate increases every single year practically
and we just can't afford to do it anymore
with the lack of income that we have right now
because of the pandemic.
And I just wanna say, I am not for this increase.
I think that it's something that Edison needs to work on
with Catalina Southern California
or all of California, shouldn't have to pay
for the problems that you have with your infrastructure.
Thank you very much.
-: Thank you for calling in.
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
Operator: There is a speaker.
It is Tenaya Jolly Bin Cohen Your line is open.
Tenaya: Hi, can everybody hear me well?
-: Yeah.
Tenaya: Okay.
I have to be honest with you.
The raising of the rates is just totally unacceptable.
I have been suffering.
-: Sorry, hang on. There is a little bit-
Tenaya: Can you hear me better.
-: I'm not sure if it's you, or if it's from somewhere else.
Tenaya: Can you hear me better?
-: Off the record for a second.
Tenaya: Hello?
-: Is there's someone speaking behind you? Hello?
Tenaya: No. It's TV. I will turn it off.
Can you hear me now?
-: Yes, that's much better.
And when we get back on the record
please start with your name,
spelling your last name for our court reporter.
Tenaya: All right.
-: Court reporter ready?
Court Reporter: Yeah.
-: Back on the record, please continue.
Tenaya: Hi, I'm Tenaya Jolly Bin Cohen
and I live in Monrovia, California.
This is just really unacceptable.
I have been struggling paying the electric bill for...
Since February of 2019.
Originally I was supposedly on your Care Act
and for some reason they kept taking me off
without notification.
And on top of that, most of us are disabled in our house
especially my mother who needs the energy
in order to curb machines in order to keep her breathing.
And I've had moments where they shut off the power
and I had tried to cover and just take money from my rent
in order to cover the electric bill.
And I... It's amazing because I keep the last time
you guys had this type of conference,
I called in and I know what's on the record
for that previous one.
And they told me to speak with Mr. Aguilar.
I called him since that conference.
I called him for three months straight.
He didn't call me back once, not once.
And that was back when my bill was $1,000.
My current electric bill is almost $4,000.
That is more than my rent
and nobody has been trying to help me.
I have exhausted all of the so-called programs
and outside help that was supposedly
supposed to be offered to me.
And I stated at a previous conference for this
in the start of the pandemic
when you guys were to go to try to raise the rates.
And I'm just... It's just, it's amazing to me
that they're still trying to raise the rates
when the pandemic is not even over.
There are people that have lost their jobs.
I've taken... I've suffered extensive pay cuts.
My husband lost his job.
We are struggling way more than we were before.
I know you guys have to agree $4,000,
almost $4,000 for an electric bill.
They should've been resolved.
The problem should have been resolved a long time ago.
I kept making payments.
For some reason... I live in a...
It's under 1100 square feet townhouse,
and my monthly bills is almost $500 a month
and we don't have,
we only have two TVs and one AC and a refrigerator.
And that's it.
We barely... We keep...
We kept bothering, we use different programs
in order to track for electric
and they have like a ward systems as well.
We've done all of that to monitor our electricity.
I've called an ask several times
for somebody to come out and check our meter.
And they kept saying it's electric and that they can see it
but there has to be some kind of cloth wiring
that would turn our electric bill into 500,
almost $500 a month.
It's ridiculous.
My townhouse could not possibly
put out that much electricity,
it's anything small, (indistinct) townhouse.
And I'm just...
I'm to be honest with you, it's absolutely ridiculous
to sit in the space for them to still try to raise the rate
especially during a pandemic.
I'm sorry.
It's not...
I apologize for my anger.
I'm just really upset that nothing was resolved.
I know that there's a problem with the electricity.
Nobody's tried to help me.
And last time I spoke on a conference
they said to speak
to some of the representative Mr. Aguilar,
that was supposed to be there
to help to resolve this problem.
And he just... He didn't call me back at all.
Nothing. I called him for three months straight.
No call back.
I emailed too. No write back.
I called his office.
I called people that were supposedly working under him
saying that they would reference the message, nothing.
So I honestly, I feel like Edison does not care
about any of their customers.
They only care about profits
and getting as much money out of people
that can barely pay as toxic.
And for you to raise the rates is appalling.
I'm done.
-: Ms. Tenaya Bin Cohen.
Did I pronounce that right?
