WEBVTT
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brought to you by AdminMonitor.com,
will begin momentarily.
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Thank you for your patience.
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California
Public Utilities Commission
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Public Voting Meeting, on this day,
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Thursday, September 23rd, 2021.
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Today's call is being recorded.
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If you have any objections,
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you may disconnect at this time.
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President Batjer, you may proceed.
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Thank you
so much, Operator.
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Good morning, everyone.
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We need to establish a quorum.
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So 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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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.
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Thank you all.
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Welcome to the California
Public Utilities Commission.
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I am calling this meeting
of September 23rd, 2021,
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Public Agenda number 3493 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 are conducting
today's business meeting
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online and by remote participation.
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The meeting is livestreamed
on the CPUC's website.
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You can view the meeting
at www.adminmonitor,
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all one word, .com/ca/cpuc.
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Closed captioning is available
in English and Spanish
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throughout 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,
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pass code 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
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remain mindful and
speak clearly and slowly.
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I will also occasionally
pause for interpretation.
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Claudia, would you like to translate?
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(Claudia speaking Spanish)
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Thank you.
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Public engagement is
critical to the CPUC's process.
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If you wish to make a public comment,
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dial into 800-857-1917,
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and enter pass code 9899501#,
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and press *1.
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You will be placed into
a queue and the operator
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will take your name 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
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calling in to the public telephone line,
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please email Voting Meeting Help,
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all one word, votingmeeting
help@cpuc.ca.gov.
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Before we begin, I
would like to recognize
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that September 15th through October 15th
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is Hispanic Heritage Month.
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This special occasion
honors the rich diversity
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of ethnicities, races,
languages, geographies,
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and culture of the Hispanic and Latinx,
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Latina, and Latino
communities in the United States,
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as well as recognizes the
Declaration of Independence
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of a number of Latin American countries.
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According to the United States Census,
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approximately 15.5 million Hispanics
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or Latinx, Latino, Latino
people live in California,
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representing about 40%
of the state's population.
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Their contributions to the
state's history and culture
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are profound and wide.
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In the celebration of
Hispanic Heritage Month,
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the CPUC will be hosting
a series of virtual events
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to highlight the accomplishments,
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contributions, history, and cultures
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of the Hispanic Latinx,
Latina, and Latino Americans,
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while also highlighting
current policy issues
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and social concerns
facing these communities.
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I would like to thank
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
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for leading our planning
efforts for this month.
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Thank you, Martha.
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Finally, I would also like to note
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that Friday, September 24th,
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is the 54th Annual Celebration
of Native American Day.
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California was the first state
to honor this day in 1939.
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While November is Native
American Heritage Month,
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the fourth Friday of September
remains a day to celebrate
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the practices, traditions, and diversity
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of California's Indigenous people.
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In 2018, the CPUC adopted
a Tribal Consultation Policy
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to better communicate and
consult with California tribes,
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and our commitment to
that effort continues today.
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As we mark the 54th Native
American Day in California,
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it is worth remembering
the state's commitment
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to strengthening and sustaining
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effective government-to-government
relationships
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between the state and the tribes
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by identifying areas of mutual concern
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and working to develop
partnerships and consensus.
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Let us use these celebrations
to learn about one another
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and continue to work together
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to build an equitable California.
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Thank you.
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We will now turn to public comment.
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If you wish to make a public comment,
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and you have already dialed in
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to the public comment telephone line,
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please press *1 and unmute your phone
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to enter 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 items,
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as well as items not
on the agenda today.
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Please note, there will
not be public comment
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on items 15, 17, and all items
on the closed session agenda.
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You have one minute to speak today.
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You will hear a bell
sound when your time is up.
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Please, please be mindful
of other speakers in the queue
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and keep to that allotted time.
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Let me repeat that.
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You will have one minute to speak today.
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When the time is up,
you will hear a bell sound.
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When you hear the bell,
that means your time is up,
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and you need to bring
your remarks to a close.
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As I reminder, please
speak clearly and slowly
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to accommodate Spanish
interpreters, who are available
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during the public comment
portion of today's meeting.
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With that guidance in mind,
I welcome today's speakers,
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and 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 *1, unmute your phone,
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and clearly record your name
and organization when prompted.
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Our first caller is Judy Scull.
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Thank you, ma'am. You may begin.
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Hi, I'm Sudi Scull,
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Director of the California Alliance
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for the Electromagnetically Sensitive.
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We had one-on-one meetings
with the CPUC Commissioners
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when AT&T applied for an application
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to discontinue residential
copper landlines in 2016.
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The CPUC 100% supported our position
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and the application was denied.
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I ask for that same support again.
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I'm a marriage and family therapist
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with electromagnetic sensitivity.
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I cannot use both cell
phones nor computers.
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I rely on my copper landline
to conduct therapy sessions
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and to connect with friends and family,
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Los Angeles still regrets
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disassembling their trolley system
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when automobiles became
the transport of the future.
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Let's not make that same mistake again
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with a tried and true analog
phone, in service since 1850.
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Even in the 21st century,
romantic love is not outdated.
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That is how I feel about my
old fashioned copper landline
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Vote a resounding no on
AT&T's application, A.21-05-007.
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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 Kelly Bates.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning.
My name is Kelly Bates.
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I live in the town of Occidental.
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Occidental's a small community
in Western Sonoma County,
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located about five miles from the coast
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and nestled in the
thick redwood forests.
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Our climate is cool and wet year round,
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providing our community
with greater insulation from fire
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than most of inland Sonoma County,
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yet somehow we have been
deemed a high fire risk location.
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Assumably for that
reason, PG&E has installed
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fast trip mechanisms on our power lines,
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which automatically shut off our power
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when any foreign object falls on a line.
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Can you imagine how
frequently foreign objects
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might fall on a power line
in a thickly wooded forest?
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The result has been four power outages
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in the past five weeks,
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each lasting between 12 and 24 hours.
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The last outage occurred
last Saturday, September 18th,
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on a day when our town
actually received 1/4 inch of rain.
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It would have been virtually impossible
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for a wildfire to have burned that day.
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And yet the power was out
from 2:00 AM until 3:00 PM.
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(bell chimes)
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Is there no human at PG&E
that could have overridden this?
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Please vote no on PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller please.
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Our next
caller is Liz Campos,
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with the Westside Community Council.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning, and
thank you for listening.
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I hope you're hearing us today.
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I'm a native Californian,
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joining with many other Californians,
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to reclaim our power over
Pacific Gas and Electric
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and all public utilities,
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PG&E has cost too many lives,
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from San Bruno to Statewide wildfires,
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due to their own careless greed
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and disregard for anything but money.
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Please do not allow them to
continue gouging rate payers
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with their so-called
wildfire mitigation plan.
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Please do not approve the plan.
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I also want to thank you
for acknowledging the need
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for language interpretation.
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For that you're doing a great job.
00:12:39.300 --> 00:12:40.133
Thank you.
00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:43.117
Thank you.
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Operator, the next caller please.
00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.700
Our next
caller is Jessica Tovar
00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:50.930
with Local Clean Energy Alliance.
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You may go ahead.
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Hello,
Jessica Tovar here,
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also with the East Bay
Clean Power Alliance.
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And I am also supporting the calls
00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:06.070
of Reclaim Our Power Utility Justice
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to reject PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan.
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And we need the CPUC to
stop signing off on rate increases
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based on the hypothetical
and faulty plans.
00:13:18.850 --> 00:13:20.980
We need you to move them to step four
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of the enhanced oversight
process immediately
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for devastation caused
by the Dixie Fire.
00:13:27.190 --> 00:13:29.600
Ensure that future plans are rejected,
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not delayed, when they are inadequate.
00:13:32.370 --> 00:13:35.751
We also need an extension
of the shutoff moratorium
00:13:35.751 --> 00:13:40.751
that nobody's power to live is
taken away for PG&E's profit.
00:13:42.253 --> 00:13:47.253
This pandemic has
really no end in sight.
00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:51.090
I know of people who
have died very recently,
00:13:51.090 --> 00:13:56.040
in this last month, and
we need to not only hold
00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:58.970
PG&E accountable for the fires,
00:13:58.970 --> 00:14:01.088
but we should not be leaving people
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vulnerable to power shutoffs
in the middle of a pandemic.
00:14:06.562 --> 00:14:07.904
(bell chimes)
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So we need to really
quit bailing out PG&E
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and enabling them from
destroying our communities
00:14:15.351 --> 00:14:17.930
and burning up the state of California.
00:14:17.930 --> 00:14:18.763
Thank you.
00:14:19.834 --> 00:14:21.440
Thank you.
00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:23.273
Operator, the next caller please.
00:14:25.444 --> 00:14:27.577
Our next
caller is Doug Loranger.
00:14:27.577 --> 00:14:29.380
You may go ahead.
00:14:29.380 --> 00:14:30.213
Hello.
00:14:30.213 --> 00:14:34.620
I'm a 26 year AT&T landline
customer in California.
00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.370
And for the last four of those years,
00:14:36.370 --> 00:14:39.863
I've also been a
disabled Lifeline customer.
00:14:40.930 --> 00:14:43.640
I speak today to
underline the superiority
00:14:43.640 --> 00:14:48.150
of a copper based landline
network during power outages
00:14:48.150 --> 00:14:52.632
caused by earthquakes,
high winds, and wildfires.
00:14:52.632 --> 00:14:56.090
We are already seeing
the cost in human lives
00:14:56.090 --> 00:14:58.750
of unbridled greed in
the healthcare industry
00:14:58.750 --> 00:15:01.374
during the current pandemic emergency.
00:15:01.374 --> 00:15:05.547
As stewards of public
health, safety, and welfare.
00:15:05.547 --> 00:15:10.040
I ask you to proactively save
lives in future emergencies
00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:14.347
by requiring AT&T to continue
to operate and maintain
00:15:14.347 --> 00:15:17.335
its copper based landline network.
00:15:17.335 --> 00:15:18.637
Thank you.
00:15:20.982 --> 00:15:22.400
Thank you.
00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:24.050
Operator, the next caller please.
00:15:27.770 --> 00:15:30.370
And our next
caller is Nina Bede.
00:15:30.370 --> 00:15:31.850
You may go ahead.
00:15:31.850 --> 00:15:33.700
Hi. My name is Nina Bede.
00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:37.590
Reject AT&T's application to
abandon residential customers,
00:15:37.590 --> 00:15:41.216
which is docket A.21-05-007.
00:15:41.216 --> 00:15:44.842
AT&T hasn't notified
customers, violating the rules.
00:15:44.842 --> 00:15:47.640
The notices they showed
the Commission are fakes.
00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:50.050
AT&T wants to dump us on Frontier,
00:15:50.050 --> 00:15:52.819
which just emerged from bankruptcy.
00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:57.500
EFF has called Frontier
the literal poster child
00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:59.030
for underinvestment and neglect,
00:15:59.030 --> 00:16:02.400
and industry leader in outages
and poor quality of service,
00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.880
with a well-deserved reputation
00:16:03.880 --> 00:16:06.190
for mismanagement and abusive conduct.
00:16:06.190 --> 00:16:08.490
Your two resolutions
today highlight Frontier's
00:16:08.490 --> 00:16:11.130
chronic problems and
extended service outages.
00:16:11.130 --> 00:16:13.410
No 9 1 1 service means no safety.
00:16:13.410 --> 00:16:15.930
And Frontier wants to
abandon copper line.
00:16:15.930 --> 00:16:17.840
I have to have copper
line phone service.
00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.330
Like many Californians,
00:16:19.330 --> 00:16:21.630
I'm disabled by
electromagnetic sensitivity
00:16:21.630 --> 00:16:24.750
and can't tolerate phone
systems with wireless.
00:16:24.750 --> 00:16:28.530
And copper line is reliable
and works during power outages.
00:16:28.530 --> 00:16:30.350
Make copper line affordable again.
00:16:30.350 --> 00:16:34.027
Make AT&T maintain its
copper line landline system.
00:16:34.027 --> 00:16:36.946
Reject AT&T's bid to dump its customers.
00:16:36.946 --> 00:16:39.643
And also I support the
callers that are saying
00:16:39.643 --> 00:16:43.180
to reject PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan.
00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:44.013
Thank you.
00:16:44.013 --> 00:16:46.363
(bell chimes)
00:16:46.363 --> 00:16:47.420
Thank you.
00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.983
Operator, next caller please.
00:16:50.292 --> 00:16:52.950
Our next
caller is Jennifer Parks.
00:16:52.950 --> 00:16:53.800
You may go ahead.
00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:58.010
Hi. Jennifer Parks,
Boulder Creek, California.
00:16:58.010 --> 00:17:00.640
PG&E's increasingly
frequent power outages
00:17:00.640 --> 00:17:03.290
are wreaking havoc
on the safety and lives
00:17:03.290 --> 00:17:05.460
of the residents of San Lorenzo Valley.
00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:08.870
Our outages are the result
of PG&E's gross negligence
00:17:08.870 --> 00:17:11.900
in properly maintaining
and updating its lines.
00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:14.840
No amount of fast trip or
vegetation management
00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:16.570
is gonna solve this problem.
00:17:16.570 --> 00:17:19.950
The real problem is
PG&E's dereliction in properly
00:17:19.950 --> 00:17:23.070
maintaining and upgrading
its equipment and lines,
00:17:23.070 --> 00:17:26.100
which in many cases
are over 50 years old.
00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:28.947
Upgrading and maintaining
PG&E's antiquated lines
00:17:28.947 --> 00:17:31.590
and equipment is
the only viable solution
00:17:31.590 --> 00:17:34.280
to providing safe, reliable power.
00:17:34.280 --> 00:17:37.140
Please vote no and reject
the wildlife mitigation plan
00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:40.400
and insist that PG&E
immediately implement a plan
00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.480
to upgrade their systems properly,
00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.660
similar to that done by
Southern California Edison.
00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.493
Thank you.
00:17:48.455 --> 00:17:50.110
Thank you.
00:17:50.110 --> 00:17:51.733
Operator, next caller please.
00:17:55.470 --> 00:17:58.260
Our next
caller is Audrey Ichinose.
00:17:58.260 --> 00:17:59.110
You may go ahead.
00:17:59.970 --> 00:18:01.030
Thank you.
00:18:01.030 --> 00:18:05.600
This is Audrey Ichinose,
East Bay Clean Power Alliance
00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:08.610
and the California Alliance
for Community Energy.
00:18:08.610 --> 00:18:09.880
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.820
You probably are as
weary of hearing from us
00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:18.820
as we are of listing our
voices again and again.
00:18:19.207 --> 00:18:24.207
And this really, some
repetition, is a sign that little,
00:18:25.210 --> 00:18:27.970
if nothing, is changing at PG&E,
00:18:27.970 --> 00:18:30.203
and perhaps at the Commission itself.
00:18:31.350 --> 00:18:36.325
Our future scenario of
deepening drought means that,
00:18:36.325 --> 00:18:41.325
regardless of what PG&E
does about its wildfire mitigation,
00:18:43.183 --> 00:18:48.083
we are going to be
subject to more fires.
00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:54.320
So I would like to ask the Commission
00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:56.610
to really redouble your efforts,
00:18:56.610 --> 00:19:00.390
put your full attention to
microgrid development.
00:19:00.390 --> 00:19:02.530
Microgrids that can island and share
00:19:02.530 --> 00:19:05.710
renewable energy resources locally
00:19:05.710 --> 00:19:10.395
will make all communities
safe (bell chimes)
00:19:10.395 --> 00:19:15.395
from the ongoing strain
of ever higher utility bills.
00:19:17.170 --> 00:19:18.363
Thank you very much.
00:19:21.044 --> 00:19:22.260
Thank you.
00:19:22.260 --> 00:19:23.983
Operator, next caller please.
00:19:26.020 --> 00:19:28.100
Our next
caller is Craig Chatterton.
00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.950
You may go ahead.
00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.310
Yes. I'm Craig Chatterton.
00:19:31.310 --> 00:19:34.170
I live in the Corralitos
area of Santa Cruz County.
00:19:34.170 --> 00:19:37.550
We have experienced
seven fast trip power outages
00:19:37.550 --> 00:19:39.420
in the past two months.
00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:41.440
This has really destroyed
public confidence
00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.970
in PG&E and the CPUC.
00:19:43.970 --> 00:19:47.570
There was an editorial by
Supervisors Friend and MacPherson
00:19:47.570 --> 00:19:49.820
in the Santa Cruz Sentinel this week.
00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:51.400
I would urge you all to read it.
00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:53.284
I agree with everything they've said.
00:19:53.284 --> 00:19:55.242
It's a concise statement
of the overcorrection
00:19:55.242 --> 00:19:58.400
that PG&E has
incorporated in this process
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:00.250
and the very impacts
in the binary choice
00:20:00.250 --> 00:20:03.230
of safety versus
reliability in terms of power.
00:20:03.230 --> 00:20:05.310
I would urge the CPUC, as they did,
00:20:05.310 --> 00:20:08.510
to investigate these
outages, the fast trip approach,
00:20:08.510 --> 00:20:11.400
and the decision process
taken by PG&E in this matter.
00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.233
Thank you.
00:20:14.347 --> 00:20:15.387
Thank you.
00:20:15.387 --> 00:20:17.433
Operator, the next caller please.
00:20:20.689 --> 00:20:24.410
Our next caller
is Purity San Torres.
00:20:24.410 --> 00:20:25.260
You may go ahead.
00:20:26.870 --> 00:20:28.453
My name is
Purity San Torres
00:20:28.453 --> 00:20:30.460
and I live in Compton, California.
00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.617
I'm here today to request
00:20:31.617 --> 00:20:34.030
the California Public
Utilities Commission
00:20:34.030 --> 00:20:36.170
to keep rooftop solar
and battery storage
00:20:36.170 --> 00:20:37.870
growing in California,
00:20:37.870 --> 00:20:39.760
and to make rooftop solar more equitable
00:20:39.760 --> 00:20:41.540
so that millions of working class people
00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:44.520
can get rooftop solar
energy in the coming years.
00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:46.810
California will not meet
its climate change goals
00:20:46.810 --> 00:20:48.950
if we back off on rooftop solar.
00:20:48.950 --> 00:20:50.990
Growing up, I had the
opportunity to experience
00:20:50.990 --> 00:20:52.950
the beautiful rain
that the fall will bring,
00:20:52.950 --> 00:20:54.950
along with its beautiful thunderstorms.
00:20:54.950 --> 00:20:57.730
I remember walking to school
after it had rained all night,
00:20:57.730 --> 00:20:59.800
the wet floor and the cool breeze.
00:20:59.800 --> 00:21:01.750
Today, California is characterized
00:21:01.750 --> 00:21:05.480
with large-scale blackouts,
wild fires, and clouds of smoke.
00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.750
And it will continue if we
do not help more people
00:21:07.750 --> 00:21:10.970
install rooftop solar and
battery storage in their homes.
00:21:10.970 --> 00:21:13.120
Don't buy the utility
lie that rooftop solar
00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:14.910
is costing other people money.
00:21:14.910 --> 00:21:17.670
Rooftop solar is reducing the cost
00:21:17.670 --> 00:21:20.620
of long distance power lines,
which are the actual reason
00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:22.970
for high rates of
blackouts and wildfires.
00:21:22.970 --> 00:21:23.803
Thank you.
00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.600
Thank you.
00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:29.113
Operator, next caller please.
00:21:32.070 --> 00:21:34.260
And our next
caller is Nancy Hubert.
00:21:34.260 --> 00:21:35.627
You may go ahead.
00:21:35.627 --> 00:21:37.590
Hi, this is Nancy Hubert.
00:21:37.590 --> 00:21:41.050
I live near Occidental,
California, in Sonoma County.
00:21:41.050 --> 00:21:43.790
And I actually know what it's like
00:21:43.790 --> 00:21:46.270
to live without a copper landline.
00:21:46.270 --> 00:21:51.250
I'm extremely EMS
wireless radiation sensitive.
00:21:51.250 --> 00:21:53.430
I cannot use a cell phone.
00:21:53.430 --> 00:21:58.430
But I have moved into a home
that has no copper landlines.
00:21:58.918 --> 00:22:02.080
And so my only option has been VoIP,
00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:05.820
Voice over Internet
Protocol, which is gotten to me
00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:09.460
via Comcast Cable and
it's wired into my home.
00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:11.673
But it has several serious drawbacks.
00:22:12.629 --> 00:22:15.090
Mainly, and some of the former speakers
00:22:15.090 --> 00:22:16.470
have talked about how often we have
00:22:16.470 --> 00:22:19.313
PG&E shutoffs in this
area for several hours,
00:22:20.970 --> 00:22:22.650
when they shut the power off I have
00:22:22.650 --> 00:22:25.880
no way to communicate
with the outside world at all,
00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.500
and I live in a rural area,
00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:29.973
quite a distance from other homes.
00:22:29.973 --> 00:22:33.720
Once the power to it fails,
the Comcast signal is gone
00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:37.660
from my router or modem, whatever it is.
00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:40.730
And then I have neither
phone nor internet.
00:22:40.730 --> 00:22:42.890
During long power outages,
00:22:42.890 --> 00:22:46.019
during some of these fall fire seasons,
00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.720
(bell chimes)
00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:50.190
the lack of communication
went on for several days.
00:22:50.190 --> 00:22:52.420
I think four days in one case.
00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.820
A regular landline phone would work.
00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:57.180
But during that time I could not receive
00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:59.990
any emergency type info
from the county authorities
00:22:59.990 --> 00:23:01.690
regarding the progress of the fires,
00:23:01.690 --> 00:23:04.585
the evacuations, or the power shutoffs.
00:23:04.585 --> 00:23:09.581
And I think abandoning
the copper landlines--
00:23:09.581 --> 00:23:11.070
Nancy, your time--
which are actually
00:23:11.070 --> 00:23:14.840
a lifeline for many
seniors, is a very bad idea.
00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:16.130
Nancy, your time is up.
00:23:16.130 --> 00:23:18.890
Would you conclude your remarks please?
00:23:18.890 --> 00:23:19.980
Yeah,
there's another thing,
00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:22.990
and that is there is
no 9 1 1 ability either
00:23:22.990 --> 00:23:25.023
when there's no power here.
00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.727
So please--
Thank you.
00:23:29.753 --> 00:23:30.586
Okay.
00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:36.330
Operator,
the next caller please.
00:23:36.330 --> 00:23:38.370
Our next
caller is Tracy Rosenberg
00:23:38.370 --> 00:23:39.830
with Media Alliance.
00:23:39.830 --> 00:23:40.680
You may go ahead.
00:23:42.681 --> 00:23:44.070
Yes. Thank you.
00:23:44.070 --> 00:23:49.070
I'm calling on behalf of the
constituents of my organization
00:23:49.670 --> 00:23:51.640
with two quick comments.
00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:56.300
Firstly, the wildfire mitigation
plan proposed by PG&E
00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:59.220
is terrible and should be rejected.
00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:04.220
An 18% increase for rate
payers is not affordable.
00:24:04.530 --> 00:24:06.855
We have record levels of utility debt
00:24:06.855 --> 00:24:11.280
and wages are not
going up by 18% per year.
00:24:11.280 --> 00:24:14.960
Secondly, on the AT&T landline proposal,
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:17.791
we should not be
handing over the state's
00:24:17.791 --> 00:24:22.710
landline copper network to a company
00:24:22.710 --> 00:24:25.510
with a terrible service record.
00:24:25.510 --> 00:24:28.190
Landlines are the only
communications system
00:24:28.190 --> 00:24:32.403
that will survive in
significant natural disasters.
00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:37.840
And it needs to be run by a company
00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:40.190
that is not a poster child
00:24:40.190 --> 00:24:43.677
for dysfunction and
poor customer service.
00:24:43.677 --> 00:24:44.993
Thank you for listening.
00:24:46.970 --> 00:24:48.197
Thank you for your call.
00:24:48.197 --> 00:24:50.173
Operator, next caller please.
00:24:52.602 --> 00:24:54.260
Our next
caller is John Kennedy.
00:24:54.260 --> 00:24:55.110
You may go ahead.
00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.670
Good morning. My
name's John Kennedy.
00:24:57.670 --> 00:25:00.820
I'm with the Rural County
Representatives of California.
00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:03.190
We're frustrated with
the frequent and recurring
00:25:03.190 --> 00:25:06.170
non PSPS power outages
that some rural communities
00:25:06.170 --> 00:25:09.000
are facing in PG&E's service territory.
00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:11.140
We understand that PG&E
is upgrading their equipment
00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:13.450
to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition,
00:25:13.450 --> 00:25:16.570
and we support and commend
PG&E for those efforts.
00:25:16.570 --> 00:25:17.700
Unfortunately, it appears that
00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:21.080
the calibration of that equipment
is causing major problems.
00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:22.990
Residents in some areas of El Dorado
00:25:22.990 --> 00:25:25.650
and Santa Cruz counties,
among others, have lost power
00:25:25.650 --> 00:25:28.130
as many as eight times
in the last six weeks.
00:25:28.130 --> 00:25:30.200
These are not merely
short duration outages,
00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.560
but are extremely disruptive,
00:25:31.560 --> 00:25:34.520
and have lasted for up to 24 hours each.
00:25:34.520 --> 00:25:37.160
While PG&E installed a
microgrid in the Georgetown area
00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.290
earlier this year, it was not energized,
00:25:39.290 --> 00:25:40.900
despite the relief it
could have provided
00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:43.240
to at least some of
the impacted residents.
00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.210
While we understand
the infrastructure upgrades
00:25:45.210 --> 00:25:47.590
may have some hiccups
that need to be worked out,
00:25:47.590 --> 00:25:51.720
the frequency and duration of
these outages is unacceptable,
00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:54.750
as is the lack of communication
about what caused the events
00:25:54.750 --> 00:25:55.990
and what improvements are underway
00:25:55.990 --> 00:25:58.270
to prevent them from
happening in the future.
00:25:58.270 --> 00:26:00.780
We hope the CPUC can explore this issue
00:26:00.780 --> 00:26:02.240
and work to ensure that our residents
00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:05.080
have safe and reliable
electrical service.
00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:07.303
Thank you very much
for your time this morning.
00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:10.130
Thank you for your call.
00:26:10.130 --> 00:26:12.467
Operator, the next caller please.
00:26:13.644 --> 00:26:16.580
Our next
caller is Anthony Webb.
00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:17.430
You may go ahead.
00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:19.500
Yes. Good morning.
00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:24.500
I am calling with regards to
the application A.21-05-007.
00:26:26.437 --> 00:26:30.160
I live in a rural area,
LA Honda, California,
00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:33.825
and the power has gone out
two weekends in a row, recently.
00:26:33.825 --> 00:26:35.610
When the power goes out,
00:26:35.610 --> 00:26:39.033
we have no cell phone
service after a very short time.
00:26:39.890 --> 00:26:43.440
And we also live in a
high road accident area.
00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:47.050
There are accidents on Highway 84
00:26:47.050 --> 00:26:49.840
around the La Honda
area almost every day.
00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:53.780
And not being able to
have any kind of cell service
00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:57.116
or landline service
would be devastating.
00:26:57.116 --> 00:27:00.940
So I don't think it's
a good idea for AT&T
00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:03.442
to try to transfer
their landline service
00:27:03.442 --> 00:27:07.490
to a company that apparently
has not a very good reputation.
00:27:07.490 --> 00:27:09.393
I don't own a cell phone
00:27:09.393 --> 00:27:12.560
and this is my only way to communicate.
00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:16.120
Plus also, I was not
informed of this until yesterday,
00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:18.549
so I couldn't send a letter in.
00:27:18.549 --> 00:27:22.280
There was no public
announcement of this proposal,
00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:24.330
to my knowledge, anyway.
00:27:24.330 --> 00:27:26.490
(bell chimes)
00:27:26.490 --> 00:27:27.323
Thank you.
00:27:28.950 --> 00:27:30.100
Thank you.
00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:31.593
Operator, next caller please.
00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:37.150
Our next
caller is Theresa Leblanc.
00:27:37.150 --> 00:27:38.000
You may go ahead.
00:27:39.330 --> 00:27:40.820
Yes, hello.
Theresa Leblanc.
00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:44.500
I am a property owner
and resident of Somerset,
00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:46.612
which is in El Dorado County.
00:27:46.612 --> 00:27:48.880
I've been so for the last 25 years.
00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:51.500
Historically, we would
only have a power outage
00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:54.530
maybe once a year when
snow became too great
00:27:54.530 --> 00:27:56.230
and took down some lines.
00:27:56.230 --> 00:27:58.140
About three or so years ago,
00:27:58.140 --> 00:28:00.280
we started having the
planned power outages
00:28:00.280 --> 00:28:03.410
when it became too
windy, humid, and hot.
00:28:03.410 --> 00:28:06.540
Currently PG&E has now
been turning off our power
00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:11.020
at least twice a month,
for 15 to 48 hours,
00:28:11.020 --> 00:28:14.250
with no warning, no
reason for the power outage.
00:28:14.250 --> 00:28:16.110
You cannot call anyone at PG&E
00:28:16.110 --> 00:28:19.210
because there's no live
person you can reach.
00:28:19.210 --> 00:28:22.000
This is really another
stain on our community
00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.600
since the evacuation,
which I was evacuated
00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:27.820
for over three weeks
due to the Caldor Fire.
00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:31.530
We don't need this
additional stress and suffering
00:28:31.530 --> 00:28:32.880
that we going through.
00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.850
Secondly, I got solar power,
over several years ago,
00:28:36.850 --> 00:28:41.130
because I was getting bills
from PG&E of 500, $600 a month.
00:28:41.130 --> 00:28:46.020
Now PG&E charges us
up to 41 cents a kilowatt,
00:28:47.520 --> 00:28:50.860
and only pays me credit
for 3 cents a kilowatt.
00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:53.100
Now I understand that
PG&E is gonna go back
00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:56.770
to the California PUC
and ask for a further,
00:28:56.770 --> 00:29:00.030
a credit reduction of the 3 cents,
00:29:00.030 --> 00:29:04.627
and more charges to us that
have now the solar panels.
00:29:04.627 --> 00:29:05.995
(bell chimes)
00:29:05.995 --> 00:29:08.970
This disincentivizes people
to even having solar panels.
00:29:08.970 --> 00:29:12.030
And finally, I want to say
that we are very outraged here
00:29:12.030 --> 00:29:14.380
in our community that PG&E is allowed
00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:17.888
to give thousands and
thousands of dollars to politicians
00:29:17.888 --> 00:29:22.420
for their political causes
rather than spending that money
00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:24.900
on the infrastructure
and what they need to do
00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:26.966
to help us prevent these fires.
00:29:26.966 --> 00:29:30.202
Thank you very much.
00:29:30.202 --> 00:29:31.404
Thank you.
00:29:31.404 --> 00:29:32.970
I want to remind all of the callers
00:29:32.970 --> 00:29:37.700
to please speak slowly
so that the important words
00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:40.110
that you're communicating to us today
00:29:40.110 --> 00:29:42.760
can be translated into Spanish.
00:29:42.760 --> 00:29:46.870
So just a reminder,
speak slowly. Thank you.
00:29:46.870 --> 00:29:48.553
Operator, the next caller please.
00:29:50.530 --> 00:29:52.850
Our next
caller is Shaina Nanavati,
00:29:52.850 --> 00:29:54.380
with Reclaim Our Power.
00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.230
You may go ahead.
00:29:56.470 --> 00:29:58.110
Hi there.
00:29:58.110 --> 00:29:59.760
My name is Shaina Nanavati,
00:29:59.760 --> 00:30:01.640
and I stand with Reclaim Our Power
00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.140
in asking for PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan
00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:07.107
to not be ratified
today or in the future.
00:30:07.107 --> 00:30:09.130
At the beginning of this year,
00:30:09.130 --> 00:30:11.699
their plan was given
conditional approval.
00:30:11.699 --> 00:30:14.560
Since then, consumer
advocates have found
00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:17.030
the wildfire mitigation
plan is still not adequate
00:30:17.030 --> 00:30:19.990
to make sure they stop
causing catastrophes.
00:30:19.990 --> 00:30:20.980
It's been eight months
00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:23.650
without an approved
wildfire mitigation plan,
00:30:23.650 --> 00:30:26.410
and they have sparked
multiple fires during that time,
00:30:26.410 --> 00:30:28.440
even with erratic power shutoffs
00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:30.033
happening all over the state.
00:30:30.950 --> 00:30:32.920
If this plan is now approved,
00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:35.470
that also means they're almost
certainly going to be given
00:30:35.470 --> 00:30:38.750
another safety certificate
approval next year.
00:30:38.750 --> 00:30:41.230
I feel like I'm living in
a George Orwell novel,
00:30:41.230 --> 00:30:44.823
because PG&E is the most
unsafe entity in the state.
00:30:45.910 --> 00:30:48.250
Please stop enabling PG&E's violence
00:30:48.250 --> 00:30:51.060
and do not approve their
wildfire mitigation plan.
00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:53.120
And please extend the shutoff moratorium
00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:55.410
to prioritize people over profit.
00:30:55.410 --> 00:30:56.243
Thank you.
00:30:59.253 --> 00:31:00.086
Thank you.
00:31:00.086 --> 00:31:01.893
Operator, next caller please.
00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:06.240
Our next caller
is Mary Kay Benson.
00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.093
You may go ahead.
00:31:08.540 --> 00:31:09.373
Hello.
00:31:09.373 --> 00:31:12.930
I'm calling from occupied,
unceded Mechoopda territory,
00:31:12.930 --> 00:31:15.300
otherwise known as Chico.
00:31:15.300 --> 00:31:18.120
It is impossible to read PG&E's
00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:21.700
2021 wildfire mitigation plan
00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:25.560
with any sense of belief in
them and their empty promises.
00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:28.180
We don't believe
serial killers like PG&E
00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:30.684
ever negotiate in good faith.
00:31:30.684 --> 00:31:34.900
350 Butte County supports the
demands of Reclaim Our Power
00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:38.030
and ask you to vote no on the WMP
00:31:38.030 --> 00:31:40.590
and move them to step four.
00:31:40.590 --> 00:31:44.761
If PG&E were serious here,
instead of hiring subcontractors
00:31:44.761 --> 00:31:49.128
who totally botched the
tree removals after our fires,
00:31:49.128 --> 00:31:52.280
taking healthy, wrong ones down
00:31:52.280 --> 00:31:54.370
and leaving burnt ones standing
00:31:54.370 --> 00:31:57.990
and not keeping trees
clear of their decrepit lines,
00:31:57.990 --> 00:32:02.990
when they could hire our local
Mechoopda Tribe TEK experts
00:32:03.250 --> 00:32:05.930
and learn the local ancient wisdom
00:32:05.930 --> 00:32:09.260
of land management and prescribed fires,
00:32:09.260 --> 00:32:13.160
which worked successfully
for over 20,000 years here.
00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:15.400
This would be one proper recognition
00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:18.130
of California Indigenous tribes.
00:32:18.130 --> 00:32:18.996
Thank you.
00:32:18.996 --> 00:32:21.080
(bell chimes)
00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:22.180
Thank you.
00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.843
Operator, the next caller please.
00:32:25.018 --> 00:32:27.650
Our next
caller is Miranda Vu.
00:32:27.650 --> 00:32:28.500
You may go ahead.
00:32:29.610 --> 00:32:31.390
Hi, my
name is Miranda Vu,
00:32:31.390 --> 00:32:34.210
and I live in Westminster, California.
00:32:34.210 --> 00:32:36.420
I believe it is critical for the CPUC
00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:38.590
to keep rooftop solar
and battery storage
00:32:38.590 --> 00:32:41.810
growing in California to
meet our climate change goals.
00:32:41.810 --> 00:32:44.430
And I want the CPUC
to make it more equitable
00:32:44.430 --> 00:32:46.650
so that millions of working class people
00:32:46.650 --> 00:32:48.861
can get solar in the coming years.
00:32:48.861 --> 00:32:50.930
Please do not buy the utility lie
00:32:50.930 --> 00:32:53.670
that rooftop solar is
costing other people money.
00:32:53.670 --> 00:32:56.330
In reality, rooftop solar
is reducing the cost
00:32:56.330 --> 00:32:57.820
of long distance power lines,
00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:59.850
which are the actual
reason for high rates,
00:32:59.850 --> 00:33:02.160
blackouts, and wildfires.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:04.360
If we don't continue
to grow rooftop solar,
00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.920
here in California,
00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:08.810
we will not meet our
climate change goals.
00:33:08.810 --> 00:33:11.400
In order to protect and
respect our environment,
00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:14.344
we need to help to ensure
solar continues to grow.
00:33:14.344 --> 00:33:16.292
Without more rooftop solar,
00:33:16.292 --> 00:33:18.550
the financial cost of clean energy
00:33:18.550 --> 00:33:21.070
will be prohibitively
high, and our capacity
00:33:21.070 --> 00:33:24.570
to address climate change
effectively will be out of reach.
00:33:24.570 --> 00:33:28.170
For all these reasons, I want
the CPUC to keep rooftop solar
00:33:28.170 --> 00:33:30.497
and battery storage
growing in California.
00:33:30.497 --> 00:33:31.921
Thank you.
00:33:31.921 --> 00:33:33.640
Thank you.
00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.293
Operator, the next caller please.
00:33:36.930 --> 00:33:38.657
Our next
caller is Al Weinrub.
00:33:38.657 --> 00:33:39.543
You may go ahead.
00:33:42.170 --> 00:33:46.820
Hi, I'm Al Weinrub,
the coordinator
00:33:46.820 --> 00:33:49.400
of the California Alliance
for Community Energy.
00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:52.920
For over five years, our
Statewide alliance of activists
00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:56.180
has been advocating for the
development and deployment
00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:59.812
of local, renewable energy
resources in our communities,
00:33:59.812 --> 00:34:02.753
as a way to strengthen our
communities economically,
00:34:02.753 --> 00:34:05.020
to protect us against the ravages
00:34:05.020 --> 00:34:08.349
of utility caused wildfires
and power shutoffs,
00:34:08.349 --> 00:34:11.045
and to address historic marginalization
00:34:11.045 --> 00:34:13.620
of low income people
and communities of color
00:34:13.620 --> 00:34:16.540
by the state's monopoly utilities.
00:34:16.540 --> 00:34:17.780
The Alliance supports the call
00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:21.470
of the Reclaim Our Power
campaign to reject PG&E's
00:34:21.470 --> 00:34:25.107
wildfire mitigation plan
for the sham that it is.
00:34:25.107 --> 00:34:27.050
The wildfire mitigation plan,
00:34:27.050 --> 00:34:29.390
far from protecting utility customers,
00:34:29.390 --> 00:34:34.170
is simply a mechanism for
awarding PG&E a license to burn,
00:34:34.170 --> 00:34:37.460
a wildfire safety
certificate, as it is called,
00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:40.690
to allow PG&E to cash
into the wildfire fund
00:34:40.690 --> 00:34:44.690
with no liability for
the wildfires it causes.
00:34:44.690 --> 00:34:48.379
Your ratification of PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan
00:34:48.379 --> 00:34:51.560
is just an indication
of how you're about
00:34:51.560 --> 00:34:55.320
to charge customers for its costs.
00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:59.140
Thank you very much.
We reject the proposal.
00:34:59.140 --> 00:35:01.850
Thank you.
00:35:01.850 --> 00:35:03.500
Operator, the next caller please.
00:35:06.253 --> 00:35:09.030
Our next caller
is Ryan Reddimaker,
00:35:09.030 --> 00:35:11.960
with Fairmont Drive,
Boulder Creek, California.
00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.810
You may go ahead.
00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:16.420
Yes. Good
morning to everyone.
00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:21.410
I'm a amongst a lot of peers
today, in having suffered
00:35:21.410 --> 00:35:26.410
through these fast trip
loss of power situations
00:35:28.450 --> 00:35:31.320
that some of the other callers
00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:33.820
from the Santa Cruz mountain
area have gone through,
00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:35.850
and it sounds like others.
00:35:35.850 --> 00:35:37.630
I want to urge the Commission,
00:35:37.630 --> 00:35:42.560
on behalf of myself and many
members of my small community,
00:35:42.560 --> 00:35:47.560
to investigate these
fast trip outages as was.
00:35:54.670 --> 00:35:56.793
I think
we lost your line.
00:35:58.870 --> 00:35:59.703
Hello?
00:36:00.610 --> 00:36:03.370
Operator, I think we lost that line.
00:36:03.370 --> 00:36:05.785
No, I'm still
here. I'm sorry.
00:36:05.785 --> 00:36:10.582
We just want, hopefully
you will investigate these,
00:36:10.582 --> 00:36:15.582
particularly the lack of the...
00:36:18.850 --> 00:36:22.140
excuse me, the lack of a strategy
00:36:22.140 --> 00:36:26.500
for testing that was pointed out
00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:28.730
in the KSBW exclusive last night.
00:36:28.730 --> 00:36:31.263
So thank you for your time.
00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:33.193
Thank you.
00:36:33.193 --> 00:36:35.143
Operator, the next caller please.
00:36:36.250 --> 00:36:39.290
Our next
caller is Barbara Stebbins
00:36:39.290 --> 00:36:41.340
with Local Clean Energy Alliance.
00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.190
You may go ahead.
00:36:43.810 --> 00:36:45.500
This is Barbara Stebbins
00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:47.610
with Local Clean Energy Alliance.
00:36:47.610 --> 00:36:51.630
I'm calling in today to stand
with Reclaim Our Power
00:36:51.630 --> 00:36:54.200
and urge the Commission to reject
00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:57.204
PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan.
