WEBVTT
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Welcome to the
California Public Utilities
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Commission public voting meeting
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on Thursday, August 19th 2021.
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Today's call is being recorded.
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If you have any objections,
you may disconnect at this time.
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President Batjer, you may proceed.
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Thank you very much, operator.
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Good morning, everyone.
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We need to establish a quorum.
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Will the agenda clerk
please call the roll?
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Commissioner Houck?
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Here.
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Commissioner Shiroma?
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Present.
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Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
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I'm here.
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Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
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Here.
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President Batjer.
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Here.
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We have established a quorum. Thank you.
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Welcome to the California
Public Utilities Commission.
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I am calling this meeting
of August 19th, 2021,
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Public Agenda item number...
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Excuse me, Public Agenda
number 3491, to order.
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Due to the coronavirus pandemic,
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and the Shelter-in-Place Order,
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we're conducting today's
business meeting online
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and by remote participation.
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The meeting is live streamed
on the CPUC website.
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You can view the meeting at
www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc.
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Adminmonitor is all one word.
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Closed captioning is available
in English and Spanish
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through the webcast.
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You can click on the green button
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to select your language of choice.
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We also have Spanish
interpretation available
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during the public comment
portion of today's meeting.
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Dial 800-857-1917, passcode 3799627,
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and follow the instructions
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to be connected to the Spanish line.
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I ask that my colleagues and
today's speakers remain mindful
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and speak clearly and slowly.
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I will also occasionally
pause myself for translation.
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Claudia?
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(Claudia speaking in foreign language)
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Thank you.
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Public engagement is
critical to the CPUC process.
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If you wish to make a public comment,
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dial into 800-857-1917
and enter passcode 9899501
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and press star one.
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You will be placed into a queue
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and the operator will take your name
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and information if appropriate.
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You will be called upon to speak
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when we get to the public
comment period in today's agenda.
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If you encounter difficulty calling
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into the public telephone
line, please email,
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votingmeetinghelp@cpuc.ca.gov.
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Votingmeetinghelp is all one word.
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We will now turn to public comments.
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If you wish to make a public comment
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and you have already dialed
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into the public comment telephone line,
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please press star one to get
into the public comment queue.
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CPUC rules do not allow
for parties in proceedings
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to speak about open proceedings.
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The public can make
comments addressing items
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on the consent and regular agenda,
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as well as items not on today's agenda.
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Please note that there
will not be public comment
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on item 33, and all items on
the closed session agenda.
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You will have one minute to speak.
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You will hear a bell
sound when your time is up.
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Let me repeat that.
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You will have one minute to speak.
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You will hear a bell
sound when your time is up.
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Please be mindful of
other speakers in the queue
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and keep to your allotted time.
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As a reminder, again, please
speak clearly and slowly
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to accommodate the Spanish interpreters
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who are available during
the public comment portion
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of today's meeting.
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With that guidance, I
welcome today's speakers.
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And I will now turn to the operator
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to open the public
comment telephone line.
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Operator?
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Thank you.
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The public comment
telephone line is now open.
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If you wish to speak during
the public comment period,
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please press star one, unmute your phone
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and clearly record your name
and organization when prompted.
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Our first caller is Joan Taylor.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning. Thank you.
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I am an individual and a voter
and just want to speak again
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in favor of rooftop solar
with energy storage.
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PV is a transformational
technology like the cell phone
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and it does not have
to be tethered to wires.
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Please don't buy into
the utilities numbers.
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There's not a $3 billion cost shift.
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According to your own studies,
it is more like 500 million,
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which is less than 2%
of the required income
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for the utilities.
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you.
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Operator, the next caller please.
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Our next
caller is David McCord.
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You may go ahead.
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Hi, this is David McCord.
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I'm a rate payer in El Cerrito.
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And then, this Commission is
working in several proceedings
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that deal with the local
rooftop solar and storage,
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that those need to be accelerated.
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And indeed that the incentivized
local solar and storage
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will create more jobs and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Check at the analysis,
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that by vibrant clean energy,
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they've done a really in depth
study of this and thank you.
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Thank you, Mr. McCord.
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Operator, the next caller, please.
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Our next caller
is Kathy Betts with BCEBC.
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You may go ahead.
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Hello. Yes, my
name is Kathy Betts.
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I'm with Vermont Boston
Economic Development Corporation.
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We have received a grant from CPUC,
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so thank you very much for that.
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It has helped us with
our digital learning.
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We teach youth and
individuals in South LA area
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in software engineering, web development
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and digital marketing,
and we then hire them
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through a company called Marty
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in which they are able to build websites
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and digital marketing
for the small businesses.
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I've come here actually
to ask for support
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in regards to helping
to close the digital divide
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with adoption to broadband,
access and infrastructure.
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Though we did receive the grant
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and we are supposed to
be helping our community
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to get access, we don't
really have any support
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in how to do so, in any
links, any digital literacy.
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I mean, any literature on how to do so.
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So that would really be helpful for us.
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Again, Kathy Betts with Vermont Boston
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Economic Development Corporation.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Operator, the next caller please.
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Our next
caller is Scott Moore.
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You may go ahead.
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Hi, good morning.
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This is in regards to a
notice from Liberty Utilities
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that was sent over to the CPUC.
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Liberty is requesting a
rate increase of over 40%
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to our little community
starting January 21st.
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Well, I lost my home in
the Mountain View Fires
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that the reason is still
under investigation,
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but it is looking like
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it's a downed power line from Liberty.
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And the reason for the request
of rate increase from Liberty
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is to perform wildfire mitigation work.
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And I feel like this should
have been done prior
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to us losing and a lot of
our members of community
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losing our home.
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So I would respectfully ask you
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to consider this rate
increase consideration
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of our community when
making the decision.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Operator, the next caller, please.
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Our next
caller is Laurie Buckles.
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You may go ahead.
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Hello, my
name is Laurie Buckles.
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We lost our home in
the Mountain View Fire
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in November of 2020 also.
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We will now have two mortgages
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to simply just to replace what we had.
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We're not trying to build
anything spectacular.
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Our homeowners insurance
has gone up from 900 a year
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to 3000 a year now.
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Because they state now
that we're in a fire zone.
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We are on a fixed income,
my husband is on disability
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and I cannot go to my employer
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and request a 40% pay
increase to cover this 40%
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that Liberty feels we should pay.
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And bottom line is we are anticipating
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our monthly expenses to go
up by seven to $1,000 a month.
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I don't know where they think
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that we're gonna get that from.
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Every month due to
this Mountain View Fire...
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Anyway, in addition to...
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I will stop now. Thank
you for your time.
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Thank you for your call.
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Operator, the next caller, please.
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And our next
caller is Liz Campos.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning.
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I'm Liz Campos from
Westside Community Council
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in Ventura, California.
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And I'm here to
remind you that the city,
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the Westside of the city of Ventura
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that is constantly threatened
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by SoCalGas' proposed
compressor station expansion
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is not expendable.
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And we really want to demand
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that the CPUC order an
environmental impact report
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before allowing this process
of SoCalGas to proceed.
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My condolences to
everyone who lost their homes
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in the Mountain View Fire.
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Thank you for hearing me today.
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Thank you for your call.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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Our next
caller is Huang Wei.
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Your line's open.
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Good morning.
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My name is Huang
Wei, and I'm an attorney
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at the National Center for Youth Law.
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I'm asking you to pass
the proposed decision
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for interim relief.
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The proposed decision is a start
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to ensure our families stay connected,
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that the rate for communication
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between youths who are
incarcerated and their families
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should ultimately be zero.
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Research in adolescent
development best practices
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and the demands of
justice support eliminating
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these costs of communication.
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Being incarcerated can be
an incredibly stressful time
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for youth, but family
contact during incarceration
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has been shown to provide
a buffer against the stress
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and have a significant impact
on youths' mental health.
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Decades of research has
shown that family contact
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during incarceration
reduces the likelihood
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of recidivism after release.
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Further, youth and juvenile detention
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are disproportionately youth of color,
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and the vast majority come
from low income families
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who are least able to pay these fees.
00:13:59.210 --> 00:14:01.450
For many of these youth, telephone calls
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may be the primary method
of maintaining contact
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with their families and
other community support.
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Please vote yes to the proposed
decision for interim relief.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller, please.
00:14:18.498 --> 00:14:20.570
Thank you, and
our next caller is Carole Urie.
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Your line is open.
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Good morning. Carole Urie.
00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:26.090
I'm CEO of Returning Home Foundation.
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I'm expressing comment on item 31.
00:14:29.470 --> 00:14:32.930
I start with expressing my
appreciation for the CPUC
00:14:32.930 --> 00:14:35.320
and for the interim
rate you have proposed.
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At the onset, you stated we may review
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the definition of incarcerated
persons calling services
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adopted for the purpose
of this decision later
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in the proceeding.
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The present decision does
not include those options
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and I'm hoping you continue
to evaluate the definition
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to include all
telecommunications, video calls,
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templates, text, not just phone calls
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for your final decision.
00:14:59.550 --> 00:15:01.740
Research supports the
fact that communication
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between those incarcerated or detained
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to families and to
those in the community
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is one of the most
important evidence-based
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rehabilitation programs we can offer,
00:15:12.040 --> 00:15:15.350
that determine successful
reentry into the communities
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and reduce recidivism.
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I've read the responses by the sheriffs
00:15:19.170 --> 00:15:20.950
specifically regarding their concerns
00:15:20.950 --> 00:15:23.730
about the impact of the
inmate welfare funds.
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Their concerns are real.
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And it's unfortunate
that funds for programs
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must be earned by phone
calls and commissary purchases.
00:15:31.630 --> 00:15:33.900
several counties in
California have changed
00:15:33.900 --> 00:15:36.400
the sources of those funds.
00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:38.950
To the future, I encourage evaluation
00:15:38.950 --> 00:15:40.780
by the counties in
the state of the value
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of providing telecommunications
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as a very cost effective evidence-based
00:15:45.530 --> 00:15:47.180
rehabilitation program.
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These results could be self liquidating.
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Successful reentry
translates to decreased-
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I'm sorry, Ms. Urie.
00:15:54.910 --> 00:15:56.820
Your time is up.
00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.390
Thank you.
We have one minute to speak.
00:15:58.390 --> 00:16:00.620
Thank you so much for your call.
00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:03.080
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:05.590
Thank you. Our
next caller is Rhea Kubota.
00:16:05.590 --> 00:16:06.490
Your line is open.
00:16:07.430 --> 00:16:08.760
Hi, thank you.
00:16:08.760 --> 00:16:10.200
My name is Rhea Kubota.
00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:14.170
I'm calling as an individual
with a fixed income
00:16:14.170 --> 00:16:19.170
and already raising rates by
18% over the next three years
00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:22.850
makes me feel a little sick.
00:16:22.850 --> 00:16:26.350
Fixed income means
that whenever rates go up,
00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:28.400
my quality of life goes down.
00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:30.470
It has to come from some place
00:16:30.470 --> 00:16:35.280
and my heart goes out to the
people who've lost their homes.
00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:39.087
So I really support
preventing wildfires,
00:16:39.087 --> 00:16:43.290
but I really don't support
an additional $2 billion
00:16:44.260 --> 00:16:46.430
out of customers' pockets,
00:16:46.430 --> 00:16:49.920
which will essentially go
into shareholders' pockets.
00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:52.470
I never imagined that
we'd come to the point
00:16:52.470 --> 00:16:56.810
where monopoly that's
needed would be able
00:16:56.810 --> 00:16:59.470
to pretty much take whatever it wanted
00:16:59.470 --> 00:17:01.320
from the poor and middle class
00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:03.680
to give to the wealthier people.
00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:08.590
So I want the original
plan to prevent wildfires.
00:17:08.590 --> 00:17:10.230
I would ask you to vote for that
00:17:10.230 --> 00:17:14.653
and definitely to vote
against $2 billion more.
00:17:18.550 --> 00:17:19.383
Thank you.
00:17:19.383 --> 00:17:21.083
Operator, next caller, please.
00:17:22.790 --> 00:17:24.730
Thank you, and
our next caller is Will Abrams.
00:17:24.730 --> 00:17:25.630
Your line is open.
00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:28.793
Thank you.
00:17:28.793 --> 00:17:30.920
Good morning, President
Batjer and Commissioners.
00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.090
I just wanted to take
this opportunity today
00:17:33.090 --> 00:17:35.273
to remind you of the circumstances
00:17:35.273 --> 00:17:39.870
of victims from past utility wildfires,
00:17:39.870 --> 00:17:43.970
and a real need to ensure
that the circumstances
00:17:43.970 --> 00:17:47.750
that past utility wildfire
victims have gone through
00:17:47.750 --> 00:17:49.720
does not set precedent for the new
00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:54.300
and growing number of victims
that we see surrounding us.
00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:56.393
Many victims are living hand to mouth,
00:17:57.310 --> 00:18:00.030
are awaiting settlements
out of the Fire Victim Trust,
00:18:00.030 --> 00:18:03.040
living in trailers, waiting
to build their homes,
00:18:03.040 --> 00:18:05.210
waiting to continue their lives.
00:18:05.210 --> 00:18:06.870
This should not be precedent
00:18:06.870 --> 00:18:09.300
for how future victims are treated.
00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:12.010
Attorneys are out there
like carnival barkers
00:18:12.010 --> 00:18:14.430
and advertising and scooping up victims
00:18:14.430 --> 00:18:16.420
to use them as bargaining chips
00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:19.460
to secure lines of credit
in litigation financing
00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.510
and advance their interests.
00:18:21.510 --> 00:18:24.650
The trust has been set
up and is unfortunately
00:18:24.650 --> 00:18:27.250
in an awkward position
where they're feigning surprise
00:18:27.250 --> 00:18:30.440
that they actually had to
pay taxes on the sale of stock,
00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.410
and are not engaged in these proceedings
00:18:33.410 --> 00:18:34.510
before the Commission.
00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:38.900
I just wanna make sure
that the Commission is aware
00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.440
of the plight of many victims,
00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.540
and that we are doing
everything we can to make sure
00:18:44.540 --> 00:18:48.070
that in the future, victims
are treated respectfully,
00:18:48.070 --> 00:18:49.140
and with fairness.
00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:50.710
Thank you.
00:18:50.710 --> 00:18:52.230
Thank you, Mr. Abrams.
00:18:52.230 --> 00:18:54.103
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:18:55.050 --> 00:18:56.050
Thank you,
and our next caller
00:18:56.050 --> 00:18:57.650
comes from Pete Wyotie.
00:18:57.650 --> 00:18:58.633
Your line is open.
00:19:01.245 --> 00:19:02.078
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:19:02.078 --> 00:19:03.340
My name is Pete Wyotie.
00:19:03.340 --> 00:19:06.830
I'm with the Reclaim Our
Power Utility Justice Campaign.
00:19:06.830 --> 00:19:09.780
And I just wanna echo,
and the first 10 callers
00:19:09.780 --> 00:19:12.530
this morning, we've
heard time and time again,
00:19:12.530 --> 00:19:15.270
people whose homes
have been burned down,
00:19:15.270 --> 00:19:17.280
people whose lives
have been torn asunder
00:19:17.280 --> 00:19:22.280
and at the very heart of each
of them is a corporate utility
00:19:22.770 --> 00:19:25.890
relying on the compliance of this body
00:19:25.890 --> 00:19:27.690
and not holding them accountable.
00:19:27.690 --> 00:19:30.960
But I wanna point back to
as you heard two weeks ago,
00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.130
dozens of people calling out to you.
00:19:33.130 --> 00:19:36.850
The Dixie Fire has grown
since then, caused by PG&E.
00:19:36.850 --> 00:19:39.260
Now over 1000 buildings.
00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:43.380
That should trigger your
action to move them up the steps
00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:46.850
of the accountability
processing and oversight process.
00:19:46.850 --> 00:19:48.070
You know you can do it.
00:19:48.070 --> 00:19:50.840
You set yourselves up last year saying
00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:53.510
that you wanted this power
to hold them accountable,
00:19:53.510 --> 00:19:54.800
now you have it.
00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:58.153
So we're encouraging you, as the fires,
00:19:58.153 --> 00:20:00.980
please, please, please
hold PG&E accountable.
00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:04.990
Also just throwing in
supporting incarcerated folks
00:20:04.990 --> 00:20:07.860
having less dollars taken from them
00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:09.810
as they try and keep
the payments together.
00:20:09.810 --> 00:20:10.643
Thank you.
00:20:12.219 --> 00:20:13.052
Thank you.
00:20:13.052 --> 00:20:14.393
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:20:16.110 --> 00:20:18.440
Thank you. Our
Next caller is Yara Quintero.
00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.343
Your line is open.
00:20:21.370 --> 00:20:22.400
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.770
My name is Yara Quintero.
00:20:23.770 --> 00:20:25.960
I am a member of Jesse's Place
00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.330
and also a voice for my
husband, Moises Mendoza,
00:20:28.330 --> 00:20:30.600
who's at the moment incarcerated.
00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.880
I am calling in respectively,
00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.940
calling in regards to asking
00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.380
for April in order to approve
00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:40.940
the seven cents per minute phone calls
00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:45.180
that are gonna be talked about today.
00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:49.400
Coming from a single
mother and a prison wife,
00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:52.950
I am in a budget, and I can
speak for a lot of the women
00:20:52.950 --> 00:20:54.360
that we are all in a budget.
00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:56.840
We also have to try and
save to be able to provide
00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:59.950
for our loved ones,
incarcerated packages,
00:20:59.950 --> 00:21:03.870
even traveling, gas, and
also when we're at visit.
00:21:03.870 --> 00:21:06.800
So I would really appreciate
if we can get an aye vote
00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:08.670
for this to be able to be approved
00:21:08.670 --> 00:21:12.370
and get our phone rates
down to seven cents per minute.
00:21:12.370 --> 00:21:14.420
Thank you very much
and have a great day.
00:21:15.510 --> 00:21:17.140
Thank you for your call.
00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.840
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:21:19.710 --> 00:21:21.210
Thank you. Our
next caller is John Schilling.
00:21:21.210 --> 00:21:22.323
Your line is open.
00:21:23.650 --> 00:21:25.120
Good morning, Commissioner.
00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:28.260
I was here. I live in
Walker, California.
00:21:28.260 --> 00:21:30.810
I watched the power go out three times
00:21:30.810 --> 00:21:33.610
during 100 mile an hour windstorm.
00:21:33.610 --> 00:21:38.440
And at that time, they did
not implement the PSPS.
00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:41.320
This is in regards to Liberty Utilities.
00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:43.530
I then drove up the highway
00:21:43.530 --> 00:21:45.840
and watched the power line come down,
00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:48.440
immediately stopped and tried to help.
00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:52.470
This rate increase by
Liberty Utilities is outrageous,
00:21:52.470 --> 00:21:55.560
and we lost 90 homes plus one life.
00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:58.470
If you allow that, then
you're allowing murder.
00:21:58.470 --> 00:21:59.670
Thank you for your time.
00:22:01.490 --> 00:22:03.370
Thank you for your call.
00:22:03.370 --> 00:22:05.070
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:22:06.124 --> 00:22:06.957
Thank you.
00:22:06.957 --> 00:22:09.250
Our next caller is
Randy Bucholz, I'm sorry.
00:22:09.250 --> 00:22:10.103
Your line's open.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.720
Thank you.
00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.320
Yeah, I was also one of the victims
00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.780
in the Mountain View Fire.
00:22:15.780 --> 00:22:20.780
And again, with a 40%
increase in Liberty Utilities,
00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:25.130
I just don't see where the
people in this small community
00:22:25.130 --> 00:22:27.930
are gonna come up with that
kind of money to pay for that.
00:22:27.930 --> 00:22:30.660
Most everybody in
here is on a fixed income,
00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:34.510
and there's not a lot of
money in this small town.
00:22:34.510 --> 00:22:37.030
A lot of people's lives
were ruined that day.
00:22:37.030 --> 00:22:38.630
A lot of people are taking on more
00:22:38.630 --> 00:22:40.880
than they can afford right now,
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:44.010
with putting their places
back to how they had 'em.
00:22:44.010 --> 00:22:47.040
Not better, just what we had before.
00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:51.840
But now it's two mortgages,
upgraded insurance
00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.760
because we're in a fire zone,
00:22:53.760 --> 00:22:55.590
even though we have
nothing left to burn,
00:22:55.590 --> 00:22:58.390
'cause everything burned in the fire.