Tenaya: Tenaya, yes.
-: Please contact our public advisor's office?
I don't know if you have the WebEx up.
Operator, can you please call on the next caller?
Operator: The next speaker is Neidine Newman,
your line is open.
Newman: Oh no, I was... I already did it.
I already spoke pass.
-: Okay. Operator, is there anyone else on the line?
Operator: Yes, your honor.
One moment while I get their name.
-: Oh, sorry.
Back on the record. Apologies.
Operator: The next caller is Nicole Hohenstein.
Your line is open.
Nicole: Hi, my name is Nicole Hohenstein.
It's H-O-H-E-N-S-T-E-I-N.
And I am the general manager of the Holiday Inn Resort
on Catalina Island and also the Catalina Island Inn
and I've been a resident for the...
On the Island for the last six years.
If we go ahead with these prices, with the water,
I don't know how our business will survive.
We pay anywhere from eight to $15,000 a month
as it is right now with the water
and with the increases,
I don't know how we could keep going with our water.
I would hate to have to go back.
Our prices are already high enough
'cause it costs so high to come to the Island
and now we're gonna have to put the cost of the water prices
on our guests who are already paying a good dollar amount
to come to the Island.
So I don't think this is something we should be doing.
There's bonding.
There's other ways that we can look at doing this.
I understand that Edison wants to get,
make up the money that they've lost
but they asked us to cut back
and we cut back and we cut back big time at the businesses.
And now they're gonna come back and hurt us.
And I really think there needs to be other options
or ways to do this.
So it doesn't come out of the businesses
and for the poor residential
because the residents who are averaging $74 going to $224,
I don't know how they can do that a month.
It's just... It's gonna be really hard
and I really think Edison needs to rethink this.
Thank you and that's it.
-: Thank you.
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
Operator: I show no other speakers.
-: Okay. If anyone's on the line, please press star one now,
if you would like to make comments.
I'm go off the record for a second.
Transcriber, do you have anything else
you need at this point?
Transcriber: Your honor, are you talking to me?
-: Yes. Sorry.
Transcriber: Al right. -: Jenny.
Transcriber: I'm all good. We're good.
Thank you.
-: Okay, it looks like we got a caller
so we'll go back on the record now.
Operator, could you please call on the speaker?
Thank you.
Operator: Yes. The first speaker is Laura Vandezande.
Your line is open.
Laura: Hello. My name is Laura Vandezande.
V as in Victor, A-N-D-E-Z as in zebra, A-N-D-E.
Hello, your honor and Board.
Thank you for taking my call.
I'm a teacher in Avalon.
Many of the residents here
are low to middle income families.
Some people have an image of Catalina as a resort town
filled with fancy homes and people with money.
The reality is many people here
are working two to three jobs
and they live with extended families in one small apartment.
Avalon's water rates are already disproportionately high.
During the drought, we as a community came together
and reduced our water usage significantly
as we were asked to.
It wasn't easy.
Now we are being punished so Edison can recoup their costs,
their lost income during that time.
And this is just not acceptable.
Edison, which has a monopoly on the utilities on the Island
is proposing these astronomical rate increases
and individuals cannot afford these increases as proposed.
Here in Avalon we are a small community
of less than 4,000 people.
We're literally isolated on an Island by ourselves.
Unlike any other community in Southern California,
we have no other options for our water resources.
Our small communities simply cannot bear the burden
of these costs alone.
And I just appreciate you
considering the individuals in Avalon,
as you make a decision about this rate increase.
Thank you very much for your time.
-: Thank you Ms. Vandezande.
Operator, could you please call on the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker is Sean Laws O'Neill.
Your line is open.
Sean: Hello, your honor and everyone.
This is... My name is Sean Laws O'Neil.
Last name is Laws, L as in Larry,
A as in Apple, W as in William, S as in Sam,
next word O'Neill.
O apostrophe, N as in Nancy, E-I-L as in Larry.
This is my first time attending one of these meetings.
And I'm appalled that SCE even proposing these increases.
My senior citizen mother already has a bill that comes in
and there's astronomical increases when nothing has changed
in her activity and nothing has changed in our activity.
And so now to try and get even more increases
from everybody just in itself
is appalling to be honest with you.
That on top of the fact
that we are already in an economic crisis
and potentially going into a recession,
then you have so many people out of work.
