WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.980 .com will begin momentarily. Thank you for your 00:00:02.980 --> 00:00:14.130 patience. 00:00:14.130 --> 00:00:16.670 Welcome to the Public Participation Hearing. Where 00:00:16.670 --> 00:00:19.579 we will take public input on Southern California Gas 00:00:19.579 --> 00:00:22.769 Companies General Rate Case Application on this day 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:28.769 Monday, March 6, 2023. 00:00:28.769 --> 00:00:32.219 Thank you Operator. Can the court reporters please 00:00:32.229 --> 00:00:38.340 confirm they are ready to begin. Yes Judge, thank you. Great. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:43.280 Good afternoon. We will be on the record. The Commission 00:00:43.289 --> 00:00:49.039 will come to order. It is Monday, March 6, 2023. The 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:53.590 time is 2:03pm. And this is the Remote Public 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:57.119 Participation Hearing for Southern California Gas Company 00:00:57.130 --> 00:01:01.140 or SoCal Gas' General Rate Case Application, 00:01:01.149 --> 00:01:08.799 (A.) 22-05-015. For administrative efficiency, this application 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:12.609 is consolidated with San Diego Gas and Electric Companies 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:20.310 Application (A.) 22-05-016. Please note that the audio 00:01:20.310 --> 00:01:23.840 and visual feed of this public hearing is being recorded, 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:28.430 and is accessible on the CPUC website. If you do not 00:01:28.430 --> 00:01:33.310 wish to be recorded, please disconnect now. My name 00:01:33.310 --> 00:01:36.400 is Manisha Lakhanpal and I am the assigned Administrative 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.500 Law Judge on this proceeding. Commissioner Darcie Houck 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:43.340 and Commissioner John Reynolds are in attendance to 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:46.750 listen to the members of the public. Commissioner Houck 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:50.819 is assigned Commissioner on this proceeding. I would 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:54.980 like to acknowledge and recognize that nearly 500 public 00:01:54.980 --> 00:01:57.819 comments have been submitted in this docket. And the 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:01.129 Commission is actively reviewing each comment as it 00:02:01.129 --> 00:02:04.420 is received. The Commissioners and I will play, will 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:07.900 pay close attention to the opinions expressed during 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:11.610 today's public hearing. Before we proceed, I would 00:02:11.610 --> 00:02:15.080 like to invite the Commissioners to address the public. 00:02:15.150 --> 00:02:17.669 Commissioner Houck, would you like to make any opening 00:02:17.669 --> 00:02:22.719 remarks? Thank you, um Judge Lakhanpal. Um again 00:02:22.729 --> 00:02:25.740 I'm, I'm Darcie Houck, the assigned Commissioner for this 00:02:25.750 --> 00:02:29.180 proceeding. And I wanna welcome everyone to today's 00:02:29.189 --> 00:02:32.349 Public Participation Hearing. Um, I want to thank my 00:02:32.349 --> 00:02:34.780 Bagley-Keene partner, Commissioner Reynolds for his 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:37.759 participation today. And Judge Lakhanpal for all 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.669 of her work managing this proceeding and facilitating 00:02:40.669 --> 00:02:43.800 today's hearing. I want to thank our Public Advisor 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:47.439 Team, particularly Claudia Sanchez. Um, thank you to 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:50.289 our court reporters, Carly Powers and Lisa Welch and 00:02:50.289 --> 00:02:53.479 our IT staff. Without their support, we could not be 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:58.039 here conducting these hearings virtually. So, um again 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:01.800 we're here to consider Southern California Gas Company. 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:07.229 Um, and SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric Company 00:03:07.229 --> 00:03:10.800 or SDG&E's application. Seeking approval to update 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:14.349 their gas revenue and base rates effective on January 00:03:14.349 --> 00:03:18.539 1, 2024. We've received input from many parties to the 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:21.750 proceedings so far and today we will have an opportunity 00:03:21.750 --> 00:03:25.650 to hear um, from some of those parties briefly at the beginning. 00:03:25.650 --> 00:03:28.349 But the main purpose today is to hear directly from 00:03:28.349 --> 00:03:31.509 the people most impacted by this proceeding. All of 00:03:31.509 --> 00:03:33.949 you that have taken time out of your day to join us 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:37.469 this afternoon. I would also like to acknowledge um, 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:40.879 again the parties for their participation in the proceeding, 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:43.990 and in today's public participation hearing. I also 00:03:43.990 --> 00:03:46.969 want to acknowledge as Judge Lakhanpal mentioned. 00:03:46.969 --> 00:03:50.240 The public comments that have come in both written 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:53.710 and verbal to date in the proceeding. We've received 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:57.680 significant comments um, in each of the GRCs that 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.330 are before us um, in the consolidated proceeding. I 00:04:01.330 --> 00:04:04.129 recognize that this is an important proceeding that 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:06.860 impact rates, rates that are already considered by 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:10.530 many to be very high. We've received numerous comments 00:04:10.530 --> 00:04:13.560 as noted previously from the public. Regarding affordability 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:16.740 concerns particularly for disadvantaged customers, 00:04:16.750 --> 00:04:21.100 medical baseline customers um, with limited income. 00:04:21.110 --> 00:04:25.829 And um again, we will be taking a close look at the 00:04:25.829 --> 00:04:29.120 information provided by the investor owned utilities, 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:32.629 the parties including ratepayer advocates. Environmental 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:36.509 social justice groups, small and large business advocates 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.295 and members of the public, particularly ratepayers within 00:04:40.295 --> 00:04:44.975 the SDG&E and SoCalGas service territories. The decision 00:04:44.985 --> 00:04:47.274 that will be issued later in this proceeding will be 00:04:47.274 --> 00:04:49.785 based on the record. Developed in the proceeding that 00:04:49.785 --> 00:04:52.785 relies on the evidence presented by the parties. Which 00:04:52.785 --> 00:04:55.204 can be informed by what we hear from the public here 00:04:55.204 --> 00:04:58.714 today. We appreciate and value the input. We hear from 00:04:58.714 --> 00:05:01.105 members of the public who have taken valuable time 00:05:01.105 --> 00:05:04.529 out of their day to join us for today's participation 00:05:04.529 --> 00:05:07.339 hearing. And as Judge Lakhanpal mentioned, there will 00:05:07.339 --> 00:05:11.750 be a court reporter um or I think will provide additional 00:05:11.750 --> 00:05:14.730 direction. Um, that there's going to be a court reporter 00:05:14.730 --> 00:05:17.959 taking down everything that's said today. Transcripts 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:20.389 gonna be prepared that will be part of the preceding 00:05:20.389 --> 00:05:23.160 record. Which the parties, the judge and myself can 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.779 reference in review as needed. Um I will be here for 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:29.430 this afternoon's hearing and this evening's hearing. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.964 I may need to step out for a short time later this 00:05:32.964 --> 00:05:36.514 afternoon, but will return. And will review the transcript 00:05:36.514 --> 00:05:38.735 and confirm with Judge Lakhanpal regarding any 00:05:38.735 --> 00:05:41.845 portion of the hearing that I'm not specifically present 00:05:41.855 --> 00:05:45.084 for today. So again with these comments, I want to 00:05:45.095 --> 00:05:48.425 thank everyone for making time to be here. To share 00:05:48.425 --> 00:05:52.144 your comments with us. And um I look forward to hearing 00:05:52.144 --> 00:05:55.204 from everyone and will now turn the hearing back to 00:05:55.204 --> 00:05:59.410 Judge Lakhanpal. Thank you. 00:05:59.410 --> 00:06:02.160 Thank you, Commissioner Houck. Commissioner Reynolds, would 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:06.459 you like to make opening remarks? Yes. Thank you, Judge 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:08.930 Lakhanpal. And thank you, Commissioner Houck for 00:06:08.930 --> 00:06:11.910 leadership in this general rate case. I will keep my 00:06:11.910 --> 00:06:14.430 comments brief. But wanted to start by thanking all 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:17.209 the parties and the public for their participation 00:06:17.220 --> 00:06:20.879 in today's Public Participation Hearing. This afternoons 00:06:20.889 --> 00:06:23.430 hearing, gives the Commission the opportunity to hear 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.930 firsthand from customers about their gas service in 00:06:25.930 --> 00:06:29.709 Southern California. For California to reach its decarbonization 00:06:29.709 --> 00:06:32.259 goals, we know there will need to be changes in the 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:35.490 existing natural gas system. It is essential that we 00:06:35.490 --> 00:06:38.920 understand how our decarbonization goals aligned with 00:06:38.930 --> 00:06:42.399 customer affordability. I look forward to hearing from 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:45.240 customers, especially those in environmental and social 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:49.100 justice communities. Better understand any concerns that they 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:51.939 have with their gas service. I will be present for 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.810 a portion of this hearing, and my advisor Sasha Goldberg 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:57.949 is also listening in. And will be covering the remaining 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.230 Public Participation Hearings and proceeding from my 00:07:00.230 --> 00:07:03.790 office. With that, I will turn it back to Judge Lakhanpal. Thank you. 00:07:06.430 --> 00:07:11.009 Thank you, Commissioner Reynolds. Okay, moving on. If 00:07:11.009 --> 00:07:14.310 you have a customer specific question, such as questions 00:07:14.310 --> 00:07:17.839 about your bills or service during the hours of today's 00:07:17.850 --> 00:07:21.769 Public Participation Hearing. SoCalGas has made available 00:07:21.769 --> 00:07:25.029 their customer service manager to answer and respond 00:07:25.029 --> 00:07:34.610 to your billing issues. They can be reached 858-613-3177. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:38.310 During the hearing and up to an hour, after the end 00:07:38.310 --> 00:07:41.709 of the participation hearing. 00:07:41.709 --> 00:07:44.790 If you're participating today and would like to provide 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:54.759 public comments. You may do so by calling 800-857-1917, 00:07:54.769 --> 00:07:59.670 entering passcode 176 00:07:59.670 --> 00:08:06.699 7567 followed by a #. And pressing *1, on 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:10.290 your phone. This will alert the operator who will begin 00:08:10.290 --> 00:08:14.720 to queue public speakers. Please unmute your phone and 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:18.579 provide your name. If you're a public official, please 00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:22.170 notify the operator of your title and position, in 00:08:22.170 --> 00:08:25.930 addition to your name. I want to note that we will 00:08:25.930 --> 00:08:29.000 not be answering questions about the application at 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:33.480 today's hearing. I want to provide a brief background 00:08:33.490 --> 00:08:36.029 on the California Public Utilities Commission or CPUC. 00:08:36.029 --> 00:08:39.870 The Public Utilities Commission is the state 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.590 agency that decides how much money SoCalGas may 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.409 earn, and the rate that will be included on your bill 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:50.129 for natural gas services. The Commission is comprised 00:08:50.129 --> 00:08:53.230 of five Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor, 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:57.460 and confirmed by the California State Senate. As the 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.750 presiding Judge of this case, I oversee its day to 00:09:00.750 --> 00:09:04.610 day operations. My primary responsibility is to review 00:09:04.610 --> 00:09:08.039 testimony from parties, conduct evidential hearings 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:11.490 and review all other evidence presented. I will then 00:09:11.490 --> 00:09:13.840 write a proposed decision for the Commissioners to 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.919 consider. The Commissioners can either vote to approve 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:20.220 the draft proposed decision or they can vote to adopt 00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:24.200 an alternate decision. The current schedule of this 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:26.360 proceeding indicates that the Commission will vote 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:31.789 on the decision in the 2nd Quarter of 2024. I will 00:09:31.789 --> 00:09:34.799 now briefly describe what a General Rate Case proceeding 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:37.870 is, and provide a short summary of the application before 00:09:37.870 --> 00:09:42.190 us. Every 4 years SoCalGas is required to file 00:09:42.190 --> 00:09:45.100 a General Rate Case or a GRC application with the 00:09:45.110 --> 00:09:49.830 CPUC to set annual revenues. Annual revenues are the 00:09:49.830 --> 00:09:52.549 total amount of money the utility is allowed to collect 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:56.039 through rates in a given year. The revenues requested 00:09:56.049 --> 00:09:59.200 in this application pay for the costs of owning and 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.470 operating gas infrastructure. This application does 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:05.250 not include the cost to purchase natural gas for SoCalGas 00:10:05.250 --> 00:10:09.029 customers. And does not determine how revenues 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:12.850 are assigned to customer groups. Those are evaluated 00:10:12.850 --> 00:10:17.730 and authorized in separate proceedings. On May 16, 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:22.649 2022, SoCalGas filed its General Rate Case Application 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:28.889 (A.) 22-05-015 with the CPUC for authority to increase 00:10:28.889 --> 00:10:34.299 revenues for 2024-2027. SoCalGas is requesting 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:41.340 to recover $4.398 billion in 2024 revenues. This revenue 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:45.809 request for 2024 translates to an increase of $738 00:10:45.809 --> 00:10:52.250 million or 20.2% increase over its 2023 expected revenues. 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:55.929 This application also includes requested increases for 00:10:55.940 --> 00:11:07.159 of $295 million in 2025, $261 million in 2026 and $379 million 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:11.809 in 2027. The cumulative requested revenue increase 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:21.149 is $4.8 billion. Which takes the revenue requirement in 2027 to $5.3 billion. 00:11:21.149 --> 00:11:23.990 We are here today to receive comments from the public 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.870 on SoCalGas' requested increase rates and revenue 00:11:27.870 --> 00:11:32.519 for costs related to their gas services. A court reporter 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.860 will transcribe everything that is said today. If you 00:11:35.870 --> 00:11:39.710 speak, I ask that you speak slowly and clearly so that 00:11:39.710 --> 00:11:43.970 the reporter can capture everything that is said. At 00:11:43.970 --> 00:11:46.980 the beginning of your comments, please spell your first 00:11:46.990 --> 00:11:50.759 and last name and provide your location. The written 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:53.500 transcript of today's hearing will be posted publicly 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:57.220 on the docket card of this proceeding. In addition 00:11:57.220 --> 00:12:00.240 to submitting oral comments today, written comments 00:12:00.250 --> 00:12:03.500 on SoCalGas' application may be submitted on 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:08.350 the docket card for this proceeding. By going to apps. 00:12:08.350 --> 00:12:15.570 cpuc.ca.gov 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:24.899 /c/A2205015. 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:28.100 We will now hear from some of the parties in this proceeding. 00:12:28.110 --> 00:12:33.029 Beginning with representatives from SoCalGas, the 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:37.120 The Utility Reform Network or TURN, Protect our Communities 00:12:37.129 --> 00:12:41.820 Foundation or PCF. Mussey Grade Alliance, Road Alliance 00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:46.460 or MGRA and the Public Advocate's Office or Cal Advocates. 00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:50.340 Each speaker will have a time limit of 2 minutes. 00:12:51.230 --> 00:12:56.919 So with that uh, Dan Skopec on behalf of SoCalGas, please 00:12:56.919 --> 00:13:01.659 proceed. Thank you, Your Honor. Good afternoon, my name 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:04.509 is Dan Skopec and I'm the Chief Regulatory Officer for SoCalGas. 00:13:04.509 --> 00:13:07.480 We're here today to receive feedback from our 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:11.269 customers about our proposals to maintain a safe, reliable 00:13:11.269 --> 00:13:13.309 and affordable natural gas delivery system over the 00:13:13.309 --> 00:13:16.490 next 4 years. The requested investments reflect 00:13:16.490 --> 00:13:19.029 a critical balance. Maintaining the infrastructure 00:13:19.029 --> 00:13:21.700 needs of today while supporting the development and 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:25.629 utilization of renewable fuels in the long term. Now, 00:13:25.629 --> 00:13:27.629 I want to acknowledge that this is a very difficult 00:13:27.629 --> 00:13:30.110 time to discuss this request. Because many of our customers 00:13:30.110 --> 00:13:33.200 are facing high energy bills. Due to the unprecedented 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:36.009 market conditions that have caused significant increases 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:39.049 in bills over the last few months. This has been an 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:41.340 unparalleled period and for many of our customers, 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:44.970 a painful time. We were glad to announce last week 00:13:44.970 --> 00:13:47.580 that market prices for natural gas have dropped approximately 00:13:47.590 --> 00:13:51.350 83% since January. And that future bills are expected 00:13:51.350 --> 00:13:53.610 to be more in line with what customers received last 00:13:53.610 --> 00:13:57.029 year. Nonetheless, I know many of our customers and 00:13:57.029 --> 00:13:59.559 especially those who are most vulnerable, are still 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:02.580 struggling to pay their recent bills. That's why we 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.870 are continuing to provide them with resources like 00:14:04.870 --> 00:14:09.820 the $11 million in shareholder funds that SoCalGas recently contributed. That 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:13.120 would help low-income families, seniors and small restaurant 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.750 owners. Through programs like the United Way's Gas Assistance 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:20.190 Fund and the Restaurant Resilience Fund. The U.S. Energy 00:14:20.190 --> 00:14:22.409 Information Administration has been very clear about 00:14:22.409 --> 00:14:24.610 what led to the unprecedented spikes and natural gas 00:14:24.610 --> 00:14:27.470 commodity prices on the West Coast this Winter. It 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:29.860 was a combination of out-of-state natural gas supply 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:33.179 constraints. Combined with early and persistent cold 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:35.830 weather across the West that drove up commodity prices. 00:14:36.730 --> 00:14:39.870 Several experts also testified at the CPUC's En Banc. 00:14:39.870 --> 00:14:43.129 Citing out-of-state pipeline maintenance and low storage 00:14:43.129 --> 00:14:46.149 inventories outside of SoCalGas' service territory. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.840 As the root causes of the unprecedented increase in 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:53.809 prices in January. Simply put a cascading array of infrastructure 00:14:53.809 --> 00:14:56.570 pinpoints beyond our control. Caused natural gas prices 00:14:56.580 --> 00:15:00.299 to spike to unprecedented levels. What we are asking 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:03.490 for today, is permission for us to make the future infrastructure 00:15:03.490 --> 00:15:06.129 investments in our service territory, to reduce future 00:15:06.129 --> 00:15:10.139 pinpoints. As the Judge said, I want to make a distinction 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:13.129 between the General Rate Case request and high natural 00:15:13.129 --> 00:15:16.950 gas cost that customers have experienced today. Today's 00:15:16.950 --> 00:15:19.519 hearing is to discuss the rate request we filed last 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:23.029 year. The purpose of that request is to fund the infrastructure, 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.179 facilities, and employee costs to maintain a safe and 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:29.019 reliable system. It's not a hearing about the price 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:31.750 of natural gas that we buy on behalf of our customers. 00:15:32.509 --> 00:15:35.690 As in years past the CPUC will make the final determination 00:15:35.690 --> 00:15:38.580 on this rate request. Any rate increases that result 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:40.529 from this proceeding will not go into effect until 00:15:40.529 --> 00:15:44.929 the middle of 2024. In closing, we know that our customers 00:15:44.929 --> 00:15:47.519 today face rising costs for many essentials they need, 00:15:47.529 --> 00:15:50.409 including energy. And there's never a good time to discuss 00:15:50.409 --> 00:15:53.289 rate increases. But we respectfully ask for you to 00:15:53.289 --> 00:15:55.179 consider this rate request through the lens of the 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:59.049 long term benefits, and our collective work to transition 00:15:59.049 --> 00:16:05.720 to a clean energy economy. Thank you. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:10.360 Thank you. We will now hear from Constance Slider Pierre 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:16.759 for TURN. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.200 Thank you. Good afternoon, my name is Constance Slider 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:23.070 Pierre. I'm the Organizing Director at TURN, The Utility 00:16:23.070 --> 00:16:26.039 Reform Network. I'd like to first take a moment to 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:29.340 thank the Administrative Law Judge, as well as Commissioners 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:31.720 Reynolds and Houck for the opportunity to say a few 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.980 words to welcome members of the public. To members 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:37.809 of the public, all who joined here today to provide 00:16:37.809 --> 00:16:40.710 comment and bear witness. I thank you for taking the 00:16:40.710 --> 00:16:43.590 time to join today's Public Participation Hearing. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:46.519 I hope you all will take advantage of the opportunity 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.019 to share your personal experiences. And your concerns 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:54.019 with the Commission regarding, regarding SoCalGas' 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:57.750 proposed rate increases. TURN stands strong in its 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.669 belief. That gas and electricity along with food, 00:17:00.669 --> 00:17:04.660 shelter and water are necessities in a modern society. 00:17:04.670 --> 00:17:08.019 We strongly believe that any approved rate increase 00:17:08.029 --> 00:17:11.829 at this time is unacceptable. And would only serve to 00:17:11.829 --> 00:17:15.480 exacerbate the long road towards financial recovery 00:17:15.490 --> 00:17:18.869 of seniors, veterans, disabled folks and struggling 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:23.690 families. The purpose of today's public hearing is 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:29.470 to hear from representatives and let the PUC know what 00:17:29.470 --> 00:17:32.789 is happening in your home. In the hearing room, the 00:17:32.789 --> 00:17:36.039 Judges hear from utility attorneys and consumer attorneys 00:17:36.049 --> 00:17:40.160 locked in battle, arguing over numbers and technical issues. 00:17:40.430 --> 00:17:43.750 Today however, the Judges want to hear from you, the 00:17:43.750 --> 00:17:47.680 consumers. About how proposed changes and rate increases 00:17:47.690 --> 00:17:52.109 affect you, your family and your community. These hearings 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.640 serve as an opportunity and sure, to ensure that the 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.089 lived experiences of community are heard and accounted 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:03.200 for. When our public servants deliberate and make decisions 00:18:03.210 --> 00:18:07.369 that affect our daily lives. If approved, SoCalGas 00:18:07.369 --> 00:18:10.740 customers will have to pay an on average in addition 00:18:10.750 --> 00:18:17.160 $22 per month or $264 per year, more for their natural 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:26.210 gas by 2027. This is a 37.7% increase over 2023 rates. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:30.529 But this is not a rate increase. This, this is a rate 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:33.789 increase, increase that will disproportionately impact 00:18:33.789 --> 00:18:37.779 low income families, seniors, disabled people and children. 