00:22:58.390 --> 00:23:02.230
So for Liberty to think
that we can afford to do this
00:23:02.230 --> 00:23:07.230
after a major fire catastrophe
like we had, is just absurd.
00:23:07.890 --> 00:23:11.520
People's stress levels are
out of the world right now.
00:23:11.520 --> 00:23:14.260
We don't know what
we're doing day to day.
00:23:14.260 --> 00:23:16.420
We can't think straight anymore,
00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.480
and that's just a lot on people's plate.
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.620
And I think it needs to
stop and not go through.
00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:22.753
So thank you for your time.
00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.680
Thank you for your call.
00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:30.590
Operator, next caller, please.
00:23:30.590 --> 00:23:31.550
Thank you,
and our next caller
00:23:31.550 --> 00:23:33.630
comes from Mr. Hutchinson.
00:23:33.630 --> 00:23:34.563
Your line is open.
00:23:39.042 --> 00:23:39.880
I'm opposed
00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:43.683
to Liberty Utilities' increase.
00:23:45.392 --> 00:23:47.600
There's a pending
federal infrastructure bill
00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:50.540
that may provided billions of dollars
00:23:50.540 --> 00:23:55.200
to upgrade utility systems,
and this should be attempted
00:23:55.200 --> 00:24:00.200
as a source prior to
imposing such a high increase.
00:24:02.520 --> 00:24:05.740
The other thing is, you're
asking for an increase
00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:10.740
and you're allowing this
utility to actually shut down
00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:15.860
at certain times and with no
financial penalty for doing so.
00:24:16.750 --> 00:24:21.750
As far as I know anyway,
which can cause food spoilage
00:24:22.010 --> 00:24:24.820
and other personal losses.
00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:26.390
This is not right.
00:24:26.390 --> 00:24:27.223
Thank you.
00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:31.000
Thank you.
00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.270
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:24:33.270 --> 00:24:35.140
Thank you, and
our next caller is Deidre Isles.
00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.083
Your line is open.
00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:40.020
Hello. Good
morning, Commissioners.
00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:44.273
And I was just calling because
incarcerated individuals,
00:24:45.150 --> 00:24:48.200
they spend a lot of money on phone calls
00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:51.910
that are excessive and overpriced.
00:24:51.910 --> 00:24:55.043
And as incarcerated individuals,
they are human beings.
00:24:55.940 --> 00:25:00.070
We're, as society, as
a member of society,
00:25:00.070 --> 00:25:02.840
we are relying on them to rehabilitate
00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:06.290
and punish them for the
crimes that they have committed.
00:25:06.290 --> 00:25:11.290
But how are we expected to
have them rehabilitate themselves
00:25:11.953 --> 00:25:14.776
and not be offenders
when they enter society,
00:25:14.776 --> 00:25:18.327
if they're unable to call
people and loved ones
00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.913
because of overpriced phone calls?
00:25:20.913 --> 00:25:23.600
It's just ridiculous and outrageous.
00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:25.350
And so I'm asking you guys
00:25:25.350 --> 00:25:27.740
on behalf of incarcerated individuals
00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:30.480
to lower those prices, to make it fair
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.790
and equal to all individuals,
00:25:31.790 --> 00:25:33.673
so that they can rehabilitate,
00:25:33.673 --> 00:25:37.250
so that we can decrease the overcrowding
00:25:37.250 --> 00:25:39.693
in our prisons in California.
00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:45.800
Thank you.
00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:48.494
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:25:48.494 --> 00:25:50.490
Thank you, and
our next caller is Larry Yi.
00:25:50.490 --> 00:25:51.403
Your line is open.
00:25:54.210 --> 00:25:56.610
Hey, thank you
very much, Commissioner.
00:25:56.610 --> 00:25:57.540
My name is Larry Yi.
00:25:57.540 --> 00:26:00.970
I'm from the Chinese
Consolidated Benevolent Association
00:26:00.970 --> 00:26:02.403
in San Francisco Chinatown.
00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.860
My concerns are the digital divide
00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:08.660
as we enter into the 21st century,
00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:13.510
where in our community,
the internet service providers
00:26:13.510 --> 00:26:17.140
do not come out and
provide equal access.
00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:22.140
We still do not have lines
that are to the 21st century.
00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:26.550
We're back in the 20th century
00:26:26.550 --> 00:26:28.580
and maybe in the 19th century,
00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:32.030
where we have cables
that are wrapped in paper.
00:26:32.030 --> 00:26:35.320
And it's a disservice to these providers
00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:40.320
that do not provide us equal
access to high speed internet.
00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:43.500
I am asking this
Commission to look into this
00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.660
and to reach out to these providers
00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:49.510
and making sure that
we are served equally.
00:26:49.510 --> 00:26:53.620
So we are, in our area, red lined
00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:57.190
from equal access to internet service.
00:26:57.190 --> 00:26:59.010
So again, my name is Larry Yi.
00:26:59.010 --> 00:27:00.183
Thank you very much.
00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.790
Thank you, Mr. Yi.
00:27:02.790 --> 00:27:05.280
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:06.350
Thank you,
and our next caller
00:27:06.350 --> 00:27:07.580
is Mr. David Rattray.
00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:08.513
Your line is open.
00:27:10.540 --> 00:27:11.480
Thank you very much.
00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.000
Thank you, Commissioners.
00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.460
My name is David Rattray.
00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:16.920
I'm the President and CEO of UNITE-LA.
00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:19.660
And on behalf of myself and Bill Allen,
00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:23.380
the CEO of LA Economic
Development Corporation,
00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:26.570
we are the co-conveners of the LA Deal.
00:27:26.570 --> 00:27:28.760
And we just wanna
thank the Commission staff
00:27:28.760 --> 00:27:31.330
for recommending grant funding
00:27:31.330 --> 00:27:35.080
from the Consortia
account for the LA Deal.
00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:39.140
And it's on today's Consent
Calendar, item number eight.
00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:41.180
We're very humbled
by the staff evaluation
00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:44.400
that our application was
the only one from our region
00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.800
that was deemed to meet
the CASF Consortia Grant
00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:52.300
program rules, and
we're ready to deliver
00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:54.870
on all these objectives
for this program,
00:27:54.870 --> 00:27:59.370
if the Commission grants us
our approval, grants approval.
00:27:59.370 --> 00:28:00.580
So thank you so much.
00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:04.320
And we're proud that
over 75 letters were written
00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:08.240
by community stakeholders
in support of this application,
00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.560
because it is putting equity first.
00:28:10.560 --> 00:28:11.533
Thank you so much.
00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.960
Thank you for your call.
00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:18.000
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:28:18.870 --> 00:28:19.986
Thank you.
00:28:19.986 --> 00:28:21.130
And our next caller is Colleen Cloud.
00:28:21.130 --> 00:28:22.083
Your line is open.
00:28:25.070 --> 00:28:29.900
Yeah, I'm a new
resident in Walker, California.
00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.180
And I was just calling in
00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:35.163
about the Liberty Utilities
rate increase of 40%.
00:28:36.010 --> 00:28:39.600
Our power bill is already
over $650 a month.
00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:43.350
I could not imagine my family
surviving in this community
00:28:43.350 --> 00:28:48.340
if our utilities are increased by 40%.
00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:52.320
That just seems completely
ridiculous and unfair,
00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:54.570
that because a wildfire came through
00:28:54.570 --> 00:28:56.940
that was at fault of
the utility company,
00:28:56.940 --> 00:29:00.920
now our rates are being
increased, I assume,
00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:03.770
so that they can reline their pocket.
00:29:03.770 --> 00:29:06.173
And I feel like it's unfair to use
00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:10.023
the residents of this
community in order to do that.
00:29:16.131 --> 00:29:17.624
Thank you, caller.
00:29:17.624 --> 00:29:19.900
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:21.000
Thank you,
and our next caller
00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.190
is Rebecca Martin.
00:29:22.190 --> 00:29:23.103
Your line is open.
00:29:25.030 --> 00:29:26.760
Hello, my
name is Rebecca Martin.
00:29:26.760 --> 00:29:29.430
I'm the director of visitation
and independent monitoring
00:29:29.430 --> 00:29:32.680
for Freedom for Immigrants
based in Oakland, California,
00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:35.570
a network of hundreds of
members across the state
00:29:35.570 --> 00:29:38.500
visiting people in ICE
detention in six facilities
00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:41.970
across the state, in Imperial,
San Diego, San Bernardino,
00:29:41.970 --> 00:29:45.260
Yuba and Kern counties,
asking you to today,
00:29:45.260 --> 00:29:47.080
please pass the proposed decision
00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:48.800
for interim relief on phone rates
00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:51.270
for people who are
incarcerated and detained.
00:29:51.270 --> 00:29:53.010
Most people in ICE detention struggle
00:29:53.010 --> 00:29:54.770
to stay in contact with their loved ones
00:29:54.770 --> 00:29:56.910
due to the high phone call costs.
00:29:56.910 --> 00:29:58.850
These are folks in
deportation proceedings
00:29:58.850 --> 00:30:01.170
facing possible permanent
family separation,
00:30:01.170 --> 00:30:03.000
torture and/or death.
00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:05.816
Because this is civil detention,
they are not guaranteed
00:30:05.816 --> 00:30:08.770
even one free phone
call or a bond hearing.
00:30:08.770 --> 00:30:10.890
They're also not provided
legal representation,
00:30:10.890 --> 00:30:14.010
which is why 86% of them
do not have an attorney.
00:30:14.010 --> 00:30:15.850
So phone calls with family to strategize
00:30:15.850 --> 00:30:18.290
how to obtain an attorney are critical.
00:30:18.290 --> 00:30:20.940
I also wanna add that many
people facing deportation
00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:25.850
served as firefighters,
including Fountain, Cal and Sea.
00:30:25.850 --> 00:30:28.087
Fountain was hit by a fallen tree
00:30:28.087 --> 00:30:30.320
(bell dings)
on fire and picked up
00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.270
by ICE two weeks later.
00:30:31.270 --> 00:30:32.850
Thank you.
00:30:32.850 --> 00:30:34.210
Thank you.
00:30:34.210 --> 00:30:35.910
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:30:36.950 --> 00:30:37.930
Thank you,
and our next caller
00:30:37.930 --> 00:30:39.640
is Usha Mutschler.
00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.540
Your line is open.
00:30:43.110 --> 00:30:44.440
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:46.900
Usha Mutschler on
behalf of the California
00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:51.300
State Sheriffs Association
regarding item number 31,
00:30:51.300 --> 00:30:54.730
that has to do with inmate rate caps.
00:30:54.730 --> 00:30:58.610
We understand the Commission's
desire to ensure inmates
00:30:58.610 --> 00:31:01.670
and their families pay
just and reasonable rates
00:31:01.670 --> 00:31:04.230
for inmate communication services.
00:31:04.230 --> 00:31:06.120
Further, we acknowledge the importance
00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:09.200
of incarcerated persons
being able to communicate
00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:11.000
with family and friends.
00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:14.340
In providing these comments,
we mainly urge the Commission
00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:16.900
to strongly consider the impact
00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:20.380
of actions designed to lower the rates
00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:24.410
on the rehabilitative goals
of correctional facilities.
00:31:24.410 --> 00:31:28.270
Further, adequate time, much
more than is currently proposed
00:31:28.270 --> 00:31:31.190
must be given to implement any changes
00:31:31.190 --> 00:31:34.570
of the scope contemplated
by the proposed decision
00:31:34.570 --> 00:31:37.020
if it is ultimately adopted.
00:31:37.020 --> 00:31:40.580
The California State Sheriffs
Association represents
00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:43.460
the 58 elected county sheriffs,
00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:46.180
and we opine that the proposed decision,
00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:48.340
especially the interim rate cap
00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:51.160
will likely negatively
impact inmates access
00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:54.160
to rehab programs and materials.
00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.920
Actions taken by the Commission
00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:57.610
that reduce revenue shared
00:31:57.610 --> 00:31:59.058
with local and correctional facilities,
00:31:59.058 --> 00:32:01.550
(bell dings)
would have devastating impacts
00:32:01.550 --> 00:32:03.150
on inmates and their outcomes.
00:32:03.150 --> 00:32:05.250
Thank you very much.
00:32:05.250 --> 00:32:06.950
Thank you for your call.
00:32:06.950 --> 00:32:08.723
Operator, the next caller, please.
00:32:10.130 --> 00:32:10.963
President Batjer,
00:32:10.963 --> 00:32:12.620
there are no more participants
00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:14.470
on the public comment telephone line.
00:32:18.410 --> 00:32:19.853
All right, operator.
00:32:20.830 --> 00:32:23.400
We'll just wait a moment
and see if there's anybody else
00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:25.610
that wishes to call in
or who has not called in
00:32:25.610 --> 00:32:27.253
and has tried to get in.
00:32:31.910 --> 00:32:33.810
As a reminder, if
you'd like to ask a question,
00:32:33.810 --> 00:32:35.430
please press star then one,
00:32:35.430 --> 00:32:37.130
and remember to unmute your phone
00:32:37.130 --> 00:32:38.820
and record your name
clearly when prompted.
00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.653
Thank you.
00:32:47.330 --> 00:32:48.690
Okay.
00:32:48.690 --> 00:32:53.230
Operator, any other
callers on the line now?
00:32:53.230 --> 00:32:54.830
We do
have a caller in queue.
00:32:54.830 --> 00:32:56.290
I did not get their name recorded.
00:32:56.290 --> 00:32:57.640
However, your line is open.
00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:06.113
Your line is open.
You can go ahead.
00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:16.025
In hearing
no response...
00:33:16.025 --> 00:33:17.211
Okay.
00:33:17.211 --> 00:33:19.630
I don't think that person
has been able to get in then.
00:33:19.630 --> 00:33:20.463
Okay.
00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.693
Operator, anybody else?
00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:27.090
So no more participants
00:33:27.090 --> 00:33:28.940
on the public comment line.
00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.820
Okay.
00:33:29.820 --> 00:33:31.760
With no more callers on the line,
00:33:31.760 --> 00:33:34.170
the public comment period is now closed.
00:33:34.170 --> 00:33:35.233
Thank you, operator.
00:33:37.650 --> 00:33:40.750
Let me continue on our agenda.
00:33:40.750 --> 00:33:45.750
The following changes have
been made to today's agenda.
00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:51.270
Item number three will be held
until the Commission meeting
00:33:51.270 --> 00:33:55.780
on September 9th, 2021.
00:33:55.780 --> 00:34:00.120
Item 17 will be held until
the Commission meeting
00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:03.650
on September 9th, 2021.
00:34:03.650 --> 00:34:06.730
Item 28 has been withdrawn.
00:34:06.730 --> 00:34:11.410
Item 30 will be taken up with
the Consent Agenda today.
00:34:11.410 --> 00:34:15.610
Item 36 will be taken up with
the Consent Agenda today.
00:34:15.610 --> 00:34:17.420
Item 37 will be held
00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:21.383
until the September 9th,
2021 Commission meeting.
00:34:22.710 --> 00:34:25.270
We will now take up the consent items.
00:34:25.270 --> 00:34:26.503
Is there a motion?
00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:29.457
So moved.
00:34:29.457 --> 00:34:30.921
And a second?
00:34:30.921 --> 00:34:31.770
Second.
00:34:31.770 --> 00:34:34.390
Okay. It's been
moved and seconded.
00:34:34.390 --> 00:34:36.530
Will the agenda clerk
please call the roll
00:34:36.530 --> 00:34:37.983
on the consent items?
00:34:40.600 --> 00:34:41.903
Commissioner Houck.
00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.633
Yes.
00:34:45.187 --> 00:34:46.020
Commissioner Shiroma.
00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:48.747
Aye.
00:34:48.747 --> 00:34:50.413
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
00:34:51.250 --> 00:34:52.083
Yes.
00:34:53.230 --> 00:34:55.140
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:55.973
Aye.
00:34:57.011 --> 00:34:58.754
President Batjer.
00:34:58.754 --> 00:34:59.587
Aye.
00:34:59.587 --> 00:35:02.700
The Consent Agenda items
have passed unanimously.
00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:04.136
Thank you.
00:35:04.136 --> 00:35:06.620
We'll now take up the
regular agenda items
00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:08.593
on today's agenda.
00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:14.455
First item number 29 is assigned
to Commissioner Shiroma.
00:35:14.455 --> 00:35:16.320
Commissioner Shiroma?
00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:17.380
Ah, yes.
00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:19.690
Thank you, President Batjer.
00:35:19.690 --> 00:35:23.010
I'm pleased to introduce item 29.
00:35:23.010 --> 00:35:27.210
The Southern California
Edison general rates case
00:35:27.210 --> 00:35:32.210
for test year 2021, and
attrition years 2022 and 2023.
00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:37.640
This proceeding has four tracks.
00:35:37.640 --> 00:35:41.310
Really, the first of its kind
for a general rate case,
00:35:41.310 --> 00:35:45.193
and determines the cost
recovery and revenue requirements
00:35:45.193 --> 00:35:50.130
forecasts from 2018 through 2024.
00:35:52.130 --> 00:35:54.780
The proposed decision
I am presenting today
00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:57.630
is the second of the four decisions,
00:35:57.630 --> 00:36:01.150
and is the primary
decision in this docket
00:36:01.150 --> 00:36:02.730
spanning budget forecasts
00:36:02.730 --> 00:36:06.610
across the Southern
California Edison organizations,
00:36:06.610 --> 00:36:10.570
ranging from capital
expenditures for wildfire mitigation,
00:36:10.570 --> 00:36:13.890
grid modernization, employee benefits,
00:36:13.890 --> 00:36:16.490
enterprise-wide technology.
00:36:16.490 --> 00:36:20.520
It runs the full gamut of what it takes
00:36:20.520 --> 00:36:25.230
to have a utility and run the utility.
00:36:25.230 --> 00:36:28.090
For background and procedural history,
00:36:28.090 --> 00:36:30.750
the proceeding was
not without challenges,
00:36:30.750 --> 00:36:32.680
but also opportunities.
00:36:32.680 --> 00:36:35.550
Early on, we were
nimble with the integration
00:36:35.550 --> 00:36:39.410
of the fourth test year
midway through the proceeding
00:36:39.410 --> 00:36:43.330
after the Commission
adopted a new rate case plan.
00:36:43.330 --> 00:36:46.330
In addition to that, this
proceeding was also
00:36:46.330 --> 00:36:49.660
the first proceeding to
have evidentiary hearings
00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:53.800
two weeks long, held in
the remote environment,
00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:57.080
in addition to our public
participation hearings
00:36:57.080 --> 00:37:00.510
because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
00:37:00.510 --> 00:37:02.470
This did create an opportunity for us
00:37:02.470 --> 00:37:05.290
to interact with the
public in a new way,
00:37:05.290 --> 00:37:08.300
bringing in diverse perspectives
00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:09.910
through online participation
00:37:09.910 --> 00:37:12.660
that brought the public
participation hearings
00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:14.630
into people's homes.
00:37:14.630 --> 00:37:16.360
This allowed us to hear directly
00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:20.380
from those who might not
have otherwise had access
00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:24.550
to a public participation hearing prior,
00:37:24.550 --> 00:37:27.700
due to physical
constraints, lack of childcare,
00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:32.700
just the sheer size of the
Southern California Edison area.
00:37:35.020 --> 00:37:37.340
Many folks who need to be at work,
00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:40.370
especially during a daytime hearing.
00:37:40.370 --> 00:37:42.690
We also had evening hearings.
00:37:42.690 --> 00:37:44.590
I look forward to the opportunity
00:37:44.590 --> 00:37:46.190
to be back in the
committee for hearings,
00:37:46.190 --> 00:37:49.080
but I think we have
learned a lot about making
00:37:49.080 --> 00:37:52.640
our public participation
hearings more accessible.
00:37:52.640 --> 00:37:56.530
This proceeding also did
not see a major settlement,
00:37:56.530 --> 00:37:58.170
which created the challenge
00:37:58.170 --> 00:38:01.000
of extensive evidentiary hearings,
00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:03.010
and the extra time to
go through the record
00:38:03.010 --> 00:38:05.130
with a fine tooth comb.
00:38:05.130 --> 00:38:07.230
But it also created
the opportunity for us
00:38:09.654 --> 00:38:12.160
to make strategic decisions
00:38:12.160 --> 00:38:15.120
on the future of Southern
California Edison's
00:38:15.120 --> 00:38:19.170
capital investments,
including grid modernization,
00:38:19.170 --> 00:38:21.710
responses to cybersecurity risks,
00:38:21.710 --> 00:38:25.660
and safety investments in
response to climate change,
00:38:25.660 --> 00:38:28.270
and risks like wildfires.