00:36:57.204 --> 00:37:00.370
To let a criminal
corporation continue to serve
00:37:00.370 --> 00:37:02.310
the people of Northern California,
00:37:02.310 --> 00:37:06.520
with outrageous rate increases
and murderous wildfires,
00:37:06.520 --> 00:37:10.720
not only seems insane, it
amounts to aiding and abetting
00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:15.250
PG&E in those crimes, which
now include manslaughter.
00:37:15.250 --> 00:37:16.830
This regulatory Commission
00:37:16.830 --> 00:37:21.540
is currently all that we, the
people, have to protect us.
00:37:21.540 --> 00:37:24.450
Please do your job and reject PG&E's
00:37:24.450 --> 00:37:26.838
wildfire mitigation plan.
00:37:26.838 --> 00:37:31.370
And we want you to advance
that criminal corporation
00:37:31.370 --> 00:37:34.920
to the final stages of
the enhanced oversight
00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:36.915
and enforcement process.
00:37:36.915 --> 00:37:38.193
Thank you.
00:37:39.428 --> 00:37:41.330
Thank you.
00:37:41.330 --> 00:37:43.453
Operator, next caller please.
00:37:45.052 --> 00:37:49.030
Our next
caller is Tom Purdy.
00:37:49.030 --> 00:37:49.880
You may go ahead.
00:37:51.770 --> 00:37:54.270
Hi. I live in Ben Lomond.
00:37:54.270 --> 00:37:58.340
And in this month, so
far, we've had six outages,
00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.670
due to the fast trip system,
00:37:59.670 --> 00:38:03.030
that have lasted
between six and 22 hours.
00:38:03.030 --> 00:38:04.440
I'd like to make three points.
00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:07.152
One is that I think if there had been
00:38:07.152 --> 00:38:08.880
some better communication in advance
00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:12.240
about what was happening,
why, and how long that might last,
00:38:12.240 --> 00:38:14.040
there would have been less frustration
00:38:14.040 --> 00:38:16.080
in the San Lorenzo Valley.
00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:17.580
Secondly, I feel like this is
00:38:17.580 --> 00:38:19.750
really only half of the solution.
00:38:19.750 --> 00:38:22.200
And while I really appreciate
the efforts being made
00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:26.127
to reduce the risk of
sparks starting wildfires,
00:38:26.127 --> 00:38:29.830
it's made our power much less reliable
00:38:29.830 --> 00:38:31.550
than it ever was in the past.
00:38:31.550 --> 00:38:34.230
So I think there's three
improvements that need to be made.
00:38:34.230 --> 00:38:36.750
And the first one is
their area should be
00:38:36.750 --> 00:38:38.710
broken into smaller areas.
00:38:38.710 --> 00:38:42.850
Every time the power has
gone off, 1,900 customers
00:38:42.850 --> 00:38:45.580
have been taken offline
for that amount of time.
00:38:45.580 --> 00:38:47.010
And it seems like we ought to be able
00:38:47.010 --> 00:38:49.500
to break the group into smaller pieces.
00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:53.210
And secondly, there should
be some technological solution
00:38:53.210 --> 00:38:56.670
that could be implemented
to both find the fault
00:38:56.670 --> 00:38:59.740
and verify the line integrity
after it's been repaired
00:38:59.740 --> 00:39:02.130
much more quickly than
sending people out in trucks
00:39:02.130 --> 00:39:04.287
to look at all the lines.
00:39:04.287 --> 00:39:06.280
(bell chimes)
00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:09.250
So perhaps maybe you should help PG&E
00:39:09.250 --> 00:39:12.010
work with San Diego Power to understand
00:39:12.010 --> 00:39:13.840
how they seem to have
solved this problem.
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:15.413
Thank you very much. Bye.
00:39:16.410 --> 00:39:17.510
Thank you.
00:39:18.580 --> 00:39:20.333
Operator, the next caller please.
00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:24.120
Our next
caller is David McCord.
00:39:24.120 --> 00:39:24.970
You may go ahead.
00:39:28.028 --> 00:39:30.100
This is David McCord,
00:39:30.100 --> 00:39:32.830
and I'm a ratepayer in El Cerrito.
00:39:32.830 --> 00:39:35.200
To move toward carbon neutrality
00:39:36.190 --> 00:39:39.713
and to increase resiliency in the grid,
00:39:39.713 --> 00:39:43.917
you need to do all you can to increase
00:39:43.917 --> 00:39:47.780
rooftop solar and storage.
00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:50.760
This means making
it affordable for people
00:39:50.760 --> 00:39:55.690
of all financial means to
install solar and storage,
00:39:55.690 --> 00:39:58.090
and to have their investments paid back
00:39:58.090 --> 00:40:00.550
in a reasonable period.
00:40:00.550 --> 00:40:04.943
Please reject the IOUs'
proposals to add charges
00:40:04.943 --> 00:40:09.943
and reduce export credit,
which would do the opposite.
00:40:10.330 --> 00:40:15.330
NEM 3.0 should provide
support for investment
00:40:15.790 --> 00:40:20.790
by lower income customers
on CARE and other programs,
00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:23.940
and those in disadvantaged communities.
00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:28.940
The CPUC should expand
virtual net energy metering
00:40:29.290 --> 00:40:31.771
so that these families sweating
00:40:31.771 --> 00:40:35.440
can share the benefits of solar.
00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:36.273
Thank you.
00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.980
Thank you, Mr. McCord.
00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:40.630
Operator, the next caller please.
00:40:42.361 --> 00:40:44.330
Our next
caller is Phil Morris.
00:40:44.330 --> 00:40:45.180
You may go ahead.
00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:49.900
Hi, I think you
met Joe Morris.
00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:52.740
I am a resident of
rural Calaveras County.
00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:54.550
We have encountered years and years
00:40:54.550 --> 00:40:57.640
of frequent power outages,
high wild fire dangers.
00:40:57.640 --> 00:40:59.440
Our home insurance rates have tripled
00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:01.540
and quintupled over the years,
00:41:01.540 --> 00:41:03.810
and yet many of our
neighbors still suffer the effects
00:41:03.810 --> 00:41:05.930
of disastrous wildfires sparked
00:41:05.930 --> 00:41:08.480
by our investor owned utilities.
00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:10.900
Now we're facing an 18% rate increase,
00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:12.750
in the name of making us safer.
00:41:12.750 --> 00:41:15.750
I stand with Common Cause and Utility
00:41:15.750 --> 00:41:17.320
and Reclaim Our Power California
00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:20.133
in urging the PUC to reject
the wildfire mitigation plan
00:41:20.133 --> 00:41:22.170
that PG&E has put forth.
00:41:22.170 --> 00:41:23.590
After all, there's a reason we call
00:41:23.590 --> 00:41:26.060
investor owned utilities IOUs.
00:41:26.060 --> 00:41:26.893
Thank you.
00:41:29.544 --> 00:41:30.677
Thank you.
00:41:30.677 --> 00:41:32.403
Operator, next caller please.
00:41:36.716 --> 00:41:38.740
And our next
caller is Peter Wagner.
00:41:38.740 --> 00:41:40.116
You may go ahead.
00:41:40.116 --> 00:41:41.210
Thank you.
00:41:41.210 --> 00:41:44.670
The CEO of PG&E has publicly promised
00:41:44.670 --> 00:41:49.603
to bury 10,000 miles of
power lines in fire prone areas.
00:41:50.620 --> 00:41:52.904
We need to see a timeline
00:41:52.904 --> 00:41:57.010
and list of roads and
locations for this plan.
00:41:57.010 --> 00:42:00.018
A promise without action is useless.
00:42:00.018 --> 00:42:02.720
But what I would like to mention,
00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:07.010
that we too have suffered
several fast trip shutdowns,
00:42:07.010 --> 00:42:10.854
three times recently, August
10, 20, and September 9,
00:42:10.854 --> 00:42:15.854
with no damage found, and the
same 2,392 customers affected.
00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:23.280
This is clearly a failed
experiment in fire mitigation.
00:42:24.093 --> 00:42:28.520
PG&E is treating the
symptoms and not the causes.
00:42:28.520 --> 00:42:32.180
They should be looking for
the reasons and fixing them.
00:42:32.180 --> 00:42:34.615
Removing tree branches,
trapping squirrels,
00:42:34.615 --> 00:42:37.800
and protecting
sensitive parts of the line.
00:42:37.800 --> 00:42:38.633
Thank you.
00:42:39.610 --> 00:42:40.710
Thank you.
00:42:41.910 --> 00:42:43.563
Operator, next caller please.
00:42:44.784 --> 00:42:48.110
And our next
caller is Angela Bernoudy
00:42:48.110 --> 00:42:49.890
with Georgetown Library.
00:42:49.890 --> 00:42:50.740
You may go ahead.
00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:54.150
Hi. Thank you for
giving me this opportunity.
00:42:54.150 --> 00:42:55.770
I want to speak on the frequent
00:42:55.770 --> 00:42:58.360
and extended unplanned
power outage we're having
00:42:58.360 --> 00:43:01.670
that's affecting the ability
of the Georgetown Library
00:43:01.670 --> 00:43:03.740
to serve our community's needs.
00:43:03.740 --> 00:43:07.850
We're in a rural and isolated
area of El Dorado County.
00:43:07.850 --> 00:43:10.480
And the Georgetown
Library is the community hub
00:43:10.480 --> 00:43:13.583
for our Georgetown Divide.
00:43:13.583 --> 00:43:16.580
When these unplanned outages occur,
00:43:16.580 --> 00:43:18.250
they disrupt our ability
to help the community
00:43:18.250 --> 00:43:20.700
gain access to basic needs such as food,
00:43:20.700 --> 00:43:23.020
healthcare, cooling and warming centers,
00:43:23.020 --> 00:43:25.200
financial assistance, and education.
00:43:25.200 --> 00:43:27.970
For many in our area, the
library is the only access
00:43:27.970 --> 00:43:30.500
to today's necessary
technology such as Wi-Fi,
00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:33.170
internet, computers,
printers, and copy machines,
00:43:33.170 --> 00:43:36.230
along with the assistance
on how to use these devices
00:43:36.230 --> 00:43:37.900
and access services.
00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:40.360
I want to give a few examples
of how these power outages
00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:42.377
have effected us over
the last few months.
00:43:42.377 --> 00:43:45.260
During the summer extreme heat wave,
00:43:45.260 --> 00:43:47.350
the library was
designated a cooling center
00:43:47.350 --> 00:43:48.460
for the community.
00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:50.910
We extended our hours.
We supplied cold water.
00:43:50.910 --> 00:43:53.490
And many of our vulnerable populations
00:43:53.490 --> 00:43:55.110
were using these services
00:43:55.110 --> 00:43:56.990
when we had an unplanned power outage.
00:43:56.990 --> 00:44:00.080
And I guess you can
assume that very quickly,
00:44:00.080 --> 00:44:03.860
our building was unable
to keep cool without power.
00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:05.475
(bell chimes)
00:44:05.475 --> 00:44:08.650
Another planned outage, we
had someone hitchhike into town
00:44:08.650 --> 00:44:11.430
to use our computers to print
some important documents,
00:44:11.430 --> 00:44:13.080
only to find out that we were having
00:44:13.080 --> 00:44:15.804
about a 24 hour power outage.
00:44:15.804 --> 00:44:18.980
We've had people who can't
do virtual doctor's appointments,
00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:20.790
online classes, job interviews,
00:44:20.790 --> 00:44:22.543
certify their unemployment benefits,
00:44:22.543 --> 00:44:24.231
who were unable--
Angela?
00:44:24.231 --> 00:44:25.180
Yes?
00:44:25.180 --> 00:44:26.780
Angela, I'm sorry,
00:44:26.780 --> 00:44:28.640
I'm sorry to interrupt,
but your time is up.
00:44:28.640 --> 00:44:30.840
If you could just close
your remarks please.
00:44:32.006 --> 00:44:34.260
Okay. I just want
to make one more point.
00:44:34.260 --> 00:44:37.140
The PG&E has built a microgrid
00:44:37.140 --> 00:44:39.700
that sits across the
street from our library.
00:44:39.700 --> 00:44:43.500
And never once during these
frequent extended power outages
00:44:43.500 --> 00:44:45.513
have they turned that microgrid on.
00:44:47.055 --> 00:44:47.972
Thank you.
00:44:48.909 --> 00:44:49.750
Thank you.
00:44:49.750 --> 00:44:51.463
Operator, the next call please.
00:44:53.200 --> 00:44:55.030
Our next
caller is Jeremy Meyers
00:44:55.030 --> 00:44:57.680
with Black Oak Mine
Unified School District.
00:44:57.680 --> 00:44:58.530
You may go ahead.
00:44:59.450 --> 00:45:00.920
Good morning.
My name is Jeremy Meyers.
00:45:00.920 --> 00:45:02.790
I live on the Georgetown Divide,
00:45:02.790 --> 00:45:04.870
and have the privilege
to serve as superintendent
00:45:04.870 --> 00:45:06.880
of the Black Oak Mine
Unified School District
00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:08.570
in El Dorado County.
00:45:08.570 --> 00:45:10.190
The Black Oak Mine
serves just over 1,300
00:45:10.190 --> 00:45:13.430
TK through 12 students
and their families
00:45:13.430 --> 00:45:15.299
living on the Georgetown Divide
00:45:15.299 --> 00:45:17.230
School started on August 11th.
00:45:17.230 --> 00:45:19.040
Since that day, we have had no fewer
00:45:19.040 --> 00:45:22.250
than nine power outages,
including yesterday.
00:45:22.250 --> 00:45:24.160
We have received zero advance notice,
00:45:24.160 --> 00:45:26.650
and yet to have any
explanation from PG&E.
00:45:26.650 --> 00:45:27.790
None. Zero. Zilch.
00:45:27.790 --> 00:45:29.780
I've learned more from
this public comment
00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:32.149
than anything I've learned from PG&E.
00:45:32.149 --> 00:45:34.540
Three years ago, when
public safety shutdowns
00:45:34.540 --> 00:45:35.640
were first implemented,
00:45:35.640 --> 00:45:38.090
we anticipated this would
be an ongoing problem.
00:45:38.090 --> 00:45:39.560
We endeavored to harden our schools
00:45:39.560 --> 00:45:40.750
against the loss of power.
00:45:40.750 --> 00:45:43.070
To date we have spent over $400,000
00:45:43.070 --> 00:45:44.623
on infrastructure and generators.
00:45:44.623 --> 00:45:46.190
Were it not for our planning,
00:45:46.190 --> 00:45:48.770
we would have already been
closed for nine days this year.
00:45:48.770 --> 00:45:51.540
Nine days without students
receiving instruction.
00:45:51.540 --> 00:45:55.510
To be clear, we're not here to
comment on the PSPS program.
00:45:55.510 --> 00:45:57.960
Given the sorry state
of PG&E's infrastructure,
00:45:57.960 --> 00:45:59.393
we understand, for better, for worse,
00:45:59.393 --> 00:46:02.950
that these shut downs are now
necessary in order to prevent
00:46:02.950 --> 00:46:05.782
further fires caused
by PG&E's equipment.
00:46:05.782 --> 00:46:06.679
(bell chimes)
00:46:06.679 --> 00:46:08.810
While we wish PG&E had
invested in their own infrastructure
00:46:08.810 --> 00:46:11.910
over time, we understand
it to now be a liability.
00:46:11.910 --> 00:46:13.540
Rather, I'm here to speak to nine days
00:46:13.540 --> 00:46:15.050
we have already been without power,
00:46:15.050 --> 00:46:17.840
having nothing to do
with the PSPS program.
00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:19.230
Last week, we received notice
00:46:19.230 --> 00:46:21.520
of a planned outage on
Wednesday, September 15th,
00:46:21.520 --> 00:46:23.640
from 9:30 to 11:30.
00:46:23.640 --> 00:46:26.010
Most ironically, we did not lose power.
00:46:26.010 --> 00:46:28.130
While we were grateful
to have not lost power,
00:46:28.130 --> 00:46:30.570
we resent having deployed
staff early in the morning
00:46:30.570 --> 00:46:31.820
to prepare for no reason.
00:46:31.820 --> 00:46:33.950
Again, zero explanation.
00:46:33.950 --> 00:46:35.660
In addition to the frustration and costs
00:46:35.660 --> 00:46:37.000
associated with the loss of power,
00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:39.640
we are appalled by the
lack of communication.
00:46:39.640 --> 00:46:42.620
In addition to the cost of
infrastructure and generators.
00:46:42.620 --> 00:46:45.560
we're spending a small
fortune on fuel and additives.
00:46:45.560 --> 00:46:47.960
Jeremy, I'm
sorry, but your time is up.
00:46:47.960 --> 00:46:50.459
If you could just close your
remarks, that would be helpful.
00:46:50.459 --> 00:46:52.480
We are
appalled by the treatment
00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:54.300
of our district and our
community at large.
00:46:54.300 --> 00:46:55.810
At least with respect to our district
00:46:55.810 --> 00:46:58.530
and the citizens of
the Georgetown divide,
00:46:58.530 --> 00:47:02.120
PG&E appears to
operate with utter impunity.
00:47:02.120 --> 00:47:04.052
I feel this would have
happened precisely one time
00:47:04.052 --> 00:47:05.420
in the El Dorado Hills area
00:47:05.420 --> 00:47:07.030
before being permanently remedied.
00:47:07.030 --> 00:47:10.310
You'll understand if the specter
00:47:10.310 --> 00:47:12.580
of two proposed rate increases from PG&E
00:47:12.580 --> 00:47:14.110
feel more than a bit ironic.
00:47:14.110 --> 00:47:16.710
Service on the Divide
is utterly unreliable
00:47:16.710 --> 00:47:19.587
and the median bill from
PG&E is already $200.
00:47:19.587 --> 00:47:21.540
The fifth wealthiest
economy in the world
00:47:21.540 --> 00:47:23.730
is capable of doing
better for its citizens.
00:47:23.730 --> 00:47:25.830
Thank you for your
time and consideration.
00:47:27.580 --> 00:47:28.740
Thank you.
00:47:28.740 --> 00:47:31.790
I'm going to repeat for
those who are on the line.
00:47:31.790 --> 00:47:36.790
I really need you to adhere
to the one minute instruction.
00:47:36.931 --> 00:47:40.480
You will hear a bell ring
when your time is up.
00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:43.360
We have many people
who wish to talk today.
00:47:43.360 --> 00:47:46.390
And the longer you
speak it means that others
00:47:46.390 --> 00:47:48.460
are waiting on the line to speak to us.
00:47:48.460 --> 00:47:52.240
So please be respectful of
other callers who are calling in
00:47:52.240 --> 00:47:54.650
and adhere to the one minute limit.
00:47:54.650 --> 00:47:55.720
Thank you all.
00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:57.370
Operator, the next caller please.
00:47:59.252 --> 00:48:01.652
Our next
caller is Richard Gerling.
00:48:02.978 --> 00:48:03.828
You may go ahead.
00:48:05.240 --> 00:48:06.517
Hello. My
name is Richard Gerling.
00:48:06.517 --> 00:48:09.210
I'm a lifelong member
of the Sierra Club.
00:48:09.210 --> 00:48:10.720
I live in San Francisco.
00:48:10.720 --> 00:48:13.660
My family has a cabin in Soda Springs,
00:48:13.660 --> 00:48:15.543
which is subject to forest fires.
00:48:16.470 --> 00:48:19.950
While cycling I see many
huge limbs hanging over lines.
00:48:19.950 --> 00:48:21.606
These are potential fires.
00:48:21.606 --> 00:48:25.206
The PUC is supposed
to protect our interests,
00:48:25.206 --> 00:48:27.760
but I fear it is beholden to PG&E.
00:48:28.690 --> 00:48:30.820
I'm a big supporter of public power,
00:48:30.820 --> 00:48:33.350
as electricity is a public good
00:48:33.350 --> 00:48:35.830
and should be managed
by a public agency,
00:48:35.830 --> 00:48:39.843
not a massive corporation
with huge executive salaries
00:48:39.843 --> 00:48:42.320
and payments to shareholders
00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:47.240
that see solar power
as a threat to its profits.
00:48:47.240 --> 00:48:51.060
I urge you to oppose PG&E's self-serving
00:48:51.060 --> 00:48:54.170
wildfire mitigation
plan and move towards
00:48:54.170 --> 00:48:58.210
establishing public power in California
00:48:58.210 --> 00:49:03.120
that can serve all of
us and can help address
00:49:03.120 --> 00:49:05.770
all the serious issues that we face
00:49:05.770 --> 00:49:08.225
with the global climate crisis.
00:49:08.225 --> 00:49:09.058
Thank you.
00:49:10.254 --> 00:49:12.210
Thank you.
00:49:12.210 --> 00:49:13.660
Operator, next caller please.
00:49:15.267 --> 00:49:18.380
Our next
caller is Mari Rose Taruc
00:49:18.380 --> 00:49:20.210
with Reclaim Our Power.
00:49:20.210 --> 00:49:21.060
You may go ahead.
00:49:23.056 --> 00:49:24.515
Good morning.
00:49:24.515 --> 00:49:26.220
I'm calling in from Ohlone land
00:49:26.220 --> 00:49:28.373
with the Reclaim Our Power campaign,
00:49:29.420 --> 00:49:31.933
survivors, and environmental
justice community.
00:49:33.180 --> 00:49:35.720
We hold fear and fury in our hearts
00:49:35.720 --> 00:49:40.200
with the Dixie Fire raging,
probably caused by PG&E.
00:49:40.200 --> 00:49:41.940
And we know from our campaign,
00:49:41.940 --> 00:49:44.694
it's imperative that we
move away from PG&E
00:49:44.694 --> 00:49:47.270
and into a utility that's run
00:49:47.270 --> 00:49:49.990
by frontline communities and workers.
00:49:49.990 --> 00:49:52.820
Today, our demands are to reject PG&E's
00:49:52.820 --> 00:49:55.084
wildfire mitigation plan,
00:49:55.084 --> 00:49:59.376
that you stop enabling
PG&E's deadly failures,
00:49:59.376 --> 00:50:01.670
and that you use your authority today
00:50:01.670 --> 00:50:03.210
to hold them accountable,
00:50:03.210 --> 00:50:06.093
to move us towards an
energy system and an operator
00:50:06.093 --> 00:50:08.100
that can keep us safe.
00:50:08.100 --> 00:50:11.980
And if you don't reject the
wildfire management plan,
00:50:11.980 --> 00:50:16.817
we fear that you're signing
off on PG&E's measure
00:50:16.817 --> 00:50:20.579
to increase our rates 18% this year,
00:50:20.579 --> 00:50:24.102
while they double
their executive salaries.
00:50:24.102 --> 00:50:28.420
We also ask and demand that
you move PG&E into step four
00:50:28.420 --> 00:50:32.600
of the enhanced enforcement
and oversight process.
00:50:32.600 --> 00:50:34.560
And right now it's so important
00:50:34.560 --> 00:50:37.430
that you extend the shutoff moratorium
00:50:37.430 --> 00:50:41.050
to keep folks alive through the pandemic
00:50:41.050 --> 00:50:44.060
and through PG&E's PSPSes and fires.
00:50:44.060 --> 00:50:44.893
Thank you.
00:50:46.331 --> 00:50:49.380
Thank you, Mari Rose.
00:50:49.380 --> 00:50:50.830
Operator, next caller please.
00:50:51.910 --> 00:50:54.110
Our next
caller is Todd Snider.
00:50:54.110 --> 00:50:54.960
You may go ahead.
00:50:57.040 --> 00:50:59.200
Good morning, everyone.
00:50:59.200 --> 00:51:03.390
I hereby urge every single member
00:51:03.390 --> 00:51:04.750
of this Public Utilities Commission
00:51:04.750 --> 00:51:07.260
to do some serious soul searching
00:51:07.260 --> 00:51:09.780
and decide why you're really here.
00:51:09.780 --> 00:51:14.550
Are you here to rubber
stamp PG&E's deadly actions?
00:51:15.460 --> 00:51:19.208
Or are you actually going to
do your job and regulate them?
00:51:19.208 --> 00:51:23.690
I demand that you reject
their wildfire mitigation plan
00:51:23.690 --> 00:51:26.790
and refuse to sign off
on any rate increases,
00:51:26.790 --> 00:51:30.450
which are essentially theft from us
00:51:30.450 --> 00:51:34.360
to the high salaried executives.
00:51:34.360 --> 00:51:35.193
Theft.
00:51:36.380 --> 00:51:39.790
I urge you to move them to step four,
00:51:39.790 --> 00:51:42.077
the enhanced oversight process
00:51:42.077 --> 00:51:44.590
and hold them accountable
for the Dixie Fire,
00:51:44.590 --> 00:51:46.850
which is the largest in state history.
00:51:46.850 --> 00:51:50.633
Look outside your
window. Our state is on fire.
00:51:52.500 --> 00:51:54.150
And then, talk is cheap.
00:51:54.150 --> 00:51:58.820
In the future, you must reject any plans
00:51:58.820 --> 00:52:01.638
that do not protect our public safety.
00:52:01.638 --> 00:52:02.471
(bell chimes)
00:52:02.471 --> 00:52:06.750
And finally, I demand that you
extend the shutoff moratorium
00:52:06.750 --> 00:52:09.980
to protect our lives
during a deadly pandemic.
00:52:09.980 --> 00:52:12.383
Do your jobs or resign.
00:52:15.620 --> 00:52:17.793
Operator,
the next caller please.
00:52:18.846 --> 00:52:21.150
Our next
caller is Lori Parlin.
00:52:21.150 --> 00:52:22.000
You may go ahead.
00:52:23.220 --> 00:52:24.570
Hi, I'm Lori Parlin,
00:52:24.570 --> 00:52:27.399
El Dorado County
Supervisor for District IV.
00:52:27.399 --> 00:52:29.603
I'm here to represent the thousands
00:52:29.603 --> 00:52:32.620
of El Dorado County PG&E customers
00:52:32.620 --> 00:52:35.890
in the Garden Valley,
Georgetown, and Kelsey area,
00:52:35.890 --> 00:52:40.890
who've been experiencing an
abundance of unplanned outages
00:52:40.890 --> 00:52:44.470
due to the installation
of fast trip switches.
00:52:44.470 --> 00:52:47.620
It is unfathomable
that the highly sensitive
00:52:47.620 --> 00:52:51.640
fast trips switches were
installed without having some idea
00:52:51.640 --> 00:52:54.910
of how to calibrate
them in a timely manner.
00:52:54.910 --> 00:52:59.458
The trial and error attempts
at calibrating the sensitivity
00:52:59.458 --> 00:53:02.610
are unacceptable and
have caused a lot of anxiety
00:53:02.610 --> 00:53:05.350
and frustration for PG&E customers,
00:53:05.350 --> 00:53:08.130
not to mention their
loss of productivity,
00:53:08.130 --> 00:53:11.670
including local businesses,
schools, and the library,
00:53:11.670 --> 00:53:14.280
which also serves as a community hub
00:53:14.280 --> 00:53:17.110
to provide social
services to our community.
00:53:17.110 --> 00:53:19.510
Our residents need a reliable and safe
00:53:19.510 --> 00:53:22.410
electrical delivery system
to be able to conduct
00:53:22.410 --> 00:53:24.027
their daily lives and livelihoods.
00:53:24.027 --> 00:53:27.080
I am looking to the CPUC for assistance
00:53:27.080 --> 00:53:30.130
with resolving this
disruptive safety issue
00:53:30.130 --> 00:53:32.660
in El Dorado County
and throughout the state.
00:53:32.660 --> 00:53:33.493
Thank you.
00:53:35.560 --> 00:53:38.160
Thank you
for calling, Supervisor.
00:53:38.160 --> 00:53:39.810
Operator, the next caller please.
00:53:41.550 --> 00:53:44.403
Our next caller
is Nadista Trodushkin.
00:53:45.361 --> 00:53:46.194
You may go ahead.
00:53:46.194 --> 00:53:48.300
Yes. Thank
you for the opportunity.
00:53:48.300 --> 00:53:51.160
I want to talk about issues with PG&E.
00:53:53.383 --> 00:53:54.370
Just in this year,
00:53:54.370 --> 00:53:58.680
we have experienced
electrical outage for six times.
00:53:58.680 --> 00:54:00.860
Just during the last 30 days,
00:54:00.860 --> 00:54:04.410
because experienced outages three times.
00:54:04.410 --> 00:54:07.400
Last outage happened
September 18th, 19th.
00:54:07.400 --> 00:54:09.410
It lasted 31 hours.
00:54:09.410 --> 00:54:10.880
Before that, September 12th,
00:54:10.880 --> 00:54:13.590
it lasted for 15 hours, and so on.
00:54:13.590 --> 00:54:16.280
So just during the
last 30 days, as I said,
00:54:16.280 --> 00:54:18.340
we experienced three outages,
00:54:18.340 --> 00:54:21.953
all of them occurred without
any preliminary notice.
00:54:21.953 --> 00:54:25.880
And I was told by the PG&E agent
00:54:25.880 --> 00:54:30.440
that probably it's due
to their fast trip switches.
00:54:30.440 --> 00:54:32.840
I told them that
these fast trip switches
00:54:32.840 --> 00:54:34.920
probably should be reprogrammed
00:54:34.920 --> 00:54:37.564
because right now they
are way too sensitive.
00:54:37.564 --> 00:54:40.740
I don't know what the plan
PG&E is putting on your table,
00:54:40.740 --> 00:54:43.100
but I think it will
be better to reject it,
00:54:43.100 --> 00:54:45.950
because judging by what PG&E is doing
00:54:45.950 --> 00:54:50.950
for the last two years, their
plans are bad for the people.
00:54:52.230 --> 00:54:55.116
Their plans are very
bad for us, the customers.
00:54:55.116 --> 00:54:56.510
That's what I want to say.
00:54:56.510 --> 00:54:57.343
(bell chimes)
00:54:57.343 --> 00:54:58.530
Several seconds, please.
00:54:59.460 --> 00:55:03.440
Also, we in Loma Mar, we are located
00:55:03.440 --> 00:55:05.520
in a non-incorporated area of San Mateo.
00:55:05.520 --> 00:55:08.040
We do not have cell phone service.
00:55:08.040 --> 00:55:11.338
So when the power is
out, you have no cells,
00:55:11.338 --> 00:55:13.620
we have no cell service connection,
00:55:13.620 --> 00:55:15.670
because usually we
need internet for this.
00:55:15.670 --> 00:55:19.090
And landline telephone is the only way
00:55:19.090 --> 00:55:21.050
to communicate with the bigger world.
00:55:21.050 --> 00:55:24.147
Unfortunately, during
the last two years,
00:55:24.147 --> 00:55:27.820
AT&T does not properly
maintain landline service.
00:55:27.820 --> 00:55:31.980
And when the power is out
about after 10 hours, the outage--
00:55:31.980 --> 00:55:35.480
Nadista, we need
you to close your remarks.
00:55:35.480 --> 00:55:37.733
You're quite a bit
over your time, please.
00:55:37.733 --> 00:55:39.470
Yes, I
just wanted to say,
00:55:39.470 --> 00:55:42.201
to ask you also to do something about
00:55:42.201 --> 00:55:45.600
AT&T maintaining their landline service
00:55:45.600 --> 00:55:48.197
and please reject the plan by PG&E.
00:55:48.197 --> 00:55:49.520
Thank you.
00:55:49.520 --> 00:55:50.353
Thank you.
00:55:50.353 --> 00:55:52.203
Operator, the next caller please.
00:55:56.850 --> 00:55:58.990
Our next
caller is Angela.
00:55:58.990 --> 00:55:59.883
You may go ahead.
00:56:00.876 --> 00:56:03.350
Yes. Thank
you for this chance.
00:56:03.350 --> 00:56:04.660
I'm Angela Paige.
00:56:04.660 --> 00:56:07.246
I'm representing the often invisible,
00:56:07.246 --> 00:56:10.370
unconsidered, disabled population.
00:56:10.370 --> 00:56:12.270
I watch two disabled people.
00:56:12.270 --> 00:56:14.570
I live on a several acre farm.
00:56:14.570 --> 00:56:19.080
I must have the
reliability of a landline.
00:56:19.080 --> 00:56:21.870
I need it for friends and
contacts and doctors,
00:56:21.870 --> 00:56:24.110
even beyond emergencies.
00:56:24.110 --> 00:56:27.890
I am making this call to
you today on a landline,
00:56:27.890 --> 00:56:30.700
otherwise I couldn't
share with you my feelings,
00:56:30.700 --> 00:56:34.100
as I am extremely
electrosensitive myself
00:56:34.100 --> 00:56:36.773
after being poisoned in 2004.
00:56:37.710 --> 00:56:42.410
I can't care-give
successfully without a landline.
00:56:42.410 --> 00:56:45.166
Also, my husband has an implant
00:56:45.166 --> 00:56:48.080
and the landline does not bother this.
00:56:48.080 --> 00:56:50.819
It is safe and efficient.
00:56:50.819 --> 00:56:55.162
I also want to say it's a
bit of a conflict of interest
00:56:55.162 --> 00:57:00.150
to try to get our ideas in one
minute and also speak slowly.
00:57:00.150 --> 00:57:04.723
But I do applaud your
attempt to translate
00:57:05.834 --> 00:57:08.500
and be so inclusive.
00:57:08.500 --> 00:57:09.703
Thank you.
00:57:09.703 --> 00:57:12.003
And please listen to
the people you represent.
00:57:13.410 --> 00:57:14.740
Thank you.
00:57:14.740 --> 00:57:16.833
Operator, please, the next caller.
00:57:18.640 --> 00:57:20.330
Our next
caller is Wendy.
00:57:20.330 --> 00:57:21.180
You may go ahead.
00:57:22.160 --> 00:57:25.310
Hello.
Calling from Oakland.
00:57:25.310 --> 00:57:30.310
And just this week, we
had a 29 hour PG&E outage
00:57:31.483 --> 00:57:34.820
because somebody hit a pole.
00:57:34.820 --> 00:57:39.820
And these poles were supposed
to be undergrounded in 2015.
00:57:44.632 --> 00:57:46.980
I am also a caregiver.
00:57:46.980 --> 00:57:50.573
I also cannot help without a landline.
00:57:51.812 --> 00:57:56.120
AT&T must restore the network.
00:57:56.120 --> 00:57:58.930
Not eliminate it, restore it.
00:57:58.930 --> 00:58:00.990
It saves lives.
00:58:00.990 --> 00:58:03.010
I would not have been able to find out
00:58:03.010 --> 00:58:07.940
what was going on with this
outage without my landline.
00:58:07.940 --> 00:58:12.240
And just this month, in my neighborhood,
00:58:12.240 --> 00:58:17.150
PG&E has caused
the removal of five trees
00:58:17.150 --> 00:58:22.150
because of their inept
topping, for, again,
00:58:22.250 --> 00:58:26.433
lines that were supposed to
be undergrounded six years ago.
00:58:27.420 --> 00:58:31.550
Public safety is too important to trust
00:58:31.550 --> 00:58:34.560
to for-profit entities.
00:58:34.560 --> 00:58:36.540
Down with PG&E.
00:58:36.540 --> 00:58:38.483
Down with AT&T.
00:58:39.941 --> 00:58:42.100
(bell chimes)
00:58:42.100 --> 00:58:44.350
Operator,
the next caller please.
00:58:46.020 --> 00:58:48.400
Our next
caller is Lordis Medina
00:58:48.400 --> 00:58:51.040
with the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
00:58:51.040 --> 00:58:51.890
You may go ahead.
00:58:53.660 --> 00:58:54.493
Yes. Good morning.
00:58:54.493 --> 00:58:55.590
Thank you, Commissioners,
00:58:55.590 --> 00:58:58.660
in recognizing National
Hispanic Heritage Month.
00:58:58.660 --> 00:59:01.410
I do ask that the needs assessment
00:59:01.410 --> 00:59:03.030
Solar Consumer Assistance Fund
00:59:03.030 --> 00:59:04.939
for Net Energy Metering customers,
00:59:04.939 --> 00:59:07.430
that you give us a yes vote.
00:59:07.430 --> 00:59:11.270
This has no cost or safety
considerations for you,
00:59:11.270 --> 00:59:13.980
other than helping
consumers in California,
00:59:13.980 --> 00:59:15.990
especially here in the Central Valley,
00:59:15.990 --> 00:59:19.790
to find some remedy and help,
or at least someone to listen
00:59:19.790 --> 00:59:22.750
to their odyssey that
they have to go through
00:59:22.750 --> 00:59:26.720
due to predatory sales
and lending on solar.
00:59:26.720 --> 00:59:28.390
Solar is good for the environment,
00:59:28.390 --> 00:59:31.010
but I very highly doubt
that the solar industry
00:59:31.010 --> 00:59:32.930
or the lending on renewable
00:59:32.930 --> 00:59:36.090
was for the purpose of environment.
00:59:36.090 --> 00:59:38.090
I do feel that they were predatory
00:59:38.090 --> 00:59:42.080
and that they are still
affecting a lot of communities
00:59:42.080 --> 00:59:46.080
of non-English fluent or
non-business language fluent.
00:59:46.080 --> 00:59:48.260
Please consider a yes vote for this.
00:59:48.260 --> 00:59:50.560
It's a matter that can
help us address an issue
00:59:50.560 --> 00:59:51.930
that still has been going.
00:59:51.930 --> 00:59:54.270
We do thank you for the
efforts that have happened,
00:59:54.270 --> 00:59:56.300
but there are still many, many families
00:59:56.300 --> 00:59:58.150
that need to find a voice and help.
00:59:58.150 --> 01:00:00.030
Consumers in California ask for you
01:00:00.030 --> 01:00:02.729
to give us a yes vote on this ruling.
01:00:02.729 --> 01:00:03.589
(bell chimes)
01:00:03.589 --> 01:00:05.130
We need to have an idea
01:00:05.130 --> 01:00:07.050
of what we need to do to help families.
01:00:07.050 --> 01:00:07.883
Thank you.
01:00:09.485 --> 01:00:10.585
Thank you.
01:00:11.420 --> 01:00:13.077
Operator, the next caller please.
01:00:15.430 --> 01:00:17.030
Our next
caller is Josh Hart
01:00:17.030 --> 01:00:19.000
with SaveLandlines.org.
01:00:19.000 --> 01:00:20.370
You may go ahead.
01:00:20.370 --> 01:00:21.203
Hi, good morning.
01:00:21.203 --> 01:00:22.070
My name is Josh Hart,
01:00:22.070 --> 01:00:25.560
of StopSmartMeters.org
and SaveLandlines.org.
01:00:25.560 --> 01:00:27.500
I live in Plymouth
County near the Dixie Fire
01:00:27.500 --> 01:00:29.800
that destroyed the
community of Greenville.
01:00:29.800 --> 01:00:31.240
Dozens died in Paradise because
01:00:31.240 --> 01:00:32.540
they relied on their cell phones,
01:00:32.540 --> 01:00:34.850
a flawed and unreliable
communication method
01:00:34.850 --> 01:00:37.150
that failed to warn them to evacuate.
01:00:37.150 --> 01:00:38.550
The cell towers burned before
01:00:38.550 --> 01:00:40.790
evacuation orders could be received.
01:00:40.790 --> 01:00:43.200
Without landlines these
people were sitting ducks.
01:00:43.200 --> 01:00:44.830
It's basic physics that in a fire,
01:00:44.830 --> 01:00:48.050
plastic cell towers
and fiber lines will melt
01:00:48.050 --> 01:00:50.599
while copper landlines
better resist wildfire.
01:00:50.599 --> 01:00:53.320
And yet copper, our
lifeline in rural areas,
01:00:53.320 --> 01:00:56.120
is what AT&T now wants to abandon.
01:00:56.120 --> 01:00:57.860
Landlines work when the power goes out,
01:00:57.860 --> 01:01:00.050
which is happening
more and more frequently.
01:01:00.050 --> 01:01:02.150
There've been a series of
inconsistencies and failures
01:01:02.150 --> 01:01:04.660
with wireless and
fiber optics during fires,
01:01:04.660 --> 01:01:06.140
as reported in the local newspaper
01:01:06.140 --> 01:01:08.060
during the recent Dixie Fire.
01:01:08.060 --> 01:01:10.130
August 13th, PlymouthNews.com.
01:01:10.130 --> 01:01:12.330
Overnight the fiber
optic cable was damaged
01:01:12.330 --> 01:01:15.640
and is causing intermittent
issues with using 9 1 1
01:01:15.640 --> 01:01:17.090
within Lawson County.
01:01:17.090 --> 01:01:18.180
The service is interrupted.
01:01:18.180 --> 01:01:20.550
Verizon customers are
served through US Cellular
01:01:20.550 --> 01:01:22.220
and that system also had failures.
01:01:22.220 --> 01:01:24.990
VoIP has failed in Plymouth County,
01:01:24.990 --> 01:01:27.470
failing to connect calls
to government agencies.
01:01:27.470 --> 01:01:29.700
We have seven landlines
and I've received no notice
01:01:29.700 --> 01:01:33.660
of AT&T's application to dump
their landlines onto Frontier.
01:01:33.660 --> 01:01:35.280
Our family cannot use cell phones,
01:01:35.280 --> 01:01:37.741
and even though there is
DSL available at our location
01:01:37.741 --> 01:01:39.563
AT&T refuses to let us use it
01:01:39.563 --> 01:01:41.840
because they say it is outdated.
01:01:41.840 --> 01:01:43.930
We are being charged $350 per month
01:01:43.930 --> 01:01:46.290
for essentially a landline
and dial-up internet
01:01:46.290 --> 01:01:48.910
that can't even load
basic emergency websites,
01:01:48.910 --> 01:01:50.770
AT&T and this
Commission are out of touch
01:01:50.770 --> 01:01:52.300
with the needs of rural residents
01:01:52.300 --> 01:01:54.940
and arrogantly deny critical
communication services
01:01:54.940 --> 01:01:57.730
because they don't make
AT&T enough money.