It seems to me that there should be a way for SCE
just like everybody else has done
to cut into their bottom line.
It might be that they're...
Unfortunately, their executives
might not be able to get bonuses,
their shareholders might have to cut back on some things
to incur these costs
because it's not fair to pass it on to SCE,
people that have SCE in general at large,
across Southern California
where are we having to take on this burden that's not ours.
And also as a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter
of Portuguese descendants who used to work
and live on the Catalina Island years ago.
I also understand and appreciate
the previous caller that the people that are actually live
on that Island and work on that Island
are not rich by any means
and cannot afford to incur this burden as well.
So I don't know what the solution is.
Maybe if someone earlier suggested
maybe it's for people that are going to the Island
maybe there's a simple, you know, some sort of tax
almost like hotels have taxs some places,
'cause if you're buying a ticket, if you're going over
then you're incurring that cost
because the reality is that
not all of us go over to Catalina.
And so why are we having to take on that burden?
Although I do appreciate wanting to make sure
that everybody over there that's living over there
as well as guests over there have the proper electricity,
proper drinking water, and obviously clean drinking water
because we know that that can be a problem
as we've seen in Flint Town, Flint, Michigan,
and several other places.
So, but I think that having this burden go on
to the community at large and even onto the individuals
that live in Catalina, that's unacceptable
and that SCE needs to figure out a different plan.
And in my opinion, they need to take on some of these costs
for their own and cut into their profit margin.
I thank you for your time.
-: Thank you Ms. Laws O'Neill.
Operator, could you please call the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker is Steven Miller.
Your line is open.
Stephen: Hi, my name is Stephen Miller, M-I-L-L-E-R.
I live in Victorville, California.
I attended Camp Cherry Valley as a boy scout 40 years ago.
The only time I've ever been to the Island, beautiful place.
I reciprocate everything
all the previous callers had to say,
as it increases at this point,
especially at this point in our economy and time,
the pandemic has just really out of control.
I also have a solar customer.
I put solar on my house 12 years ago.
I pay fat Edison bills at the end of every year.
I economize my electricity use big time.
I turn off lights, I burn candles.
I don't even use my air conditioner.
I put a swamp cooler in
and still pay big fat cheques
to Edison within every single year
even with solar on my house
and yeah to increase rates during a pandemic, come on, man.
It's out of control.
It's really just out of control.
Edison needs to get a grip and then take some of the losses
especially the loss of the their fault
for fires and stuff like that.
That's where everybody to just have to pay
for their mistakes is just wrong.
It's just wrong and ever since the word.
So, yeah, I had a big time vote no for this increase.
So thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
-: Thank you, Mr. Miller.
Operator, could we please have the next speaker.
Operator: Next speaker is Laurie givens.
Your line is open.
Laurie: Hi, this is Laurie Givens.
The surname is spelled G-I-V as in Victor, E-N-S.
First, thank you for allowing me to comment.
It is my first time as well.
I've listened to a lot of comments
and overwhelmingly agree
that you know these proposed rate increases
are beyond agregious.
I am incredibly just baffled
that there is a school of thought
that it would even be remotely appropriate
to pass this financial burden onto the customers.
I know my family, you know our ourselves
have gone to great strides,
taken great strides to be very conscientious
and to reduce our water consumption in particular.
And to think that proposing these rates
is something that would be acceptable
is just beyond the wildest of imagination.
So I would say 100% adamantly that
I am absolutely against this.
And I do believe that SCE needs to really go back
and rethink this.
And I think I heard earlier some of the comments
where it isn't just about maintaining profit margins.
Sometimes you do have to take one for the team
as we, the customers have
and maybe it's time for SCE to consider that as well.
Thank you very much.
-: Thank you, Ms. Givens.
Operator, could we please have the next speaker?
Operator: Next speaker is Bart Glass.
Your line is open.
Bart: Hi, I'm Bart Glass.
I've lived on the Island about 35 years.
We've all gone through the same things here.
Drought, drought, drought.
I know when Hamilton first started,
they donated a diesel plant to Edison.
They gave him a million, 750 to run that plant
which they never did.
They let it sit and rot.
And then the city dumping more money into the diesel,
which finally we're making diesel water.
But again, we have no place to store it.