00:38:28.270 --> 00:38:31.330
With the hard work
of our dedicated staff,
00:38:31.330 --> 00:38:32.533
we've made it here.
00:38:33.640 --> 00:38:36.570
I've given all that,
actually in record time
00:38:36.570 --> 00:38:38.123
for a general rate case.
00:38:39.290 --> 00:38:42.890
We've added to the
stability and opportunity
00:38:42.890 --> 00:38:45.900
for Southern California
Edison to continue its work
00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:49.553
and get a jumpstart on all
of these critical investments.
00:38:50.850 --> 00:38:53.450
We'll recall that this
is the second decision
00:38:53.450 --> 00:38:54.800
in this docket.
00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:57.690
This past January, we
approved the decision
00:38:57.690 --> 00:39:00.143
from the team that
authorized a settlement,
00:39:01.060 --> 00:39:03.070
brought together by many parties
00:39:03.070 --> 00:39:06.630
for cost recovery of
significant grid hardening,
00:39:06.630 --> 00:39:08.610
and wildfire mitigation measures,
00:39:08.610 --> 00:39:13.270
covering the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
00:39:13.270 --> 00:39:14.770
And now we look to the future.
00:39:15.870 --> 00:39:17.650
But of course, all of these investments
00:39:17.650 --> 00:39:19.323
are not without a cost.
00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:22.140
This is front and center in my mind,
00:39:22.140 --> 00:39:25.130
especially as we continue
to fight this pandemic.
00:39:25.130 --> 00:39:30.130
We heard folks call in
about the Liberty proposals.
00:39:31.510 --> 00:39:35.000
I do know that as
we've gone through this,
00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:40.000
we took a critical eye
to all 30 business units
00:39:40.490 --> 00:39:42.730
highlighted in this decision
00:39:42.730 --> 00:39:45.520
through the extensive
gathering of testimony
00:39:45.520 --> 00:39:48.900
and legal briefs
prepared by the parties.
00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:51.080
Southern California Edison came to us
00:39:51.080 --> 00:39:56.080
with a rate increase
request of over 19%.
00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:59.740
And through this careful
and deliberative review
00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:02.620
of their application and why the record,
00:40:02.620 --> 00:40:05.620
what we have before
us today is a proposal
00:40:05.620 --> 00:40:09.350
to grant a rate increase of 7.63%.
00:40:12.370 --> 00:40:15.440
Though, that cut to Southern
California Edison's proposal
00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:20.440
is extensive, it still constitutes
a significant increase
00:40:23.070 --> 00:40:26.490
to customer bills on a monthly basis.
00:40:26.490 --> 00:40:29.930
The decision targets
implementation of these new rates
00:40:29.930 --> 00:40:33.700
starting in October,
after the summer peak,
00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:37.863
to lighten that burden
and that transition.
00:40:39.550 --> 00:40:42.760
We speak from our uncovered conductors.
00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:46.230
The covered conductors are the wires
00:40:46.230 --> 00:40:50.060
in our distribution network
and transmission networks
00:40:50.060 --> 00:40:53.533
that we see as we look upwards.
00:40:55.276 --> 00:40:59.640
At the July 26 oral arguments,
a discussion centered
00:40:59.640 --> 00:41:03.050
on wildfire mitigation
and again specifically
00:41:03.050 --> 00:41:07.010
on the strategy of covered
conductors, capital investments,
00:41:07.010 --> 00:41:09.770
where Edison puts much of its focus.
00:41:09.770 --> 00:41:11.950
We also heard extensive comments
00:41:11.950 --> 00:41:13.750
at the last Commission meeting,
00:41:13.750 --> 00:41:16.120
from local governments
and fire responders,
00:41:16.120 --> 00:41:18.810
calling for Edison's proposed increase
00:41:18.810 --> 00:41:21.360
in the amount of covered conductors
00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:26.180
that is pre authorized for
cost recovery in the decision.
00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:30.560
The original proposed
decision issued on July 9th,
00:41:30.560 --> 00:41:35.390
would have approved over 2750 miles
00:41:35.390 --> 00:41:39.607
of covered conductor of the
originally proposed 6272 miles
00:41:42.050 --> 00:41:44.483
in Southern California
Edison's applications.
00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:50.360
This 2750 miles
presented a buydown of risk
00:41:51.230 --> 00:41:55.180
in the high fire risk
areas of about 94%,
00:41:55.180 --> 00:41:57.280
with the remaining 6% to be mitigated
00:41:57.280 --> 00:42:00.010
through a diverse suite of strategies,
00:42:00.010 --> 00:42:02.330
and putting fault detection technology
00:42:02.330 --> 00:42:04.263
on lines and vegetation management.
00:42:05.290 --> 00:42:08.880
That suite is still in
this proposed decision.
00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:10.460
But after a review of
the written comments
00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:14.610
received in the parties,
the oral arguments,
00:42:14.610 --> 00:42:19.227
we have proposed to increase
the number from 2750 miles
00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:25.900
to 4500 miles of the original
6270 miles to upfront address
00:42:30.410 --> 00:42:34.730
98% of the estimated wildfire risk
00:42:34.730 --> 00:42:37.943
in Southern California
Edison's high fire risk areas,
00:42:39.390 --> 00:42:43.600
at a cost that is
still $1.5 billion less
00:42:43.600 --> 00:42:45.840
than Southern California
Edison's request.
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:49.910
Now, we understand that
Edison wildfire assessment studies
00:42:49.910 --> 00:42:53.340
are continuing to
mature, and as they do so,
00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:57.240
they can apply those
new learnings to inform
00:42:57.240 --> 00:43:00.420
their wildfire mitigation
strategies going forward.
00:43:00.420 --> 00:43:03.520
And that is why in
this revised decisions,
00:43:03.520 --> 00:43:07.810
we will also be giving
Edison the opportunity
00:43:07.810 --> 00:43:12.120
for full cost recovery
of the additional miles,
00:43:12.120 --> 00:43:16.790
over 4500 and up to their full proposals
00:43:16.790 --> 00:43:19.713
through the implementation
of a balancing account,
00:43:21.210 --> 00:43:25.880
and also an expedited
reasonableness review
00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:29.150
for any of those additional
miles that can be supported
00:43:30.090 --> 00:43:33.780
by Southern California
Edison's future analyses
00:43:33.780 --> 00:43:37.277
through their wildfire mitigation plans.
00:43:37.277 --> 00:43:41.320
Again, the revised decision
authorizes upfront 4500,
00:43:42.660 --> 00:43:46.810
and then the opportunity
to go beyond that
00:43:46.810 --> 00:43:51.810
and garner cost recovery
based on the updated analysis.
00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:57.900
This authorization will
also address the comments
00:43:57.900 --> 00:43:59.590
about the continuity
00:43:59.590 --> 00:44:02.890
of Southern California
Edison's workforce,
00:44:02.890 --> 00:44:05.907
which includes highly
skilled members of IBEW
00:44:05.907 --> 00:44:08.710
and other utility employees.
00:44:08.710 --> 00:44:11.180
This authorization gives
us the ability to be nimble
00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:12.680
rather than walking customers
00:44:12.680 --> 00:44:16.290
into a narrow wildfire
mitigation strategy
00:44:16.290 --> 00:44:18.250
focused on covered conductor.
00:44:18.250 --> 00:44:20.850
Southern California
Edison will have the ability
00:44:20.850 --> 00:44:22.940
to use the latest data modeling
00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:25.970
to continue to update its strategy.
00:44:25.970 --> 00:44:27.910
Investing further in covered conductors,
00:44:27.910 --> 00:44:32.190
should that be identified
as the best future strategy
00:44:32.190 --> 00:44:36.200
or being able to pivot to
newer, more effective strategies
00:44:36.200 --> 00:44:37.700
along the way.
00:44:37.700 --> 00:44:40.900
This keeps our communities
safe and employed,
00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:42.890
and also keeps Southern
California Edison's
00:44:42.890 --> 00:44:47.350
wildfire mitigation
strategy goals on track
00:44:48.210 --> 00:44:51.573
and allows them to
be agile along the way.
00:44:53.250 --> 00:44:56.480
I would like to wrap
up by saying thank you
00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:58.920
to many people who have kept this,
00:44:58.920 --> 00:45:03.083
what I would really say, a
landmark decision on time.
00:45:04.410 --> 00:45:08.350
First, our two Administrative
Law Judges, Judge Sophia Park,
00:45:08.350 --> 00:45:11.670
and Judge Aaron Seybert, thank you.
00:45:11.670 --> 00:45:14.610
And then to our dedicated
Energy Division staff,
00:45:14.610 --> 00:45:18.290
led by Laura Martin, Jenny
Au and Dorothy Judith,
00:45:18.290 --> 00:45:22.490
who managed our modeling,
and many other divisions,
00:45:22.490 --> 00:45:26.430
subject matter experts
across the organization.
00:45:26.430 --> 00:45:31.430
These analysts lent
their expertise and review
00:45:32.240 --> 00:45:34.100
of the proposed investments,
00:45:34.100 --> 00:45:37.820
again ranging from grid
modernization, cybersecurity,
00:45:37.820 --> 00:45:42.263
utility-owned generation,
customer service and much more.
00:45:43.490 --> 00:45:47.140
Again, 30 different
business units in Edison.
00:45:47.140 --> 00:45:49.480
Thank you to our wildfire
safety division staff,
00:45:49.480 --> 00:45:53.710
now housed in the Office of
Energy Infrastructure Safety
00:45:53.710 --> 00:45:56.750
at the California Natural
Resources Agency.
00:45:56.750 --> 00:45:58.550
I would like to give special thanks
00:45:58.550 --> 00:46:01.260
to our public advisors office,
00:46:01.260 --> 00:46:03.880
to our information
technology and support staff
00:46:03.880 --> 00:46:06.630
in the administrative
laws judge division,
00:46:06.630 --> 00:46:10.100
to build our capacity to
host evidentiary hearings
00:46:10.100 --> 00:46:13.063
and public participation hearings,
00:46:14.010 --> 00:46:16.020
and pre hearing conferences
00:46:16.020 --> 00:46:20.000
in the COVID safe environment virtually.
00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:21.910
And really, when I say overnight,
00:46:21.910 --> 00:46:24.913
it was done properly
overnight to accomplish this.
00:46:25.820 --> 00:46:27.920
It was their ability to
pivot during the pandemic
00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:30.210
that allowed this proceeding to continue
00:46:30.210 --> 00:46:32.670
on a path to timely resolution.
00:46:32.670 --> 00:46:35.620
I would also like to
thank President Batjer
00:46:35.620 --> 00:46:38.560
for being my BK team
partner on this effort.
00:46:38.560 --> 00:46:40.370
Your advisor, Nora Hawkins
00:46:40.370 --> 00:46:42.800
and Chief of Staff Shannon O'Rourke,
00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:45.760
for bringing their
experience and perspective,
00:46:45.760 --> 00:46:48.910
in particular to wildfire
mitigation strategy.
00:46:48.910 --> 00:46:51.390
And finally, I would like
to thank my advisers,
00:46:51.390 --> 00:46:54.440
Christina Tan and Andrew Dickinson,
00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:57.590
and my Chief of Staff and
legal advisor Luwam Tesfai.
00:46:57.590 --> 00:47:00.540
And with that, I asked
for your aye vote.
00:47:00.540 --> 00:47:01.373
Thank you.
00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:04.860
Thank you so much,
Commissioner Shiroma.
00:47:04.860 --> 00:47:08.250
First, I want to thank also, the judges,
00:47:08.250 --> 00:47:11.630
Commissioner Shiroma,
her staff in the Energy Division
00:47:11.630 --> 00:47:14.840
for their collaboration
on this decision.
00:47:14.840 --> 00:47:18.070
GRCs are a marathon, truly.
00:47:18.070 --> 00:47:19.277
And their marathon proceedings
00:47:19.277 --> 00:47:23.020
and this team has worked so
hard to make the tough choices
00:47:23.020 --> 00:47:26.833
that resulted in a balanced
and well reasoned PD.
00:47:27.690 --> 00:47:30.620
Second, I want to
emphasize my appreciation
00:47:30.620 --> 00:47:33.270
for Commissioner Shiroma's
and the judges' focus
00:47:33.270 --> 00:47:35.800
on affordability
throughout this proceeding,
00:47:35.800 --> 00:47:37.500
as you've well outlined.
00:47:37.500 --> 00:47:40.350
As we heard at the
un-bunk earlier this year,
00:47:40.350 --> 00:47:43.400
our electric system is
facing escalating costs
00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:46.030
that could reduce energy affordability
00:47:46.030 --> 00:47:47.760
if not managed carefully.
00:47:47.760 --> 00:47:50.160
You've heard that well
illustrated to us today
00:47:51.650 --> 00:47:55.740
from the folks who are
customers of Liberty.
00:47:55.740 --> 00:47:59.410
With regard to investments
in covered conductor,
00:47:59.410 --> 00:48:02.500
and where the revised decision ended up,
00:48:02.500 --> 00:48:05.600
overall, I appreciate and
support the revisions made
00:48:05.600 --> 00:48:09.230
to authorize 4500 miles
of covered conductor.
00:48:09.230 --> 00:48:11.590
What is most critical
is that we are ensuring
00:48:11.590 --> 00:48:15.050
that Edison is taking
risk off its system
00:48:15.050 --> 00:48:19.810
during this rate pace cycle to 2023.
00:48:19.810 --> 00:48:22.950
Edison has ramped up its
grid-hardening workforce,
00:48:22.950 --> 00:48:25.320
and it is important
that we are authorizing
00:48:25.320 --> 00:48:28.640
a level of covered conductor
that can allow this work
00:48:28.640 --> 00:48:31.333
to continue through 2023.
00:48:33.140 --> 00:48:35.610
Earlier in this meeting, we ratified
00:48:35.610 --> 00:48:38.880
the Office of Energy
Infrastructure Safety's action
00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:43.253
on Edison's 2021 fire mitigation plan.
00:48:45.304 --> 00:48:46.760
Well, it's a planned update.
00:48:46.760 --> 00:48:49.910
I'm grateful to our colleagues
at the Energy Safety,
00:48:49.910 --> 00:48:53.380
led by the incomparable
director Thomas Jacobs,
00:48:53.380 --> 00:48:55.740
for their extremely
thorough review and analysis
00:48:55.740 --> 00:48:57.500
of Edison's plan.
00:48:57.500 --> 00:49:00.240
As described in the
resolution, in the future,
00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:02.290
Edison must do a better job
00:49:02.290 --> 00:49:05.870
of explaining why it
has chosen to go all in
00:49:05.870 --> 00:49:07.520
on covered conductors.
00:49:07.520 --> 00:49:10.930
I expect to see more
appropriate level of detail
00:49:10.930 --> 00:49:14.790
from Edison in its November
1st update document.
00:49:14.790 --> 00:49:18.490
It is critical the utilities
appropriately justify
00:49:18.490 --> 00:49:23.030
the need and value for their
proposed mitigation approaches
00:49:23.030 --> 00:49:26.600
when the stakes and
the costs are so high.
00:49:26.600 --> 00:49:28.810
The cost impacts the customers
00:49:28.810 --> 00:49:32.630
of installing more covered
conductors are not trivial.
00:49:32.630 --> 00:49:36.750
However, we know that
cost of wildfires are immense,
00:49:36.750 --> 00:49:40.370
and that PSPS events
can be life threatening.
00:49:40.370 --> 00:49:43.460
With that, I will support this decision.
00:49:43.460 --> 00:49:46.330
And again, I want to thank
Commissioner Shiroma
00:49:46.330 --> 00:49:50.110
for all of her very hard
work and dedication
00:49:50.110 --> 00:49:52.550
to this very difficult proceeding.
00:49:52.550 --> 00:49:54.040
Thank you so much.
00:49:54.040 --> 00:49:58.533
Are there any other
comments on this item?
00:49:59.550 --> 00:50:03.080
I think I saw Commissioner
Houck's hand go up first.
00:50:03.080 --> 00:50:04.030
Commissioner Houck.
00:50:09.300 --> 00:50:10.133
Thank you.
00:50:16.960 --> 00:50:19.770
I apologize. Can you hear me?
00:50:19.770 --> 00:50:21.560
We can hear you now.
00:50:21.560 --> 00:50:25.223
You were a little in and out
at first, Commissioner Houck.
00:50:26.740 --> 00:50:28.050
Sorry. Okay.
00:50:28.050 --> 00:50:31.710
So I want to agree
with all of the comments
00:50:31.710 --> 00:50:33.820
that President Batjer just made,
00:50:33.820 --> 00:50:37.030
and I wanna commend
Commissioner Shiroma, her team
00:50:37.030 --> 00:50:39.190
and the assigned
Administrative Law Judges,
00:50:39.190 --> 00:50:40.730
Judge Park and Judge Seybert
00:50:40.730 --> 00:50:43.520
for all of their outstanding
work on this proceeding,
00:50:43.520 --> 00:50:47.870
and for balancing the issues
of affordability and safety,
00:50:47.870 --> 00:50:52.310
both of which are critical
to our review process here
00:50:52.310 --> 00:50:54.650
with the general rate cases.
00:50:54.650 --> 00:50:58.060
As noted by Commissioner
Shiroma and President Batjer,
00:50:58.060 --> 00:51:00.770
an important question raised
by this general rate case
00:51:00.770 --> 00:51:03.880
was how much covered
conductor is appropriate
00:51:04.910 --> 00:51:07.090
for Southern California
Edison to install
00:51:07.090 --> 00:51:09.350
over the GRC period.
00:51:09.350 --> 00:51:11.710
Southern California Edison
did not make this easy
00:51:11.710 --> 00:51:14.360
for the judges or the assigned office
00:51:14.360 --> 00:51:16.020
to come to their conclusions.
00:51:16.020 --> 00:51:18.370
As noted by President Batjer,
00:51:18.370 --> 00:51:20.720
the resolution we adopted earlier
00:51:20.720 --> 00:51:24.390
through our Consent Calendar
does require a further analysis
00:51:24.390 --> 00:51:29.390
on a segment basis as to Edison's look
00:51:29.560 --> 00:51:32.730
at the cost of covered conductor
00:51:32.730 --> 00:51:37.142
with other mitigation
measures on that segment basis.
00:51:37.142 --> 00:51:42.142
SCE has been asked to provide
this information previously,
00:51:42.220 --> 00:51:44.700
and we do expect to see that information
00:51:44.700 --> 00:51:46.820
in their November update.
00:51:46.820 --> 00:51:51.670
And this decision,
in its final conclusion
00:51:51.670 --> 00:51:54.920
on covered conductor is a
very reasonable approach
00:51:54.920 --> 00:51:57.480
considering some of this lack of data
00:51:57.480 --> 00:51:59.510
and the need to prioritize hardening
00:51:59.510 --> 00:52:00.850
of our transmission grid.
00:52:00.850 --> 00:52:04.740
As was noted, wildfires
are extremely expensive
00:52:04.740 --> 00:52:09.740
and cost customers and all of us a lot.
00:52:10.660 --> 00:52:14.140
And so, I think there's a
need to prioritize hardening
00:52:14.140 --> 00:52:16.700
of our transmission grid
to minimize the potential
00:52:16.700 --> 00:52:19.020
for utility ignited wildfires,
00:52:19.020 --> 00:52:22.640
and covered conductor is an
important tool to help do that.
00:52:22.640 --> 00:52:26.070
The approval here of 4500 circuit miles,
00:52:26.070 --> 00:52:27.990
permit Edison to move forward
00:52:27.990 --> 00:52:29.650
in installing covered conductor
00:52:29.650 --> 00:52:33.010
at the accelerated pace
it projects is possible,
00:52:33.010 --> 00:52:36.810
while the wildfire mitigation
plan update requires
00:52:36.810 --> 00:52:39.240
the utility to do the analysis necessary
00:52:39.240 --> 00:52:41.810
to justify their request
for additional miles
00:52:41.810 --> 00:52:45.280
of covered conductor beyond the 4500.