01:01:57.730 --> 01:01:59.490
We're sick of the greed
and sick of our lives
01:01:59.490 --> 01:02:01.707
being put at risk in rural areas.
01:02:01.707 --> 01:02:02.540
(bell chimes)
01:02:02.540 --> 01:02:03.680
Please reject AT&T's application
01:02:03.680 --> 01:02:06.250
to drop their landline
services onto Frontier.
01:02:06.250 --> 01:02:08.750
People will be cut off
and their lives put at risk
01:02:08.750 --> 01:02:11.910
unless copper landline service
is maintained and improved.
01:02:11.910 --> 01:02:14.860
Also please reject PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan.
01:02:14.860 --> 01:02:16.274
Thank you.
01:02:16.274 --> 01:02:18.220
Thank you.
01:02:18.220 --> 01:02:19.670
Operator, next caller please.
01:02:21.720 --> 01:02:24.200
Our next
caller is Kristen Sandel.
01:02:24.200 --> 01:02:25.740
You may go ahead.
01:02:25.740 --> 01:02:27.710
Hello. This
is Kristen Sandel.
01:02:27.710 --> 01:02:29.930
I'm from Ben Lomond in
the Santa Cruz Mountains.
01:02:29.930 --> 01:02:34.350
And we have had eight
non PSPS power outages
01:02:34.350 --> 01:02:39.124
since September 7th, lasting
between five and 18 hours,
01:02:39.124 --> 01:02:42.482
all without significant
wind or weather of any kind.
01:02:42.482 --> 01:02:45.700
The PG&E's increase
in the fast trip sensitivity
01:02:45.700 --> 01:02:47.530
of its reclosers is making life
01:02:47.530 --> 01:02:49.962
for people here extremely difficult.
01:02:49.962 --> 01:02:51.990
And it's purely a stop gap measure
01:02:51.990 --> 01:02:54.029
to avoid updating their infrastructure
01:02:54.029 --> 01:02:56.370
with triple insulated lines,
01:02:56.370 --> 01:02:59.600
which would not be tripped
by a squirrel or stray branch.
01:02:59.600 --> 01:03:01.270
It's dangerous for people
01:03:01.270 --> 01:03:03.990
with medical equipment
needing electricity,
01:03:03.990 --> 01:03:07.570
devastating for local
businesses, and costs all of us
01:03:07.570 --> 01:03:10.100
hundreds of dollars
of gas for generators,
01:03:10.100 --> 01:03:13.870
spoiled food, loss of water
for people on well systems.
01:03:13.870 --> 01:03:15.840
It's completely unacceptable
01:03:15.840 --> 01:03:18.509
as a means of wildfire risk mitigation
01:03:18.509 --> 01:03:22.031
when actually upgrading
and hardening PG&E's system,
01:03:22.031 --> 01:03:24.925
as Southern California Edison has done,
01:03:24.925 --> 01:03:27.220
is the correct solution.
01:03:27.220 --> 01:03:28.053
Thank you.
01:03:30.200 --> 01:03:31.640
Thank you for your call.
01:03:31.640 --> 01:03:33.503
Operator, the next caller please.
01:03:35.360 --> 01:03:37.470
Our next caller
is Stephanie Thomas.
01:03:37.470 --> 01:03:39.082
You may go ahead.
01:03:39.082 --> 01:03:40.688
Hello.
01:03:40.688 --> 01:03:42.260
I'm Stephanie Thomas,
01:03:42.260 --> 01:03:47.260
a co-founder of Wireless
Radiation Education and Defense,
01:03:47.670 --> 01:03:50.440
who has many members who
are very electrically sensitive
01:03:50.440 --> 01:03:54.690
and rely on their landlines,
their copper based landlines.
01:03:54.690 --> 01:03:58.300
So I ask you to reject
AT&T's application
01:03:58.300 --> 01:04:01.680
to discontinue their
copper landline service
01:04:01.680 --> 01:04:04.300
to go to Frontier, which
as you have heard,
01:04:04.300 --> 01:04:06.163
has a very bad reputation.
01:04:07.780 --> 01:04:12.153
I've had my AT&T line
since 1980 at this location.
01:04:12.153 --> 01:04:14.528
Currently I have LMI,
01:04:14.528 --> 01:04:18.740
which that uses the
AT&T copper landline,
01:04:18.740 --> 01:04:23.740
and I got no notice about
their request to discontinue.
01:04:24.882 --> 01:04:27.422
I live on the edge of a fire zone.
01:04:27.422 --> 01:04:31.040
Of course we're all
in earthquake territory.
01:04:31.040 --> 01:04:36.040
And so I ask you to vote
no on item A.21-05-007.
01:04:38.918 --> 01:04:43.620
This is an essential
service for so many people
01:04:43.620 --> 01:04:48.080
and we want AT&T to maintain
and improve their service
01:04:48.080 --> 01:04:50.880
and undergrounding their
lines would be a good idea too.
01:04:50.880 --> 01:04:52.107
Thank you very much.
01:04:52.107 --> 01:04:54.607
(bell chimes)
01:04:56.660 --> 01:04:58.673
Operator,
next caller please.
01:05:01.210 --> 01:05:03.940
Our next
caller is Alex Levine.
01:05:03.940 --> 01:05:04.790
You may go ahead.
01:05:05.630 --> 01:05:06.463
Hello.
01:05:06.463 --> 01:05:11.463
I am calling from a rural coastal
area in Mendocino County.
01:05:11.500 --> 01:05:14.513
I live right between the
forest and the ocean.
01:05:16.530 --> 01:05:19.040
I am 82 years old.
01:05:19.040 --> 01:05:22.980
I depend on my landline
because I am in a no service zone
01:05:22.980 --> 01:05:26.940
for my cell phone, which
many of us are here.
01:05:26.940 --> 01:05:31.860
If I have a heart attack
or my house is on fire
01:05:31.860 --> 01:05:36.050
or anything of that sort, I
need my landline to get help.
01:05:36.050 --> 01:05:38.790
I feel like it's essential
to my health and safety
01:05:38.790 --> 01:05:43.790
to have a landline, especially
when cell phone coverage
01:05:46.050 --> 01:05:48.140
is so spotty where I live,
01:05:48.140 --> 01:05:52.570
and I live in a little neighborhood
where all the neighbors
01:05:52.570 --> 01:05:56.830
are far apart on several acre parcels,
01:05:56.830 --> 01:06:01.830
so that even if you
called outside for help,
01:06:03.540 --> 01:06:05.960
you don't know whether
anybody would hear you.
01:06:05.960 --> 01:06:08.250
If I have a heart attack
or my house is on fire,
01:06:08.250 --> 01:06:11.858
I would have to somehow get
in my car and drive eight miles
01:06:11.858 --> 01:06:14.749
to where I could have
cell phone service.
01:06:14.749 --> 01:06:16.183
(bell chimes)
01:06:16.183 --> 01:06:18.243
So please keep our landlines available.
01:06:20.610 --> 01:06:21.443
Thank you.
01:06:33.810 --> 01:06:36.060
Operator,
the next caller please.
01:06:38.340 --> 01:06:40.800
Our next
caller is Marilyn Garrett.
01:06:40.800 --> 01:06:41.733
You may go ahead.
01:06:43.479 --> 01:06:47.730
Hello. I'm calling
from Aptos, California.
01:06:47.730 --> 01:06:52.230
Keep safe and reliable copper landlines.
01:06:52.230 --> 01:06:57.230
Reject AT&T's plans to end
residential landline service.
01:06:58.870 --> 01:07:02.140
I have only a landline,
01:07:02.140 --> 01:07:05.610
which works during
electric power outages.
01:07:05.610 --> 01:07:08.430
I do not have a computer
01:07:08.430 --> 01:07:12.280
or microwave radiation
emitting cell phone
01:07:12.280 --> 01:07:16.090
due to the negative
impacts on my health.
01:07:16.090 --> 01:07:21.090
If you were truly prioritizing
public health and safety,
01:07:21.780 --> 01:07:26.780
your policies would require
AT&T's maintenance and expansion
01:07:28.300 --> 01:07:30.730
of the reliable copper landlines
01:07:31.660 --> 01:07:36.660
and removal of the
dangerous, fire prone,
01:07:36.880 --> 01:07:39.520
wireless, health damaging,
01:07:39.520 --> 01:07:44.520
microwave emitting cell
phone and Wi-Fi technology.
01:07:46.300 --> 01:07:50.677
I call on you to prohibit
corporations like AT&T
01:07:51.880 --> 01:07:54.421
from discriminating against,
01:07:54.421 --> 01:07:59.421
endangering, and ostracizing anyone.
01:07:59.530 --> 01:08:04.510
Our lives depend on reliable
copper landline service.
01:08:04.510 --> 01:08:08.430
Immediately deny AT&T's application
01:08:08.430 --> 01:08:12.852
to terminate copper landline service.
01:08:12.852 --> 01:08:14.671
(bell chimes)
01:08:14.671 --> 01:08:19.421
And reject the wildfire
mitigation plan of PG&E.
01:08:19.421 --> 01:08:24.421
PG&E stands for poison
gas and explosions.
01:08:25.370 --> 01:08:30.370
Criminal corporations like
PG&E should be dismantled,
01:08:30.459 --> 01:08:33.973
prosecuted, and replaced.
01:08:35.097 --> 01:08:37.919
(bell chimes)
01:08:37.919 --> 01:08:39.413
No to corporatocracy
and yes to democracy.
01:08:43.250 --> 01:08:44.083
Thank you.
01:08:45.490 --> 01:08:46.323
Thank you.
01:08:46.323 --> 01:08:47.963
Operator, next caller please.
01:08:52.210 --> 01:08:55.330
Our next caller
is Dr. Sandra Miller Ross.
01:08:55.330 --> 01:08:56.860
You may go ahead.
01:08:56.860 --> 01:08:59.240
Yes. This
is Dr. Sandra Ross,
01:08:59.240 --> 01:09:03.500
Health and Habitat,
Mill Valley, California.
01:09:03.500 --> 01:09:08.500
I did not receive any notice from AT&T,
01:09:08.530 --> 01:09:11.070
nor did anyone I know,
01:09:11.070 --> 01:09:16.070
regarding its request to
discontinue copper landlines.
01:09:16.370 --> 01:09:21.370
I and many others, throughout
California, have a disability,
01:09:24.260 --> 01:09:29.260
which makes it impossible to
use the other types of phones.
01:09:31.740 --> 01:09:35.380
Therefore I'm making a request
01:09:35.380 --> 01:09:38.810
under the Americans
with Disabilities Act
01:09:39.780 --> 01:09:44.780
that AT&T not be allowed to discontinue
01:09:45.290 --> 01:09:50.090
the copper landlines
anywhere in California.
01:09:50.090 --> 01:09:55.090
They are our lifeline
and needed for 9 1 1 calls.
01:09:57.940 --> 01:09:58.773
Thank you.
01:10:00.930 --> 01:10:02.030
Thank you.
01:10:02.030 --> 01:10:04.670
Operator, the next caller please.
01:10:04.670 --> 01:10:08.200
Our next
caller is Nancy Okada.
01:10:08.200 --> 01:10:09.050
You may go ahead.
01:10:10.226 --> 01:10:13.470
[Nancy} Hi, my
name is Nancy Okada.
01:10:13.470 --> 01:10:17.020
I live in Marin County and thank you
01:10:17.020 --> 01:10:19.697
for listening to our comments.
01:10:19.697 --> 01:10:23.500
And I hope you do the right thing.
01:10:23.500 --> 01:10:26.390
I actually did not
receive notice of the plan
01:10:26.390 --> 01:10:28.360
to discontinue the landlines.
01:10:28.360 --> 01:10:30.417
We have a landline and we do rely on it
01:10:30.417 --> 01:10:32.060
when the power goes out,
01:10:32.060 --> 01:10:36.730
which has been quite frequently lately.
01:10:36.730 --> 01:10:39.280
And I was really surprised to hear that
01:10:39.280 --> 01:10:41.850
in fact they're planning
on discontinuing it.
01:10:41.850 --> 01:10:45.420
So, because I rely on it
if we do have a wildfire
01:10:45.420 --> 01:10:47.963
or an earthquake.
01:10:49.010 --> 01:10:52.377
After the Loma Prieta
earthquake I was in San Francisco
01:10:52.377 --> 01:10:55.400
and was able to use
a landline to call out
01:10:55.400 --> 01:10:56.913
before everything went down.
01:10:57.950 --> 01:11:02.950
So please deny AT&T
application number A.21-05-007.
01:11:05.400 --> 01:11:09.586
And also please reject
PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan.
01:11:09.586 --> 01:11:12.890
They're cutting down
trees everywhere around us
01:11:12.890 --> 01:11:14.920
in hopes to, I guess, stop them.
01:11:14.920 --> 01:11:17.153
Okay. Thank you very much.
01:11:18.290 --> 01:11:19.550
Thank you for your call.
01:11:19.550 --> 01:11:21.000
Operator, next caller please.
01:11:22.410 --> 01:11:24.580
Our next
caller is Mike Lan.
01:11:24.580 --> 01:11:25.430
You may go ahead.
01:11:27.770 --> 01:11:31.353
Yeah, I'm
complaining about PG&E's
01:11:32.800 --> 01:11:36.053
numerous and relentless rate hikes.
01:11:37.460 --> 01:11:42.460
One of it, of course, is
for the wildfire mitigation
01:11:42.460 --> 01:11:47.433
and the other, for
example, it's A.21-08-015
01:11:50.040 --> 01:11:53.740
for cost of capital application.
01:11:53.740 --> 01:11:58.740
Each and every month,
attached to our PG&E bill,
01:12:00.610 --> 01:12:05.473
this endless pamphlet
asking for rate hikes.
01:12:06.370 --> 01:12:11.370
And I want to see the CPUC set a cap
01:12:11.860 --> 01:12:16.860
for their voracious demands.
01:12:17.650 --> 01:12:21.160
Also, for the monthly
tier one allowance,
01:12:21.160 --> 01:12:25.950
they only allow 200 for kWh.
01:12:25.950 --> 01:12:27.540
There's way too low.
01:12:27.540 --> 01:12:31.590
I suggest it should be adjusted 240.
01:12:31.590 --> 01:12:35.533
And the last is, I would say,
01:12:36.510 --> 01:12:41.510
the CPUC should not add a rubber stamp
01:12:42.340 --> 01:12:47.340
to approve each of
their rate hike requests.
01:12:47.813 --> 01:12:49.050
(bell chimes)
01:12:49.050 --> 01:12:52.540
For example, the CARE program,
01:12:52.540 --> 01:12:55.373
setting the income limit at 34,000.
01:12:57.530 --> 01:12:59.907
That's below the poverty line,
01:12:59.907 --> 01:13:04.050
let alone to say we're
living in California.
01:13:04.050 --> 01:13:04.883
Thank you.
01:13:07.340 --> 01:13:08.173
Thank you.
01:13:08.173 --> 01:13:09.863
Operator, next caller please.
01:13:11.152 --> 01:13:14.150
Our next
caller is Rebecca Elder.
01:13:14.150 --> 01:13:15.000
You may go ahead.
01:13:16.460 --> 01:13:18.610
Commissioners,
I am making this call today
01:13:18.610 --> 01:13:21.490
on a landline phone for
which I am very grateful.
01:13:21.490 --> 01:13:25.370
I'm a master's level,
licensed mental health clinician
01:13:25.370 --> 01:13:28.170
and also a licensed master's
level rehab professional
01:13:28.170 --> 01:13:29.990
calling from Humboldt County.
01:13:29.990 --> 01:13:32.150
I have worked full time
throughout the pandemic
01:13:32.150 --> 01:13:34.040
serving vulnerable Californians
01:13:34.040 --> 01:13:36.110
in a public healthcare setting.
01:13:36.110 --> 01:13:37.160
I'm calling in reference
01:13:37.160 --> 01:13:42.160
to the AT&T application, A.21-05-007.
01:13:43.950 --> 01:13:46.760
Please vote against AT&T's plan
01:13:46.760 --> 01:13:50.970
to discontinue landline
telephone service in California.
01:13:50.970 --> 01:13:53.596
Please make sure that
AT&T keeps servicing
01:13:53.596 --> 01:13:55.460
all of its landlines.
01:13:55.460 --> 01:13:57.780
Electromagnetic radiation causes
01:13:57.780 --> 01:13:59.670
a multitude of health problems,
01:13:59.670 --> 01:14:02.080
including cancer and sleep disorders.
01:14:02.080 --> 01:14:05.356
I ask everyone here
today to please reflect
01:14:05.356 --> 01:14:08.310
on how many of you
have difficulty sleeping?
01:14:08.310 --> 01:14:09.420
Did you and your loved ones
01:14:09.420 --> 01:14:12.430
have that problem 20 and 30 years ago?
01:14:12.430 --> 01:14:14.620
There is currently an epidemic
01:14:14.620 --> 01:14:16.100
of significant health disorders
01:14:16.100 --> 01:14:19.250
caused by electromagnetic radiation.
01:14:19.250 --> 01:14:21.730
Please hold AT&T responsible
01:14:21.730 --> 01:14:24.040
and stop colluding with big industry.
01:14:24.040 --> 01:14:25.115
(bell chimes)
01:14:25.115 --> 01:14:26.730
Please listen carefully
to your constituents.
01:14:26.730 --> 01:14:30.640
And I stand against the
wildfire mitigation plan by PG&E.
01:14:30.640 --> 01:14:31.473
Thank you.
01:14:32.610 --> 01:14:33.810
Thank you.
01:14:33.810 --> 01:14:35.623
Operator, the next caller please.
01:14:37.070 --> 01:14:40.130
Our next
caller is Nancy Derhoda.
01:14:40.130 --> 01:14:40.980
You may go ahead.
01:14:42.670 --> 01:14:44.293
Hello. Can you hear me?
01:14:45.970 --> 01:14:46.803
Hello?
01:14:46.803 --> 01:14:47.636
Yes we can.
01:14:47.636 --> 01:14:48.690
Oh, okay.
01:14:48.690 --> 01:14:51.770
I had no idea about
the landlines either,
01:14:51.770 --> 01:14:54.650
and since nobody will
put cell service up here
01:14:54.650 --> 01:14:58.110
above the city of Georgetown,
01:14:58.110 --> 01:15:00.250
we're totally dependent
on our land lines
01:15:00.250 --> 01:15:03.690
that can plug in and use
that little bit of electricity
01:15:03.690 --> 01:15:05.860
that comes through the line.
01:15:05.860 --> 01:15:09.093
I think doing anything
to it would be a disaster.
01:15:10.360 --> 01:15:13.910
The mini grid that Angela,
at our library, talked about
01:15:13.910 --> 01:15:17.200
is just sitting there
laughing at us, daily,
01:15:17.200 --> 01:15:18.810
when these outages go on.
01:15:18.810 --> 01:15:20.850
The post office can't operate
01:15:20.850 --> 01:15:23.210
and the businesses can't operate.
01:15:23.210 --> 01:15:25.734
And the poor librarians are in the dark.
01:15:25.734 --> 01:15:28.780
I think that's really
unfortunate that we are paying
01:15:28.780 --> 01:15:32.800
for those things that
are being installed,
01:15:32.800 --> 01:15:35.310
but we are not being able to use them.
01:15:35.310 --> 01:15:39.950
I was told that they are
only for PSPS shutoff switch.
01:15:39.950 --> 01:15:42.720
It seems pretty ridiculous to me.
01:15:42.720 --> 01:15:45.550
I get a lot of misinformation from PG&E.
01:15:45.550 --> 01:15:49.150
I call frequently and one
person will tell me this.
01:15:49.150 --> 01:15:51.210
And one person will tell me that.
01:15:51.210 --> 01:15:56.210
They told me that it
was caused by accidents,
01:15:56.410 --> 01:15:58.450
emergencies, all kinds of things.
01:15:58.450 --> 01:16:00.790
But now that they
talk about the switches,
01:16:00.790 --> 01:16:03.410
they tell me that they
are not gonna do anything
01:16:03.410 --> 01:16:05.260
to change the sensitivity.
01:16:05.260 --> 01:16:08.283
They are how they are, and
we just have to live with it.
01:16:08.283 --> 01:16:09.260
(bell chimes)
01:16:09.260 --> 01:16:10.093
Thank you.
01:16:12.087 --> 01:16:13.547
Thank you for the call.
01:16:13.547 --> 01:16:15.483
Operator, next caller please.
01:16:17.230 --> 01:16:19.040
Our next caller is Rachel.
01:16:19.040 --> 01:16:19.890
You may go ahead.
01:16:22.640 --> 01:16:23.637
Hello. My name is Rachel.
01:16:23.637 --> 01:16:26.600
And I'm with the Save
California Alliance.
01:16:26.600 --> 01:16:29.790
So I want this CPUC
to keep rooftop solar
01:16:29.790 --> 01:16:31.370
and battery storage growing
01:16:31.370 --> 01:16:33.970
and more equitable in California.
01:16:33.970 --> 01:16:36.445
Solar and battery
storage are already helping
01:16:36.445 --> 01:16:39.690
middle and low income families, renters,
01:16:39.690 --> 01:16:42.980
and small businesses,
lower their energy bills,
01:16:42.980 --> 01:16:45.640
keep the lights on during power outages,
01:16:45.640 --> 01:16:49.030
and reduce the state
reliance on fossil fuels.
01:16:49.030 --> 01:16:50.350
It's also reducing the need
01:16:50.350 --> 01:16:53.110
for building new long
distance power lines,
01:16:53.110 --> 01:16:54.710
which would save our ratepayers money,
01:16:54.710 --> 01:16:56.820
whether they have solar or not.
01:16:56.820 --> 01:16:59.440
Net Metering is the foundational policy
01:16:59.440 --> 01:17:02.770
that creates incentives and accelerates
01:17:02.770 --> 01:17:05.280
solar installation in California.
01:17:05.280 --> 01:17:08.260
Please reject the utilities' proposal
01:17:08.260 --> 01:17:11.790
that would double the
cost of owning rooftop solar.
01:17:11.790 --> 01:17:13.910
And don't buy their
lie that rooftop solar
01:17:13.910 --> 01:17:15.860
is costing a lot of people money.
01:17:15.860 --> 01:17:19.850
For those reasons, we need to
strengthen net metering policy
01:17:19.850 --> 01:17:22.730
so it can help millions
more Californians
01:17:22.730 --> 01:17:26.460
have access to solar rather
than the other way around.
01:17:26.460 --> 01:17:28.303
Thank you for listening.
01:17:31.220 --> 01:17:33.010
Thank you for your call.
01:17:33.010 --> 01:17:34.660
Operator, the next caller please.
01:17:38.503 --> 01:17:41.440
Our next
caller is Pete Wywidie.
01:17:41.440 --> 01:17:42.443
You may go ahead.
01:17:44.047 --> 01:17:45.070
Good morning, Commissioners.
01:17:45.070 --> 01:17:47.390
Pete Wywidie with the Reclaim Our Power
01:17:47.390 --> 01:17:51.130
Utility Justice Campaign,
representing 75 organizations
01:17:51.130 --> 01:17:54.026
across the state who have been demanding
01:17:54.026 --> 01:17:58.844
for a different energy future
and the end of the corporate
01:17:58.844 --> 01:18:02.840
and disingenuous rule
of PG&E over our lives
01:18:02.840 --> 01:18:05.020
and our livelihoods and our lungs.
01:18:05.020 --> 01:18:09.980
We are encouraged by
what you all have started
01:18:09.980 --> 01:18:13.710
to talk with us about, about
holding PG&E accountable
01:18:13.710 --> 01:18:15.969
for the failed plans
that they've put in place
01:18:15.969 --> 01:18:19.070
and the failed energy
system that they continue
01:18:19.070 --> 01:18:20.520
to hold on to power for.
01:18:20.520 --> 01:18:25.010
But what we need today is
either step into that moment
01:18:25.010 --> 01:18:28.050
and reject the wildfire mitigation plan
01:18:28.050 --> 01:18:31.010
and not allow them to
continue to come back
01:18:31.010 --> 01:18:35.710
and come back and come
back without a plan in place
01:18:35.710 --> 01:18:37.970
and continue to fail our communities.
01:18:37.970 --> 01:18:41.850
What we want is all of the
millions of people in California
01:18:41.850 --> 01:18:44.560
who are facing utility debt right now,
01:18:44.560 --> 01:18:46.550
to be given the same
grace that you've given
01:18:46.550 --> 01:18:47.860
a criminal corporation.
01:18:47.860 --> 01:18:49.800
Extend the moratorium,
01:18:49.800 --> 01:18:54.110
no shutoff for PG&E's greed and profit,
01:18:54.110 --> 01:18:56.360
and stop passing the buck
01:18:56.360 --> 01:18:59.164
on PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan.
01:18:59.164 --> 01:19:02.124
We want you to reject it
outright and have all future plans,
01:19:02.124 --> 01:19:02.957
(bell chimes)
01:19:02.957 --> 01:19:05.290
not be subject to just
being passed along
01:19:05.290 --> 01:19:07.200
to edit and move forward.
01:19:07.200 --> 01:19:08.400
Thank you for your time.
01:19:09.900 --> 01:19:10.733
Thank you.
01:19:10.733 --> 01:19:12.523
Operator, next caller please.
01:19:15.100 --> 01:19:17.270
Our next
caller is Marsha.
01:19:17.270 --> 01:19:18.790
You may go ahead.
01:19:18.790 --> 01:19:19.950
Hello.
01:19:19.950 --> 01:19:23.110
Everyone's been such
great speakers, better than I.
01:19:23.110 --> 01:19:24.540
Here's my notes.
01:19:24.540 --> 01:19:28.900
I too did not get a notice
of this until a few days ago.
01:19:28.900 --> 01:19:30.970
It is critical that I have a landline.
01:19:30.970 --> 01:19:32.880
I have tried several cell phones
01:19:32.880 --> 01:19:35.550
and they are totally
inadequate for my ears' hearing,
01:19:35.550 --> 01:19:40.550
as well as too expensive or
not working well enough for me.
01:19:42.534 --> 01:19:47.534
I have trouble talking
from my landline to anyone,
01:19:47.730 --> 01:19:51.123
everyone's cell phone,
because of their crappy reception.
01:19:52.107 --> 01:19:56.300
People call me when
their phones are going dead
01:19:56.300 --> 01:19:59.473
and it's horribly stressful
for my ears' hearing.
01:19:59.473 --> 01:20:02.783
Batteries and charging
simply do not last long enough.
01:20:02.783 --> 01:20:07.023
And we have too many
power outages, PSPSes.
01:20:11.286 --> 01:20:16.153
And PG&E's local office,
where driving is closed.
01:20:17.350 --> 01:20:21.070
They'll tell us, "You can go online",
01:20:21.070 --> 01:20:23.433
which we can't because the power's out.
01:20:25.010 --> 01:20:27.700
When people come to my house,
01:20:27.700 --> 01:20:31.530
in order to use their cell phone,
01:20:31.530 --> 01:20:32.890
they have to walk up to the road
01:20:32.890 --> 01:20:37.142
and huddle like a football
player in order for them to hear.
01:20:37.142 --> 01:20:38.063
(bell chimes)
01:20:38.063 --> 01:20:42.746
I need a landlord line for
9 1 1 and burglar alarm.
01:20:42.746 --> 01:20:44.203
Thank you.
01:20:46.020 --> 01:20:47.310
Thank you.
01:20:47.310 --> 01:20:49.093
Operator, next caller please.
01:20:51.360 --> 01:20:53.970
Next
caller is Isis Farrell.
01:20:53.970 --> 01:20:54.820
You may go ahead.
01:20:55.930 --> 01:20:59.090
I ask that you
deny AT&T's application
01:20:59.090 --> 01:21:00.500
to stop landline service.
01:21:00.500 --> 01:21:03.180
There is no substitute for landlines
01:21:03.180 --> 01:21:05.700
during power outages and disasters.
01:21:05.700 --> 01:21:09.450
Frontier, where AT&T
wants to transfer us,
01:21:09.450 --> 01:21:13.610
it's not in my area, has a
reputation for being unreliable,
01:21:13.610 --> 01:21:16.940
abusive, and engaged in
dubious billing practices,
01:21:16.940 --> 01:21:18.500
and came out of bankruptcy
01:21:18.500 --> 01:21:22.650
only days before AT&T
filed its application.
01:21:22.650 --> 01:21:24.940
AT&T has been illegally dismantling
01:21:24.940 --> 01:21:27.690
landline service for
a decade, by neglect,
01:21:27.690 --> 01:21:30.540
by refusing to provide
landlines where available,
01:21:30.540 --> 01:21:32.800
by tricking people
into switching to VoIP,
01:21:32.800 --> 01:21:36.105
and now, by dumping
us with sketchy telecom
01:21:36.105 --> 01:21:38.210
with a questionable future.
01:21:38.210 --> 01:21:40.720
To protect us from
corporate greed and neglect,
01:21:40.720 --> 01:21:43.020
utilities that provide
essential services
01:21:43.020 --> 01:21:45.830
must be public, like
elsewhere in the world.
01:21:45.830 --> 01:21:48.180
I call on you to facilitate the process
01:21:48.180 --> 01:21:50.600
to turn the copper
wires over to the public.
01:21:50.600 --> 01:21:53.150
Condemn all corporate utilities
01:21:53.150 --> 01:21:54.740
and seize their infrastructure
01:21:54.740 --> 01:21:57.310
like Nebraska did with
energy in the forties.
01:21:57.310 --> 01:21:59.700
I also join the opposition to PG&E's
01:21:59.700 --> 01:22:01.580
wildfire mitigation scheme.
01:22:01.580 --> 01:22:05.020
Cut off fire-prone
smart meters, not trees,
01:22:05.020 --> 01:22:06.840
and extend the shutoff moratorium.
01:22:06.840 --> 01:22:07.673
Thank you.
01:22:09.060 --> 01:22:10.330
Thank you.
01:22:10.330 --> 01:22:12.173
Operator, the next caller please.
01:22:14.489 --> 01:22:16.700
Our next
caller is Ani Yoko.
01:22:16.700 --> 01:22:17.550
You may go ahead.
01:22:19.481 --> 01:22:22.060
Hi, my name is Ani Koh Young,
01:22:22.060 --> 01:22:24.790
and I'm a resident of
Oakland, California.
01:22:24.790 --> 01:22:26.230
I'm calling to echo the demands
01:22:26.230 --> 01:22:27.930
of Reclaim Our Power campaign
01:22:27.930 --> 01:22:30.100
and to demand accountability from PG&E,
01:22:30.970 --> 01:22:33.670
and to elevate the necessity
of centering the material needs
01:22:33.670 --> 01:22:36.000
of communities in California.
01:22:36.000 --> 01:22:39.330
We need safe energy to
prepare food, to work from home,
01:22:39.330 --> 01:22:42.220
for those of us who are
privileged to work from home,
01:22:42.220 --> 01:22:44.550
to cool and heat our living space,
01:22:44.550 --> 01:22:47.470
and to stay connected to
our loved ones near and far.
01:22:47.470 --> 01:22:48.673
The list goes on.
01:22:48.673 --> 01:22:51.130
We need you to hold PG&E accountable
01:22:51.130 --> 01:22:52.810
for the fires they continue to cause
01:22:52.810 --> 01:22:54.340
and the customers they have kept
01:22:54.340 --> 01:22:57.450
from needed energy due to high rates,
01:22:57.450 --> 01:23:00.300
so that we can build the
energy system we all need,
01:23:00.300 --> 01:23:01.600
one that respects the earth,
01:23:01.600 --> 01:23:03.360
that reaches everyone that needs it,
01:23:03.360 --> 01:23:05.740
and promotes health in our communities.
01:23:05.740 --> 01:23:07.830
For these reasons I'm calling to demand
01:23:07.830 --> 01:23:10.160
that you hold PG&E
accountable for the harms
01:23:10.160 --> 01:23:11.710
they've caused our communities
01:23:11.710 --> 01:23:14.720
and reject their
wildfire mitigation plan.
01:23:14.720 --> 01:23:16.720
This plan does not keep
our communities safe,
01:23:16.720 --> 01:23:19.790
but instead increases power shutoffs
01:23:19.790 --> 01:23:21.920
while increasing energy rates.
01:23:21.920 --> 01:23:25.027
Earlier, we discussed
the necessity of honoring
01:23:25.027 --> 01:23:27.640
the Latin and indigenous communities,
01:23:27.640 --> 01:23:30.700
yet we know that these are
two communities that have been
01:23:30.700 --> 01:23:33.716
disproportionately
impacted by energy shutoffs.
01:23:33.716 --> 01:23:34.549
(bell chimes)
01:23:34.549 --> 01:23:35.930
A way to honor these two communities
01:23:35.930 --> 01:23:37.650
is to address their energy conditions
01:23:37.650 --> 01:23:39.385
by holding PG&E accountable
01:23:39.385 --> 01:23:42.560
and by rejecting the
wildfire mitigation plan.
01:23:42.560 --> 01:23:43.393
Thank you.
01:23:46.670 --> 01:23:47.503
Thank you.
01:23:47.503 --> 01:23:49.273
Operator, the next caller please.
01:23:51.003 --> 01:23:52.940
Our next caller
is Mary Ellingsworth.
01:23:52.940 --> 01:23:53.790
You may go ahead.
01:23:56.850 --> 01:23:58.520
Yes, hello.
01:23:58.520 --> 01:24:01.385
I'm giving you a call from
Shingle Springs, California.
01:24:01.385 --> 01:24:06.385
I'm about nine miles west
or southwest of Placerville.
01:24:07.780 --> 01:24:09.520
And I guess I'm calling about,
01:24:09.520 --> 01:24:11.120
I didn't know the
names of all these things,
01:24:11.120 --> 01:24:13.070
but it's a fast trip mechanisms
01:24:13.070 --> 01:24:15.220
that we're dealing with here as well.
01:24:15.220 --> 01:24:18.364
We've been cut off three
or four times this past month
01:24:18.364 --> 01:24:21.410
and the last one was
last Saturday night.
01:24:21.410 --> 01:24:24.350
They shut us off unexpectedly at 6:30 PM
01:24:24.350 --> 01:24:27.156
until 10:00 AM on Sunday.
01:24:27.156 --> 01:24:30.390
Then when they restore the
power, for whatever reason,
01:24:30.390 --> 01:24:33.290
the sensitivity, something
triggered it to go off,
01:24:33.290 --> 01:24:37.090
they have to fly a
helicopter through our area,
01:24:37.090 --> 01:24:38.980
over all the lines to get clearance.
01:24:38.980 --> 01:24:39.930
So of course they have to wait
01:24:39.930 --> 01:24:42.220
for the helicopter to be able to come.
01:24:42.220 --> 01:24:45.130
And then the helicopter is
flying for at least an hour.
01:24:45.130 --> 01:24:47.600
And I think, what is
the cost of all of that,
01:24:47.600 --> 01:24:50.930
that they again are passing
on to their customers?
01:24:50.930 --> 01:24:55.630
I have a severely disabled
neighbor in her eighties
01:24:55.630 --> 01:24:57.428
who called me on the last cutoff.
01:24:57.428 --> 01:25:00.840
She was in a recliner and reclining back
01:25:00.840 --> 01:25:03.970
in an electric recliner
and the power was off.
01:25:03.970 --> 01:25:05.670
She couldn't get out of her chair.
01:25:07.077 --> 01:25:08.060
(bell chimes)
01:25:08.060 --> 01:25:11.470
Also, I would like to mention that AT&T
01:25:11.470 --> 01:25:15.430
cannot keep me on my phone, my thing,
01:25:15.430 --> 01:25:17.740
and when I've been fighting
with them for six months,
01:25:17.740 --> 01:25:21.040
trying to get AT&T to
give me that copper wire.
01:25:21.040 --> 01:25:22.700
And they said, no.
01:25:22.700 --> 01:25:25.500
So they're basically saying
no phone, no internet for me,
01:25:25.500 --> 01:25:28.764
in my home that I've had for 18 years.
01:25:28.764 --> 01:25:30.560
We've gotta do something.
01:25:30.560 --> 01:25:31.393
Thank you.
01:25:33.897 --> 01:25:34.970
Thank you.
01:25:34.970 --> 01:25:37.113
Operator, the next caller please.
01:25:39.290 --> 01:25:41.774
Our next
caller is Christine Monroe.
01:25:41.774 --> 01:25:42.973
You may go ahead.
01:25:44.814 --> 01:25:46.220
Hi, thank you.
01:25:46.220 --> 01:25:48.750
I'm Christine Monroe from
Garden Valley, California.
01:25:48.750 --> 01:25:51.380
And I'm calling regarding
the wildfire mitigation plan,
01:25:51.380 --> 01:25:55.560
rate increase request, and
recent frequent power outages
01:25:55.560 --> 01:25:57.110
due to fast trip equipment.
01:25:57.110 --> 01:25:59.980
During the recently
lengthy power outages,
01:25:59.980 --> 01:26:01.560
those of us who were fortunate enough
01:26:01.560 --> 01:26:04.410
to have a generator to
keep our food from spoiling,
01:26:04.410 --> 01:26:07.530
stay connected to work, and
keep medical devices running,
01:26:07.530 --> 01:26:09.780
still have to pay to run the generator.
01:26:09.780 --> 01:26:11.300
In addition to maintenance costs,
01:26:11.300 --> 01:26:14.910
fuel is $4.30 cents a gallon,
thanks to Gavin Newsome,
01:26:14.910 --> 01:26:17.510
which means it costs
$4.30 cents per hour
01:26:17.510 --> 01:26:22.000
to run the generator or $43
for an average 10 hour event,
01:26:22.000 --> 01:26:24.330
which multiplied by
six events per month,
01:26:24.330 --> 01:26:26.776
which is the average
number of recent outages,
01:26:26.776 --> 01:26:30.377
that's $258 for the
monthly cost of electricity.
01:26:30.377 --> 01:26:33.200
In comparison, my average electric bill
01:26:33.200 --> 01:26:36.090
runs me $5 for a 24 hour period.
01:26:36.090 --> 01:26:38.020
This reduction in disposable income
01:26:38.020 --> 01:26:40.730
is directly caused by
PG&E's decades of neglect
01:26:40.730 --> 01:26:42.890
and also causes a significant hardship
01:26:42.890 --> 01:26:45.220
on elderly people with fixed incomes.
01:26:45.220 --> 01:26:48.270
The frequency and duration
of outages is unacceptable,
01:26:48.270 --> 01:26:50.403
as is the increased cost of living.
01:26:50.403 --> 01:26:51.515
(bell chimes)
01:26:51.515 --> 01:26:53.534
If the outages continue
during the winter months
01:26:53.534 --> 01:26:55.120
in the absence of fire danger,
01:26:55.120 --> 01:26:56.250
this will further
increase the cost of living
01:26:56.250 --> 01:26:59.480
during a time of extreme
economic cost inflation.
01:26:59.480 --> 01:27:01.930
Please vote no and
hold PG&E accountable.
01:27:01.930 --> 01:27:02.763
Thank you.
01:27:05.050 --> 01:27:06.420
Thank you.
01:27:06.420 --> 01:27:08.223
Operator, the next caller please.
01:27:10.060 --> 01:27:12.720
Our next
caller is Daryl Gale.
01:27:12.720 --> 01:27:16.037
Please go ahead.
01:27:16.037 --> 01:27:17.893
Hello. This is Daryl.
01:27:17.893 --> 01:27:22.140
Does everyone on this call
remember last September,
01:27:22.140 --> 01:27:23.863
September, 2020?
01:27:24.898 --> 01:27:26.110
Well I do.
01:27:26.110 --> 01:27:29.020
We were all stuck inside due to COVID
01:27:29.920 --> 01:27:33.340
and we were also stuck in our homes
01:27:33.340 --> 01:27:38.340
because of a whole
month of atrocious air,
01:27:38.500 --> 01:27:41.300
smokey, unbreathable air,
01:27:41.300 --> 01:27:46.300
from another PG&E wildfire smoke event.
01:27:47.800 --> 01:27:52.800
What or who gives
PG&E the right to burn up
01:27:53.320 --> 01:27:57.300
vast stretches of California,
01:27:57.300 --> 01:28:01.590
making it an unlivable,
uninhabitable state
01:28:01.590 --> 01:28:04.573
for animals, plants, and mostly people?
01:28:05.671 --> 01:28:10.671
All of this is because they
want to pay their dividends
01:28:12.270 --> 01:28:14.610
to their stock and shareholders
01:28:14.610 --> 01:28:16.633
and overpay their executives.
01:28:17.723 --> 01:28:18.556
(bell chimes)
01:28:18.556 --> 01:28:20.083
They have to harden their grid.
01:28:26.003 --> 01:28:29.040
Thank you for your call.
01:28:29.040 --> 01:28:30.773
Operator, the next caller please.
01:28:32.350 --> 01:28:35.380
Our next
caller is Marilyn Lander.
01:28:35.380 --> 01:28:36.230
You may go ahead.
01:28:37.410 --> 01:28:38.370
Thank you.
01:28:38.370 --> 01:28:41.100
I am opposed to this attempt by AT&T
01:28:41.100 --> 01:28:44.000
to eliminate landline
service in California.
01:28:44.000 --> 01:28:47.080
I get my landline service
from Comcast, and no doubt
01:28:47.080 --> 01:28:49.995
that service will soon be
under fire to be terminated also.
01:28:49.995 --> 01:28:52.780
Landlines are less susceptible
to government surveillance
01:28:52.780 --> 01:28:54.740
and cell phones are
notorious for hacking
01:28:54.740 --> 01:28:56.690
and government data collection,
01:28:56.690 --> 01:28:58.930
as well as electromagnetic pollution,
01:28:58.930 --> 01:29:01.700
which endangers us
all, but particularly those
01:29:01.700 --> 01:29:03.690
forced on the cell phone usage
01:29:03.690 --> 01:29:06.080
and the dangers of 5G radiation.