00:18:37.789 --> 00:18:41.099 But it is not a rate increase that will solely impact 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:45.440 low income families. These huge rate increases are 00:18:45.450 --> 00:18:49.500 impacting low, middle and higher-income families. And 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:55.509 it has time for the Commission to say no more. Last 00:18:55.509 --> 00:18:59.930 week, Sempra, the parent company of SoCalGas. Announced 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:04.579 record profits of over $2.9 billion. While offering up 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:09.380 a mere $11 million of support for community-based organizations and 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:13.150 families struggling to pay. The money offered to support 00:19:13.150 --> 00:19:16.690 struggling families represents less than 0.5% of their 00:19:16.690 --> 00:19:20.130 profits. These record profits and the penance they 00:19:20.130 --> 00:19:23.529 are offering is insulting and unconscionable. The time 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:27.119 for the CPUC to say no more, to stop this 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:31.690 insanity is past due. The buck must stop here. Thank 00:19:31.690 --> 00:19:34.819 you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. And 00:19:34.829 --> 00:19:38.880 finally, I just urge anyone if you've not already signed 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.359 up to speak, please consider doing so today. I hope 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:45.980 our statement has provided some context and inspiration 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:48.640 to you. So that you can lift your voice and be heard 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.869 today. 00:19:52.869 --> 00:19:58.319 Thank you. We will now hear from Julia Severson from 00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:01.839 PCF. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:05.380 Thank you and good afternoon. I'm Julia Severson on 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:08.869 behalf of the Protect Our Communities Foundation. These 00:20:08.869 --> 00:20:12.240 remarks provide 3 points related to the context 00:20:12.250 --> 00:20:16.289 for this proceeding. First, this GRC comes in the wake 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:20.529 of the 2023 Cost of Capital Decision. In which the Commission 00:20:20.529 --> 00:20:24.089 awarded SoCalGas high profits when spending ratepayer 00:20:24.089 --> 00:20:27.759 money on capital projects. Which provides a financial 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.819 incentive for the company to propose capital projects 00:20:31.190 --> 00:20:34.789 like new pipeline projects. As opposed to distributed 00:20:34.789 --> 00:20:37.829 generation projects like customer-owned solar plus 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.049 battery systems, which are in ratepayers best interests. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.980 Second, the regulatory compact between the companies 00:20:44.990 --> 00:20:48.569 and ratepayers is supposed to work in two directions. 00:20:49.089 --> 00:20:51.829 We are long overdue for the direction to be headed 00:20:51.829 --> 00:20:55.039 towards ratepayers interests. We should be having a 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:58.720 conversation about how much rates can be reduced by, 00:20:58.730 --> 00:21:01.019 instead of assuming that rates are supposed to keep 00:21:01.029 --> 00:21:05.799 going up. Third, this is the Commission's first opportunity 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.789 to hold SoCalGas accountable under the Commission's 00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:12.549 risk-based decision making framework, that started back 00:21:12.549 --> 00:21:16.519 in 2014. And the Sempra utilities are also the only 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:20.190 utilities who have not had a GRC proceeding in 5 00:21:20.190 --> 00:21:24.259 years. In the last GRC, the company failed to provide 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:28.220 answers to fundamental questions about quote, "What 00:21:28.230 --> 00:21:31.640 spending is proposed to mitigate risk and how is past 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:36.410 spending reduced risk per dollar spent end" quote. When 00:21:36.410 --> 00:21:39.109 the Commission later approves the company's request 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:44.230 for formulated rate increases for a total of 4 post 00:21:44.230 --> 00:21:47.700 test years without analyzing specific projects and 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:50.799 the utilities actual spending. The Commission promised 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:54.410 ratepayers that this GRC would be litigated thoroughly. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:58.680 SoCalGas ratepayers are long overdue for a close 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:01.289 review of the projects the company wants ratepayers 00:22:01.289 --> 00:22:04.519 to pay for. Thank you, and that concludes my remarks. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:11.740 Thank you. We will now hear from Marian Polio from 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:15.829 Cal Advocates. 00:22:15.829 --> 00:22:18.549 Thank you. Good afternoon, Your Honor. Commissioner 00:22:18.549 --> 00:22:21.660 Houck, Commissioner Reynolds and members of the public. 00:22:21.670 --> 00:22:24.720 My name is Marion Polio and I am co-counsel for the 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:27.549 Public Advocate's Office and its response to the central 00:22:27.549 --> 00:22:32.079 utilities 2024 General Rate Case. The Public Advocate's 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:35.349 Office or Cal Advocates is the independent consumer 00:22:35.349 --> 00:22:38.569 advocate of the Commission. Cal Advocates represents 00:22:38.569 --> 00:22:41.170 the interests of public utility customers with the 00:22:41.170 --> 00:22:44.609 goal of obtaining the lowest possible rates for service. 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:47.769 Consistent with safe reliable service and the state's 00:22:47.769 --> 00:22:51.119 environmental goals. We are reviewing and analyzing 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:54.609 the temporary utilities GRC requests and we will present 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:57.940 our findings, independent forecasts, and recommendations 00:22:57.950 --> 00:23:02.619 in written testimony to be submitted on March 27. Thank you 00:23:02.630 --> 00:23:07.380 and we look forward to the public comments. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:11.470 Thank you. I want to check if Joseph Mitchell from 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:16.259 MGRA has joined the call? 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:21.339 Okay, um. Okay, I'm going to ask the speakers who just 00:23:21.349 --> 00:23:24.369 from the parties and the interveners who just spoke. 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:27.299 To please send a copy of your transcript to the PAO's 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:31.160 office um at the end of the day today or 00:23:31.170 --> 00:23:36.180 at least by tomorrow morning. Okay, moving on. I want 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:39.390 to ask Owen our operator, how many callers do we have 00:23:39.390 --> 00:23:46.089 in queue? 00:23:46.089 --> 00:23:51.109 Your Honor at this time we have 85 in queue. Okay, um. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:55.549 Thank you, Owen. 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:59.130 So we will now hear from members of the public. To those 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:02.789 who wish to speak, if you have not done so already. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:05.660 Press *1 on your phone and the operator will 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:09.470 add you to the queue of speakers. If you're not currently 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:13.380 queued at any time during the session and you decide 00:24:13.390 --> 00:24:16.220 you would like to speak, the line will remain open 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:19.690 for you to join. Please unmute your phone and provide 00:24:19.690 --> 00:24:23.750 the operator with your name. If you're a public official, 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:27.650 please notify the operator of your title and your position 00:24:27.650 --> 00:24:32.119 in addition to your name. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:34.720 Based on the number of speakers that we currently have 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:39.440 in queue. And to ensure that everyone gets a chance to 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:43.019 provide a comment, each speaker will have a time limit 00:24:43.029 --> 00:24:46.839 of only two minutes. A chime will be sounded when the 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:52.069 two minutes is up. 00:24:52.069 --> 00:24:56.329 I also request that given, the given the many people 00:24:56.329 --> 00:25:00.779 that who wish to comment today. Um and for our effort 00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:03.769 to ensure that everyone has heard. If you hear a comment 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:07.089 that you agree with, it would be greatly appreciated 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:10.240 If you just state your name and location and note which 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:13.980 comment you agreed with 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:17.430 A reminder to those waiting on the phone, please speak 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:21.450 slowly and clearly so that our court reporters may accurately 00:25:21.450 --> 00:25:24.490 transcribe your comments. When the operator lets you 00:25:24.490 --> 00:25:28.220 know it is your turn to speak. Please start your comments 00:25:28.230 --> 00:25:31.660 by providing your full name, spelling your last name 00:25:31.670 --> 00:25:34.640 and your location. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:38.009 We will be able to hear you best, if you speak directly 00:25:38.009 --> 00:25:43.339 into your phone or headset. Please avoid using or having 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:46.559 your phone on speaker, when you're providing a comment. 00:25:46.569 --> 00:25:49.950 Keep comments brief and concise to ensure we can hear 00:25:49.950 --> 00:25:54.670 you. Operator, are there any officials on the line at 00:25:54.670 --> 00:25:58.559 this time? 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:02.019 I have none identified at this time, Your Honor. Okay, 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:04.750 Well in that case, please call on the first person 00:26:04.750 --> 00:26:08.589 in the queue. Thank you, Your Honor. The public comment 00:26:08.589 --> 00:26:12.529 line is now open. Our first speaker will be Bonnie 00:26:12.529 --> 00:26:17.170 Maloose. Bonnie, your line is now open. Hi, thank you. 00:26:17.170 --> 00:26:20.460 Your Honor, Commissioners. Thank you. I'm actually calling 00:26:20.470 --> 00:26:26.890 um for great comments. Um, I recently moved into a building 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:31.710 and from a home. And I was getting my SoCalGas bills 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:34.410 and they were really low. And then this month or last 00:26:34.410 --> 00:26:38.019 month. I got one that said this is not a bill and 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:42.009 that was the first for me. Um, so I guess there's a 00:26:42.009 --> 00:26:45.039 credit for, for me or for the people in my building. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:48.890 So thank you. I also want to say thank you to 00:26:48.890 --> 00:26:52.950 SoCalGas. Um you are a partner with one of, where 00:26:52.950 --> 00:26:56.849 I work at a school. And um, you are very involved in 00:26:56.849 --> 00:27:00.849 helping our STEM students and we had 3 of your 00:27:00.849 --> 00:27:05.130 employees come out and speak. We have 500 STEM students 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:08.819 and they were on a panel last week and they shared 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:13.099 with us their experience at SoCalGas. And, spoke to 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:15.470 all of our students and answered a lot of questions. 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:18.670 So I have just positive things with SoCalGas. So I 00:27:18.670 --> 00:27:21.400 just wanted to come on and say thank you um for all 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:27.130 that you do for the community. So thank you. 00:27:27.130 --> 00:27:31.309 Thank you. Uh, operator please call on the next speaker. 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:38.230 Our next speaker is Kathleen De Silva. Kathleen, your 00:27:38.230 --> 00:27:43.400 line is open. Thank you. Thank you for um, listening 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:47.839 to me. You know, I'm a senior citizen. However, and 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:52.519 I am on a fixed income, um social security. However, 00:27:52.529 --> 00:27:59.069 I don't qualify for um, community help. I don't qualify 00:27:59.069 --> 00:28:02.460 for assistance with either of my utility bills. 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:07.640 I make in my social security is just slightly over 00:28:07.650 --> 00:28:12.660 um, amounts necessary to qualify for um financial help. 00:28:12.670 --> 00:28:16.910 That being said I cannot um, you know, I realize 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:22.470 this last season was a um you know, unexpected hopefully 00:28:22.470 --> 00:28:27.940 one time thing. However, the bill is going up 20% and 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:30.779 then again 20% on top of that, the following year 00:28:30.789 --> 00:28:35.309 I can't do that. Even now, even with the rates have 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:41.410 come down at least temporarily, I cannot. Um, it still 00:28:41.410 --> 00:28:45.339 is very high and I cannot afford it. This Winter has 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:52.210 been incredibly um cold and I, for everyone. And um, 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:59.039 it is, it is often at times, um 26° and I won't 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:04.089 say often but 26° uh, in the early mornings. Um, in 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:07.369 in the area that I live which is in the Riverside 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:11.549 County uh, kind of in the Temecula area, I live in Menifee. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:17.799 And I, I can even with temperatures as such. And in 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:20.779 the evening temperatures in the high 30s and in 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:24.579 the low 40s, sometimes in the mid-50s. I cannot 00:29:24.589 --> 00:29:29.740 afford to have heat on in my house. And um, elect with 00:29:29.750 --> 00:29:33.930 electricity, I've got it down to where I can use it 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:39.690 two hours a day. That's it. I um I do two, one 00:29:39.690 --> 00:29:43.059 load of laundry every two weeks because the electrical 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:47.329 charges, my kitchen is electric. I live in a very old 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:54.480 condominium. Um, I'm careful to only cook um, minimally. 00:29:54.490 --> 00:29:58.109 I just can't afford it and, and no help. There seems 00:29:58.109 --> 00:30:02.960 to be a consensus that there's hope for um, senior 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:06.180 citizens. That, you know, low-income quote unquote 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:10.460 "low-income". I don't qualify for anything. And yet, 00:30:10.470 --> 00:30:23.750 if I, um is that my time. 00:30:23.750 --> 00:30:26.880 Thank you, Kathleen De Silva. Operator, please call 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:30.509 on the next speaker. 00:30:30.509 --> 00:30:34.869 Our next commenter will be James Wagner. Your line 00:30:34.869 --> 00:30:38.930 is now open. Hi, I'm James Wagner. W. A. G. N. E. 00:30:38.930 --> 00:30:43.119 R., living in Marino Valley. I'm living in a senior complex 00:30:43.130 --> 00:30:49.759 with 35 other seniors who are low-income and low-income 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:53.930 housing. And (inaudible) and there's no way we can afford 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:58.349 any more increases. We're just, we're tapped out. You 00:30:58.349 --> 00:31:01.390 know, our gas and electric mounts up to almost half 00:31:01.390 --> 00:31:06.500 of the rent. And I think that in 2024, we don't 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:10.920 know what's gonna happen. We may have our gas line 00:31:10.930 --> 00:31:15.250 reopened the line and shut down. And any, anything that's 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:18.819 that's gonna be um, paid for, it should be paid for 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:21.829 by, by the gas company. And then reimbursed after the 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:26.059 fact of what needs to be done. And you should also go 00:31:26.829 --> 00:31:29.849 get money from the government not discounting the customers. 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:33.859 Because this is just getting ridiculous. Anyway, that's 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:37.730 all I have to say. 00:31:37.730 --> 00:31:40.920 Thank you, Mr. Wagner. Operator, please call on the next 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:43.250 speaker. 00:31:43.250 --> 00:31:47.069 Our next speaker is Sarah Wiltfong from the L. A. County 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:53.930 Business Federation. Your line is now open. 00:31:53.930 --> 00:31:57.000 Good afternoon. My name is Sarah Wiltfong, and I'm calling on behalf 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:59.579 of Los Angeles County Business Federation and Alliance 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:03.369 of over 235 business organizations representing 410,000 00:32:03.369 --> 00:32:08.970 employers in Los Angeles County. Um. Excuse me. Hello, hi ma'am. 00:32:08.970 --> 00:32:11.079 This is the court reporter, if I could have you slow 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:18.150 down and enunciate that would be helpful. Thank you. Oh, I apologize. Thank you 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.970 Hi, again. My name is Sarah Wiltfong and I'm with the 00:32:20.970 --> 00:32:23.880 Los Angeles County Business Federation. We're an alliance 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:28.230 of over 235 business organizations representing 410,000 00:32:28.230 --> 00:32:32.029 employers in Los Angeles County. And we certainly understand 00:32:32.029 --> 00:32:34.599 the concerns with the recent rising natural gas prices. 00:32:34.609 --> 00:32:37.150 Of many of our members and employees were significantly 00:32:37.150 --> 00:32:39.829 impacted by it. However, we do know the last couple 00:32:39.829 --> 00:32:42.589 of months of increases were results of several factors 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:45.210 including infrastructure problems, lack of natural 00:32:45.210 --> 00:32:47.839 gas storage, cold weather fronts, and increased demand. 00:32:47.849 --> 00:32:49.920 Because of this, we believe it's important that we 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:52.339 continue to invest and provide upgrades to our current 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:55.000 infrastructure system, not ignore it. Which is what 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.930 the general rate case proposes to do. And we believe 00:32:57.930 --> 00:33:00.789 it's reasonable to ensure proper investments are made. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:04.029 Thank you. 00:33:04.029 --> 00:33:07.230 Thank you, Ms. Wiltfong. Operator, please call on the next 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:10.099 speaker. 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:13.450 Our next speaker will be Barbara Donahue. Barbara, 00:33:13.450 --> 00:33:18.710 Your line is open. Thank you, Donahue D. O. N. A. H. U. 00:33:18.710 --> 00:33:22.529 E., I'm in Rancho Palos Verdes. Affordability is 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:26.960 the obvious issue here. My bill went up 200% between 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:30.660 December and January of this year for the same usage. 00:33:30.670 --> 00:33:34.529 But moving on from that point, um we're talking about 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:37.819 record profits and CEO compensation. I'd like full 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:41.339 transparency. I would like to know what the SoCalGas 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:46.089 Board and CEO administration. I'd like to know 00:33:46.089 --> 00:33:48.559 what these people make for a living. Because I am telling 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:51.690 you they're being compensated well above market rate. 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:55.650 Additionally I'm not, uh this is a monopoly in violation 00:33:55.650 --> 00:33:59.710 of numerous antitrust laws. If I want gas from some 00:33:59.710 --> 00:34:03.230 other supplier, I have no place to go. If I want a 00:34:03.230 --> 00:34:05.630 different, if I want to go to Ralphs and I don't like 00:34:05.630 --> 00:34:07.930 their prices, I go to Vons. If I don't like their prices 00:34:07.930 --> 00:34:10.760 I go to Food 4 Less. This is a monopoly. You do 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:14.530 not have the right to choose to charge. Whatever you 00:34:14.530 --> 00:34:17.230 would like, whenever you would like that. That, that's 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:19.829 that's a monopoly that's in violation of antitrust 00:34:19.829 --> 00:34:23.230 laws. In addition, you're looking to request to recover. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:26.719 Don't you have insurance? Didn't you do advance planning? 00:34:26.730 --> 00:34:29.969 That's not the consumer's fault that you have to recover 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:34.130 money that were either misspent or not properly allocated. 00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:38.280 That should not be passed along to the consumer. Lastly, 00:34:38.289 --> 00:34:42.300 I don't love being lied to by omission. You're talking 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:44.570 about getting gas and what you have to pay for it. 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:47.440 Well, the supplier that you pay for, yes, you're paying 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:50.150 what you're paying. But there are other suppliers out 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:53.260 there that you can get gas for less expensive prices 00:34:53.269 --> 00:34:56.449 So if you're going to lie by admission to your consumers 00:34:56.449 --> 00:34:58.860 and your clients. And tell them that what you're paying 00:34:58.860 --> 00:35:01.550 is what you're paying, we're not stupid. We can look 00:35:01.550 --> 00:35:03.590 it up and find out that there are other suppliers. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:06.030 Lastly, you're talking about putting a new pipelines 00:35:06.030 --> 00:35:09.139 et cetera. Has anyone read the L.A. Times today? Where 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:11.519 do you expect to put those into Rancho Palos Verde? 00:35:11.929 --> 00:35:14.519 There's no place to put in new pipelines in Rancho 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:19.239 Palos Verde. So that, that is also untrue. So my point. 00:35:23.489 --> 00:35:26.190 Thank you, Ms. Donahue. Operator, please call on the 00:35:26.190 --> 00:35:29.460 next speaker. 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:32.349 Our next commenter will be Jeannie Solei. Jeannie, your line 00:35:32.349 --> 00:35:43.630 is open. 00:35:43.630 --> 00:35:57.769 Jeannie or Janine. Your line is open. 00:35:57.769 --> 00:36:03.300 I will come back to that caller in a moment. 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:08.510 Next we have Ray Jan. Ray, your line is open. 00:36:08.510 --> 00:36:13.320 Hi, good afternoon. My name is Ray Jan. R. A. Y. J. A. N. 00:36:13.329 --> 00:36:17.079 I'm calling from Rosemead, California. I have been working 00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:19.679 closely with SoCalGas representative for the 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:24.079 past 7 years. SoCalGas demonstrate qualified 00:36:24.090 --> 00:36:27.079 diverse workforce with the highest customer service 00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:31.429 in mind. They have helping many retail business in 00:36:31.429 --> 00:36:34.630 my membership and new development in our communities, 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:39.119 with any issue that my rights. They open, open communication 00:36:39.130 --> 00:36:43.369 fast reply service, and they care, listen to their customers. 00:36:43.650 --> 00:36:47.010 There are good corporate citizens who are always involved 00:36:47.010 --> 00:36:50.809 in many community activities from business development, 00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:55.539 education, to charity fundraising support. They participate 00:36:55.550 --> 00:36:59.690 in a chamber leadership to serve the community that 00:36:59.690 --> 00:37:03.280 we serve. During COVID, they had many initiatives to 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:07.949 support families in need. Including various food drives that they 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:11.880 source local business to give back to local families. 00:37:11.889 --> 00:37:15.460 Recently, they have relaunched the Restaurant Resilience Fund. 00:37:15.469 --> 00:37:19.889 That is very, very in need help to local mom and 00:37:19.889 --> 00:37:23.750 pop, and minority-owned, independent-owned restaurants. 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:27.440 We are hoping that they will continue to offer these 00:37:27.449 --> 00:37:31.860 services just to help people in business post COVID 00:37:31.869 --> 00:37:35.280 to thrive. I'm asking the Commission to give every 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:38.860 consideration in approving SoCalGas budget. And 00:37:38.869 --> 00:37:42.320 allow them to continue to serve our community with 00:37:42.329 --> 00:37:46.980 enhanced and safety, infrastructure and skills, diverse 00:37:46.989 --> 00:37:50.510 workforce. Thank you. 00:37:50.510 --> 00:37:53.639 Thank you Ray Jan. Operator, please call in the next 00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:57.429 speaker. 00:37:57.429 --> 00:38:00.360 Next commenter, we have Lisa Walsh. Lisa, your line 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:03.079 is open. 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:09.380 Hello, I'm Lisa Walsh, W. A. L. S. H. Visalia, California, 00:38:10.489 --> 00:38:13.099 I'm a person with a medical condition impacted by cold 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:16.639 temperatures. And I make sure I keep my home at temperatures 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.110 in the low-60s to help do my part to control consumption. 