00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:47.530
If the analysis finds
there are more appropriate
00:52:47.530 --> 00:52:49.380
and cost effective measures available
00:52:49.380 --> 00:52:52.130
while continuing to prioritize safety,
00:52:52.130 --> 00:52:55.760
this decision gives us
and Edison the flexibility
00:52:55.760 --> 00:52:57.840
to implement a course correction,
00:52:57.840 --> 00:53:00.610
and this approach also gives
the Commission the opportunity
00:53:00.610 --> 00:53:02.610
to consider whether
ratepayers should pay
00:53:02.610 --> 00:53:05.120
for those additional mitigation costs
00:53:05.120 --> 00:53:08.040
after considering that information.
00:53:08.040 --> 00:53:10.410
I wanna also note that
this proceeding highlighted
00:53:10.410 --> 00:53:12.840
the importance of the
wildfire mitigation plans
00:53:12.840 --> 00:53:17.350
to the GRC process,
including the RAMP process,
00:53:17.350 --> 00:53:20.640
and we need to consider how the
RAMP and the GRC proceedings
00:53:20.640 --> 00:53:23.050
can support each other
while ensuring that the utilities
00:53:23.050 --> 00:53:27.270
wildfire mitigation plans
and their relevant updates
00:53:27.270 --> 00:53:29.540
are providing much needed information
00:53:29.540 --> 00:53:31.980
into the record of our GRCs.
00:53:31.980 --> 00:53:33.580
In prioritizing safety,
00:53:33.580 --> 00:53:35.820
we must also hold
the utilities accountable
00:53:35.820 --> 00:53:38.660
for spending ratepayer
funds on the safety mitigations
00:53:38.660 --> 00:53:40.080
that are most effective.
00:53:40.080 --> 00:53:41.950
As was noted, and I will not repeat
00:53:41.950 --> 00:53:43.520
all the comments noted earlier,
00:53:43.520 --> 00:53:47.270
affordability is a top priority.
00:53:47.270 --> 00:53:51.860
And I really commend the
judges and Commissioner Shiroma
00:53:51.860 --> 00:53:56.260
for being mindful about while
addressing the safety issues.
00:53:56.260 --> 00:53:58.970
And so again, I wanna thank
Commissioner Shiroma, her staff,
00:53:58.970 --> 00:54:00.870
the assigned judges
for all of their work
00:54:00.870 --> 00:54:02.570
on this difficult proceeding.
00:54:02.570 --> 00:54:05.240
And I wanna thank my
Chief of Staff, Krynica Florian
00:54:05.240 --> 00:54:07.260
and all of the advisors in my office
00:54:07.260 --> 00:54:09.300
for the time and work
that went into reviewing
00:54:09.300 --> 00:54:13.060
this 700-page plus proposed decision.
00:54:13.060 --> 00:54:15.810
And with that, I will be
supporting the decision today.
00:54:17.440 --> 00:54:18.750
Thank you, Commissioner Houck.
00:54:18.750 --> 00:54:20.390
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
00:54:22.685 --> 00:54:24.300
Thank you very much.
00:54:24.300 --> 00:54:27.520
I'm in agreement with
many of the remarks
00:54:27.520 --> 00:54:28.980
from my colleagues.
00:54:28.980 --> 00:54:31.390
I do wanna give a special shout out
00:54:31.390 --> 00:54:35.810
to you, Commissioner Shiroma,
for not just your leadership
00:54:35.810 --> 00:54:40.810
on this, but your nimbleness
is really, really remarkable.
00:54:41.270 --> 00:54:44.300
Not just adapting to the change
00:54:44.300 --> 00:54:46.170
in the rate case plan schedule
00:54:46.170 --> 00:54:51.170
when this proceeding
was midway along its way,
00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:53.030
but also how creative you were
00:54:53.030 --> 00:54:56.643
and how effectively you
navigated the onset of COVID.
00:54:57.711 --> 00:55:00.140
And really, it did require a shift
00:55:00.140 --> 00:55:03.370
in our public participation
in evidentiary hearing.
00:55:03.370 --> 00:55:06.050
I think, as you noted
that it's a positive shift,
00:55:06.050 --> 00:55:08.270
we can learn from what we experienced.
00:55:08.270 --> 00:55:10.610
But it's a lot to shift on a dime,
00:55:10.610 --> 00:55:14.250
and especially in an
extremely complex GRC case.
00:55:14.250 --> 00:55:16.570
I really appreciate that.
00:55:16.570 --> 00:55:20.380
I wanna echo my thanks
to Judges Seybert and Park,
00:55:20.380 --> 00:55:21.577
and the Energy Division staff
00:55:21.577 --> 00:55:24.840
and our colleagues
at the Office of Energy,
00:55:24.840 --> 00:55:27.690
Infrastructure and Safety.
00:55:27.690 --> 00:55:29.630
I wanna highlight
just a couple of points.
00:55:29.630 --> 00:55:31.940
Commissioner Houck really captured
00:55:31.940 --> 00:55:36.630
one thing I wanted to say,
which is how important it is
00:55:36.630 --> 00:55:38.640
that we continue to make progress,
00:55:38.640 --> 00:55:43.640
integrating the risk-based
decision making framework
00:55:44.000 --> 00:55:47.900
that we've worked very, very
hard on in the RAMP process
00:55:47.900 --> 00:55:50.520
into the general rate cases.
00:55:50.520 --> 00:55:54.370
And also that we make sure
we're integrating what we do here
00:55:54.370 --> 00:55:57.610
with the wildfire
mitigation plan process.
00:55:57.610 --> 00:56:01.580
And I think we've
done okay in this regard,
00:56:01.580 --> 00:56:03.420
in this decision, but
it's very, very important
00:56:03.420 --> 00:56:04.657
that we continue to do that.
00:56:04.657 --> 00:56:06.310
And I think the decision highlights
00:56:06.310 --> 00:56:10.293
how important it is to do that.
00:56:11.330 --> 00:56:13.740
On the merits of the decision,
00:56:13.740 --> 00:56:18.740
I am supporting for the reasons
my colleagues have laid out.
00:56:19.310 --> 00:56:24.310
It's the right balance,
ensuring that Edison can make
00:56:24.480 --> 00:56:27.680
the necessary infrastructure
investments that it needs,
00:56:27.680 --> 00:56:31.180
while minimizing impacts to customers.
00:56:31.180 --> 00:56:34.220
We should not sugarcoat
that the rate impact,
00:56:34.220 --> 00:56:39.020
even after the haircut that
Judge Shiroma mentioned,
00:56:39.020 --> 00:56:41.000
is still significant.
00:56:41.000 --> 00:56:44.760
We heard that repeatedly
from Edison's customers
00:56:44.760 --> 00:56:47.450
at the public participation hearings.
00:56:47.450 --> 00:56:51.160
Also wanna note that we
got over 500 comments
00:56:51.160 --> 00:56:54.490
from the public that
are on our docket card
00:56:54.490 --> 00:56:58.770
throughout the proceeding,
and many of those raised
00:56:58.770 --> 00:57:01.130
the concern about rate impacts.
00:57:01.130 --> 00:57:04.340
We also heard, as we
discussed for many customers
00:57:04.340 --> 00:57:07.700
and public officials
about the critical need
00:57:07.700 --> 00:57:09.740
for investments to maintain
00:57:09.740 --> 00:57:12.880
and improve reliability and resiliency.
00:57:12.880 --> 00:57:16.330
And, of course, balancing
these very, very difficult
00:57:16.330 --> 00:57:18.010
competing interests is at the core
00:57:18.010 --> 00:57:20.860
of what we need to do
as regulators in our job
00:57:20.860 --> 00:57:21.723
in that regard.
00:57:21.723 --> 00:57:25.390
It's not getting any easier.
00:57:25.390 --> 00:57:27.690
I do wanna underscore that in addition
00:57:27.690 --> 00:57:32.140
to providing really an
unprecedented amount of funding
00:57:32.140 --> 00:57:36.060
for upgrading Edison's
electric infrastructure,
00:57:36.060 --> 00:57:37.970
that the decision is consistent
00:57:37.970 --> 00:57:42.043
with Edison's approved
wildfire mitigation plan.
00:57:43.000 --> 00:57:47.740
Both that decision and the GRC decision,
00:57:47.740 --> 00:57:50.640
direct Edison to provide more analysis
00:57:50.640 --> 00:57:53.935
on exactly how the
covered conductors fit in.
00:57:53.935 --> 00:57:56.770
How are they best
utilized, given the range
00:57:56.770 --> 00:57:59.620
of all these other
mitigation strategies?
00:57:59.620 --> 00:58:02.170
The decision is consistent
with the framework
00:58:02.170 --> 00:58:04.320
that's been approved,
and that's important.
00:58:05.180 --> 00:58:08.153
So with that, I will be
supporting today's decision.
00:58:09.920 --> 00:58:12.090
Thank you very much,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
00:58:12.090 --> 00:58:13.440
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
00:58:14.663 --> 00:58:15.496
Thank you, President Batjer.
00:58:15.496 --> 00:58:18.140
I just wanna also express my gratitude
00:58:18.140 --> 00:58:21.210
for Commissioner Shiroma,
Judge Seybert and Judge Park
00:58:21.210 --> 00:58:23.400
and all of the Energy Division staff
00:58:23.400 --> 00:58:26.040
and all the other teams
that have worked on this,
00:58:26.040 --> 00:58:29.873
including President Batjer,
your team in your office.
00:58:31.720 --> 00:58:34.410
One of the things I'm
particularly appreciative
00:58:34.410 --> 00:58:38.610
is the structure that
Commissioner Shiroma,
00:58:38.610 --> 00:58:42.840
you described in the
transparency of a balancing account
00:58:42.840 --> 00:58:46.700
will allow us to see how these
investments are being made.
00:58:46.700 --> 00:58:51.700
During oral argument, Edison
made a very strong commitment
00:58:51.730 --> 00:58:54.560
of what this type of
investment represents
00:58:54.560 --> 00:58:58.670
in terms of preventing PSPSs
and preventing modifiers.
00:58:58.670 --> 00:59:01.690
And so as we track the
progress of these investments,
00:59:01.690 --> 00:59:03.620
we obviously wanna track those outcomes
00:59:03.620 --> 00:59:05.683
and that those commitments be fulfilled.
00:59:06.890 --> 00:59:10.110
That was, for me, a major decision,
00:59:10.110 --> 00:59:15.110
major aspect of reaching
this very hard decision
00:59:15.390 --> 00:59:18.370
to ask the Edison ratepayers
for such a high increase
00:59:18.370 --> 00:59:20.210
in their monthly bills,
00:59:20.210 --> 00:59:22.960
is to see the commitment come through
00:59:22.960 --> 00:59:25.603
that they will face less catastrophe.
00:59:26.450 --> 00:59:29.100
And finally, I just want to call
00:59:29.100 --> 00:59:33.687
on all of our legislators
federally and state.
00:59:33.687 --> 00:59:35.610
I'm very excited about the prospect
00:59:35.610 --> 00:59:37.980
of the federal infrastructure package,
00:59:37.980 --> 00:59:39.980
that we begin to look at different ways
00:59:39.980 --> 00:59:42.290
to finance this infrastructure
00:59:42.290 --> 00:59:44.830
in a way to adapt to
this changing climate
00:59:44.830 --> 00:59:46.770
that is more sustainable.
00:59:46.770 --> 00:59:49.260
And certainly, more federal investment,
00:59:49.260 --> 00:59:54.200
and state investment in
this area is much needed.
00:59:54.200 --> 00:59:56.370
Those are not things
that are out of the realm.
00:59:56.370 --> 00:59:58.317
There is much federal
and state infrastructure
00:59:58.317 --> 01:00:01.810
and many other utilities
sectors such as water.
01:00:01.810 --> 01:00:04.983
So I look forward to the
possibility, first and foremost,
01:00:04.983 --> 01:00:09.060
that our federal government
will reach a compromise,
01:00:09.060 --> 01:00:12.030
our Congress and our
President to make sure
01:00:12.030 --> 01:00:16.000
there's more investment coming
from the federal government
01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:17.593
to these customers.
01:00:18.660 --> 01:00:21.360
With that, I look forward
to supporting this decision.
01:00:22.730 --> 01:00:25.540
Thank you so much,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:00:25.540 --> 01:00:29.180
I was negligent in not mentioning,
01:00:29.180 --> 01:00:31.480
and I wanna thank my
fellow Commissioners
01:00:31.480 --> 01:00:34.260
for mentioning my
staff, that worked hard
01:00:34.260 --> 01:00:38.550
once we became a BK partner
with Commissioner Shiroma.
01:00:38.550 --> 01:00:41.650
Nora Hawkins, as
Commissioner Houck said,
01:00:41.650 --> 01:00:45.730
this is a mighty big decision.
01:00:45.730 --> 01:00:46.970
Over 700 pages.
01:00:46.970 --> 01:00:49.890
I wanna thank Nora Hawkins of my staff,
01:00:49.890 --> 01:00:52.380
my advisor who worked so hard on this
01:00:52.380 --> 01:00:55.880
as well as my incredible Chief
of Staff, Shannon O'Rourke.
01:00:55.880 --> 01:00:58.073
So thank you. Thank you all again.
01:00:59.270 --> 01:01:02.283
So with that, are there any
other questions or comments?
01:01:03.750 --> 01:01:06.750
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
01:01:06.750 --> 01:01:08.963
please call the roll on item 29?
01:01:11.800 --> 01:01:13.163
Commissioner Houck.
01:01:14.490 --> 01:01:15.323
Yes.
01:01:16.540 --> 01:01:18.420
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:01:18.420 --> 01:01:19.253
Aye.
01:01:20.668 --> 01:01:22.518
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:01:22.518 --> 01:01:23.351
Yes.
01:01:24.330 --> 01:01:26.353
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:01:26.353 --> 01:01:27.972
Aye.
01:01:27.972 --> 01:01:30.200
President Batjer.
01:01:30.200 --> 01:01:31.520
Yes.
01:01:31.520 --> 01:01:35.440
The item 29 passes unanimously.
01:01:35.440 --> 01:01:36.750
Thank you very much.
01:01:36.750 --> 01:01:39.160
Moving now to item 31.
01:01:39.160 --> 01:01:42.170
Commissioner Guzman
Aceves, that is assigned to you.
01:01:42.170 --> 01:01:44.230
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:01:44.230 --> 01:01:48.290
This proposed decision is
focused on regulating the rates
01:01:48.290 --> 01:01:51.920
that incarcerated people
and their loved ones
01:01:51.920 --> 01:01:54.880
are forced to pay for phone calls.
01:01:54.880 --> 01:01:59.190
We heard hundreds of testimonials,
01:01:59.190 --> 01:02:02.120
including some that we
heard this morning, of course,
01:02:02.120 --> 01:02:03.470
from people included
01:02:03.470 --> 01:02:07.120
a few incarcerated
individuals themselves,
01:02:07.120 --> 01:02:09.680
which I just wanna
acknowledge as a side note
01:02:09.680 --> 01:02:12.660
of the tremendous work
of our IT and our ALJs
01:02:12.660 --> 01:02:14.840
to make that even possible.
01:02:14.840 --> 01:02:16.760
We all spoke of the negative effects
01:02:16.760 --> 01:02:20.160
that incarcerated
people themselves face.
01:02:20.160 --> 01:02:22.960
And making it harder
for them to communicate
01:02:22.960 --> 01:02:24.890
not just with their loved ones,
01:02:24.890 --> 01:02:29.890
but with gaining some of their
legal advice, medical advice,
01:02:30.970 --> 01:02:34.060
all of the elements of connectivity
01:02:34.060 --> 01:02:37.920
that can foster or prevent recidivism,
01:02:37.920 --> 01:02:42.313
and make our jails safer
and our society safer as well.
01:02:43.580 --> 01:02:47.070
We obviously brought
forward this entire proceeding
01:02:47.070 --> 01:02:49.070
because we have the legal obligation
01:02:49.070 --> 01:02:53.310
to ensure that utility rates
paid by everyone in the state,
01:02:53.310 --> 01:02:54.857
including incarcerated people
01:02:54.857 --> 01:02:58.773
and their families and loved
ones are just and reasonable.
01:02:59.830 --> 01:03:02.920
We also recognize the tremendous impact
01:03:02.920 --> 01:03:06.440
that during this pandemic, the
communication with loved ones
01:03:06.440 --> 01:03:10.800
has become even more
critical and even more difficult.
01:03:10.800 --> 01:03:13.420
As we sit here with the
spread of the Delta variant,
01:03:13.420 --> 01:03:15.950
we know that the
pandemic is not something
01:03:15.950 --> 01:03:18.610
that is going away quite yet.
01:03:18.610 --> 01:03:21.670
So it's even more
urgent for us to act now,
01:03:21.670 --> 01:03:25.470
and while we structure the
need for an interim decision
01:03:25.470 --> 01:03:27.900
as we look deeper into the issue.
01:03:27.900 --> 01:03:30.210
So the proceeding will remain open,
01:03:30.210 --> 01:03:33.380
and we'll start to take evidence
01:03:33.380 --> 01:03:36.213
so we can develop a
permanent rate structure.
01:03:38.830 --> 01:03:41.690
Before I summarize the
specifics of the decision,
01:03:41.690 --> 01:03:46.350
I wanted to recognize the
path that it has taken to get here
01:03:46.350 --> 01:03:48.870
and further acknowledge
the amount of work
01:03:48.870 --> 01:03:50.970
that is yet to come.
01:03:50.970 --> 01:03:55.970
In 2015, the FCC set
permanent caps on rates,
01:03:56.230 --> 01:03:59.770
and auxiliary fees
for both the interstate
01:03:59.770 --> 01:04:04.770
and intrastate calls, to
and from jails and prisons.
01:04:04.860 --> 01:04:06.670
And phone carriers, food.
01:04:06.670 --> 01:04:11.670
And in 2017, the US Court
of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
01:04:11.810 --> 01:04:15.240
ruled among other things
that the FCC lacked authority
01:04:15.240 --> 01:04:18.893
to regulate intrastate rates and fees.
01:04:21.480 --> 01:04:24.440
And although that decision
ended the FCC's attempt
01:04:24.440 --> 01:04:28.260
to regulate intrastate
calls for jails and prisons,
01:04:28.260 --> 01:04:30.090
I want to acknowledge,
01:04:30.090 --> 01:04:32.260
this might be the only time I do this,
01:04:32.260 --> 01:04:36.260
the leadership of SEC
then chairman Ajit Pai,
01:04:36.260 --> 01:04:39.290
for recognizing that
these rates and charges
01:04:39.290 --> 01:04:42.180
were unconscionably high.
01:04:42.180 --> 01:04:47.180
And in July 2020, he wrote
a formal letter to NARUC,
01:04:48.200 --> 01:04:52.600
the National Association of
Regulatory Utility Commissioners
01:04:52.600 --> 01:04:56.123
urging us, as regulatory
Commissions to act.
01:04:57.850 --> 01:05:00.770
And its interesting when we look
01:05:00.770 --> 01:05:05.200
at some of the other
areas of our jurisdiction
01:05:05.200 --> 01:05:10.200
where we are leaders in
areas like decarbonization,
01:05:10.480 --> 01:05:15.480
electric and other areas of
climate change adaptation.
01:05:16.550 --> 01:05:20.340
This particular area,
we have not led in.
01:05:20.340 --> 01:05:23.710
In fact, even though California
has the second highest
01:05:23.710 --> 01:05:26.410
incarcerated population in the country,
01:05:26.410 --> 01:05:28.860
only behind the state of Texas,
01:05:28.860 --> 01:05:32.350
our jails and prisons are so
overcrowded that as you know,
01:05:32.350 --> 01:05:36.530
under our previous Governor,
the US Supreme Court stepped in
01:05:36.530 --> 01:05:40.770
because they felt he violated
incarcerated people's rights
01:05:40.770 --> 01:05:43.283
to be free from cruel
and unusual punishment.
01:05:44.750 --> 01:05:47.470
This step today is a big step,
01:05:47.470 --> 01:05:49.840
although other states have gone farther.
01:05:49.840 --> 01:05:54.510
For example, in
Connecticut, jails and prisons
01:05:54.510 --> 01:05:56.113
have free calling.
01:05:57.360 --> 01:06:01.210
The average cost of a
15-minute call in Illinois
01:06:01.210 --> 01:06:04.350
is 13 cents, as an example.
01:06:04.350 --> 01:06:07.373
In New Hampshire, a
15-minute call is 20 cents.