01:29:06.080 --> 01:29:07.940
I hear many callers from rural areas
01:29:07.940 --> 01:29:10.240
complaining about
frequent power outages.
01:29:10.240 --> 01:29:13.020
It appears the power that
be want to make it difficult,
01:29:13.020 --> 01:29:15.210
if not impossible, for
people to live outside
01:29:15.210 --> 01:29:18.590
of large dense cities by
frequent power cutoffs,
01:29:18.590 --> 01:29:21.490
the constant threat of fires,
and forced cell phone usage,
01:29:21.490 --> 01:29:23.770
which is spotty in the outlying areas.
01:29:23.770 --> 01:29:25.740
I don't believe climate
change is responsible
01:29:25.740 --> 01:29:29.210
for the longstanding drought
here in California, Western US.
01:29:29.210 --> 01:29:32.070
The US should move to stop
whatever powers are responsible
01:29:32.070 --> 01:29:33.780
for the very obvious geoengineering
01:29:33.780 --> 01:29:36.560
stopping the rain bearing
fronts from coming to California.
01:29:36.560 --> 01:29:38.470
These droughts make
the intentionally set fires
01:29:38.470 --> 01:29:41.157
more damaging than they
would be if rain bearing fronts
01:29:41.157 --> 01:29:44.230
were permitted to move
naturally down the Pacific coast.
01:29:44.230 --> 01:29:46.560
PG&E used to be a very well-run company,
01:29:46.560 --> 01:29:47.950
and probably still is, if the government
01:29:47.950 --> 01:29:52.950
didn't interfere with its
operations in a myriad of ways.
01:29:53.513 --> 01:29:54.605
(bell chimes)
01:29:54.605 --> 01:29:55.500
Now that power outages
are more common than ever,
01:29:55.500 --> 01:29:57.470
agenda driven bureaucrats in Sacramento
01:29:57.470 --> 01:30:00.700
want to outlaw gas powered
leaf blowers and generators.
01:30:00.700 --> 01:30:03.210
Without generators, many
homes would have no recourse
01:30:03.210 --> 01:30:04.660
to survive the increasing number
01:30:04.660 --> 01:30:07.050
of power outages here in California.
01:30:07.050 --> 01:30:09.060
No on eliminating landlines
01:30:09.060 --> 01:30:11.850
and no on PG&E
wildfire mitigation plans.
01:30:11.850 --> 01:30:12.683
Thank you.
01:30:13.730 --> 01:30:14.563
Thank you.
01:30:14.563 --> 01:30:16.283
Operator, the next caller please.
01:30:18.058 --> 01:30:19.965
And our
next caller is Eunice Lu.
01:30:19.965 --> 01:30:21.223
You may go ahead.
01:30:22.540 --> 01:30:23.780
Yes. Good morning.
01:30:23.780 --> 01:30:28.690
I'm asking the CPUC to
reject AT&T's application
01:30:28.690 --> 01:30:30.980
to terminate landline phones.
01:30:30.980 --> 01:30:34.960
We need reliable safety
systems for calling police,
01:30:34.960 --> 01:30:37.180
fire, and medical services.
01:30:37.180 --> 01:30:39.060
Many times on cell phones,
01:30:39.060 --> 01:30:43.040
I cannot make out entirely
what the other party is saying.
01:30:43.040 --> 01:30:46.000
This is a good example
of something ancient
01:30:46.000 --> 01:30:50.670
that works consistently better
than its modern replacement.
01:30:50.670 --> 01:30:55.290
By the way, I was never
notified by AT&T about this plan.
01:30:55.290 --> 01:30:58.740
Please vote no to
terminate landline service.
01:30:58.740 --> 01:30:59.573
Thank you.
01:31:01.770 --> 01:31:02.820
Thank you.
01:31:02.820 --> 01:31:04.423
Operator, next caller please.
01:31:06.090 --> 01:31:08.340
Our next
caller is Jenny Miller.
01:31:08.340 --> 01:31:09.190
You may go ahead.
01:31:10.430 --> 01:31:13.070
Hi. I live in Butte County.
01:31:13.070 --> 01:31:17.790
And I'm also requesting
that you not approve
01:31:17.790 --> 01:31:21.750
the AT&T request to terminate landlines.
01:31:21.750 --> 01:31:26.750
I'm electrosensitive and
I can't use a cell phone.
01:31:27.640 --> 01:31:31.350
And so my internet and my home phone
01:31:31.350 --> 01:31:33.935
are both dependent on landlines.
01:31:33.935 --> 01:31:38.438
So I would be completely
cut off from the world without,
01:31:38.438 --> 01:31:40.961
as I say, I can't use cell phones,
01:31:40.961 --> 01:31:45.270
and as the person just
said, this is an example
01:31:45.270 --> 01:31:49.240
of the old technology
is working perfectly well
01:31:49.240 --> 01:31:53.814
and now they want to replace
it with these 5G small cells,
01:31:53.814 --> 01:31:57.500
basically on every block in California.
01:31:57.500 --> 01:32:00.489
They're extreme fire risks.
01:32:00.489 --> 01:32:02.918
They overload the poles.
01:32:02.918 --> 01:32:06.650
If the pole goes down, it causes fire.
01:32:06.650 --> 01:32:09.688
They have smart meters,
which are very high fire risk.
01:32:09.688 --> 01:32:13.668
And they have backup
generators that have diesel,
01:32:13.668 --> 01:32:14.501
(bell chimes)
01:32:14.501 --> 01:32:16.760
which are also very high fire risk.
01:32:16.760 --> 01:32:19.343
So you're just adding insult to injury
01:32:19.343 --> 01:32:23.016
by making sure that
people can't communicate.
01:32:23.016 --> 01:32:25.490
If there's a disaster,
01:32:25.490 --> 01:32:27.080
they're not gonna have their landline.
01:32:27.080 --> 01:32:29.770
And then you're gonna increase greatly
01:32:29.770 --> 01:32:34.521
the number of fires by making
everybody rely on cell phones.
01:32:34.521 --> 01:32:38.023
So please oppose the
AT&T request. Thank you.
01:32:39.653 --> 01:32:40.580
Thank you.
01:32:40.580 --> 01:32:42.463
Operator, the next caller please.
01:32:44.230 --> 01:32:46.479
Our next
caller is Sidney Cox.
01:32:46.479 --> 01:32:47.533
You may go ahead.
01:32:48.830 --> 01:32:50.420
Hi. My name is Sidney Cox.
01:32:50.420 --> 01:32:52.920
I live in Sonoma County, California.
01:32:52.920 --> 01:32:55.700
I'm calling regarding
the AT&T application
01:32:57.112 --> 01:33:00.490
and their plan to
discontinue landline service,
01:33:00.490 --> 01:33:03.400
just as everyone else has
been complaining about.
01:33:03.400 --> 01:33:05.910
Please do not support their plan.
01:33:05.910 --> 01:33:07.790
Those of us who depend on landlines
01:33:07.790 --> 01:33:10.535
for our phone service
will be left high and dry
01:33:10.535 --> 01:33:13.370
if copper landlines aren't maintained.
01:33:13.370 --> 01:33:18.370
Those of us who are electrosensitive
cannot use cell phones,
01:33:18.380 --> 01:33:21.440
and some of us don't
even have internet access.
01:33:21.440 --> 01:33:23.550
So I'm calling from my landline.
01:33:23.550 --> 01:33:26.660
I'm also calling on behalf
of many concerned people
01:33:26.660 --> 01:33:28.370
with Safe Tech for Santa Rosa,
01:33:28.370 --> 01:33:31.300
who are electrically sensitive.
01:33:31.300 --> 01:33:32.313
Thank you so much.
01:33:34.207 --> 01:33:35.510
Thank you.
01:33:35.510 --> 01:33:37.273
Operator, the next caller please.
01:33:39.255 --> 01:33:41.260
Our next
caller is Jesus Vasquez.
01:33:41.260 --> 01:33:42.110
You may go ahead.
01:33:43.810 --> 01:33:45.243
Hi. Can you hear me?
01:33:46.540 --> 01:33:48.330
Yes, we can.
01:33:48.330 --> 01:33:49.163
Yeah. Perfect.
01:33:49.163 --> 01:33:52.700
So I want thank everybody
here that's been in support
01:33:52.700 --> 01:33:56.600
of fighting against
PG&E's mitigation plan.
01:33:56.600 --> 01:33:57.950
I do not support it as well,
01:33:57.950 --> 01:34:00.700
and I hope the CPUC
also stands against it.
01:34:00.700 --> 01:34:05.700
I also was not informed
about the AT&T cutoff
01:34:06.040 --> 01:34:10.160
of the copper wire pole system
that still works to this day.
01:34:10.160 --> 01:34:11.530
I stand with them as well.
01:34:11.530 --> 01:34:15.510
Do not allow AT&T to put it on the backs
01:34:15.510 --> 01:34:18.490
of my fellow working Californians.
01:34:18.490 --> 01:34:21.310
And I just want to say that
we now need to start thinking,
01:34:21.310 --> 01:34:23.810
not in terms of just
stopping and mitigating,
01:34:23.810 --> 01:34:25.800
but also maybe public ownership
01:34:25.800 --> 01:34:28.930
or at least non-profit ownership,
01:34:28.930 --> 01:34:30.190
because these corporations,
01:34:30.190 --> 01:34:32.460
all they want to do is think
about their bottom line,
01:34:32.460 --> 01:34:34.940
their profit, and not about our lives.
01:34:34.940 --> 01:34:35.773
Thank you.
01:34:39.620 --> 01:34:40.453
Thank you.
01:34:40.453 --> 01:34:42.113
Operator, next caller please.
01:34:43.530 --> 01:34:45.687
Our next
caller is Gail Challius.
01:34:45.687 --> 01:34:46.683
You may go ahead.
01:34:48.150 --> 01:34:49.030
Yes. Hello.
01:34:49.030 --> 01:34:52.280
Specifically regarding our landline,
01:34:52.280 --> 01:34:57.280
AT&T application number
A.21-05-007 is referenced,
01:35:01.660 --> 01:35:06.313
California Legislative Bill AB-2395.
01:35:06.313 --> 01:35:08.060
We live in LA Honda,
01:35:08.060 --> 01:35:10.579
a small community in
the Santa Cruz Mountains.
01:35:10.579 --> 01:35:12.980
My son has been the chief water operator
01:35:12.980 --> 01:35:16.230
for the past 12 years and has maintained
01:35:16.230 --> 01:35:18.973
a landline in our house
for emergency calls
01:35:18.973 --> 01:35:22.300
when there are power problems
01:35:22.300 --> 01:35:24.780
and our water system needs attention.
01:35:24.780 --> 01:35:27.520
Cell phones here are
affected during power outages,
01:35:27.520 --> 01:35:29.740
and the majority of the time as well,
01:35:29.740 --> 01:35:33.630
and the only means of
communication is a landline.
01:35:33.630 --> 01:35:37.490
So a landline is very essential
for the entire community,
01:35:37.490 --> 01:35:41.210
especially for continuation
of any water needs.
01:35:41.210 --> 01:35:45.130
We were never notified that
removal of landline service
01:35:45.130 --> 01:35:47.160
was in the process.
01:35:47.160 --> 01:35:50.170
There have been nine power
outages in the past month,
01:35:50.170 --> 01:35:55.170
with no availability to Comcast,
AT&T, or other services.
01:35:55.720 --> 01:35:56.570
(bell chimes)
01:35:56.570 --> 01:35:59.870
The landline was the only
means of communication.
01:35:59.870 --> 01:36:02.803
Please keep our land
lines available. Thank you.
01:36:10.500 --> 01:36:12.750
Operator,
the next caller please.
01:36:14.028 --> 01:36:15.560
And I have
no additional callers
01:36:15.560 --> 01:36:16.610
in this queue at the time,
01:36:16.610 --> 01:36:18.840
but again, if you would
like to make a comment,
01:36:18.840 --> 01:36:22.420
please press *1, unmute your phone,
01:36:22.420 --> 01:36:25.280
and record your first and last
name clearly when prompted,
01:36:25.280 --> 01:36:26.870
so I may introduce you.
01:36:26.870 --> 01:36:28.913
Again, that is *1 to make a comment.
01:36:39.510 --> 01:36:41.793
And please standby for our next caller.
01:36:43.580 --> 01:36:46.340
One minute,
operator. I'm sorry.
01:36:46.340 --> 01:36:47.340
I think Commissioner Houck,
01:36:47.340 --> 01:36:48.990
do you have a comment to be made?
01:36:50.170 --> 01:36:53.140
After the last caller, I just
wanted to clarify something
01:36:53.140 --> 01:36:55.574
regarding some of the callers
01:36:55.574 --> 01:36:58.280
and regarding the AT&T
application, if that's okay?
01:36:58.280 --> 01:37:00.573
Let's wait until
we have the last caller first.
01:37:00.573 --> 01:37:03.620
I think we're almost there. Sorry.
01:37:03.620 --> 01:37:05.653
Operator, any more callers?
01:37:07.060 --> 01:37:09.080
Our next
caller is Leigh Abberton.
01:37:09.080 --> 01:37:09.930
You may go ahead.
01:37:11.400 --> 01:37:12.340
Oh, hi.
01:37:12.340 --> 01:37:16.320
My name is Leigh. I live
in Marin County, California.
01:37:16.320 --> 01:37:19.890
And I'm calling to protest
01:37:21.505 --> 01:37:25.820
AT&T's application to
discontinue landline service.
01:37:27.160 --> 01:37:30.256
Many people will have no phone service
01:37:30.256 --> 01:37:34.590
and no internet service if this is done.
01:37:34.590 --> 01:37:37.950
There are thousands of
people who cannot use
01:37:37.950 --> 01:37:42.950
cell phones or VoIP phones or wireless
01:37:43.450 --> 01:37:46.360
or Wi-Fi technology for various reasons.
01:37:46.360 --> 01:37:49.388
This includes many
elderly and disabled people,
01:37:49.388 --> 01:37:53.300
people with hand use
issues, the hearing impaired,
01:37:53.300 --> 01:37:55.810
the visually impaired, and so forth.
01:37:55.810 --> 01:38:00.240
If AT&T wants to
discontinue landline service,
01:38:00.240 --> 01:38:04.490
then I'm asking that the CPUC makes sure
01:38:07.898 --> 01:38:11.000
that the phone services
and internet services
01:38:11.000 --> 01:38:14.500
are transferred to several
other local companies
01:38:14.500 --> 01:38:18.260
that will take over to provide landline
01:38:18.260 --> 01:38:20.840
and wired internet service to the public
01:38:20.840 --> 01:38:22.943
at affordable, accessible rates.
01:38:24.078 --> 01:38:26.060
(bell chimes)
01:38:26.060 --> 01:38:29.593
Every home and every
business and every person
01:38:29.593 --> 01:38:33.662
needs to have landline
and wired internet service,
01:38:33.662 --> 01:38:38.360
and also to make sure
that the Lifeline discounts
01:38:38.360 --> 01:38:41.080
and other subsidies and
credits are transferred
01:38:41.080 --> 01:38:45.430
into the landline and
wired internet service,
01:38:45.430 --> 01:38:49.653
if AT&T wants to end
those services to the public.
01:38:53.520 --> 01:38:56.150
Also, I've heard that
there's been a lot of problems
01:38:56.150 --> 01:38:59.420
with the proposal to
transfer landline service
01:38:59.420 --> 01:39:01.312
to this company called Frontier.
01:39:01.312 --> 01:39:04.360
They've had bad business practices
01:39:04.360 --> 01:39:07.110
and bad quality customer service.
01:39:07.110 --> 01:39:09.906
So make sure that it's
transferred to several companies
01:39:09.906 --> 01:39:13.793
that will provide good quality service.
01:39:13.793 --> 01:39:16.293
(bell chimes)
01:39:17.379 --> 01:39:18.629
Can I say one more thing?
01:39:19.690 --> 01:39:21.010
You're
well over your time.
01:39:21.010 --> 01:39:22.970
Oh, I see.
Very quickly.
01:39:22.970 --> 01:39:26.990
Okay, 10 years
ago, there were 10 different
01:39:26.990 --> 01:39:31.212
internet and phone companies
that provided good quality
01:39:31.212 --> 01:39:33.850
landline phone service
and internet service
01:39:33.850 --> 01:39:35.650
to the public to choose from.
01:39:35.650 --> 01:39:37.360
And that needs to be returned.
01:39:37.360 --> 01:39:40.380
So I'm asking the CPUC
to make sure that the public
01:39:40.380 --> 01:39:43.130
has many different
companies to choose from
01:39:43.130 --> 01:39:45.180
for those types of services.
01:39:45.180 --> 01:39:46.013
Thank you.
01:39:47.425 --> 01:39:48.890
Thank you.
01:39:48.890 --> 01:39:51.753
Operator, is there anyone on the line?
01:39:53.143 --> 01:39:56.410
Yes. Our next
caller is Alice Naman.
01:39:56.410 --> 01:39:57.260
You may go ahead.
01:39:58.540 --> 01:39:59.373
Yes.
01:39:59.373 --> 01:40:02.470
I'm calling to echo the other people
01:40:02.470 --> 01:40:06.407
regarding this AT&T
application, A.21-05-007.
01:40:08.230 --> 01:40:13.230
I, too, am asking the CPUC
to please reject the plan
01:40:14.320 --> 01:40:17.720
that AT&T has to
discontinue landline service.
01:40:17.720 --> 01:40:20.300
I did not receive any notice of this.
01:40:20.300 --> 01:40:23.640
If I hadn't someone
let me know via email
01:40:23.640 --> 01:40:25.900
that this call was going to be held,
01:40:25.900 --> 01:40:28.124
I would have had no clue about it.
01:40:28.124 --> 01:40:30.300
And I find it appalling that,
01:40:30.300 --> 01:40:32.593
particularly for people
who live in rural areas,
01:40:32.593 --> 01:40:35.150
that they might be
without any kind of service,
01:40:35.150 --> 01:40:37.923
because when there's no cell service
01:40:37.923 --> 01:40:39.030
and you have no landline,
01:40:39.030 --> 01:40:41.466
you are just outta luck if
you have an emergency.
01:40:41.466 --> 01:40:46.466
So I'm asking you, please
do not approve of AT&T's plan.
01:40:47.300 --> 01:40:48.133
Thank you.
01:40:49.770 --> 01:40:50.870
Thank you.
01:40:52.080 --> 01:40:54.523
Operator, any other callers on the line?
01:40:55.800 --> 01:40:59.170
Yes, our next
caller is Kate Ferniay.
01:40:59.170 --> 01:41:00.020
You may go ahead.
01:41:01.130 --> 01:41:04.613
I am in independent
living in the Bay Area.
01:41:04.613 --> 01:41:09.613
I believe that AT&T, like
PG&E, today, is set on a course
01:41:10.880 --> 01:41:15.880
to relinquish its responsibility
to maintain wires.
01:41:16.350 --> 01:41:18.533
And that's to save money,
01:41:18.533 --> 01:41:20.710
and it's always a
question of money, isn't it?
01:41:20.710 --> 01:41:24.260
I ask that you deny AT&T's application
01:41:24.260 --> 01:41:27.030
to terminate the more reliable,
01:41:27.030 --> 01:41:32.030
the more secure copper wire
landline service in California,
01:41:32.780 --> 01:41:36.490
for which, though, a
Lifeline AT&T customer,
01:41:39.670 --> 01:41:42.590
I have received no
notice from the company.
01:41:42.590 --> 01:41:44.440
I have to make a quick comment about
01:41:44.440 --> 01:41:47.098
somebody else's comment on leaf blowers.
01:41:47.098 --> 01:41:52.098
Gas leaf blowers are gross
emitters of nitrous oxide gases,
01:41:54.050 --> 01:41:58.630
which are 310 times more potent
01:41:58.630 --> 01:42:03.598
than greenhouse gas, than CO2 emissions.
01:42:03.598 --> 01:42:05.833
Thank you, for mostly your patience.
01:42:07.360 --> 01:42:08.410
Thank you.
01:42:08.410 --> 01:42:09.253
Operator?
01:42:11.140 --> 01:42:12.340
Next caller on the line?
01:42:13.270 --> 01:42:14.630
And our
next caller is Nathan.
01:42:14.630 --> 01:42:16.230
You may go ahead.
01:42:16.230 --> 01:42:17.512
Hi there.
01:42:17.512 --> 01:42:21.140
I just wanted to call and
briefly share my frustrations
01:42:21.140 --> 01:42:24.220
about PG&E's wildfire mitigation plans,
01:42:24.220 --> 01:42:26.240
specifically the fast power shutoffs
01:42:26.240 --> 01:42:30.430
that have not been sufficiently
well planned out by them.
01:42:30.430 --> 01:42:35.430
The fast down, slow up
is just a terrible system.
01:42:36.409 --> 01:42:38.960
They need a way to have it fast back up.
01:42:38.960 --> 01:42:41.370
We obviously support it going down fast
01:42:41.370 --> 01:42:42.470
if there's an actual issue,
01:42:42.470 --> 01:42:47.470
but squirrels tripping lines
is a ridiculous occurrence.
01:42:47.670 --> 01:42:50.140
And it's happened every
weekend in our community
01:42:50.140 --> 01:42:52.890
for the last four
weekends and it has taken
01:42:52.890 --> 01:42:55.570
up to 36 hours for them
to bring the power back up,
01:42:55.570 --> 01:42:59.480
which is really devastating
for the local economy.
01:42:59.480 --> 01:43:02.200
Not to mention that now
all the local homeowners
01:43:02.200 --> 01:43:03.850
are taking matters into their own hands
01:43:03.850 --> 01:43:06.050
and effectively creating
our own micro utilities,
01:43:06.050 --> 01:43:07.980
running generators that are
01:43:07.980 --> 01:43:09.120
incredibly bad for the environment,
01:43:09.120 --> 01:43:11.763
and themselves generating
an incredible fire risk.
01:43:13.702 --> 01:43:18.702
This is not, it's PG&E trying
to escape accountability
01:43:19.500 --> 01:43:21.930
for their criminal sanctions
of billions of dollars
01:43:21.930 --> 01:43:24.950
of damages through wildfires
through their poor maintenance,
01:43:24.950 --> 01:43:27.850
by effectively making
themselves a non-viable utility
01:43:27.850 --> 01:43:30.136
and getting us to all just not use them.
01:43:30.136 --> 01:43:31.439
(bell chimes)
01:43:31.439 --> 01:43:33.360
Anyhow, they need a plan that works.
01:43:33.360 --> 01:43:35.210
You should force them
and hold them accountable
01:43:35.210 --> 01:43:37.994
to do something that actually is fast.
01:43:37.994 --> 01:43:40.800
Fast down, fast up.
01:43:40.800 --> 01:43:41.633
Thank you.
01:43:44.517 --> 01:43:45.730
Thank you.
01:43:45.730 --> 01:43:48.287
Operator, next caller please.
01:43:56.100 --> 01:43:58.830
Operator, is there
anybody else on the line?
01:43:58.830 --> 01:43:59.663
Our last caller
01:43:59.663 --> 01:44:02.643
is Marsh with Reclaim Our Power.
01:44:02.643 --> 01:44:03.723
You may go ahead.
01:44:08.663 --> 01:44:09.870
This is...
01:44:12.280 --> 01:44:13.719
Go ahead.
01:44:13.719 --> 01:44:17.490
This is Jackie Barshak
from Reclaim Our Power.
01:44:17.490 --> 01:44:22.160
It really pains me to think
that for the last two hours,
01:44:22.160 --> 01:44:24.860
and every month, people line up
01:44:24.860 --> 01:44:27.167
to give public comment to the PUC,
01:44:28.300 --> 01:44:33.300
and that you are impervious
to what people are saying,
01:44:35.010 --> 01:44:37.484
and that just plays out because,
01:44:37.484 --> 01:44:42.450
no matter what the constituents want.
01:44:42.450 --> 01:44:45.900
Regardless of how
urgent their needs are,
01:44:45.900 --> 01:44:49.962
you turn around and you
do what you want to do
01:44:49.962 --> 01:44:52.170
on the side of profits.
01:44:52.170 --> 01:44:55.810
But I'm here to tell you
that you really need to reject
01:44:55.810 --> 01:44:58.910
the wildfire mitigation plan.
01:44:58.910 --> 01:44:59.840
It's a mess.
01:45:00.860 --> 01:45:03.660
You need to take a look at it and see
01:45:03.660 --> 01:45:08.660
all the problems that it
presents in itself as a plan.
01:45:09.067 --> 01:45:13.580
It would create more
dangerous power shutoffs,
01:45:13.580 --> 01:45:17.910
worse than those that have
been described here today.
01:45:17.910 --> 01:45:19.883
And not only that,
01:45:21.441 --> 01:45:22.274
(bell chimes)
01:45:22.274 --> 01:45:25.590
why doesn't it allow for tree trimming?
01:45:29.810 --> 01:45:30.910
It's a mess.
01:45:30.910 --> 01:45:35.300
We need a complete, coherent,
honest plan to keep us safe.
01:45:35.300 --> 01:45:37.193
And this is not it.
01:45:38.190 --> 01:45:43.140
And lastly, I want to say that we demand
01:45:43.140 --> 01:45:48.140
and we have continuously,
that you hold PG&E accountable
01:45:49.230 --> 01:45:53.013
for continuing to cause
fires and for killing people.
01:45:56.452 --> 01:45:57.663
Thank you.
01:45:58.680 --> 01:46:01.333
Operator, is there
anybody else on the line?
01:46:02.310 --> 01:46:03.950
Yes, we
have another caller.
01:46:03.950 --> 01:46:05.933
Vicki Rupe, you may go ahead.
01:46:08.350 --> 01:46:09.300
Hi, my name is Vicki Rupe,
01:46:09.300 --> 01:46:12.570
and I live in a rural area
of San Mateo County,
01:46:12.570 --> 01:46:14.610
and I depend on a landline.
01:46:14.610 --> 01:46:17.590
Without a landline I would
have no 9 1 1 service,
01:46:17.590 --> 01:46:20.250
nor would I receive any emergency alerts
01:46:20.250 --> 01:46:21.940
during a power outage.
01:46:21.940 --> 01:46:26.430
I ask you deny AT&T's request
to terminate landline service.
01:46:26.430 --> 01:46:29.590
And I also received no
notice of their request.
01:46:29.590 --> 01:46:30.423
Thank you.
01:46:33.474 --> 01:46:36.813
Okay. Operator,
next caller please.
01:46:38.270 --> 01:46:39.180
And President Batjer,
01:46:39.180 --> 01:46:40.220
there are no more participants
01:46:40.220 --> 01:46:42.410
on the public comment telephone line.
01:46:42.410 --> 01:46:43.635
Okay. Thank you.
01:46:43.635 --> 01:46:45.993
I'll now turn to Commissioner Houck.
01:46:47.490 --> 01:46:48.797
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:46:48.797 --> 01:46:50.880
I just wanted to make
a procedural clarification
01:46:50.880 --> 01:46:54.390
regarding Application 20-05-007,
01:46:54.390 --> 01:46:58.300
which is a application
to discontinue providing
01:46:58.300 --> 01:47:01.600
residential service in
Frontier territory and relinquish
01:47:01.600 --> 01:47:05.534
eligible telecommunications
carrier designation.
01:47:05.534 --> 01:47:09.080
I think PG&E may have
gotten ahead of itself earlier on
01:47:09.080 --> 01:47:11.350
and given some folks the
impression that the Commission
01:47:11.350 --> 01:47:14.090
was gonna take action
before September 30th.
01:47:14.090 --> 01:47:15.970
That is an ongoing proceeding that
01:47:15.970 --> 01:47:18.680
is still requesting
additional information.
01:47:18.680 --> 01:47:21.200
I think one of the
commenters made a comment
01:47:21.200 --> 01:47:23.877
that they didn't have a chance
to provide written comments,
01:47:23.877 --> 01:47:26.620
and it sounded like they
thought we were voting today.
01:47:26.620 --> 01:47:29.830
So I just wanted to
make sure that the public
01:47:29.830 --> 01:47:30.980
that called in today knows
01:47:30.980 --> 01:47:32.470
that we're not voting on that today.
01:47:32.470 --> 01:47:35.210
They still have an opportunity
to make public comment
01:47:35.210 --> 01:47:37.990
and there are intervenors
in that proceeding
01:47:37.990 --> 01:47:40.250
and they can contact our
Public Advocates Office
01:47:40.250 --> 01:47:42.320
to find out how to do that.
01:47:42.320 --> 01:47:46.405
And that, currently,
Frontier is operating
01:47:46.405 --> 01:47:50.030
the landline system for
a majority of this territory.
01:47:50.030 --> 01:47:51.710
So I think there's also some confusion
01:47:51.710 --> 01:47:53.470
about what AT&T is requesting.
01:47:53.470 --> 01:47:55.310
And I would just ask them to reach out
01:47:55.310 --> 01:47:58.070
to our Public Advocates
Office, to their carrier,
01:47:58.070 --> 01:48:00.190
or to one of the rate payer advocates
01:48:00.190 --> 01:48:01.653
to get further information.
01:48:03.790 --> 01:48:06.155
And they can
learn how to contact
01:48:06.155 --> 01:48:11.155
our Public Advocates Office
by looking at our website.
01:48:11.730 --> 01:48:15.380
So I would encourage
people to do that as well.
01:48:15.380 --> 01:48:17.510
Thank you, Commissioner Houck.
01:48:17.510 --> 01:48:18.343
Okay.
01:48:18.343 --> 01:48:22.930
With no more public
comments, or public on the line,
01:48:22.930 --> 01:48:25.670
public comment period is now closed.
01:48:25.670 --> 01:48:27.710
Before continuing on with the agenda,
01:48:27.710 --> 01:48:30.960
I'd like to take a 15
minute health break.
01:48:30.960 --> 01:48:31.793
Thank you.
01:48:34.682 --> 01:48:36.010
Thank
you for your patience.
01:48:36.010 --> 01:48:38.463
The changes for today.
01:48:39.560 --> 01:48:41.160
Item two will be held
01:48:41.160 --> 01:48:44.720
until the Commission
meeting on 10/21/21.
01:48:44.720 --> 01:48:46.210
Items three will be held
01:48:46.210 --> 01:48:49.530
until the Commission
meeting on 10/07/21.
01:48:49.530 --> 01:48:50.840
Item four will be held
01:48:50.840 --> 01:48:55.080
till the Commission meeting on 10/07/21.
01:48:55.080 --> 01:48:56.340
Item five will be held
01:48:56.340 --> 01:49:00.200
until the Commission
meeting on 10/07/21.
01:49:00.200 --> 01:49:01.390
Item six will be held
01:49:01.390 --> 01:49:04.840
until the Commission
meeting on 10/07/21.
01:49:04.840 --> 01:49:08.250
Item 10 will be held
with, excuse me, not held,
01:49:08.250 --> 01:49:11.410
it will be taken up with
the regular agenda today.
01:49:11.410 --> 01:49:13.540
That's item 10 will be taken up
01:49:13.540 --> 01:49:15.660
with the regular agenda today.
01:49:15.660 --> 01:49:19.938
Item 11 will be held until 10/07/21.
01:49:19.938 --> 01:49:24.325
Item 25 will be held until 10/07/21.
01:49:24.325 --> 01:49:29.325
Item 28, there's been a
call for a discuss and hold,
01:49:29.649 --> 01:49:34.223
and it will be held until 10/21/21.
01:49:35.646 --> 01:49:39.163
And then item 36 has been withdrawn.
01:49:40.680 --> 01:49:43.250
Okay. Those are the changes for today.
01:49:43.250 --> 01:49:46.059
We will now take up the consent items.
01:49:46.059 --> 01:49:48.103
Is there a motion?
01:49:51.014 --> 01:49:52.214
So moved.
So moved.
01:49:53.500 --> 01:49:55.220
It has been
moved and seconded,
01:49:55.220 --> 01:49:57.910
to take up the Consent Agenda.
01:49:57.910 --> 01:50:00.423
Will the agenda clerk
please call the roll?
01:50:01.520 --> 01:50:02.963
Commissioner Houck?
01:50:05.920 --> 01:50:07.495
Yes.
01:50:07.495 --> 01:50:09.045
Commissioner Shiroma?
01:50:10.250 --> 01:50:11.788
Aye.
01:50:11.788 --> 01:50:14.445
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
01:50:14.445 --> 01:50:15.278
Yes.
01:50:16.246 --> 01:50:18.644
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
01:50:18.644 --> 01:50:19.970
Aye.
01:50:19.970 --> 01:50:21.720
President Batjer?
01:50:21.720 --> 01:50:22.770
Aye.
01:50:22.770 --> 01:50:26.730
The Consent Agenda has
been passed unanimously.
01:50:26.730 --> 01:50:28.758
I believe that Commissioner
Rechtschaffen,
01:50:28.758 --> 01:50:31.453
you would like to make
some remarks on item 17.
01:50:33.920 --> 01:50:36.120
Yes. Thank you very
much, President Batjer
01:50:40.242 --> 01:50:45.242
Item 17 stems from our
investigation into outages
01:50:46.080 --> 01:50:50.290
on Frontier Communications
network several years ago,
01:50:50.290 --> 01:50:53.773
and it's wrongful disclosure
of customer addresses.
01:50:54.760 --> 01:50:59.760
The investigation from our
Consumer Enforcement Division,
01:51:00.100 --> 01:51:04.833
CPED, proposed a
penalty of $2.5 million.
01:51:06.380 --> 01:51:09.860
The order we adopted
today rejects the settlement
01:51:09.860 --> 01:51:14.323
that had been proposed
between CPED and Frontier.
01:51:15.160 --> 01:51:18.360
The proposed settlement provided that
01:51:18.360 --> 01:51:21.802
out of the original
$2.5 million penalty,
01:51:21.802 --> 01:51:26.802
Frontier would pay only
$400,000 in penalties,
01:51:26.858 --> 01:51:29.660
and that in lieu of the rest,
01:51:29.660 --> 01:51:33.056
the remaining $2.1 million in penalties,
01:51:33.056 --> 01:51:35.760
Frontier would invest in its network
01:51:35.760 --> 01:51:38.763
to improve service quality.
01:51:40.030 --> 01:51:44.940
However, we have tried
this re-investment approach
01:51:44.940 --> 01:51:48.201
on two prior occasions with Frontier,
01:51:48.201 --> 01:51:51.750
giving it the option of
investing in its system
01:51:51.750 --> 01:51:56.460
in lieu of penalties
for its failure to adhere
01:51:56.460 --> 01:51:59.390
to minimum service quality requirements
01:51:59.390 --> 01:52:03.631
under our General Order 133-D.
01:52:03.631 --> 01:52:07.400
And we found that Frontier's investments
01:52:07.400 --> 01:52:11.530
had been patently ineffective
in improving service quality.
01:52:11.530 --> 01:52:13.950
They performed very, very poorly.
01:52:13.950 --> 01:52:17.300
So given that context,
it was difficult to see
01:52:17.300 --> 01:52:22.300
how a settlement predicated
on this re-investment approach
01:52:22.560 --> 01:52:25.090
was in the public interest.
01:52:25.090 --> 01:52:27.100
The MOD POD that we just approved
01:52:27.100 --> 01:52:30.583
rightly rejects the
settlement for these reasons.
01:52:31.510 --> 01:52:34.580
The larger context here
that I also wanted to highlight
01:52:34.580 --> 01:52:39.580
is that, unfortunately, our
carriers are chronically failing
01:52:39.760 --> 01:52:43.630
to meet service quality standards,
01:52:43.630 --> 01:52:46.190
and that's obviously unacceptable.
01:52:46.190 --> 01:52:49.410
And I think it's also clear
that the framework we have
01:52:49.410 --> 01:52:54.410
in G.O. 133-D is not
working as well as it should.
01:52:54.523 --> 01:52:58.478
That's not an issue in
this particular MOD POD,
01:52:58.478 --> 01:53:02.750
but I want to note that the
Commission is considering
01:53:02.750 --> 01:53:07.020
initiating an order
instituting rulemaking
01:53:07.020 --> 01:53:12.020
to review the 133-D structure,
particularly with respect
01:53:13.010 --> 01:53:17.163
to the fine and reinvestment
alternative approach
01:53:17.163 --> 01:53:21.340
that I just discussed, and I
strongly support us doing that.
01:53:21.340 --> 01:53:22.173
Thank you.
01:53:25.380 --> 01:53:27.898
Thank you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
01:53:27.898 --> 01:53:32.210
We will now move to
the regular agenda items
01:53:32.210 --> 01:53:34.530
on our agenda today.
01:53:34.530 --> 01:53:39.530
The first item on the regular
agenda today is item 10.
01:53:40.620 --> 01:53:45.593
And that will be presented by
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:53:46.640 --> 01:53:48.530
Thank you, President Batjer.
01:53:48.530 --> 01:53:50.720
You will recall this item, perhaps.
01:53:50.720 --> 01:53:54.320
It was originally about four months ago,
01:53:54.320 --> 01:53:56.610
shortly after I proposed a PD
01:53:56.610 --> 01:53:59.570
on a Solar Consumer Assistance Fund.
01:53:59.570 --> 01:54:04.160
I withdrew it because there
was tremendous activity
01:54:05.350 --> 01:54:08.150
happening in the legislature
with a great outcome.
01:54:08.150 --> 01:54:11.430
And as you may recall,
as we discussed previously,
01:54:11.430 --> 01:54:15.522
the budget did include
a $5 million appropriation
01:54:15.522 --> 01:54:18.762
for the Contractor
State Licensing Board,
01:54:18.762 --> 01:54:23.050
for the purpose that we were
proposing in the original PD,
01:54:23.050 --> 01:54:26.743
which is to provide
restitution to solar customers
01:54:26.743 --> 01:54:30.240
who have suffered
financial loss or injury
01:54:30.240 --> 01:54:31.920
due to the unlawful acts
01:54:31.920 --> 01:54:35.570
of a residential solar
energy system contractor.
01:54:35.570 --> 01:54:39.844
So, clearly with that
victorious appropriation,
01:54:39.844 --> 01:54:43.945
the need of the original
PD proposing the fund
01:54:43.945 --> 01:54:47.770
was no longer needed.
01:54:47.770 --> 01:54:52.770
And so we incorporated
into this PD, this revised PD,
01:54:53.187 --> 01:54:58.187
those actions that the state
took and we removed the fund.
01:54:59.160 --> 01:55:03.790
And now, it really comes
down to a very simple PD,
01:55:03.790 --> 01:55:06.380
which I look forward to
having your support on.
01:55:06.380 --> 01:55:08.490
The first is a workshops,
01:55:08.490 --> 01:55:11.920
a workshop that will review the status
01:55:11.920 --> 01:55:16.600
of the CSLB appropriated
funds to assist these customers.
01:55:16.600 --> 01:55:20.510
And to monitor the
data that comes through
01:55:20.510 --> 01:55:21.870
through that collaboration
01:55:21.870 --> 01:55:25.120
through the Interagency
Solar Task Force,
01:55:25.120 --> 01:55:29.860
and in this workshop to
discuss recommendations
01:55:29.860 --> 01:55:32.413
to the Commission, recommendations.
01:55:33.320 --> 01:55:37.710
And so we also, the judge
did make some revisions
01:55:37.710 --> 01:55:39.664
to clarify that those recommendations
01:55:39.664 --> 01:55:44.550
did not have to presume a recovery fund.
01:55:44.550 --> 01:55:46.410
So that's been clarified.
01:55:46.410 --> 01:55:48.940
And then secondly,
other than the workshop,
01:55:48.940 --> 01:55:51.628
we are closing the proceeding.
01:55:51.628 --> 01:55:53.830
And as you know, this
is an NEM 2.0 proceeding
01:55:53.830 --> 01:55:57.873
that has been open for some
time, I think, eight years now.
01:55:58.982 --> 01:56:03.350
So very much I'm looking
forward to closing this proceeding
01:56:03.350 --> 01:56:06.760
and closing the Chapter
on this very important issue,
01:56:06.760 --> 01:56:09.680
as we've already
opened the next Chapter.
01:56:09.680 --> 01:56:11.560
So again, just to clarify,
01:56:11.560 --> 01:56:14.580
there's nothing remaining in this PD
01:56:14.580 --> 01:56:17.234
that requires any specific actions.
01:56:17.234 --> 01:56:19.457
And since we're closing it,
01:56:19.457 --> 01:56:23.330
any recommendations that
come from this workshop
01:56:23.330 --> 01:56:26.027
will require a new proceeding.
01:56:26.027 --> 01:56:28.763
So with that, I ask for your support.
01:56:31.040 --> 01:56:33.710
Okay, thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
01:56:33.710 --> 01:56:37.340
I just want to comment briefly.
01:56:37.340 --> 01:56:40.610
I want to start by
emphasizing that it is
01:56:40.610 --> 01:56:45.270
completely unacceptable that
there are some solar marketeers
01:56:45.270 --> 01:56:49.510
and contractors who have
defrauded residential customers
01:56:49.510 --> 01:56:54.363
with false representations,
or indeed, even shoddy work.
01:56:56.410 --> 01:56:59.500
It is particularly concerning
when these bad actors
01:56:59.500 --> 01:57:04.500
target our most vulnerable
customers or community members.
01:57:04.749 --> 01:57:08.100
I want to, of course, thank you,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
01:57:08.100 --> 01:57:11.950
for your deep commitment
to consumer protection,
01:57:11.950 --> 01:57:14.780
not only here, but across the board,
01:57:14.780 --> 01:57:19.327
and in large part because you
have championed these issues,
01:57:19.327 --> 01:57:22.070
the CPUC has made important progress
01:57:22.070 --> 01:57:26.480
in helping to prevent fraud
and issues of poor workmanship
01:57:26.480 --> 01:57:29.700
on residential solar
projects, including your work
01:57:29.700 --> 01:57:32.893
on the Interagency Solar
Consumer Protection Task Force.