It doesn't seem like anyone's looked ahead.
We were told for years to save water
or any customers we had to be Island
were told to save water.
Everyone had, and you simply didn't have the commodity
to sell us.
But since you didn't have the commodity to sell us
now you supposedly can just raise the rates on us
because there's...
You didn't make enough money during that time.
My business personally
has been closed about five and a half months
out of the last year.
I can't tell you how much we've lost
and things we've had to sell just to try to stay alive.
And raising water rates on all of us
will be one of the final nails in the coffin for Avalon.
You...
The amounts of money that you're talking about here
are raising two and three and 400% over the years is insane.
I think like anyone else,
if you didn't have something to sell us,
we sure as heck shouldn't be responsible
for paying you for something you didn't have.
I just can't tell you
how much I think it will do to our economy
and all of our businesses and our livelihoods
and those that don't live here and come out
and use the Island
and have a hard time holding onto what they have.
I think it all needs to be reconsidered.
And you know, like the last call said,
hey, you gotta take one once in a while as well
'cause we've all taken one.
Our businesses are all shot to hell
and no, we can't just raise the rates on everyone.
That's all I've got to say.
Have a nice day.
Thanks for listening. -: Thank you.
Mr. Glass, could you please spell your last name
for the court reporter?
Bart: G-L-A-S-S, Glass.
-: Thank you for your call. Bart: Thank you.
-: A reminder if anyone's on the line and wishes to speak
please press star one.
Operator, could you please pull up the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker is Brenda Claros.
Your line is open.
Brenda: Hi, my name is Brenda Claros.
Last name is spelled C-L-A-R-O-S
and I would just like to say,
just like everyone has mentioned earlier,
voting no on this increase the Socal Edison
is just something that a lot of residents
throughout California are dealing with right now.
And it's, especially during the pandemic
it's not something that is useful for our communities.
And especially like if there's people working from home
and also like if you have little ones at home
and just so many things going on right now,
just utilities are already a monopoly right now.
And right now it's kind of hard to get the residents
any options as it is.
We have been assigned Socal Edison to certain areas
in Carlifornia and whatever rates they choose to raise
is what we end up having to pay upfront.
So it's hard on our community and our families right now
during our pandemic.
It's still ongoing and the rates are constantly increasing
and there's no accountability or proof of those improvements
or of what that money is being used for.
If Catalina Island is an issue,
maybe there's another way that we can see
how that can be resolved
and also the residents there as well
should have like a system
where something should be in place.
And also talking about how Socal Edison
having to now go through that
and have to put the bill for that expense as well
is something that is, just right now not a great timing
especially during the pandemic.
And it's just...
It gets people kind of worried about their income
and, you know right now with businesses closing
and things like that it's just the water and powers
are necessities for our communities.
And it's just kind of getting...
It's getting harder for folks to be able to provide that,
if there's an uncertainty
within their income or their families.
So that's another thing that I would say.
Just having the utility companies,
thinking a little bit closer
about how they can use that infrastructure
to fix some of those problems like that can be change
within their company without having customers
have to get an increase in their monthly bill.
So that's one way that I would say,
something that thinks about
and I vote no on this rate increase.
Thank you.
-: Thank you.
Operator, could we please have the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker is Gail Fornasiere
Your line is open.
Gail: Hi, thank you.
My name is Gail Fornasiere.
I worked for a nonprofit on the Island
and of course like many, everyone has suffered.
I worked for a museum that's been closed
for almost a whole year.
And for the museum side of things,
there was no way we can afford
to have these kinds of increases.
We're trying to do great things for the community
and offer services when others,
when people can't afford to do them
especially after this pandemic
and to kind of raise these rates is really devastating.
But also for me personally,
I've lived on the Island for 14 years
and it's always been home
into all people who live here to conserve water
and be conscious and all that.
And it's amazing what Islanders have done to do so.
And then two, it doesn't really matter
because in the end you either get punished
because you've used too much water
or you get punished because you haven't used enough water.
And so it can't be both ways.
It seems like on the Island
that the Edison seems tends to make improvements and stuff
which is great, but they tend to do it in the wrong way
where they do it first
and then ask for these rate increases afterwards.
And it just is not the right way to do things.
I mean, there's so much suffering,
especially now after the pandemic.