01:06:10.010 --> 01:06:12.470
So I have mentioned this not to diminish
01:06:12.470 --> 01:06:14.300
the very important action today,
01:06:14.300 --> 01:06:18.010
but to recognize that we
have so much farther to go.
01:06:18.010 --> 01:06:20.130
In fact, much of our public comment
01:06:20.130 --> 01:06:24.143
was focused on the need
for these calls to be free.
01:06:25.620 --> 01:06:27.430
And I do wanna acknowledge the city
01:06:27.430 --> 01:06:31.540
and County of San Francisco,
the County of San Diego,
01:06:31.540 --> 01:06:35.390
for making that a reality for
their incarcerated population.
01:06:35.390 --> 01:06:38.170
And just recently, I understand
01:06:38.170 --> 01:06:39.700
that the county of Los Angeles
01:06:39.700 --> 01:06:43.530
is looking at a similar
measure for their facilities.
01:06:43.530 --> 01:06:45.980
And I sincerely hope and
strongly encourage them
01:06:45.980 --> 01:06:47.373
to move forward on that.
01:06:48.430 --> 01:06:49.550
I also want to acknowledge
01:06:49.550 --> 01:06:52.120
the Los Angeles County of Education,
01:06:52.120 --> 01:06:55.830
for making educational
engagement for incarcerated youth
01:06:55.830 --> 01:06:58.109
and communication with loved ones,
01:06:58.109 --> 01:07:01.510
free as well for their youth,
01:07:01.510 --> 01:07:03.900
in their partnership with
the Los Angeles Department
01:07:03.900 --> 01:07:05.283
of Youth Development.
01:07:06.340 --> 01:07:08.280
Just to say, there's much more to go,
01:07:08.280 --> 01:07:11.080
and many, many of
our partners are doing so
01:07:11.080 --> 01:07:12.380
on their own jurisdiction.
01:07:14.970 --> 01:07:18.440
So now, let me just get into
the key parts of the decision.
01:07:18.440 --> 01:07:21.420
The centerpiece, of
course, is a per-minute rate
01:07:21.420 --> 01:07:23.563
will be capped at seven cents.
01:07:24.940 --> 01:07:28.470
The evidence on record
shows that many jurisdictions,
01:07:28.470 --> 01:07:32.190
both in California and outside the state
01:07:32.190 --> 01:07:35.557
are able to provide calling
services to incarcerated people
01:07:35.557 --> 01:07:38.793
for well below the
seven cents per minute.
01:07:40.230 --> 01:07:42.630
I've named a few of those already.
01:07:42.630 --> 01:07:45.370
We also saw that earlier this year,
01:07:45.370 --> 01:07:49.130
the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation,
01:07:49.130 --> 01:07:54.130
CDCR, capped the state
rate for California prisons
01:07:54.140 --> 01:07:56.493
at 2.5 cents per minute.
01:07:57.710 --> 01:08:00.920
That number may not be
appropriate in all situations,
01:08:00.920 --> 01:08:05.090
and we recognize in particular
that for smaller facilities,
01:08:05.090 --> 01:08:07.883
there tend to be higher operating costs.
01:08:08.730 --> 01:08:11.660
So that seven cent number
includes what we think
01:08:11.660 --> 01:08:15.330
is a very generous buffer
to allow for some variation
01:08:15.330 --> 01:08:16.493
in the cost of service.
01:08:17.980 --> 01:08:20.630
Therefore, we think this
trade balances our obligation
01:08:20.630 --> 01:08:24.260
to provide just and reasonable
services to all Californians,
01:08:24.260 --> 01:08:27.420
with our obligation to
allow the regulated utilities
01:08:27.420 --> 01:08:30.313
to earn a reasonable
return on their investment.
01:08:31.860 --> 01:08:34.810
Again, we'll keep looking at
this issue as we move forward
01:08:34.810 --> 01:08:38.220
in the permanent rules
of our proceedings.
01:08:38.220 --> 01:08:40.800
As important as the per minute cap is,
01:08:40.800 --> 01:08:43.120
perhaps even more important
than something we heard
01:08:43.120 --> 01:08:47.310
from the public as a major concern,
01:08:47.310 --> 01:08:51.073
is the cost related
to the auxiliary fees.
01:08:52.050 --> 01:08:57.050
These charges for things
like receiving a paper bill,
01:08:57.180 --> 01:09:01.860
or talking to a live operator
or paying by credit card.
01:09:01.860 --> 01:09:04.410
We held, as you know,
two public meetings
01:09:04.410 --> 01:09:05.930
in April of this year.
01:09:05.930 --> 01:09:08.000
And although some people complained
01:09:08.000 --> 01:09:10.780
about the per minute
rate, it was very clear
01:09:10.780 --> 01:09:14.160
that these extra fees
caused the most confusion,
01:09:14.160 --> 01:09:17.853
frustration, and lack of transparency.
01:09:19.240 --> 01:09:21.140
Our record does not show any evidence
01:09:21.140 --> 01:09:23.283
that these fees are just or reasonable.
01:09:24.647 --> 01:09:27.730
I can personally pay my
phone bill with a credit card
01:09:27.730 --> 01:09:30.940
without incurring any
additional charges.
01:09:30.940 --> 01:09:33.430
People in California's jails or prisons
01:09:33.430 --> 01:09:35.033
should be able to do the same.
01:09:36.210 --> 01:09:40.290
We are however allowing two
forms of these fees to continue.
01:09:40.290 --> 01:09:43.280
We are allowing the
past two without a markup
01:09:43.280 --> 01:09:46.530
of government mandated taxes and fees,
01:09:46.530 --> 01:09:48.530
and we are also allowing the past two
01:09:48.530 --> 01:09:53.060
again without a markup of
mandatory third party charges.
01:09:53.060 --> 01:09:56.760
As an example, when an
incarcerated person's family sends
01:09:56.760 --> 01:10:00.210
the money to a third party
payment processing company,
01:10:00.210 --> 01:10:02.180
as an example, like Western Union,
01:10:02.180 --> 01:10:05.800
may charge a fee not directly
to the incarcerated person
01:10:05.800 --> 01:10:09.590
or their family, but to the
communication service provider.
01:10:09.590 --> 01:10:10.987
And under this interim decision,
01:10:10.987 --> 01:10:13.700
the service provider
may pass that suit through
01:10:13.700 --> 01:10:16.440
to the incarcerated person with a cap.
01:10:16.440 --> 01:10:18.930
And the cap is significantly higher.
01:10:18.930 --> 01:10:20.510
I wanna know is that it's not as low
01:10:20.510 --> 01:10:25.373
as I would have liked
to see, but it's at $6.95.
01:10:27.290 --> 01:10:30.050
Finally, we're ordering
service providers
01:10:30.050 --> 01:10:34.020
to implement these
changes within 45 days,
01:10:34.020 --> 01:10:37.250
and to submit a report demonstrating
01:10:37.250 --> 01:10:38.973
their compliance with this order.
01:10:40.480 --> 01:10:43.563
And of course, that includes
notifying their customers.
01:10:45.220 --> 01:10:46.970
In the next phase of this proceeding,
01:10:46.970 --> 01:10:48.560
in addition to considering
01:10:48.560 --> 01:10:51.210
what the appropriate permanent
rate structure should be,
01:10:51.210 --> 01:10:54.540
we're also going to be
tackling some very tough issues
01:10:54.540 --> 01:10:57.180
like the appropriate
rates for text-based
01:10:57.180 --> 01:10:59.810
and video-based communications,
01:10:59.810 --> 01:11:01.960
which are becoming even more important
01:11:01.960 --> 01:11:05.060
than the traditional
telephone communications
01:11:05.060 --> 01:11:06.073
as time goes on.
01:11:07.330 --> 01:11:09.270
We do have a lot of work ahead,
01:11:09.270 --> 01:11:11.650
but this is a tremendous first step.
01:11:11.650 --> 01:11:15.640
And so I want to acknowledge
all of the amazing people
01:11:15.640 --> 01:11:17.350
that made this possible.
01:11:17.350 --> 01:11:21.750
First, I wanna start with the
Communications Division team.
01:11:21.750 --> 01:11:26.630
Eric van Wombeck, Carol Filet, Amy Lau,
01:11:26.630 --> 01:11:31.630
Andrew Aliabadi, for taking
on the very diligent task
01:11:33.810 --> 01:11:37.660
of fact finding, developing
policy recommendations
01:11:37.660 --> 01:11:41.730
on every element of these
different payment structures,
01:11:41.730 --> 01:11:44.840
and really digging
deep into their impacts,
01:11:44.840 --> 01:11:47.210
including what was
mentioned today by the sheriffs
01:11:47.210 --> 01:11:49.283
on the impacts to the welfare program.
01:11:50.370 --> 01:11:52.393
Thank you so much for the city team.
01:11:53.290 --> 01:11:56.680
I wanna thank the legal division
Assistant General Counsel,
01:11:56.680 --> 01:11:59.550
Helen Mickiewicz, and Kerriann Sheppard,
01:11:59.550 --> 01:12:02.073
for always providing
a constant guidance.
01:12:03.120 --> 01:12:06.600
And most of all, I wanna thank
our Administrative Law Judge,
01:12:06.600 --> 01:12:10.710
Judge Kathy Fogle, for
her immense organization,
01:12:10.710 --> 01:12:14.070
her timeliness, her deep engagement,
01:12:14.070 --> 01:12:18.380
and all of the dedication that
she brought to this decision.
01:12:18.380 --> 01:12:21.990
Of course, there's
additional leadership involved.
01:12:21.990 --> 01:12:25.460
And Assistant Chief ALJ,
Catherine MacDonald,
01:12:25.460 --> 01:12:28.063
and Judge Anthony Kolbert.
01:12:29.120 --> 01:12:32.810
Also wanna recognize that
we had an ALJ intern help us
01:12:32.810 --> 01:12:36.110
with this effort as
well, who has since left,
01:12:36.110 --> 01:12:39.450
Bernardo Katrina, and he has provided us
01:12:39.450 --> 01:12:41.470
with some invaluable research,
01:12:41.470 --> 01:12:43.670
even during the short
time that he was here.
01:12:45.968 --> 01:12:49.030
I wanna recognize the Environmental
01:12:49.030 --> 01:12:51.100
and Social Justice Action Plan
01:12:51.100 --> 01:12:56.100
has really focused on
a goal related to access
01:12:56.300 --> 01:12:59.670
to affordable communication
rule number three,
01:12:59.670 --> 01:13:02.980
and we see this as really a component
01:13:02.980 --> 01:13:04.463
of carrying that goal out.
01:13:05.360 --> 01:13:07.930
One of the team members, (indistinct)
01:13:07.930 --> 01:13:10.870
ESG Action Plan team, but in particular,
01:13:10.870 --> 01:13:12.620
I wanna call out Judith Eclay,
01:13:12.620 --> 01:13:15.940
who, on my first week of the job,
01:13:15.940 --> 01:13:18.010
over four and a half years ago,
01:13:18.010 --> 01:13:21.370
recommended that the
Commission take on this issue
01:13:21.370 --> 01:13:23.280
and take action.
01:13:23.280 --> 01:13:25.740
Although we are a bit
late, I do wanna recognize
01:13:25.740 --> 01:13:27.770
that this idea is not new,
01:13:27.770 --> 01:13:30.070
not even within our own Commission staff
01:13:30.070 --> 01:13:31.423
and across divisions.
01:13:32.970 --> 01:13:36.840
Finally, not quite finally,
but very importantly,
01:13:36.840 --> 01:13:39.000
I wanna thank my BK team partner,
01:13:39.000 --> 01:13:42.730
Commissioner Shiroma,
for her very strong
01:13:42.730 --> 01:13:46.840
and steadfast moral
compass on this issue.
01:13:46.840 --> 01:13:50.550
She and her team of advisors
have been basically one team
01:13:50.550 --> 01:13:52.382
on this proceeding.
01:13:52.382 --> 01:13:55.087
Breanna Grant, Christina
Tam, and Luwam Tesfai.
01:13:56.550 --> 01:13:59.930
They have been excellent
to work with on this.
01:13:59.930 --> 01:14:03.960
Along with my advisors,
Pilad Mandriquez,
01:14:03.960 --> 01:14:07.160
who was really new to
working on proceedings
01:14:07.160 --> 01:14:09.100
and very engaged on this.
01:14:09.100 --> 01:14:11.540
And most importantly, Jonathan Colts,
01:14:11.540 --> 01:14:13.670
my chief of staff and legal advisor
01:14:13.670 --> 01:14:18.670
who has been really the
policy guidance for me
01:14:18.960 --> 01:14:20.163
on this whole effort.
01:14:21.230 --> 01:14:23.420
And sorry for me being so long-winded,
01:14:23.420 --> 01:14:25.520
but I have two final thank yous.
01:14:25.520 --> 01:14:29.130
I want to thank our
now County Supervisor
01:14:29.130 --> 01:14:32.140
of Los Angeles, Holly Mitchell.
01:14:32.140 --> 01:14:35.140
She has been a champion
for the incarcerated
01:14:35.140 --> 01:14:37.120
and their families.
01:14:37.120 --> 01:14:40.310
And as a senator, many of you know,
01:14:40.310 --> 01:14:42.040
that she passed legislation
01:14:42.040 --> 01:14:44.090
that was much more comprehensive,
01:14:44.090 --> 01:14:47.720
dealing with all the
excessive commissary costs,
01:14:47.720 --> 01:14:49.840
phone calls being one of them.
01:14:49.840 --> 01:14:52.130
And although this decision only deals
01:14:52.130 --> 01:14:55.150
with one of those costs,
I certainly encourage
01:14:55.150 --> 01:14:58.890
the legislature to continue
to work on those other issues.
01:14:58.890 --> 01:15:00.500
But I wanna thank Senator Mitchell
01:15:00.500 --> 01:15:02.140
and I see that she's continuing
01:15:02.140 --> 01:15:04.063
the good work as a supervisor.
01:15:05.330 --> 01:15:08.337
And most of all, I wanna
thank the family and friends
01:15:08.337 --> 01:15:13.337
of the incarcerated people
for their tireless advocacy.
01:15:13.400 --> 01:15:15.730
I want to thank them in particular,
01:15:15.730 --> 01:15:20.730
for educating us in this
institution, about our own biases,
01:15:21.070 --> 01:15:23.963
in our process and in our language.
01:15:24.870 --> 01:15:26.510
From my very initial meeting
01:15:26.510 --> 01:15:28.610
with some of the advocacy groups
01:15:28.610 --> 01:15:30.040
that taught me the importance
01:15:30.040 --> 01:15:32.690
of using more humanizing language
01:15:32.690 --> 01:15:34.323
to describe their loved ones.
01:15:35.230 --> 01:15:38.433
To calling us out on some of
our condescending comments,
01:15:39.620 --> 01:15:42.363
and mostly for our biased rule.
01:15:43.780 --> 01:15:46.090
And finally, I wanna thank you,
01:15:46.090 --> 01:15:49.270
to all the family and
friends for reminding us
01:15:49.270 --> 01:15:53.860
that restorative justice is
based on the belief in people
01:15:53.860 --> 01:15:56.590
and that this move,
hopefully, this modest,
01:15:56.590 --> 01:15:58.890
but significant action today,
01:15:58.890 --> 01:16:01.583
will help make that
reform more possible.
01:16:03.020 --> 01:16:03.853
Thank you.
01:16:03.853 --> 01:16:07.080
And with that, I wanna ask
my fellow Commissioners
01:16:07.080 --> 01:16:08.053
for their support.
01:16:10.040 --> 01:16:12.910
Thank you for that
very detailed explanation
01:16:12.910 --> 01:16:15.690
of this incredibly important issue.
01:16:15.690 --> 01:16:18.830
I wanna thank you in
particular for your leadership,
01:16:18.830 --> 01:16:20.200
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:16:20.200 --> 01:16:24.030
I want to turn now to
your BK team partner
01:16:24.030 --> 01:16:27.523
on this important decision,
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:16:28.600 --> 01:16:29.660
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:16:29.660 --> 01:16:32.420
And thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:16:32.420 --> 01:16:35.340
for your leadership on
this proposed decision.
01:16:35.340 --> 01:16:38.001
And of course, I'm in support of it.
01:16:38.001 --> 01:16:42.630
As you outlined, the California
Public Utilities Commission
01:16:42.630 --> 01:16:46.970
has an obligation
pursuant to public utilities
01:16:46.970 --> 01:16:51.020
code section 451, to ensure access
01:16:51.020 --> 01:16:55.900
to just and reasonable rates
for telecommunication services.
01:16:55.900 --> 01:16:59.590
That includes rates related
to service for Californians
01:16:59.590 --> 01:17:03.220
that are incarcerated
and their loved ones.
01:17:03.220 --> 01:17:06.550
We heard that at the
high end of the scale,
01:17:06.550 --> 01:17:11.550
one 15-minute call between
an incarcerated person
01:17:11.637 --> 01:17:16.637
and their family could cost $26.
01:17:17.240 --> 01:17:20.520
We heard a range of costs.
01:17:20.520 --> 01:17:25.520
If you think about a call
once a week, a call each day,
01:17:27.200 --> 01:17:31.130
we heard from families
saying how important it was
01:17:31.130 --> 01:17:34.800
for their loved one to
hear their voices each day.
01:17:34.800 --> 01:17:37.980
The father of their child,
the mother of their child,
01:17:37.980 --> 01:17:41.580
their sister, their
brother, sons, daughters.
01:17:41.580 --> 01:17:44.090
This interim rate of
seven cents per minute
01:17:44.090 --> 01:17:49.090
will create an immediate
relief of $1.05 for 15 minutes
01:17:49.270 --> 01:17:52.200
versus that $26.
01:17:52.200 --> 01:17:54.970
I appreciate the thoughtful
and expedient action taken
01:17:54.970 --> 01:17:58.010
in working to reduce the burden imposed
01:17:58.010 --> 01:18:00.470
on those who are
incarcerated and their families
01:18:00.470 --> 01:18:03.730
by implementing rate caps,
addressing ancillary fees,
01:18:03.730 --> 01:18:06.890
ensuring telephone
corporation compliance.
01:18:06.890 --> 01:18:09.270
I also note that these actions
01:18:09.270 --> 01:18:12.340
as Commissioner Guzman Aceves outlined,
01:18:12.340 --> 01:18:14.360
they're fashioned in
concert with changes
01:18:14.360 --> 01:18:16.940
that are occurring on national level
01:18:16.940 --> 01:18:20.480
by the Federal
Communications Commission,
01:18:20.480 --> 01:18:23.810
supporting the evidence
collected in this docket,
01:18:23.810 --> 01:18:26.378
that the rates charged to
those who are incarcerated
01:18:26.378 --> 01:18:29.100
aren't just unreasonable.
01:18:29.100 --> 01:18:32.330
The FCC has been
working on reducing the rates
01:18:32.330 --> 01:18:36.284
for both interstate and
intrastate for quite a long time.
01:18:36.284 --> 01:18:40.360
And I've been taking note
of the high ancillary fees
01:18:40.360 --> 01:18:45.280
which all add up,
whether in jails or prisons.
01:18:45.280 --> 01:18:49.093
We heard from someone
who spoke about ICE facilities.
01:18:50.030 --> 01:18:52.960
While these interim rates are not as low
01:18:52.960 --> 01:18:56.010
as our California
Department of Corrections
01:18:56.010 --> 01:18:58.830
and Rehabilitation
levels, which were lowered
01:18:58.830 --> 01:19:01.940
to two and a half
cents in March this year,
01:19:01.940 --> 01:19:05.000
it does represent a substantial decrease
01:19:05.000 --> 01:19:09.660
that get us towards that just
and reasonable requirement.
01:19:09.660 --> 01:19:12.980
I had the opportunity to hear firsthand
01:19:12.980 --> 01:19:15.130
through public
participation of hearings,
01:19:15.130 --> 01:19:18.350
from those incarcerated
as well as their families.
01:19:18.350 --> 01:19:19.600
It was pretty compelling.
01:19:20.560 --> 01:19:23.820
The financial burden
placed on them is high,
01:19:23.820 --> 01:19:27.060
not to mention that,
in fact, in some cases,
01:19:27.060 --> 01:19:31.530
there are offensively
innocent individuals sitting in jail
01:19:31.530 --> 01:19:34.320
simply because they cannot afford bail,
01:19:34.320 --> 01:19:36.160
let alone a phone call.