01:57:34.160 --> 01:57:37.084
I will however, be voting no on this PD.
01:57:37.084 --> 01:57:41.200
While this PD stops
short of actually authorizing
01:57:41.200 --> 01:57:46.200
a mechanism for funding
restitution for the solar customers
01:57:46.360 --> 01:57:51.360
by suggesting that the CPUC may revisit
01:57:51.550 --> 01:57:53.400
the creation of a fund in the future,
01:57:54.419 --> 01:57:57.260
the PD operates on
the premise, I believe,
01:57:57.260 --> 01:58:01.380
that it is within our
authority to establish one.
01:58:01.380 --> 01:58:02.800
I do not agree with this premise,
01:58:02.800 --> 01:58:05.620
and I strongly believe that
even considering a fund
01:58:05.620 --> 01:58:10.180
is starkly outside of
the CPUC's jurisdiction.
01:58:10.180 --> 01:58:13.490
I think we discussed that previously.
01:58:13.490 --> 01:58:15.290
The Contractor State License Board
01:58:15.290 --> 01:58:17.900
is the agency charged with
the regulation of contractors,
01:58:17.900 --> 01:58:20.430
which includes solar contractors.
01:58:20.430 --> 01:58:23.340
They have the expertise on
the contractor malfeasance
01:58:23.340 --> 01:58:26.480
and are the appropriate
agency to manage a fund
01:58:26.480 --> 01:58:29.255
that would provide
restitution to customers
01:58:29.255 --> 01:58:31.740
who were harmed by contractors.
01:58:31.740 --> 01:58:33.670
The legislature enacted this spring,
01:58:33.670 --> 01:58:37.080
as you've commented, to
create a taxpayer funded
01:58:37.080 --> 01:58:39.914
solar energy system restitution program,
01:58:39.914 --> 01:58:43.817
and in doing so, rightfully,
I believe, placed CSLB
01:58:44.710 --> 01:58:48.140
with the responsibility
of administering the fund.
01:58:48.140 --> 01:58:51.580
I also believe that the
5 million appropriation
01:58:51.580 --> 01:58:55.540
from the legislature to the
CSLB actually negates the need
01:58:55.540 --> 01:58:58.060
for the CPUC to create a similar fund,
01:58:58.060 --> 01:59:00.910
which I oppose, as I've stated.
01:59:00.910 --> 01:59:03.640
Further, I think it's
inappropriate for the CPUC
01:59:03.640 --> 01:59:07.840
to order monitoring
or any kind of reporting
01:59:07.840 --> 01:59:10.791
on whether there is a
need for further action.
01:59:10.791 --> 01:59:13.620
I view this as an
infringement upon the authority
01:59:13.620 --> 01:59:15.997
of our sister agency, the CSLB.
01:59:17.130 --> 01:59:20.490
If the CSLB's fund is
depleted in the future,
01:59:20.490 --> 01:59:22.960
the Governor and the
legislature can choose
01:59:22.960 --> 01:59:26.660
to act at that time
to replenish to fund.
01:59:26.660 --> 01:59:29.060
The CSLB's mandate is to regulate
01:59:29.060 --> 01:59:31.050
the state's construction industry,
01:59:31.050 --> 01:59:32.840
whereas our mandate is to regulate
01:59:32.840 --> 01:59:34.600
the investor owned utilities.
01:59:34.600 --> 01:59:36.170
We have significant authority
01:59:36.170 --> 01:59:39.900
in the service to this
mandate, but I do not believe
01:59:39.900 --> 01:59:41.800
it is an appropriate
exercise of our authority
01:59:41.800 --> 01:59:43.050
to insert ourselves here.
01:59:44.046 --> 01:59:47.083
The legislature had asked
to create a solar fraud fund
01:59:47.083 --> 01:59:50.600
at its proper home, the CSLB.
01:59:50.600 --> 01:59:53.590
And while some may say that this PD
01:59:53.590 --> 01:59:55.860
is simply creating a path to monitor,
01:59:55.860 --> 01:59:57.954
the actions we take
to lay out expectations,
01:59:57.954 --> 02:00:00.310
I believe, for the future.
02:00:00.310 --> 02:00:03.960
And I do not think this is
an appropriate expectation
02:00:03.960 --> 02:00:05.190
for our stakeholders to have
02:00:05.190 --> 02:00:07.720
regarding the role of
CPUC in this space.
02:00:07.720 --> 02:00:11.370
Again, I'm very supportive
of continued collaboration
02:00:11.370 --> 02:00:13.310
across the agencies working to protect
02:00:13.310 --> 02:00:16.740
residential customers and consumers
02:00:16.740 --> 02:00:20.613
from solar developer
fraud, but I do not believe
02:00:20.613 --> 02:00:24.870
we should engage in the
actions this PD contemplates.
02:00:24.870 --> 02:00:26.650
Is there anybody else
that would like to comment
02:00:26.650 --> 02:00:28.093
on item number 10?
02:00:30.559 --> 02:00:33.475
Darcie, I think I see your hand up,
02:00:33.475 --> 02:00:35.683
Commissioner Houck, excuse me.
02:00:39.480 --> 02:00:41.200
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:00:41.200 --> 02:00:44.200
I first want to commend
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
02:00:44.200 --> 02:00:46.730
for all of her work
in pursuing restitution
02:00:46.730 --> 02:00:49.860
and enforcement mechanisms
for those defrauded
02:00:49.860 --> 02:00:51.430
by unscrupulous contractors
02:00:51.430 --> 02:00:54.650
preying on California's
most vulnerable populations.
02:00:54.650 --> 02:00:57.868
Without these efforts and
her commitment and advocacy,
02:00:57.868 --> 02:01:00.520
I'm not sure that the legislature
02:01:00.520 --> 02:01:05.520
would have adopted
AB-137, which is now law.
02:01:05.800 --> 02:01:07.750
I fully support the recent efforts
02:01:07.750 --> 02:01:10.700
to address fraudulent sales
and contracting practices
02:01:10.700 --> 02:01:12.530
by third party solar providers,
02:01:12.530 --> 02:01:14.530
and the Commission's
continued collaboration
02:01:14.530 --> 02:01:16.920
and work with our sister agencies.
02:01:16.920 --> 02:01:18.650
That said, I do have some concerns
02:01:18.650 --> 02:01:21.360
about the decision before us today.
02:01:21.360 --> 02:01:23.360
First, the legislature and the Governor
02:01:23.360 --> 02:01:26.360
have responded to the
need for a restitution fund
02:01:26.360 --> 02:01:29.584
by adopting and signing into law AB-137.
02:01:29.584 --> 02:01:32.280
I do share President Batjer's concern
02:01:32.280 --> 02:01:34.260
that the legislature has acted to create
02:01:34.260 --> 02:01:36.830
the solar energy system restitution fund
02:01:36.830 --> 02:01:39.270
under the authority of the CSLB.
02:01:39.270 --> 02:01:43.080
An adoption of this decision
could create expectations
02:01:43.080 --> 02:01:45.511
for future action by the PUC
that would be better placed
02:01:45.511 --> 02:01:48.710
towards implementation
of preventative measures
02:01:48.710 --> 02:01:50.420
and working with sister agencies
02:01:50.420 --> 02:01:52.730
to ensure the CSLB restitution fund
02:01:52.730 --> 02:01:55.100
is maintained through
legislative action.
02:01:55.100 --> 02:01:57.650
Second, I have some concerns regarding
02:01:57.650 --> 02:01:59.320
some of the language in the decision,
02:01:59.320 --> 02:02:01.430
which appears to predetermine
that the Commission
02:02:01.430 --> 02:02:04.709
has a legal obligation to
establish a restitution fund
02:02:04.709 --> 02:02:09.500
to cover bad actions of third
party, non-regulated entities,
02:02:09.500 --> 02:02:11.980
entities regulated by CSLB,
02:02:11.980 --> 02:02:14.230
which I believe could
create a slippery slope
02:02:14.230 --> 02:02:16.720
or some unintended consequences.
02:02:16.720 --> 02:02:20.790
I believe that recently
enacted AB-137 directives
02:02:20.790 --> 02:02:22.883
provide the best mechanism
for achieving the goals
02:02:22.883 --> 02:02:24.740
that the PD intends.
02:02:24.740 --> 02:02:27.840
If it becomes clear that
additional funding is needed
02:02:27.840 --> 02:02:31.056
beyond the $5 million
appropriated by the legislature,
02:02:31.056 --> 02:02:35.360
the PUC should, and I encourage us,
02:02:35.360 --> 02:02:37.320
to continue to collaborate closely
02:02:37.320 --> 02:02:41.196
with the CSLB Department
of Consumer Affairs
02:02:41.196 --> 02:02:44.240
to provide information
and analysis needed
02:02:44.240 --> 02:02:46.250
to support further legislative action
02:02:46.250 --> 02:02:50.301
to continue ongoing funding
of the restitution through CSLB.
02:02:50.301 --> 02:02:52.200
While I have these concerns,
02:02:52.200 --> 02:02:54.440
I do strongly support the larger effort
02:02:54.440 --> 02:02:56.460
over the past few years to address
02:02:56.460 --> 02:02:58.840
fraudulent sales and
contracting practices
02:02:58.840 --> 02:03:00.930
by third party solar providers.
02:03:00.930 --> 02:03:02.870
These protections include the creation
02:03:02.870 --> 02:03:04.720
of a solar information guide,
02:03:04.720 --> 02:03:07.620
requiring solar providers to
use standard assumptions
02:03:07.620 --> 02:03:10.010
when estimating bill savings,
02:03:10.010 --> 02:03:12.310
requiring all
interconnection applications
02:03:12.310 --> 02:03:14.890
to include valid CSLB
contractor licenses,
02:03:14.890 --> 02:03:17.870
requiring the IOUs to spot-check
02:03:17.870 --> 02:03:20.060
hundreds of applications
every six months,
02:03:20.060 --> 02:03:22.190
and to share their results with CSLB,
02:03:22.190 --> 02:03:25.030
Energy Division, and
our sister agencies.
02:03:25.030 --> 02:03:27.990
The creation of a public list
of non-compliant developers
02:03:27.990 --> 02:03:29.580
and circumscribing their access
02:03:29.580 --> 02:03:31.140
to the interconnection process,
02:03:31.140 --> 02:03:33.330
as well as frequent
and close collaboration
02:03:33.330 --> 02:03:37.080
between the PUC, CSLB, Utilities, CBOs,
02:03:37.080 --> 02:03:39.290
and other related entities
through the creation
02:03:39.290 --> 02:03:41.784
of the Solar Interagency Task Force.
02:03:41.784 --> 02:03:44.160
The aggressive and
misleading sales tactics
02:03:44.160 --> 02:03:45.997
by some contractors
in the solar industry
02:03:45.997 --> 02:03:48.179
are not acceptable, and I believe that
02:03:48.179 --> 02:03:50.391
it is the Commission's responsibility,
02:03:50.391 --> 02:03:52.900
consistent with oversight
of the NEM program,
02:03:52.900 --> 02:03:54.833
to adopt such preventative measures,
02:03:55.738 --> 02:03:56.620
which are within our authority.
02:03:56.620 --> 02:03:58.410
It's my understanding from staff
02:03:58.410 --> 02:04:00.270
that many of these protections adopted
02:04:00.270 --> 02:04:01.810
by the Commission are still new,
02:04:01.810 --> 02:04:03.860
and it will take some
time to collect the data
02:04:03.860 --> 02:04:05.750
to evaluate their impact.
02:04:05.750 --> 02:04:07.410
In the meantime, I strongly support
02:04:07.410 --> 02:04:08.910
the continuing work of staff,
02:04:08.910 --> 02:04:11.303
in collaboration with
our sister agencies,
02:04:12.590 --> 02:04:14.120
strengthen our customer protections
02:04:14.120 --> 02:04:16.780
and come up with new ideas
for how to increase awareness
02:04:16.780 --> 02:04:19.953
of these issues among
customers and contractors.
02:04:21.750 --> 02:04:25.630
So, as far as holding further workshops
02:04:25.630 --> 02:04:28.060
that address collection
and analysis of data
02:04:28.060 --> 02:04:30.180
that can further these efforts,
02:04:30.180 --> 02:04:31.900
I have no opposition to that,
02:04:31.900 --> 02:04:35.670
but I do have concerns
that by adopting this decision
02:04:35.670 --> 02:04:37.870
we would be making
findings that could be seen
02:04:37.870 --> 02:04:41.490
as the Commission having
a legal obligation to consider
02:04:41.490 --> 02:04:45.356
or require us to set up
a further restitution fund.
02:04:45.356 --> 02:04:48.881
And I think that through the
legislature is the better way
02:04:48.881 --> 02:04:52.320
to support ensuring
that there's restitution.
02:04:52.320 --> 02:04:53.970
I'll conclude by thanking the team
02:04:53.970 --> 02:04:55.270
that worked on this decision,
02:04:55.270 --> 02:04:57.150
for their patience with my questions
02:04:57.150 --> 02:04:58.985
and for briefings with my office.
02:04:58.985 --> 02:05:03.750
Most notably Judge Kao,
Jack Mulligan in Legal Division,
02:05:03.750 --> 02:05:07.250
Energy Division Staff,
Tory Francisco, Brett Walker,
02:05:07.250 --> 02:05:09.870
Chris Westling, and Erica Petrofsky.
02:05:09.870 --> 02:05:12.825
I'm sorry that I may have
mispronounced your last name.
02:05:12.825 --> 02:05:15.390
And although I will not
be supporting the decision,
02:05:15.390 --> 02:05:17.280
I do want to, again, thank
Commissioner Guzman Aceves
02:05:17.280 --> 02:05:19.480
and her office for their commitment
02:05:19.480 --> 02:05:21.970
to finding mechanisms and opportunities
02:05:21.970 --> 02:05:24.840
to protect California's
most vulnerable populations,
02:05:24.840 --> 02:05:26.613
as many of the
protections I listed earlier
02:05:26.613 --> 02:05:30.820
would not be in place without
her commitment to this effort.
02:05:30.820 --> 02:05:32.920
And I believe we
still have a lot of work
02:05:32.920 --> 02:05:34.203
to do in this area.
02:05:36.310 --> 02:05:38.610
Thank you,
Commissioner Houck.
02:05:38.610 --> 02:05:40.973
Yes, Commissioner Shiroma.
02:05:42.775 --> 02:05:44.253
Thank you.
02:05:46.150 --> 02:05:46.983
Now...
02:05:49.740 --> 02:05:54.740
I really appreciated that,
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
02:05:56.040 --> 02:06:01.040
that you withdrew the previous,
well, the previous proposal.
02:06:02.800 --> 02:06:07.800
Also that the CPED withdrew
it's previous resolution,
02:06:11.090 --> 02:06:14.250
which all were various attempts
02:06:14.250 --> 02:06:17.530
towards addressing consumer protections.
02:06:17.530 --> 02:06:18.363
Now...
02:06:22.695 --> 02:06:25.387
I, let me give you the first part.
02:06:25.387 --> 02:06:27.820
I am prepared to support your PD,
02:06:27.820 --> 02:06:30.623
Judge Kao's PD, with the revisions made.
02:06:32.279 --> 02:06:36.680
And it was a close call,
for all the reasons outlined
02:06:36.680 --> 02:06:40.730
by President Batjer and
Commissioner Houck,
02:06:40.730 --> 02:06:45.563
in terms of the narrative
of the PD, which
02:06:52.040 --> 02:06:56.760
connotes that we could
be heading towards
02:06:58.140 --> 02:07:01.652
a new funding source or what have you.
02:07:01.652 --> 02:07:06.652
On the other hand, what's
your PD orders is a workshop.
02:07:08.375 --> 02:07:13.375
The way I read it is
that we would be taking
02:07:14.731 --> 02:07:19.731
the experience of the State
Contracting Licensing Board
02:07:21.891 --> 02:07:26.891
at about the midpoint and
determining if we foresee
02:07:30.218 --> 02:07:34.773
the potential for a new funding source.
02:07:39.650 --> 02:07:44.650
It needs to foresee that
we should not be doing
02:07:47.612 --> 02:07:50.730
some sort of inadvertent cost shifting,
02:07:50.730 --> 02:07:53.978
that it needs to make good policy sense,
02:07:53.978 --> 02:07:58.978
any notion of doing such
a thing needs to rely upon
02:08:00.900 --> 02:08:05.900
good assessments, documentation,
studies, and what have you.
02:08:07.820 --> 02:08:11.210
So honestly, it was a close call for me,
02:08:11.210 --> 02:08:16.100
but I think that the continued efforts
02:08:16.986 --> 02:08:21.633
resulting in a workshop,
whatever that is down the road,
02:08:24.030 --> 02:08:26.360
will inform us, and from that workshop,
02:08:26.360 --> 02:08:29.160
we may conclude nothing
more needs to be done.
02:08:29.160 --> 02:08:33.000
Or we could conclude
that there is an opportunity
02:08:33.000 --> 02:08:35.283
for some additional efforts.
02:08:36.490 --> 02:08:40.933
So with that, I'm
prepared to support the PD.
02:08:45.810 --> 02:08:47.210
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:08:47.210 --> 02:08:49.601
Yes, Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:08:49.601 --> 02:08:51.210
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:08:51.210 --> 02:08:55.150
I am also going to be
voting in support of the PD,
02:08:55.150 --> 02:08:58.803
and I wanted to make three main points.
02:08:59.930 --> 02:09:02.810
First, I disagree with my colleagues,
02:09:02.810 --> 02:09:05.605
I disagree with President
Batjer and Commissioner Houck,
02:09:05.605 --> 02:09:10.605
that the PUC doesn't have
authority to assess a fund.
02:09:11.920 --> 02:09:15.653
So that's just a fundamental
point of departure.
02:09:17.020 --> 02:09:20.520
Secondly, with respect
to what the legislature did,
02:09:20.520 --> 02:09:24.630
the legislature was well aware
of what has been happening
02:09:24.630 --> 02:09:26.380
at the PUC the past several years.
02:09:26.380 --> 02:09:29.747
And you can easily read into it silence
02:09:29.747 --> 02:09:33.430
that it did not want to preempt or oust
02:09:33.430 --> 02:09:35.070
what the PUC was doing.
02:09:35.070 --> 02:09:37.280
It had a remedy.
02:09:37.280 --> 02:09:39.780
It's imposing a remedy, a
very well needed remedy,
02:09:39.780 --> 02:09:42.870
but it didn't say anything
that the PUC can't do this,
02:09:42.870 --> 02:09:44.520
or shouldn't do this in the event
02:09:44.520 --> 02:09:47.895
that there's a need for
more recovery funds.
02:09:47.895 --> 02:09:49.280
But most importantly,
02:09:49.280 --> 02:09:52.563
I want to echo what
Commissioner Shiroma said.
02:09:53.450 --> 02:09:55.870
This is a very, very skinny PD.
02:09:55.870 --> 02:09:56.980
If you actually,
02:09:56.980 --> 02:10:00.544
I don't think it predetermines
anything or prejudges
02:10:00.544 --> 02:10:04.520
what future Commissions
will do, nor could we prejudge
02:10:04.520 --> 02:10:06.860
what future Commissioners are gonna do.
02:10:06.860 --> 02:10:11.860
But they're bare conclusions
of law and ordering paragraphs.
02:10:12.610 --> 02:10:16.720
There are two conclusions
of law, one simply saying
02:10:16.720 --> 02:10:20.410
that provision of financial
assistance to customers
02:10:20.410 --> 02:10:22.800
who expended funds on inadequate systems
02:10:22.800 --> 02:10:25.280
directly supports the NEM program
02:10:25.280 --> 02:10:27.230
and the Commissioner's duty to support
02:10:27.230 --> 02:10:31.850
a sustainable distributed
renewable generation market.
02:10:31.850 --> 02:10:35.870
And secondly, it's reasonable
to establish a process
02:10:35.870 --> 02:10:40.323
to assess the need for a Solar
Consumer Assistance Fund
02:10:40.323 --> 02:10:43.360
based on the CSLB distribution of funds
02:10:43.360 --> 02:10:45.400
under the restitution program.
02:10:45.400 --> 02:10:47.860
So those are the only
conclusions of law.
02:10:47.860 --> 02:10:51.890
And the only ordering paragraphs
are establishing a workshop
02:10:51.890 --> 02:10:55.620
to determine whether
or not there's a need
02:10:55.620 --> 02:10:58.450
for further action, depending on what
02:10:58.450 --> 02:11:01.820
the findings are from
the CSLB's activity.
02:11:01.820 --> 02:11:06.100
So we're not finding ourselves
to do very much of anything,
02:11:06.100 --> 02:11:08.057
other than a workshop.
02:11:08.057 --> 02:11:11.283
So for these reasons I will
be voting in support of the PD.
02:11:13.710 --> 02:11:16.230
Thank you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:11:16.230 --> 02:11:17.340
Seeing no other comments,
02:11:17.340 --> 02:11:19.563
will the agenda clerk
please call the roll?
02:11:22.650 --> 02:11:23.913
Commissioner Houck?
02:11:24.859 --> 02:11:28.145
No.
02:11:28.145 --> 02:11:30.406
Commissioner Shiroma?
02:11:30.406 --> 02:11:31.239
Aye.
02:11:32.519 --> 02:11:35.236
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:11:35.236 --> 02:11:36.069
Yes.
02:11:37.201 --> 02:11:39.639
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
02:11:39.639 --> 02:11:40.854
Aye.
02:11:40.854 --> 02:11:42.640
President Batjer?
02:11:42.640 --> 02:11:43.657
No.
02:11:43.657 --> 02:11:45.490
The vote is two to three.
02:11:45.490 --> 02:11:47.050
Okay, thank you all.
02:11:47.050 --> 02:11:49.380
We're moving on now to item 27.
02:11:49.380 --> 02:11:51.520
And that is to be presented
by Commissioner Shiroma.
02:11:51.520 --> 02:11:52.970
Commissioner?
02:11:52.970 --> 02:11:53.803
Yes.
02:11:53.803 --> 02:11:55.650
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:11:55.650 --> 02:11:59.039
Item 27 is a proposed decision
02:11:59.039 --> 02:12:03.830
that adopts our energy
savings potential end goals
02:12:03.830 --> 02:12:06.533
for energy efficiency program portfolios
02:12:06.533 --> 02:12:10.730
that are administered by the
large investor owned utilities
02:12:10.730 --> 02:12:14.288
for 2022 and 2023.
02:12:14.288 --> 02:12:17.530
The Commission will recall, we voted
02:12:17.530 --> 02:12:22.050
at our energy efficiency
decisions this past May.
02:12:22.050 --> 02:12:26.476
Along with that, we also
conduct a study every two years.
02:12:26.476 --> 02:12:28.460
And based on that study,
02:12:28.460 --> 02:12:31.860
the potential and goals are derived.
02:12:31.860 --> 02:12:35.270
The Commission regulates
electric and gas utilities
02:12:35.270 --> 02:12:38.020
that implement energy
efficiency programs.
02:12:38.020 --> 02:12:40.320
We set goals for them to achieve,
02:12:40.320 --> 02:12:41.980
and we evaluate program effectiveness
02:12:41.980 --> 02:12:45.580
to ensure the energy savings
forecasted by the Commission
02:12:45.580 --> 02:12:49.284
can be relied upon by the
California Energy Commission
02:12:49.284 --> 02:12:52.810
and the California
Independent System Operators.
02:12:52.810 --> 02:12:55.210
Since 2004, the Commission has managed
02:12:55.210 --> 02:12:57.390
the development of the potential study,
02:12:57.390 --> 02:13:00.850
which provides the technical
analysis for assessing
02:13:00.850 --> 02:13:05.030
cost effective energy
savings available in California,
02:13:05.030 --> 02:13:06.570
The Commission last revised
02:13:09.036 --> 02:13:11.260
the energy efficiency goals in 2019.
02:13:12.170 --> 02:13:17.041
And this PD identifies all
potential achievable savings
02:13:17.041 --> 02:13:20.525
starting in 2022.
02:13:20.525 --> 02:13:22.310
It's for the next 10 years,
02:13:22.310 --> 02:13:23.910
which is a rolling 10 years,
02:13:23.910 --> 02:13:26.680
because we reevaluate every two years.
02:13:26.680 --> 02:13:30.482
And the goals include the newly adopted
02:13:30.482 --> 02:13:33.610
Total System Benefit metric.
02:13:33.610 --> 02:13:38.200
This new metric reflects
the life cycle energy capacity
02:13:38.200 --> 02:13:42.450
and greenhouse gas benefits
of a measure in dollar terms.
02:13:42.450 --> 02:13:45.810
The Total System Benefit ties the goals
02:13:45.810 --> 02:13:47.870
of energy efficiency
program administrators
02:13:47.870 --> 02:13:50.780
directly to the avoided cost value
02:13:50.780 --> 02:13:52.610
of energy efficiency savings,
02:13:52.610 --> 02:13:54.960
and encourages the
achievement of savings
02:13:54.960 --> 02:13:57.510
that deliver high value.
02:13:57.510 --> 02:13:58.810
The Total System Benefit,
02:13:58.810 --> 02:14:01.880
along with the traditional
kilowatt and kilowatt-hours
02:14:01.880 --> 02:14:05.380
and therms format will
be tracked and reported
02:14:05.380 --> 02:14:08.142
to facilitate more accurate
demand forecasting,
02:14:08.142 --> 02:14:10.110
and enable program administrators
02:14:10.110 --> 02:14:13.950
to optimize their energy
efficiency portfolios
02:14:13.950 --> 02:14:16.660
and achieve all cost
effective energy efficiency
02:14:16.660 --> 02:14:18.760
as required by statute.
02:14:18.760 --> 02:14:22.254
This proposed decision
applies a goal scenario
02:14:22.254 --> 02:14:25.550
that best reflects the
Commission's intent
02:14:25.550 --> 02:14:29.210
for program administrators
to aggressively pursue
02:14:29.210 --> 02:14:31.680
all energy savings opportunities,
02:14:31.680 --> 02:14:34.570
including fuel substitution measures,
02:14:34.570 --> 02:14:37.010
which is heat pump, water heaters.
02:14:37.010 --> 02:14:40.060
These field substitution
measures have been
02:14:40.060 --> 02:14:43.857
an untapped measure, and
the PD sends a strong signal
02:14:43.857 --> 02:14:47.020
to all program administrators to pursue
02:14:47.020 --> 02:14:48.810
these saving opportunities
02:14:48.810 --> 02:14:52.645
to advance energy
efficiency in California.
02:14:52.645 --> 02:14:54.820
The goals should stretch.
02:14:54.820 --> 02:14:56.920
Sometimes they're aspirational.
02:14:56.920 --> 02:15:01.840
But we need to do much more
than we have done already.
02:15:01.840 --> 02:15:04.370
I do want to thank
Administrative Law Judges
02:15:04.370 --> 02:15:08.760
Valerie Kao and Julie
Fitch for their hard work.
02:15:08.760 --> 02:15:12.900
And the Energy Division's
Coby Rudolph, Jessica Alison,
02:15:12.900 --> 02:15:16.904
Travis Holtby, Paula
Gruendling, Jen Kalafut,
02:15:16.904 --> 02:15:18.743
Legal Division's Elizabeth Dorman,
02:15:19.800 --> 02:15:22.050
for the hard work and commitment
02:15:22.050 --> 02:15:25.000
in this energy efficiency
building process.
02:15:25.000 --> 02:15:26.760
I want to thank my Bagley-Keene partner,
02:15:26.760 --> 02:15:28.710
Commissioner Darcie Houck,
02:15:28.710 --> 02:15:32.135
her Chief of Staff and Legal
Advisor Pouneh Ghaffarian,
02:15:32.135 --> 02:15:36.410
and Legal and Energy Policy
Advisor, Suzanne Casazza,
02:15:41.023 --> 02:15:43.540
and Energy Advisor Kathleen Yip,
02:15:43.540 --> 02:15:46.170
for your keen engagement
is this proceeding.
02:15:46.170 --> 02:15:49.976
And last but not least, I
want to thank my team,
02:15:49.976 --> 02:15:54.452
my Chief of Staff and
Legal Advisor Leuwam Tesfai
02:15:54.452 --> 02:15:56.460
and Energy Advisor Cheryl Wynn.
02:15:56.460 --> 02:16:00.040
And with that, I respectfully
ask for your aye vote.
02:16:00.040 --> 02:16:01.540
Thank you.
02:16:01.540 --> 02:16:03.228
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:16:03.228 --> 02:16:05.840
Are there any comments on item 27?
02:16:05.840 --> 02:16:07.040
Yes, Commissioner Houck.
02:16:08.658 --> 02:16:10.760
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:16:10.760 --> 02:16:13.040
First, I'd like to thank
Commissioner Shiroma
02:16:13.040 --> 02:16:16.140
for her work on this proposed
decision as Lead Commissioner.
02:16:16.140 --> 02:16:18.130
I'm pleased to be her
Bagley-Keene partner
02:16:18.130 --> 02:16:20.870
and commend her hard
work and thoughtfulness
02:16:20.870 --> 02:16:23.490
and dedication to the
area of energy efficiency.
02:16:23.490 --> 02:16:27.800
I'd like to also think
Judge Kao and Judge Fitch
02:16:27.800 --> 02:16:30.590
for all of their work on
this proposed decision
02:16:30.590 --> 02:16:32.090
and in this proceeding.
02:16:32.090 --> 02:16:33.470
We're fortunate at the Commission
02:16:33.470 --> 02:16:35.670
to have many energy efficiency experts
02:16:35.670 --> 02:16:39.070
who work in this area,
and I won't repeat the list
02:16:39.070 --> 02:16:43.230
of everyone that Commissioner
Shiroma has already thanked,
02:16:43.230 --> 02:16:44.330
but I do want to thank
02:16:44.330 --> 02:16:48.150
Commissioner Shiroma's
Chief of Staff Leuwam Tesfai
02:16:48.150 --> 02:16:49.700
and her Advisor Cheryl Wynn,
02:16:49.700 --> 02:16:52.500
for all of their work
in this proceeding,
02:16:52.500 --> 02:16:56.723
as well as Kathleen Yip and
Suzanne Casazza in my office.
02:16:59.050 --> 02:17:01.360
And I also want to
thank all of the parties
02:17:01.360 --> 02:17:03.210
to this proceeding who engaged with us
02:17:03.210 --> 02:17:07.190
in vetting and creating the
2021 potential and goals study.
02:17:07.190 --> 02:17:08.800
I'd like to acknowledge and thank
02:17:08.800 --> 02:17:11.430
the California Energy
Commission for their coordination
02:17:11.430 --> 02:17:13.440
and consultation throughout the process,
02:17:13.440 --> 02:17:16.700
particularly Commissioner
McAllister and his office.
02:17:16.700 --> 02:17:18.360
As Commissioner Shiroma said,
02:17:18.360 --> 02:17:20.900
this proposed decision
provides important updates
02:17:20.900 --> 02:17:22.940
to the energy efficiency savings goals
02:17:22.940 --> 02:17:25.584
for rate payer funded energy
efficiency program portfolios
02:17:25.584 --> 02:17:29.179
in the 2022 to 2032 timeframe.
02:17:29.179 --> 02:17:31.340
The decision provides guidance
02:17:31.340 --> 02:17:33.110
and informs program administrators
02:17:33.110 --> 02:17:34.760
for their next round of budget advice,
02:17:34.760 --> 02:17:36.530
letters, and applications.
02:17:36.530 --> 02:17:40.030
Adoption of the updated
goals for 2024 to 2032
02:17:40.030 --> 02:17:41.610
is also critical to inform
02:17:41.610 --> 02:17:44.540
the CEC's load forecasting process.
02:17:44.540 --> 02:17:46.960
The proposed decision
strikes a balanced outcome
02:17:46.960 --> 02:17:49.950
using the moderate TRC
reference scenario two
02:17:49.950 --> 02:17:52.260
as the basis for
energy efficiency goals.
02:17:52.260 --> 02:17:55.320
And scenario two is more
aggressive than scenario one,
02:17:55.320 --> 02:17:57.830
but less aggressive than scenario three.
02:17:57.830 --> 02:17:59.905
Although some of the parties believe
02:17:59.905 --> 02:18:01.610
the goals based on
scenario two in this PD
02:18:01.610 --> 02:18:04.503
would be difficult to attain,
02:18:08.278 --> 02:18:11.920
recent updates from the
energy efficiency program
02:18:11.920 --> 02:18:14.200
granted administrators more flexibility
02:18:14.200 --> 02:18:15.970
and will mitigate these challenges.
02:18:15.970 --> 02:18:19.688
Specifically Decision
21-05-031 allowed administrators
02:18:19.688 --> 02:18:21.842
to segment their
portfolios into programs
02:18:21.842 --> 02:18:25.470
whose primary purposes
are resource acquisition,
02:18:25.470 --> 02:18:27.250
market support, or equity.
02:18:27.250 --> 02:18:30.267
The cost effectiveness
threshold is applied
02:18:30.267 --> 02:18:32.221
to resource acquisition programs
02:18:32.221 --> 02:18:34.000
and is also tracked
for the overall portfolio.
02:18:34.000 --> 02:18:35.740
Using the segmentation approach,
02:18:35.740 --> 02:18:38.440
program administrators
should have sufficient flexibility
02:18:38.440 --> 02:18:41.300
to incorporate measures with
a total resource cost below 1.0
02:18:41.300 --> 02:18:44.350
into their resource acquisition,
02:18:44.350 --> 02:18:46.390
while still balancing these portfolios
02:18:46.390 --> 02:18:50.200
to achieve an overall
TRC of 1.0 or greater.
02:18:50.200 --> 02:18:54.300
So I will support this
item and with that, again,
02:18:54.300 --> 02:18:56.350
thank Commissioner
Shiroma for all of her work,
02:18:56.350 --> 02:18:57.823
and will conclude my remarks.
02:18:58.979 --> 02:19:00.760
Thank you, Commissioner.
02:19:00.760 --> 02:19:01.750
Any other comments?
02:19:01.750 --> 02:19:03.750
Yes, Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
02:19:05.130 --> 02:19:05.963
Thank you.
02:19:05.963 --> 02:19:07.840
Thank you very much,
Commissioner Shiroma,
02:19:07.840 --> 02:19:09.143
for this decision.
02:19:10.370 --> 02:19:14.885
Energy efficiency
remains a critical element
02:19:14.885 --> 02:19:17.480
in our decarbonization efforts.
02:19:17.480 --> 02:19:19.810
It's as important as ever,
02:19:19.810 --> 02:19:22.400
maybe not as sexy as the new toy,
02:19:22.400 --> 02:19:24.230
but just as important as ever,
02:19:24.230 --> 02:19:27.310
and this decision adapts and evolves
02:19:27.310 --> 02:19:30.180
to meet our evolving
decarbonization strategies,
02:19:30.180 --> 02:19:33.170
and I'm very grateful for that.
02:19:33.170 --> 02:19:36.862
I think the new goals that
you outlined are necessary
02:19:36.862 --> 02:19:40.926
to reorient the energy
efficiency portfolios
02:19:40.926 --> 02:19:43.639
to have a far greater emphasis
02:19:43.639 --> 02:19:48.053
on fuel substitution
measures, as you noted.
02:19:49.030 --> 02:19:52.210
We cannot get to our
decarbonization goals
02:19:52.210 --> 02:19:55.920
unless we transition to
electric heating, cooling,
02:19:55.920 --> 02:19:59.680
hot water in buildings,
as soon as we can.
02:19:59.680 --> 02:20:02.410
And to do that, it's
gonna be very challenging.
02:20:02.410 --> 02:20:03.243
We know that.
02:20:03.243 --> 02:20:05.700
But to get that we're gonna require
02:20:05.700 --> 02:20:07.500
all the assistance we can provide
02:20:07.500 --> 02:20:12.070
and use every tool in our
toolkit to try to get there.
02:20:12.070 --> 02:20:15.590
I'll note that when we
reevaluate the goals
02:20:15.590 --> 02:20:18.130
in a couple of years,
in 2024, when we use
02:20:18.130 --> 02:20:21.731
the Total System Benefit
metric that you mentioned
02:20:21.731 --> 02:20:26.030
to evaluate the cost
effectiveness of measures,
02:20:26.030 --> 02:20:30.620
I expect that using this new
method will further highlight
02:20:30.620 --> 02:20:34.683
and underscore that
these goals are appropriate.
02:20:36.240 --> 02:20:40.750
I want to add one comment,
which is, down the road,
02:20:40.750 --> 02:20:44.990
I think a next big challenge
for us in this space is
02:20:46.290 --> 02:20:50.276
shifting our policy so that
we're no longer providing
02:20:50.276 --> 02:20:53.880
incentives for new gas appliances,
02:20:53.880 --> 02:20:56.300
even more efficient gas appliances,
02:20:56.300 --> 02:21:00.300
when switching to electric
appliances is an option.
02:21:00.300 --> 02:21:03.550
I know that's a big policy area.
02:21:03.550 --> 02:21:06.790
But as we decarbonize our buildings,
02:21:06.790 --> 02:21:09.770
that's gonna be an
essential step down the road
02:21:09.770 --> 02:21:11.233
that we have to take.
02:21:12.180 --> 02:21:14.580
Thank you. And I'll be
supporting this decision.
02:21:15.860 --> 02:21:16.730
Thank you, Commissioner.
02:21:16.730 --> 02:21:17.563
Any other comments?
02:21:17.563 --> 02:21:19.407
Yes, Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
02:21:20.680 --> 02:21:22.510
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:21:22.510 --> 02:21:25.040
And thank you, Commissioner
Shiroma, for your work on this.
02:21:25.040 --> 02:21:27.910
It's really fantastic to see,
02:21:27.910 --> 02:21:30.470
as Commissioner Rechtschaffen said,
02:21:30.470 --> 02:21:33.483
the evolution of the
program to be a more holistic,
02:21:34.534 --> 02:21:38.900
customer oriented focus,
particularly on the measurements
02:21:38.900 --> 02:21:41.900
and now the incorporation
of specific goals
02:21:41.900 --> 02:21:44.590
for field switching, and
just being able to see
02:21:44.590 --> 02:21:47.343
the augmentation of how
that contributes to our goals,
02:21:48.670 --> 02:21:52.240
is very nice to see the progress,
02:21:52.240 --> 02:21:55.840
and very excited to see
those investments take hold
02:21:55.840 --> 02:21:58.980
across the state.
02:21:58.980 --> 02:22:00.980
And of course I can't but mention
02:22:00.980 --> 02:22:03.640
that I hope in the implementation,
02:22:03.640 --> 02:22:07.815
we do consider those
consumer protection measures.
02:22:07.815 --> 02:22:12.302
As you know, I recently
have been inquiring about,
02:22:12.302 --> 02:22:17.000
myself, switching my water heater
02:22:17.000 --> 02:22:19.423
to a hybrid heat pump,
electric heat pump.
02:22:21.768 --> 02:22:26.550
And SMUD, my provider,
has a pre-determined list
02:22:26.550 --> 02:22:29.633
of contractors, and
only those contractors
02:22:29.633 --> 02:22:33.140
are eligible for the subsidy.
02:22:33.140 --> 02:22:37.958
And as a customer, that gives
me a great amount of assurance
02:22:37.958 --> 02:22:41.890
that they are a good contractor
and they would not risk
02:22:41.890 --> 02:22:44.750
being removed by SMUD
as one of those providers.
02:22:44.750 --> 02:22:48.118
So, just tying into
our earlier discussion,
02:22:48.118 --> 02:22:51.690
I am very much looking
forward to these investments
02:22:51.690 --> 02:22:54.970
taking hold and that we do so in a way
02:22:54.970 --> 02:22:58.830
that continues to protect
consumers in the end.
02:22:58.830 --> 02:22:59.853
Thank you very much.
02:23:02.610 --> 02:23:03.920
Thank you.
02:23:03.920 --> 02:23:05.400
Any other comments?
02:23:05.400 --> 02:23:08.200
Seeing none, will the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
02:23:09.598 --> 02:23:13.179
Commissioner Houck?
02:23:13.179 --> 02:23:15.692
Yes.
02:23:15.692 --> 02:23:18.585
Commissioner Shiroma?
02:23:18.585 --> 02:23:19.974
Aye.
02:23:19.974 --> 02:23:22.475
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:23:22.475 --> 02:23:23.337
Yes.
02:23:23.337 --> 02:23:26.135
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
02:23:26.135 --> 02:23:27.587
Aye.
02:23:27.587 --> 02:23:29.053
President Batjer?
02:23:29.053 --> 02:23:29.886
Aye.
02:23:29.886 --> 02:23:31.470
The vote's unanimous. Thank you.
02:23:31.470 --> 02:23:34.343
Moving on now to item 28.
02:23:34.343 --> 02:23:39.120
I'm going to first introduce
Executive Director Peterson,
02:23:39.120 --> 02:23:41.763
who will introduce the subject.
02:23:43.240 --> 02:23:44.073
Rachel.
02:23:45.630 --> 02:23:47.637
Good afternoon,
02:23:47.637 --> 02:23:49.230
President Batjer and Commissioners.
02:23:49.230 --> 02:23:51.400
Thank you very much for the opportunity
02:23:51.400 --> 02:23:53.937
to introduce this item today.
02:23:53.937 --> 02:23:57.540
Today we're welcoming our sister agency,
02:23:57.540 --> 02:23:59.979
the Office of Energy
Infrastructure Safety,
02:23:59.979 --> 02:24:04.956
or Energy Safety for short,
to present their evaluation
02:24:04.956 --> 02:24:09.010
and determination on
Pacific Gas and Electric's
02:24:09.010 --> 02:24:12.895
2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan update.