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:24.070 I am here today to speak on behalf of SoCalGas and 00:38:24.070 --> 00:38:27.449 approval of the rate increase. We are all fully aware 00:38:27.449 --> 00:38:30.860 of the inflationary cost impacts of recent years and 00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:33.050 although they can be worrisome, they cannot scare us 00:38:33.050 --> 00:38:36.449 into cowardice or simple ignorance. We need to ensure 00:38:36.449 --> 00:38:38.969 we are offsetting and stabilizing costs through proper 00:38:38.969 --> 00:38:43.030 investment. What is truly insulting and insanity. Is believing 00:38:43.030 --> 00:38:46.710 that the stock market purchase prices and CPUC is 00:38:46.710 --> 00:38:49.739 not responsible for much of the recent cost pain that 00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:52.679 consumers are incurring at this time. Those recent 00:38:52.690 --> 00:38:56.190 impacts are not a valid reason to be unrealistic about 00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:59.380 future needs. Is we cannot survive without critical 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:03.260 infrastructure, technology, training jobs and community 00:39:03.260 --> 00:39:07.150 investments that come from SoCalGas. It is critical 00:39:07.150 --> 00:39:09.579 to modernize and upgrade our infrastructure to ensure 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:13.329 reliability of safety and safety of natural gas service. 00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:17.289 While transitioning to clean energy future with decarbonization 00:39:17.289 --> 00:39:20.710 and green hydrogen, the key component of that work. 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:22.989 The work that has begun on hydrogen infrastructure 00:39:22.989 --> 00:39:26.099 is critical to meet household use and the expectations 00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:29.309 of our state regulations. In regards to transportation 00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:33.079 as reliance on electrical. Is unrealistic with lagging 00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:36.250 support to increase electrical capacity and infrastructure. 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:39.329 Another critical piece of this case is the training 00:39:39.329 --> 00:39:41.579 development and investment to support the training 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:44.980 and socioeconomically imbalanced areas. To ensure a 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:48.530 diverse workforce requires that investment intended 00:39:48.530 --> 00:39:52.219 by the rate case. Use of virtual reality training will 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:55.010 help to ensure we are engaging younger generations 00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:57.989 to participate in future job opportunities. While also 00:39:57.989 --> 00:40:01.460 providing upscaling on staff employees and that already 00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:04.269 have knowledge of the base of the business. Please 00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:09.239 support this case. 00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:11.730 Thank you Lisa Walsh. Operator, please call on the next 00:40:11.730 --> 00:40:19.650 speaker. 00:40:19.650 --> 00:40:22.349 Our next commenter will be Patty Glueck. Patty, your 00:40:22.349 --> 00:40:26.829 line is now open. Thank you, Patty, G. L. U. E. C. 00:40:26.829 --> 00:40:31.349 K .,from Porter Ranch. According to SEC filings, Sempra earned 00:40:31.539 --> 00:40:37.699 almost $30 billion last year. Many top Sempra and SoCalGas accepted 00:40:37.710 --> 00:40:41.230 with compensation in the millions. Why should ratepayers 00:40:41.230 --> 00:40:44.929 have to bear the cost of the gas company's 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:49.150 planning, negligent operations, management of its 00:40:49.369 --> 00:40:52.469 pipeline, mismanagement of its pipelines and predatory 00:40:52.469 --> 00:40:56.380 practices. And also case with hydrogen project which 00:40:56.380 --> 00:41:00.559 will ensure the continued use of (inaudible) methane. 00:41:00.570 --> 00:41:03.639 There is a need for restoring this explosive chemicals 00:41:03.650 --> 00:41:11.449 in its Aliso Canyon (inaudible) sites. Areas with high seismic risk and Aliso is in a 00:41:11.449 --> 00:41:17.309 high fire (inaudible). The CPUC should reject this request 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:20.650 and instead pass the Staff proposal. To shut down 00:41:20.650 --> 00:41:24.889 the hazardous Aliso Canyon Storage Facility by 2027 (inaudible). 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:28.400 Let's stop being held hostage by the gas companies, 00:41:28.409 --> 00:41:32.170 need to line the pockets of its management at our expense. 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:35.329 When we need to be moving away from the use of gas. 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:38.550 Thank you. 00:41:38.550 --> 00:41:41.639 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 00:41:44.849 --> 00:41:48.030 Next commentor we have is Caroline Dear or Dire. Caroline, 00:41:48.030 --> 00:41:52.030 your line is now open. This uh, this is Caroline Dyer, 00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:57.130 D. Y. E. R. I live in Tonga. I am a retired 00:41:57.139 --> 00:42:01.630 senior on a fixed income. Housebound with health issues 00:42:01.630 --> 00:42:05.090 and cannot afford the over double gas bill from the 00:42:05.090 --> 00:42:09.690 past two months. Although my therms went up for usage 00:42:09.690 --> 00:42:14.119 in the Winter, it is the cost per therm that has doubled 00:42:14.130 --> 00:42:21.039 or triples. SoCalGas company has 22.5 million customers. 00:42:21.050 --> 00:42:26.070 It is a monopoly and should be regulated by the California 00:42:26.070 --> 00:42:30.809 Public Utility Commission to protect us, its customers. 00:42:31.139 --> 00:42:35.050 SoCal did not purchase and store enough natural gas. 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:39.789 Therefore, it paid an outrageous rate during bid week. 00:42:39.789 --> 00:42:45.449 As the commodity of natural gas skyrocketed hitting 00:42:45.449 --> 00:42:50.510 the core residents and small businesses with extraordinary increases 00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:54.989 for gas usage. Winter weather had little to do with 00:42:54.989 --> 00:42:58.769 it. For the past 23 years, our natural gas has been 00:42:58.769 --> 00:43:03.869 purchased from right here, El Paso Gas company. Now 00:43:03.869 --> 00:43:07.780 owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Company in Houston, Texas. 00:43:08.179 --> 00:43:11.599 They set the price and should be investigated for scamming 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:16.889 Californians. The inept Southern California Gas Company 00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:21.760 has not maintained their equipment, storage and pipelines. 00:43:21.769 --> 00:43:26.380 Which has caused irrefutable damage to properties around 00:43:26.380 --> 00:43:29.400 the Porter Ranch neighborhood. Where the Aliso 00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:35.019 Gas Canyon, Canyon leak occurred. And yet huge bonuses 00:43:35.019 --> 00:43:39.690 were given to CEOs, for what? Now you need money for 00:43:39.690 --> 00:43:44.239 22.5 million customers to take care of what you should 00:43:44.239 --> 00:43:48.599 have paid. You should have had the responsibility to 00:43:48.610 --> 00:43:53.199 fix. Perhaps you should take out a bank loan to pay 00:43:53.199 --> 00:43:57.730 back over the next four years. Since this is your problem 00:43:57.739 --> 00:44:02.659 not the publics. And we. 00:44:02.659 --> 00:44:06.269 Thank you, Ms. Dyer. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:11.500 Next we have Frederick Baron. Frederick, your line 00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:18.409 is open. Frederick Baron, B. A. R. O. N., La Morada, California. 00:44:19.219 --> 00:44:23.719 And I have a simple question. I'm gonna read you 5 00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:28.849 gas bills And the only change is that I have used less 00:44:28.860 --> 00:44:33.000 on every one of the ones, that are ridiculous. October 00:44:33.010 --> 00:44:39.579 $53.73, November, $138. 00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:52.030 Hold on. December $63, January $184, February $350. 00:44:52.769 --> 00:44:58.170 March $263. Now, I have one less person living here 00:44:58.170 --> 00:45:01.639 for the past six months. I take three showers a week 00:45:01.639 --> 00:45:05.130 at the gym instead of here, to save on hot water. I 00:45:05.130 --> 00:45:08.969 turn on my heat for two hours, when I take a shower. 00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:14.519 I have cut back on using our stove and all gas products, 00:45:14.530 --> 00:45:18.710 to try and save on gas. And I see no reason for 00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:25.909 horrendous jumps from say $63 to $350. Absolutely ludicrous. 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:28.599 So no, I don't believe you people should be getting 00:45:28.599 --> 00:45:31.460 any kind of increase. I think you should be figuring 00:45:31.460 --> 00:45:36.269 a way to repay people who are either being meter jumped 00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:43.280 or guest, get the meters are being guessed that. 00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:47.230 Thank you. 00:45:47.230 --> 00:45:50.079 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 00:45:53.360 --> 00:45:56.510 Next we have Kyrsta Morehouse. Kyrsta, your line 00:45:56.510 --> 00:46:02.090 is open. Thank you. K. Y. R. S. T. A. M. O. 00:46:02.090 --> 00:46:05.920 R. E. H. O. U. S. E., in San Gabriel. I think 00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:08.420 it is absolutely inhumane for us to have these price 00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:11.300 increases from SoCalGas. While according to Sempra 00:46:11.300 --> 00:46:14.829 they have been showing yearly increased revenues, throughout 00:46:14.840 --> 00:46:18.500 all of COVID as well. We also are seeing massive bonuses 00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:21.429 and pensions added to their employees. With their President 00:46:21.429 --> 00:46:26.159 receiving a bonus of $1.8 million in 2021 alone. Their 00:46:26.159 --> 00:46:30.769 CFO receiving $1.3 million in bonuses alone and their 00:46:30.780 --> 00:46:34.829 EVP reaching $600,000 in bonuses alone. Yet they 00:46:34.829 --> 00:46:37.619 are turning to us for that increased revenue. They're 00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:40.789 proud, price gouging and executive payouts, aren't it 00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:43.480 though? Because SoCalGas has actually a history of 00:46:43.480 --> 00:46:46.960 lobbying against making it easier for advantages to 00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:50.170 its consumers. According to the L.A. Times, SoCalGas 00:46:50.170 --> 00:46:53.150 has engaged in sweeping campaigns to block clean energy 00:46:53.150 --> 00:46:56.030 measures, that threaten its business model. Even though 00:46:56.030 --> 00:46:58.579 they are claiming clean energy measures, as the reason 00:46:58.579 --> 00:47:02.219 for this increase. The CPUC itself knows this, because 00:47:02.230 --> 00:47:06.260 you are the ones who have find SoCalGas. In 2018, you 00:47:06.260 --> 00:47:11.309 fined them $9.8 million. Due to them using customer money 00:47:11.309 --> 00:47:14.809 to find, fund their energy efficiency advocacy work, 00:47:14.820 --> 00:47:17.280 which is what they are trying to do with this. According 00:47:17.429 --> 00:47:20.599 The Sun and their utility fact sheet. It has said that 00:47:20.599 --> 00:47:23.449 they are trying to invest this money in gas delivery 00:47:23.449 --> 00:47:26.170 system and technologies to advance clean energy, which 00:47:26.170 --> 00:47:29.280 is what you have penalized them for. So to allow this 00:47:29.289 --> 00:47:32.079 to pass through would be an exact opposition of what 00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:35.000 you have done in the past and set president for. Rather 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:37.139 than using their own billions and growing revenue, 00:47:37.139 --> 00:47:39.929 they want to charge us. Even the SoCalGas company 00:47:39.929 --> 00:47:43.320 is the nation's largest gas utility and SoCalGas makes 00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:46.750 more yearly revenue than any other utility in the nation. 00:47:46.940 --> 00:47:49.300 They are wanting to invest in new technologies which 00:47:49.300 --> 00:47:53.019 are RNG, renewable gas ring. And even if we exclude 00:47:53.019 --> 00:47:55.989 the environmental impacts of pollution to local residents, 00:47:55.989 --> 00:47:59.079 and water usage, during a water crisis, and California's 00:47:59.079 --> 00:48:01.679 drought. Experts have said that this technology will 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:05.210 not meet energy needs. According to the CEC and will 00:48:05.210 --> 00:48:12.449 not reach their long term benefits. So to. 00:48:12.449 --> 00:48:16.059 Thank you. Um Operator, please call on the next speaker. 00:48:18.039 --> 00:48:21.449 Next we have Robert Hansen. Robert, your line is open. 00:48:22.710 --> 00:48:28.230 Hi, this is Robert Hansen, spelled H. A. N. S. E. N. 00:48:28.969 --> 00:48:33.710 Our recent gas bill shocked us going from $210 the 00:48:33.719 --> 00:48:41.090 previous month to around $450. And I'm quite dismayed 00:48:41.090 --> 00:48:45.360 to find out that the high costs was due to mismanagement 00:48:45.369 --> 00:48:50.340 of oil reserves. Causing the company needing to import 00:48:50.340 --> 00:48:54.690 gas at a higher cost, and that was passed on to us. 00:48:55.010 --> 00:48:58.719 I agree with several callers who are talking about 00:48:58.719 --> 00:49:03.250 the company's record profits, and being a monopoly. 00:49:03.260 --> 00:49:08.639 So they do not deserve to get a rate hike and they 00:49:08.639 --> 00:49:13.659 should be investigated for how they are using the money 00:49:13.659 --> 00:49:17.320 they're receiving. And making sure that it is being 00:49:17.320 --> 00:49:21.760 spent on the infrastructure, uh that it's that they're 00:49:21.769 --> 00:49:25.119 asking to get the rates for. So, uh that's all I have 00:49:25.119 --> 00:49:28.210 to say. Thank you very much for listening. And I appreciate 00:49:28.219 --> 00:49:32.730 the public meeting, so that we can all put in our input. 00:49:32.739 --> 00:49:35.989 Thank you very much. 00:49:35.989 --> 00:49:38.730 Thank you, Mr. Hansen. Operator, please call on the next 00:49:38.730 --> 00:49:44.340 speaker. Next, we have Jody Kaden, Caden. Jody, your 00:49:44.340 --> 00:49:48.300 line is open. Thank you. My name is Jody Caden, that's 00:49:48.309 --> 00:49:52.199 C. A. D. E. N., and I'm living in Sherman Oaks, California. 00:49:52.210 --> 00:49:57.920 Um, I find the whole hearing absolutely audacious. Uh, 00:49:57.929 --> 00:50:01.579 $1.8 billion was what SoCal had to pay to the Porter 00:50:01.579 --> 00:50:05.429 Ranch residents for their negligence. And this is essentially 00:50:05.429 --> 00:50:08.590 a request for a bailout. But like the bailouts we've 00:50:08.599 --> 00:50:12.090 done before with Wall Street, what happens with those? 00:50:12.460 --> 00:50:16.500 Like everybody else previously has stated uh, bonuses 00:50:16.510 --> 00:50:20.969 and parties and fun. This is absolutely ridiculous. 00:50:20.980 --> 00:50:24.829 We have elderly individuals that are barely making 00:50:24.829 --> 00:50:27.630 it, barely surviving. And now you want to raise the 00:50:27.630 --> 00:50:32.530 heat cause, it's insane. Um, I have an elderly friend 00:50:32.530 --> 00:50:35.420 who lives down the street. And they called the customer 00:50:35.420 --> 00:50:37.769 service line, and you know what the customer service 00:50:37.769 --> 00:50:41.420 line told them. That he would know how to predict his bill by 00:50:41.420 --> 00:50:44.829 checking the commodities market. To an 80 year old man, 00:50:44.909 --> 00:50:48.239 to check the commodities market. That's their idea 00:50:48.239 --> 00:50:51.400 of great customer service? I heard somebody earlier 00:50:51.400 --> 00:50:54.559 mention how great their customer service was. Really? 00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:57.150 That's what they tell an 80 year old man, to check the 00:50:57.150 --> 00:51:01.469 commodity prices. This is all just absolutely insane. 00:51:01.489 --> 00:51:04.940 I don't even know what else to say. Other than you know 00:51:04.940 --> 00:51:08.639 had SoCalGas saved their reserves for later in the Winter. 00:51:08.659 --> 00:51:11.429 The company could have offset some of the cost 00:51:11.440 --> 00:51:16.170 for the customers. Um the data for the U.S. Energy Information 00:51:16.170 --> 00:51:19.719 Administration is showing they did nothing. They mismanaged 00:51:19.719 --> 00:51:22.460 their inventory controls and that came at the expense 00:51:22.460 --> 00:51:26.340 of the customers. I don't know when our government 00:51:26.380 --> 00:51:29.730 and the people, Commissioners and Judges are going 00:51:29.730 --> 00:51:32.329 to start paying attention. And stop rewarding these 00:51:32.340 --> 00:51:36.380 people. Please pay attention and stop rewarding. Thank 00:51:36.380 --> 00:51:39.500 you. 00:51:39.500 --> 00:51:42.079 Thank you, Miss Caden. Operator, please call on the 00:51:42.079 --> 00:51:46.940 next speaker. Next we have a Pastor Zach. Pastor Zach, 00:51:46.940 --> 00:51:51.199 your line is open. 00:51:51.199 --> 00:51:55.159 Perfect. Can you hear me? 00:51:55.159 --> 00:51:58.340 Yes, we can hear you. 00:51:58.340 --> 00:52:02.619 Okay, great. So I'm calling today on behalf of (inaudible) L A 00:52:02.619 --> 00:52:05.989 in support of SoCalGas' GRC request in California 00:52:05.989 --> 00:52:08.739 Public Utilities Commission, effective beginning January 00:52:08.739 --> 00:52:13.889 '24 through the January 2027. Uh, this request projects 00:52:13.889 --> 00:52:17.210 the cost of delivering energy safely, reliably and sustainably. 00:52:17.210 --> 00:52:20.699 To the company's 22 million customers from 2024- 00:52:20.699 --> 00:52:24.110 2027. And we believe that that's gonna be beneficial. 00:52:24.110 --> 00:52:26.400 That's going to provide them with the opportunity to 00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:28.670 continue to build infrastructure, to modernize and 00:52:28.670 --> 00:52:31.949 upgrade their existing infrastructure. And to support 00:52:31.949 --> 00:52:34.500 the growth of more diverse renewable energy options 00:52:34.510 --> 00:52:37.630 in addition to increasing long term energy security 00:52:37.630 --> 00:52:40.679 for consumers. So for those reasons, we ask that you 00:52:40.690 --> 00:52:46.500 would go ahead and approve the GRC. Thank you. 00:52:46.500 --> 00:52:49.929 Thank you, Pastor Zach. Operator, can we call on the 00:52:49.929 --> 00:52:55.610 next speaker? Next we have Ray Morales. Uh Ray, your line 00:52:55.610 --> 00:52:58.289 is open. 00:52:58.289 --> 00:53:02.320 Can you guys hear me? Yes, we can hear you fine. 00:53:02.320 --> 00:53:04.860 Okay, great. Good afternoon. My name is Ray and I'm with 00:53:04.860 --> 00:53:08.360 Anchor L A. And we are, we are in support of 00:53:08.360 --> 00:53:11.900 SoCalGas GRC. You know, in Matthew, Chapter 7, 00:53:11.900 --> 00:53:14.849 Verse 16. Says you will know me, you will know them 00:53:14.849 --> 00:53:17.489 by their fruits. Meaning you will be able to judge 00:53:17.489 --> 00:53:20.949 someone, not by what they say. But by the product of 00:53:20.949 --> 00:53:25.289 their actions specifically SoCalGas. We will, 00:53:25.300 --> 00:53:29.139 we will be able to make the following updates and provide 00:53:29.139 --> 00:53:32.130 good, good. I'm sorry, excuse me and providing good 00:53:32.130 --> 00:53:35.590 paying jobs to work in Californians, as a result of the 00:53:35.590 --> 00:53:39.340 GRC before today. Firstly, they have made commitments 00:53:39.340 --> 00:53:42.599 to upgrade pipelines, compressor stations and other 00:53:42.610 --> 00:53:50.679 uh other, I'm sorry, excuse me. Um, uh instructors. As 00:53:50.679 --> 00:53:53.769 well, as well as to modernize pipelines and storage 00:53:53.769 --> 00:53:57.420 monitoring technology. These this ensures that our 00:53:57.420 --> 00:54:01.599 Southern California families can enjoy continued uninterrupted 00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:04.460 service. Additionally, they are planning to use the 00:54:04.460 --> 00:54:09.050 GRC finances to digitalize the gas system with the 00:54:09.059 --> 00:54:14.230 integration of data form. Over 9,800 new and existing 00:54:14.239 --> 00:54:19.369 filled assets by the end of 2028. That, that places 00:54:19.369 --> 00:54:22.409 there 22 million customers to receive cutting edge 00:54:22.409 --> 00:54:25.309 quality services in our homes, churches and businesses 00:54:25.320 --> 00:54:28.159 for generations to come. Please, please support the 00:54:28.159 --> 00:54:31.570 GRC and let's continue to keep Southern California 00:54:31.579 --> 00:54:35.429 on the cutting edge of the, of the energy system. Thank 00:54:35.429 --> 00:54:39.510 you and God bless. 00:54:39.510 --> 00:54:43.260 Thank you. Operator, let's call on the next speaker. 00:54:43.940 --> 00:54:47.230 Next we have Meredith. No, last name given. Meredith, 00:54:47.230 --> 00:54:50.880 your line is open. 00:54:50.880 --> 00:54:53.340 Hello. This is Meredith and I'm just calling to 00:54:53.349 --> 00:54:56.480 voice my opposition in the rate increase. I agree 00:54:56.480 --> 00:55:00.679 with many of the comments here about. Um, how I believe 00:55:00.679 --> 00:55:04.210 it's mismanagement of the resources that we do have. 00:55:04.210 --> 00:55:09.199 And I do not believe in the idea of rate increases. 00:55:09.210 --> 00:55:15.789 To encourage uh gas consumers to reduce uh, their usage. 00:55:15.800 --> 00:55:19.059 Simply based on the fact that they can no longer afford 00:55:19.059 --> 00:55:24.139 to use their gas. I also don't agree with taking the 00:55:24.139 --> 00:55:28.940 money from the families who can afford to pay for their 00:55:28.940 --> 00:55:32.710 gas bills. And then offering stipends to families who 00:55:32.710 --> 00:55:36.420 are unable to pay. As opposed to making it affordable 00:55:36.420 --> 00:55:40.840 for all people, all households. And that is all I have 00:55:40.840 --> 00:55:44.039 to say. Thank you. 00:55:44.039 --> 00:55:47.920 Thank you. Operator, can we go on to the next speaker 00:55:47.920 --> 00:55:49.769 please? 00:55:49.769 --> 00:55:52.579 Next, we have Jacqueline Moors. Jacqueline Moors, your 00:55:52.579 --> 00:55:57.449 line is open. Hi. Thank you for this opportunity. Um, 00:55:57.460 --> 00:56:01.530 I also disagree with this increase. It seems like several 00:56:01.530 --> 00:56:05.250 times a year, we keep getting notices for increases. 00:56:05.690 --> 00:56:10.780 Um, I also question our billing. Um, we keep getting 00:56:10.780 --> 00:56:16.480 a variance in therms. So for example, one year ago 00:56:16.489 --> 00:56:20.260 my baseline was 46 and I was 4 over baseline, which 00:56:20.260 --> 00:56:23.449 is an increase in charge. This year, my baseline is 00:56:23.449 --> 00:56:28.679 47, but now I'm 11 therms over baseline. So that's 00:56:28.679 --> 00:56:32.760 one area. I noticed a gas commodity charge in March 00:56:32.769 --> 00:56:40.800 2022 was at 60 cents and the uh, commodity charged same 00:56:40.809 --> 00:56:46.699 in March 23 was a $1.16., which is over 100%. Our 00:56:46.699 --> 00:56:51.440 inflation rates at 10%. I also noticed in February 00:56:51.440 --> 00:56:58.670 bill, the commodity rate was $3.37. Now many people 00:56:58.670 --> 00:57:02.559 have mentioned those variation and charges. Um, from 00:57:02.559 --> 00:57:06.460 the lack of storage, but again should not be our fault. 00:57:06.469 --> 00:57:12.010 My one big issue is that I looked up the rates that 00:57:12.010 --> 00:57:18.679 the President of SoCalGas salary was $500,000. 00:57:18.690 --> 00:57:22.309 That's baseline and the mother company President's 00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:26.219 salary, base salary in 2020, which is the last reported. 00:57:26.219 --> 00:57:31.469 Was $1.3 million and his total salary for the year was 00:57:31.480 --> 00:57:36.730 $23 million. Now, how can you justify an increase when 00:57:36.730 --> 00:57:40.630 these Presidents, make more than the President of the 00:57:40.630 --> 00:57:46.840 United States ,which is at $400,000. And the increase, 00:57:46.840 --> 00:57:49.559 I know that there's been a question of a potential 00:57:49.559 --> 00:57:54.880 unfair business practice in February. Um, and it just 00:57:54.880 --> 00:57:58.510 seems inappropriate that we keep getting more and more. 00:57:58.519 --> 00:58:02.780 Thank you. 00:58:02.780 --> 00:58:07.269 Thank you. So I have a question for the Operator. Um, 00:58:07.280 --> 00:58:10.170 Owen, how many speakers do we have in queue right now? 00:58:11.369 --> 00:58:16.699 As of right now, we still have 162 commenters. Okay 00:58:16.710 --> 00:58:20.320 so, I'm going to request the speakers who queued in 00:58:20.320 --> 00:58:22.869 today. Firstly, thank you so much for giving us your 00:58:22.869 --> 00:58:27.289 time. Um, I do want to request that we stay within the 00:58:27.289 --> 00:58:29.719 two minute time limit, so that we can try and cover 00:58:29.719 --> 00:58:33.630 as many speakers as we can today. We do have another 00:58:33.639 --> 00:58:36.710 hearing later at 6pm. So it's the same team that 00:58:36.710 --> 00:58:40.409 will move over to the 6pm hearing. Um, but just 00:58:40.409 --> 00:58:43.590 so that we can stick to the time. I'm gonna request 00:58:43.590 --> 00:58:46.280 all the speakers to please keep their remarks within 00:58:46.280 --> 00:58:50.090 the two limits, two minute time limit. Thank you. Operator, 00:58:50.090 --> 00:58:53.909 please call on the next speaker. Of course, Your Honor. 00:58:53.920 --> 00:58:57.829 Next, we have Rick Garcia. Rick Garcia, your line is 00:58:57.829 --> 00:59:06.489 open. 00:59:06.489 --> 00:59:08.769 Once again, Rick Garcia, your line is open. Could you 00:59:08.769 --> 00:59:22.369 check the mute on your own phone, please? 00:59:22.369 --> 00:59:25.380 Next, we'll move on to Stephanie. No, last name given. 00:59:25.429 --> 00:59:28.309 Stephanie, your line is open. 00:59:28.309 --> 00:59:31.510 Thank you. My name is Stephanie and I'm from Orange, 00:59:31.519 --> 00:59:35.360 the city of Orange and Orange County. Um, I also agree 00:59:35.360 --> 00:59:39.829 with Jacqueline, Jacqueline's comments. I was going 00:59:39.829 --> 00:59:44.940 to comment is the sliding scale for the baseline firms? 00:59:44.949 --> 00:59:48.920 Because I've noticed that too, that the baseline and 00:59:48.920 --> 00:59:53.309 then how much I'm over is different from 2022 to 2023. 