01:19:36.160 --> 01:19:39.300
In my view, adding those high rates
01:19:39.300 --> 01:19:42.590
to their financial burdens,
significantly affects
01:19:42.590 --> 01:19:46.643
those who are already
paying their debt to society.
01:19:47.810 --> 01:19:51.410
And those financial
burdens affect the ability
01:19:51.410 --> 01:19:53.827
to care for loved ones at home,
01:19:53.827 --> 01:19:56.770
and to prepare for a life once released.
01:19:56.770 --> 01:20:01.420
Without that close contact
to family to prevent recidivism,
01:20:01.420 --> 01:20:03.363
it's a tough burden to bear.
01:20:05.610 --> 01:20:10.380
On a personal level,
I'm sure I am not alone
01:20:10.380 --> 01:20:14.800
in having a family member
who was incarcerated,
01:20:14.800 --> 01:20:19.370
in my case, decades ago, in prison.
01:20:19.370 --> 01:20:24.277
And I look back and think,
wow if I had knew then
01:20:25.210 --> 01:20:30.210
what I know now, I'm
just grateful that ultimately,
01:20:31.910 --> 01:20:36.910
our family was there
for our family member
01:20:38.600 --> 01:20:41.380
towards recovery and redemption
01:20:42.290 --> 01:20:45.880
after having paid their debt to society,
01:20:45.880 --> 01:20:50.230
after having spiraled down so deeply
01:20:50.230 --> 01:20:52.450
that they ended up in prison.
01:20:52.450 --> 01:20:54.700
So to close, adopting an interim rate
01:20:54.700 --> 01:20:58.370
of seven cents per minute,
placing a cap on ancillary fees,
01:20:58.370 --> 01:21:00.550
monitoring and
prohibiting of these fees,
01:21:00.550 --> 01:21:02.640
requiring telephone
corporation compliance
01:21:02.640 --> 01:21:05.230
are all steps in the right direction,
01:21:05.230 --> 01:21:08.210
and they will provide immediate relief
01:21:08.210 --> 01:21:10.410
to families and those incarcerated.
01:21:10.410 --> 01:21:12.620
I wanna thank Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:21:12.620 --> 01:21:15.510
for allowing me to be
her BK team partner.
01:21:15.510 --> 01:21:18.020
Your leadership on this
issue, your chief of staff
01:21:18.020 --> 01:21:20.220
and legal advisor, Jonathan Colts,
01:21:20.220 --> 01:21:24.860
as well as Judge Kathleen
Fogle and the entire team,
01:21:24.860 --> 01:21:27.660
as you outlined,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:21:27.660 --> 01:21:28.820
that have worked on this matter,
01:21:28.820 --> 01:21:30.250
and I appreciate the opportunity
01:21:30.250 --> 01:21:32.810
to continue to engage with you
01:21:32.810 --> 01:21:36.050
as we continue to work
on this very important issue.
01:21:36.050 --> 01:21:38.153
Thank you and we support this decision.
01:21:49.360 --> 01:21:51.210
President Batjer, you might be muted.
01:21:54.610 --> 01:21:56.750
Yes, I was. (laughs)
01:21:56.750 --> 01:21:58.204
Thank you.
01:21:58.204 --> 01:22:01.333
Commissioner Rechtschaffen
and then the Commissioner Houck.
01:22:01.333 --> 01:22:02.790
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:22:02.790 --> 01:22:04.110
Thank you.
01:22:04.110 --> 01:22:07.510
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
I was smiling when you said
01:22:07.510 --> 01:22:09.980
that Judith Eclay came to talk to you
01:22:09.980 --> 01:22:12.580
when you first got on the Commission.
01:22:12.580 --> 01:22:13.860
She did her homework very well.
01:22:13.860 --> 01:22:15.770
She also came to talk to me
01:22:15.770 --> 01:22:18.210
within the first three or four months,
01:22:18.210 --> 01:22:20.110
and raised the same issue to me.
01:22:20.110 --> 01:22:22.430
I'm very glad that you've taken it on
01:22:22.430 --> 01:22:24.660
so I can feel less guilty about
01:22:24.660 --> 01:22:27.410
not having done it over the
past four and a half years.
01:22:28.410 --> 01:22:32.400
This really is an important decision
01:22:32.400 --> 01:22:36.770
that will have a profound,
positive and immediate effect
01:22:36.770 --> 01:22:38.540
on the lives of thousands,
01:22:38.540 --> 01:22:40.890
if not tens of thousands of people.
01:22:40.890 --> 01:22:42.740
And we should take a step back
01:22:42.740 --> 01:22:46.960
because we really can't say
that about all of our decisions,
01:22:46.960 --> 01:22:48.670
but many of our decisions
that they will have
01:22:48.670 --> 01:22:50.870
this profound and immediate effect
01:22:50.870 --> 01:22:52.523
in improving people's lives.
01:22:53.818 --> 01:22:57.270
We're acting pursuant to
the broad regulatory authority
01:22:57.270 --> 01:22:58.690
that we have.
01:22:58.690 --> 01:23:01.180
Also, to advance a goal
01:23:01.180 --> 01:23:04.030
that Commissioner
Guzman Aceves mentioned
01:23:04.030 --> 01:23:06.760
that we set for ourselves
in our Environmental Justice
01:23:06.760 --> 01:23:09.270
and Social Justice Action Plan,
01:23:09.270 --> 01:23:12.630
to provide high quality
communication services
01:23:12.630 --> 01:23:16.143
to all communities,
including underserved ones.
01:23:18.550 --> 01:23:23.550
As we've heard, the current
rates are just egregiously high,
01:23:23.580 --> 01:23:27.900
irrational, no transparency,
no understanding
01:23:27.900 --> 01:23:30.403
about the fees being charged.
01:23:31.965 --> 01:23:34.910
A nightmare for inmates
and their families.
01:23:34.910 --> 01:23:39.320
So really, this
decision is a critical step
01:23:39.320 --> 01:23:43.310
to ensuring that incarcerated
or detained persons
01:23:43.310 --> 01:23:44.830
can call their loved
ones, their friends,
01:23:44.830 --> 01:23:46.850
their legal counsel or others
01:23:46.850 --> 01:23:49.900
with whom they need
to maintain the thread
01:23:49.900 --> 01:23:52.670
as they are behind bars.
01:23:52.670 --> 01:23:54.920
I'm very glad we have these decisions,
01:23:54.920 --> 01:23:57.010
these protections in
place and I look forward
01:23:57.010 --> 01:24:00.083
to the development
of longer term changes.
01:24:03.680 --> 01:24:04.900
Thank you, Commissioner
Rechtschaffen.
01:24:04.900 --> 01:24:05.850
Commissioner Houck.
01:24:07.810 --> 01:24:09.310
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:24:11.470 --> 01:24:13.720
So, I wanna thank
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
01:24:14.868 --> 01:24:16.820
her BK partner, Commissioner Shiroma,
01:24:16.820 --> 01:24:19.320
Administrative Law Judge Fogel,
01:24:19.320 --> 01:24:21.200
all of Commissioner Guzman Aceves' staff
01:24:21.200 --> 01:24:22.610
and Commissioner Shiroma's staff
01:24:22.610 --> 01:24:25.920
as well as the Communications Division
01:24:25.920 --> 01:24:27.440
for the work that they put in
01:24:27.440 --> 01:24:29.200
on the multiple staff proposals
01:24:29.200 --> 01:24:30.920
considered in the proceeding.
01:24:30.920 --> 01:24:33.080
And finally, I wanna thank the parties
01:24:33.080 --> 01:24:34.870
and the hundreds of
members of the public
01:24:34.870 --> 01:24:36.490
that provided input either through
01:24:36.490 --> 01:24:38.640
our public participation hearings,
01:24:38.640 --> 01:24:40.470
or through our public comment portal.
01:24:40.470 --> 01:24:43.530
I concur with Commissioner
Rechtschaffen's statements
01:24:43.530 --> 01:24:45.720
about the immediate
effects this decision
01:24:45.720 --> 01:24:48.160
is gonna have on so many people.
01:24:48.160 --> 01:24:51.270
The proposed decision provides
much needed immediate relief
01:24:51.270 --> 01:24:53.520
to people who are
incarcerated in California
01:24:53.520 --> 01:24:56.610
and their families, who are
disproportionately low income
01:24:56.610 --> 01:24:57.910
and people of color.
01:24:57.910 --> 01:25:00.360
In normal times, the
calling services addressed
01:25:00.360 --> 01:25:02.300
in this proposed decision are important
01:25:02.300 --> 01:25:04.390
for connecting people
who are incarcerated
01:25:04.390 --> 01:25:07.180
with their families, friends
and support systems.
01:25:07.180 --> 01:25:09.180
Connections that the
proposed decision notes
01:25:09.180 --> 01:25:12.910
are central for increasing the
chances of personal success,
01:25:12.910 --> 01:25:17.340
post incarceration, personal exploration
01:25:17.340 --> 01:25:18.823
and for reducing recidivism.
01:25:20.560 --> 01:25:23.680
Now, when in person
visitations are limited
01:25:23.680 --> 01:25:27.040
or prohibited in many cases,
because of the pandemic,
01:25:27.040 --> 01:25:29.950
these connections are
more than important.
01:25:29.950 --> 01:25:31.150
They're necessary.
01:25:31.150 --> 01:25:33.210
The proposed decision's interim rate cap
01:25:33.210 --> 01:25:35.350
and limitations on ancillary fees
01:25:35.350 --> 01:25:38.810
are a crucial first step to
ensuring communications,
01:25:38.810 --> 01:25:42.130
service rates are just and
reasonable for all Californians.
01:25:42.130 --> 01:25:45.672
And I commend everyone
that worked on putting
01:25:45.672 --> 01:25:48.210
this important decision together.
01:25:48.210 --> 01:25:50.570
And I also am looking
forward to following
01:25:50.570 --> 01:25:52.440
the next phase in the proceeding,
01:25:52.440 --> 01:25:55.090
which will be examining
permanent rate caps.
01:25:55.090 --> 01:25:57.250
And I also look forward to discussions
01:25:57.250 --> 01:25:58.620
on the reasonableness of rates
01:25:58.620 --> 01:26:00.700
for text and video calling services
01:26:00.700 --> 01:26:02.610
for people who are incarcerated
01:26:02.610 --> 01:26:04.580
as this proceeding moves forward.
01:26:04.580 --> 01:26:07.250
So again, thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:26:07.250 --> 01:26:09.430
for all of your work on this proceeding
01:26:09.430 --> 01:26:12.550
and to her staff and
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:26:12.550 --> 01:26:13.773
I will be supporting it.
01:26:14.890 --> 01:26:16.410
Thank you, Commissioner Houck.
01:26:16.410 --> 01:26:20.360
I want to again, thank you
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
01:26:20.360 --> 01:26:23.810
for your incredible steadfast leadership
01:26:23.810 --> 01:26:25.840
on this very, very important issue,
01:26:25.840 --> 01:26:27.850
and want to extend my gratitude
01:26:27.850 --> 01:26:29.860
along with my fellow Commissioners,
01:26:29.860 --> 01:26:33.190
to all of those whom
you mentioned as well.
01:26:33.190 --> 01:26:36.540
In particular, your chief
of staff, Jonathan Colts,
01:26:36.540 --> 01:26:38.330
and the communication division,
01:26:38.330 --> 01:26:41.200
and especially Administrative
Law Judge Kathy Fogle
01:26:41.200 --> 01:26:44.090
for her incredible
dedication and hard work
01:26:44.090 --> 01:26:45.540
on this proceeding.
01:26:45.540 --> 01:26:50.100
I'm also deeply appreciative
or appreciate the efforts
01:26:50.100 --> 01:26:51.960
of the many consumer advocates,
01:26:51.960 --> 01:26:54.810
the family and friends
of those incarcerated
01:26:54.810 --> 01:26:56.620
and others who participated
01:26:56.620 --> 01:27:00.380
in the public participation hearings
01:27:00.380 --> 01:27:02.880
that you all held in this proceeding.
01:27:02.880 --> 01:27:04.840
It was vitally important,
01:27:04.840 --> 01:27:09.840
and their voices were
incredibly impactful.
01:27:10.100 --> 01:27:13.440
For too long, unjust rates,
as has been mentioned,
01:27:13.440 --> 01:27:16.410
have hurt incarcerated
persons and their families.
01:27:16.410 --> 01:27:19.870
In an era of unlimited talk and text,
01:27:19.870 --> 01:27:23.253
it is striking to me that
these services are not free.
01:27:24.130 --> 01:27:27.430
As mentioned, indeed,
many local governments,
01:27:27.430 --> 01:27:29.570
and thank you for calling those out,
01:27:29.570 --> 01:27:32.180
Commissioner Guzman
Aceves, even in other states,
01:27:32.180 --> 01:27:35.360
provide these services at no cost.
01:27:35.360 --> 01:27:39.790
I'm hopeful that with a
landmark broadband package
01:27:39.790 --> 01:27:43.550
that was recently enacted,
providing these services for free
01:27:43.550 --> 01:27:45.550
is something we can enable the state
01:27:45.550 --> 01:27:48.880
and local governments
to do in the near future.
01:27:48.880 --> 01:27:51.720
In the meantime, today's
decision will bring vital relief
01:27:51.720 --> 01:27:53.910
as we have well outlined today.
01:27:53.910 --> 01:27:58.560
To many Californians, I'm
very pleased to support this item.
01:27:58.560 --> 01:28:02.340
So any other comments or questions?
01:28:02.340 --> 01:28:05.143
Seeing none, will the agenda
clerk please call the roll?
01:28:07.260 --> 01:28:09.020
Commissioner Houck.
01:28:09.020 --> 01:28:09.853
Yes.
01:28:10.949 --> 01:28:11.782
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:28:12.680 --> 01:28:13.513
Aye.
01:28:14.370 --> 01:28:16.278
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:28:16.278 --> 01:28:17.111
Yes.
01:28:18.295 --> 01:28:20.091
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:28:20.091 --> 01:28:20.924
Aye.
01:28:22.271 --> 01:28:23.104
President Batjer.
01:28:24.120 --> 01:28:24.953
Aye.
01:28:24.953 --> 01:28:25.980
Thank you very much.
01:28:25.980 --> 01:28:29.010
Item 31 passes unanimously.
01:28:29.010 --> 01:28:32.313
Item 32 is assigned to
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:28:33.184 --> 01:28:35.120
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:28:35.120 --> 01:28:37.020
Yes, thank you
President Batjer.
01:28:37.020 --> 01:28:40.830
So item 32 is an extension order
01:28:40.830 --> 01:28:45.133
for Suburban Water
company, test year 2021,
01:28:45.970 --> 01:28:50.160
and for its general rate
case, which is A20-03-001.
01:28:54.590 --> 01:28:57.590
I ask for your support
to extend the deadline
01:28:57.590 --> 01:29:02.190
by two months to November 1st, 2021.
01:29:02.190 --> 01:29:06.650
We are in the final stages
of drafting the decision,
01:29:06.650 --> 01:29:09.870
and this short extension
will provide time
01:29:09.870 --> 01:29:12.880
to circulate the proposed
decision for comments
01:29:12.880 --> 01:29:16.993
and finalize our deliberations,
again before November 1st.
01:29:16.993 --> 01:29:19.203
With that, I request your aye vote.
01:29:22.190 --> 01:29:23.450
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:29:23.450 --> 01:29:25.743
Are there any questions or comments?
01:29:27.270 --> 01:29:29.180
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
01:29:29.180 --> 01:29:31.403
please call the roll on item 32?
01:29:33.060 --> 01:29:34.303
Commissioner Houck.
01:29:35.300 --> 01:29:36.133
Yes.
01:29:37.624 --> 01:29:39.369
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:29:39.369 --> 01:29:40.202
Aye.
01:29:41.095 --> 01:29:43.058
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:29:43.058 --> 01:29:44.097
Yes.
01:29:44.097 --> 01:29:46.908
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:29:46.908 --> 01:29:47.741
Aye.
01:29:48.746 --> 01:29:50.480
President Batjer.
01:29:50.480 --> 01:29:51.530
Aye.
01:29:51.530 --> 01:29:55.030
Thank you. Item 33 passes unanimously.
01:29:55.030 --> 01:29:55.863
I mean, excuse me.
01:29:55.863 --> 01:29:58.050
Item 32 passes unanimously.
01:29:58.050 --> 01:29:59.750
I got ahead of myself.
01:29:59.750 --> 01:30:02.233
Item 33 is assigned to me.
01:30:03.220 --> 01:30:06.310
This decision extends
the statutory deadline
01:30:06.310 --> 01:30:09.640
for the complaint filed
by the town of Paradise
01:30:09.640 --> 01:30:14.030
against AT&T and Comcast
for the continued safety risks
01:30:14.030 --> 01:30:18.240
that the remaining utility
poles impose on the town.
01:30:18.240 --> 01:30:21.680
This proceeding has been
open since August of 2020,
01:30:21.680 --> 01:30:24.580
when Paradise filed this complaint.
01:30:24.580 --> 01:30:27.720
The town has since
entered into a joint agreement
01:30:27.720 --> 01:30:31.050
with Comcast to dismiss the complaint.
01:30:31.050 --> 01:30:34.070
However, the town continues to mediate
01:30:34.070 --> 01:30:36.470
their issues with AT&T.
01:30:36.470 --> 01:30:39.240
The parties report
they continue to engage
01:30:39.240 --> 01:30:41.590
in constructive settlement talks,
01:30:41.590 --> 01:30:44.420
and believe that a final
settlement of the case
01:30:44.420 --> 01:30:47.060
is likely by October 1.
01:30:47.060 --> 01:30:49.370
The proceeding continues to be suspended
01:30:49.370 --> 01:30:51.720
to allow these discussions.
01:30:51.720 --> 01:30:55.130
The order before us today
extends the statutory deadline
01:30:55.130 --> 01:30:57.233
to August 21st, 2022.
01:31:01.410 --> 01:31:05.050
I sincerely hope that
this lengthy extension
01:31:05.050 --> 01:31:06.990
will not be necessary.
01:31:06.990 --> 01:31:09.430
However, if an agreement is not reached,
01:31:09.430 --> 01:31:13.230
this time is necessary to restart
01:31:13.230 --> 01:31:16.030
the litigation schedule
for the proceedings.
01:31:16.030 --> 01:31:18.810
I ask your support for this extension.
01:31:18.810 --> 01:31:20.030
Thank you.
01:31:20.030 --> 01:31:24.403
Are there any comments
or questions on item 33?
01:31:26.080 --> 01:31:28.530
Seeing none, will the
agenda clerk please call the roll
01:31:28.530 --> 01:31:29.643
on item 33?
01:31:31.470 --> 01:31:33.260
Commissioner Houck.
01:31:33.260 --> 01:31:34.093
Yes.
01:31:35.083 --> 01:31:36.810
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:31:36.810 --> 01:31:37.643
Aye.
01:31:38.688 --> 01:31:40.659
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:31:40.659 --> 01:31:41.492
Yes.
01:31:42.822 --> 01:31:44.694
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:31:44.694 --> 01:31:45.527
Aye.
01:31:46.535 --> 01:31:48.421
President Batjer.
01:31:48.421 --> 01:31:49.810
Aye.
01:31:49.810 --> 01:31:50.710
I mean, excuse me.
01:31:52.170 --> 01:31:56.590
Item number 33 passes unanimously.
01:31:56.590 --> 01:31:57.910
Thank you.
01:31:57.910 --> 01:31:59.730
Now, turning to item 34,
01:31:59.730 --> 01:32:02.547
which is assigned to
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:32:04.240 --> 01:32:05.450
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:32:05.450 --> 01:32:08.310
This item is an order extending deadline
01:32:08.310 --> 01:32:11.290
for energy storage applications.
01:32:11.290 --> 01:32:15.990
And this is a procurement application
01:32:15.990 --> 01:32:20.160
that is consolidated on
the applications from PG&E,
01:32:20.160 --> 01:32:23.530
Southern California Edison
and San Diego Gas & Electric.
01:32:23.530 --> 01:32:26.230
We've been considering
briefs from parties,
01:32:26.230 --> 01:32:28.610
and the ALJ recently issued a ruling
01:32:28.610 --> 01:32:31.630
asking for supplemental information.
01:32:31.630 --> 01:32:34.460
So we're asking for
additional time to resolve those
01:32:36.380 --> 01:32:39.183
from September of this
year to March of next year.
01:32:40.230 --> 01:32:41.393
I ask for your support.