02:24:12.895 --> 02:24:17.690
Lucy Morgans is on deck
from Energy Safety to present.
02:24:17.690 --> 02:24:21.860
Now, I just want to point out
that on July 1st of this year,
02:24:21.860 --> 02:24:24.340
Energy Safety became a new agency,
02:24:24.340 --> 02:24:28.120
housed at the California
Natural Resources Agency.
02:24:28.120 --> 02:24:30.740
It was formerly the
Wildfire Safety Division
02:24:30.740 --> 02:24:33.520
here at the CPUC, and we briefed you
02:24:33.520 --> 02:24:36.970
on that successful
transition at the end of June.
02:24:36.970 --> 02:24:41.970
The structure of Energy
Safety is set out in AB-1054.
02:24:42.540 --> 02:24:44.010
That is the law that is guiding
02:24:44.010 --> 02:24:48.280
both OEIS' work and the CPUC's work
02:24:48.280 --> 02:24:51.170
on reducing the risk
of catastrophic wildfires
02:24:51.170 --> 02:24:54.690
ignited by electric
utility infrastructure.
02:24:54.690 --> 02:24:57.640
I'm very pleased to
host Lucy Morgans today.
02:24:57.640 --> 02:24:59.230
And with that brief introduction,
02:24:59.230 --> 02:25:01.650
I'll turn to her now
for her presentation.
02:25:01.650 --> 02:25:02.483
Thank you.
02:25:03.820 --> 02:25:05.910
Thank you, Rachel.
02:25:05.910 --> 02:25:07.640
And welcome, Lucy.
02:25:07.640 --> 02:25:10.693
Please go ahead with your
presentation. Thank you.
02:25:12.670 --> 02:25:13.887
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:25:13.887 --> 02:25:15.530
And good afternoon, Commissioners.
02:25:15.530 --> 02:25:16.823
Can you all hear me okay?
02:25:18.010 --> 02:25:19.420
Great.
02:25:19.420 --> 02:25:21.200
Thank you for the opportunity to present
02:25:21.200 --> 02:25:23.410
the Office of Energy
Infrastructure Safety,
02:25:23.410 --> 02:25:26.450
or Energy Safety's
evaluation and approval
02:25:26.450 --> 02:25:29.546
of the 2021 Wildfire
Mitigation Plan update
02:25:29.546 --> 02:25:32.280
for Pacific Gas and
Electric Company, PG&E.
02:25:33.589 --> 02:25:35.950
So firstly I will provide
a short overview
02:25:35.950 --> 02:25:39.704
of how we structured the
evaluation process this year,
02:25:39.704 --> 02:25:43.593
and then provide a summary of
our evaluation for PG&E's WMP.
02:25:46.905 --> 02:25:48.955
So if you want to
flip to the next slide.
02:25:50.010 --> 02:25:51.440
Thank you.
02:25:51.440 --> 02:25:53.370
So a bit of context.
02:25:53.370 --> 02:25:57.338
So the purpose of today
is to provide an overview
02:25:57.338 --> 02:26:00.836
of PG&E's 2021 WMP update.
02:26:00.836 --> 02:26:05.624
Energy Safety's purpose
is to ensure utilities develop
02:26:05.624 --> 02:26:08.200
and implement a long-term strategy
02:26:08.200 --> 02:26:10.663
to reduce utility caused wildfire risk.
02:26:11.610 --> 02:26:14.130
Our primary vehicle
to execute our mission
02:26:14.130 --> 02:26:17.792
is the oversight of utilities'
wildfire mitigation plans.
02:26:17.792 --> 02:26:21.577
Now this oversight has
two primary components.
02:26:21.577 --> 02:26:24.180
First, the review and approval or denial
02:26:24.180 --> 02:26:28.330
of the utility's forward-looking
wildfire mitigation plans,
02:26:28.330 --> 02:26:30.060
which we're discussing today.
02:26:30.060 --> 02:26:32.800
And then secondly, compliance actions
02:26:32.800 --> 02:26:34.750
to ensure the utilities act
02:26:34.750 --> 02:26:37.673
according to approved
wildfire mitigation plans.
02:26:40.940 --> 02:26:43.130
And if you flip to the
next slide, please.
02:26:44.290 --> 02:26:45.123
Thank you.
02:26:46.190 --> 02:26:51.190
In November, 2020, we released
the 2021 WMP guidelines,
02:26:51.399 --> 02:26:54.150
which raised the bar
on the level of data
02:26:54.150 --> 02:26:57.385
and justification utilities
are expected to provide.
02:26:57.385 --> 02:27:02.120
Our objectives for the updated
guidelines were four-fold.
02:27:02.120 --> 02:27:05.320
Firstly, to track utility
progress towards wildfire
02:27:05.320 --> 02:27:09.210
and deenergization,
or PSPS risk reduction.
02:27:09.210 --> 02:27:12.055
Secondly, to systemize
qualitative evaluation.
02:27:12.055 --> 02:27:14.930
Thirdly, to standardized templates
02:27:14.930 --> 02:27:17.690
for utility WMP submissions.
02:27:17.690 --> 02:27:20.233
And lastly, to front-load
data collection.
02:27:21.072 --> 02:27:24.480
Energy Safety conducted a
thorough and consistent review
02:27:24.480 --> 02:27:27.080
with an evaluation team
of more than 20 staff
02:27:27.080 --> 02:27:28.900
consisting of subject matter,
02:27:28.900 --> 02:27:31.200
writing and project management experts,
02:27:31.200 --> 02:27:33.663
to technical experts from CAL FIRE.
02:27:36.465 --> 02:27:38.400
When evaluating the plan,
02:27:38.400 --> 02:27:42.170
Energy Safety considers
the following factors.
02:27:42.170 --> 02:27:45.850
Completeness, technical
feasibility and effectiveness,
02:27:45.850 --> 02:27:47.900
efficient use of resources,
02:27:47.900 --> 02:27:50.700
demonstration of
year-over-year progress,
02:27:50.700 --> 02:27:52.253
and forward-looking growth.
02:27:53.910 --> 02:27:54.963
Next slide, please.
02:27:56.580 --> 02:27:57.413
Thanks.
02:27:59.980 --> 02:28:01.770
And I want to provide an overview
02:28:01.770 --> 02:28:04.940
of our evaluation framework this year.
02:28:04.940 --> 02:28:07.730
And this was the same
evaluation framework that we used
02:28:07.730 --> 02:28:10.673
to evaluate all of the
WMP updates this year.
02:28:12.420 --> 02:28:14.080
So we used an evaluation framework
02:28:14.080 --> 02:28:16.330
that organized wildfire mitigation plan
02:28:16.330 --> 02:28:20.022
or WMP issues into four key categories.
02:28:20.022 --> 02:28:21.960
Firstly, progress.
02:28:21.960 --> 02:28:24.888
These are areas where
the utility has demonstrated
02:28:24.888 --> 02:28:27.040
year-over-year progress
and sufficient competence
02:28:27.040 --> 02:28:28.650
in the areas mentioned earlier,
02:28:28.650 --> 02:28:32.000
efficient use of resources,
completeness, et cetera.
02:28:32.000 --> 02:28:33.940
Secondly, critical issues.
02:28:33.940 --> 02:28:36.337
Now these are areas
of significant concern
02:28:36.337 --> 02:28:40.680
that may lead to a denial
of a WMP if not addressed.
02:28:40.680 --> 02:28:42.390
These issues result in the issuance
02:28:42.390 --> 02:28:45.620
of a revision notice to the utility.
02:28:45.620 --> 02:28:47.277
And if you'll remember,
02:28:47.277 --> 02:28:49.660
we issued a number of these this year.
02:28:49.660 --> 02:28:51.560
Key areas for improvement.
02:28:51.560 --> 02:28:53.465
These are high priority
areas of concerns
02:28:53.465 --> 02:28:57.660
that if less unaddressed
could potentially cause
02:28:57.660 --> 02:29:00.956
a denial in future
submissions, and as such,
02:29:00.956 --> 02:29:04.279
any facility that has a
key area of improvement
02:29:04.279 --> 02:29:07.083
from our evaluation exercise
02:29:07.083 --> 02:29:11.609
must report their progress
to us by November 1st.
02:29:11.609 --> 02:29:14.330
And then lastly, the additional issues
02:29:14.330 --> 02:29:19.080
which are the lower priority
areas for improvement,
02:29:19.080 --> 02:29:21.030
and they must be
addressed in the utility's
02:29:21.030 --> 02:29:25.160
2022 wildfire mitigation
plan that's due to be submitted
02:29:25.160 --> 02:29:27.013
in February or March of next year.
02:29:28.010 --> 02:29:29.400
The next slide, please.
02:29:33.820 --> 02:29:36.240
And now I'm gonna
move on to talk specifically
02:29:36.240 --> 02:29:40.504
about PG&E's 2021 WMP evaluation.
02:29:40.504 --> 02:29:41.943
Next slide, please.
02:29:42.996 --> 02:29:44.423
Thanks.
02:29:46.140 --> 02:29:50.640
So PG&E's 2021 WMP
submission is an update
02:29:50.640 --> 02:29:54.613
to the comprehensive
submission by PG&E in 2020.
02:29:55.670 --> 02:30:00.670
And this covers the year
2020, 2021, and 2022.
02:30:01.067 --> 02:30:04.090
Energy Safety used the
framework I've just outlined
02:30:04.090 --> 02:30:07.989
to evaluate PG&E's 2021 WMP update.
02:30:07.989 --> 02:30:11.210
Ultimately, our determination to approve
02:30:11.210 --> 02:30:15.500
PG&E's 2021 WMP update is two-fold.
02:30:15.500 --> 02:30:18.060
Firstly, while PG&E has many areas
02:30:18.060 --> 02:30:20.430
where we are pushing
them for further improvement,
02:30:20.430 --> 02:30:23.550
none of these areas
rise to the threshold
02:30:23.550 --> 02:30:26.660
of a potential denial of the plan.
02:30:26.660 --> 02:30:29.700
And secondly, there are sufficient areas
02:30:29.700 --> 02:30:31.453
in which PG&E demonstrated progress
02:30:31.453 --> 02:30:34.477
to warrant an approval of its WMP.
02:30:34.477 --> 02:30:36.970
And I'm gonna talk
about these two issues
02:30:36.970 --> 02:30:39.070
in a bit more detail.
02:30:39.070 --> 02:30:41.283
So let me expand on the first point.
02:30:42.560 --> 02:30:44.820
And that was that PG&E has many areas
02:30:44.820 --> 02:30:46.730
where we are pushing
for further improvement,
02:30:46.730 --> 02:30:48.990
but none of these
areas rise to a threshold
02:30:48.990 --> 02:30:51.350
of potential denial of the plan.
02:30:51.350 --> 02:30:55.663
Now, back in May, 2021, we
issued a revision notice to PG&E
02:30:55.663 --> 02:30:58.303
that identified six critical issues
02:30:58.303 --> 02:31:01.303
associated with PG&E's 2021 WMP update,
02:31:02.540 --> 02:31:05.060
that if not resolved efficiently by PG&E
02:31:06.083 --> 02:31:07.900
could've led to a denial of its plan.
02:31:07.900 --> 02:31:11.733
PG&E submitted a revision
notice response in June, 2021.
02:31:12.710 --> 02:31:15.819
Based on this response,
Energy Safety determined
02:31:15.819 --> 02:31:18.657
that PG&E had either
resolved or deescalated
02:31:18.657 --> 02:31:21.100
all of these critical issues.
02:31:21.100 --> 02:31:23.030
Two critical issues were fully resolved
02:31:23.030 --> 02:31:26.810
and four were deescalated
to a key area for improvement
02:31:26.810 --> 02:31:29.710
and documented as such
in our final action statement
02:31:30.643 --> 02:31:31.513
that was issued yesterday.
02:31:32.550 --> 02:31:34.130
Within our action statement,
02:31:34.130 --> 02:31:38.420
we identified a total of 29
key areas for improvement
02:31:39.317 --> 02:31:42.949
and a further 29 additional issues.
02:31:42.949 --> 02:31:46.720
These are areas that
PG&E must prioritize
02:31:46.720 --> 02:31:49.260
and focus on over the coming year.
02:31:49.260 --> 02:31:51.840
However, none of these
are areas for improvement
02:31:51.840 --> 02:31:53.873
rise to the level of denying the plan.
02:31:55.639 --> 02:31:58.070
Now, moving on to my second point.
02:31:58.070 --> 02:31:59.880
There were several
important areas where PG&E
02:31:59.880 --> 02:32:03.022
has demonstrated progress in its WMP,
02:32:03.022 --> 02:32:04.972
and I want to talk about those further.
02:32:08.066 --> 02:32:10.983
PG&E's 2021 WMP update demonstrates
02:32:12.080 --> 02:32:14.910
an improved understanding
of the underlying
02:32:14.910 --> 02:32:17.404
utility caused wildfire risk
02:32:17.404 --> 02:32:19.370
that faces the profit service territory.
02:32:19.370 --> 02:32:21.370
It presents a more targeted approach
02:32:21.370 --> 02:32:23.130
to mitigating those risks,
02:32:23.130 --> 02:32:25.740
and has adopted a foundational change
02:32:25.740 --> 02:32:28.540
in its organizational structure
and system with the creation
02:32:28.540 --> 02:32:31.830
of its Wildfire Risk
Governance Steering Committee
02:32:31.830 --> 02:32:34.263
that is led by PG&E's
chief risk officer.
02:32:35.103 --> 02:32:38.810
Those improvements,
to position the company
02:32:38.810 --> 02:32:41.663
to make better risk-informed
decisions over time.
02:32:44.029 --> 02:32:47.113
Furthermore, I want to
talk about a few other areas
02:32:47.113 --> 02:32:49.510
where PG&E has made progress.
02:32:49.510 --> 02:32:52.110
So firstly, PG&E has
made significant progress
02:32:52.110 --> 02:32:54.260
in its risk modeling by introducing
02:32:54.260 --> 02:32:57.620
its 2021 wildfire
distribution risk model.
02:32:57.620 --> 02:32:59.620
This includes more recent data inputs
02:32:59.620 --> 02:33:03.080
for vegetation fuels, population
and building structures.
02:33:03.080 --> 02:33:07.068
The more up-to-date data
allows PG&E to better understand
02:33:07.068 --> 02:33:09.318
where its risks are
in its service territory.
02:33:11.130 --> 02:33:13.160
Secondly, PG&E has developed
02:33:13.160 --> 02:33:16.557
a robust system hardening
decision-making process
02:33:16.557 --> 02:33:18.950
that takes into account key factors,
02:33:18.950 --> 02:33:23.164
such as prior history, egress,
and tree stripe potential.
02:33:23.164 --> 02:33:26.720
PG&E applies this new
decision-making process
02:33:26.720 --> 02:33:28.940
to each circuit segment to identify
02:33:28.940 --> 02:33:30.810
the optimal mitigation measure,
02:33:30.810 --> 02:33:33.713
with a focus on reducing
catastrophic wildfire risk.
02:33:35.610 --> 02:33:38.830
And finally, PG&E
improved the prioritization
02:33:38.830 --> 02:33:40.690
of vegetation management work
02:33:40.690 --> 02:33:43.950
by updating the granularity
of its vegetation risk model
02:33:43.950 --> 02:33:46.780
to the circuit protection zone level.
02:33:46.780 --> 02:33:49.990
Plus they streamlined
vegetation data collection
02:33:49.990 --> 02:33:52.700
by consolidating various
data collection tools
02:33:52.700 --> 02:33:56.003
into one overarching GIS-based system.
02:33:57.660 --> 02:34:00.700
Energy Safety determined
that these issues demonstrate
02:34:00.700 --> 02:34:03.653
progress sufficient to
warrant approval of the plan.
02:34:07.180 --> 02:34:08.130
Next slide, please.
02:34:13.051 --> 02:34:16.381
However, I do want to outline,
02:34:16.381 --> 02:34:18.280
oh, I think I've covered that slide.
02:34:18.280 --> 02:34:20.533
Sorry. Would you mind
clicking to the next one?
02:34:21.480 --> 02:34:22.313
Thank you.
02:34:23.960 --> 02:34:27.563
However, I do want to address
the key areas for improvement.
02:34:29.220 --> 02:34:31.713
Energy Safety recognizes
that there are many areas
02:34:31.713 --> 02:34:34.164
where PG&E can and must get better.
02:34:34.164 --> 02:34:37.850
We're pushing PG&E
to continually improve
02:34:37.850 --> 02:34:40.680
and have identified specific remedies
02:34:40.680 --> 02:34:43.173
that PG&E must implement going forward.
02:34:44.790 --> 02:34:46.390
These are all clearly documented
02:34:46.390 --> 02:34:49.093
within our action statements,
and we require updates
02:34:49.093 --> 02:34:54.093
from PG&E on its progress,
both on November 1st, 2021,
02:34:54.152 --> 02:34:58.767
and when PG&E submits its
2022 WMP update in February.
02:35:05.120 --> 02:35:08.630
Energy Safety identified 29
key areas for improvement,
02:35:08.630 --> 02:35:12.010
and I wanted to give
some color to our findings.
02:35:12.010 --> 02:35:14.840
So I'm just gonna provide
you with a very brief overview
02:35:14.840 --> 02:35:16.750
of some of our key findings.
02:35:16.750 --> 02:35:19.593
So firstly, starting
with system hardening.
02:35:21.040 --> 02:35:23.520
So in terms of areas for improvement,
02:35:23.520 --> 02:35:26.690
PG&E does not adequately track
copper conductor replacements
02:35:26.690 --> 02:35:29.510
and provides insufficient
detail in the highest risk areas
02:35:29.510 --> 02:35:32.090
regarding targeting replacements,
02:35:32.090 --> 02:35:33.950
plus it lacks justification
02:35:33.950 --> 02:35:35.780
for the scope of future installments
02:35:35.780 --> 02:35:38.961
of early fault detection technology.
02:35:38.961 --> 02:35:41.550
So in terms of remedies,
02:35:41.550 --> 02:35:45.727
Energy Safety has required
PG&E to report November 1st
02:35:45.727 --> 02:35:49.478
to develop a work
plan to target and track
02:35:49.478 --> 02:35:52.170
copper conductor projects
02:35:53.700 --> 02:35:56.340
and fully justify the
scope of future installments
02:35:56.340 --> 02:35:58.313
of early fault detection technology.
02:36:00.500 --> 02:36:04.580
On risk modeling, in terms
of areas for improvement,
02:36:04.580 --> 02:36:07.640
PG&E has demonstrated
inadequate speed of improvement
02:36:07.640 --> 02:36:10.640
made to its modeling
when compared to its peers.
02:36:10.640 --> 02:36:14.050
It has not adequately
justified wind speed inputs
02:36:14.050 --> 02:36:16.640
for its probability of ignition models,
02:36:16.640 --> 02:36:18.820
and it has not been clear
about how it's included
02:36:18.820 --> 02:36:20.763
future climate data into planning.
02:36:23.490 --> 02:36:25.130
In terms of specific remedies,
02:36:25.130 --> 02:36:27.280
we're requiring PG&E
to address the reason
02:36:27.280 --> 02:36:30.050
why its risk models are
maturing at a slower rate
02:36:30.050 --> 02:36:32.740
than its peers, how it is
appropriately accounting
02:36:32.740 --> 02:36:35.190
for wind speed in its model, and to show
02:36:35.190 --> 02:36:38.350
how it's incorporating climate
data into risk assessments.
02:36:38.350 --> 02:36:39.537
And all of those things, again,
02:36:39.537 --> 02:36:42.743
are to be reported to
us by November 1st.
02:36:45.800 --> 02:36:47.733
Moving on to vegetation management.
02:36:49.470 --> 02:36:52.210
A couple of key areas
for improvement here.
02:36:52.210 --> 02:36:55.470
PG&E does not foresee
maturing in five of the six
02:36:55.470 --> 02:36:58.080
vegetation management
related capabilities
02:36:58.080 --> 02:36:59.543
in our maturity model.
02:37:01.190 --> 02:37:03.690
It is citing delays in
reaching mutually agreeable
02:37:03.690 --> 02:37:06.690
environmental and community
impact mitigation efforts.
02:37:06.690 --> 02:37:09.090
And so to address both of those points,
02:37:09.090 --> 02:37:11.917
by November 1st, PG&E
must show improvement
02:37:11.917 --> 02:37:16.917
in two key vegetation
capabilities, Capability 24 and 25,
02:37:16.930 --> 02:37:18.990
and make progress in achieving
02:37:18.990 --> 02:37:21.560
mutually agreeable
environmental mitigation,
02:37:21.560 --> 02:37:24.000
such as scheduling regular meetings
02:37:24.000 --> 02:37:25.163
between relevant parties.
02:37:26.270 --> 02:37:31.270
And lastly, to cover
PSPS, or deenergization.
02:37:31.440 --> 02:37:34.215
So in terms of areas for improvement,
02:37:34.215 --> 02:37:37.040
PG&E does not have a
PSPS consequence model
02:37:37.040 --> 02:37:38.850
at the circuit segment level.
02:37:38.850 --> 02:37:41.070
It did not discuss how
increased grid hardening
02:37:41.070 --> 02:37:43.470
will change PSPS thresholds
02:37:43.470 --> 02:37:46.870
and reduce the number of PSPS events.
02:37:46.870 --> 02:37:50.477
And PG&E did not provide
quantitative PSPS targets.
02:37:54.260 --> 02:37:56.440
In terms of specific
remedies in this area,
02:37:56.440 --> 02:38:01.440
PG&E is required to update
us in its November 1st report
02:38:01.600 --> 02:38:04.320
on the status of its
PSPS consequence model
02:38:04.320 --> 02:38:05.850
and submit a change order report
02:38:05.850 --> 02:38:09.073
detailing the PSPS protocols
that it is operationalizing
02:38:09.073 --> 02:38:13.030
this fire season, along with
the associated quantitative
02:38:13.030 --> 02:38:16.473
PSPS reduction targets, by November 1st.
02:38:23.079 --> 02:38:25.662
So moving on to the next slide.
02:38:29.120 --> 02:38:31.659
I also wanted to address PG&E's
02:38:31.659 --> 02:38:33.930
recent undergrounding proposal.
02:38:33.930 --> 02:38:36.203
So I'm sure as you're
aware, on July 21st,
02:38:37.510 --> 02:38:39.530
PG&E publicly announced that it intends
02:38:39.530 --> 02:38:43.690
to underground 10,000 miles
of its distribution power lines.
02:38:43.690 --> 02:38:45.010
This announcement came at the end
02:38:45.010 --> 02:38:49.700
of Energy Safety's evaluation
of PG&E's 2021 WMP update
02:38:49.700 --> 02:38:52.890
and PG&E did not submit
any information on this proposal
02:38:52.890 --> 02:38:55.773
as part of its 2021 WMP update.
02:38:57.280 --> 02:38:59.440
I want to be clear that
Energy Safety's approval
02:38:59.440 --> 02:39:04.440
of PG&E's 2021 WMP update
does not constitute approval
02:39:04.470 --> 02:39:06.850
of PG&E's underground implants.
02:39:06.850 --> 02:39:09.570
If PG&E intends to implement
its underground plans,
02:39:09.570 --> 02:39:13.820
then Energy Safety expects
PG&E to include these plans
02:39:13.820 --> 02:39:16.350
within its 2022 WMP update.
02:39:16.350 --> 02:39:18.933
And we will evaluate
progress at that time.
02:39:21.970 --> 02:39:23.013
Next slide, please.
02:39:24.980 --> 02:39:26.350
Thanks.
02:39:26.350 --> 02:39:29.820
And finally, I just wanted
to cover public comments
02:39:29.820 --> 02:39:32.480
and comments from the
Wildfire Safety Advisory Board
02:39:34.710 --> 02:39:37.100
Energy Safety considered recommendations
02:39:37.100 --> 02:39:39.790
from the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board,
02:39:39.790 --> 02:39:41.996
as it were received in April,
02:39:41.996 --> 02:39:44.230
and these were taken into
account in the evaluation process.
02:39:44.230 --> 02:39:46.810
We also sought comments from the public
02:39:46.810 --> 02:39:48.170
on the draft action statement,
02:39:48.170 --> 02:39:49.580
and these were received in August
02:39:49.580 --> 02:39:51.070
and taken into consideration
02:39:51.070 --> 02:39:53.183
when finalizing the action statements.
02:39:55.010 --> 02:39:57.760
The minor amendments and clarifications
02:39:57.760 --> 02:39:59.760
were made as a result of these comments.
02:40:02.420 --> 02:40:04.650
Now finally, in conclusion,
02:40:04.650 --> 02:40:08.221
the mitigations PG&E
described in its WMP
02:40:08.221 --> 02:40:11.470
will drive down utility wildfire risk.
02:40:11.470 --> 02:40:14.080
However, PG&E must
continue to improve its efforts
02:40:14.080 --> 02:40:16.720
to reduce wildfire risk
and meet or exceed
02:40:16.720 --> 02:40:19.927
the efforts of peer utilities,
02:40:19.927 --> 02:40:22.750
PG&E must scale up the scope and pace
02:40:22.750 --> 02:40:24.420
of its wildfire mitigation efforts
02:40:24.420 --> 02:40:27.640
to match the scale of the risk it faces.
02:40:27.640 --> 02:40:31.110
The true reduction in
utility caused wildfire risk
02:40:31.110 --> 02:40:34.070
will come from the
execution of these plans,
02:40:34.070 --> 02:40:37.130
which we will hold each of
the utilities accountable to
02:40:37.130 --> 02:40:40.393
through Energy Safety's
Compliance Division activities.
02:40:41.686 --> 02:40:44.640
Now, with that, I submit
to you for consideration
02:40:44.640 --> 02:40:47.890
of ratification this resolution
and action statements
02:40:47.890 --> 02:40:50.540
that articulate the
full context of analysis
02:40:50.540 --> 02:40:53.403
of Energy Safety's assessment of PG&E's
02:40:53.403 --> 02:40:56.043
2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan update.
02:40:59.978 --> 02:41:02.760
Okay, thank you, Lucy.
02:41:02.760 --> 02:41:04.090
And thank you for being available
02:41:04.090 --> 02:41:06.600
to answer our questions today
02:41:06.600 --> 02:41:10.420
on the 2021 welfare mitigation plan.
02:41:10.420 --> 02:41:15.150
I also want to thank
the entire team at OEIS
02:41:15.150 --> 02:41:19.940
for the really hard work
and rigorous analysis
02:41:19.940 --> 02:41:23.147
of reviewing PG&E's
welfare mitigation initiatives.
02:41:23.147 --> 02:41:27.363
There's two volumes
of incredible information.
02:41:28.340 --> 02:41:33.340
So now I will turn to
discussion and questions.
02:41:33.361 --> 02:41:35.293
Yes, Commissioner Shiroma?
02:41:37.440 --> 02:41:38.920
Yes. Thank you,
President Batjer.
02:41:38.920 --> 02:41:40.903
I also want to thank
02:41:40.903 --> 02:41:44.550
the Office of Energy
and Infrastructure Safety
02:41:44.550 --> 02:41:47.290
and Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs,
02:41:47.290 --> 02:41:51.540
and Interim Program Manager
Lucy Morgans, and your team,
02:41:51.540 --> 02:41:53.619
for the detailed overview,
02:41:53.619 --> 02:41:58.619
the detailed review of
PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan,
02:41:58.642 --> 02:42:00.885
and your recommendations.
02:42:00.885 --> 02:42:05.112
I asked to discuss we hold this item
02:42:05.112 --> 02:42:08.870
because I found PG&E's
wildfire mitigation plan
02:42:08.870 --> 02:42:10.990
to be deeply concerning.
02:42:10.990 --> 02:42:14.120
Given the number of, what I would say,
02:42:14.120 --> 02:42:18.843
are serious shortcomings
as outlined by OEIS.
02:42:19.684 --> 02:42:22.463
I believe it merits further attention
02:42:22.463 --> 02:42:27.463
and response by PG&E before
ratification by the Commission.
02:42:29.709 --> 02:42:34.709
We have a responsibility
to hold PG&E accountable.
02:42:37.118 --> 02:42:40.560
That is a separate effort from OEIS.
02:42:41.780 --> 02:42:44.900
We have a responsibility to assure,
02:42:44.900 --> 02:42:49.900
as PG&E's general rate
case is proceeding along,
02:42:50.400 --> 02:42:55.400
that there is good
comportment between this effort
02:42:57.770 --> 02:43:02.130
and the GRC as we
were able to accomplish
02:43:02.130 --> 02:43:06.950
with the Southern California
Edison vote out last month,
02:43:06.950 --> 02:43:08.493
or the last voting meeting,
02:43:09.360 --> 02:43:13.120
to look to provide for nexus
between the general rate case
02:43:13.120 --> 02:43:15.640
and the wildfire mitigation plan,
02:43:15.640 --> 02:43:17.383
including the ordering paragraphs.
02:43:19.480 --> 02:43:24.320
The report certainly indicates
that PG&E has made progress
02:43:24.320 --> 02:43:27.230
in a number of areas,
but it's not enough.
02:43:27.230 --> 02:43:32.230
OEIS' report outlines that,
and we heard from Ms. Morgans
02:43:32.270 --> 02:43:34.870
that of the six critical issues
02:43:34.870 --> 02:43:36.440
that required immediate remedy,
02:43:36.440 --> 02:43:38.810
they were outlined last spring,
02:43:38.810 --> 02:43:41.730
only two were fully resolved.
02:43:41.730 --> 02:43:46.730
The remaining four are
still needing to be resolved.
02:43:47.746 --> 02:43:49.740
They're still outstanding.
02:43:49.740 --> 02:43:52.330
And as OEIS has outlined,
02:43:52.330 --> 02:43:56.373
there are 29 key areas for improvement.
02:43:56.373 --> 02:44:00.390
Three examples that
stand out for me are, first,
02:44:00.390 --> 02:44:05.390
the OEIS found that PG&E
must still set quantitative targets
02:44:06.520 --> 02:44:10.450
for public safety
power shutoff reductions
02:44:10.450 --> 02:44:13.080
to show how it's grid hardening
02:44:13.080 --> 02:44:16.923
will improve its
response to PSPS events.
02:44:18.250 --> 02:44:21.740
Second, OEIS is not fully satisfied
02:44:21.740 --> 02:44:25.880
with PG&E's quality
assurance and quality control
02:44:25.880 --> 02:44:28.030
of its unresolved discrepancies
02:44:28.030 --> 02:44:30.990
in vegetation management
expenditure data.
02:44:30.990 --> 02:44:35.004
For example, on page
77 of the red line version,
02:44:35.004 --> 02:44:40.004
PG&E is quoted, in regards
to a $16,666,101 discrepancy
02:44:44.880 --> 02:44:48.847
as saying, quote, "This
small difference is not material
02:44:48.847 --> 02:44:53.847
"to approval of PG&E's 2021
WMP update", end quote.
02:44:54.800 --> 02:44:57.853
And OEIS says, in response, quote,
02:44:57.853 --> 02:45:02.853
"While $16,666,101 may not be material
02:45:04.587 --> 02:45:06.467
"in the grand scheme
of wildfire mitigation,
02:45:06.467 --> 02:45:10.227
"Energy Safety is less concerned
with the values themselves,
02:45:10.227 --> 02:45:15.087
"but rather is alarmed by
PG&E's seeming inability
02:45:15.087 --> 02:45:18.393
"to produce consistent
expenditure figures.
02:45:19.427 --> 02:45:22.897
"Errors like the one described above
02:45:22.897 --> 02:45:25.137
"illustrate that PG&E is not performing
02:45:25.137 --> 02:45:28.007
"simple quality control checks
02:45:28.007 --> 02:45:31.053
"on its expenditure data
submissions", end quote.
02:45:32.550 --> 02:45:35.810
Third, as OEIS was reviewing
PG&E"s application this summer,
02:45:35.810 --> 02:45:39.230
and as Ms. Morgans points
out, PG&E announced its intention
02:45:39.230 --> 02:45:43.107
to underground 10,000
miles of overhead lines,
02:45:43.107 --> 02:45:48.107
which wasn't included
in the WMP submission.
02:45:48.850 --> 02:45:53.850
And there are 26 more
issues outlined in OEIS' report.
02:45:54.090 --> 02:45:55.910
29 altogether.
02:45:55.910 --> 02:45:59.670
PG&E needs to, in my
view, address more fully
02:45:59.670 --> 02:46:01.250
and resolve these discrepancies
02:46:01.250 --> 02:46:05.400
towards giving confidence
in voting to ratify this plan.
02:46:05.400 --> 02:46:10.230
Now the venue for
receiving this information
02:46:11.105 --> 02:46:15.050
and for a wildfire
mitigation plan update
02:46:16.710 --> 02:46:21.710
is that PG&E is required
by OEIS to provide a report
02:46:21.940 --> 02:46:25.827
by November 1st, again as
Ms. Morgans has outlined.
02:46:26.874 --> 02:46:28.740
It repeats in the report, it says,
02:46:28.740 --> 02:46:31.453
provide by November 1,
provide by November 1.
02:46:31.453 --> 02:46:36.453
That submittal by PG&E and OEIS' review,
02:46:37.712 --> 02:46:42.712
in my view, should be
attached to OEIS' final evaluation
02:46:43.210 --> 02:46:47.866
of the 2021 Wildfire
Mitigation Plan updates report
02:46:47.866 --> 02:46:50.780
that was submitted to us.
02:46:50.780 --> 02:46:55.280
That package should be
resubmitted to the Commission
02:46:55.280 --> 02:46:58.190
for assessment and
consideration for ratification
02:46:58.190 --> 02:46:59.800
at a later voting meeting.
02:46:59.800 --> 02:47:02.530
As a Commissioner,
I was only able to ask
02:47:02.530 --> 02:47:06.550
for a two meeting
hold, which is October,
02:47:06.550 --> 02:47:09.763
which is before the November
1st deadline for this report.
02:47:11.210 --> 02:47:16.210
I think that this resolutions
should be withdrawn,
02:47:17.084 --> 02:47:21.703
and then resubmitted after we
have that November 1st report
02:47:23.000 --> 02:47:27.683
from PG&E addressing all of
the issues outlined by OEIS,
02:47:28.800 --> 02:47:31.720
OEIS' review, and that
is packaged together
02:47:31.720 --> 02:47:34.480
and resubmitted to us for consideration
02:47:34.480 --> 02:47:36.630
for ratification at a
later voting meeting.
02:47:37.730 --> 02:47:42.430
I want to thank my Bagley-Keene partner,
02:47:42.430 --> 02:47:47.430
Commissioner Darcie
Houck for the sounding board.
02:47:47.774 --> 02:47:51.400
I want to thank you all
for considering my request.
02:47:51.400 --> 02:47:55.023
And I'm eager to hear your
perspectives. Thank you.
02:47:57.510 --> 02:47:59.355
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
02:47:59.355 --> 02:48:02.603
Are there any other comments
or discussions on this matter?
02:48:04.720 --> 02:48:06.557
Yes, Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
02:48:09.024 --> 02:48:11.237
Thank you, President Batjer.
02:48:13.310 --> 02:48:17.043
Well, first, in response to
Commissioner Shiroma's request.
02:48:20.148 --> 02:48:23.850
Unless there is anything OEIS is wanting
02:48:23.850 --> 02:48:26.859
to respond to that to
inform our decision,
02:48:26.859 --> 02:48:31.859
it seems like a logical
request to get the update
02:48:32.025 --> 02:48:34.160
prior to voting on this.
02:48:34.160 --> 02:48:36.930
And I was gonna ask,
so that's my first question.
02:48:36.930 --> 02:48:38.970
My second question is,
02:48:38.970 --> 02:48:43.273
I cannot remember now from the briefing,
02:48:46.087 --> 02:48:50.340
if the plan addresses this issue,
02:48:50.340 --> 02:48:54.530
that was so pronounced
in our public comments
02:48:54.530 --> 02:48:57.913
on the greater
utilization of fast trips.
02:48:59.220 --> 02:49:01.360
And people refer to
that in different ways,
02:49:01.360 --> 02:49:03.510
but I think you know
what I'm referring to,
02:49:05.571 --> 02:49:09.090
I don't recall that being
addressed in the plan.
02:49:09.090 --> 02:49:11.390
And if that's an item
that we can also request
02:49:11.390 --> 02:49:15.993
to be more properly addressed
on the November 1st update.
02:49:18.510 --> 02:49:21.113
And I'm gonna speak to that.
02:49:23.194 --> 02:49:25.780
PG&E does not provide sufficient detail
02:49:25.780 --> 02:49:28.850
on its distribution fault
detection pilot outcomes,
02:49:28.850 --> 02:49:30.390
and therefore lacks justification
02:49:30.390 --> 02:49:32.660
for the scope of future installments.
02:49:32.660 --> 02:49:37.337
I think that covers
this fast trip variable.
02:49:37.337 --> 02:49:40.160
I relinquish the
microphone to Ms. Morgans
02:49:40.160 --> 02:49:41.883
if there's more to follow on that.
02:49:48.029 --> 02:49:49.040
Sorry, can you
repeat the question?
02:49:49.040 --> 02:49:51.330
I'm having a hard time following?
02:49:51.330 --> 02:49:52.810
Well, why don't I
start with the first one.
02:49:52.810 --> 02:49:55.380
Did you have any
response to the proposal
02:49:55.380 --> 02:49:56.440
by Commissioner Shiroma?
02:49:56.440 --> 02:49:58.650
Was there any consequence
02:49:58.650 --> 02:50:01.324
that we should consider prior to that?
02:50:01.324 --> 02:50:02.160
Yeah, no.
02:50:02.160 --> 02:50:07.160
I just wanted to make one point clear.
02:50:07.170 --> 02:50:09.730
We identified six critical issues.
02:50:09.730 --> 02:50:11.680
So I talked about the
evaluation framework
02:50:11.680 --> 02:50:15.540
and we had six critical issues
that could potentially lead
02:50:15.540 --> 02:50:19.170
to a denial of the plan if
they were not addressed.
02:50:19.170 --> 02:50:22.690
I just want to be clear, PG&E
did address all six of them.
02:50:22.690 --> 02:50:24.590
They only fully resolved two of them,
02:50:24.590 --> 02:50:26.840
but the other four were deescalated.
02:50:26.840 --> 02:50:30.580
So they did not rise to the
level of a denial of the plan.
02:50:30.580 --> 02:50:32.800
They're still a key
area for improvement,
02:50:32.800 --> 02:50:34.350
but they're not a critical issue.
02:50:34.350 --> 02:50:35.870
So I just want to be clear about that.
02:50:35.870 --> 02:50:39.140
There were no areas that
we feel that are critical issues
02:50:39.140 --> 02:50:41.972
that warrant denial of the plan.
02:50:41.972 --> 02:50:46.053
In terms of the November
1st update reports.
02:50:48.020 --> 02:50:49.370
As I mentioned before,
02:50:49.370 --> 02:50:52.529
that's gonna be a report
that PG&E submits publicly
02:50:52.529 --> 02:50:56.430
to Energy Safety that
will outline its progress
02:50:56.430 --> 02:50:59.530
in tackling each of these 29
key areas for improvement.
02:50:59.530 --> 02:51:02.663
We'll be considering
the report internally.
02:51:02.663 --> 02:51:07.663
we will not be writing a
public evaluation of that report.
02:51:08.161 --> 02:51:12.740
If PG&E shows a lack of
progress in a particular area,
02:51:12.740 --> 02:51:14.750
then we'll be addressing that through
02:51:14.750 --> 02:51:17.290
our established compliance
assurance process,
02:51:17.290 --> 02:51:20.653
and if necessary be taking
appropriate actions to follow up.
02:51:22.550 --> 02:51:26.100
The purpose of this update
report on November 1st
02:51:26.100 --> 02:51:30.830
from the utilities is not to
act as a sort of mini WMP,
02:51:30.830 --> 02:51:33.930
rather it provides a
snapshot of progress
02:51:33.930 --> 02:51:36.310
before the end of the year,
02:51:36.310 --> 02:51:38.740
and for the utility to
demonstrate their progress
02:51:38.740 --> 02:51:41.383
on the identified areas of improvement.
02:51:44.450 --> 02:51:47.290
Was there an outstanding question
02:51:47.290 --> 02:51:49.863
that you mentioned
that I didn't quite catch?
02:51:51.510 --> 02:51:52.877
Oh, thank you.
02:51:52.877 --> 02:51:56.520
The second question is, can
you remind me where in the plan
02:51:56.520 --> 02:52:01.520
PG&E addresses this greater
utilization of these fast trips,
02:52:02.250 --> 02:52:04.370
where they're turning off?
02:52:04.370 --> 02:52:05.800
Sure. Yeah.
02:52:05.800 --> 02:52:08.780
So this fast trip issue
that we heard about
02:52:08.780 --> 02:52:09.950
in the public comments.
02:52:09.950 --> 02:52:13.830
So my understanding is that
02:52:13.830 --> 02:52:16.420
this was just commenced in late July
02:52:16.420 --> 02:52:20.192
and it's not included within
this 2021 WMP update.
02:52:20.192 --> 02:52:21.950
I think we heard about it
02:52:21.950 --> 02:52:25.420
when PG&E briefed us
a couple of weeks ago,
02:52:25.420 --> 02:52:28.290
That's when I first
heard about it, personally.
02:52:28.290 --> 02:52:33.290
So it wasn't included in
PG&E's 2021 WMP update.
02:52:37.244 --> 02:52:40.660
Can I ask just a follow-up
question on that, Lucy?