00:59:53.320 --> 00:59:57.659 Um also if that is posted, if the baselines are posted 00:59:57.670 --> 00:59:59.210 somewhere. I would like that 00:59:59.390 --> 01:00:03.960 Of where they can be posted. I'm very cautious about 01:00:03.960 --> 01:00:09.409 what I use and not to keep it up too high. Um, 01:00:09.409 --> 01:00:11.739 but at the same time, I should not be freezing in my 01:00:11.739 --> 01:00:17.159 own home. I do pay my taxes. Um, also I don't agree 01:00:17.159 --> 01:00:22.409 with um, the need to get away from gas. It is clean 01:00:22.409 --> 01:00:26.289 energy and renewables are not dependable. And I know 01:00:26.289 --> 01:00:31.069 that this administration has it out for um, energy 01:00:31.069 --> 01:00:36.380 that is dependable. But um, that should not be the 01:00:36.380 --> 01:00:41.480 case. We're fine. God is in control, not us. So I do 01:00:41.480 --> 01:00:44.259 not agree with this price increase and I thank you 01:00:44.259 --> 01:00:48.889 for your time. 01:00:48.889 --> 01:00:52.429 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:00:53.350 --> 01:00:56.380 Next we have Paula Moore. Paula Moore, your line is open. 01:01:01.630 --> 01:01:06.279 Hi, good afternoon. Commissioner, Members. I agree with 01:01:06.289 --> 01:01:11.569 not increasing. Uh, I'm in Palmdale, California. So, what 01:01:11.569 --> 01:01:14.199 I wanted to talk about was not almost, what was it 01:01:14.199 --> 01:01:17.380 not the costs, were they not projected? Uh, was it 01:01:17.380 --> 01:01:21.160 not foreseeable regarding the infrastructure? And, 01:01:21.169 --> 01:01:25.559 and if it was, why wasn't it able to be done in 01:01:25.569 --> 01:01:28.509 like minut or small increments over time. Because it's 01:01:28.509 --> 01:01:33.069 a big increase that we're looking at now. Um and then 01:01:33.080 --> 01:01:38.559 with regard to the assistance, you know, um jokingly 01:01:38.559 --> 01:01:41.800 but not jokingly. You know, my income disqualifies 01:01:41.800 --> 01:01:44.949 me for assistance, but it didn't disqualify, disqualify 01:01:44.949 --> 01:01:48.210 me from the increase, you know. So, um that's something 01:01:48.210 --> 01:01:51.529 that maybe needs to be looked at. I realized it did 01:01:51.539 --> 01:01:57.500 go up on the, on the qualification numbers. But again, 01:01:57.509 --> 01:02:00.710 I still don't qualify for that. And then, you know 01:02:00.710 --> 01:02:03.190 they're talking about it was that, you know, the applications 01:02:03.199 --> 01:02:06.720 every 4 years. Um how does this increase play a 01:02:06.720 --> 01:02:10.510 part in this. Uh, where we were talking about the mishap 01:02:10.510 --> 01:02:12.760 that occurred in Porta Rancho? Are we paying for that? 01:02:12.760 --> 01:02:15.950 Is that we were looking at as opposed to the waiting 01:02:15.950 --> 01:02:20.240 for the 4 years to, to uh do the application. Which 01:02:20.249 --> 01:02:25.010 again, I don't agree with. Um and I do agree with them 01:02:25.020 --> 01:02:29.999 you know, a lot of the speakers that came on uh regarding 01:02:29.999 --> 01:02:34.279 the, the increase. And not, and not being an 01:02:34.279 --> 01:02:38.170 advocate for it. And then lastly, if I'm not too long 01:02:38.179 --> 01:02:41.010 how does the federal government come to play with? 01:02:41.020 --> 01:02:44.429 You know, Canada dating back at least for president 01:02:44.439 --> 01:02:49.040 ran partially on infrastructure. Uh, where is the help 01:02:49.050 --> 01:02:51.920 from them with regard to that infrastructure that you 01:02:51.920 --> 01:02:56.080 say you're trying to uh, make money for? That's all 01:02:56.080 --> 01:02:59.899 I have to say. 01:02:59.899 --> 01:03:03.450 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:03:05.619 --> 01:03:09.849 Next we have David Moderow. David, your line is 01:03:09.849 --> 01:03:13.740 open. 01:03:13.740 --> 01:03:16.980 Hi, my name is David Moderow, M. O. D. E. R. O. 01:03:16.980 --> 01:03:21.659 W. I live in San Juan Capistrano. I'm a barista at 01:03:21.670 --> 01:03:26.570 Starbucks. Uh, I see people all day, average people. Nobody 01:03:26.570 --> 01:03:29.839 can afford these price increases. It's criminal what 01:03:29.839 --> 01:03:31.929 you're doing. I agree with all the people have said 01:03:31.929 --> 01:03:34.760 you're overcompensating yourselves. There needs to 01:03:34.760 --> 01:03:37.800 be an investigation. I hear you saying you want more 01:03:37.800 --> 01:03:42.730 money to invest in things like uh ESG. Nobody cares 01:03:42.730 --> 01:03:47.219 about ESG, okay. Gas is good. We need it. What 01:03:47.219 --> 01:03:49.849 you need to be doing is calling the current administration 01:03:49.860 --> 01:03:52.860 and telling them. Use your lobbying power to tell them 01:03:52.860 --> 01:03:55.839 we need to be drilling more. And bringing prices down 01:03:55.839 --> 01:03:58.990 for Americans and stop sending money to other countries. 01:04:01.390 --> 01:04:04.860 So you are a monopoly. We shouldn't be bailing you 01:04:04.860 --> 01:04:07.629 out. 01:04:07.629 --> 01:04:10.020 No one cares about ESG and we don't want a 01:04:10.020 --> 01:04:12.820 climate credit. That's just a Marxist redistribution 01:04:12.820 --> 01:04:16.690 of wealth. Okay. Charge us less. Don't give us back 01:04:16.690 --> 01:04:20.089 crumbs. When you take the entire cake from us, please. 01:04:20.089 --> 01:04:24.669 We pay our bills and we don't deserve this. Thank you. 01:04:27.620 --> 01:04:30.779 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:04:32.510 --> 01:04:36.149 Next we have David. No, last name given. David, your 01:04:36.149 --> 01:04:38.609 line is open. 01:04:38.609 --> 01:04:42.370 Yeah, this is David McBride, M. C. B. R. I. D. E., 01:04:42.380 --> 01:04:46.500 in Newbury Park, California. Um, I think what needs 01:04:46.500 --> 01:04:49.930 to be revamped as it's been expressed here is the management 01:04:49.930 --> 01:04:53.779 at SoCalGas. So I am in, I am in opposition 01:04:53.779 --> 01:04:56.779 of any rate increase. I think they need to be responsible 01:04:56.779 --> 01:04:59.430 for their budget. Maybe bring people in to understand 01:04:59.430 --> 01:05:02.419 how to run a business. If I ran my department at my 01:05:02.419 --> 01:05:05.419 company, that way, not only would I not get a bonus 01:05:05.419 --> 01:05:09.020 I wouldn't have a job. Um, I'll give you an example 01:05:09.020 --> 01:05:14.380 here. My December bill was $42.78. My January bill 01:05:14.380 --> 01:05:20.250 was $473.25. So with that sticker shock and it's just 01:05:20.250 --> 01:05:22.979 my wife and I living here. We realized we better cut 01:05:22.979 --> 01:05:26.320 back. So we did cut back in the following month was 01:05:26.330 --> 01:05:33.469 $815.56 with less usage. But it was due to the 270% 01:05:33.479 --> 01:05:38.310 increase in, in the expense per therm. So for us to 01:05:38.320 --> 01:05:41.700 believe that this was a temporary thing would be naive 01:05:41.710 --> 01:05:46.870 at best. Um again, if any business that had to sustain 01:05:46.870 --> 01:05:51.830 itself without um being a monopoly. Tried to raise 01:05:51.830 --> 01:05:53.979 prices like this, they would be quickly out of business 01:05:53.979 --> 01:05:56.320 because customers would leave them, it has been expressed. 01:05:57.089 --> 01:05:59.210 So again, I think it's naive to think this is not going 01:05:59.210 --> 01:06:02.640 to happen again. So I would be in opposition of any 01:06:02.649 --> 01:06:05.789 rate increases for SoCalGas. Thank you very much 01:06:05.789 --> 01:06:08.239 for your time. I appreciate you allowing us to speak. 01:06:10.640 --> 01:06:13.820 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:06:15.089 --> 01:06:17.969 Next, we have Deborah Bartlett. Deborah, your line 01:06:17.969 --> 01:06:24.229 is open. Yes. My name is Deborah Bartlett. B as in 01:06:24.229 --> 01:06:29.690 boy, A. R. T. L. E. T. T., and I live in 01:06:29.700 --> 01:06:34.159 North Hollywood, California. And I'm calling because 01:06:34.169 --> 01:06:39.099 um, my concern, this is. I'm a first time caller with 01:06:39.109 --> 01:06:46.399 the uh increase my bill uh, doubling. Um and, um 01:06:47.210 --> 01:06:51.770 I do um, pay more in the Winter. Because I use gas, 01:06:51.779 --> 01:06:55.909 my home is heated by gas. I have a gas floor furnace, 01:06:55.919 --> 01:07:01.029 um and I use gas for heating water. Uh, for my water 01:07:01.029 --> 01:07:05.440 heater and for my clothes dryer. I do not cook with 01:07:05.450 --> 01:07:14.789 gas. Um, I try to use minimal and uh be uh, conservative 01:07:14.789 --> 01:07:20.469 in, in the use. But the rate of my bill doubling 01:07:20.479 --> 01:07:25.760 when it was actually a less therms, used less therms 01:07:25.770 --> 01:07:30.450 and, and actually the bill increased by a day. I was 01:07:30.460 --> 01:07:36.820 had to say I was shocked. Um, and I'm concerned about 01:07:36.820 --> 01:07:41.560 this pattern going forward. I cannot afford to, uh 01:07:41.570 --> 01:07:45.969 the prices. Um, as I say I um, expect for my bill 01:07:45.969 --> 01:07:48.620 to be higher in the winter because I am using the gas. 01:07:48.620 --> 01:07:52.330 Where I'm not, uh, heating my home in, in the Summer 01:07:52.330 --> 01:07:58.200 months. But uh I am very, very concerned um, in 01:07:58.200 --> 01:08:02.700 the rate increase. So I wanted to call and I thank 01:08:02.700 --> 01:08:06.880 you for giving me the opportunity to speak. Um, to 01:08:06.890 --> 01:08:13.789 voice my concerns. I appreciate it. Thank you Miss Bartlett. 01:08:13.789 --> 01:08:20.450 Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:08:20.450 --> 01:08:23.570 Next we have Jacqueline Romero. Jacqueline, your line 01:08:23.570 --> 01:08:32.680 is open. 01:08:32.680 --> 01:08:36.389 Once again, Jacqueline Romero. Can you hear 01:08:36.389 --> 01:08:38.430 me? 01:08:38.430 --> 01:08:43.150 We can. Good afternoon Commission. My name is Jacqueline Romero 01:08:43.150 --> 01:08:45.910 and I'm speaking on behalf of the Los Angeles Area 01:08:45.910 --> 01:08:48.629 Chamber of Commerce. One of the largest business organizations 01:08:48.629 --> 01:08:51.810 in Los Angeles. Representing over 1,400 businesses we're 01:08:51.810 --> 01:08:54.369 in support of SoCalGas General Rate Case request. 01:08:54.379 --> 01:08:57.989 Uh, the Chamber strongly supports investments in infrastructure 01:08:57.989 --> 01:09:00.200 needed to carry cleaner fuel. That lead businesses in 01:09:00.200 --> 01:09:02.930 the region to meet California's climate goals. We urge 01:09:02.930 --> 01:09:05.139 the Commission to approve the request to ensure consumers 01:09:05.139 --> 01:09:08.019 receive safe, reliable and sustainable energy. Thanks 01:09:08.019 --> 01:09:14.219 for your time. 01:09:14.219 --> 01:09:19.509 Thank you. Operator, please call the next speaker. Next 01:09:19.509 --> 01:09:24.489 we have Sam Hirsch. Sam, your line is open. 01:09:24.489 --> 01:09:28.690 Yes. Hello. That is my name Sam Hirsch. I live in 91324. 01:09:29.629 --> 01:09:34.749 I am absolutely stunned that you we're uh, gas company 01:09:34.749 --> 01:09:38.310 is trying to get more money when all you're doing is 01:09:38.310 --> 01:09:41.969 gouging and screwing the public. You are a monopoly. 01:09:41.979 --> 01:09:46.910 You, you're absolutely sickening. When is enough, enough. 01:09:47.129 --> 01:09:56.920 Your, your top staff earns a reported your COO, $943K. 01:09:56.920 --> 01:10:04.300 CFO, $1.7 mil. CEO $2.9 million. Senior Vice President, 01:10:04.310 --> 01:10:08.960 $1.54 million. And how much bonuses and back end 01:10:08.960 --> 01:10:11.729 money? Who knows? Obviously, we've heard from some 01:10:11.729 --> 01:10:14.660 callers already. That could be in the tens of millions 01:10:14.660 --> 01:10:19.450 of dollars. Uh, this is wrong. You know what I am a 01:10:19.450 --> 01:10:21.830 senior as well as many of the callers who, who have 01:10:21.830 --> 01:10:24.930 called prior. And even if I wasn't a senior on a fixed 01:10:24.930 --> 01:10:29.269 income, it's nuts. I've been living in the San Fernando 01:10:29.269 --> 01:10:32.989 Valley all of my life. 01:10:32.989 --> 01:10:36.849 And where the gas used to be the cheapest commodity, 01:10:36.859 --> 01:10:42.889 it has gone beyond insane. My gas bill last month was 01:10:42.900 --> 01:10:46.729 what I pay in the summertime, running a five ton air 01:10:46.729 --> 01:10:50.349 conditioning for water and power and sewer and all 01:10:50.349 --> 01:10:52.969 of it together. 01:10:52.969 --> 01:10:56.589 That's how high the gas bill has gotten. You are gouging, 01:10:56.599 --> 01:10:59.080 we're going to call the Governor's office, you need 01:10:59.080 --> 01:11:02.400 to be stopped. Okay. If you have blunders and you don't 01:11:02.400 --> 01:11:05.139 know how to run a business, that has been said with 01:11:05.139 --> 01:11:08.979 prior callers, you need to be out of business. Okay. 01:11:08.989 --> 01:11:11.550 You profit, you profit, you profit, you profit and 01:11:11.550 --> 01:11:15.170 you want us to pay more because you promise us. Oh, 01:11:15.180 --> 01:11:18.320 you know that you want to get into clean energy and 01:11:18.320 --> 01:11:21.410 all that you have. You have no concept of clean energy. 01:11:21.420 --> 01:11:24.430 You want to keep sucking from the ground because it's 01:11:24.430 --> 01:11:27.040 free. You really don't want to invest anything. All 01:11:27.040 --> 01:11:30.080 you want to do is maximize your profits by spending 01:11:30.080 --> 01:11:39.339 as little as possible. Don't lie to us. 01:11:39.339 --> 01:11:42.479 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:11:43.999 --> 01:11:49.900 Next we have Wendy Reed. Wendy, your line is open. 01:11:49.900 --> 01:11:54.300 Hello. Thank you. Um, my name is Wendy Reed, R. E. E. D., 01:11:54.310 --> 01:11:57.859 I live in Courts Hill, California. Thank you, Your 01:11:57.869 --> 01:12:01.330 Honor and members of the Commission for this opportunity. 01:12:01.330 --> 01:12:06.099 To comment in opposition, strong opposition to any 01:12:06.099 --> 01:12:10.330 rate increases for Southern California Gas or its parent 01:12:10.330 --> 01:12:15.030 company, Sempra. Uh since 2014, they've made incredible 01:12:15.030 --> 01:12:20.979 profits. Uh, $419 million compared with $332 million 01:12:20.979 --> 01:12:26.629 in the previous year. In 2021, they earned uh billions 01:12:26.639 --> 01:12:33.089 of dollars and paid uh, what we have here $8.43 per 01:12:33.089 --> 01:12:40.945 share in 2021 to shareholders. In 2022, there in $2.92 01:12:40.955 --> 01:12:48.295 billion and paid $9.21 per diluted share to shareholders. 01:12:48.305 --> 01:12:53.844 In 2021, their Chief Executive Officer of uh, the parent 01:12:53.844 --> 01:13:00.415 company, Sempra raked in $25 million as others have 01:13:00.415 --> 01:13:06.269 commented. So the core issue here is that SoCalGas 01:13:06.280 --> 01:13:11.080 and Sempra are private corporations. And you are the 01:13:11.080 --> 01:13:16.930 Public Utilities Commission. They are working for their 01:13:16.940 --> 01:13:22.729 stockholders and their employees and not for the public. 01:13:22.920 --> 01:13:25.729 We are middle class people. We've lived in our home 01:13:25.729 --> 01:13:30.180 for 23 years and our normal gas bill in the dead of 01:13:30.180 --> 01:13:34.979 Winter is perhaps $200. Without notice, and without 01:13:34.979 --> 01:13:40.080 our choice, it elevated to almost $500 last month and 01:13:40.080 --> 01:13:44.950 it's $300 this month. And never in the history of my gas bills 01:13:44.960 --> 01:13:48.879 have I ever seen that gas commodity charge give me 01:13:48.879 --> 01:13:53.070 back part of these profits. Southern California Gas 01:13:53.080 --> 01:13:56.359 and Sempra get profits that they don't share with users 01:13:56.369 --> 01:13:59.670 and give to stakeholders. Do not approve an increase. 01:14:03.550 --> 01:14:06.820 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:14:06.820 --> 01:14:11.019 the next speaker. Next we have Beverly Taylor. Beverly 01:14:11.019 --> 01:14:14.780 Taylor, your line is open. Um, thank you guys for having 01:14:14.780 --> 01:14:18.180 this time. I'm agreeing with what everyone is saying. 01:14:18.190 --> 01:14:22.589 Don't give this increase. We were, we were thrown into 01:14:22.589 --> 01:14:26.660 a tailspin with this increase without warning. Without 01:14:26.670 --> 01:14:28.719 they didn't come to the Public Utility Commission before 01:14:28.719 --> 01:14:31.290 they did what they did. And they said it's just gonna 01:14:31.290 --> 01:14:34.692 be December and January and it started in November. 01:14:34.703 --> 01:14:38.613 If they can't manage and manage their money, then they 01:14:38.613 --> 01:14:41.392 don't need anymore. They've been given all this, this 01:14:41.402 --> 01:14:44.532 this money and they're going out and paying their shareholders 01:14:44.542 --> 01:14:47.473 and themselves. And there's not anything being done 01:14:47.483 --> 01:14:50.373 and they need to be investigated and they need to be 01:14:50.373 --> 01:14:54.073 held accountable for this. This is just absurd. Why 01:14:54.073 --> 01:14:57.636 should we, we deprive ourselves of heat? You know, 01:14:57.646 --> 01:15:00.465 I'm pretty sure there's their shareholders and their 01:15:00.465 --> 01:15:03.835 leadership have the heat on. They have their, their 01:15:03.845 --> 01:15:06.715 um, whatever because they don't, they're not suffering 01:15:06.715 --> 01:15:09.745 the same thing. I'm a senior citizen because I paid 01:15:09.756 --> 01:15:13.855 I paid. I'm getting paid $35 more in pension, I can't 01:15:13.855 --> 01:15:17.629 get relief. And that's absurd. You have these, these 01:15:17.629 --> 01:15:21.869 $100,000 worth of bills. It can't be paid. Somebody 01:15:21.879 --> 01:15:24.430 said, oh, they helped us through COVID, they did this 01:15:24.430 --> 01:15:27.170 they did that. Well, that's fine. But we're talking 01:15:27.170 --> 01:15:30.180 about paying a bill. You can have all these luxuries 01:15:30.180 --> 01:15:32.330 and all these other things. But if you can't pay your 01:15:32.330 --> 01:15:35.999 bill is sort of a moot point. And don't approve this, 01:15:36.009 --> 01:15:39.320 they're a monopoly. They're here to rip us off and 01:15:39.320 --> 01:15:41.650 I'm tired of it. What's to say that this won't happen 01:15:41.650 --> 01:15:43.680 during this whole time they've had this rate increase. 01:15:43.690 --> 01:15:46.290 Then all of a sudden because of commodities, it goes 01:15:46.290 --> 01:15:49.969 up again. No, no, I'm tired of this and something should 01:15:49.969 --> 01:15:52.119 be done. And they need to be held accountable for this. 01:15:52.129 --> 01:15:55.629 Thank you so much for allowing me to speak. 01:15:55.629 --> 01:15:59.400 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:16:02.060 --> 01:16:05.410 Next we have Sarah Catalan. Sarah, your line is open. 01:16:06.790 --> 01:16:10.960 Hi. Thank you. Can you hear me okay? 01:16:10.960 --> 01:16:14.960 Yes, we can. Okay great, thank you. I just wanted 01:16:14.960 --> 01:16:19.349 to say we um, I certainly identify with all the callers 01:16:19.359 --> 01:16:23.239 talking about. There was a price crunch. I grew up 01:16:23.239 --> 01:16:26.420 in a household with a single mom. I'm the youngest 01:16:26.420 --> 01:16:30.739 of five kids and I absolutely understand what it is 01:16:30.739 --> 01:16:34.269 like to have nothing left over at the end of the month. 01:16:34.280 --> 01:16:37.749 So for the last two months, the rate increases that. 01:16:37.759 --> 01:16:40.109 I'm sorry, the price increase that many of us saw on 01:16:40.109 --> 01:16:43.180 our bills. Um, it was definitely some sticker shock 01:16:43.180 --> 01:16:46.780 there. I think the additional reason for that is because 01:16:46.780 --> 01:16:50.249 gas has always been such an affordable alternative 01:16:50.249 --> 01:16:54.060 to electricity. That we can't afford to pay for gas 01:16:54.070 --> 01:16:59.129 what we pay for our electricity (inaudible) and advertise clean 01:16:59.129 --> 01:17:03.880 energy. My house recently went fuller, um, on my house 01:17:03.880 --> 01:17:07.170 to lower our electric bills and our gas bill has always 01:17:07.170 --> 01:17:10.400 been affordable. But I think it's important to note 01:17:10.410 --> 01:17:14.200 and that kind of correct the record here. Um, the fact 01:17:14.210 --> 01:17:17.829 that SoCalGas is a regulated utility. It's, it's 01:17:17.829 --> 01:17:19.999 not, you know, allowed to do whatever it wants and 01:17:19.999 --> 01:17:21.789 charge whatever it wants. As some of the other callers 01:17:21.789 --> 01:17:25.289 have said. And they are not allowed to make a profit 01:17:25.289 --> 01:17:28.340 from the customer's consumption. So I think that's 01:17:28.340 --> 01:17:30.729 important misinformation that has been going around 01:17:30.729 --> 01:17:33.729 from some other callers, that needs to be corrected. 01:17:33.960 --> 01:17:36.420 And I think it's really important. You have, people 01:17:36.420 --> 01:17:40.610 mentioned Porter Ranch, you cannot deny a company the 01:17:40.610 --> 01:17:44.579 ability to make any money or have a profit while simultaneously 01:17:44.579 --> 01:17:49.299 requiring them to increase their spending on safety 01:17:49.299 --> 01:17:53.200 programs, new lines, new programs like that, you can't 01:17:53.200 --> 01:17:56.279 do both simultaneously. So if what we're saying is 01:17:56.279 --> 01:18:01.430 that we prioritize safety and efficiency and the reliable 01:18:01.430 --> 01:18:04.779 delivery of clean natural gas. And you have to allow 01:18:04.779 --> 01:18:07.979 them to charge what it costs them to produce those 01:18:07.989 --> 01:18:11.380 things. So I understand nobody wants to pay more. I'm 01:18:11.380 --> 01:18:14.120 certainly not on here to advocate for an increase in 01:18:14.120 --> 01:18:17.950 anyone's bill. Except that costs it up, costs are up 01:18:17.960 --> 01:18:21.890 all over our communities and this is just another one. 01:18:21.890 --> 01:18:24.590 And we have to allow them to charge what it costs them 01:18:24.590 --> 01:18:27.170 to be in business. So, thank you very much for your 01:18:27.170 --> 01:18:30.210 time. 01:18:30.210 --> 01:18:32.569 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:18:32.569 --> 01:18:37.190 the next speaker. 01:18:37.190 --> 01:18:41.259 Next we have Beady Mathlee or Betty Mathli. Your line 01:18:41.259 --> 01:18:50.519 is now open. 01:18:50.519 --> 01:19:01.670 Beady Mathlee, your line is open. 01:19:01.670 --> 01:19:04.920 Next up, we have Scott Sterling or Sterling Scott. Your 01:19:04.920 --> 01:19:08.440 line is now open. Yes, Sterling Scott. Last name is 01:19:08.440 --> 01:19:12.210 S. C. O. T. T. I'm actually an Associate Director with 01:19:12.210 --> 01:19:16.259 Boys Republic. Um, we're a private nonprofit residential 01:19:16.259 --> 01:19:18.769 treatment facility for troubled youth. And work with 01:19:18.769 --> 01:19:22.380 troubled families in lower economic status families 01:19:22.380 --> 01:19:25.719 and throughout L A county and San Bernardino. We're um, 01:19:26.029 --> 01:19:29.739 I've been with the company 32 years and while we also 01:19:29.739 --> 01:19:34.239 identify with the recent price issues, um, however 01:19:34.239 --> 01:19:36.910 we historically, you know, that hasn't been the case 01:19:36.910 --> 01:19:40.069 with our gas bill. Our gas utility bill has historically 01:19:40.069 --> 01:19:42.430 been the most affordable, affordable utility that we 01:19:42.430 --> 01:19:46.660 pay. Um so we're generally in support with the GRC 01:19:46.660 --> 01:19:49.249 and we have confidence that the gas company is gonna 01:19:49.249 --> 01:19:51.829 make the improvements and the corrections to get back 01:19:51.829 --> 01:19:56.009 on task. Um you nnow, our gas utility bill is not one 01:19:56.009 --> 01:19:59.759 that gets interrupted. Unlike um, electricity. Electricity 01:19:59.759 --> 01:20:01.999 gets interrupted and we can always count on the gas 01:20:01.999 --> 01:20:06.920 usually. So, um we also have, you know, with our troubled 01:20:06.920 --> 01:20:10.289 youth, we, we have vocational training programs. And 01:20:10.299 --> 01:20:13.319 if we were to have to, you know, with the talk about 01:20:13.329 --> 01:20:17.650 going all electric. Um, it would really hurt us financially 01:20:17.650 --> 01:20:21.710 and take away some of our ability to um do treat the 01:20:21.710 --> 01:20:24.539 our provide services to our troubled youth with our 01:20:24.549 --> 01:20:28.190 vocational training programs. So in general, we are 01:20:28.200 --> 01:20:31.079 we are in favor of the GRC and we have 01:20:31.079 --> 01:20:33.579 confidence that the gas company is going to make the 01:20:33.579 --> 01:20:36.350 improvements and it. I just want to remind everyone 01:20:36.350 --> 01:20:39.100 that the gas utility bill has always been our most 01:20:39.100 --> 01:20:43.890 affordable one. Thank you very much. 01:20:43.890 --> 01:20:46.660 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 01:20:46.660 --> 01:20:51.499 on the next speaker. Next we have Derek Stone Lopez. 01:20:51.509 --> 01:20:55.650 Stone Lopez, your line is open. 01:20:55.650 --> 01:20:59.210 Hello, can you hear me? 01:20:59.210 --> 01:21:03.299 Yes, we can hear you fine. Okay. Thank you very much. 01:21:03.309 --> 01:21:09.460 I also am retired and on a fixed income and just like 01:21:09.469 --> 01:21:12.380 many of the people that have spoken before. There was 01:21:12.390 --> 01:21:17.400 no formal letter mailed to me telling me that my gas 01:21:17.410 --> 01:21:22.380 bill was going to increase. I agree with everyone else 01:21:22.390 --> 01:21:26.630 but they said that Sempra is a monopoly. I have also 01:21:26.630 --> 01:21:30.610 looked into what all the CEOs, and those and 01:21:30.610 --> 01:21:35.150 not just the CEOs and they're big money. That 01:21:35.150 --> 01:21:38.519 they make annually, but also the people that are underneath 01:21:38.519 --> 01:21:44.559 them. They are very well compensated. More compensated 01:21:44.569 --> 01:21:46.890 than many of the seniors that are here struggling to 01:21:46.890 --> 01:21:51.029 pay these bills and these seniors as one of my friends 01:21:51.039 --> 01:21:58.059 had received a $600 bill. They are 78 retired, turned 01:21:58.059 --> 01:22:02.039 off their gas bill. Then they decided they wanted to 01:22:02.039 --> 01:22:05.729 turn it back on because they were freezing. And then 01:22:05.729 --> 01:22:09.340 the gas bill charges them a percentage for not paying 01:22:09.340 --> 01:22:12.390 their gas bill. And they're still waiting 45 days for 01:22:12.390 --> 01:22:17.779 a hearing as to why their gas bill was so high. 01:22:17.779 --> 01:22:21.650 That being said, I do not agree with the bullet points 01:22:21.660 --> 01:22:24.779 that have already all of the bullet points that they 01:22:24.779 --> 01:22:30.160 mentioned have already been covered. They are already 01:22:30.170 --> 01:22:33.890 in place and they have, they should already be following 01:22:33.890 --> 01:22:36.610 those bullet points that they had mentioned. They wanted 01:22:36.620 --> 01:22:42.630 to use this rate increase for. I am not in favor of 01:22:42.630 --> 01:22:47.799 the 13.2% rate hike. That they want to give to their 01:22:47.809 --> 01:22:55.789 customers and I am not in favor of any high, any race 01:22:55.799 --> 01:22:59.069 rate increases whatsoever that they need to learn how 01:22:59.069 --> 01:23:04.049 to manage their money. I believe that this is a blatant 01:23:04.059 --> 01:23:11.350 robbery with their hikes into people that are seniors. 01:23:11.360 --> 01:23:15.769 And have no way of paying their bills and must shut 01:23:15.779 --> 01:23:19.059 off. Thank you. 01:23:19.059 --> 01:23:22.749 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:23:22.749 --> 01:23:26.269 the next speaker. 01:23:26.269 --> 01:23:30.160 Next we have Lou Gyros or Gyros. Your line is 01:23:30.160 --> 01:23:36.370 open. 01:23:36.370 --> 01:23:41.150 I'm sorry, can you repeat the name? 01:23:41.150 --> 01:23:44.410 Your line is open? We can hear you. Okay. Thank you. 01:23:44.420 --> 01:23:47.319 I just want to make sure it was me. Hello. My name 01:23:47.319 --> 01:23:52.989 is Luca (inaudible). I, I work for (inaudible) Legal Center. We're a community grassroots 01:23:52.999 --> 01:23:55.960 community based organization out of the Inland Empire. 01:23:55.969 --> 01:23:59.279 Organizing farm workers and immigrants here in our 01:23:59.289 --> 01:24:05.049 region. I'm calling from Coachella uh and although I understand 01:24:05.059 --> 01:24:07.920 SoCalGas intention to update their infrastructure. 