01:32:42.710 --> 01:32:44.860
Thank you very much,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:32:44.860 --> 01:32:47.123
Are there any questions or comments?
01:32:48.290 --> 01:32:50.390
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
01:32:50.390 --> 01:32:52.733
please call the roll on item 34?
01:32:54.260 --> 01:32:55.710
Commissioner Houck.
01:32:56.720 --> 01:32:57.553
Yes.
01:32:58.796 --> 01:33:00.610
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:33:00.610 --> 01:33:01.443
Aye.
01:33:02.740 --> 01:33:04.896
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:33:04.896 --> 01:33:05.729
Yes.
01:33:07.120 --> 01:33:08.931
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:33:08.931 --> 01:33:10.426
Aye.
01:33:10.426 --> 01:33:12.030
President Batjer.
01:33:12.030 --> 01:33:12.863
Aye.
01:33:12.863 --> 01:33:14.380
Thank you.
01:33:14.380 --> 01:33:17.140
Item 34 passes unanimously.
01:33:17.140 --> 01:33:19.850
Now turning to item 35,
which is also assigned
01:33:19.850 --> 01:33:22.110
to Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:33:22.110 --> 01:33:22.943
Thank you.
01:33:24.940 --> 01:33:29.910
This is a proceeding for the
2019 era compliance case
01:33:29.910 --> 01:33:31.883
for Pacific Gas & Electric.
01:33:32.850 --> 01:33:37.180
We recently did resolve
the usual phase one issues,
01:33:37.180 --> 01:33:39.930
but phase two is now
considering a specific issue
01:33:39.930 --> 01:33:40.930
that you'll all remember,
01:33:40.930 --> 01:33:44.350
which is to address the
public safety power shut offs
01:33:44.350 --> 01:33:46.873
for 2019, and the appropriate,
01:33:48.650 --> 01:33:51.273
not allowing for recovery
for some of those costs.
01:33:52.370 --> 01:33:55.030
So we're gonna consider those issues
01:33:55.030 --> 01:34:00.030
and we hope to resolve them
before August of next year.
01:34:00.320 --> 01:34:03.120
So I'm asking for a extension.
01:34:03.120 --> 01:34:05.170
Well, we hope to resolve
them well before then,
01:34:05.170 --> 01:34:08.013
but just to be safe, for August of 2022.
01:34:09.007 --> 01:34:10.642
Thank you.
01:34:10.642 --> 01:34:11.750
Thank you.
01:34:11.750 --> 01:34:15.053
Are there any questions
or comments on item 35?
01:34:16.420 --> 01:34:18.420
Okay, seeing none, will the agenda clerk
01:34:18.420 --> 01:34:20.653
please call the roll for item 35?
01:34:22.350 --> 01:34:23.633
Commissioner Houck.
01:34:24.730 --> 01:34:25.563
Yes.
01:34:26.679 --> 01:34:28.440
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:34:28.440 --> 01:34:29.273
Aye.
01:34:30.463 --> 01:34:32.150
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:34:32.150 --> 01:34:32.983
Yes.
01:34:34.270 --> 01:34:36.252
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:34:36.252 --> 01:34:37.085
Aye.
01:34:37.924 --> 01:34:39.850
President Batjer.
01:34:39.850 --> 01:34:40.683
Aye.
01:34:40.683 --> 01:34:41.516
Thank you.
01:34:41.516 --> 01:34:44.220
The item 35 passes unanimously.
01:34:44.220 --> 01:34:45.760
Thank you all.
01:34:45.760 --> 01:34:50.420
We will now move on in our
agenda to management reports.
01:34:50.420 --> 01:34:52.880
There is no report for item 38,
01:34:52.880 --> 01:34:54.910
which is management
report and discussion
01:34:54.910 --> 01:34:58.283
on recent consumer
protection and safety activities.
01:34:59.510 --> 01:35:03.090
Item 39 is a management
report and discussion
01:35:03.090 --> 01:35:05.190
on administrative activities.
01:35:05.190 --> 01:35:08.520
And today we have executive
director Rachel Peterson,
01:35:08.520 --> 01:35:10.470
who will present our second quarter
01:35:10.470 --> 01:35:12.500
Employee Recognition Awards.
01:35:12.500 --> 01:35:13.333
Rachel.
01:35:15.480 --> 01:35:18.110
Good morning, President
Batjer and Commissioners.
01:35:18.110 --> 01:35:19.850
Thank you very much for the chance
01:35:19.850 --> 01:35:21.670
to make this presentation.
01:35:21.670 --> 01:35:23.050
My name is Rachel Peterson.
01:35:23.050 --> 01:35:25.450
I'm the Executive Director
and I'm always delighted
01:35:25.450 --> 01:35:27.470
to come to you once a quarter
01:35:27.470 --> 01:35:30.410
to present our Employee
Recognition Awards.
01:35:30.410 --> 01:35:31.563
Next slide, please.
01:35:34.710 --> 01:35:38.800
As you know, our mission
is to empower California
01:35:38.800 --> 01:35:40.890
through the access to safe, clean
01:35:40.890 --> 01:35:44.840
and affordable utility
services and infrastructure.
01:35:44.840 --> 01:35:45.853
Next slide, please.
01:35:47.090 --> 01:35:49.770
I wanted to reiterate our core values
01:35:49.770 --> 01:35:52.800
because they are an
important part of this program.
01:35:52.800 --> 01:35:54.830
We ask our employees to adhere
01:35:54.830 --> 01:35:59.470
to standards of accountability,
excellence, integrity,
01:35:59.470 --> 01:36:02.490
open communication and stewardship.
01:36:02.490 --> 01:36:03.623
Next slide, please.
01:36:05.137 --> 01:36:08.530
And I just wanted to go
back over the structure
01:36:08.530 --> 01:36:11.230
of how this program
happens once a quarter.
01:36:11.230 --> 01:36:14.310
We ask for nominations
from all employees.
01:36:14.310 --> 01:36:17.480
Either teams or individuals
can be nominated,
01:36:17.480 --> 01:36:21.150
of their colleagues
who merit recognition.
01:36:21.150 --> 01:36:24.610
The categories are in
the pink box to the right.
01:36:24.610 --> 01:36:28.140
Building morale, customer
service, quality improvement,
01:36:28.140 --> 01:36:30.850
core values, leadership, innovation
01:36:30.850 --> 01:36:32.920
and outstanding achievement.
01:36:32.920 --> 01:36:35.730
We also ask for
volunteers every quarter,
01:36:35.730 --> 01:36:38.200
so there are always new sets of people
01:36:38.200 --> 01:36:39.870
who are reading the nominations
01:36:39.870 --> 01:36:43.260
and reaching consensus on the awardees.
01:36:43.260 --> 01:36:44.293
Next slide, please.
01:36:45.870 --> 01:36:49.410
And with that, I will
launch into the recognition
01:36:49.410 --> 01:36:51.943
for second quarter of 2021.
01:36:52.780 --> 01:36:56.390
First for building morale, the
Food from the Bar Committee
01:36:56.390 --> 01:37:00.660
consisting of Susan Lee,
Dan Buch, John Larsen,
01:37:00.660 --> 01:37:04.380
Peter Wercinski, Theresa
Buckley, Charlyn Hook,
01:37:04.380 --> 01:37:07.460
Cindy Philapil and Bob Mason.
01:37:07.460 --> 01:37:09.980
This year because of COVID-19,
01:37:09.980 --> 01:37:13.550
this Food from the Bar
committee pivoted, like we all have,
01:37:13.550 --> 01:37:17.030
and held a virtual
baking competition show.
01:37:17.030 --> 01:37:21.430
People could donate and watch
"The Great CPUC Baking Show,"
01:37:21.430 --> 01:37:24.070
and all of the donations were given
01:37:24.070 --> 01:37:27.460
to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
01:37:27.460 --> 01:37:30.290
The individuals who are on
the Food from the Bar committee
01:37:30.290 --> 01:37:33.750
donated their time amid
their busy work schedules
01:37:33.750 --> 01:37:36.270
to make this event a success.
01:37:36.270 --> 01:37:39.280
It allowed employees to
connect in the virtual environment
01:37:39.280 --> 01:37:42.430
and also helped a worthy organization.
01:37:42.430 --> 01:37:44.950
This is a tradition at the CPUC.
01:37:44.950 --> 01:37:48.530
We participate in this broader bar,
01:37:48.530 --> 01:37:50.433
legal bar fundraising effort,
01:37:51.550 --> 01:37:54.170
and our collective donations this year
01:37:54.170 --> 01:37:56.403
reached close to $9,000.
01:37:58.310 --> 01:37:59.593
Next slide, please.
01:38:01.370 --> 01:38:04.230
The next award is for customer service.
01:38:04.230 --> 01:38:07.920
I'm very happy to award
this one to Jean Garcia,
01:38:07.920 --> 01:38:10.470
who's actually a member of my team.
01:38:10.470 --> 01:38:14.180
We keep a main phone
number on our public website
01:38:14.180 --> 01:38:18.310
just in case people can't find
the Consumer Affairs branch
01:38:18.310 --> 01:38:21.860
or another division that
they're looking to call right away.
01:38:21.860 --> 01:38:24.690
Jean answers that phone line.
01:38:24.690 --> 01:38:26.980
Members of the public who call it,
01:38:26.980 --> 01:38:31.020
often need to find the right
person, team or helpline
01:38:31.020 --> 01:38:32.940
to contact about a
problem they're having
01:38:32.940 --> 01:38:35.240
with their utilities service.
01:38:35.240 --> 01:38:38.860
Jean is always professional,
always courteous,
01:38:38.860 --> 01:38:42.350
always patient and she
directs people to the right person
01:38:42.350 --> 01:38:44.910
or the division inside the Commission.
01:38:44.910 --> 01:38:47.100
She remains courteous and professional,
01:38:47.100 --> 01:38:50.600
regardless of how upset the caller is.
01:38:50.600 --> 01:38:53.710
And she doesn't stop there
with her customer service.
01:38:53.710 --> 01:38:57.610
She sends an email or calls
the person inside the CPUC
01:38:57.610 --> 01:39:01.020
to alert them to the caller's
question or complaint
01:39:01.020 --> 01:39:03.730
so that that employee
can properly prepare for
01:39:03.730 --> 01:39:06.364
and respond to the inquiry.
01:39:06.364 --> 01:39:09.390
For customer service in this
regard is enormously helpful,
01:39:09.390 --> 01:39:12.900
especially to the managers of
the Consumer Affairs branch,
01:39:12.900 --> 01:39:14.140
who end up receiving
01:39:14.140 --> 01:39:16.873
a lot of those forwarded
notes from Jean.
01:39:19.070 --> 01:39:24.070
For quality improvement, Vince
Houben in our IT department.
01:39:24.410 --> 01:39:28.110
Vince is a developer on a
quality assurance project
01:39:28.110 --> 01:39:30.550
that will improve the data
01:39:30.550 --> 01:39:33.980
also being collected in
Consumer Affairs branch.
01:39:33.980 --> 01:39:36.280
In that branch, we've
been making enhancements
01:39:36.280 --> 01:39:37.970
to the data we collect.
01:39:37.970 --> 01:39:40.210
And the project that
Vince has been working on,
01:39:40.210 --> 01:39:43.480
is about assuring the
accuracy of that data.
01:39:43.480 --> 01:39:46.340
It appears in that
branch's reports to you
01:39:46.340 --> 01:39:49.940
and to the public about the
nature of customer complaints,
01:39:49.940 --> 01:39:53.050
we received the volume of complaints,
01:39:53.050 --> 01:39:56.340
the regulated companies that
customers are calling about
01:39:56.340 --> 01:39:58.840
and the amount of refunds
that our representatives
01:39:58.840 --> 01:40:01.130
have obtained for customers.
01:40:01.130 --> 01:40:03.480
Vince is one of the team of IT experts
01:40:03.480 --> 01:40:06.670
assigned to the project, and
has shown his commitment
01:40:06.670 --> 01:40:09.130
to quality improvement throughout.
01:40:09.130 --> 01:40:11.543
Thank you and congratulations to Vince.
01:40:13.010 --> 01:40:14.173
Next slide, please.
01:40:16.630 --> 01:40:21.240
Our recognition for
collaboration goes to Asia Powell
01:40:21.240 --> 01:40:24.930
in News and Outreach
Division and Gregory Dixon,
01:40:24.930 --> 01:40:27.480
in our Rail Safety Division.
01:40:27.480 --> 01:40:32.330
Beginning in December 2020,
Asia teamed up with Gregory
01:40:32.330 --> 01:40:33.970
to hold a series of meetings
01:40:33.970 --> 01:40:37.850
with Los Angeles
City Council District 15.
01:40:37.850 --> 01:40:41.020
At the meetings, Asia
and Gregory listened to
01:40:41.020 --> 01:40:43.960
and discussed long running concerns
01:40:43.960 --> 01:40:45.800
with Union Pacific Railroad,
01:40:45.800 --> 01:40:50.550
and its inaction regarding
debris, trespassing and safety
01:40:50.550 --> 01:40:53.730
along the El Segundo rail line.
01:40:53.730 --> 01:40:55.680
As a result of these meetings,
01:40:55.680 --> 01:40:58.060
Gregory took steps to ensure
01:40:58.060 --> 01:41:00.280
that track conditions were safe.
01:41:00.280 --> 01:41:04.530
He provided risk assessment
report to Union Pacific
01:41:04.530 --> 01:41:07.180
and met with Union Pacific management.
01:41:07.180 --> 01:41:10.610
For her part, Asia
coordinated a resource call
01:41:10.610 --> 01:41:13.570
where participants
brainstormed potential solutions
01:41:13.570 --> 01:41:15.710
to address the concerns.
01:41:15.710 --> 01:41:19.700
Ultimately, pressed by Gregory and Asia,
01:41:19.700 --> 01:41:22.770
Union Pacific hired
maintenance and security teams
01:41:22.770 --> 01:41:25.400
for the region, made
significant improvements
01:41:25.400 --> 01:41:28.320
in their service, and is now
in constant communication
01:41:28.320 --> 01:41:30.300
with District 15.
01:41:30.300 --> 01:41:32.280
That district, the city council members
01:41:32.280 --> 01:41:34.740
feel heard and served.
01:41:34.740 --> 01:41:38.143
Congratulations and very
well done to Gregory and Asia.
01:41:39.820 --> 01:41:42.980
Our next recognition is for core values.
01:41:42.980 --> 01:41:44.830
And it goes to Jenny Au,
01:41:44.830 --> 01:41:48.620
who worked on the
Southern California Edison
01:41:48.620 --> 01:41:53.220
general rate case that you just
deliberated on and approved.
01:41:53.220 --> 01:41:57.090
She most recently exemplified
the CPUC's core values,
01:41:57.090 --> 01:42:00.110
particularly of excellence
and accountability,
01:42:00.110 --> 01:42:03.320
while working on this
general rate case proceedings.
01:42:03.320 --> 01:42:07.470
Jenny worked tirelessly to
ensure staff review and modeling
01:42:07.470 --> 01:42:10.010
were completed in a timely manner,
01:42:10.010 --> 01:42:13.280
to support the over 700-page proposed,
01:42:13.280 --> 01:42:16.840
now approved decision
in that proceeding.
01:42:16.840 --> 01:42:20.160
She managed the process
for modeling billions of dollars
01:42:20.160 --> 01:42:23.370
in approved revenue
requirements and rates,
01:42:23.370 --> 01:42:26.670
and provided timely
responses to technical questions
01:42:26.670 --> 01:42:28.750
from the assigned judges.
01:42:28.750 --> 01:42:31.800
Jenny also regularly
kept the judges appraised
01:42:31.800 --> 01:42:34.820
of the status of modeling
work in the proceedings.
01:42:34.820 --> 01:42:38.300
Throughout, she
maintained a positive attitude,
01:42:38.300 --> 01:42:41.500
tracked meticulous
details related to the work.
01:42:41.500 --> 01:42:44.410
She was highly organized
and was willing to overcome
01:42:44.410 --> 01:42:47.330
and learn from any
challenges that arose,
01:42:47.330 --> 01:42:51.970
all while navigating the unique
nature of a GRC proceeding.
01:42:51.970 --> 01:42:53.833
Very well done, Jenny.
01:42:55.570 --> 01:43:00.270
Our next award for
innovation goes to Ankit Jain.
01:43:00.270 --> 01:43:02.240
Ankit has done excellent work
01:43:02.240 --> 01:43:05.170
on the Commission's
affordability rulemaking.
01:43:05.170 --> 01:43:07.030
I had the opportunity to work with him
01:43:07.030 --> 01:43:09.320
on the affordability metrics report
01:43:09.320 --> 01:43:12.067
that the Commission
issued a few months ago.
01:43:12.067 --> 01:43:14.900
He presented innovative solutions
01:43:14.900 --> 01:43:17.520
by developing a complex affordability
01:43:17.520 --> 01:43:20.250
calculator tool and metrics.
01:43:20.250 --> 01:43:24.150
He's led the research and
development of a major white paper
01:43:24.150 --> 01:43:28.010
and supported the un-banks
that you as Commissioners
01:43:28.010 --> 01:43:30.900
participated in earlier this year,
01:43:30.900 --> 01:43:35.170
forecasting utility costs
and the grid of the future.
01:43:35.170 --> 01:43:39.320
Ankit's work will greatly
enhance the CPUC's ability
01:43:39.320 --> 01:43:44.130
to understand the impact
of utility revenue requests
01:43:44.130 --> 01:43:45.930
on vulnerable customers
01:43:45.930 --> 01:43:49.290
through a more granular geographic lens.
01:43:49.290 --> 01:43:50.573
Congratulations.
01:43:51.610 --> 01:43:52.823
Next slide, please.
01:43:55.200 --> 01:43:57.450
Our recognition for
leadership this quarter
01:43:57.450 --> 01:43:59.700
goes to Nicole Cropper.
01:43:59.700 --> 01:44:02.350
Nicole can be seen
wearing a number of hats
01:44:02.350 --> 01:44:04.010
across the Commission.
01:44:04.010 --> 01:44:07.680
She puts together
historical and cultural events.
01:44:07.680 --> 01:44:11.310
She leads work on
racial equity and diversity,
01:44:11.310 --> 01:44:13.860
spearheads efforts
related to environmental
01:44:13.860 --> 01:44:17.410
and social justice, weighs in on policy,
01:44:17.410 --> 01:44:21.730
and thinks through and assists
many of us, including myself,
01:44:21.730 --> 01:44:24.040
with organizational challenges.
01:44:24.040 --> 01:44:27.690
Nicole has made an
undeniable impact on the CPUC
01:44:27.690 --> 01:44:31.620
by challenging us to
do better and be better.
01:44:31.620 --> 01:44:34.040
Her hard work is part of the glue
01:44:34.040 --> 01:44:37.070
that held many of our
important efforts together,
01:44:37.070 --> 01:44:38.530
and she is a clear leader.
01:44:38.530 --> 01:44:42.393
We're very lucky to have
her on the CPUC team.
01:44:44.550 --> 01:44:46.870
The award for outstanding
achievement this quarter
01:44:46.870 --> 01:44:51.300
goes to Kristina Abadjian
in Energy Division.
01:44:51.300 --> 01:44:54.680
Kristina is a person who does
not draw attention to herself
01:44:54.680 --> 01:44:59.080
or her achievements, but works
diligently behind the scenes,
01:44:59.080 --> 01:45:01.900
assimilating broad swaths of information
01:45:01.900 --> 01:45:04.700
and boiling that down to its essence.
01:45:04.700 --> 01:45:06.750
She has a knack for understanding
01:45:06.750 --> 01:45:09.250
how to create analytical tools
01:45:09.250 --> 01:45:12.170
that allow a policy
idea to work effectively
01:45:12.170 --> 01:45:13.710
in the real world.
01:45:13.710 --> 01:45:15.710
She works in our natural gas team,
01:45:15.710 --> 01:45:18.140
and the mechanisms she has developed
01:45:18.140 --> 01:45:21.870
have worked seamlessly to
decrease market uncertainty
01:45:21.870 --> 01:45:25.160
and the need for the Commission
to take emergency measures
01:45:25.160 --> 01:45:28.593
to ensure that there's enough
gas in storage for winter.
01:45:29.450 --> 01:45:31.910
Kristina has also taken
on a leadership role
01:45:31.910 --> 01:45:35.430
within the team, recruiting
and supervising interns,
01:45:35.430 --> 01:45:37.790
who I find to be a
very important pipeline
01:45:37.790 --> 01:45:41.910
into new employees at the CPUC.