02:52:40.660 --> 02:52:43.140
Did they talk about
any kind of notification
02:52:43.140 --> 02:52:45.060
that they were providing
when they're using
02:52:45.060 --> 02:52:47.342
these fast trip outages?
02:52:47.342 --> 02:52:50.493
Any notification that
they were gonna provide?
02:52:51.400 --> 02:52:54.360
Notification to
customers who are affected
02:52:54.360 --> 02:52:55.710
by the fast trip outages?
02:52:55.710 --> 02:52:58.690
Did they discuss how they
were notifying customers,
02:52:58.690 --> 02:52:59.523
what they were doing?
02:52:59.523 --> 02:53:00.780
Anything along those lines,
02:53:00.780 --> 02:53:02.680
when they described it to you in July?
02:53:05.296 --> 02:53:07.960
So I can certainly
follow up on that
02:53:07.960 --> 02:53:09.850
and ask the team.
02:53:09.850 --> 02:53:12.180
I'm not aware,
02:53:12.180 --> 02:53:14.680
so I can get back to you
on that particular point.
02:53:15.910 --> 02:53:18.850
In addition, could
you also get a number
02:53:18.850 --> 02:53:22.090
as to what kind of outages were caused
02:53:22.090 --> 02:53:24.450
by the things that we heard
about in the comments,
02:53:24.450 --> 02:53:26.120
and whether that was anticipated,
02:53:26.120 --> 02:53:29.120
whether it's working the
way it was supposed to?
02:53:29.120 --> 02:53:31.489
Or whether the outages
that are occurring
02:53:31.489 --> 02:53:34.883
seem excessive and there
may need to be adjustments?
02:53:37.170 --> 02:53:39.120
Yeah, I can
certainly look into that.
02:53:40.270 --> 02:53:44.630
We had a
briefing from PG&E in,
02:53:44.630 --> 02:53:46.363
I have the deck right here,
02:53:47.720 --> 02:53:50.293
and Rachel Peterson,
are you still on the line?
02:53:51.726 --> 02:53:54.440
Yes I am,
President Batjer.
02:53:54.440 --> 02:53:55.987
I've looked at my deck,
02:53:55.987 --> 02:53:58.410
due to the public comments
02:53:58.410 --> 02:54:00.180
that we were getting this morning.
02:54:00.180 --> 02:54:02.811
I don't see any mention in this deck
02:54:02.811 --> 02:54:06.620
of a communications plan.
02:54:06.620 --> 02:54:11.260
Obviously, fast trip, it's just that.
02:54:11.260 --> 02:54:14.890
In my understanding of it,
they're gonna get a notice
02:54:14.890 --> 02:54:17.931
of something hitting a branch,
02:54:17.931 --> 02:54:21.670
something that trips that line,
02:54:21.670 --> 02:54:24.500
and they're gonna
deenergize immediately.
02:54:24.500 --> 02:54:28.185
So I'm puzzled as to how they
02:54:28.185 --> 02:54:31.280
would communicate
instantly with customers.
02:54:31.280 --> 02:54:33.563
That's difficult, that's troubling.
02:54:34.630 --> 02:54:36.970
But also what's not clear to me.
02:54:36.970 --> 02:54:37.853
And maybe Rachel,
02:54:38.819 --> 02:54:40.593
you might remember this
better from the briefing.
02:54:40.593 --> 02:54:42.300
This was back in August.
02:54:42.300 --> 02:54:43.960
And we didn't focus on a fast trip.
02:54:43.960 --> 02:54:47.340
It was about the whole preparedness,
02:54:47.340 --> 02:54:51.393
for safer and stronger,
is what their title of it was.
02:54:53.470 --> 02:54:58.470
About their community
communications on the whole plan.
02:55:00.692 --> 02:55:04.760
It seems that folks knew
what fast trip was this morning,
02:55:04.760 --> 02:55:06.033
who commented to us.
02:55:07.010 --> 02:55:09.520
So there must be some understanding.
02:55:09.520 --> 02:55:11.223
But I'm with you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
02:55:11.223 --> 02:55:15.050
that it would be really nice
to know what is PG&E's
02:55:15.050 --> 02:55:20.050
more specific communications
plan for fast trip.
02:55:21.194 --> 02:55:23.841
Rachel, am I not remembering something
02:55:23.841 --> 02:55:25.623
that was in that briefing correctly?
02:55:26.550 --> 02:55:28.150
I have the
same deck in front of me,
02:55:28.150 --> 02:55:30.870
President Batjer, and I
was looking back at it as well.
02:55:30.870 --> 02:55:35.870
There is a slide on
mitigation actions that PG&E,
02:55:36.040 --> 02:55:39.039
at least at that time, was
planning to undertake.
02:55:39.039 --> 02:55:42.393
And so what I already asked, actually,
02:55:43.262 --> 02:55:44.610
in response to the callers today,
02:55:44.610 --> 02:55:48.569
I already started a
conversation internally to ask us
02:55:48.569 --> 02:55:53.320
to follow up on how well those
customer mitigation actions
02:55:53.320 --> 02:55:55.300
have actually unfolded.
02:55:55.300 --> 02:55:57.410
We are talking about
actions that have occurred
02:55:57.410 --> 02:55:59.800
in the last four to six weeks,
02:55:59.800 --> 02:56:03.510
and they are in response to
the more extreme conditions
02:56:03.510 --> 02:56:05.640
that California is
experiencing this year
02:56:05.640 --> 02:56:07.610
with respect to drought.
02:56:07.610 --> 02:56:11.658
But nevertheless, the
expectations of preparation
02:56:11.658 --> 02:56:14.670
for both communities
and public safety partners
02:56:14.670 --> 02:56:17.030
and critical infrastructure providers
02:56:17.030 --> 02:56:22.030
for fast trip should be just as
thorough and comprehensive
02:56:22.710 --> 02:56:25.493
as they are for public
safety power shutoffs.
02:56:25.493 --> 02:56:28.240
And so I will also
direct our team to work,
02:56:28.240 --> 02:56:30.810
to collaborate with
the Energy Safety team
02:56:30.810 --> 02:56:34.110
on investigating more and
finding out what's happening.
02:56:34.110 --> 02:56:34.943
Thank you.
02:56:35.900 --> 02:56:37.993
Thanks,
Rachel. That's helpful.
02:56:38.950 --> 02:56:41.719
I don't know if that
answers your question,
02:56:41.719 --> 02:56:43.590
or addresses, I shouldn't say answer,
02:56:43.590 --> 02:56:46.490
addresses your question,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
02:56:48.030 --> 02:56:49.410
It does in part.
02:56:49.410 --> 02:56:51.860
Like all of us, we
have a lot of questions
02:56:51.860 --> 02:56:55.350
about how this new policy
is being implemented.
02:56:55.350 --> 02:56:58.640
I was especially struck by
some of the callers today,
02:56:58.640 --> 02:57:02.800
talking about the length of
the outages, six to 22 hours,
02:57:02.800 --> 02:57:05.550
which seems like that's as long
02:57:05.550 --> 02:57:09.240
as some of the preplanned PSPS events.
02:57:09.240 --> 02:57:11.130
So we just need to know more information
02:57:11.130 --> 02:57:12.630
about what's happening.
02:57:12.630 --> 02:57:13.870
I totally agree.
02:57:13.870 --> 02:57:17.558
I believe that one caller
mentioned 36 hours,
02:57:17.558 --> 02:57:19.583
which is pretty stunning.
02:57:21.560 --> 02:57:22.820
Yeah, we definitely need
02:57:22.820 --> 02:57:24.853
a lot more information on fast trips.
02:57:26.726 --> 02:57:30.103
Are there any other questions of,
02:57:32.570 --> 02:57:36.510
I asked, I don't know if,
is Caroline on the line?
02:57:36.510 --> 02:57:39.120
Oh yes. Just one moment.
No.
02:57:39.120 --> 02:57:41.073
No, she's
not on the line? Okay.
02:57:42.502 --> 02:57:43.723
Commissioner Houck?
02:57:45.110 --> 02:57:47.910
Can you provide
a little more detail
02:57:47.910 --> 02:57:50.210
on what you're gonna
be requesting from PG&E
02:57:50.210 --> 02:57:53.750
regarding the 10,000
mile undergrounding?
02:57:53.750 --> 02:57:56.810
I have some serious
concerns that they came out
02:57:56.810 --> 02:57:59.560
with that information in a
press release the way they did,
02:57:59.560 --> 02:58:03.010
only, I think, two weeks
after they filed their GRC,
02:58:03.010 --> 02:58:05.750
which doesn't reference that at all.
02:58:05.750 --> 02:58:08.720
And there was no work
change order for the WMP.
02:58:08.720 --> 02:58:12.057
And even though I understand
this is not approving that,
02:58:12.057 --> 02:58:14.450
and they're gonna have
to submit something else.
02:58:14.450 --> 02:58:17.430
The plan that they have
here has implications,
02:58:17.430 --> 02:58:21.280
as well as the GRC, as to
what's expected mitigation.
02:58:21.280 --> 02:58:25.365
Also their risk and
efficiency evaluation
02:58:25.365 --> 02:58:28.510
doesn't appear to have
accounted for any of this,
02:58:28.510 --> 02:58:31.360
and it seems to have
thrown that out the window
02:58:31.360 --> 02:58:33.630
in some sense, if this
is what they're doing,
02:58:33.630 --> 02:58:38.630
so that we can't assess
what mitigations are short term
02:58:39.540 --> 02:58:41.650
that would be replaced
by this undergrounding,
02:58:41.650 --> 02:58:43.930
as opposed to what may be longer term,
02:58:43.930 --> 02:58:47.230
for example, covered
conductor versus undergrounding.
02:58:47.230 --> 02:58:49.940
So how specific is the information
02:58:49.940 --> 02:58:52.943
you're asking from them
for this November update?
02:58:54.960 --> 02:58:55.883
Thanks for that.
02:58:56.810 --> 02:58:57.643
And I just wanted be clear,
02:58:57.643 --> 02:59:00.150
just on the previous topic
that we were talking about.
02:59:00.150 --> 02:59:02.970
I can follow up with
Rachel, and like I said,
02:59:02.970 --> 02:59:05.410
it wasn't part of the
2021 WMP submission,
02:59:05.410 --> 02:59:09.520
but I can work to find out
more information about that,
02:59:09.520 --> 02:59:14.280
in particular about communication
and advance notification.
02:59:14.280 --> 02:59:17.930
So turning to the
undergrounding proposal,
02:59:17.930 --> 02:59:21.213
if you take a look at PG&E 21-14,
02:59:23.530 --> 02:59:25.190
so if you can go to the appendix
02:59:25.190 --> 02:59:27.632
at the back of the action statements,
02:59:27.632 --> 02:59:30.760
and it has a list of all the
key areas for improvement.
02:59:30.760 --> 02:59:35.760
And number 14, 1-4, sets
out how we're handling that.
02:59:37.820 --> 02:59:41.040
So like I said, we were at
the end of our evaluation
02:59:41.040 --> 02:59:43.002
when this announcement came out.
02:59:43.002 --> 02:59:47.362
We published a draft
and then we did include
02:59:47.362 --> 02:59:52.362
some sort of minor
adjustments to the final draft.
02:59:53.349 --> 02:59:57.810
And then as it was finalized
over these past couple of weeks
02:59:57.810 --> 03:00:00.600
we put in a little bit more detail.
03:00:00.600 --> 03:00:02.617
So let me just read it out to you.
03:00:03.635 --> 03:00:07.967
"The issue is that PG&E
provides limited detail
03:00:07.967 --> 03:00:10.543
"regarding its short term
system hardening plan
03:00:10.543 --> 03:00:15.543
"and does not include its
long-term system hardening plan.
03:00:16.301 --> 03:00:21.301
"Additionally, PG&E's
July 21st press release
03:00:21.527 --> 03:00:23.067
"regarding its intentions to underground
03:00:23.067 --> 03:00:25.477
"10,000 miles of power lines indicates
03:00:25.477 --> 03:00:27.027
"that the system hardening plan
03:00:27.883 --> 03:00:29.867
"and initiative selection
process that PG&E presents
03:00:29.867 --> 03:00:33.237
"in its 2021 WMP update may change.
03:00:33.237 --> 03:00:35.647
"PG&E has not provided
any potential modifications
03:00:35.647 --> 03:00:40.067
"to its 2021 WMP update
related to this press release.
03:00:40.067 --> 03:00:43.272
"While Energy Safety is
generally supportive of PG&E's
03:00:43.272 --> 03:00:44.817
"ambition to aggressively
reduce its wildfire risk,
03:00:44.817 --> 03:00:47.217
"PG&E must detail additional detail
03:00:47.217 --> 03:00:49.917
"on its short-term and long-term
plans for grid hardening,
03:00:49.917 --> 03:00:52.410
"as well as an update on its progress."
03:00:52.410 --> 03:00:55.230
So, in terms of the specific remedy,
03:00:55.230 --> 03:00:58.330
what we've asked for on November 1st is
03:00:58.330 --> 03:01:01.420
PG&E must provide its
short-term system hardening plan,
03:01:01.420 --> 03:01:04.970
including the following
details for each planned project,
03:01:04.970 --> 03:01:07.490
via comprehensive list and GIS files.
03:01:07.490 --> 03:01:09.350
The first is the location.
03:01:09.350 --> 03:01:11.000
Secondly, the initiative type.
03:01:11.000 --> 03:01:16.000
Thirdly, the status of the
project and the relevant CPZ,
03:01:16.710 --> 03:01:18.040
circuit protection zone.
03:01:18.040 --> 03:01:19.800
Then the planned ? Lands.
03:01:19.800 --> 03:01:21.152
Then the risk type identified.
03:01:21.152 --> 03:01:24.670
So prioritization of the project.
03:01:24.670 --> 03:01:27.380
So the top 20% of risk by down curve,
03:01:27.380 --> 03:01:30.110
fire rebuild, PSPS mitigation,
03:01:30.110 --> 03:01:32.200
public safety specialists identified,
03:01:32.200 --> 03:01:34.209
or non-risk related.
03:01:34.209 --> 03:01:36.880
So it's the risk type we
want more information on.
03:01:36.880 --> 03:01:39.630
And then on its long-term
system hardening plan
03:01:39.630 --> 03:01:42.000
we want them to provide
03:01:42.000 --> 03:01:44.940
an estimated rate of
system hardening per year,
03:01:44.940 --> 03:01:47.540
if and how PG&E plans
to increase its resources
03:01:47.540 --> 03:01:50.450
to allow for an accelerated
pace of system hardening,
03:01:50.450 --> 03:01:53.700
and then thirdly, we've
asked PG&E to explain how,
03:01:53.700 --> 03:01:57.680
if at all, their recently
announced undergrounding plan
03:01:57.680 --> 03:02:00.267
changes its decision-making framework
03:02:00.267 --> 03:02:03.167
for initiatives selection for
individual circuit segments,
03:02:05.630 --> 03:02:08.570
and whether it may
cause delay, deferrals,
03:02:08.570 --> 03:02:12.430
and or cancellation of
research and or deployment
03:02:12.430 --> 03:02:15.160
of its technology mitigation.
03:02:15.160 --> 03:02:17.190
We've asked for them
to provide an update
03:02:17.190 --> 03:02:18.870
on its completed system hardening assets
03:02:18.870 --> 03:02:20.270
through November 1st.
03:02:20.270 --> 03:02:22.850
And then lastly, we've asked
if PG&E is moving forward
03:02:22.850 --> 03:02:25.240
with its stated intentions
for undergrounding
03:02:25.240 --> 03:02:26.300
10,000 miles of power lines.
03:02:26.300 --> 03:02:30.760
PG&E must provide details in
its 2022 WMP on the decision
03:02:30.760 --> 03:02:33.420
to underground and plans
for such under grounding.
03:02:33.420 --> 03:02:34.890
So that's short way of saying
03:02:34.890 --> 03:02:36.120
we've asked for more information,
03:02:36.120 --> 03:02:40.240
both on the short-term
hardening plan and the longterm
03:02:40.240 --> 03:02:41.510
and asked for specific details
03:02:41.510 --> 03:02:43.260
on the undergrounding announcement.
03:02:47.670 --> 03:02:49.170
Any further questions on that?
03:02:51.600 --> 03:02:53.200
Any other questions?
03:02:54.250 --> 03:02:56.050
I know, Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:02:56.050 --> 03:03:00.550
you have another commitment
that you need to depart for.
03:03:00.550 --> 03:03:03.863
So I want to make sure
that we're recognizing that.
03:03:04.953 --> 03:03:06.885
Thank you, President Batjer,
03:03:06.885 --> 03:03:09.385
and I hope to be back
for our closed session, yes.
03:03:10.865 --> 03:03:12.117
Okay. Thank you.
03:03:12.117 --> 03:03:14.240
I have asked Commissioner
Rechtschaffen to present
03:03:14.240 --> 03:03:18.130
one of my order extending of PD.
03:03:18.130 --> 03:03:20.080
So it should be simple. Thank you.
03:03:21.082 --> 03:03:22.172
Yes.
03:03:22.172 --> 03:03:25.330
We've checked, double
checked, with Chief ALJ Simon,
03:03:25.330 --> 03:03:26.880
and that's fine.
03:03:26.880 --> 03:03:27.950
I appreciate both you
03:03:27.950 --> 03:03:31.310
and Commissioner
Rechtschaffen on doing that.
03:03:31.310 --> 03:03:33.180
Lucy, please, apologize.
03:03:33.180 --> 03:03:35.620
I apologize to you
for this interruption,
03:03:35.620 --> 03:03:38.230
but I didn't want to
have the awkwardness
03:03:38.230 --> 03:03:40.926
of Martha having to
depart without noticing it
03:03:40.926 --> 03:03:42.426
and respecting it.
03:03:45.136 --> 03:03:49.653
Are there any other questions of Lucy?
03:03:51.980 --> 03:03:54.150
I don't see any. Okay.
03:03:54.150 --> 03:03:56.080
All right. Well thank
you very much, Lucy.
03:03:56.080 --> 03:03:59.520
And thank you for your presentation
03:03:59.520 --> 03:04:03.440
as well as answering a host of questions
03:04:03.440 --> 03:04:04.600
that the Commissioners had.
03:04:04.600 --> 03:04:06.730
I appreciate it very much.
03:04:06.730 --> 03:04:09.283
My pleasure.
Thanks, everyone.
03:04:10.134 --> 03:04:11.551
Okay.
03:04:12.922 --> 03:04:17.922
We now will move on to item 29.
03:04:18.101 --> 03:04:23.101
And that is going to be
presented by Director Osborn.
03:04:23.130 --> 03:04:26.543
And I believe I saw Rob's
name pop up on the screen.
03:04:27.659 --> 03:04:29.370
Am I correct in that?
03:04:29.370 --> 03:04:30.470
Yes.
03:04:30.470 --> 03:04:31.650
Okay.
03:04:31.650 --> 03:04:33.660
I think we've got the wrong slides up.
03:04:33.660 --> 03:04:35.390
So we're taking them down now.
03:04:35.390 --> 03:04:37.573
Okay. All right.
03:04:38.520 --> 03:04:42.750
So please go ahead, Director
Osborn, with your presentation.
03:04:42.750 --> 03:04:44.753
This is item number 29.
03:04:46.010 --> 03:04:47.300
Thank you. President Batjer.
03:04:47.300 --> 03:04:50.330
I'm Robert Osborn, Director of
the Communications Division.
03:04:50.330 --> 03:04:51.870
And thank you for allowing me to provide
03:04:51.870 --> 03:04:54.040
an overview of the three
projects being recommended
03:04:54.040 --> 03:04:56.953
for grant approval in
this draft resolution.
03:04:58.009 --> 03:05:01.275
Can we go to the next slide, please.
03:05:01.275 --> 03:05:02.273
Thank you.
03:05:03.140 --> 03:05:06.210
So these three projects
provide a case study
03:05:06.210 --> 03:05:08.030
of the digital divide in communities
03:05:08.030 --> 03:05:11.350
where incumbents offer
high-speed broadband.
03:05:11.350 --> 03:05:13.850
These so-called donut holes are pockets
03:05:13.850 --> 03:05:16.597
of slow or non-existent internet service
03:05:16.597 --> 03:05:18.330
and communities otherwise served
03:05:18.330 --> 03:05:21.350
by one or more incumbent providers.
03:05:21.350 --> 03:05:24.220
Often the digital divide is
described as a rural problem,
03:05:24.220 --> 03:05:25.100
but as we can see here,
03:05:25.100 --> 03:05:27.763
it's not limited to
remote or rural areas.
03:05:28.970 --> 03:05:32.210
One project, Darlene
Road, which is on the left,
03:05:32.210 --> 03:05:34.801
is a high-income census block group.
03:05:34.801 --> 03:05:38.060
In contrast, the Crescent
City project, on the right,
03:05:38.060 --> 03:05:41.130
is in the low income census block group.
03:05:41.130 --> 03:05:42.080
Next slide, please.
03:05:47.410 --> 03:05:48.570
Thank you.
03:05:48.570 --> 03:05:51.630
So beginning with Darlene
Road, which is in Ventura County,
03:05:51.630 --> 03:05:53.840
the project area, which, as you can see,
03:05:53.840 --> 03:05:57.360
the two cross-hatched
or striped polygons,
03:05:57.360 --> 03:06:00.760
are islands, essentially
islands, surrounded by AT&T,
03:06:00.760 --> 03:06:02.740
which is shown in purple,
03:06:02.740 --> 03:06:06.363
with gigabit fiber to the
home in those purple areas.
03:06:07.460 --> 03:06:08.623
Next slide, please.
03:06:11.060 --> 03:06:15.210
Same project, Darlene Road,
also surrounded by Charter,
03:06:15.210 --> 03:06:17.690
with near gigabit service using
03:06:17.690 --> 03:06:20.423
hybrid fiber co-ax to neighboring homes.
03:06:21.560 --> 03:06:22.523
Next slide, please.
03:06:24.730 --> 03:06:26.660
This shows the Mountain Shadows project
03:06:26.660 --> 03:06:30.030
in San Bernardino County,
which is proposed by Charter.
03:06:30.030 --> 03:06:33.010
And again, note the
availability of near gigabit
03:06:33.010 --> 03:06:35.640
hybrid fiber co-ax to
the neighboring homes,
03:06:35.640 --> 03:06:38.820
which is in blue, and the project area,
03:06:38.820 --> 03:06:40.950
which is shown in the arrow there.
03:06:40.950 --> 03:06:42.310
I'm sorry that it's so small,
03:06:42.310 --> 03:06:46.950
but it also is a cross-hatched
area of CASF eligible.
03:06:46.950 --> 03:06:47.900
Next slide, please.
03:06:49.730 --> 03:06:53.970
Finally, Crescent City, this
project is in Del Norte County,
03:06:53.970 --> 03:06:57.470
was initially for 134 households
in eight census blocks,
03:06:57.470 --> 03:07:00.881
but following a challenge
by Charter, which is in blue,
03:07:00.881 --> 03:07:05.881
again at near gigabit speeds
using high hybrid fiber co-ax,
03:07:06.590 --> 03:07:09.170
we had to reduce the
project to 18 households,
03:07:09.170 --> 03:07:10.810
which is in one census block.
03:07:10.810 --> 03:07:14.840
So the scope of this project,
though, this is for Frontier,
03:07:14.840 --> 03:07:19.160
to provide fiber to the
premises for 18 households.
03:07:19.160 --> 03:07:23.210
So if providers were required
to serve entire communities,
03:07:23.210 --> 03:07:25.260
we wouldn't have this problem.
03:07:25.260 --> 03:07:27.280
When these two
companies built the networks
03:07:27.280 --> 03:07:29.790
surrounding the donut holes,
it would've been cheaper
03:07:29.790 --> 03:07:32.340
to cover the whole area
rather than go back now,
03:07:32.340 --> 03:07:36.660
10 to 15 years later
to fill in the holes.
03:07:36.660 --> 03:07:38.570
So how common are these donut holes?
03:07:38.570 --> 03:07:41.000
Well, they are very common.
03:07:41.000 --> 03:07:43.500
There are several reasons,
possible reasons at least,
03:07:43.500 --> 03:07:45.440
why these areas weren't built out
03:07:45.440 --> 03:07:48.740
when the networks
were originally deployed.
03:07:48.740 --> 03:07:51.120
First is the internet service providers
03:07:51.120 --> 03:07:53.860
don't have to follow
carrier of last resort rules
03:07:53.860 --> 03:07:56.470
that we have in place
for telephone companies,
03:07:56.470 --> 03:07:59.170
which requires service
to anyone in a territory,
03:07:59.170 --> 03:08:03.340
if the customer requests it,
and that's demonstrated here.
03:08:03.340 --> 03:08:06.400
Secondly, there may be
impediments, such as mountains,
03:08:06.400 --> 03:08:08.893
railroad crossings,
and difficult terrain,
03:08:10.483 --> 03:08:13.250
that drove up the deployment cost.
03:08:13.250 --> 03:08:15.017
And just as an example of that,
03:08:15.017 --> 03:08:18.300
in the case of the Darlene Road project,
03:08:18.300 --> 03:08:21.160
the mayor of Moorpark
sent a letter of support
03:08:21.160 --> 03:08:22.900
stating that the project area has been
03:08:22.900 --> 03:08:24.710
historically difficult to serve
03:08:24.710 --> 03:08:26.360
because it is physically separated
03:08:26.360 --> 03:08:29.400
from much of Moorpark
by undeveloped hillsides
03:08:29.400 --> 03:08:31.850
to the north, the west, and
the east of the community,
03:08:31.850 --> 03:08:33.933
and by railroad tracks to the south.
03:08:34.960 --> 03:08:37.210
Third, another reason may be the cost
03:08:37.210 --> 03:08:39.540
of access to poles, conduit,
03:08:39.540 --> 03:08:42.610
and higher than normal
permitting and trenching costs.
03:08:42.610 --> 03:08:46.550
And those costs made the
business case unprofitable.
03:08:46.550 --> 03:08:48.450
So these reasons underscore the limits
03:08:48.450 --> 03:08:50.450
of the purely private sector approach
03:08:50.450 --> 03:08:52.950
to closing the digital divide.
03:08:52.950 --> 03:08:54.545
Another question that comes up is,
03:08:54.545 --> 03:08:57.610
are these the highest
priority projects in the state?
03:08:57.610 --> 03:09:02.030
Why not address other
unserved areas in the map?
03:09:02.030 --> 03:09:04.670
So the CASF program
has traditionally been
03:09:04.670 --> 03:09:07.590
incumbent centric, which
is to say the Commission
03:09:07.590 --> 03:09:09.890
creates rules, publishes a map,
03:09:09.890 --> 03:09:12.070
and accepts grant
applications for projects
03:09:12.070 --> 03:09:14.770
that make sense to providers.
03:09:14.770 --> 03:09:18.340
Moreover, CASF, the California
Advanced Services Fund,
03:09:18.340 --> 03:09:20.530
subsidizes capital expenditures.
03:09:20.530 --> 03:09:23.100
So areas that have low housing density
03:09:23.100 --> 03:09:25.100
or are harder to serve,
03:09:25.100 --> 03:09:27.480
usually referred to as high cost areas,
03:09:27.480 --> 03:09:30.170
are passed over for CASF,
03:09:30.170 --> 03:09:33.920
because the higher than average
ongoing operating expenses
03:09:33.920 --> 03:09:37.740
aren't covered by the revenue
generated from the customers.
03:09:37.740 --> 03:09:40.000
So for this reason, and with the passage
03:09:40.000 --> 03:09:44.280
of Senate Bill 156
and Assembly Bill 164,
03:09:44.280 --> 03:09:46.345
which provides additional
funding mechanisms,
03:09:46.345 --> 03:09:48.410
Communications division is considering
03:09:48.410 --> 03:09:50.420
taking a more proactive approach
03:09:50.420 --> 03:09:52.570
in trying to solve the digital divide,
03:09:52.570 --> 03:09:54.220
with case workers collaborating
03:09:54.220 --> 03:09:56.440
with county and municipal leaders,
03:09:56.440 --> 03:09:58.700
internet service
providers, and non-profits,
03:09:58.700 --> 03:10:01.160
to close the digital divide.
03:10:01.160 --> 03:10:03.110
It's worth noting that the median income
03:10:03.110 --> 03:10:04.450
for the census block group
03:10:04.450 --> 03:10:07.961
in the Darlene Road
project is over $140,000.
03:10:07.961 --> 03:10:09.393
But it's important to note
03:10:09.393 --> 03:10:11.570
that the California
Advanced Services Fund
03:10:11.570 --> 03:10:13.970
is not a low-income program.
03:10:13.970 --> 03:10:17.660
Moreover, short of a carrier
of last resort requirement,
03:10:17.660 --> 03:10:19.530
these households will continue to lack
03:10:19.530 --> 03:10:23.250
meaningful broadband access
if we do not fund the projects.
03:10:23.250 --> 03:10:24.370
So it is for these reasons,
03:10:24.370 --> 03:10:26.840
the Communications Division
is recommending approval
03:10:26.840 --> 03:10:28.950
of these three grant applications.
03:10:28.950 --> 03:10:29.783
Thank you.
03:10:30.870 --> 03:10:33.749
Thank you very
much, Director Osborn,
03:10:33.749 --> 03:10:37.610
for the presentation on this item.
03:10:37.610 --> 03:10:40.608
I am supportive of this resolution.
03:10:40.608 --> 03:10:42.320
As you have indicated,
03:10:42.320 --> 03:10:45.071
it meets the existing
program requirements.
03:10:45.071 --> 03:10:47.790
The proposals were properly vetted
03:10:47.790 --> 03:10:50.950
and they will ultimately provide service
03:10:50.950 --> 03:10:53.041
to the unconnected households,
as you have described.
03:10:53.041 --> 03:10:56.840
This being said, I
requested that this item
03:10:56.840 --> 03:10:59.970
be placed on regular
agenda today for discussion.
03:10:59.970 --> 03:11:02.130
These projects are eye-opening,
03:11:02.130 --> 03:11:03.650
as you can see from the map,
03:11:03.650 --> 03:11:06.880
as to the state digital
divide in California
03:11:06.880 --> 03:11:10.598
and inform how we should
implement the recently enacted
03:11:10.598 --> 03:11:13.023
and historic broadband legislation.
03:11:14.140 --> 03:11:16.440
Often when we talk
about the digital divide,
03:11:16.440 --> 03:11:19.870
I think people usually
just think it's a rural issue.
03:11:19.870 --> 03:11:22.760
However, these projects
are not in communities
03:11:22.760 --> 03:11:25.411
that are rural, as has been seen
03:11:25.411 --> 03:11:28.063
in the presentation, on the maps.
03:11:29.686 --> 03:11:34.667
And in fact, these
projects are as shown,
03:11:34.667 --> 03:11:37.720
entirely surrounded by households that,
03:11:37.720 --> 03:11:41.340
as Director Osborn has indicated,
03:11:41.340 --> 03:11:45.863
that already have service
to high quality broadband.
03:11:45.863 --> 03:11:49.889
You would not be able to
identify one of these donut holes
03:11:49.889 --> 03:11:54.120
from just walking down
the street or driving by.
03:11:54.120 --> 03:11:55.350
Each of these projects
03:11:55.350 --> 03:11:59.010
is within Charter's service territory.
03:11:59.010 --> 03:12:02.720
This territory was granted
to them as part of CCTA,
03:12:02.720 --> 03:12:06.709
the state's video franchise
law, yet, for whatever reason,
03:12:06.709 --> 03:12:10.600
Charter made a decision not
to build out these households
03:12:10.600 --> 03:12:13.347
when their network was
originally constructed.
03:12:13.347 --> 03:12:16.380
The projects we are approving today,
03:12:16.380 --> 03:12:19.540
I'm hopeful of, are not cheap.
03:12:19.540 --> 03:12:21.908
Certainly it would have
been more affordable
03:12:21.908 --> 03:12:26.500
for these companies to have
built out these households
03:12:26.500 --> 03:12:28.780
when these networks
in the surrounding areas
03:12:28.780 --> 03:12:30.690
were actually built.
03:12:30.690 --> 03:12:32.660
Going forward, I hope we can investigate
03:12:32.660 --> 03:12:37.660
how common these pockets
of unserved households are
03:12:38.630 --> 03:12:41.290
and whether we can
find creative solutions
03:12:41.290 --> 03:12:44.260
for providing services
to these households.
03:12:44.260 --> 03:12:47.440
So again, thank you very
much, Director Osborn.
03:12:47.440 --> 03:12:49.630
And I'll turn to my fellow Commissioners
03:12:49.630 --> 03:12:51.893
if they have any questions
of you or comment.
03:12:54.174 --> 03:12:56.824
Does anybody have any, oh,
yes, Commissioner Shiroma?
03:12:57.700 --> 03:13:01.640
Yes, no questions,
but to say, really,
03:13:01.640 --> 03:13:03.620
I'm in support of the resolution.
03:13:03.620 --> 03:13:07.173
And thank you, Rob,
for the presentation.
03:13:08.250 --> 03:13:11.710
It's always astounding
that, in California,
03:13:11.710 --> 03:13:15.831
we have more under served, unserved,
03:13:15.831 --> 03:13:20.831
more unserved households
than any other state in the nation.
03:13:21.907 --> 03:13:26.213
If you look at the map, it's shocking.
03:13:26.213 --> 03:13:30.470
So I applaud the efforts of the carriers
03:13:30.470 --> 03:13:32.250
in applying for the funds,
03:13:32.250 --> 03:13:35.400
starting projects that will
benefit both rural and urban.
03:13:35.400 --> 03:13:37.890
As you outlined, President
Batjer, it's not only rural,
03:13:37.890 --> 03:13:41.142
there are also urban pockets,
03:13:41.142 --> 03:13:43.300
and we definitely need to keep an eye
03:13:45.334 --> 03:13:47.775
towards serving entire communities,
03:13:47.775 --> 03:13:51.063
not having folks skipped over.
03:13:51.063 --> 03:13:55.579
So here we are providing funds.
03:13:55.579 --> 03:13:59.571
All the more, it's
important to assure that
03:13:59.571 --> 03:14:01.870
there is a coverage.
03:14:01.870 --> 03:14:04.313
We're talking about 125 households here.
03:14:05.941 --> 03:14:09.760
It's almost like a block at a time
03:14:09.760 --> 03:14:12.430
in terms of tackling this issue.
03:14:12.430 --> 03:14:15.720
And if that's what we must
do, that's what we must do.
03:14:15.720 --> 03:14:19.650
So I appreciate the
applicants, the review,
03:14:19.650 --> 03:14:24.227
the proposals, these
projects in Ventura County,
03:14:24.227 --> 03:14:27.130
San Bernardino County, Del Norte County.
03:14:27.130 --> 03:14:32.130
Those 125, hopefully,
gaining this access
03:14:33.530 --> 03:14:36.020
is sure to pay dividends.
03:14:36.020 --> 03:14:37.032
Thank you so much.
03:14:37.032 --> 03:14:38.932
I'm pleased to support the resolution.
03:14:41.091 --> 03:14:42.600
Thank you, Commissioner.
03:14:42.600 --> 03:14:43.553
Commissioner Houck.
03:14:44.930 --> 03:14:46.700
I just wanted to
thank Director Osborn
03:14:46.700 --> 03:14:49.340
and all of the Communications
staff for all of their work.
03:14:49.340 --> 03:14:50.840
I know they've been working very hard.
03:14:50.840 --> 03:14:53.460
And although these projects are small,
03:14:53.460 --> 03:14:54.640
they have a huge impact,
03:14:54.640 --> 03:14:56.540
not just for the unserved households
03:14:56.540 --> 03:14:58.640
that they'll be providing services to,
03:14:58.640 --> 03:15:01.810
but for the communities as a whole,
03:15:01.810 --> 03:15:05.830
in that they're filling those gaps
03:15:05.830 --> 03:15:07.560
and providing more infrastructure
03:15:07.560 --> 03:15:09.080
so we're reaching more people.
03:15:09.080 --> 03:15:11.200
And I will be supporting this
03:15:11.200 --> 03:15:13.806
and appreciate, again, all of the work
03:15:13.806 --> 03:15:14.639
from the Communications Division
03:15:14.639 --> 03:15:16.370
in getting these to the finish line.
03:15:17.676 --> 03:15:19.104
Thank you.
03:15:19.104 --> 03:15:21.264
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:15:21.264 --> 03:15:22.670
Thank you, Rob.
03:15:22.670 --> 03:15:27.000
Thank you for the
context that you provided.
03:15:27.000 --> 03:15:28.490
As President Batjer said,
03:15:28.490 --> 03:15:31.570
some of these numbers were eye-popping.
03:15:31.570 --> 03:15:36.020
So it's very helpful to
have you put into context
03:15:36.020 --> 03:15:40.890
with the goals, limitations,
and needs of the program.
03:15:40.890 --> 03:15:44.590
I look forward to conferring with you
03:15:44.590 --> 03:15:46.330
and getting briefed on your plans
03:15:46.330 --> 03:15:49.782
for reforming the program
in light of the new legislation
03:15:49.782 --> 03:15:52.820
and making it less incumbent centric,
03:15:54.260 --> 03:15:58.260
and other revisions
that you have in mind.
03:15:58.260 --> 03:15:59.093
Thank you.
03:16:03.570 --> 03:16:05.020
Okay.
03:16:05.020 --> 03:16:07.470
Thank you again, Rob.
03:16:07.470 --> 03:16:10.610
Does anybody have any
last comment to make to Rob?
03:16:10.610 --> 03:16:11.950
Okay. Thank you again.
03:16:11.950 --> 03:16:12.970
Very, very helpful.
03:16:12.970 --> 03:16:17.550
And the map is sort
of one of those pictures
03:16:17.550 --> 03:16:19.733
worth a thousand million words.
03:16:20.637 --> 03:16:22.098
So thank you.
03:16:22.098 --> 03:16:26.345
We need to take a vote on item 29.
03:16:26.345 --> 03:16:30.273
So will the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
03:16:31.570 --> 03:16:32.803
Commissioner Houck?
03:16:35.100 --> 03:16:36.429
Yes.
03:16:36.429 --> 03:16:38.880
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:16:38.880 --> 03:16:39.713
Aye.
03:16:40.970 --> 03:16:42.760
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:16:42.760 --> 03:16:43.593
Yes.
03:16:44.770 --> 03:16:46.527
Commissioner Guzman Aceves?
03:16:50.337 --> 03:16:54.080
She had to
depart for another conflict.
03:16:54.080 --> 03:16:54.913
My apologies.
03:16:54.913 --> 03:16:56.460
President Batjer?
03:16:56.460 --> 03:16:59.407
Yes, aye. Thank you.
03:16:59.407 --> 03:17:02.510
The vote for item 29 is unanimous.
03:17:02.510 --> 03:17:04.828
Moving on now to item 30,
03:17:04.828 --> 03:17:06.278
Commissioner Shiroma, please.
03:17:07.490 --> 03:17:08.630
Yes. Thank you,
President Batjer.
03:17:08.630 --> 03:17:12.592
So item 30 is an order extending
03:17:12.592 --> 03:17:17.133
the statutory deadline for A.19-07-004.
03:17:18.090 --> 03:17:21.830
With attached year
2021 general rate case
03:17:21.830 --> 03:17:25.688
of the California
American Water Company.
03:17:25.688 --> 03:17:28.880
The current deadline for this proceeding
03:17:28.880 --> 03:17:32.070
is September 30th, 2021.
03:17:32.070 --> 03:17:34.010
I'm asking for a three month extension
03:17:34.010 --> 03:17:38.675
to December 31st, 2021, in
order to finalize the decision
03:17:38.675 --> 03:17:43.360
that involves three
settlements filed in a proceeding
03:17:43.360 --> 03:17:45.420
from seven different parties.
03:17:45.420 --> 03:17:48.710
This short extension
will allow us to complete
03:17:48.710 --> 03:17:51.370
the mailing of the
decision, receive comments,
03:17:51.370 --> 03:17:53.400
and give the Commission sufficient time
03:17:53.400 --> 03:17:56.170
to deliberate on the proposed decisions,
03:17:56.170 --> 03:17:59.110
that we anticipate we'll mail shortly.
03:17:59.110 --> 03:18:01.633
With that I request your
aye vote. Thank you.
03:18:02.710 --> 03:18:03.770
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:18:03.770 --> 03:18:05.570
Are there any questions or comments?
03:18:06.750 --> 03:18:08.220
Okay.
03:18:08.220 --> 03:18:10.479
Seeing none, and
Commissioner Rechtschaffen,
03:18:10.479 --> 03:18:12.441
I can't see you right
now, you're off camera,
03:18:12.441 --> 03:18:15.630
but I think we can go
ahead with the vote.
03:18:15.630 --> 03:18:18.040
Could you please call for the vote.
03:18:19.480 --> 03:18:21.300
Commissioner Houck?
03:18:21.300 --> 03:18:22.860
Yes.
03:18:22.860 --> 03:18:24.580
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:18:24.580 --> 03:18:25.948
Aye.
03:18:25.948 --> 03:18:27.856
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:18:27.856 --> 03:18:29.432
Yes.
03:18:29.432 --> 03:18:31.187
President Batjer?
03:18:31.187 --> 03:18:32.357
Aye.
03:18:32.357 --> 03:18:33.770
The vote is unanimous,
03:18:33.770 --> 03:18:38.566
with Commissioner Guzman Aceves excused.
03:18:38.566 --> 03:18:42.853
Moving now to 31, item 31
Commissioner Houck, please.
03:18:45.660 --> 03:18:46.493
Thank you.
03:18:46.493 --> 03:18:49.121
This is an order to extend
the statutory deadline
03:18:49.121 --> 03:18:52.050
for Rulemaking 18-04-019,
03:18:52.050 --> 03:18:53.830
our climate adaption proceeding.