01:24:07.920 --> 01:24:11.940 I am not in favor as an organization and having a community 01:24:11.940 --> 01:24:14.539 that is already living in hardship and, and living 01:24:14.539 --> 01:24:17.969 paycheck to paycheck. Pay for SoCalGas proposed 01:24:17.979 --> 01:24:21.390 new investment. The ongoing increases continue to hurt 01:24:21.390 --> 01:24:25.150 our community. Instead of increasing, increasing rates 01:24:25.160 --> 01:24:27.620 there should be additional community programs that 01:24:27.620 --> 01:24:31.440 assist low-income families. We continue to see farm 01:24:31.440 --> 01:24:35.400 workers that work or uh that harvest our fruits and 01:24:35.400 --> 01:24:38.200 veggies, not even be able to afford some of the fruits 01:24:38.200 --> 01:24:42.160 and veggies they harvest. These additional uh, increases 01:24:42.170 --> 01:24:45.140 are definitely impacting our most vulnerable communities 01:24:45.150 --> 01:24:49.710 We, we hope that uh the uh CPUC works 01:24:49.710 --> 01:24:53.309 with SoCalGas to really work with programs that 01:24:53.309 --> 01:24:56.039 assist vulnerable communities that are living in hardship 01:24:56.039 --> 01:24:59.039 and still can't recover from the COVID pandemic. Some 01:24:59.039 --> 01:25:01.309 of them have to say either I pay the rent or pay 01:25:01.309 --> 01:25:05.729 our our utilities. So we hope to see some favorable 01:25:05.729 --> 01:25:09.019 solutions to support our most vulnerable communities 01:25:09.019 --> 01:25:11.450 that are already living in hardship and can't afford 01:25:11.469 --> 01:25:15.069 to continue increases in their utility rates. Thank 01:25:15.069 --> 01:25:17.710 you. 01:25:17.710 --> 01:25:20.890 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:25:20.890 --> 01:25:25.120 the next speaker. Next we have Peggy Nightingale. Peggy, 01:25:25.120 --> 01:25:27.579 your line is open. 01:25:27.579 --> 01:25:33.019 Hello, my name is Nightengale and N. I. G. H. T. E. N. 01:25:33.029 --> 01:25:38.779 G. A. L. E. I live in Menifee. Thank you for allowing 01:25:38.779 --> 01:25:44.039 us this time, it means a lot. Um, I am heartily in 01:25:44.039 --> 01:25:49.180 opposed to any rate increase. I'm a retired senior 01:25:49.180 --> 01:25:55.450 citizen and I get no help. Um, every day is like this 01:25:55.460 --> 01:25:59.700 I don't turn my heat on because I can't afford it. 01:25:59.710 --> 01:26:03.759 My (inaudible) bill has tripled. I don't use my dryer. My clothes 01:26:03.759 --> 01:26:07.809 are hanging up all over the house on drying rags. Um 01:26:07.819 --> 01:26:12.140 use cold water washes. That's the norm and I barely 01:26:12.140 --> 01:26:16.749 use the gas stove at all. I get very cold. I wear 01:26:16.749 --> 01:26:19.519 gloves in the house, two pairs of pajamas to go to 01:26:19.519 --> 01:26:23.130 bed with foot shirts and pants over them. We as a senior 01:26:23.130 --> 01:26:28.479 group on senior Social Security are suffering. Please 01:26:28.489 --> 01:26:33.620 do not allow these outrageous unrealistic rates. I 01:26:33.620 --> 01:26:36.499 don't want to sound like a curmudgeon, but we do need 01:26:36.499 --> 01:26:40.509 help in. And someone needs to see how this really affects 01:26:40.509 --> 01:26:43.479 our day to day life and I'm not the only one. Do 01:26:43.479 --> 01:26:46.999 I pay for meds. Do I eat or do I keep my 01:26:47.009 --> 01:26:50.880 house running in a normal manner with $200 bills for 01:26:50.880 --> 01:26:54.600 a little tiny house. And I wasn't gonna sound like a 01:26:54.600 --> 01:26:56.969 curmudgeon. And so I'm not. Thank you. I'm glad that 01:26:56.979 --> 01:26:59.690 we have to ask. Your Honor, thank you for letting us 01:26:59.690 --> 01:27:03.930 have this opportunity. Thank you and goodbye. Thank 01:27:03.930 --> 01:27:06.809 you, Miss Nightengale. Operator, please call on the 01:27:06.809 --> 01:27:09.489 next speaker. 01:27:09.489 --> 01:27:12.450 Next we have Ricardo Brown. Ricardo Brown, your line 01:27:12.450 --> 01:27:15.130 is open. 01:27:15.130 --> 01:27:19.590 Good afternoon. Um, my name is Ricardo Brown. B. R. O. 01:27:19.590 --> 01:27:26.969 W. N. Uh, I'm against the rate hike because I feel 01:27:26.969 --> 01:27:30.930 it's not fair. If you, you never whether you're the 01:27:30.940 --> 01:27:33.979 gas company or electric company, give anything back 01:27:33.989 --> 01:27:39.469 to the customers. You raise through the PUC every 01:27:39.469 --> 01:27:43.150 3 years, 4years, You get your raises but you 01:27:43.150 --> 01:27:47.309 never give back to the community. Uh, so I'm against 01:27:47.319 --> 01:27:55.690 uh any increase. I live in Marino Valley and I need 01:27:55.700 --> 01:28:00.420 support. Um, I'm retired. I'm on pension, social security. 01:28:00.430 --> 01:28:05.059 We can't afford this when, especially if it's 01:28:05.059 --> 01:28:07.989 true. What people are saying that they are getting 01:28:08.920 --> 01:28:14.860 $2 billion dollars profit, give us some of it back. 01:28:14.870 --> 01:28:18.670 So it released some of the debt that we're in. So I 01:28:18.670 --> 01:28:25.049 just want to let you know um, if they went and raise 01:28:25.049 --> 01:28:30.120 it, let's say for 4 years, 0.5% or 10% or whatever 01:28:30.130 --> 01:28:34.600 but gave and, and each year gave back to the community 01:28:34.610 --> 01:28:37.700 so much, then I would go for that. But other than that 01:28:37.700 --> 01:28:40.170 I don't want to see an increase because it's not gonna 01:28:40.170 --> 01:28:43.749 come back and do anything for me. That's all I have 01:28:43.749 --> 01:28:47.120 to say. Thank you. 01:28:47.120 --> 01:28:50.039 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:28:50.039 --> 01:28:54.180 the next speaker. 01:28:54.180 --> 01:28:59.989 Next we have Francis Eicher. 01:28:59.989 --> 01:29:05.110 Hello, this is Francis Eicher. Uh, Anaheim. Last name, 01:29:05.120 --> 01:29:10.930 E as in Edward, I. C. H. E. R. Uh, I can 01:29:11.940 --> 01:29:14.759 say again and again, what everybody else has said the 01:29:14.759 --> 01:29:18.579 rate hikes are absolutely ridiculous. CEOs make sure 01:29:18.579 --> 01:29:21.999 that they get their money. Gas company is such a monopoly. 01:29:22.009 --> 01:29:25.999 Whoever they do business with, they can negotiate. Because 01:29:25.999 --> 01:29:29.180 the company they do business with also wants to make 01:29:29.180 --> 01:29:33.329 money. But they don't need to because they will overcharge 01:29:33.329 --> 01:29:39.130 us. That's not fair. And as a senior citizen, 86 years 01:29:39.130 --> 01:29:43.569 old, I live on a fixed income. My bill two months ago 01:29:43.569 --> 01:29:49.370 was less than $50. Last month, it was almost $300. That's 01:29:49.370 --> 01:29:53.039 impossible. We walk around the house here, I walk around 01:29:53.039 --> 01:29:56.430 the house here, I should say double, double, double 01:29:56.430 --> 01:30:02.559 dressed just to stay warm. So I hope you consider and 01:30:02.559 --> 01:30:06.160 don't raise our rates any more than they need to be. 01:30:06.170 --> 01:30:09.660 Which should be nothing because the gas company has 01:30:09.670 --> 01:30:13.989 always been the fairest company to work with. Not anymore. 01:30:13.999 --> 01:30:18.090 I have a brother-in-law and a nephew that are both 01:30:18.090 --> 01:30:21.019 retired from the gas company. And they can't even figure 01:30:21.019 --> 01:30:24.749 out what's going on. Thank you for your time. Bye. 01:30:27.529 --> 01:30:31.299 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:30:31.299 --> 01:30:35.880 the next speaker. Next we have Connor Medina or Medina 01:30:35.930 --> 01:30:40.900 Connor, your line is open. 01:30:40.900 --> 01:30:44.910 Hi there. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you fine. 01:30:45.940 --> 01:30:50.079 Hello. This is Connor Medina. That's M. E. D. I. N. A. 01:30:50.090 --> 01:30:53.289 calling from Irvine. Um, I am the Government Affairs 01:30:53.289 --> 01:30:56.299 Manager for the Orange County Business Council, leading 01:30:56.299 --> 01:31:00.360 voice of business in Orange County. 01:31:00.360 --> 01:31:04.620 One second here. 01:31:04.620 --> 01:31:07.559 Um we are focused on supporting Orange County economic 01:31:07.559 --> 01:31:09.979 development. Which depends on investments to help the 01:31:09.979 --> 01:31:12.739 county and state transition to a clean energy future. 01:31:13.360 --> 01:31:17.460 First. Um I echo Sarah Catalans comment regarding setting 01:31:17.460 --> 01:31:19.670 the record straight on the facts about how regulated 01:31:19.670 --> 01:31:23.090 utility function. OCBC would also like to highlight 01:31:23.100 --> 01:31:26.930 the 2024 general rate cases, commitment to developing 01:31:26.930 --> 01:31:30.829 hydrogen technologies and helping to facilitate decarbonization 01:31:30.829 --> 01:31:34.739 throughout the system. Modernizing and upgrading infrastructure 01:31:34.739 --> 01:31:37.640 to improve the distribution and the storage of natural 01:31:37.640 --> 01:31:41.460 gas. Are important investments to support future statewide 01:31:41.460 --> 01:31:45.519 growth and maintain business competitiveness. Orange 01:31:45.519 --> 01:31:48.100 County and California as a whole can only meet their 01:31:48.100 --> 01:31:51.110 energy needs through and all of the above approach. 01:31:51.120 --> 01:31:54.069 Where a diverse resource mix is utilized to help meet 01:31:54.069 --> 01:31:57.539 clean energy mandates. The Orange County Business Council 01:31:57.549 --> 01:32:00.029 is pleased to see the general rate case. Incorporate 01:32:00.029 --> 01:32:04.519 this approach. Thank you. 01:32:04.519 --> 01:32:07.370 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 01:32:07.370 --> 01:32:11.309 on the next speaker. Next we have Hillary, with no last 01:32:11.309 --> 01:32:14.880 name given. Hillary, your line is open. 01:32:14.880 --> 01:32:20.509 Yes, Hillary and I live in Los Angeles. Um, vehemently 01:32:20.739 --> 01:32:28.069 vehemently opposed to the price increases. For a while 01:32:28.069 --> 01:32:31.690 the bills remain consistent. Therms have not changed. 01:32:32.620 --> 01:32:37.100 And incredulous looking at the last few bills how the 01:32:37.110 --> 01:32:40.299 gas, commodity fee and gas transportation fees have 01:32:40.309 --> 01:32:47.499 skyrocketed. And people cannot live, live like this. 01:32:47.840 --> 01:32:53.880 And I concur with a lot of the other callers 01:32:53.880 --> 01:32:57.630 sleeping under four blankets, doubling up on clothes 01:32:57.630 --> 01:33:00.440 and socks. 01:33:00.440 --> 01:33:06.469 Most nights even have a hat on, barely cooking with 01:33:06.479 --> 01:33:11.890 stove or oven. Just to keep the terms in line because 01:33:11.890 --> 01:33:16.130 while that fee has not gone up that much, it's the 01:33:16.130 --> 01:33:20.380 other two that are problematic. And I'm listening to 01:33:20.380 --> 01:33:23.930 all these other comments and I think there is, there 01:33:23.930 --> 01:33:28.200 are big problems with mismanagement, profit maximization, 01:33:28.979 --> 01:33:33.390 and there needs to be accountability somewhere. Do 01:33:33.390 --> 01:33:37.299 not let people rest on their laurels. They presumably 01:33:37.299 --> 01:33:43.150 have jobs to do a job and to consider the consumer. 01:33:45.450 --> 01:33:50.840 And with the pandemic causing a domino effect, that 01:33:50.840 --> 01:33:54.819 is not to be believed. And it's not just this bill 01:33:54.819 --> 01:34:01.090 it's telephone bills and water and electric. As all 01:34:01.090 --> 01:34:03.920 of this gets compounded. How are people expected to 01:34:03.920 --> 01:34:07.369 survive on a daily basis? And even to think in the 01:34:07.369 --> 01:34:10.409 long term, 01:34:10.409 --> 01:34:16.619 it's just incredulous and the hikes just can't continue. 01:34:16.630 --> 01:34:20.800 They can't, they simply cannot. Thank you for your 01:34:20.800 --> 01:34:23.820 time. 01:34:23.820 --> 01:34:26.530 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 01:34:26.530 --> 01:34:30.679 on the next speaker. Next we have Stephen Leffert,. Stephen 01:34:30.679 --> 01:34:33.530 your line is open. 01:34:33.530 --> 01:34:39.150 Thank you, Stephen Leffert, L. E. F. F. E. R. T. My 01:34:39.159 --> 01:34:43.820 real question is the relationship between SoCalGas 01:34:43.820 --> 01:34:47.429 and Sempra Energy, which is their mother company. Is 01:34:47.440 --> 01:34:51.940 that regulated by the PUC? Because they can make the 01:34:51.949 --> 01:34:57.050 tremendous profit. Um, and just SoCalGas just passes 01:34:57.050 --> 01:35:04.940 it on. So um, question of the regulation of Sempra 01:35:04.979 --> 01:35:10.809 the parent company. Um, and in the past, you know, 01:35:10.809 --> 01:35:13.479 when they had that gas pipeline explosion in Northern 01:35:13.479 --> 01:35:17.760 California up in the Bay Area, because of failed maintenance. 01:35:17.769 --> 01:35:21.059 Well, that's because it seems that the gas company 01:35:21.059 --> 01:35:24.380 is more concerned about the dividends to their stock 01:35:24.380 --> 01:35:27.050 holders than it is to actually maintaining their own 01:35:27.050 --> 01:35:30.409 equipment. Porter Ranch is another example of that. 01:35:30.420 --> 01:35:33.220 So I go along with everybody else. I'm opposed to any 01:35:33.220 --> 01:35:36.249 rate increase, but I would really like to see Sempra 01:35:36.249 --> 01:35:40.900 energy regulated in California. Because they could just 01:35:40.909 --> 01:35:44.150 you know, make all the money by passing the cost on 01:35:44.159 --> 01:35:49.960 through SOCAL gas or any of the other companies. Um 01:35:49.970 --> 01:35:54.220 That's it. Thank you for listening. 01:35:54.220 --> 01:35:56.979 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:35:56.979 --> 01:36:00.929 the next speaker. Next we have Linda Mendez. Linda, 01:36:00.929 --> 01:36:11.710 your line is now open. 01:36:11.710 --> 01:36:25.920 Again. Linda Mendez, your line is now open. 01:36:25.920 --> 01:36:28.530 Next we have Mark Miller. Mark Miller, your line is 01:36:28.539 --> 01:36:33.630 now open. Yes. Hello. Can you hear me okay? Yes, we 01:36:33.630 --> 01:36:37.789 can hear you fine. Okay. I'm a senior also, I'm in 01:36:37.789 --> 01:36:42.840 a senior park in a Lancaster, California. Uh, my last 01:36:42.840 --> 01:36:47.599 name is Miller, M. I. L. L. E. R. And I just 01:36:47.610 --> 01:36:50.579 find it a criminal that these people want to raise 01:36:50.579 --> 01:36:54.710 these rates. When they gave us no notice that we were 01:36:54.710 --> 01:37:00.229 gonna get these big bills that came in January and now February 01:37:00.229 --> 01:37:07.179 was just as bad or slightly worse. Now my, uh my 01:37:07.179 --> 01:37:09.949 problem with the whole thing is these rate increases 01:37:09.960 --> 01:37:13.559 and these people just keep making bigger salaries. 01:37:13.570 --> 01:37:18.519 I think that's immoral. I know the state of California 01:37:18.530 --> 01:37:23.309 which I consider to be a socialist state. It's trying 01:37:23.309 --> 01:37:27.360 to force these cuts on two people and they always do 01:37:27.360 --> 01:37:32.579 it under the gaze of oh well. They have all their 01:37:32.579 --> 01:37:38.409 woke agenda terms for things. I just think it's disgusting. 01:37:38.420 --> 01:37:42.050 Why don't these people take a cut in their pay, give 01:37:42.050 --> 01:37:46.099 back to the public instead of gouging us. And I know 01:37:46.099 --> 01:37:49.670 they have to do their infrastructure upgrades and whatnot. 01:37:49.679 --> 01:37:52.970 But with the profits they make, they can do that based 01:37:52.970 --> 01:37:56.530 on what they're already making. We don't need to be 01:37:56.530 --> 01:38:00.490 gouged and some of these people that are going for 01:38:00.490 --> 01:38:04.999 this, what are they lobbyists? I don't know, I just 01:38:04.999 --> 01:38:09.110 have a problem with people even supporting this gouging. 01:38:09.119 --> 01:38:13.659 And it needs to stop. This state is out of control. 01:38:13.659 --> 01:38:17.490 They want to chase people out of the state. Well, congratulations 01:38:17.490 --> 01:38:22.170 you're going to accomplish that goal. And this Commission 01:38:22.900 --> 01:38:25.869 I don't know if you work for the public, that I think 01:38:25.880 --> 01:38:30.720 you do. Correct me if I'm wrong. You should put a stop 01:38:30.729 --> 01:38:34.400 to this gouging and tell them no more. Look out for 01:38:34.400 --> 01:38:37.789 the people for once. That's all I got to say. Thank 01:38:37.789 --> 01:38:40.510 you. 01:38:40.510 --> 01:38:43.440 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 01:38:43.440 --> 01:38:47.590 the next speaker. Next we have Gary Curtis. Gary Curtis 01:38:47.590 --> 01:38:49.940 Your line is open. 01:38:49.940 --> 01:38:53.309 Hi there. My name is Garry Curtis. I'll spell my last 01:38:53.309 --> 01:38:58.590 name at C. U. R. T. I. S. And Garry with two 01:38:58.590 --> 01:39:02.849 R's. Most people spend one R, but it's two R's. I'm calling 01:39:02.849 --> 01:39:08.260 from Hanford, California and I also oppose these rate 01:39:08.269 --> 01:39:13.590 increases. Uh, I did get an email from the gas company. 01:39:13.590 --> 01:39:15.960 They informed me a month before that they said it would 01:39:15.960 --> 01:39:19.369 probably double. When in reality, when I got the bill 01:39:19.380 --> 01:39:25.309 it wasn't double, it was tripled. So um, I think 01:39:25.320 --> 01:39:28.539 you know, we're not made out of money, okay. But if 01:39:28.539 --> 01:39:32.840 you guys decide to go ahead with this and approve it 01:39:33.090 --> 01:39:35.369 I'm sure a lot of people will probably go over your 01:39:35.369 --> 01:39:38.679 heads and go to state lawmakers and even contact the 01:39:38.679 --> 01:39:41.920 mayor and also the Attorney General's Office. Because 01:39:41.920 --> 01:39:45.610 I think they are gouging us and maybe you guys need 01:39:45.610 --> 01:39:49.610 to experience to live with somebody that is on a fixed 01:39:49.610 --> 01:39:54.159 income. I'm disabled. So, and it's been very hard on 01:39:54.159 --> 01:39:58.119 all of us and you guys are probably living like it's 01:39:58.119 --> 01:39:59.990 no problem doesn't affect you guys because you guys 01:39:59.990 --> 01:40:03.949 get a lot of money. So I appreciate you guys to listen 01:40:03.949 --> 01:40:07.789 to us really good. I mean, really, really listen to 01:40:07.789 --> 01:40:11.420 us. We can't afford to continue this. Our utilities 01:40:11.420 --> 01:40:14.309 are going up, our regular fuel to drive somewhere is 01:40:14.309 --> 01:40:18.130 going up, groceries are going up, everything's going 01:40:18.130 --> 01:40:20.079 up, we are not made out of money. We do not have 01:40:20.079 --> 01:40:24.449 money growing on trees out here. So please. No, no 01:40:24.449 --> 01:40:29.829 more. And thank you. Have a nice day. Bye. 01:40:29.829 --> 01:40:32.570 Thank you, Mr. Curtis for your comments. Operator, please 01:40:32.570 --> 01:40:36.920 call on the next speaker. Next we have Loretta Yorke. 01:40:36.929 --> 01:40:40.440 Loretta Yorke, your line is open. Hi, this is Loretta 01:40:40.440 --> 01:40:45.570 Yorke. Y. O. R. K. E. and what I paid last year 01:40:45.570 --> 01:40:52.289 in 2022 for the entire year for gas was $816. What 01:40:52.289 --> 01:41:00.280 I paid in the first three months for gas is $878. It 01:41:00.280 --> 01:41:05.130 makes no sense that I have paid in three months, which 01:41:05.130 --> 01:41:10.670 is a quarter of the year. More than I paid last year. 01:41:10.679 --> 01:41:16.349 And for prices to go up is ridiculous. Stop the bonuses. 01:41:16.360 --> 01:41:20.090 I work for a company and I know how it works. You 01:41:20.090 --> 01:41:24.670 can stop the bonuses. Stop giving these guys pay increases. 01:41:24.679 --> 01:41:28.320 You know, give it back to the people that work for 01:41:28.320 --> 01:41:33.979 you. Not for your, um, not for the people that you're 01:41:33.990 --> 01:41:37.229 giving all this money to. You know, I don't understand 01:41:37.229 --> 01:41:39.710 how Southern California guys, we don't have an option. 01:41:39.999 --> 01:41:42.940 At least with our electric, we have an option for solar. 01:41:42.949 --> 01:41:48.059 We don't have any other option besides you to get our 01:41:48.059 --> 01:41:51.030 gas from. And how to sit there and tell us that you're 01:41:51.030 --> 01:41:54.099 going to increase our rate for the next 4 years 01:41:54.110 --> 01:41:57.079 is ridiculous. I don't understand. How you expect this 01:41:57.079 --> 01:42:00.840 is America. Are we supposed to freeze and die in our 01:42:00.840 --> 01:42:04.260 homes for you? Is that what is that what you guys want? 01:42:04.269 --> 01:42:07.019 You want our blood on your hands, because that's what's 01:42:07.019 --> 01:42:10.559 gonna happen when people start freezing to death. I 01:42:10.559 --> 01:42:13.840 live in Beaumont, California and our lows have been 01:42:13.840 --> 01:42:18.429 in the 20's. And you expect for us to turn our heat 01:42:18.429 --> 01:42:22.420 down lower. I'm already in sweat socks and everything 01:42:22.420 --> 01:42:27.510 else and still freezing in the house. This is America. 01:42:27.519 --> 01:42:32.820 We should not be freezing in our homes today in 2023. 01:42:32.829 --> 01:42:36.199 This is absolutely ridiculous what you guys are doing 01:42:36.199 --> 01:42:39.670 to us. You're giving us no options and you're sitting 01:42:39.670 --> 01:42:42.619 here treating us like slaves. You're treating us like 01:42:42.619 --> 01:42:47.059 hostages, like prisoners. Release that, let us be 01:42:47.059 --> 01:42:50.880 Americans, let us live our lives. I've worked for 50 01:42:50.880 --> 01:42:54.929 years. I should not now not be able to enjoy the rest 01:42:54.929 --> 01:42:58.979 of my life that I have. Because I can't afford a gas 01:42:58.979 --> 01:43:02.809 bill. I, we make enough money that we don't qualify 01:43:02.820 --> 01:43:09.240 for any, any help whatsoever. And to sit there and 01:43:09.240 --> 01:43:15.449 to say, oh, well, infrastructure put it off. Keep America 01:43:15.449 --> 01:43:20.110 great like you say, or is it just all say? This is 01:43:20.110 --> 01:43:23.710 America? This is not a third world country, but that's 01:43:23.710 --> 01:43:27.990 how we're being treated as a 3rd world country. So 01:43:27.999 --> 01:43:31.190 that's what I have to say. And I sure hope you guys 01:43:31.199 --> 01:43:34.499 listen and listen to these people who are against this. 01:43:34.510 --> 01:43:38.539 And do not raise our rates. They're high enough the 01:43:38.539 --> 01:43:42.409 way they are. Give us a break. Thank you for listening. 01:43:43.619 --> 01:43:45.849 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 01:43:45.849 --> 01:43:49.849 on the next speaker. 01:43:49.849 --> 01:43:53.079 Next we have James Moeller. James, your line is open. 01:43:55.479 --> 01:44:00.449 Hi. Um Thank you for uh hearing for me. My name is 01:44:00.449 --> 01:44:04.550 Moeller, M. O. E. L. L. E. R. You know, it's very 01:44:04.550 --> 01:44:09.380 hard to budget with the gas bills being $27.01 one month, 01:44:09.389 --> 01:44:15.320 $540 the next, $171 the next. And the biggest problem 01:44:15.320 --> 01:44:18.900 I have course I'm not in favor of the gas increase 01:44:18.909 --> 01:44:22.409 in pricing. But the biggest problem I'm having is getting 01:44:22.420 --> 01:44:26.130 hold of the gas company. You cannot call them. They 01:44:26.139 --> 01:44:29.710 did not answer the phone. They send you in a continuous 01:44:29.720 --> 01:44:33.269 loop of hamster wheel where you're trying to figure 01:44:33.269 --> 01:44:37.260 out how can I talk to somebody. Super frustrated about 01:44:37.260 --> 01:44:41.139 that. The same thing with the electric company. My 01:44:41.139 --> 01:44:45.170 meter didn't work for a year. They sent me all these 01:44:45.170 --> 01:44:48.960 outrageous bills. I paid them then they said, oh, we 01:44:48.960 --> 01:44:51.690 billed you again for them. And you're trying to get ahold 01:44:51.690 --> 01:44:57.070 of somebody and it's hours and hours on the phone waiting 01:44:57.070 --> 01:45:00.340 to talk to somebody about the mistakes that they've 01:45:00.349 --> 01:45:04.159 made. And I think, you know, the people in California 01:45:04.159 --> 01:45:09.099 have had enough. Really outrageous. I blame it all, 01:45:09.110 --> 01:45:12.269 you know, on the government here too, for not stepping 01:45:12.269 --> 01:45:16.150 in and doing something. Where is Gavin Newsom? Where 01:45:16.150 --> 01:45:21.990 is he? So that's all I have to say. 01:45:21.990 --> 01:45:25.260 Thank you, Mr. Miller. Operator, please call on the next 01:45:25.260 --> 01:45:27.880 speaker. 01:45:27.880 --> 01:45:31.079 Next we have Harris Wallace. Harris Wallace, your line 01:45:31.079 --> 01:45:42.050 is open. 01:45:42.050 --> 01:45:45.190 Once again, Harris Wallace, your line is open. Can 01:45:45.190 --> 01:45:46.829 you check your mute function on your phone, please. 01:45:53.470 --> 01:45:59.420 Mm. Hello, Horace Wallens open. 01:45:59.420 --> 01:46:02.030 You hear me? 01:46:02.030 --> 01:46:06.380 So we can hear you fine. 01:46:06.380 --> 01:46:16.789 Mr. Wallace? 01:46:16.789 --> 01:46:24.559 Mr Wallace. Are you on the phone? 01:46:24.559 --> 01:46:30.599 Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. 01:46:30.599 --> 01:46:33.360 You hear me? 01:46:33.360 --> 01:46:41.900 Yes, Mr Wallace, we can hear you. Yes. Yes, I am 01:46:41.900 --> 01:46:46.199 operator. Do you want to check with Mr Wallace on his 01:46:46.199 --> 01:46:49.170 line? 01:46:49.170 --> 01:46:50.690 Yes, Your Honor. I'll get that taken care of. We'll 01:46:50.690 --> 01:46:54.099 move on to the next Maria Espinosa. Your line is now 01:46:54.099 --> 01:46:58.650 open. 01:46:58.650 --> 01:47:01.990 Hi, good afternoon. My name, my name is Maria Espinosa 01:47:01.999 --> 01:47:07.300 E. S. P. I. N. O. Z. A. and I'm calling from 01:47:07.300 --> 01:47:10.479 La Morada, California. 01:47:10.479 --> 01:47:15.729 I have um, bill a list of my bills in front of 01:47:15.729 --> 01:47:18.460 me and I did receive the notice that the bill was going 01:47:18.460 --> 01:47:21.360 to go up. 01:47:21.360 --> 01:47:27.809 My December bill of 2022 was $79.57. My December bill 01:47:28.519 --> 01:47:33.050 Not, December, January bill. I'm sorry for 2022 was 01:47:33.059 --> 01:47:42.019 $30.76. My January bill of this year is $309.21. February 01:47:42.019 --> 01:47:48.960 was $27.62 and 2022. Right now. My bill came to $367 01:47:48.960 --> 01:47:54.889 with 40 cents. You know, I, I don't agree no more raises. 01:47:54.900 --> 01:47:58.090 And I don't think that we should get back any money 01:47:58.099 --> 01:48:02.800 but for this company to have enough forensic audit. 01:48:02.809 --> 01:48:07.269 This is outrageous. I hear people that are going, um 01:48:07.280 --> 01:48:12.530 and connecting electric, uh, heaters because of the 01:48:12.530 --> 01:48:18.420 bill. We used to have the gas bill the lowest to come. 01:48:18.460 --> 01:48:22.590 And now they're connecting to the electric heaters. 01:48:23.699 --> 01:48:26.460 I'm afraid of any, you know, accidents that this is 01:48:26.460 --> 01:48:31.360 gonna cause. We don't have a different option to receive 01:48:31.369 --> 01:48:35.150 the services. We only have the gas company as a whole 01:48:35.159 --> 01:48:39.729 soul provider. They have 4 customer service. I also 01:48:39.729 --> 01:48:42.280 got on the phone and I was on the phone for over 01:48:42.280 --> 01:48:49.550 an hour with no answer. 01:48:49.550 --> 01:48:52.929 And I think, um, getting these bills, I don't know 01:48:52.929 --> 01:48:56.070 how other people are doing it. It is very difficult 01:48:56.070 --> 01:49:02.139 for me to pay this money and, and $367. So how many 01:49:02.139 --> 01:49:06.409 months is this gonna be? Maybe they need to do a forensic 01:49:06.409 --> 01:49:11.409 audit like I said and check this. Um, this company 01:49:11.420 --> 01:49:14.690 will provide us a different option. Thank you so much 01:49:14.690 --> 01:49:19.880 for your opportunity to speak. 01:49:19.880 --> 01:49:22.780 Thank you for your comments. 01:49:22.780 --> 01:49:25.940 Operator, I just want to let you know, we will take 01:49:25.949 --> 01:49:29.519 two more callers. Before we will go into our 5 minute 01:49:29.519 --> 01:49:33.179 break after that. And can you tell me how many more 01:49:33.179 --> 01:49:36.889 speakers do we have in the queue right now? Understood, 01:49:36.889 --> 01:49:41.269 Your Honor, and we have 116. 01:49:41.269 --> 01:49:44.530 Okay. So let's take two more callers and then we will 01:49:44.530 --> 01:49:47.220 take a 5 minute break. And then resume after the 01:49:47.229 --> 01:49:51.519 5 minute break. 01:49:51.519 --> 01:49:55.590 You may call on the next speaker now. 01:49:55.590 --> 01:49:59.220 Next we have Michelle Fowl. Michelle, your line is now 01:49:59.220 --> 01:50:02.039 open. 01:50:02.039 --> 01:50:06.380 Hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Oh great, 01:50:06.389 --> 01:50:08.289 thank you. Thank you for having this. Um, I wanted 01:50:08.289 --> 01:50:13.150 to talk about um, you know. I'm against the increase 01:50:13.159 --> 01:50:16.240 for sure. Our bill is normally in the Winter around 01:50:16.249 --> 01:50:21.070 like 90 bucks and it's tripled now, and with no warning. 01:50:21.079 --> 01:50:25.720 And um, you know, this reminds me of I want to say 01:50:25.720 --> 01:50:28.550 robber barons, because that's what it feels like. And 01:50:28.550 --> 01:50:32.079 this is something that has been going on since actually 01:50:32.079 --> 01:50:37.510 the beginning of this country. Of distracting the people 01:50:37.510 --> 01:50:41.079 that you're taking advantage of to divide us for fighting 01:50:41.079 --> 01:50:44.309 against each other. And not coming together to fight 01:50:44.320 --> 01:50:48.329 against you and your price gouging. It's out of control, 01:50:48.340 --> 01:50:53.260 it's immoral. No matter how much, uh Bible manipulation 01:50:53.269 --> 01:50:58.130 you do, it's immoral. Um, you're hurting people. Uh 01:50:58.139 --> 01:51:01.809 your theme seems to be if it's painful, it's profitable. 01:51:02.010 --> 01:51:05.659 And um, that's not okay. You know, I am what I don't 01:51:05.659 --> 01:51:09.610 care what your political views are maga, liberal, whatever. 