01:45:41.910 --> 01:45:44.070
She's expanded the team's capacity
01:45:44.070 --> 01:45:47.200
to understand the coming gas transition
01:45:47.200 --> 01:45:49.760
and propose effective action.
01:45:49.760 --> 01:45:53.660
Kristina is an all around
asset to the Commission.
01:45:53.660 --> 01:45:55.523
Congratulations, Kristina.
01:45:56.960 --> 01:46:00.010
That concludes our presentation
of employee recognition
01:46:00.010 --> 01:46:00.843
for this quarter.
01:46:00.843 --> 01:46:03.653
Commissioners, thank you
very much for your attention.
01:46:05.275 --> 01:46:09.020
(Commissioners applaud)
01:46:09.020 --> 01:46:14.020
Congratulations to all the
wonderful CPUC employees,
01:46:16.100 --> 01:46:19.980
who have contributed
so well and so brilliantly
01:46:19.980 --> 01:46:21.410
to the Commission.
01:46:21.410 --> 01:46:23.250
And these recognition awards
01:46:23.250 --> 01:46:25.910
are just always a thrill for me,
01:46:25.910 --> 01:46:27.670
and I really do appreciate it.
01:46:27.670 --> 01:46:32.420
Thank you so much, Executive
Director Rachel Peterson
01:46:33.310 --> 01:46:38.310
for presenting and
really describing so well
01:46:38.340 --> 01:46:42.470
all of the awardees' merits.
01:46:42.470 --> 01:46:44.330
So, thank you.
01:46:44.330 --> 01:46:45.723
This is just terrific.
01:46:47.320 --> 01:46:48.153
Yay!
01:46:49.200 --> 01:46:54.200
Okay, with that, again, I thank
Executive Director Peterson
01:46:55.030 --> 01:46:57.780
for the presentation
and we will now move on
01:46:57.780 --> 01:46:59.640
to Commissioner reports.
01:46:59.640 --> 01:47:01.290
Who would like to go first today?
01:47:03.200 --> 01:47:05.710
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:47:05.710 --> 01:47:08.160
Yes, thank you
and congratulations
01:47:08.160 --> 01:47:11.750
to all the staff on their excellence.
01:47:11.750 --> 01:47:14.073
Makes us all feel very proud.
01:47:15.744 --> 01:47:18.370
Especially during these
COVID times, all the more.
01:47:18.370 --> 01:47:19.203
Thank you President Batjer.
01:47:19.203 --> 01:47:23.120
I have three reports today.
01:47:23.120 --> 01:47:27.030
Last month on July
20th, I had the opportunity
01:47:27.030 --> 01:47:29.350
to speak at the National Association
01:47:29.350 --> 01:47:33.248
of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners or NARUC,
01:47:33.248 --> 01:47:37.090
at the Summer Policy
Summit on a keynote panel,
01:47:37.090 --> 01:47:40.600
focused on micro grids and
how they can be leveraged
01:47:40.600 --> 01:47:43.100
to support resilience.
01:47:43.100 --> 01:47:45.560
Of interesting note,
the event was conducted
01:47:45.560 --> 01:47:49.550
in a hybrid conference setting
with participants in Denver,
01:47:49.550 --> 01:47:54.410
and participants like myself
connecting in remotely.
01:47:54.410 --> 01:47:56.510
I think it worked out very well.
01:47:56.510 --> 01:47:58.910
Other speakers in the
panel range from regulators,
01:47:58.910 --> 01:48:02.300
utilities and developers
from Idaho, Colorado,
01:48:02.300 --> 01:48:04.230
Texas, and Wisconsin.
01:48:04.230 --> 01:48:06.680
It was a great
opportunity for us to share
01:48:06.680 --> 01:48:08.173
the challenges in our states,
01:48:09.220 --> 01:48:12.950
and how we're responding to
extreme weather and wildfire,
01:48:12.950 --> 01:48:16.100
our diverse efforts
to enhance resiliency,
01:48:16.100 --> 01:48:18.290
including through micro grids.
01:48:18.290 --> 01:48:21.460
The panel illustrated the
great strides that we have made
01:48:22.562 --> 01:48:26.930
through our efforts to
support resiliency in California,
01:48:26.930 --> 01:48:29.723
and the commercialization
of micro grids.
01:48:30.770 --> 01:48:35.540
I also, in July, July
28, spoke at a virtual,
01:48:35.540 --> 01:48:38.720
at an entirely virtual conference
01:48:38.720 --> 01:48:43.500
called US Transmission
Infrastructure Investments.
01:48:43.500 --> 01:48:48.500
It was hosted by the Global
Transmission Report Group.
01:48:49.320 --> 01:48:51.660
Now, at the conference, I
had the pleasure to participate
01:48:51.660 --> 01:48:55.780
in a keynote discussion
alongside Carrie Zalewski,
01:48:55.780 --> 01:48:58.690
chair of the Illinois
Commerce Commission.
01:48:58.690 --> 01:49:00.740
We discussed policies and regulations
01:49:00.740 --> 01:49:02.610
around transmission infrastructure,
01:49:02.610 --> 01:49:05.690
a very big topic for one hour.
01:49:05.690 --> 01:49:07.850
I shared some of California's experience
01:49:07.850 --> 01:49:10.832
in planning transmission
for a decarbonized
01:49:10.832 --> 01:49:13.050
wildfire prone world.
01:49:13.050 --> 01:49:15.440
And I learned about Illinois' plan
01:49:15.440 --> 01:49:18.390
for their renewable portfolio,
01:49:18.390 --> 01:49:20.230
while having a very different
01:49:20.230 --> 01:49:22.220
resource mix than Californians,
01:49:22.220 --> 01:49:25.710
as much of Illinois electricity comes
01:49:25.710 --> 01:49:28.460
from nuclear power plants.
01:49:28.460 --> 01:49:30.080
And finally, I'd like to take a moment
01:49:30.080 --> 01:49:32.170
to thank my summer intern.
01:49:32.170 --> 01:49:33.893
Summer went by pretty quickly.
01:49:34.810 --> 01:49:37.290
Carlos Ciudad Real.
01:49:37.290 --> 01:49:40.100
Carlos recently graduated from Stanford
01:49:40.100 --> 01:49:43.503
with his master's in Civil and
Environmental Engineering.
01:49:44.520 --> 01:49:45.730
We're encouraging him, by the way,
01:49:45.730 --> 01:49:48.033
to apply for vacancies at the CPUC.
01:49:49.750 --> 01:49:51.530
This summer, Carlos worked with us
01:49:51.530 --> 01:49:54.850
on our Customer Energy
Financing proceedings,
01:49:54.850 --> 01:49:57.950
researching gaps in our
current financing programs,
01:49:57.950 --> 01:50:00.770
future financing tools for
the Commission to consider
01:50:00.770 --> 01:50:04.250
and helping us get our
first financing decision out
01:50:04.250 --> 01:50:07.800
in our current rulemaking
earlier this summer.
01:50:07.800 --> 01:50:10.660
He has been working with us
on issues related to the nexus
01:50:10.660 --> 01:50:13.190
between transportation network companies
01:50:13.190 --> 01:50:16.200
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
01:50:16.200 --> 01:50:20.000
Carlos, thank you so
much for your contributions.
01:50:20.000 --> 01:50:22.320
I hope your experience
with us this summer
01:50:23.450 --> 01:50:28.350
brings you back to CPUC
or other state service.
01:50:28.350 --> 01:50:32.600
Stay in the public sector
in a permanent role.
01:50:32.600 --> 01:50:37.010
Again, thank you, and
all the best for the future.
01:50:37.010 --> 01:50:38.510
Back to you, President Batjer.
01:50:39.540 --> 01:50:41.640
Thank you so much,
Commissioner Shiroma.
01:50:42.690 --> 01:50:45.040
Are there any other
Commissioner reports today?
01:50:45.930 --> 01:50:47.070
Yes, Commissioner Rechtschaffen
01:50:47.070 --> 01:50:48.440
and then Commissioner Houck
01:50:48.440 --> 01:50:51.213
and then Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:50:53.180 --> 01:50:57.770
I wanted to mention
that I've been selected
01:50:57.770 --> 01:51:02.770
to be on a joint Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
01:51:03.770 --> 01:51:07.810
NARUC taskforce on transmission.
01:51:07.810 --> 01:51:11.810
Thank you, President
Batjer for nominating me
01:51:11.810 --> 01:51:14.350
or supporting my application.
01:51:14.350 --> 01:51:16.840
This is a taskforce that FERC convened
01:51:16.840 --> 01:51:20.620
as part of its efforts
to look at reforms
01:51:20.620 --> 01:51:23.120
to the transmission siting process.
01:51:23.120 --> 01:51:26.360
There's a lot of interesting
developments going on
01:51:26.360 --> 01:51:31.360
for a position in advance
notice of potential rulemaking
01:51:31.440 --> 01:51:35.760
that touches on a whole
range of innovative ideas
01:51:35.760 --> 01:51:39.230
to promote better
inter-regional planning,
01:51:39.230 --> 01:51:42.760
to better take into
account future trends,
01:51:42.760 --> 01:51:44.950
including the need to develop projects,
01:51:44.950 --> 01:51:46.930
renewable energy projects
01:51:46.930 --> 01:51:49.880
that require support from
new transmission lines,
01:51:49.880 --> 01:51:52.160
ways to reform the process
01:51:52.160 --> 01:51:55.720
by which generators connect to the grid
01:51:55.720 --> 01:52:00.720
and the queue process to
avoid multiple speculative bids
01:52:01.620 --> 01:52:03.180
and so forth.
01:52:03.180 --> 01:52:06.150
There are two members from the West.
01:52:06.150 --> 01:52:08.300
Commissioner Chris
Rapier from Idaho and I
01:52:08.300 --> 01:52:10.340
are the Western representatives.
01:52:10.340 --> 01:52:13.430
We had an initial
meeting earlier this week.
01:52:13.430 --> 01:52:16.997
There's gonna be a
joint meeting of the FERC
01:52:16.997 --> 01:52:20.680
and NARUC members in November,
01:52:20.680 --> 01:52:22.620
at NARUC's winter policy meeting.
01:52:22.620 --> 01:52:25.380
The federal counterparts to this effort
01:52:25.380 --> 01:52:28.473
are the four FERC Commissioners.
01:52:29.640 --> 01:52:30.690
That's where we are.
01:52:30.690 --> 01:52:35.140
I'll be updating folks as
the taskforce moves forward,
01:52:35.140 --> 01:52:39.200
but it's a really interesting
and important opportunity
01:52:39.200 --> 01:52:44.200
for states to weigh in on
federal transmission reform.
01:52:47.410 --> 01:52:48.900
Thank you, Commissioner
Rechtschaffen.
01:52:48.900 --> 01:52:50.103
Commissioner Houck.
01:52:52.350 --> 01:52:54.240
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:52:54.240 --> 01:52:57.180
I also want to congratulate and thank
01:52:57.180 --> 01:52:59.830
all of the employee excellence awardees
01:53:01.030 --> 01:53:03.070
for all of their great work.
01:53:03.070 --> 01:53:07.010
We couldn't do our jobs
without our amazing staff.
01:53:07.010 --> 01:53:09.060
I just wanna make a note that next week
01:53:09.060 --> 01:53:10.743
is gonna be a very busy week.
01:53:11.670 --> 01:53:13.630
On Tuesday, I'm gonna be attending
01:53:13.630 --> 01:53:15.510
the California Energy Commission's
01:53:16.610 --> 01:53:19.300
integrated energy policy report workshop
01:53:19.300 --> 01:53:23.000
on how energy efficiency relates
01:53:23.000 --> 01:53:26.560
to building decarbonization
with Commissioner Shiroma,
01:53:26.560 --> 01:53:28.910
will also be attending
and looking forward
01:53:28.910 --> 01:53:32.230
to hearing the presentations
and participating
01:53:32.230 --> 01:53:35.890
in the discussion on the
energy efficiency issues
01:53:35.890 --> 01:53:37.210
for the Iper.
01:53:37.210 --> 01:53:41.510
On Wednesday, next week,
we are gonna be receiving
01:53:41.510 --> 01:53:45.020
a safety certification
briefing from the IOUs.
01:53:45.020 --> 01:53:46.840
And there's also gonna be a workshop
01:53:46.840 --> 01:53:49.853
on the avoided cost
calculator on that same day.
01:53:50.710 --> 01:53:53.540
Energy Division staff have
been working really hard
01:53:53.540 --> 01:53:56.910
on moving forward with
the DER Action Plan 2.0,
01:53:57.960 --> 01:54:00.060
and we'll be holding...
01:54:00.060 --> 01:54:01.850
The staff-sponsored workshop
01:54:01.850 --> 01:54:04.590
is next week on Thursday, August 26th,
01:54:04.590 --> 01:54:06.820
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
01:54:06.820 --> 01:54:09.120
So I encourage all
stakeholders to join us
01:54:09.120 --> 01:54:13.080
to hear staff walk through
the pillars of the plan.
01:54:13.080 --> 01:54:15.830
I'm looking forward to
hearing the presentations
01:54:15.830 --> 01:54:17.030
and some stakeholders.
01:54:17.030 --> 01:54:19.350
This is a really important process.
01:54:19.350 --> 01:54:21.830
A lot of work has gone into this,
01:54:21.830 --> 01:54:24.280
and I wanna recognize
and thank Keisha Austin
01:54:24.280 --> 01:54:27.460
who served as the lead for this project,
01:54:27.460 --> 01:54:29.900
as well as Paul Phillips, Simon Baker,
01:54:29.900 --> 01:54:32.590
George Morgenstein and their team
01:54:32.590 --> 01:54:34.850
as well as my advisor, M.C. Brown,
01:54:34.850 --> 01:54:38.050
who has been working very
hard on this important document
01:54:38.050 --> 01:54:42.460
and assisting and coordinating
for the workshop next week.
01:54:42.460 --> 01:54:45.770
There's also going to
be a tribal consultation
01:54:45.770 --> 01:54:48.240
that we're looking at
for September 16th.
01:54:48.240 --> 01:54:51.790
So any tribal leaders
that are interested
01:54:51.790 --> 01:54:54.220
in participating in the DER Action Plan,
01:54:54.220 --> 01:54:56.410
I encourage you to
reach out to Ken Holbrook,
01:54:56.410 --> 01:54:58.770
our tribal advisor, or to my office
01:54:58.770 --> 01:55:01.060
if you want more information.
01:55:01.060 --> 01:55:04.370
And then on Friday next week,
01:55:04.370 --> 01:55:07.060
there's a Low Income Oversight Board,
01:55:07.060 --> 01:55:11.780
water and climate subcommittee
which I plan to attend.
01:55:11.780 --> 01:55:15.310
And I thank Commissioner
Shiroma for her leadership
01:55:15.310 --> 01:55:17.410
with the Low Income Oversight Board.
01:55:17.410 --> 01:55:21.210
The next week will be a very
busy week as we move into fall.
01:55:21.210 --> 01:55:24.023
And with that, I will
conclude my report.
01:55:25.519 --> 01:55:26.974
Thank you, Commissioner Houck.
01:55:26.974 --> 01:55:29.224
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:55:30.570 --> 01:55:32.020
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:55:32.020 --> 01:55:35.800
Just wanted to thank
the American Association
01:55:35.800 --> 01:55:39.880
of Blacks in Energy, for
the invitation on Tuesday
01:55:39.880 --> 01:55:43.060
to participate in
their virtual town hall.
01:55:43.060 --> 01:55:44.960
Chair Holden was also a participant
01:55:44.960 --> 01:55:49.960
as well as many of the energy
industry utilities leadership.
01:55:51.190 --> 01:55:53.960
And really interesting conversation
01:55:53.960 --> 01:55:58.040
to talk about, where we
are in our energy space,
01:55:58.040 --> 01:56:02.910
our climate space, and our
equity and inclusion space.
01:56:02.910 --> 01:56:06.840
So thank you for inviting
me to participate in that,
01:56:06.840 --> 01:56:09.693
and recognizing a lot
more work to do there.
01:56:10.660 --> 01:56:12.510
I also wanted to update everyone,
01:56:12.510 --> 01:56:15.210
as President Batjer and I participated
01:56:15.210 --> 01:56:18.650
in one of the first big
steps of the implementation
01:56:18.650 --> 01:56:21.340
of the Governor's and the legislature's
01:56:21.340 --> 01:56:23.723
packed broadband package of $6 billion.
01:56:24.630 --> 01:56:28.190
One large component of
that was the Middle Mile.
01:56:28.190 --> 01:56:29.860
And just yesterday,
01:56:29.860 --> 01:56:33.650
there was the first Middle Mile
Advisory Committee meeting,
01:56:33.650 --> 01:56:38.650
where we discussed many
things around ensuring
01:56:38.690 --> 01:56:43.090
that we're all moving
in the same direction,
01:56:43.090 --> 01:56:47.840
and hearing good feedback
from some of our initial work.
01:56:47.840 --> 01:56:50.500
And as one of our proceedings
01:56:50.500 --> 01:56:51.760
and for the public's knowledge,
01:56:51.760 --> 01:56:53.307
the rulemaking is R20-09-011,
01:56:57.176 --> 01:56:59.720
the broadband deployment proceeding,
01:56:59.720 --> 01:57:01.890
where we're going to be implementing
01:57:01.890 --> 01:57:04.190
a few components of the package,
01:57:04.190 --> 01:57:05.950
and Commissioner Houck is leading
01:57:05.950 --> 01:57:08.380
other key components of the package,
01:57:08.380 --> 01:57:10.880
but this broadband deployment proceeding
01:57:10.880 --> 01:57:14.320
is implementing our
piece of the Middle Mile
01:57:14.320 --> 01:57:18.453
and the last mile package,
the federal funding package.
01:57:19.340 --> 01:57:23.160
And so we do have one
ruling out for comment
01:57:23.160 --> 01:57:26.790
that I would encourage
the public to comment on.
01:57:26.790 --> 01:57:30.680
The first comment
deadline is August 27th,
01:57:30.680 --> 01:57:33.343
and the reply comments
are September 7th.
01:57:35.720 --> 01:57:39.600
This is on the identification
of the priority areas
01:57:39.600 --> 01:57:41.910
for the Middle Mile network.
01:57:41.910 --> 01:57:44.500
We're gonna have a
second ruling coming out.
01:57:44.500 --> 01:57:47.390
We'll have a few coming
up, and a second one tied
01:57:47.390 --> 01:57:50.730
to the Middle Mile to really consider
01:57:50.730 --> 01:57:52.850
some of the implementation issues,
01:57:52.850 --> 01:57:54.717
such as the uses and services
01:57:54.717 --> 01:57:57.290
the Middle Mile network can provide.
01:57:57.290 --> 01:58:02.290
So first, starting with this
key issue of identification,
01:58:02.350 --> 01:58:05.140
and we had some great input
from the advisory committee
01:58:05.140 --> 01:58:08.390
and the public on that yesterday.
01:58:08.390 --> 01:58:09.223
So thank you.
01:58:09.223 --> 01:58:11.760
We wanna make sure
as much public is aware
01:58:11.760 --> 01:58:13.330
and that this is happening,
01:58:13.330 --> 01:58:17.120
and we'll obviously be working
in very close coordination
01:58:17.120 --> 01:58:21.130
with the lead agency on this,
the Department of Technology,
01:58:21.130 --> 01:58:23.883
and our other sister agency CalTrans.
01:58:24.840 --> 01:58:25.940
So thank you very much,
01:58:25.940 --> 01:58:28.240
and I hope everyone
keeps an eye out for that.
01:58:30.380 --> 01:58:32.850
Thank you for that great
reminder to the public
01:58:33.920 --> 01:58:35.383
on an important issue.
01:58:36.600 --> 01:58:39.470
Are there any other comments
from the Commissioners?
01:58:39.470 --> 01:58:43.210
Okay, seeing none, that
finishes the Commissioner reports
01:58:43.210 --> 01:58:48.210
and the public meeting is now adjourned.
01:58:48.320 --> 01:58:49.170
Thank you all.
01:58:49.170 --> 01:58:52.970
We will be taking a 30-minute break
01:58:52.970 --> 01:58:56.070
before we start the closed
session on legal matters.
01:58:56.070 --> 01:58:56.903
Thank you all.