03:18:53.830 --> 03:18:55.570
The Commission opened this proceeding
03:18:55.570 --> 03:18:57.320
to consider strategies and guidance
03:18:58.204 --> 03:18:59.570
for utility climate change adoption.
03:18:59.570 --> 03:19:02.180
In phase one, this proceeding
established a framework
03:19:02.180 --> 03:19:04.450
for the large investor
owned energy utilities
03:19:04.450 --> 03:19:06.880
to analyze and better understand
03:19:06.880 --> 03:19:09.177
the longterm projected
climate impacts on their systems
03:19:09.177 --> 03:19:11.360
and to conduct robust
community engagement
03:19:11.360 --> 03:19:12.830
throughout the process.
03:19:12.830 --> 03:19:14.810
The Commission will
open an additional phase
03:19:14.810 --> 03:19:17.160
to evaluate additional
topics in the proceeding
03:19:17.160 --> 03:19:19.420
as part of our efforts to ensure
03:19:19.420 --> 03:19:21.540
the utilities are prepared
for climate adaption,
03:19:21.540 --> 03:19:24.310
consistent with the initial scoping memo
03:19:24.310 --> 03:19:25.210
for the proceedings.
03:19:25.210 --> 03:19:28.240
So I am asking for your
support to extend the deadline
03:19:28.240 --> 03:19:31.260
of this proceeding to
December 30th, 2022,
03:19:31.260 --> 03:19:33.940
to allow us to begin that second phase.
03:19:33.940 --> 03:19:37.353
And with that, I ask for your
support in this extension.
03:19:38.620 --> 03:19:40.040
Thank you.
03:19:40.040 --> 03:19:41.840
Are there any questions or comments?
03:19:43.628 --> 03:19:44.730
All right.
03:19:44.730 --> 03:19:47.124
Seeing none, will the agenda clerk
03:19:47.124 --> 03:19:48.963
please call the roll for item 31.
03:19:51.080 --> 03:19:52.540
Commissioner Houck?
03:19:52.540 --> 03:19:53.963
Yes.
03:19:53.963 --> 03:19:55.485
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:19:55.485 --> 03:19:57.001
Aye.
03:19:57.001 --> 03:19:58.801
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:19:58.801 --> 03:20:00.470
Yes.
03:20:00.470 --> 03:20:02.351
President Batjer?
03:20:02.351 --> 03:20:04.040
Aye.
03:20:04.040 --> 03:20:07.100
The vote is unanimous for item 31.
03:20:07.100 --> 03:20:09.310
Moving now onto item 32,
03:20:09.310 --> 03:20:11.793
which is also Commissioner
Houck's to present.
03:20:13.260 --> 03:20:14.250
Thank you.
03:20:14.250 --> 03:20:16.590
This is an order to extend
the statutory deadline
03:20:16.590 --> 03:20:21.590
for application A.18-08-010,
to February 28th, 2022.
03:20:23.000 --> 03:20:25.369
This is application the City of Ione
03:20:25.369 --> 03:20:28.050
to convert a private
crossing to a public crossing.
03:20:28.050 --> 03:20:30.330
The application needs to remain open
03:20:30.330 --> 03:20:32.654
to allow for the
Commission to deliberate
03:20:32.654 --> 03:20:34.200
and issue a final decision.
03:20:34.200 --> 03:20:36.350
I ask for your support
to extend the deadline
03:20:36.350 --> 03:20:39.950
to February 28th, 2022,
though I expect to bring
03:20:39.950 --> 03:20:42.210
a decision on this matter
for your consideration
03:20:42.210 --> 03:20:43.670
earlier than that deadline.
03:20:43.670 --> 03:20:47.148
And with that, I ask for your
support for this extension.
03:20:47.148 --> 03:20:48.305
Thank you.
03:20:48.305 --> 03:20:49.805
Thank you.
03:20:49.805 --> 03:20:53.770
Are there any questions
or comments on item 32?
03:20:53.770 --> 03:20:57.176
Seeing none, will the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
03:20:57.176 --> 03:20:58.540
Commissioner Houck?
03:20:58.540 --> 03:20:59.814
Yes.
03:20:59.814 --> 03:21:01.590
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:21:01.590 --> 03:21:02.603
Aye.
03:21:03.480 --> 03:21:05.682
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:21:05.682 --> 03:21:07.386
Yes.
03:21:07.386 --> 03:21:09.055
President Batjer?
03:21:09.055 --> 03:21:10.230
Aye.
03:21:10.230 --> 03:21:15.230
Item 32 passes unanimously. Thank you.
03:21:16.088 --> 03:21:21.088
Item 33 will be withdrawn,
since it is related to item 10,
03:21:22.620 --> 03:21:24.080
which we voted on earlier.
03:21:24.080 --> 03:21:25.910
So it is now withdrawn.
03:21:25.910 --> 03:21:27.233
Item 34.
03:21:28.400 --> 03:21:32.080
This is an order extending
the statutory deadline.
03:21:32.080 --> 03:21:33.610
It is for PG&E's application
03:21:33.610 --> 03:21:35.440
to recover recorded expenditures
03:21:35.440 --> 03:21:38.635
related to wildfire mitigation
and catastrophic events.
03:21:38.635 --> 03:21:41.010
The proceeding experienced delays
03:21:41.010 --> 03:21:44.110
due to parties' price
requesting schedule modification
03:21:44.110 --> 03:21:46.170
to provide additional time to finalize
03:21:46.170 --> 03:21:48.060
their settlement negotiation.
03:21:48.060 --> 03:21:50.450
On September 14th, 2021,
03:21:50.450 --> 03:21:52.930
parties hosted the
settlement conference.
03:21:52.930 --> 03:21:54.820
An extension of the statutory deadline
03:21:54.820 --> 03:21:58.520
from September 30,
2021 to April 1, 2022,
03:21:58.520 --> 03:22:00.570
will give parties time to finalize
03:22:00.570 --> 03:22:02.240
the settlement negotiations
03:22:02.240 --> 03:22:05.280
and allow the ALJ to
draft a proposed decision.
03:22:05.280 --> 03:22:06.493
I request your support.
03:22:08.670 --> 03:22:09.970
Any questions or comments?
03:22:11.110 --> 03:22:14.325
Seeing none, will the agenda
clerk please call the roll.
03:22:14.325 --> 03:22:15.907
Commissioner Houck?
03:22:15.907 --> 03:22:17.402
Yes.
03:22:17.402 --> 03:22:19.447
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:22:19.447 --> 03:22:20.280
Aye.
03:22:22.374 --> 03:22:24.952
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:22:24.952 --> 03:22:26.215
Yes.
03:22:26.215 --> 03:22:28.451
And President Batjer.
03:22:28.451 --> 03:22:29.410
Aye.
03:22:29.410 --> 03:22:32.877
The vote is unanimous for item 34.
03:22:32.877 --> 03:22:36.759
Commissioner Guzman Aceves had to depart
03:22:36.759 --> 03:22:41.630
for another appointment, but
Commissioner Rechtschaffen
03:22:41.630 --> 03:22:46.630
has graciously accepted
presenting item 35
03:22:49.046 --> 03:22:53.327
on behalf of Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:22:54.780 --> 03:22:56.060
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:22:56.060 --> 03:22:58.963
This is an order extending
the statutory deadline.
03:22:58.963 --> 03:23:03.963
This case concerns a gas
demand response pilot program.
03:23:05.430 --> 03:23:09.544
PG&E has filed a motion to
defer consideration of its pilot
03:23:09.544 --> 03:23:13.220
in order to allow the Commission
to issue a final decision
03:23:13.220 --> 03:23:18.131
in track two of our gas
strategy rulemaking.
03:23:18.131 --> 03:23:20.200
A final decision in track two
03:23:20.200 --> 03:23:23.497
of that rulemaking has yet to be issued.
03:23:23.497 --> 03:23:28.497
Accordingly, an extension
to September 29th, 2022,
03:23:28.664 --> 03:23:32.304
is needed in order to
allow that to occur first,
03:23:32.304 --> 03:23:36.560
before the review of the
gas demand pilot occurs.
03:23:36.560 --> 03:23:38.063
I ask for your support.
03:23:39.164 --> 03:23:41.400
Thank you,
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:23:41.400 --> 03:23:43.200
Are there any comments or questions?
03:23:44.430 --> 03:23:47.600
Seeing none, will be agenda
clerk please call the roll.
03:23:47.600 --> 03:23:49.570
Commissioner Houck?
03:23:49.570 --> 03:23:50.960
Yes.
03:23:50.960 --> 03:23:52.810
Commissioner Shiroma?
03:23:52.810 --> 03:23:54.210
Aye.
03:23:54.210 --> 03:23:55.725
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
03:23:55.725 --> 03:23:57.126
Yes.
03:23:57.126 --> 03:23:58.880
President Batjer?
03:23:58.880 --> 03:24:00.090
Aye.
03:24:00.090 --> 03:24:03.341
Item 35 passes unanimously. Thank you.
03:24:03.341 --> 03:24:04.918
All right.
03:24:04.918 --> 03:24:09.270
Moving on from the regular
agenda to management reports.
03:24:09.270 --> 03:24:11.350
There is no report for item 37,
03:24:11.350 --> 03:24:13.770
which is a management
report and discussion
03:24:13.770 --> 03:24:17.653
on recent consumer
protection and safety activities.
03:24:17.653 --> 03:24:21.090
There is also no report for item 38,
03:24:21.090 --> 03:24:23.300
which is management
report and discussion
03:24:23.300 --> 03:24:25.520
on administrative activities.
03:24:25.520 --> 03:24:27.450
We'll move on, now,
to Commission reports.
03:24:27.450 --> 03:24:29.603
And who would like to speak first?
03:24:31.874 --> 03:24:35.117
Commissioner Shiroma,
I think you won the hand.
03:24:36.120 --> 03:24:37.530
Okay.
03:24:37.530 --> 03:24:39.190
Thank you, President Batjer.
03:24:39.190 --> 03:24:42.300
Yesterday, I had the
opportunity to attend
03:24:42.300 --> 03:24:44.520
the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service
03:24:44.520 --> 03:24:46.170
Administrative Committee Meeting.
03:24:47.020 --> 03:24:49.037
We refer to it as ULTSAC.
03:24:50.290 --> 03:24:52.770
In addition to the
committee's standing items,
03:24:52.770 --> 03:24:55.010
Karen Eckersley and Michael Minkus,
03:24:55.010 --> 03:24:57.014
from our Communications Division,
03:24:57.014 --> 03:24:59.950
provided an informative presentation
03:24:59.950 --> 03:25:03.690
on SB-156, which invests $6 billion
03:25:03.690 --> 03:25:06.540
into a broadband infrastructure budget
03:25:06.540 --> 03:25:10.197
to get high quality internet
for everyone across the state
03:25:10.197 --> 03:25:12.500
in an effort to close
the digital divide.
03:25:12.500 --> 03:25:15.278
And we heard about that earlier.
03:25:15.278 --> 03:25:17.630
The meeting also
highlighted staff's efforts
03:25:17.630 --> 03:25:20.191
to improve the Lifeline renewal process,
03:25:20.191 --> 03:25:22.520
with many kudos from
the committee members
03:25:22.520 --> 03:25:24.640
representing rate payer advocates,
03:25:24.640 --> 03:25:27.730
consumer protection,
and digital equity advocates
03:25:27.730 --> 03:25:31.556
and our telecommunications carriers.
03:25:31.556 --> 03:25:34.520
And speaking of Lifeline,
03:25:34.520 --> 03:25:36.690
I would also like to
take the opportunity
03:25:36.690 --> 03:25:39.240
to highlight that in agenda item seven,
03:25:39.240 --> 03:25:41.930
that we voted out today on consent,
03:25:41.930 --> 03:25:44.250
as part of the decision,
we approved a partnership
03:25:44.250 --> 03:25:47.370
with the Department of Social Services
03:25:47.370 --> 03:25:49.633
to leverage the CalFresh database
03:25:49.633 --> 03:25:54.347
in order to streamline the
annual Lifeline renewal process
03:25:54.347 --> 03:25:56.400
for program participants.
03:25:56.400 --> 03:25:59.790
This partnership will be
going into effect this fall,
03:25:59.790 --> 03:26:02.380
and we will be applying this experience
03:26:02.380 --> 03:26:05.050
on further opportunities, if possible,
03:26:05.050 --> 03:26:07.961
such as the Medi-Cal databases.
03:26:07.961 --> 03:26:11.150
This is the first time
of this type of effort.
03:26:11.150 --> 03:26:13.832
I want to thank Administrative
Law Judge Wong,
03:26:13.832 --> 03:26:17.520
Clover Sellden, Sharia
Worcester, Caleb Jones,
03:26:17.520 --> 03:26:20.790
Mary Rottman, Lisa
Bass, and Robert Sansone,
03:26:20.790 --> 03:26:24.730
for all of their tremendous
work on this effort.
03:26:24.730 --> 03:26:27.210
Many thanks to Mary
Rottman for the support
03:26:27.210 --> 03:26:30.360
she provides to the ULTSAC.
03:26:30.360 --> 03:26:35.020
Then on ESA, we have an
ESA workshop coming up.
03:26:35.020 --> 03:26:37.490
The four large investor owned utilities,
03:26:37.490 --> 03:26:39.820
in coordination with
the Energy Division,
03:26:39.820 --> 03:26:42.180
will host two workshops
on the low income
03:26:42.180 --> 03:26:45.708
energy savings assistance
program next week.
03:26:45.708 --> 03:26:48.840
On September 27th, from 1:00 to 4:00,
03:26:48.840 --> 03:26:52.130
the IOUs will discuss
the implementation plan
03:26:52.130 --> 03:26:54.770
for two pilot programs
designed to achieve
03:26:55.650 --> 03:26:57.400
deeper energy retrofits and savings
03:26:58.255 --> 03:26:59.543
for income qualified households.
03:27:00.480 --> 03:27:05.480
These efforts will feed
into our greenhouse gas
03:27:07.320 --> 03:27:12.320
reduction efforts, and also,
even though it may be small,
03:27:12.870 --> 03:27:15.287
but everything counts
for summer reliability.
03:27:15.287 --> 03:27:18.673
On September 30th,
from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM,
03:27:18.673 --> 03:27:23.140
that workshop will cover
the coordination of ESA
03:27:23.140 --> 03:27:26.630
with other low-income
and clean energy programs
03:27:26.630 --> 03:27:28.580
to determine how to reduce barriers
03:27:28.580 --> 03:27:31.930
and create better alignment
and increase enrollment
03:27:31.930 --> 03:27:35.480
across multiple programs
serving income qualified customers.
03:27:35.480 --> 03:27:38.200
The workshops are open to everyone.
03:27:38.200 --> 03:27:40.880
I encourage, if you're
able to, to attend,
03:27:40.880 --> 03:27:42.610
provide feedback on these initiatives,
03:27:42.610 --> 03:27:46.430
and details are posted
on the CPUC's website
03:27:46.430 --> 03:27:49.540
and published on the
low income service list.
03:27:49.540 --> 03:27:52.250
And then finally, on September 29th,
03:27:52.250 --> 03:27:54.720
the Low Income Oversight Board will host
03:27:54.720 --> 03:27:56.873
its third quarterly meeting
03:27:56.873 --> 03:27:58.720
from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on WebEx.
03:27:58.720 --> 03:28:01.360
The meeting features
presentations and discussions
03:28:01.360 --> 03:28:04.470
on an array of energy and water topics
03:28:04.470 --> 03:28:06.130
specific to low income customers
03:28:06.130 --> 03:28:09.080
from the investor owned
utilities, state agencies,
03:28:09.080 --> 03:28:12.650
community based organizations,
and Commission staff.
03:28:12.650 --> 03:28:15.570
The investor owned utilities
will discuss their plans
03:28:15.570 --> 03:28:20.570
for distributing more than
$694 million in federal funding
03:28:20.980 --> 03:28:24.485
to assist customers with
unpaid utility energy bills.
03:28:24.485 --> 03:28:26.630
It will also provide updates
03:28:26.630 --> 03:28:28.990
on summer reliability strategies,
03:28:28.990 --> 03:28:33.260
the impact of COVID-19,
and customer protection,
03:28:33.260 --> 03:28:35.540
public safety in power shutoffs,
03:28:35.540 --> 03:28:39.799
and impacts on the low-income customers.
03:28:39.799 --> 03:28:44.550
The California Department of
Community Services, or CSD,
03:28:44.550 --> 03:28:47.730
will also discuss
utility debt assistance
03:28:47.730 --> 03:28:49.400
and coordination efforts
03:28:49.400 --> 03:28:53.167
for the Low Income
weatherization program, LIHEAP.
03:28:53.167 --> 03:28:57.309
The State Water Resources
Control Board representatives
03:28:57.309 --> 03:29:00.610
have been invited and they will cover
03:29:00.610 --> 03:29:03.540
meeting customer needs in
disadvantaged communities
03:29:03.540 --> 03:29:08.220
through it's $130 million
safe and affordable funding
03:29:08.220 --> 03:29:10.340
for equity and resiliency.
03:29:10.340 --> 03:29:13.440
It's called SAFER
water drinking program,
03:29:13.440 --> 03:29:17.401
and it's bill arrearage
management efforts to date.
03:29:17.401 --> 03:29:21.380
There are additional
monies for bill arrearages,
03:29:21.380 --> 03:29:23.600
not only for our
investor owned utilities,
03:29:23.600 --> 03:29:27.020
but also for the municipal utilities.
03:29:27.020 --> 03:29:28.776
There'll be presentations
03:29:28.776 --> 03:29:31.330
from community based organizations,
03:29:31.330 --> 03:29:33.590
including the Los Angeles based
03:29:33.590 --> 03:29:36.600
Liberty Hill Foundation
of Social Justice,
03:29:36.600 --> 03:29:39.133
Kings Community Action Organization
03:29:39.133 --> 03:29:42.900
on assisting low income
customers in Kings County,
03:29:42.900 --> 03:29:45.877
and the Utility Debt
Coalition on debt relief.
03:29:45.877 --> 03:29:50.290
The Disadvantaged Communities
Advisory Group, DACAG,
03:29:50.290 --> 03:29:53.203
which was established
by Senate Bill 350,
03:29:55.181 --> 03:29:58.190
and we are keenly aware of their role
03:29:58.190 --> 03:30:00.450
in ensuring that
disadvantaged communities,
03:30:00.450 --> 03:30:03.400
including tribal and
rural communities, benefit
03:30:03.400 --> 03:30:06.950
from proposed clean energy
and pollution reduction programs.
03:30:06.950 --> 03:30:10.343
They'll provide an
update on their review
03:30:10.343 --> 03:30:13.534
of low-income policy and programs
03:30:13.534 --> 03:30:17.153
regulated by the Commission
and the Energy Commission.
03:30:19.547 --> 03:30:21.620
I understand that there
are Commissioners
03:30:21.620 --> 03:30:26.620
who are able to attend,
and everyone is welcome.
03:30:27.395 --> 03:30:31.490
We look forward to a good
discussion on September 29th.
03:30:31.490 --> 03:30:33.583
Thank you. That is my report.
03:30:35.230 --> 03:30:36.880
Thank you,
Commissioner Shiroma.
03:30:36.880 --> 03:30:39.460
I'm very pleased to hear and learn
03:30:39.460 --> 03:30:42.170
of the contract with CalFresh.
03:30:42.170 --> 03:30:44.110
That was long in coming,
and I think that will be
03:30:44.110 --> 03:30:47.800
extremely helpful to the
California Lifeline program.
03:30:47.800 --> 03:30:50.740
So thank you for that mention as well.
03:30:50.740 --> 03:30:53.240
I think, Commissioner
Houck, you had your hand up.
03:30:54.600 --> 03:30:55.433
Thank you.
03:30:56.477 --> 03:31:00.140
So I wanted to talk about, last week,
03:31:00.140 --> 03:31:02.290
we issued an amended scoping memo
03:31:02.290 --> 03:31:04.950
in the affordability
proceeding that launches
03:31:04.950 --> 03:31:06.970
a new phase to explore strategies
03:31:06.970 --> 03:31:09.250
to mitigate future energy rate increases
03:31:09.250 --> 03:31:11.380
proposed at the cost and rates en banc
03:31:11.380 --> 03:31:15.110
that the Commission held
earlier this year in February.
03:31:15.110 --> 03:31:17.410
As many of you recall,
the Commission convened
03:31:17.410 --> 03:31:21.487
key decision makers across
California for the en banc
03:31:21.487 --> 03:31:24.630
to hear from experts on utility rates,
03:31:24.630 --> 03:31:27.710
ways to ensure California
can achieve its energy goals,
03:31:27.710 --> 03:31:29.890
while maintaining affordable rates.
03:31:29.890 --> 03:31:33.460
The en banc featured an
Energy Division presentation
03:31:33.460 --> 03:31:36.130
that forecasted average
annual rate increases
03:31:36.130 --> 03:31:39.240
of 3 to 4% each year
over the next 10 years,
03:31:39.240 --> 03:31:40.700
and warned that rising rates,
03:31:40.700 --> 03:31:43.660
if left unchecked or
handled incorrectly,
03:31:43.660 --> 03:31:46.230
could make transportation
and building electrification
03:31:46.230 --> 03:31:48.480
policy goals more difficult to achieve
03:31:48.480 --> 03:31:52.240
and pose equity and affordability
concerns for customers.
03:31:52.240 --> 03:31:55.170
The en banc hosted a
series of panels of experts
03:31:55.170 --> 03:31:58.865
who responded to these findings
and proposed various actions
03:31:58.865 --> 03:32:01.690
that utilities, the Commission,
the state legislature,
03:32:01.690 --> 03:32:03.640
and other entities
could take to mitigate
03:32:03.640 --> 03:32:06.683
future rate increases and
their impacts on customers.
03:32:07.680 --> 03:32:10.290
We've opened a third phase
in the affordability proceeding
03:32:10.290 --> 03:32:12.650
to provide a procedural
forum for the PUC
03:32:12.650 --> 03:32:14.310
to further consider the strategies
03:32:14.310 --> 03:32:16.850
proposed by stakeholders at the en banc,
03:32:16.850 --> 03:32:19.310
to control the growth of
energy rates, while ensuring
03:32:19.310 --> 03:32:22.560
that the state's policy
priorities are adequately funded.
03:32:22.560 --> 03:32:25.170
We expect the primary
deliverables of this phase
03:32:25.170 --> 03:32:27.500
to be a set of
recommendations for actions
03:32:27.500 --> 03:32:30.548
the Commission or other
entities, such as the legislature,
03:32:30.548 --> 03:32:33.460
could take to mitigate
future rate increases.
03:32:33.460 --> 03:32:36.460
We're seeking involvement
from a variety of participants
03:32:36.460 --> 03:32:38.670
in the phase, including
rate payer advocates,
03:32:38.670 --> 03:32:42.645
representatives from low income
disadvantaged communities,
03:32:42.645 --> 03:32:46.750
utilities, environmental
advocates, tribes, academics,
03:32:46.750 --> 03:32:49.800
industry representatives,
sister agencies,
03:32:49.800 --> 03:32:53.010
and local governments,
community choice aggregates,
03:32:53.010 --> 03:32:55.360
and other parties
impacted by the policies.
03:32:55.360 --> 03:32:57.440
So we're holding a
pre-hearing conference
03:32:57.440 --> 03:33:00.370
on October 22, 2021, at 2:30 PM.
03:33:00.370 --> 03:33:02.868
I encourage those
interested in participating
03:33:02.868 --> 03:33:06.300
to request party
status and provide input
03:33:06.300 --> 03:33:08.430
on the proposed scope and schedule.
03:33:08.430 --> 03:33:10.900
As part of that schedule,
we are planning to hold
03:33:10.900 --> 03:33:13.590
a workshop in February at which parties
03:33:13.590 --> 03:33:16.000
will be invited to share
preliminary proposals
03:33:16.000 --> 03:33:18.300
for strategies to
mitigate rate increases
03:33:18.300 --> 03:33:21.300
and debate the strengths and
weaknesses of the strategies.
03:33:21.300 --> 03:33:23.980
Parties will be asked
to submit proposals.
03:33:23.980 --> 03:33:27.463
And I just want to note
that the current phase two
03:33:27.463 --> 03:33:29.178
of the affordability proceeding,
03:33:29.178 --> 03:33:31.740
which addresses implementation
of the affordability metrics
03:33:31.740 --> 03:33:34.300
adopted in phase one, is continuing,
03:33:34.300 --> 03:33:38.758
and staff plans to have their
proposal released in October,
03:33:38.758 --> 03:33:40.960
which will be followed by a workshop.
03:33:40.960 --> 03:33:44.050
And we're anticipating
a decision next spring.
03:33:44.050 --> 03:33:45.840
So I did want to thank the team
03:33:45.840 --> 03:33:47.260
that worked on this proceeding,
03:33:47.260 --> 03:33:52.260
which includes Judge
Watts-Zagha, Judge Doherty,
03:33:52.310 --> 03:33:54.750
Ankit Jain, Bridget Sieren-Smith,
03:33:54.750 --> 03:33:58.560
Raelynn Lay, Jefferson
Hancock, Jeremy Ho, Paul Phillips,
03:33:58.560 --> 03:34:01.570
Simon Baker, Eric Van
Wambeke, Jack Mulligan,
03:34:01.570 --> 03:34:04.218
and my advisor, Mary Claire Brown.
03:34:04.218 --> 03:34:06.853
I also wanted to note that last week,
03:34:07.870 --> 03:34:10.930
moving on to the CASF rulemaking,
03:34:10.930 --> 03:34:14.232
that we issued the scoping
memo for the next phase,
03:34:14.232 --> 03:34:19.232
which included aspects
of the Governor's $6 million
03:34:19.630 --> 03:34:23.963
broadband plan and related
legislation for providing,
03:34:25.160 --> 03:34:27.000
there's a technical assistance program
03:34:27.000 --> 03:34:28.540
that was included in that funding.
03:34:28.540 --> 03:34:31.940
So the scoping memo
includes, as an attachment,
03:34:31.940 --> 03:34:35.414
the plan for local and tribal
government assistance grants.
03:34:35.414 --> 03:34:37.745
The Commission intends
to distribute $50 million
03:34:37.745 --> 03:34:42.060
over two years to local
agencies and tribal governments.
03:34:42.060 --> 03:34:44.350
We invite all those interested
to provide comments
03:34:44.350 --> 03:34:46.660
on the proposal for the programs
03:34:46.660 --> 03:34:49.010
that was issued with the
scoping memo last week.
03:34:49.010 --> 03:34:52.610
And the second aspect
of that broadband package
03:34:52.610 --> 03:34:54.550
being addressed in the scoping memo
03:34:54.550 --> 03:34:57.820
includes the broadband
loan loss reserve account,
03:34:57.820 --> 03:34:59.900
which will help local
governments secure funding
03:34:59.900 --> 03:35:02.550
for broadband deployment projects.
03:35:02.550 --> 03:35:05.560
And we also noted in the scoping memo,
03:35:05.560 --> 03:35:09.560
there may be legislative
changes to existing CASF rules
03:35:09.560 --> 03:35:13.007
that we will potentially be looking at,
03:35:13.007 --> 03:35:17.833
but that would require an
additional amended scoping memo.
03:35:19.150 --> 03:35:22.130
I also wanted to just note
that we had a tribal consultation
03:35:22.130 --> 03:35:25.250
for our DER Action Plan 2.0 last week,
03:35:25.250 --> 03:35:27.220
I think we had good turnout.
03:35:27.220 --> 03:35:29.995
We had a great panel,
including tribal representatives
03:35:29.995 --> 03:35:32.720
from various parts of the state,
03:35:32.720 --> 03:35:35.680
that discussed some of
the situations and issues
03:35:35.680 --> 03:35:37.357
they've dealt with in looking at
03:35:37.357 --> 03:35:41.562
distributed energy resource
planning and implementation.
03:35:41.562 --> 03:35:44.220
Yesterday, we had a scoping workshop
03:35:44.220 --> 03:35:46.010
in the High DER proceeding.
03:35:46.010 --> 03:35:48.550
We had an excellent turnout of roughly
03:35:48.550 --> 03:35:50.610
200 participants in the workshop,
03:35:50.610 --> 03:35:53.810
with active dialogues,
comments and questions.
03:35:53.810 --> 03:35:58.083
And I want to thank Rob
Peterson, Gabe Petlin,
03:35:58.083 --> 03:36:02.520
Keishaa Austin, Naseem
Golestani from Energy Division,
03:36:02.520 --> 03:36:04.536
Mary Claire Brown from my office,
03:36:04.536 --> 03:36:09.536
ALJs Hymes and Sisto for
all of the work that they did
03:36:09.730 --> 03:36:13.340
in getting that workshop off the ground
03:36:13.340 --> 03:36:14.810
and their participation in it.
03:36:14.810 --> 03:36:15.970
I also want to thank
03:36:17.022 --> 03:36:19.630
the California Energy
Commission Vice Chair Gunda
03:36:20.631 --> 03:36:24.620
Aleecia Gutierrez from the
Energy Assessments Division,
03:36:24.620 --> 03:36:26.160
Erik Lyon, and David Erne,
03:36:26.160 --> 03:36:28.970
also in the Energy Assessments Division,
03:36:28.970 --> 03:36:32.240
for their presentation and
participation in the workshop.
03:36:32.240 --> 03:36:34.410
Again, we've had over 50 comments
03:36:34.410 --> 03:36:36.370
and over 200 participants yesterday,
03:36:36.370 --> 03:36:39.820
so I'm looking forward to moving forward
03:36:39.820 --> 03:36:41.140
with that rulemaking.
03:36:41.140 --> 03:36:44.683
And with that, I will
conclude my report.
03:36:46.610 --> 03:36:48.069
Thank you,
Commissioner Houck.
03:36:48.069 --> 03:36:50.722
Commissioner Rechtschaffen.
03:36:50.722 --> 03:36:53.697
And welcome back
Commissioner Guzman Aceves.
03:36:57.340 --> 03:36:58.350
Thank you.
03:36:58.350 --> 03:37:01.030
I wanted to let folks
know, remind folks,
03:37:01.030 --> 03:37:04.770
that on October 14th, we will be having
03:37:04.770 --> 03:37:08.713
our annual supplier diversity en banc.
03:37:09.650 --> 03:37:14.020
We are working on music
for, an exciting development,
03:37:14.020 --> 03:37:18.120
we're working on music for
the intermission and the breaks.
03:37:18.120 --> 03:37:21.200
So please, other fellow Commissioners,
03:37:21.200 --> 03:37:23.380
please feel free to
contribute to the playlist.
03:37:23.380 --> 03:37:26.480
I'm very glad that Commissioner
Guzman Aceves is back,
03:37:26.480 --> 03:37:29.490
because she has a much
better playlist than I do,
03:37:29.490 --> 03:37:30.700
that's for sure.
03:37:30.700 --> 03:37:33.808
And we look forward to having
all the Commissioners there.
03:37:33.808 --> 03:37:37.050
All the Commissioners will
be there and monitoring panels
03:37:37.050 --> 03:37:38.995
and we welcome members of the public
03:37:38.995 --> 03:37:41.508
and stakeholders to join us.
03:37:41.508 --> 03:37:42.793
Thanks.
03:37:44.101 --> 03:37:45.790
Well, I've
always thought of you
03:37:45.790 --> 03:37:46.700
as always hip, Cliff.
03:37:46.700 --> 03:37:49.341
So I'm sure your playlist is terrific.
03:37:49.341 --> 03:37:51.285
(Commissioners chuckling)
03:37:51.285 --> 03:37:54.758
Ask my kids that,
President Batjer.
03:37:54.758 --> 03:37:56.340
That's a great idea.
03:37:56.340 --> 03:37:58.416
I think you might remember
03:37:58.416 --> 03:38:02.683
that in the meeting with
McKinsey that we had,
03:38:05.482 --> 03:38:09.147
the program that we're
working with them on,
03:38:09.147 --> 03:38:12.186
they played music before
the meeting got started.
03:38:12.186 --> 03:38:13.540
It was really terrific.
03:38:13.540 --> 03:38:15.160
You could really feel the energy.
03:38:15.160 --> 03:38:16.801
Anyway, thank you.
Exactly.
03:38:16.801 --> 03:38:19.120
Martha, or excuse me,
03:38:19.120 --> 03:38:20.930
Commissioner Guzman Aceves,
03:38:20.930 --> 03:38:22.490
do you have a Commissioner report?
03:38:22.490 --> 03:38:23.899
Yes. Thank you.
03:38:23.899 --> 03:38:26.080
Also, I can just imagine it's going
03:38:26.080 --> 03:38:31.080
from like Cat Stevens to Lil
Nas X on the transition panel.
03:38:32.010 --> 03:38:34.610
What's wrong with
Cat Stevens, I might ask?
03:38:34.610 --> 03:38:35.710
No, nothing. Just...
03:38:37.188 --> 03:38:38.270
You've gotta be careful,
03:38:38.270 --> 03:38:40.820
You've got some folks
here that are sort of
03:38:40.820 --> 03:38:44.063
of the same music playlist age group.
03:38:48.574 --> 03:38:49.407
Okay.
03:38:49.407 --> 03:38:54.020
So I wanted to invite you all
to a Aliso Canyon workshop
03:38:55.310 --> 03:38:58.886
that, as you will recall,
from our proceeding there,
03:38:58.886 --> 03:39:01.536
we have a consulting group,
the FTI Consulting Group,
03:39:03.000 --> 03:39:05.160
that has been doing analysis
03:39:05.160 --> 03:39:08.020
on different portfolio approaches
03:39:08.020 --> 03:39:11.300
that could replace our
dependency on Aliso Canyon.
03:39:11.300 --> 03:39:14.540
And on November 5th,
they're gonna be presenting
03:39:14.540 --> 03:39:18.056
their latest analysis
and sharing their results
03:39:18.056 --> 03:39:20.980
about four particular portfolios,
03:39:20.980 --> 03:39:24.680
and then discussing a
fifth recommended portfolio
03:39:24.680 --> 03:39:27.120
with a blended approach, likely.
03:39:27.120 --> 03:39:31.990
So we'll be posting those
on the Aliso website soon,
03:39:31.990 --> 03:39:34.150
but the date is November 5th.
03:39:34.150 --> 03:39:36.713
So please hold that
date on your calendars.
03:39:38.190 --> 03:39:41.373
Also, I wanted to give an
update on, President Batjer,
03:39:41.373 --> 03:39:45.650
your summary of this recognition
of Hispanic Heritage Month.
03:39:45.650 --> 03:39:47.040
And we have a great team here
03:39:47.040 --> 03:39:50.160
working on a series
of events, as you know.
03:39:50.160 --> 03:39:52.580
Our first one was last Friday,
03:39:52.580 --> 03:39:56.710
where we had two community leaders come.
03:39:56.710 --> 03:39:58.790
Rey Leon, the mayor of Huron,
03:39:58.790 --> 03:40:02.160
and the founder,
also executive director,
03:40:02.160 --> 03:40:06.320
of the Latino Equity,
Advocacy, and Policy,
03:40:06.320 --> 03:40:08.150
the LEAP Institute.
03:40:08.150 --> 03:40:11.860
And we also had Susana
De Anda, who is the founder
03:40:11.860 --> 03:40:15.210
and executive director of
the Community Water Center.
03:40:15.210 --> 03:40:19.940
And both of them shared their
advice and their experience,
03:40:19.940 --> 03:40:22.786
and really discussed
how community advocacy,
03:40:22.786 --> 03:40:26.160
both in the safe and
potable drinking water space,
03:40:26.160 --> 03:40:28.253
and also in the clean energy spaces.
03:40:29.290 --> 03:40:33.354
So that was a first in the series.
03:40:33.354 --> 03:40:36.630
And then also, on October 1st,
03:40:36.630 --> 03:40:39.005
we will be having a discussion
03:40:39.005 --> 03:40:42.225
on the Latinx role in civic engagement
03:40:42.225 --> 03:40:45.230
and a vote in California.
03:40:45.230 --> 03:40:49.538
And we're very fortunate to
have Dr. Mindy Romero join us.
03:40:49.538 --> 03:40:52.260
And she's the founder and director
03:40:52.260 --> 03:40:54.930
of the Center for Inclusive Democracy
03:40:54.930 --> 03:40:58.440
at the USC Sol Price
School of Public Policy.
03:40:58.440 --> 03:41:00.860
And she has done some amazing research.
03:41:00.860 --> 03:41:05.640
And so I want to invite
all of you and the staff
03:41:05.640 --> 03:41:10.050
to join us on October 1st to
hear from Dr. Mindy Romero.
03:41:10.050 --> 03:41:12.090
This is a real interesting shift
03:41:12.090 --> 03:41:13.890
that she'll be pointing out.
03:41:13.890 --> 03:41:16.860
Our third event is
scheduled for October 8th,
03:41:16.860 --> 03:41:20.793
where we actually hope to
take a deeper look internally
03:41:20.793 --> 03:41:24.263
and inviting some of our CPUC employees,
03:41:24.263 --> 03:41:27.592
Latinx employees, to
share their experiences
03:41:27.592 --> 03:41:31.130
and everything that they envision
03:41:31.130 --> 03:41:32.580
for working here at the CPUC.
03:41:33.813 --> 03:41:36.870
So I'd like to thank the
organizing committee,
03:41:36.870 --> 03:41:38.890
and I'll hold more details on that
03:41:38.890 --> 03:41:41.040
till we're done with the events.
03:41:41.040 --> 03:41:44.070
But if you could hold a
couple of those dates.
03:41:44.070 --> 03:41:48.920
And then finally, I just
wanted to do this publicly
03:41:48.920 --> 03:41:51.980
because of our Bagley-Keene rule,
03:41:51.980 --> 03:41:54.890
but I wanted to really
acknowledge and thank
03:41:54.890 --> 03:41:59.057
Commissioner Houck for
her recent scoping memo
03:42:01.043 --> 03:42:03.719
that was issued under
the affordability proceeding.
03:42:03.719 --> 03:42:06.160
And of course, recognize all the work
03:42:06.160 --> 03:42:08.350
that Commissioner Rechtschaffen also did
03:42:08.350 --> 03:42:10.080
and led on this effort.
03:42:10.080 --> 03:42:12.910
And I was very happy
to see a very robust
03:42:12.910 --> 03:42:16.012
list of approaches for
us to consider strategies
03:42:16.012 --> 03:42:19.150
to mitigate these future increases
03:42:19.150 --> 03:42:21.823
that are hitting many of our customers.
03:42:23.710 --> 03:42:26.506
And I wanted to request that you scope,
03:42:26.506 --> 03:42:31.039
into your revised scope, eventually,
03:42:31.039 --> 03:42:34.600
to explore a process
for how we can review
03:42:34.600 --> 03:42:39.600
and look at these augmented
expenses in a cumulative way,
03:42:40.602 --> 03:42:44.664
and to explore having a
process where we could
03:42:44.664 --> 03:42:49.620
approve each utility's expenditures,
03:42:49.620 --> 03:42:52.940
increased expenditures, annually.
03:42:52.940 --> 03:42:55.780
And as you know,
there's currently a process,
03:42:55.780 --> 03:42:59.490
a transparent process
by which we look at
03:42:59.490 --> 03:43:04.090
the annual energy
true-ups, but I'd like to see us
03:43:04.090 --> 03:43:07.130
explore making that a
more robust decision-making
03:43:07.130 --> 03:43:11.980
and really a concept
where we could continue
03:43:11.980 --> 03:43:14.770
with our individual proceedings
and decision-making
03:43:14.770 --> 03:43:19.770
and authorize programs
subject to these annual true-ups
03:43:21.010 --> 03:43:24.490
so that we can have
a process that is akin
03:43:24.490 --> 03:43:26.370
to the state budget process,
03:43:26.370 --> 03:43:30.090
where everything is
looked at with relativity
03:43:30.090 --> 03:43:35.090
and able to really maintain
some rate increased control
03:43:35.393 --> 03:43:38.356
through a process such as that.
03:43:38.356 --> 03:43:41.510
So, if you can consider adding
03:43:41.510 --> 03:43:45.940
this annual cumulative
revenues approval to your scope,
03:43:45.940 --> 03:43:50.870
I'm happy to work through staff
03:43:50.870 --> 03:43:53.850
on ways to really frame
that up in a better way.
03:43:53.850 --> 03:43:56.280
But I wanted to raise it to you directly
03:43:56.280 --> 03:43:58.120
as something that I think will add
03:43:58.120 --> 03:44:02.228
to your already robust
list for consideration.
03:44:02.228 --> 03:44:03.733
Thank you very much.
03:44:05.350 --> 03:44:06.240
Thank you.
03:44:06.240 --> 03:44:09.350
Okay. That concludes
the Commissioner's reports.
03:44:09.350 --> 03:44:11.890
And also concludes the public meeting.
03:44:11.890 --> 03:44:13.103
We are now adjourned.
03:44:14.080 --> 03:44:16.530
For those that will be
going into closed session,
03:44:18.210 --> 03:44:22.890
we are going to be
taking a 30 minute break.
03:44:22.890 --> 03:44:25.791
I'm seeing that it's two o'clock,
and I'm sure that we have
03:44:25.791 --> 03:44:28.850
some little tummies that are growling.
03:44:28.850 --> 03:44:31.150
So a quick 30 minute break,
03:44:31.150 --> 03:44:33.890
and then we will begin closed
session on legal matters.
03:44:33.890 --> 03:44:34.930
Thank you all. 30 minutes.
03:44:34.930 --> 03:44:37.706
So let's just say 2:30. We're at 2:04.
03:44:37.706 --> 03:44:40.407
So at 2:30 promptly. Thank you.