01:51:09.619 --> 01:51:14.720 We have way more in common than we don't. And we all 01:51:14.720 --> 01:51:18.269 value our freedom. We all value um, an opportunity 01:51:18.269 --> 01:51:21.970 to be able to thrive, take care of our families. And 01:51:21.979 --> 01:51:25.960 um when we come together, we will stop you. I also 01:51:25.960 --> 01:51:28.690 run an indivisible group in Northwards were paying 01:51:28.690 --> 01:51:32.380 very close attention. So this doesn't get resolved, 01:51:32.389 --> 01:51:37.019 um we will make sure that it does by voting in people 01:51:37.019 --> 01:51:40.550 that will hold you accountable. Because you are hurting 01:51:40.949 --> 01:51:45.860 people and you're making a crap load of money doing 01:51:45.860 --> 01:51:50.210 it. That is immoral. I mean, if Jesus were here, like 01:51:50.220 --> 01:51:53.909 would he be down with that? I don't think so. I think 01:51:53.909 --> 01:51:59.170 he would say shame on you. Thank you. 01:51:59.170 --> 01:52:02.349 Thank you. Operator, please call on the next speaker. 01:52:07.059 --> 01:52:11.179 Next we have Ronald Ramirez Emmett. Your line is now 01:52:11.190 --> 01:52:16.499 open. 01:52:16.499 --> 01:52:21.920 Hi, my name is Ronald Ramsey. R. A. M. S. E. Y. 01:52:22.869 --> 01:52:25.550 Yeah, I think there's, there's some price gouging going 01:52:25.550 --> 01:52:27.650 on. 01:52:27.650 --> 01:52:29.809 Um, 01:52:29.809 --> 01:52:37.720 $4.7 billion dollars over 5 years and like my math 01:52:37.720 --> 01:52:43.449 might be wrong, but it's like $900 million. 01:52:43.449 --> 01:52:47.970 Um, you don't need that kind of money. 01:52:47.970 --> 01:52:51.570 You can hear the frustration and a lot of callers, 01:52:52.920 --> 01:52:57.940 you can hear it in my voice. 01:52:57.940 --> 01:53:01.900 I need the gas company 01:53:01.900 --> 01:53:05.320 spend their money. We're all in debt. They could go 01:53:05.320 --> 01:53:08.530 in debt to and then show us what you did. Not what 01:53:08.530 --> 01:53:14.349 you plan on doing. 01:53:14.349 --> 01:53:18.889 I've been living in Hammett. Well, close to 20 years 01:53:18.889 --> 01:53:22.760 now. And I can't recall not one person from the gas 01:53:22.760 --> 01:53:25.240 company looking at my meter. It's got rust built up 01:53:25.240 --> 01:53:28.190 on it. We wait for it to break and blow up cause 01:53:28.190 --> 01:53:30.780 my house to get on fire before you come out and do 01:53:30.780 --> 01:53:34.659 something on it. 01:53:34.659 --> 01:53:37.179 I'm sorry, but I'm a little bit upset right now because 01:53:37.179 --> 01:53:43.559 this is ridiculous. Only use about $60 a month in gas 01:53:44.760 --> 01:53:50.320 during the Winter. They tripled and that's being conservative. 01:53:50.329 --> 01:53:56.249 Like the lady said, and when hoodies wearing extra blankets 01:53:57.280 --> 01:54:01.479 doing my part, you do y'all part. Thank you for letting 01:54:01.479 --> 01:54:05.949 me talk. Goodbye. 01:54:05.949 --> 01:54:09.929 Thank you for your comment. We will take a 5 minute 01:54:09.929 --> 01:54:14.360 break and we will resume the Public Participation Hearing 01:54:14.369 --> 01:54:23.740 after 5 minutes. So um Operator? 01:54:23.740 --> 01:54:27.829 We can just put the uh, speakers on hold right now. 01:54:27.829 --> 01:54:31.170 And then we resume after 5 minutes. Understood, Your 01:54:31.170 --> 01:54:35.320 Honor. Give me one moment. 01:54:35.320 --> 01:54:41.710 begin momentarily. Thank you for your patience. 01:54:41.710 --> 01:54:44.400 Welcome to the Public Participation Hearing. Where we'll 01:54:44.400 --> 01:54:46.960 be picking up where we left off. On Southern California 01:54:46.960 --> 01:54:49.670 Gas Companies General Rate Case Application on this 01:54:49.679 --> 01:54:53.130 day, Monday, March 6, 2023. Thank you, Your Honor. 01:54:54.579 --> 01:55:00.490 Thank you, Operator. Let's go back on the record. 01:55:00.490 --> 01:55:04.170 I'll be back on the, are we good to go? Can the 01:55:04.170 --> 01:55:08.229 reporters just acknowledge that? 01:55:08.229 --> 01:55:11.829 Yes Judge, I'm ready to go. Thank you. Thank you. 01:55:12.929 --> 01:55:16.729 So, um welcome back to the Public Participation Hearing. 01:55:16.740 --> 01:55:20.949 Thank you for waiting as we um, took a break. I want 01:55:20.949 --> 01:55:24.769 to remind the uh, speakers who are waiting patiently 01:55:24.780 --> 01:55:29.030 in queue. That we have about 116 speakers who were in 01:55:29.030 --> 01:55:33.320 queue before we left for our break. And uh, we do have 01:55:33.320 --> 01:55:38.079 another public hearing scheduled at 6pm, which 01:55:38.079 --> 01:55:41.369 means that the team has conducted in this hearing. Will 01:55:41.380 --> 01:55:45.360 also have to organize that, have to run that public 01:55:45.360 --> 01:55:50.630 hearing. So we will stop the SoCalGas Public Participation 01:55:50.630 --> 01:55:56.199 Hearing at 5:15 pm today. If uh, there are still any 01:55:56.199 --> 01:55:59.019 speakers in queue at that time. Who haven't had an opportunity 01:55:59.019 --> 01:56:03.389 to speak, I welcome them to join our 6pm Public 01:56:03.389 --> 01:56:06.769 Participation Hearing. The information is on the CPUC 01:56:06.769 --> 01:56:11.059 website. And um, I also want to remind that there is 01:56:11.070 --> 01:56:13.769 another Public Participation Hearing scheduled for 01:56:13.780 --> 01:56:19.349 SoCalGas on March 15, at 6:00pm. So you will 01:56:19.349 --> 01:56:22.349 have another opportunity to provide us your comments. 01:56:23.400 --> 01:56:27.320 Um if you, if for some reason you're not able to join 01:56:27.320 --> 01:56:31.679 us through these outlets. And you're always welcome 01:56:31.679 --> 01:56:36.369 to leave comments on our docket card. I do want to 01:56:36.369 --> 01:56:40.530 request the speakers that please try and limit your 01:56:40.530 --> 01:56:44.170 comments in 2 minutes. So that as many speakers as 01:56:44.179 --> 01:56:48.449 possible can get an opportunity to speak today. So 01:56:48.449 --> 01:56:52.269 with that Operator, please call on the next speaker 01:56:52.269 --> 01:57:01.220 in line. 01:57:01.220 --> 01:57:05.470 Understood, Your Honor. One moment, please. 01:57:05.470 --> 01:57:09.079 Next, we have Harris Wallace. Harris Wallace, your 01:57:09.079 --> 01:57:13.389 line is open again. Yes, my name is Horace Wallace. 01:57:15.449 --> 01:57:18.670 And I agree with most of what the other folks have 01:57:18.670 --> 01:57:25.490 said about no raises. But I was concerned about, um 01:57:25.490 --> 01:57:29.070 has anyone ever questioned the validity of the, of 01:57:29.070 --> 01:57:33.929 the actual cause? And anybody looking at it (inaudible) 01:57:33.929 --> 01:57:39.590 that's been done? Uh, what about the annual reports 01:57:39.659 --> 01:57:43.470 and the collaborate things to make sure that this is 01:57:43.479 --> 01:57:48.460 a legitimate request. Because it's, it's very difficult 01:57:49.369 --> 01:57:53.979 to meet all your bills these days. Light bills going 01:57:53.979 --> 01:57:58.010 up. Water bill going up, gas going up, gas bill going up. 01:57:58.010 --> 01:58:02.949 Everything. So I'm, I'm just thankful for the opportunity 01:58:02.960 --> 01:58:06.699 to express a little concern. I hope that you might 01:58:06.699 --> 01:58:12.869 consider what I just said. I don't know if it's appropriate 01:58:12.880 --> 01:58:17.579 to request an audit. Uh, look at the annual reports 01:58:17.579 --> 01:58:21.269 to make sure that these things are really, really legitimate. 01:58:22.139 --> 01:58:25.400 Thank you. 01:58:25.400 --> 01:58:28.729 Thank you for your comments, Mr. Wallis. Operator, please 01:58:28.729 --> 01:58:31.929 call on the next speaker. 01:58:31.929 --> 01:58:38.699 Next we have Jim Vallas Sada. Your line is now open. 01:58:38.699 --> 01:58:44.070 S as in Sam, A. D as in David. A. I want to thank you 01:58:44.079 --> 01:58:48.300 for this opportunity to speak to you today. I have 01:58:48.300 --> 01:58:51.479 lived in California now,10 years. I've lived in 8 01:58:51.490 --> 01:58:55.369 states. I love California, but it seems like there's 01:58:55.369 --> 01:58:57.889 this notion that California and should just pay more 01:58:57.889 --> 01:59:01.190 money for everything. In the last year, we paid $7 01:59:01.199 --> 01:59:04.479 per gallon of gas. When the rest of the company's, country 01:59:04.479 --> 01:59:08.740 was paying $3 for a gallon of gas. We paid $7 for 01:59:08.740 --> 01:59:11.559 a dozen of eggs in the grocery store. When the rest 01:59:11.559 --> 01:59:14.800 of the country wasn't paying that kind of money. I'm 01:59:14.800 --> 01:59:19.400 a disabled veteran and these prices going up constantly 01:59:19.400 --> 01:59:22.999 it's just ridiculous. If I owned a bakery and I had 01:59:22.999 --> 01:59:25.050 to buy a new oven or I wanted to put in a 01:59:25.050 --> 01:59:28.470 new floor. I would budget for that. I would put profits 01:59:28.479 --> 01:59:31.999 back into my business so I could build it. If I pass 01:59:31.999 --> 01:59:35.309 those fees onto the customers, I would be out of 01:59:35.320 --> 01:59:38.530 business. And I believe that SoCalGas needs to 01:59:38.539 --> 01:59:43.050 be budgeting, forecasting for things. Future and budget 01:59:43.059 --> 01:59:48.409 for that and not reach into the pockets of (inaudible). 01:59:48.409 --> 01:59:52.490 In order to get this money, time and time again. My gas 01:59:52.499 --> 01:59:56.059 bill over the last three months is $400 less than it's 01:59:56.070 --> 01:59:57.579 been over the entire. 01:59:57.579 --> 02:00:03.369 Last year and I have lowered my gas consumption and 02:00:03.369 --> 02:00:07.748 this is still the case. So, I think that we should not 02:00:07.758 --> 02:00:11.659 approve this rate increase. And, we should make sure 02:00:11.659 --> 02:00:14.699 that they're doing uh, what they need to do to deal 02:00:14.699 --> 02:00:18.598 with the cost of doing business. Aside from taking it 02:00:18.609 --> 02:00:23.208 from the customers every five minutes. We've paid enough 02:00:23.219 --> 02:00:26.278 I think Californians need a break. Thank you. I live 02:00:26.278 --> 02:00:30.399 in San Bernardino, by the way. Thank you. 02:00:30.399 --> 02:00:33.088 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:00:33.088 --> 02:00:37.349 the next speaker. Next we have Sheryl Meyer. Sheryl 02:00:37.349 --> 02:00:40.198 Meyer, line is open. 02:00:40.198 --> 02:00:45.618 Hi, my name is Sheryl, S. H. E. R. Y. L. Meyer, 02:00:45.628 --> 02:00:50.669 M. E. Y. E. R. I live in Thousand Oaks and I 02:00:50.679 --> 02:00:59.058 agree with everybody that uh 02:00:59.058 --> 02:01:03.759 hi, my name is Sheryl. 02:01:03.759 --> 02:01:07.208 Sorry. I thought you couldn't hear me. Um anyway, I 02:01:07.208 --> 02:01:10.829 agree that we should not increase rates. But what frustrates 02:01:10.829 --> 02:01:14.178 me is that every time they ask for a rate increase 02:01:14.178 --> 02:01:17.098 and it's to make repairs or to fix infrastructure. 02:01:17.109 --> 02:01:20.509 Nobody seems to oversee this and it doesn't get done. 02:01:20.518 --> 02:01:23.408 A lot of these issues should have been done over the 02:01:23.408 --> 02:01:26.999 last 10 years. We know these are problems, we know 02:01:26.999 --> 02:01:30.889 we need to fix our infrastructure. And no one seems 02:01:30.889 --> 02:01:34.438 to oversee it and the Public Utilities Commission is 02:01:34.438 --> 02:01:38.009 supposed to be on our side. And myself and several 02:01:38.009 --> 02:01:42.238 people I know, feel like somehow they're getting some 02:01:42.249 --> 02:01:45.759 you know, pleasure out of this. By letting these increases 02:01:45.759 --> 02:01:49.339 go and, you know, you guys are supposed to be on our 02:01:49.339 --> 02:01:54.309 side. And so, that's what I wanted to say and I hope 02:01:54.309 --> 02:01:58.378 you do not agree with this increase. And make them fix 02:01:58.378 --> 02:02:00.579 the things that need to be fixed, that should have been 02:02:00.579 --> 02:02:05.419 fixed all along. Thank you so much. 02:02:05.419 --> 02:02:08.259 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:02:08.259 --> 02:02:12.289 on the next speaker. Next we have Cynthia Jackson. 02:02:12.298 --> 02:02:15.808 Cynthia Jackson, your line is open. 02:02:15.808 --> 02:02:20.409 Good afternoon. Can you hear me? 02:02:20.409 --> 02:02:24.838 Yes, we can hear you fine. Okay. I just did a star 6. Can you still hear 02:02:24.838 --> 02:02:29.909 me? Yes, we can hear you. 02:02:29.909 --> 02:02:33.319 Thank you so much. Your Honor and Commissioners and 02:02:33.329 --> 02:02:37.368 all of my fellow citizens of California. I'm calling 02:02:37.368 --> 02:02:42.988 to uh, be against this gas bill hike. Um, the increase that 02:02:42.988 --> 02:02:47.278 they're proposing is 20.2 cents uh, and starting in 02:02:47.278 --> 02:02:55.569 2024. Their last increase in 2020 was 0.8. The uh, cost of living 02:02:55.579 --> 02:03:03.488 increase has gone up 8.7%, and the social security increase 02:03:03.498 --> 02:03:09.468 has gone up 8.7%. Landlords are only allowed to increase 02:03:09.479 --> 02:03:14.178 10%, yet the gas company wants to do like almost like 02:03:14.178 --> 02:03:20.379 a 200% increase. I live in Chino Hills and I, my husband 02:03:20.379 --> 02:03:23.199 and I are the only two here in the home. We were 02:03:23.208 --> 02:03:28.349 from a $14 gas bill to over $300 gas bill. I'm also 02:03:28.349 --> 02:03:31.259 speaking because I'm a landlord and I have tenants 02:03:31.268 --> 02:03:35.398 who rent I try to keep down. And they are not able 02:03:35.398 --> 02:03:39.868 to afford this rent. They, just like I'm walking around 02:03:39.879 --> 02:03:46.268 with sweats, a knit cap, a coat on all day just to 02:03:46.268 --> 02:03:50.289 stay warm. And three or four blankets on my bed to stay 02:03:50.289 --> 02:03:55.439 warm, as almost a 70 year old woman. I can only imagine 02:03:55.449 --> 02:03:58.409 what my tenants are having to go through because they 02:03:58.409 --> 02:04:02.189 cannot pay their gas bill. I'm trying to put solar 02:04:02.189 --> 02:04:06.308 up to them to help ease that. But there has to be 02:04:06.319 --> 02:04:10.398 some kind of reprieve. Some gentlemen got online and 02:04:10.398 --> 02:04:13.129 according the Bible, but let me say this to him. In 02:04:13.129 --> 02:04:17.809 Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus turned over tables 02:04:17.819 --> 02:04:23.348 in the temple because of unjust, unjust weights. And 02:04:23.348 --> 02:04:27.449 what we have here are unjust weights, that being passed 02:04:27.449 --> 02:04:32.403 on to the people. I implore you to consider us, everything 02:04:32.403 --> 02:04:36.773 has gone up. I can understand a 8 or even a 10% increase, 02:04:36.783 --> 02:04:41.624 but a 20% increase. And we're going from a $14 gas bill 02:04:41.634 --> 02:04:45.934 to $350 gas bill. Something has to give. Thank you 02:04:45.944 --> 02:04:48.624 so much for your time and I pray that you take this 02:04:48.624 --> 02:04:51.468 into consideration. 02:04:51.468 --> 02:04:54.119 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:04:54.119 --> 02:04:58.389 the next speaker. Next we have Robert Golden. Robert, 02:04:58.398 --> 02:05:00.869 your line is open. 02:05:00.869 --> 02:05:04.028 Yes uh, my name is Robert Golden. My last name is 02:05:04.028 --> 02:05:10.478 spelled G. O. L. D. E. N. Uh I my, my I talked 02:05:10.478 --> 02:05:15.129 to a gas uh, company employee and she said that uh, we were 02:05:15.129 --> 02:05:18.458 paying $3. We're, I live up in Frazier Park and we were 02:05:18.458 --> 02:05:26.369 paying $3.44 a therm in January. A $1.05 in December, 02:05:26.369 --> 02:05:31.199 64 cents in November, 65 cents in October, 96 cents 02:05:31.199 --> 02:05:35.429 in September. So it fluctuates and what I, what I would 02:05:35.439 --> 02:05:39.288 what I think that the gas company should be doing. Is 02:05:39.288 --> 02:05:42.499 building more storage facilities, so that they can store 02:05:42.499 --> 02:05:47.689 gas from the supplier earlier in the year. Like in 02:05:47.699 --> 02:05:51.619 the Spring or the Summer, store more gas. Oh they, 02:05:51.629 --> 02:05:54.908 the employees said that they ran out of gas, I mean 02:05:54.918 --> 02:05:59.809 the natural gas. Uh, if they would budget and, and 02:05:59.809 --> 02:06:03.958 manage they could do things to protect the consumer. 02:06:04.598 --> 02:06:08.389 Um, the constitution calls for, for the people and 02:06:08.389 --> 02:06:12.069 by the people in this country. And, and, most 02:06:12.069 --> 02:06:15.139 of the people in this country don't make what the 1% 02:06:15.139 --> 02:06:18.439 make. So the, some of these people that are calling 02:06:18.439 --> 02:06:22.018 in and saying, you know, we're for it. How much are 02:06:22.018 --> 02:06:24.408 they making? Because it doesn't seem like it bothers 02:06:24.408 --> 02:06:28.249 them at all. I'm a senior, my wife is senior. We live 02:06:28.249 --> 02:06:32.819 up in, we live at 5000 ft elevation here. And our, our 02:06:32.819 --> 02:06:36.319 bill has gone up 3 times what it used to be. I'm 02:06:36.319 --> 02:06:42.408 on a budget, I'm uh a Vietnam veteran. I'm retired and 02:06:42.408 --> 02:06:46.429 we you know, I'm 76 years old, my wife's 73. You know 02:06:46.429 --> 02:06:51.228 we're, we're not ready to go back to work. And they 02:06:51.239 --> 02:06:53.848 need to do something. This is ridiculous. I agree with 02:06:53.848 --> 02:06:57.439 everyone else, they are gouging. And you know something 02:06:57.439 --> 02:07:01.148 else, L.A. Water & Power. I heard a bunch of things 02:07:01.148 --> 02:07:07.049 about them, too. And also uh, um the gas companies 02:07:07.059 --> 02:07:10.398 uh the oil companies. I just think, I don't know what's 02:07:10.398 --> 02:07:13.288 going on with their society. But I'll tell you, there's 02:07:13.288 --> 02:07:16.319 a lot of gouging going on, and going on out there. I 02:07:16.319 --> 02:07:20.338 don't care if there's backups out at sea, you know, 02:07:20.338 --> 02:07:23.518 and the suppliers are coming in or whatever. They need 02:07:23.518 --> 02:07:26.228 to change things, they need to work better. They need 02:07:26.228 --> 02:07:29.679 to have a better uh, management situation where they can 02:07:29.679 --> 02:07:33.679 budget better, but they can't do this. This is, this 02:07:33.679 --> 02:07:37.059 is I agree with the other people. This is outrageous. 02:07:37.059 --> 02:07:40.208 It's obscene what they're trying to do to the American 02:07:40.208 --> 02:07:44.038 people. People especially uh, they can't afford this. 02:07:44.049 --> 02:07:46.579 They're, they're living you know 02:07:46.579 --> 02:07:50.489 with a blanket over them. Uh, and they're scared to death 02:07:50.489 --> 02:07:53.218 that they're gonna freeze to death. I mean, this has 02:07:53.218 --> 02:07:56.499 got to stop. (inaudible) For your comments. Yes. 02:07:56.499 --> 02:07:59.958 Thank you for your comments. 02:07:59.958 --> 02:08:03.788 Operator, please call on the next speaker. 02:08:03.788 --> 02:08:06.598 Next we have Emily Roberts, resident of L.A. County. 02:08:06.629 --> 02:08:10.119 Emily, your line is open. Hello, double checking you 02:08:10.119 --> 02:08:14.139 can hear me? Yes, we can hear you fine. Thank you. 02:08:14.139 --> 02:08:17.538 Good afternoon. My name is Emily Roberts. I'm a resident 02:08:17.549 --> 02:08:21.499 of Silver Lake, Los Angeles in L.A. County. I am strongly 02:08:21.499 --> 02:08:25.648 opposed to this rate increase. My gas bill has gone 02:08:25.648 --> 02:08:31.738 from a baseline of $102 per month to over $350 per 02:08:31.738 --> 02:08:36.228 month. This proposed 20% increase in gas prices is 02:08:36.228 --> 02:08:39.809 an impossibly huge price jump at this time. When we 02:08:39.809 --> 02:08:42.608 are already struggling with rising costs across the 02:08:42.608 --> 02:08:46.769 board. For me personally an able bodied, 41 year old 02:08:46.769 --> 02:08:50.799 who works full time. This increase will mean choosing 02:08:50.799 --> 02:08:55.149 between paying my rent, buying groceries and food, 02:08:55.218 --> 02:09:00.338 paying my utilities. For the past few cold and very 02:09:00.338 --> 02:09:03.088 rainy weeks, like so many other callers have said. I 02:09:03.088 --> 02:09:05.329 have been wearing multiple sweaters and layers to stay 02:09:05.329 --> 02:09:09.549 warm, because I could not afford to run my heat. I live 02:09:09.549 --> 02:09:13.159 with multiple housemates and we still cannot afford 02:09:13.159 --> 02:09:16.569 this. I value infrastructure and appreciate that it 02:09:16.569 --> 02:09:19.939 must be kept safe and up-to-date. However, this gas 02:09:19.939 --> 02:09:23.679 price increase is due to mismanagement, not infrastructure 02:09:23.679 --> 02:09:27.498 updates as we have been told. These long term costs 02:09:27.508 --> 02:09:31.008 should not be passed along to customers. Especially 02:09:31.008 --> 02:09:34.399 at a time when SoCalGas is reporting record profits. 02:09:34.718 --> 02:09:37.669 As your constituent, I ask your Honor and the Commission 02:09:37.669 --> 02:09:41.338 to vote no. And that this gas price increase is not 02:09:41.348 --> 02:09:45.779 approved. Finally to the public citizens listening today, 02:09:45.789 --> 02:09:48.378 pay attention to what happened in this hearing here 02:09:48.378 --> 02:09:52.128 today. SoCalGas has people prepared and planted 02:09:52.128 --> 02:09:55.029 in these audiences, at these hearings to argue in their 02:09:55.029 --> 02:09:58.559 favor. And it is infuriating and yes, it is hard to 02:09:58.559 --> 02:10:01.378 listen when the commentators are in support of SoCalGas. 02:10:01.378 --> 02:10:04.549 They're doing this on purpose, they are trying 02:10:04.549 --> 02:10:08.368 to discourage us. Shame on SoCalGas for organizing 02:10:08.368 --> 02:10:12.519 business associations, Chambers of Commerce, pastors 02:10:12.519 --> 02:10:15.118 and religious groups to advocate on their behalf. And 02:10:15.118 --> 02:10:18.809 argue against individual people and seniors who simply 02:10:18.809 --> 02:10:22.649 want to stay warm. That is beyond shameful manipulation, 02:10:22.649 --> 02:10:24.819 and I'm calling out what you're doing. So people are 02:10:24.819 --> 02:10:28.588 not discouraged by your manipulation of this system. 02:10:29.368 --> 02:10:32.258 We the people, we have to stay focused. What we can 02:10:32.258 --> 02:10:35.529 do is keep showing up. And at the next hearing, I hope 02:10:35.529 --> 02:10:39.128 everyone on this call brings friends and family to 02:10:39.128 --> 02:10:42.248 leave written and verbal comments, these really matter. 02:10:42.248 --> 02:10:44.809 And we have to be more plentiful and louder than the 02:10:44.809 --> 02:10:47.679 people who are voting in favor of this. Thank you very 02:10:47.679 --> 02:10:52.079 much for your time. Thank you for your comments. Operator, 02:10:52.079 --> 02:10:56.258 please call on the next speaker. Next we have Alondra 02:10:56.258 --> 02:11:06.819 Vino. Alondra, your line is open. 02:11:06.819 --> 02:11:27.439 Fenno or Vino perhaps is the last name? 02:11:27.439 --> 02:11:31.878 Next we have Kyle Thomas. I'm sorry, Thomas Kiley. 02:11:33.279 --> 02:11:38.789 Thomas your line is open. That's, that's me. Thank you for listening to this. Clearly 02:11:38.789 --> 02:11:42.019 what is going on here. Is something that Mike Campbell 02:11:42.029 --> 02:11:47.279 Public Advocate's Office CPU predicted in July 2019. 02:11:47.289 --> 02:11:51.848 When he stated SoCalGas, a Sempra company, produces 02:11:51.848 --> 02:11:55.618 only one thing natural gas. With the state aiming for 02:11:55.618 --> 02:12:01.549 100% renewable energy by 2045, SoCalGas' days 02:12:01.549 --> 02:12:04.689 of selling natural gas to the millions of customers are 02:12:04.689 --> 02:12:08.358 numbered. It sees the state's climate goals really 02:12:08.358 --> 02:12:13.409 as an existential threat. My question is this, why 02:12:13.409 --> 02:12:17.399 would SoCalGas actually upgrade infrastructure? When 02:12:17.399 --> 02:12:20.319 the very infrastructure they are currently seeking 02:12:20.319 --> 02:12:23.878 obscene rate increases to fund, will become useless 02:12:23.888 --> 02:12:28.949 by 2045? The answer of course is they will not do so 02:12:28.949 --> 02:12:32.159 in the planned manner promised. We know a thing by 02:12:32.159 --> 02:12:36.039 how it acts, SoCalGas acts as a big abusive, greedy 02:12:36.039 --> 02:12:40.378 company. Rather than as a responsible, monopolistic, semipublic 02:12:40.378 --> 02:12:44.628 agency, similar to the U. S. Post Office. Mike Campbell's 02:12:44.628 --> 02:12:48.049 Public Advocate's Office of the CPU argues that 02:12:48.049 --> 02:12:51.728 SoCal tactics include lying to regulators, undermining 02:12:51.728 --> 02:12:55.088 efficiency codes and standards, and funding a seemingly 02:12:55.088 --> 02:12:59.098 independent advocacy group with ratepayer money. As 02:12:59.098 --> 02:13:04.949 reported by the AP on February 4, 2022, the CPU ordered 02:13:04.949 --> 02:13:08.628 that SoCalGas pay $10 million in fines. And reimburse 02:13:08.628 --> 02:13:11.878 customers money it improperly spent on work related, 02:13:11.878 --> 02:13:15.049 to the development of energy efficient building codes. 02:13:15.059 --> 02:13:18.529 Commissioners, please do not approve any more natural 02:13:18.529 --> 02:13:23.978 gas rate increases. Thank you for listening. 02:13:23.978 --> 02:13:26.848 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:13:26.848 --> 02:13:31.019 the next speaker. 02:13:31.019 --> 02:13:34.329 Next we have Mark Wyatt. Mark Wyatt, your line is 02:13:34.329 --> 02:13:37.708 open. 02:13:37.708 --> 02:13:45.549 Is that possibly Mark Weiss? W. E. I. S. S. 02:13:45.549 --> 02:13:50.498 Your line is open, sir. Okay so first of all, um I 02:13:50.498 --> 02:13:53.419 gotta say natural gas is actually the cleanest form 02:13:53.419 --> 02:13:56.899 of energy. It also doesn't require tens of thousands 02:13:56.899 --> 02:14:00.809 of slave labor children. To pull toxic substances out 02:14:00.809 --> 02:14:04.988 of the ground to make solar and wind energy. And it 02:14:04.988 --> 02:14:09.118 also is used to produce half the fertilizer that feeds 02:14:09.128 --> 02:14:12.079 the entire planet. So if we get rid of natural gas, half 02:14:12.079 --> 02:14:15.848 of us have to starve to death. Also if we stop using 02:14:15.848 --> 02:14:20.799 natural gas, we will also have lower Co2. And the plants 02:14:20.799 --> 02:14:23.179 that are left without that fertilizer will also grow 02:14:23.179 --> 02:14:27.598 slower, causing more people to starve. So don't be uh, 02:14:27.608 --> 02:14:32.049 don't fall for this whole climate agenda. Also don't 02:14:32.049 --> 02:14:36.388 vote for this rate increase because mismanagement. 02:14:36.399 --> 02:14:40.848 You wouldn't give a drunk $20. He comes back and asks 02:14:40.848 --> 02:14:44.388 you for more money, thinking just for food. You wouldn't 02:14:44.388 --> 02:14:47.228 give him the money. So until they actually manage 02:14:47.228 --> 02:14:50.748 properly, then you can do rate increases. And the other 02:14:50.748 --> 02:14:53.378 question nobody else has asked is, how do they get 02:14:53.378 --> 02:14:57.199 to just randomly increase the price anyways? I thought 02:14:57.208 --> 02:15:00.649 they weren't supposed to increase the prices until 02:15:00.659 --> 02:15:07.738 you guys allowed it. That's it for me. Thank you. 02:15:07.738 --> 02:15:10.549 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:15:10.549 --> 02:15:15.269 the next speaker. 02:15:15.269 --> 02:15:17.939 Next we have Jeff Torres. Jeff Torres, your line is 02:15:17.939 --> 02:15:26.628 open. 02:15:26.628 --> 02:15:29.299 Once again calling on Jeff Torres, your line is open 02:15:29.299 --> 02:15:35.319 for comments. Hello, can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. 02:15:35.319 --> 02:15:41.138 Yeah, it's actually Gus Torres. 02:15:41.138 --> 02:15:43.439 Yeah. Once again, my name is Gus Torres. On behalf 02:15:43.439 --> 02:15:46.559 of Local 250 Pipefitters, Welders and Apprentices. I'm 02:15:46.559 --> 02:15:50.758 calling in support of SoCalGas General Rate, Rate Case 02:15:50.758 --> 02:15:54.108 request. To the California Public Utilities Commission 02:15:54.118 --> 02:15:58.958 affective beginning January 2024 until 2027. We understand 02:15:58.958 --> 02:16:02.649 the vital importance of providing safe, reliable energy 02:16:02.659 --> 02:16:07.039 to SoCalGas customers. And we believe that the GRC 02:16:07.039 --> 02:16:09.939 request will ensure they are able to continue to do 02:16:09.939 --> 02:16:13.968 so. We support SoCalGas GRC requests. Thank you for 02:16:13.968 --> 02:16:16.718 your time and God bless. 