Well, I agree with what Bark Glass' comments were,
there are businesses that have closed, but if you...
If these rate increases are to be imposed,
then there's certainly more dire things
that are gonna happen to some businesses here on the Island.
And we should be also looked at
as a benefit for the state of California
and its residents and all the things that we offer as well.
So it's super unfair
and they really need to think about their business model.
Obviously, they wanted to sell the water
but since that didn't happen
now we're just gonna continue to get punished.
It just doesn't seem right.
And I really hope
that you'll consider the people who live here
and provide a great getaway
for people all over the country and the world. Thanks.
-: Ms. Fornasiere, could you please spell your last name
for the court reporter?
Gail: Yes. F as in Frank, O-R-N as in Nancy,
A-S as in Sam, I-E-R-E.
-: Great. Thank you for your comments.
Gail: Thanks.
-: Operator, could you please call him the next speaker?
Operator: The next speaker
is City of Avalon council member, Lisa Lavelle.
Your line is open.
Lavelle: Thank you.
And thank you, judge again for being here this evening
and hearing the comments both from ratepayers
throughout Southern California and the City of Avalon.
I did speak earlier today,
but just didn't wanna bring up the fact
in terms of funding and looking at ways
that the City of Avalon is trying to partner with Edison.
We were able to gain disadvantaged community status.
And because of that Prop 1 funds
funded a large number of projects
that did not have to come out of Edison's pocket.
I think that that's something
that is being massively overlooked
when it comes to some of these requests for rate increases
and that we have tried and are continuing to try
and will continue to do so to partner with Edison,
to ensure that what we're doing is making sense for everyone
and going after grant funds,
that we as a city are able to access
to help improve the water system on the Island.
So there a $10 million grant fund when,
from the Prop 1 money that just to place
a couple of years ago,
and I began once COVID starts happening
that project will commence.
But there are things that I think
are not being addressed here
and an overburden on the public being put in place
for, again, as Ms. Fornasiere Gail just mentioned.
The amount of things that are being completed
and asked to be paid for after the fact
or you over-performed at saving water.
And now we're asking you to pay more again.
So I'll keep my comments brief this time.
And I thank you for your time once again
and also just had one quick question.
I know you had mentioned
that public comments can still be made on the website.
I wondered how long those public comments
were being accepted.
And also if people wanted to provide public comment
in writing or over the phone in Spanish,
how they might do that.
Thank you so much.
Oh, and my last name is Lavelle.
L-A-V as in Victor, E-L-L-E.
Thank you.
-: Thank you, Council Member Lavelle.
Off the record for a second.
Public advocates... Public advisor's office,
I believe comments can be submitted
for the duration of the proceeding, correct?
Alison: Hi, this is Alison Brown.
Yes. I'm public advisor with the Commission.
Yes, so public comments are accepted in any form
until the application is voted out.
So throughout the duration.
Lavelle: That's at least 2022
is what it sounded like on the earlier call, correct?
Alison: It varies depending on the schedule of this
but yes, once the schedule is determined,
you'll be able to the online how long it is,
but yes, throughout the duration of it.
I'm not sure what the estimated is.
I don't know
-: Projected right now is 2022, early 2022. Okay.
Lavelle: Okay.
Alison: And then you can submit comments via...
You can send an email to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
Lavelle: Okay.
Alison: Or you can in any language.
And we will translate comments that come in
that are not in English.
Lavelle: Okay.
Alison: That's probably the easiest way.
We do also have a phone line,
but that gets a little more complicated
and comments can also be submitted to our docket card
and that information you can find on our website
but you can also email questions
to the public advisor email address
as can anyone who's listening to this comments
or any questions
and we'll help direct you to the right place
if it's not us.
Lavelle: Perfect.
I did send an email just tonight
at the beginning of the proceeding,
asking those questions as well.
So if you'd be able to reply back to me
with that phone number information,
many of the public comments in Spanish
they may not be as comfortable providing an email
or a typewritten message,
but would be happy to leave public comment verbally
on a phone message.
And I'd love to be able to get that out to the community
if we could please.
Alison: Absolutely and I apologize.
I should have the numbers (indistinct).
Lavelle: Oh, no, that I okay.
But on the email response is fine.
No rush.
This is fine.
We have plenty of time. Thank you.
Alison: (indistinct) To respond to that
and says it out loud.