02:16:16.718 --> 02:16:20.909 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:16:20.909 --> 02:16:24.319 on the next speaker. 02:16:24.319 --> 02:16:27.939 Next we have Mrs. Jones. No, first name given, Mrs. Jones. 02:16:29.329 --> 02:16:33.238 Hello. Thank you so much for having me. I just heard 02:16:33.238 --> 02:16:37.669 the last caller, and he definitely sounded like a plant. 02:16:38.208 --> 02:16:40.628 Anybody who says that they're in support of this, and 02:16:40.628 --> 02:16:46.699 the way he spoke. Just sounded like he is not a true 02:16:46.769 --> 02:16:52.829 customer that's being taken by the gas company. My 02:16:52.829 --> 02:16:56.628 thing is this with natural gas. The state considered 02:16:56.628 --> 02:17:01.799 gas a clean and cheap form of fuel for the public 02:17:01.809 --> 02:17:07.569 transit system, as well as the post office. Why is all 02:17:07.569 --> 02:17:10.799 of a sudden they're saying it's not clean anymore? 02:17:11.549 --> 02:17:14.938 I'm questioning the social justice environmentalists. 02:17:14.948 --> 02:17:17.358 I think they're special interest groups and I'd like 02:17:17.358 --> 02:17:21.608 an audit of who's funding their association. I'm calling 02:17:21.608 --> 02:17:25.569 on Gavin Newsom to look into this. Everybody, I want 02:17:25.569 --> 02:17:28.259 you to look into Gavin Newsom. I heard his sister is 02:17:28.269 --> 02:17:32.489 part of the executive board of the power system in 02:17:32.489 --> 02:17:37.378 California. I ask all of you to look into that. Also, 02:17:37.388 --> 02:17:40.138 all these people that are calling in, in support you 02:17:40.138 --> 02:17:43.408 know they're part of the union. And they're pro higher 02:17:43.408 --> 02:17:47.128 rates and you should definitely not listen to them. 02:17:47.138 --> 02:17:51.289 Commissioner, I am asking you to not support this rate 02:17:51.289 --> 02:17:56.108 hike. It's fake. They're mismanaging the funds and 02:17:56.118 --> 02:18:01.938 this should not be happening. Thank you so much. 02:18:01.938 --> 02:18:04.668 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:18:04.668 --> 02:18:07.158 on the next speaker. 02:18:07.158 --> 02:18:11.079 Next we have Alan Vick, possibly Wick. Again, Alan Vick 02:18:11.079 --> 02:18:15.229 your line is open. Yes, it's Alan Vick. V as in Victor, 02:18:15.229 --> 02:18:20.239 I. C. K. Redondo Beach, California. I'm a retired 02:18:20.239 --> 02:18:26.668 senior and veteran. Uh, and my issue is with this rate 02:18:26.668 --> 02:18:32.249 increase. I would like to understand, because we provide 02:18:32.259 --> 02:18:36.948 the gas company a depreciation on their infrastructure 02:18:36.948 --> 02:18:42.069 to provide capital for rebuilding it. And what are 02:18:42.069 --> 02:18:45.979 they doing with that capital? Also, you have dividends 02:18:45.989 --> 02:18:50.229 to stockholders and you have executive bonuses and 02:18:50.229 --> 02:18:53.948 bonuses to employees. So if you want to give an increase 02:18:53.948 --> 02:18:59.219 I would suggest, that you look at the uh, reducing the 02:18:59.219 --> 02:19:03.539 dividends from that increase. And reducing executive 02:19:03.539 --> 02:19:08.479 bonuses and employee bonuses. And just and subtract 02:19:08.489 --> 02:19:15.299 the depreciation from what we've given them for a capital 02:19:15.309 --> 02:19:19.628 uh, budget to replace their infrastructure. And maybe 02:19:19.628 --> 02:19:27.358 that could be a proper uh, increase for their gas prices. 02:19:28.049 --> 02:19:31.438 Thank you. 02:19:31.438 --> 02:19:34.658 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:19:34.658 --> 02:19:37.378 the next speaker. 02:19:37.378 --> 02:19:40.979 Next we have Frank Cheaphilly. Uh Frank, your line 02:19:40.979 --> 02:19:45.148 is open. 02:19:45.148 --> 02:19:48.178 I 02:19:48.178 --> 02:19:53.888 Yes, you hear me Your Honor? Yes, we can hear you please proceed. Yes, uh my name is Frank 02:19:53.888 --> 02:19:59.479 Kelty. I hope I'm, I um just hope was that I am up. 02:19:59.489 --> 02:20:05.229 Anyway um, I will uh support the people that are opposed 02:20:05.229 --> 02:20:09.128 to this increase. I'm a 74 year old senior that lives 02:20:09.128 --> 02:20:13.999 in Palm Desert, California. My gas bill went from $150 02:20:14.009 --> 02:20:19.549 up to $550 on the January bill. I was outraged and 02:20:19.559 --> 02:20:22.479 figure out having a hard time to figure out how me 02:20:22.479 --> 02:20:25.739 and my wife are gonna pay it. But we, we did pay 02:20:25.739 --> 02:20:29.168 it. And uh, this last bill just showed up the other 02:20:29.168 --> 02:20:33.628 day was back down $180. So I can uh, I can live 02:20:33.628 --> 02:20:38.209 with that. But I'm totally opposed of a, of a 20% increase 02:20:38.209 --> 02:20:45.249 over three years. Uh in 2019, SoCalGas took in $4.5 02:20:45.259 --> 02:20:51.529 billion. In '20, they took in $4.7 and I think they had $3.8 02:20:51.529 --> 02:20:58.719 billion in 2021. Uh, their profit in 2021 was $2.9 billion, 02:20:58.729 --> 02:21:02.848 and now they're proposing a 20% increase. Uh, I think 02:21:02.848 --> 02:21:05.979 it's outrageous. I think it shouldn't be allowed. Uh, 02:21:05.989 --> 02:21:08.168 I live in a HOA, and I'm on the Board 02:21:08.168 --> 02:21:11.989 of the HOA. And our swimming, 2 of our 5 02:21:11.989 --> 02:21:15.098 pools are heated in the wintertime. And the bills went 02:21:15.098 --> 02:21:19.388 from like $2,500 to almost $6,000 for two pools and two 02:21:19.388 --> 02:21:23.198 spas. Uh, we're gonna wait to see what this next bill 02:21:23.198 --> 02:21:25.938 looks like. Otherwise we're gonna turn the heat off 02:21:25.948 --> 02:21:28.769 on the pools. Which affects the quality of life in 02:21:28.769 --> 02:21:32.469 a, in a place in area. We have 250 02:21:32.469 --> 02:21:36.918 homes and mostly seniors that live here. Uh, so this 02:21:36.918 --> 02:21:41.128 is uh, this is not good business. Uh Your Honor, 02:21:41.128 --> 02:21:44.459 I think the Commission uh, should not support this increase. 02:21:44.469 --> 02:21:50.289 Uh and uh, that's all I have. Thank you very much. 02:21:50.289 --> 02:21:53.529 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:21:53.529 --> 02:21:57.479 the next speaker. 02:21:57.479 --> 02:22:01.098 Next we have Alan Minister. Alan, your line is open. 02:22:03.729 --> 02:22:08.418 Thank you. Thank you, Your Honor and uh, Commissioners. 02:22:08.428 --> 02:22:13.858 I'm a retired vet. Like everyone else, uh my bill went 02:22:13.858 --> 02:22:20.529 up over 200% in uh, January. And uh it's, it's a 02:22:20.529 --> 02:22:24.749 situation where very simply I can't afford that. That's 02:22:24.749 --> 02:22:30.569 unrealistic. It doesn't fit in, in any, any puzzle. 02:22:30.579 --> 02:22:34.209 And uh, I'm just wondering a couple of things. One 02:22:34.209 --> 02:22:39.299 is uh, I don't have a problem with a for-profit company. 02:22:39.819 --> 02:22:45.918 But uh, if it's a situation where our gas bills are 02:22:45.918 --> 02:22:50.549 going to be going up 20% one year, 6% the next year 02:22:50.549 --> 02:22:55.198 on top of the 20, 7% the next year on top of that. 02:22:55.209 --> 02:23:01.009 Then perhaps it's time for a nonprofit organization 02:23:01.009 --> 02:23:05.249 to take over and do it. Maybe a study that would be 02:23:05.259 --> 02:23:10.039 something that might wake up, um the for-profit company. 02:23:10.049 --> 02:23:12.789 Which I don't have a profit, problem with the for-profit 02:23:12.789 --> 02:23:17.779 company. But uh, the other thing to me is uh I understand 02:23:17.779 --> 02:23:20.148 that they get their gas, Southern California gets our 02:23:20.148 --> 02:23:23.618 gas mostly from the West Texas fields. And then there 02:23:23.618 --> 02:23:27.858 was a uh, Kinder Morgan pipeline that uh, had an explosion 02:23:27.858 --> 02:23:31.519 months and months ago. And it took all this time to 02:23:31.519 --> 02:23:35.079 get it back on and all this kind of stuff. If that's 02:23:35.088 --> 02:23:38.928 the situation, is there enough local storage where 02:23:38.928 --> 02:23:41.668 you can buy gas in the Summer and inject it into the 02:23:41.668 --> 02:23:44.739 ground to pull out in the Winter? If there isn't get 02:23:44.739 --> 02:23:48.618 more storage. The other thing is if the only place 02:23:48.618 --> 02:23:51.408 you're getting it is through the Kinder Morgan pipeline. 02:23:51.418 --> 02:23:56.229 And if it's shut off, you're in dire straits. And you 02:23:56.229 --> 02:24:00.148 have to triple and quadruple your bills to your consumers, 02:24:00.158 --> 02:24:03.479 that's totally inappropriate. And what you better do 02:24:03.479 --> 02:24:06.289 is find another source. In other words, connect with 02:24:06.289 --> 02:24:09.819 the Northern California supplies that come from Canada. 02:24:10.438 --> 02:24:14.648 So these, these are just a few uh, points that I throw 02:24:14.648 --> 02:24:20.098 out. Uh, because there's no way that I can afford the gas 02:24:20.098 --> 02:24:23.959 bills as they're constituted or there. You know, as 02:24:23.969 --> 02:24:28.219 they came in January. Excuse me. That's all I have 02:24:28.219 --> 02:24:32.348 to say. And thank you very much. 02:24:32.348 --> 02:24:35.348 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:24:35.348 --> 02:24:39.029 on the next speaker. Next we have Katherine Von Till. 02:24:39.029 --> 02:24:42.908 Katherine, your line is open. 02:24:42.908 --> 02:24:46.438 Hi, good afternoon. My name is Katherine Von Till. V 02:24:46.438 --> 02:24:50.469 as in Victor, O. N. T as in Thomas, I. L. L. 02:24:50.469 --> 02:24:52.769 And I live in Los Angeles. A lot of what I have to say 02:24:52.769 --> 02:24:54.789 has already been said, so I'll just add a few more 02:24:54.789 --> 02:24:59.338 comments. I'm agreeing to this increase without putting 02:24:59.348 --> 02:25:03.088 any fences around how the new revenue will be spent. 02:25:03.098 --> 02:25:06.678 Was there not it done on the, on the past uh increase. 02:25:06.688 --> 02:25:12.469 Uh, were the goals set forth there met. Uh, infrastructure 02:25:12.469 --> 02:25:15.938 of course, we absolutely need to continually uh invest 02:25:15.938 --> 02:25:18.168 in it. But as mentioned before, that's something that 02:25:18.178 --> 02:25:21.638 has existed since the beginning of infrastructure. 02:25:21.648 --> 02:25:24.559 We live in earthquake county we gotta be safe, it 02:25:24.559 --> 02:25:27.388 has to happen. Of course, uh increasing working class 02:25:27.388 --> 02:25:30.438 employee wages and absolutely for that. Our inflation 02:25:30.438 --> 02:25:33.348 is out of control, the working class needs help. Uh, 02:25:33.358 --> 02:25:35.309 increasing the money that goes into the pockets of 02:25:35.309 --> 02:25:39.188 top, top executives their bonuses, absolutely no. 02:25:39.368 --> 02:25:43.019 I realize in the entirety of the new revenue, any 02:25:43.019 --> 02:25:45.269 money is given to them would be a drop in the bucket. 02:25:45.279 --> 02:25:49.059 Uh, but that wouldn't make it any less a gross misappropriation 02:25:49.059 --> 02:25:52.489 of funds. Um, one of the things in the email about today's 02:25:52.499 --> 02:25:55.989 hearing said. Uh, that this money is needed to continue 02:25:55.989 --> 02:26:00.079 to invest in the needs of customers. Um, and I don't 02:26:00.088 --> 02:26:02.549 feel like this is continuing that at all. Because I 02:26:02.549 --> 02:26:05.499 don't think they've been being met to begin with. Uh, 02:26:05.509 --> 02:26:09.079 SoCalGas knew this commodity charge was, was coming 02:26:09.079 --> 02:26:11.219 yet, they gave us very little notice. There was no 02:26:11.219 --> 02:26:15.209 way for us to make an adjustment for. Um, this came 02:26:15.209 --> 02:26:17.809 down the pike and they had the gall to say in an 02:26:17.819 --> 02:26:20.229 email. Uh you know, something to the effect of there's 02:26:20.229 --> 02:26:22.908 no way easy way to say this, but the cost of natural 02:26:22.908 --> 02:26:25.648 gas has gone up. But as mentioned before, this should 02:26:25.648 --> 02:26:29.348 be something that is anticipated by SoCalGas. 02:26:29.358 --> 02:26:32.168 Uh, they should look to amortizes over the year. 02:26:32.168 --> 02:26:34.579 They should look into more storage so forth and so 02:26:34.579 --> 02:26:39.848 on. Um speaking of this uh commodity charge. This only 02:26:39.848 --> 02:26:43.049 started showing up on my bill in 2021. How, where, 02:26:43.049 --> 02:26:46.158 why, where was this happening before? Are we going to get 02:26:46.158 --> 02:26:48.779 another charge that SoCalGas is going to say they 02:26:48.779 --> 02:26:51.598 have no control over, and that will simply pass on to 02:26:51.598 --> 02:26:56.388 the customer. Um, my commodity charge tripled. Some 02:26:56.388 --> 02:26:58.938 say they've doubled my mine tripled. Also, why were 02:26:58.938 --> 02:27:02.608 all therms uh, charged the same? Whereas uh, our bill from 02:27:02.608 --> 02:27:05.499 SoCalGas alone, uh you know, has a baseline charge 02:27:05.499 --> 02:27:09.938 and then above the baseline. I just think that um, this 02:27:09.948 --> 02:27:14.918 feels a little bit like, uh we don't have enough information. 02:27:14.918 --> 02:27:17.249 About what has been done in the past, what will be 02:27:17.249 --> 02:27:21.779 done in the future. Uh, I'm not against uh rate increases 02:27:21.779 --> 02:27:25.799 as a general dissent uh, but I'm against this one. And 02:27:25.799 --> 02:27:29.819 I think this is the uh, wrong move for SoCalGas at this 02:27:29.829 --> 02:27:34.229 time. And I hope that uh, you will rule in favor of 02:27:34.229 --> 02:27:37.049 the public. And well, we don't all agree. Many of 02:27:37.049 --> 02:27:39.448 us have stated today that we are not in favor of the 02:27:39.448 --> 02:27:41.448 increase. Thank you so much. And a point of personal 02:27:41.448 --> 02:27:43.658 privilege, would be really helpful for the operator to 02:27:43.658 --> 02:27:47.368 say perhaps who was on deck. Uh, so that we can get 02:27:47.378 --> 02:27:49.838 through these comments even faster. Thanks so much. 02:27:49.848 --> 02:27:52.049 Bye bye. 02:27:52.049 --> 02:27:55.918 Thank you, Miss Von Till for your comments. Operator, let's call 02:27:55.918 --> 02:28:00.868 on the next speaker. 02:28:00.868 --> 02:28:10.549 Next we have Kliber River. Fiber, Van Kliber. 02:28:10.549 --> 02:28:12.989 Fiber? 02:28:12.989 --> 02:28:15.519 River? 02:28:15.519 --> 02:28:19.239 Maybe his name is really River Kliber. 02:28:19.239 --> 02:28:27.688 Who knows? (inaudible) Your line is open. 02:28:27.688 --> 02:28:32.928 Yeah. A lot of people, I mean a long time. 02:28:32.928 --> 02:28:37.829 Almost three hours. 02:28:37.829 --> 02:28:41.588 Last name River, your line is open. 02:28:41.588 --> 02:28:46.338 We've been waiting almost 2.5 hours. 02:28:46.338 --> 02:28:52.838 Would Doreen Rivera, be Kliber River? (inaudible) Doreen too so. 02:28:52.838 --> 02:28:55.269 Doreen? 02:28:55.269 --> 02:28:58.868 Next we have Lori Cravens. Lori, your line is open. 02:28:59.799 --> 02:29:03.049 Yes, hi. My name is Lori Cravens in Anaheim. Thank 02:29:03.049 --> 02:29:04.959 you, Your Honor and the Board for the opportunity to 02:29:04.959 --> 02:29:07.559 speak. I respectfully ask that you listen and hear 02:29:07.559 --> 02:29:10.428 our concerns. Not only from a personal perspective, 02:29:10.428 --> 02:29:13.378 but also from a business perspective. We've been hearing 02:29:13.378 --> 02:29:15.729 how these sudden increases are impacting our personal 02:29:15.729 --> 02:29:17.628 lives from this increase. But I would like to give 02:29:17.628 --> 02:29:20.469 you the business perspective as well. I hope that we 02:29:20.469 --> 02:29:23.128 all have the same interest in retaining people, businesses 02:29:23.128 --> 02:29:26.348 and jobs here in the state of California. We're a small 02:29:26.348 --> 02:29:28.719 business in the metal finishing industry, one of many 02:29:28.719 --> 02:29:31.908 in California. We provide services to the automotive 02:29:31.918 --> 02:29:35.158 architectural building, medical manufacturing industries 02:29:35.239 --> 02:29:38.279 as well as many other companies here in Southern California. 02:29:38.529 --> 02:29:40.779 The finishing services that we provide are essential 02:29:40.779 --> 02:29:44.108 to dozens of large and small metal manufacturers. That 02:29:44.118 --> 02:29:46.608 said the main utility costs to run our business is 02:29:46.618 --> 02:29:50.309 natural gas. We rely on natural gas to run our ovens 02:29:50.319 --> 02:29:53.059 to heat and cure our powder finishing process, there 02:29:53.069 --> 02:29:56.698 is no alternative for us. On average, our previous gas 02:29:56.698 --> 02:29:59.928 bills were in the range of $9,000 to $10,000 monthly. 02:30:00.059 --> 02:30:03.668 We received our January bill and the amount of $25,000, 02:30:03.678 --> 02:30:09.418 $25,225. An astounding increase from the calculated 02:30:09.418 --> 02:30:12.388 costs that we used to factor the price of our finishing 02:30:12.388 --> 02:30:16.579 to our customers. Our February bill was $24,500, with 02:30:16.588 --> 02:30:19.668 no reprieve. With this increase, it is almost as much 02:30:19.668 --> 02:30:22.628 as the lease on our 40,000 square foot building. This 02:30:22.638 --> 02:30:25.569 unexpected increase in natural gas costs, will make 02:30:25.569 --> 02:30:28.178 it impossible for us to remain in business going forward. 02:30:28.198 --> 02:30:30.938 We could possibly be out of business within six months. 02:30:30.948 --> 02:30:34.029 Our intention is to retain and grow our businesses. 02:30:34.039 --> 02:30:36.868 We have managed to forge through COVID and many other 02:30:36.878 --> 02:30:39.878 challenges and obstacles. But this may be the last 02:30:39.878 --> 02:30:42.378 straw for us and thousands of other businesses in our 02:30:42.378 --> 02:30:45.789 sector. With no businesses and no jobs, we will be forced 02:30:45.789 --> 02:30:48.848 to leave California. We are asking for you to please 02:30:48.858 --> 02:30:51.138 do something to help our industries and your neighbor 02:30:51.138 --> 02:30:53.938 Californians. There must be something that can be done 02:30:53.938 --> 02:30:57.368 on the federal, state, county, city level. To help small 02:30:57.368 --> 02:31:00.188 businesses stay in business and stay in California, 02:31:00.259 --> 02:31:04.269 as well as as people as well. In closing, we ask for 02:31:04.269 --> 02:31:06.789 an investigation regarding the current, the current 02:31:06.799 --> 02:31:10.569 and future rate increases and we do oppose these increases. 02:31:10.598 --> 02:31:14.489 Thank you again for your time. 02:31:14.489 --> 02:31:18.239 Thank you for your comments. Before we proceed, I just 02:31:18.239 --> 02:31:21.648 want to remind the speakers. That if you're on the webcast 02:31:21.658 --> 02:31:25.938 watching the adminmonitor, and also on the phone waiting 02:31:25.938 --> 02:31:29.739 to get into the queue. Please listen to the phone as 02:31:29.739 --> 02:31:32.198 opposed to the adminmonitor, because there is a time 02:31:32.198 --> 02:31:36.269 delay. So if you're in queue, please listen to the phone. 02:31:36.279 --> 02:31:41.219 Um, that'll make it quicker. Thank you. Operator, let's 02:31:41.219 --> 02:31:45.039 call on the next speaker. Thank you, Your Honor. One 02:31:45.039 --> 02:31:47.789 moment. 02:31:47.789 --> 02:31:52.588 Is she waiting to speak or what? (inaudible) Klivner 02:31:52.588 --> 02:31:58.029 River, your line is now open. 02:31:58.029 --> 02:32:01.098 (inaudible) 02:32:01.098 --> 02:32:05.489 Again, last name River your line is open. Everyone 02:32:12.999 --> 02:32:18.469 (inaudible) Brian Mafini, your line is now open. 02:32:18.469 --> 02:32:23.779 Yeah, that's me. Can you hear me? Yes, please proceed. 02:32:25.118 --> 02:32:31.638 Ok uh, I'm vehemently against this. Um, 02:32:31.638 --> 02:32:34.469 after how much profits we know that the gas company 02:32:34.469 --> 02:32:39.118 has made. Um, we all know that they can continue service 02:32:39.118 --> 02:32:41.898 without raising prices. So don't tell me that they 02:32:41.898 --> 02:32:44.938 can't continue service without a rate increase. And 02:32:44.938 --> 02:32:47.198 if they think that's the only way, then they're not trying 02:32:47.198 --> 02:32:52.549 hard enough. So um you know this is, this is ridiculous. Uh, 02:32:52.559 --> 02:32:55.128 I know they can do better and that's what they need 02:32:55.128 --> 02:32:58.138 to do. 02:32:58.138 --> 02:33:01.779 That's what I got. 02:33:01.779 --> 02:33:04.799 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:33:04.799 --> 02:33:13.239 on the next speaker. 02:33:13.239 --> 02:33:16.769 Next we have Cammy Briggs. Cammy Briggs, your line 02:33:16.769 --> 02:33:21.269 is open. Hi, um thanks for hearing us. Um, actually 02:33:21.269 --> 02:33:24.459 originally I was on the line to talk about how I was 02:33:24.469 --> 02:33:28.469 totally opposed to this. But um, after kind of listening 02:33:28.469 --> 02:33:31.489 to this at the end of the day. I think the issue 02:33:31.489 --> 02:33:35.678 is the fact that we on this call and in this state 02:33:35.678 --> 02:33:39.749 voted for this type of situation to happen. Um, right 02:33:39.749 --> 02:33:43.698 now everybody's feeling the impacts of the government's 02:33:43.698 --> 02:33:48.299 poor decisions. The massive regulation, the um you 02:33:48.299 --> 02:33:51.209 know in, in this environment coupled with a terrible 02:33:51.219 --> 02:33:55.918 um uh business climate. That's directly responsible 02:33:55.918 --> 02:33:59.628 but the government is directly responsible for um, managing. 02:33:59.638 --> 02:34:03.069 Um everybody's, you know, suffering financially. But 02:34:03.079 --> 02:34:06.129 uh we, you know, we continue to vote for these propositions 02:34:06.129 --> 02:34:09.238 on infrastructure that we're, you know, taxed at one 02:34:09.238 --> 02:34:13.189 of the highest tax tax rates in the country. Um, so 02:34:13.198 --> 02:34:15.928 you know, I don't begrudge anybody for making a living. 02:34:15.928 --> 02:34:19.689 We have to have good leaders running um, an organization 02:34:19.698 --> 02:34:23.499 um, such as this the gas company. And, you know what 02:34:23.499 --> 02:34:26.309 they're making actually in the business world isn't 02:34:26.318 --> 02:34:30.138 outrageous. Um, but what is outrageous is the fact 02:34:30.138 --> 02:34:33.158 that we continue to vote for this overregulated state. 02:34:33.169 --> 02:34:36.278 And when companies are told that they're going to be 02:34:36.278 --> 02:34:40.408 out of business by our government in the next 20 years. 02:34:40.419 --> 02:34:43.158 Of course, they're going to try to make record profits. 02:34:43.169 --> 02:34:46.848 They, they're being forced to invest in future technologies 02:34:46.859 --> 02:34:50.818 that they may or may not even see a benefit from. So 02:34:50.829 --> 02:34:54.488 um, while I don't love the timing of this increase, 02:34:54.488 --> 02:34:58.318 given the situation that we're all feeling. Um, I also 02:34:58.329 --> 02:35:01.408 understand why it needs to happen and I blame everybody 02:35:01.408 --> 02:35:04.829 on this call. And in particular, I blame our politicians 02:35:04.829 --> 02:35:08.289 who um have, have no concept of what it takes to run 02:35:08.289 --> 02:35:12.839 a business. And um, and so we get what we vote for 02:35:12.848 --> 02:35:15.908 this is what we voted for people. And um, unfortunately 02:35:15.908 --> 02:35:18.098 we're gonna continue to see increases until we can 02:35:18.098 --> 02:35:21.019 get somebody who understands the real business climate 02:35:21.019 --> 02:35:24.839 to manage this process. 02:35:24.839 --> 02:35:28.129 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:35:28.129 --> 02:35:31.368 the next speaker. 02:35:31.368 --> 02:35:39.348 Next we have Lisa Vaca. Lisa, your line is open. 02:35:39.348 --> 02:35:42.928 Good afternoon. My name is Lisa, L. I. S. A. Vaca, V. 02:35:42.928 --> 02:35:47.118 A. C. A. I'm from Los Angeles. I represent the California 02:35:47.118 --> 02:35:52.868 Latino Leadership Institute. We are um, beneficiaries in 02:35:52.879 --> 02:35:56.309 Southeast Los Angeles and have partnered with the gas 02:35:56.309 --> 02:36:01.769 company to help underserved at risk youth. I am supporting 02:36:01.769 --> 02:36:05.249 the increase since it's the first time in 4 years, 02:36:05.249 --> 02:36:10.079 a lot has changed in 4 years. Uh, eggs used to be 02:36:10.079 --> 02:36:14.829 $2 a dozen, they're now $5.99. Bread used to be $2, 02:36:14.839 --> 02:36:19.098 it is now over $5. A gallon of milk is more expensive 02:36:19.098 --> 02:36:24.109 than a gallon of gas. And more importantly, uh the 02:36:24.109 --> 02:36:29.579 gas company to fund nonprofits and programs that help 02:36:29.589 --> 02:36:34.928 as a safety net. At risk communities need revenue and 02:36:34.928 --> 02:36:40.859 we cannot do uh same old, same old everything has gone 02:36:40.859 --> 02:36:44.039 up. I just paid, used to pay 25 cents for a pound 02:36:44.039 --> 02:36:47.459 of bananas. I'm now paying 79 cents for the same pound 02:36:47.459 --> 02:36:51.798 of bananas. So I support the gas company. It's time 02:36:51.798 --> 02:36:57.019 that they do have like every other business uh, in California 02:36:57.019 --> 02:37:00.789 and in the United States. It's not just, this company 02:37:00.798 --> 02:37:06.149 has had to endure hardships and struggle, so I support 02:37:06.158 --> 02:37:09.629 the increase. Thank you. 02:37:09.629 --> 02:37:12.459 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call on 02:37:12.459 --> 02:37:15.839 the next speaker. 02:37:15.839 --> 02:37:18.718 Next we have David Griffin. David, your line is now 02:37:18.718 --> 02:37:24.269 open. Thank you, David Griffin, G. R. I. F. F. I. N, 02:37:24.269 --> 02:37:28.568 in Westwood, California. Top executives and senior 02:37:28.568 --> 02:37:32.839 managers of SoCalGas and Semper Energy are being 02:37:32.839 --> 02:37:38.089 paid obscene salaries. Yet prudent management, careful 02:37:38.089 --> 02:37:42.738 oversight and sensible stewardship all seem to be above 02:37:42.738 --> 02:37:47.068 their pay grades. Did SoCalGas executives and senior 02:37:47.068 --> 02:37:50.439 managers not learn the lessons we were all forced to 02:37:50.439 --> 02:37:54.428 learn during the COVID pandemic? We small business 02:37:54.428 --> 02:37:59.979 owners were compelled to be nimble, to adapt, to safeguard 02:37:59.979 --> 02:38:05.359 our assets and resources, and not waste money. Where 02:38:05.359 --> 02:38:10.439 was their foresight, initiative and good sense to anticipate 02:38:10.439 --> 02:38:13.939 what happens when the supply chain is disrupted? And 02:38:13.939 --> 02:38:17.559 there is a need for critical backup reserves. They 02:38:17.559 --> 02:38:20.388 were either caught with their pants down or turned 02:38:20.388 --> 02:38:24.638 a blind eye. And because of that negligence, we consumers 02:38:24.638 --> 02:38:28.399 must either pony up ridiculous amounts or we are left 02:38:28.408 --> 02:38:32.939 in the cold. With more money of ours in their pocket, 02:38:32.948 --> 02:38:37.798 SoCalGas says they will quote, "continue to invest 02:38:37.809 --> 02:38:43.129 in its gas delivery system to enhance safety and reliability. 02:38:43.138 --> 02:38:47.079 And to manage risks that could impact its employees, 02:38:47.089 --> 02:38:52.379 customers and or system" unquote. So they claim the 02:38:52.388 --> 02:38:57.379 last go round. What irrevocable, ironclad guarantees 02:38:57.388 --> 02:39:02.169 are being given by SoCalGas executives. To ensure 02:39:02.178 --> 02:39:06.598 that they will do what they say they will do. I ask 02:39:06.598 --> 02:39:11.769 the CPUC since the last granted hike, what exactly 02:39:11.769 --> 02:39:16.979 did SoCal do to ensure the safety and reliability 02:39:16.979 --> 02:39:21.539 of the gas pipeline? If they were proactive, why were 02:39:21.539 --> 02:39:24.559 they not verifying maintenance to ensure that there 02:39:24.559 --> 02:39:27.979 would be uninterrupted flow from the pipeline? Why 02:39:27.979 --> 02:39:31.269 did they not have the foresight to build up sufficient 02:39:31.269 --> 02:39:35.968 gas reserves? Why did they not have a Plan B? I'm 02:39:35.968 --> 02:39:39.138 skeptical, I don't believe the increased revenue will 02:39:39.138 --> 02:39:44.318 be used to benefit consumers. I propose the CPUC rules 02:39:44.329 --> 02:39:50.118 that SoCalGas must be forthcoming, engaging and transparent. 02:39:50.129 --> 02:39:53.609 During meetings to be held in the coming, coming months. 02:39:53.618 --> 02:39:57.979 With a group of ordinary citizens, so that we may report 02:39:57.979 --> 02:40:01.988 our findings back to the CPUC and our community. 02:40:02.528 --> 02:40:05.948 Let's have transparency and governance, let's apply 02:40:05.948 --> 02:40:10.109 common sense. Let a team of earnest folks have an honest 02:40:10.109 --> 02:40:15.508 look, I will be gladly part of that process. 02:40:15.508 --> 02:40:19.079 Thank you for your comments. Operator, let's have the 02:40:19.079 --> 02:40:23.269 next speaker online. 02:40:23.269 --> 02:40:26.888 Next we have Sophia Hamm. Sophia, your line is now open. 02:40:27.818 --> 02:40:30.908 Hi there. My name is Sophia Ham, H. A. M. M. You 02:40:30.908 --> 02:40:34.129 all can hear me correct? Yes, we can. 02:40:34.129 --> 02:40:37.568 Okay, and I'm in Arcadia. Also just a quick note that 02:40:37.568 --> 02:40:40.579 in my email, it doesn't say anything about a 6pm hearing 02:40:40.579 --> 02:40:43.539 tonight. It only says one about one on March 15. You 02:40:43.539 --> 02:40:47.098 may want to triple check that, um email. Um, as for my 02:40:47.098 --> 02:40:49.999 comments, I wanted to speak in opposition to increases. 02:40:50.008 --> 02:40:53.678 Before we received our first uh, unusually high gas bill this last 02:40:53.678 --> 02:40:56.718 season. I received minimal communication from SoCalGas 02:40:56.718 --> 02:40:59.979 about how high my bill would be. Myself and neighbors 02:40:59.988 --> 02:41:05.269 were shocked by the increases. As many of us (inaudible) told the request for. 02:41:05.278 --> 02:41:07.979 Infrastructure improvements that may help with future 02:41:07.979 --> 02:41:10.979 rate hikes. However, from my previous experience with 02:41:10.988 --> 02:41:14.008 SoCalGas being vague. Customers need to be told 02:41:14.019 --> 02:41:17.818 exactly what the benefits will be, with details unobscured 02:41:17.818 --> 02:41:21.899 and forthcoming numbers. As for the actual human impact 02:41:21.899 --> 02:41:24.488 of increases. I agree with previous comments about 02:41:24.488 --> 02:41:26.968 the lack of support for middle and high-income customers, 02:41:26.968 --> 02:41:30.579 who are also struggling. In my home we've been okay, 02:41:30.579 --> 02:41:32.718 because we've been turning the heat off on most days. 02:41:32.729 --> 02:41:35.528 However, I work at home and because it's so cold it's 02:41:35.528 --> 02:41:39.309 often hard to focus. Studies have shown that cold offices 02:41:39.318 --> 02:41:42.269 disproportionately affect women and that women work 02:41:42.269 --> 02:41:44.968 better in warmer room. Many companies have moved workers 02:41:44.979 --> 02:41:48.339 to working from home in general. Um, and many women 02:41:48.348 --> 02:41:51.098 are working at home due to disproportionate caregiving 02:41:51.098 --> 02:41:53.979 responsibilities. So we found yet another dollar to 02:41:53.979 --> 02:41:57.269 add to the food tax and are just compounding that with these 02:41:57.269 --> 02:42:00.818 great increases. (inaudible) the women have equal footing in the 02:42:00.818 --> 02:42:04.109 workplace. My husband and I have also recently found 02:42:04.109 --> 02:42:07.149 out we're expecting our 1st child. (inaudible) is 02:42:07.149 --> 02:42:11.059 in the house and the, and I'm recovery from surgery. 02:42:11.059 --> 02:42:15.598 We won't have the option to turn the heat off. (inaudible) we hear news and government 02:42:15.598 --> 02:42:18.649 worries that millennials are being priced out of parenthood. 02:42:18.658 --> 02:42:21.798 When expenses are planning disproportionately the wages 02:42:21.809 --> 02:42:25.669 even for basic necessities like food preparation (inaudible). As 02:42:25.669 --> 02:42:29.028 far as clean energy goes, I'm 100% for it. However, 02:42:29.028 --> 02:42:30.928 I'm sick and tired of the middle-class being forced 02:42:30.928 --> 02:42:32.988 to carry the financial burden for initiatives like 02:42:32.988 --> 02:42:36.278 this. If SoCalGas can't squeeze more money out of us, 02:42:36.289 --> 02:42:39.919 perhaps they will be able to get more money with lobbying 02:42:39.919 --> 02:42:43.658 power or internal reviews. And go after sources of funding 02:42:43.669 --> 02:42:46.908 besides the middle-class. That's all I had to say, thank you. 02:42:48.528 --> 02:42:51.809 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please uh call 02:42:51.809 --> 02:42:55.568 the next speaker. Next we have Chris Traeger. Chris, 02:42:55.568 --> 02:43:01.278 your line is open. Yes, hi. Uh again, my name is Chris 02:43:01.278 --> 02:43:04.988 Traeger. I've spent a couple of weeks going over uh, 02:43:04.999 --> 02:43:09.089 in detail the price, price regulations and rules of 02:43:09.089 --> 02:43:13.238 SoCalGas, and I've found problems in 3 areas. 02:43:13.249 --> 02:43:16.189 But uh, with a two minute time frame, I'm going to only 02:43:16.189 --> 02:43:20.289 focus on the, what I see is the most important. And that 02:43:20.289 --> 02:43:23.868 is the dramatic cost differential between the cost 02:43:23.868 --> 02:43:28.888 of gas and Henry Hub, uh and the California border 02:43:28.888 --> 02:43:32.919 where SoCal purchased their gas. Henry Hub is a distribution 02:43:32.919 --> 02:43:38.778 hub uh, in Louisiana and that connects to 4 different 02:43:38.778 --> 02:43:42.359 intrastate and 9 interstate pipelines. And it's 02:43:42.359 --> 02:43:47.048 basically uh, considered the benchmark for the entire North 02:43:47.048 --> 02:43:50.749 American natural gas markets, and even parts of the 02:43:50.749 --> 02:43:56.818 global uh, LNG market. Uh, the average price at Henry Hub 02:43:56.829 --> 02:44:00.459 for the months of December, January and February 02:44:00.468 --> 02:44:08.249 was $3.70 MMBtu. And SoCalGas stated commodity costs 02:44:08.258 --> 02:44:16.919 uh, for gas in January was $34.49 for MMBtu. Uh, I have 02:44:16.919 --> 02:44:22.649 no idea how their cost can be 10 times what uh, Henry Hub 02:44:22.658 --> 02:44:27.408 says. SoCal never ran out of gas. Which means somehow 02:44:27.419 --> 02:44:30.928 they were able to import enough gas to keep everything 02:44:30.939 --> 02:44:35.339 fine. And in fact, according to their graphs uh, had more 02:44:35.339 --> 02:44:39.258 capacity than was actually used during these months. 02:44:39.269 --> 02:44:43.948 Uh, somebody's getting exorbitantly rich and I don't 02:44:43.948 --> 02:44:50.149 know if it's uh, the pipelines or SoCalGas. But together 02:44:50.149 --> 02:44:56.468 SoCalGas and PG&E, uh our major importers of the gas 02:44:56.468 --> 02:44:59.568 that comes into California. You need to investigate 02:44:59.568 --> 02:45:03.109 who's getting these obscene profits and the contracts 02:45:03.109 --> 02:45:06.598 with the pipeline companies need to be investigated 02:45:06.609 --> 02:45:10.528 and renegotiated. These costs are obviously being passed 02:45:10.528 --> 02:45:14.528 to the consumer. And I think a major reason why the 02:45:14.528 --> 02:45:19.629 costs of the last many gas uh, bills have been so outrageous. 02:45:19.638 --> 02:45:25.339 Please open the investigations. Uh, thank you. Thank 02:45:25.339 --> 02:45:28.359 you for your comments. Operator, please call the next 02:45:28.368 --> 02:45:31.209 speaker. 02:45:31.209 --> 02:45:33.959 Next we have Regina Days. Regina, your line is open. 02:45:39.089 --> 02:45:42.848 Hello, my name is Regina Days. The D as in David, A. Y. 02:45:42.848 --> 02:45:47.939 S. I am calling from the City of Redland. I'm a new 02:45:47.939 --> 02:45:52.329 residence here, so purchasing a home. Um, the cost 02:45:52.329 --> 02:45:58.879 was already a bit much, but that happened in July. Nonetheless, 02:45:59.548 --> 02:46:05.028 and the gas bill did increase incredibly so and it became 02:46:05.028 --> 02:46:08.749 a hardship. But it's not just a hardship for me. It 02:46:08.749 --> 02:46:12.999 is also a hardship for my church members who are elderly. 02:46:13.008 --> 02:46:16.459 Some are resulting to getting electric heaters and 02:46:16.459 --> 02:46:19.829 they are unaware how much that's going to influence 02:46:19.839 --> 02:46:23.948 their electric bill. And um they're just trying to 02:46:23.948 --> 02:46:28.359 survive and to live. Some people are able to go to another 02:46:28.359 --> 02:46:32.289 relative house and stay with them. Because they are 02:46:32.298 --> 02:46:35.908 unable to pay for the bills at the house, where they 02:46:35.908 --> 02:46:39.309 live. But there are a lot of seniors who are unable 02:46:39.629 --> 02:46:45.118 to um, move to another location during this time of 02:46:45.118 --> 02:46:50.408 cold weather. So I will really employ that, you will 02:46:50.408 --> 02:46:55.499 hear the concerns of the residents. Who are unable to 02:46:55.499 --> 02:46:59.229 pay this increase. Is not so much that we don't want 02:46:59.238 --> 02:47:04.169 to pay it, it's that we are unable to pay it. The 02:47:04.169 --> 02:47:08.709 bill is more than double it is, it's more than tripled 02:47:08.709 --> 02:47:12.589 in some cases. It's just, it's just too much. And so 02:47:12.589 --> 02:47:17.079 I am, I'm employing you to just hear our voices. Because 02:47:17.089 --> 02:47:20.709 I'm speaking for a lot of people in the City of San 02:47:20.709 --> 02:47:25.348 Bernardino. Who don't, who do not have a lot of money. 02:47:25.649 --> 02:47:28.068 And there was one person who did call in from the 02:47:28.079 --> 02:47:31.278 City of San Bernardino. So if you drive down there, 02:47:31.278 --> 02:47:34.999 you will see a lot of homeless people and, and like 02:47:34.999 --> 02:47:38.098 someone has already said. The cost of living is already 02:47:38.109 --> 02:47:43.908 so high, it's just just too much. You just never know 02:47:43.908 --> 02:47:48.028 when a person is $1 away from being homeless. And my 02:47:48.028 --> 02:47:52.818 concern is that the homelessness will increase, because 02:47:52.829 --> 02:47:55.789 the gas prices are increasing. And they can't afford 02:47:55.789 --> 02:47:58.448 the gas, they can't afford the electric, they can't 02:47:58.448 --> 02:48:01.068 afford their home, their food. And it's just becoming 02:48:01.068 --> 02:48:05.118 too much at some point, it needs to have a break. So 02:48:05.118 --> 02:48:08.559 that we can live, that is my concern. And thank you so 02:48:08.559 --> 02:48:12.778 much for this hearing and allowing us to speak. Thank 02:48:12.778 --> 02:48:16.048 you for your comments. Operator, please call on the 02:48:16.048 --> 02:48:18.508 next speaker. 02:48:18.508 --> 02:48:30.839 Next we have Carl Planer. Carl, your line is open. 02:48:30.839 --> 02:48:37.579 (snoring) 02:48:37.579 --> 02:48:42.439 Operator? Maybe you want to move to the next caller 02:48:42.439 --> 02:48:49.298 while um, you can follow up with uh, Mr. Carl? 02:48:49.298 --> 02:48:53.198 Next up we have Ernie Shaw. Ernie, your line is open. 02:48:56.019 --> 02:49:00.579 Thank you, thank you. My name is uh President Ernie Shaw (inaudible) workers, 02:49:00.589 --> 02:49:05.738 Local 43. Um, definitely part of uh our union. I work for 02:49:05.738 --> 02:49:11.499 SoCalGas and I represent uh, about 350 of my members. 02:49:12.059 --> 02:49:15.028 Um and you know, I just first of all. I just want 02:49:15.028 --> 02:49:18.289 to say thank you, you know. To everybody that's kind of speaking 02:49:18.289 --> 02:49:22.618 up, you know, whether in support or not. I understand 02:49:22.618 --> 02:49:28.379 it's frustrating on both ends. It can't be easy. Um, but 02:49:29.988 --> 02:49:33.718 you know, one thing I kinda wanna mention. Um is, you 02:49:33.718 --> 02:49:36.408 know, we talked about the pandemic you know, COVID 02:49:36.408 --> 02:49:39.629 and stuff like that. You know, one thing is for sure. 02:49:39.638 --> 02:49:42.309 Um, while that was kind of going on, the unknown. And 02:49:43.169 --> 02:49:46.348 not, you know, not everybody knew what was coming next. 02:49:47.269 --> 02:49:50.649 A lot of my members were including myself were out 02:49:50.649 --> 02:49:52.859 there working day and night. You know, nobody stayed 02:49:52.859 --> 02:49:56.428 at home and, you know, we um kind of kept everything 02:49:56.428 --> 02:50:00.479 going up and running, right. Um, just kind of keep the 02:50:00.479 --> 02:50:02.939 gas flowing, keep it going, keep everybody's homes 02:50:02.939 --> 02:50:07.598 warm, all that stuff. So I just want to say that um 02:50:07.609 --> 02:50:11.059 we definitely support the right case because it is 02:50:11.059 --> 02:50:15.298 essential for my members to keep our system safe, reliable 02:50:15.309 --> 02:50:19.669 and keep the gas flowing. Um, thank you. That's all I 02:50:19.669 --> 02:50:22.008 got. 02:50:22.008 --> 02:50:24.258 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call 02:50:24.258 --> 02:50:27.629 on the next speaker. Next we have Valerie Basley or 02:50:27.629 --> 02:50:31.709 Baisley. Valerie, your line is open. 02:50:31.709 --> 02:50:35.339 Um yes, sir. Um, thank you very much for allowing me 02:50:35.339 --> 02:50:39.368 to speak. I'm speaking on behalf of my mother, Mary 02:50:39.368 --> 02:50:44.098 Bacilli who is 97 and cannot um, really get on the 02:50:44.109 --> 02:50:48.129 phone. Um, she has resided in this home in Winnetka 02:50:48.129 --> 02:50:54.879 California for 55 years. And um, the gas bills were 02:50:54.888 --> 02:50:58.459 it seems like in the last 5 years they have really 02:50:58.459 --> 02:51:02.839 doubled and tripled. Um, her bill and she lives alone. I 02:51:02.839 --> 02:51:07.419 do come and help her out daily, but she's not showering 02:51:07.419 --> 02:51:11.568 daily. Um, she has no washer and dryer that's working 02:51:11.568 --> 02:51:21.189 here. And um, her bill in January had jumped to $605. 02:51:21.198 --> 02:51:25.868 Um, and she is one person in this home. Of course, 02:51:25.868 --> 02:51:29.769 she does need the heater because she's old and frail. 02:51:29.778 --> 02:51:36.098 Um but um, it's, it's uh undescribable 02:51:36.098 --> 02:51:40.089 what is going on? Um, our bills or her bills used to 02:51:40.089 --> 02:51:47.348 be on average in the Winter time, maybe $100, $125, $150. How 02:51:47.348 --> 02:51:53.649 they go in five years to uh, to $600. I just don't 02:51:53.649 --> 02:51:57.089 understand. So I have been on the phone here for several 02:51:57.089 --> 02:52:02.848 hours and I do agree. Um not, I do not agree with 02:52:02.859 --> 02:52:07.309 any additional charges. I have listened very carefully 02:52:07.318 --> 02:52:11.189 and I did not realize I have not done any research 02:52:11.189 --> 02:52:14.488 on what the people are being paid. The CEOs 02:52:14.488 --> 02:52:18.408 etcetera, etcetera, stock prices. This that, but it 02:52:18.419 --> 02:52:22.859 does seem like people are being paid very well. And 02:52:22.859 --> 02:52:26.769 what is going to happen is everyone is so worried about 02:52:26.769 --> 02:52:30.348 the COVID, and the pandemic and people getting sick. 02:52:30.348 --> 02:52:33.948 If people can't turn on their heat, they will get sick. 02:52:33.948 --> 02:52:38.238 And some people that are old will not be able to recover, 02:52:38.249 --> 02:52:41.968 uh if they get sick. Uh, because they're frail as it is. 02:52:41.979 --> 02:52:46.939 So I do disagree with any additional charges and talking 02:52:46.939 --> 02:52:50.439 about infrastructure in Porter Ranch. There was a gas 02:52:50.439 --> 02:52:54.968 leak 7 years ago and I do not know still to this 02:52:54.979 --> 02:53:00.098 day if they have tended to that old pipe underneath 02:53:00.109 --> 02:53:04.839 Aliso Canyon. And, I don't I just um you know, 02:53:04.839 --> 02:53:08.028 they've had plenty of time. If they're making all these 02:53:08.039 --> 02:53:11.758 billions of dollars to budget for the infrastructure 02:53:11.758 --> 02:53:14.999 and so forth. So that's all I have to say is it 02:53:14.999 --> 02:53:20.368 has been a true hardship for my mother. Um, at one individual 02:53:20.368 --> 02:53:26.019 in a home at $605 that is not taking a shower daily. 02:53:26.028 --> 02:53:30.598 And who is not doing wash and drying at this home. 02:53:30.609 --> 02:53:34.548 I, I think there should be some sort of forensics or 02:53:34.559 --> 02:53:38.448 where the money is going. I do realize that things 02:53:38.448 --> 02:53:40.798 have changed in the administration and maybe we're 02:53:40.798 --> 02:53:44.809 not getting as much gas here locally as we used to 02:53:44.818 --> 02:53:48.738 and maybe we are. Thank you very much. Thank you so 02:53:48.738 --> 02:53:52.798 much for your comments. Operator, can we please call 02:53:52.798 --> 02:53:58.568 the next speaker? Next we have Terra Cia. 02:53:58.568 --> 02:54:13.118 Terra Cia, your line is open. 02:54:13.118 --> 02:54:17.988 Again, Terra Cia your line is open. 02:54:17.988 --> 02:54:21.258 Do you need Teresa? 02:54:21.258 --> 02:54:25.399 My apologies, your line is open. Hi, I'm Teresa Mathenia, M. 02:54:25.399 --> 02:54:29.189 A. T. H. E. N. I. A, in San Dimas, California. Um, 02:54:29.189 --> 02:54:31.999 just like all the other previous customers, I think. 02:54:32.008 --> 02:54:35.649 Um, I'm going to say that I am opposed to this rate 02:54:35.658 --> 02:54:39.548 increase. Um, I could have seen it back in 2020-2021, 02:54:39.559 --> 02:54:43.169 when everyone was home. Uh, children were here you 02:54:43.169 --> 02:54:45.908 know, doing school, I was here working from home. Um, 02:54:45.908 --> 02:54:48.939 fast forward to now everybody's gone. Everybody's back 02:54:48.939 --> 02:54:52.629 in the school, back at the office, and yet and still 02:54:52.638 --> 02:54:59.218 our rates have increased. Um in December, um my rate 02:54:59.218 --> 02:55:04.548 was well my, my bill was $133. Then in January, it 02:55:04.548 --> 02:55:13.749 was uh $420 or February. Excuse me, $420. So it jumped 300%, right. 02:55:14.399 --> 02:55:18.118 And then, this month coming up I owe $134. So I guess it's back 02:55:18.118 --> 02:55:22.388 down. But yet and still, those bills increased so much 02:55:22.399 --> 02:55:26.129 that it's ridiculous to ask for a rate increase in 02:55:26.129 --> 02:55:28.218 the next couple of years. I think that the company's 02:55:28.229 --> 02:55:31.019 SoCal Edison has gotten their increase, just by gouging 02:55:31.019 --> 02:55:34.229 us with those several $100 that they did. Um, all of 02:55:34.229 --> 02:55:37.908 my neighbors um, including myself. Have our bills between 02:55:37.919 --> 02:55:42.238 $400 and $800, we're all talking about it. None of 02:55:42.238 --> 02:55:46.589 us can afford that, and we live in a good area making 02:55:46.598 --> 02:55:49.269 everyone here makes about a six figure income. But 02:55:49.269 --> 02:55:52.039 yet and still, we're gonna have problems paying those 02:55:52.048 --> 02:55:55.158 increases. I'm a single mom with two teenage children 02:55:55.158 --> 02:55:57.758 here and I also take care of my mother who is an 02:55:57.789 --> 02:56:00.579 elderly woman. She moved in here with me because she 02:56:00.579 --> 02:56:03.479 could not afford her bills in her home. So she had 02:56:03.479 --> 02:56:07.098 to move in with me, because she has arthritis. Um, she 02:56:07.098 --> 02:56:10.709 has to have her, her um, the heat on constantly and 02:56:10.709 --> 02:56:12.559 for me, I'm the opposite. I don't really like the heat 02:56:12.559 --> 02:56:14.479 on all the time. So a lot of times she goes to 02:56:14.479 --> 02:56:17.028 her room and turns on electric heater to stay warm 02:56:17.039 --> 02:56:20.249 Now I'm in fear that I won't be able to keep, to 02:56:20.249 --> 02:56:22.879 maintain the prices that they keep increasing it. Because 02:56:22.888 --> 02:56:25.689 not only am I looking out for her, you know, I have 02:56:25.698 --> 02:56:28.359 two teenage children. But I'm trying to look out for my elderly 02:56:28.359 --> 02:56:31.448 mom who needs to have the heat on. So these increases 02:56:31.459 --> 02:56:34.568 are ridiculous. They're insane for several $100 within 02:56:34.568 --> 02:56:39.678 a month with the same thermage is ridiculous. I do 02:56:39.678 --> 02:56:42.859 not agree with the rate increase. Um, and so I'm urging 02:56:42.859 --> 02:56:45.658 you guys to, Your Honor. I'm sorry. I'm urging 02:56:45.658 --> 02:56:49.079 you to vote no, for this uh rate increase. Do not approve 02:56:49.079 --> 02:56:54.329 it. Um, also I have solar panels and so it seems like 02:56:54.339 --> 02:56:57.329 all of my other utilities are on the solar panels. 02:56:57.339 --> 02:57:00.798 I usually have no problems but now that the rate increase 02:57:00.798 --> 02:57:05.138 has happened several $100 is the amount that I cannot 02:57:05.138 --> 02:57:07.579 maintain. And yet I'm doing the responsible thing by 02:57:07.579 --> 02:57:10.198 having solar panels and trying to be green on my own. 02:57:10.198 --> 02:57:14.138 But yet and still, this massive increase has disturbed 02:57:14.138 --> 02:57:19.059 or disturbed my household income so. Urging you to 02:57:19.068 --> 02:57:22.729 not approve this rate increase. Thank you so much. 02:57:23.559 --> 02:57:26.749 Thank you for your comments. Operator, please call the 02:57:26.749 --> 02:57:31.039 next speaker. Next we have Francis Canfield. Francis, 02:57:31.039 --> 02:57:36.269 your line is open. Yes, uh. This is Francis Campbell 02:57:36.278 --> 02:57:40.149 C. A. M. P. B. E. L. L, Glendale, California. Thank you 02:57:40.149 --> 02:57:43.399 Your Honor and Commissioners for allowing me to speak. 02:57:43.948 --> 02:57:48.729 I'd like to paraphrase uh part of my uh, recent letter to 02:57:48.729 --> 02:57:53.979 the California Public Utilities Commission dated January 02:57:53.979 --> 02:57:59.638 31. Uh, CPUC recently approved a rate increase requested 02:57:59.638 --> 02:58:03.749 by SoCalGas Company. When I called SoCalGas Company 02:58:03.758 --> 02:58:08.008 about the astronomical increase in my bill. I was referred 02:58:08.019 --> 02:58:13.019 to CPUC. According to SoCalGas, two reasons account 02:58:13.028 --> 02:58:16.689 for the last increase, a cold snap and an increase 02:58:16.698 --> 02:58:20.359 in commodity prices. I am frankly suspicious of the 02:58:20.368 --> 02:58:24.749 second reason which subjects me a senior, senior citizen 02:58:24.758 --> 02:58:29.178 and others to a much lower standard of living. So 02:58:29.178 --> 02:58:33.298 un-American. As you may know everybody, everyone's body 02:58:33.298 --> 02:58:36.348 chemistry is somewhat different, requiring different 02:58:36.348 --> 02:58:41.189 levels of heat. I have an older, modest one bedroom 02:58:41.729 --> 02:58:45.968 uh apartment. My average monthly bill over the last 02:58:45.979 --> 02:58:51.019 two years has been around a livable $66 per month. 02:58:52.839 --> 02:58:58.749 SoCal's last billing to me was $330.50. Five times 02:58:58.758 --> 02:59:03.059 my normal rate, this is unconscionable. A rate of my 02:59:03.059 --> 02:59:08.539 really hard earned lifetime savings. And I do not qualify 02:59:08.539 --> 02:59:16.278 for a 20% discount. This $330 charge stops me from 02:59:16.979 --> 02:59:20.658 uh purchasing a desperately needed toaster oven and 02:59:20.669 --> 02:59:26.218 a simple bathrobe. I recall a time when the introduction 02:59:26.218 --> 02:59:29.769 of natural gas was too happily lower the population's 02:59:29.769 --> 02:59:35.318 gas prices. What has now changed? I sense frankly a 02:59:35.318 --> 02:59:38.629 political aspect to this which is very discouraging. 02:59:40.618 --> 02:59:45.079 And in by incidentally, I also I tend to agree in general. 02:59:45.089 --> 02:59:49.008 With the comments of David Madero and many others who 02:59:49.008 --> 02:59:54.649 are against this uh, requested rate increase. Thank 02:59:54.649 --> 02:59:58.428 you so much for listening to me. Thank you for your 02:59:58.428 --> 03:00:03.309 comments. Operator, please call the next speaker in line. 03:00:04.669 --> 03:00:07.198 Next we have Joyce Castheart. Joyce, your line is 03:00:07.198 --> 03:00:10.589 open. 03:00:10.589 --> 03:00:14.318 Thank you. This is Joyce. Cathcart. My last name is 03:00:14.329 --> 03:00:18.408 spelled C. A. T as in Thomas. H as in Harold. C. 03:00:18.419 --> 03:00:23.678 A. R. T, and from Newport Beach. And I strongly disapprove 03:00:23.689 --> 03:00:29.359 of this hike in our expenses. I've listened to the 03:00:29.359 --> 03:00:31.988 comments that everyone has spoken. I think everyone 03:00:31.988 --> 03:00:35.258 has, we don't need to berate anymore. How much all 03:00:35.258 --> 03:00:39.658 of our um, bills have gone up and how unacceptable 03:00:39.658 --> 03:00:46.368 it is. From a company that has misused their um, power 03:00:47.019 --> 03:00:49.479 and 03:00:49.479 --> 03:00:55.298 not conducted good business rules here. No one has seems 03:00:55.298 --> 03:00:57.928 to have mentioned what the gas company is doing with 03:00:57.928 --> 03:01:02.428 these extra costs that they have acquired. Why aren't. 03:01:02.439 --> 03:01:06.339 why isn't the gas company looking into how they can 03:01:06.339 --> 03:01:10.028 reduce their bills? Have they renegotiated their contract? 03:01:10.039 --> 03:01:13.758 Have they had meetings with the unions? Have they looked 03:01:13.758 --> 03:01:17.048 at their other expenses? Rather than just passing them 03:01:17.048 --> 03:01:21.559 on to the people? Um, but they seem to have power over, 03:01:22.598 --> 03:01:26.778 it is unacceptable to all of us. This isn't the first 03:01:26.778 --> 03:01:30.968 call that I have made these comments on in the same 03:01:30.979 --> 03:01:34.689 issue. And nothing seems to have changed with all of 03:01:34.689 --> 03:01:38.589 this public opinion. I hope that they will change 03:01:38.598 --> 03:01:41.778 this time and we can take everyone into consideration. 03:01:43.528 --> 03:01:48.089 Again, I disapprove of any additional charges from 03:01:48.098 --> 03:01:54.589 the Southern California Gas Company. 03:01:54.589 --> 03:01:57.579 Thank you for your comments. 03:01:57.579 --> 03:02:01.809 So, um as noted earlier than me that we will try and 03:02:01.809 --> 03:02:06.419 adjourn this public participation hearing at 5:15 today. 03:02:06.428 --> 03:02:10.729 So that, we can prepare for the 6pm Public Participation 03:02:10.729 --> 03:02:16.258 Hearing. Um, I want to thank all the public speakers 03:02:16.269 --> 03:02:21.249 who have participated today and I thank all the speakers 03:02:21.249 --> 03:02:24.109 who are also waiting in line at this point in time 03:02:24.109 --> 03:02:28.968 to speak. So, um I welcome you to the 6pm Public 03:02:28.968 --> 03:02:32.689 Participation Hearing. Um, if you would like to make 03:02:32.689 --> 03:02:36.258 comments, even though that hearing was noticed for 03:02:36.269 --> 03:02:39.979 San Diego Gas and Electric Company. We will take comments 03:02:39.979 --> 03:02:45.778 from SoCalGas customers. Um at that time, um again 03:02:45.789 --> 03:02:49.638 thank you to everybody who's attended. And Commissioner 03:02:49.649 --> 03:02:52.059 Houck, would you like to make any additional comments 03:02:52.059 --> 03:02:57.169 at this time? 03:02:57.169 --> 03:02:59.879 Yes, I just wanted to just join in your thanks for 03:02:59.879 --> 03:03:02.609 everybody that, that participated this evening. I know 03:03:02.609 --> 03:03:06.098 we have quite a number of folks um, that we're able 03:03:06.098 --> 03:03:08.959 to make comments and we have quite a number of folks 03:03:08.959 --> 03:03:11.388 that are still in the queue for making comments. So 03:03:11.388 --> 03:03:15.098 hopefully you will be able to call back at 6 tonight. 03:03:15.109 --> 03:03:17.689 Or for one of the other CPHs that are 03:03:17.689 --> 03:03:20.379 scheduled for this event. We do want to hear from you 03:03:20.379 --> 03:03:22.979 and I think as Judge Lakhanpal mentioned earlier. 03:03:22.988 --> 03:03:25.778 Just another reminder that there's also opportunities 03:03:25.789 --> 03:03:29.059 to put written comments on the docket card for the 03:03:29.059 --> 03:03:34.528 proceeding. And um, information for that is uh, can you 03:03:34.528 --> 03:03:37.959 can get that from the Public Advisor or go to the docket 03:03:37.959 --> 03:03:41.598 card on our website? And um there's a tab where you 03:03:41.598 --> 03:03:45.399 can add your public comment there as well. And just 03:03:45.399 --> 03:03:51.048 thank you everyone. So just to add to that, if you 03:03:51.048 --> 03:03:54.098 want to add comments on our docket, you can go to: 03:03:54.098 --> 03:03:59.658 apps.cpuc.ca.gov 03:03:59.658 --> 03:04:08.528 /c/A2205015. And if you have 03:04:08.528 --> 03:04:11.618 any questions and please do reach out to our Public 03:04:11.618 --> 03:04:16.629 Advisor's Office. Their email address is, public. 03:04:16.638 --> 03:04:22.638 advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. So this concludes 03:04:22.649 --> 03:04:26.778 our 2pm Public, Public Participation Hearing today. 03:04:26.789 --> 03:04:30.738 We will be now off the record. Thank you, everyone.