And the number is on the screen
that steps for admin monitor for this right now.
Lavelle: Okay. Perfect.
I will copy that. Thank you.
(indistinct)
-: This is the ALJ regarding your earlier comments
in the prior PPH
about having another public participation hearing.
We looked and it looked logistically fairly difficult
to have another one, but we are exploring various ways
that we can somehow increase notice and attention
to this proceeding on the Island.
So we hope to work on that
and working with the public advisor's office on that.
Lavelle: Perfect. Thank you.
I appreciate you both.
And I appreciate your time and work on that.
If we can make it happen, great.
If not, we can at least get the phone number
and email contact information out to everyone
who would like to provide further comment.
I know that many have already come online tonight
and have gone online to provide written comment as well.
So I appreciate that.
Thank you.
-: Okay. Court reporter ready? Okay.
We'll go back on the record.
Off the record we discussed with Council Member Lavelle
various ways that the public can continue to provide comment
on this proceeding,
whether it's the online to our docket card
at cpc.ca.gov/A2010018comments
or by contacting the public advisor's office
in any language at public.advisor@cpc.ca.gov
or calling 186-684-98390.
We also discussed that an earlier comment made
by the council member about the possibility
of holding public participation hearing.
And we stated that we were considering other methods
for increasing notice
of this proceeding on the Island.
Operator, are there any additional callers on the line?
Operator: I do have another speaker
and that is Thomas Salinas
with Catalina Island Vacation Rentals.
Your line is open.
Thomas: Hi there.
This is Thomas.
Thank you for the hearing and for your work here.
A little bit echoing on what Lisa had to say.
You know, we really do as a community,
try to not take advantage of any of our situations.
And rather than that we're trying to kind of
cause everything like all boats to rise
and right now we have problems with water.
We have a dual sewer system.
I understand that that infrastructure bears on Lisa's plate
and on SCE's plate.
But seriously in the interruption on the weekend
in water service can cost the city thousands of dollars
in tax revenue like per hour.
So after coming out of this pretty crippling situation
that I understand that everyone is going through
and not just us,
I just feel like it's a really tough time
when we just got some interruptions recently
to a really big project in town.
I don't...
I just hope that we can keep the community
who actually lives there and pays the bills
to be able to make it work
because sometimes a lot of the community members
are really stretched
and have been very adversely affected
by lack of tourism, which was kind of...
It kind of affects everybody
because that's our only industry.
So, for them to be hit right now
it's a little bit of a tough bill to sell.
But the... I mean even businesses
can't really absorb the proposed increases
on top of everything with that we've done
with drought migration.
And we started that even before the pandemic.
And now this has really, really restrained our economy.
And I think maybe if it's possible,
Edison could find a better system
for managing the Island's services.
And I'm sure that all of the council members
and city representatives would be open
to trying to find a better way.
If we need to go back to putting little...
What we used to do with as a vacation rental company,
we use to put in little timers,
like a little hourglass timers in every shower.
We say, like, turn it over
and that's how much time you have to shower.
And we're using low flow
and we're trying to figure all that out.
But I think it's kind of at this point,
I would hope that it's on SCE's shoulders
to kind of work with us to find a better system
rather than increasing rates
maybe increasing productivity or decreasing costs.
Like let's talk about that possibly.
So I think all of the appropriate channels
are already established and understood,
but that was my point.
And thank you for hearing me.
-: Thank you, Mr. Salinas.
Operator, are there any additional speakers?
Operator: There are no speakers at this time.
-: Okay. I think we have time for one more caller.
So if you'd like to speak, please press star one now
and keep your comments brief.
Off the record for a second.
Court Reporter Jason,
do you need anything else assuming no one else calls in.
Court Reporter: No Judge, we're all good.
Thank you.
-: Thanks.
Okay. Back on the record.
Operator, are there any additional callers?
Operator: There are no additional callers.
-: Okay. Thank you to everyone who participated today.
We will be closing
the public comment portion of this hearing.
If you would like to provide additional comments,
you may submit written comments
on the docket card for this proceeding,
which can be found on the Commission's website
at cpuc.ca.gov/A2010018comments.
For assistance with providing additional comments,
please contact the Commission's public advisor's office
at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
This concludes this evening's public participation hearing.
We will now be off the record.