WEBVTT 00:00:00.250 --> 00:00:02.669 Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:05.509 voting meeting on the day, Thursday, November 16th 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.788 2023. Today's call is being recorded. If you have any 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:12.939 objections, you may disconnect at this time. President 00:00:12.948 --> 00:00:16.899 Reynolds, you may begin. Good morning and welcome to 00:00:16.908 --> 00:00:20.019 the California Public Utilities Commission voting meeting 00:00:21.370 --> 00:00:25.818 I'm calling this meeting of November 16th 2023 public 00:00:25.829 --> 00:00:31.298 agenda number 3536. To order we need to start by establishing 00:00:31.309 --> 00:00:34.098 a quorum agenda clerk. Could you please call the roll 00:00:36.139 --> 00:00:41.939 Commissioner Douglas, Commissioner John Reynolds. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:47.118 Commissioner Hau here, Commissioner Sharaa here, President 00:00:47.139 --> 00:00:52.270 Alice Reynolds. Here we have a quorum today. We are 00:00:52.279 --> 00:00:56.168 welcomed by the Imperial County Office of Education 00:00:56.179 --> 00:01:00.829 in El Centro California. Um I do wanna give a huge 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:04.448 thanks to the Office of Education for their assistance 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:08.109 and to the county for the for welcoming us here and 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:11.668 allowing us to use their facilities. It's really great 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:15.689 to be here. Um I do want to note that this meeting 00:01:15.698 --> 00:01:21.719 will also be live streamed at www dot admin monitor.com/c 00:01:21.730 --> 00:01:26.638 A slash CPUC. I'm gonna start with some housekeeping 00:01:26.650 --> 00:01:29.299 information and then we'll move on to public comment 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:32.888 for those of you watching the live stream closed captioning 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:36.430 is available in English and Spanish to view the closed 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:39.698 captioning. Click on the green button beneath the webcast 00:01:39.709 --> 00:01:42.540 video player and follow the instructions that appear 00:01:42.549 --> 00:01:46.219 on screen Spanish interpretation is available during 00:01:46.230 --> 00:01:49.980 the public comment portion of today's meeting for Spanish 00:01:49.989 --> 00:02:02.480 interpretation dial 1 808 571917 pass code 379962 £7 00:02:02.849 --> 00:02:05.319 and follow the instructions to be connected to the 00:02:05.329 --> 00:02:08.939 Spanish line. I ask that my colleagues and today's 00:02:08.949 --> 00:02:12.538 speakers speak clearly and slowly to allow for interpretation 00:02:13.288 --> 00:02:16.008 at today's meeting. The public will have the opportunity 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:20.080 to make public comments either in person or by telephone 00:02:20.429 --> 00:02:23.399 If you wish to make an in person public comment, please 00:02:23.409 --> 00:02:26.838 visit the public advisor's office table located in 00:02:26.849 --> 00:02:30.199 the lobby outside the doors uh to add your name to 00:02:30.210 --> 00:02:33.449 the public comment list. If you wish to make a public 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:40.860 comment by telephone, please dial 1 808 571917 and 00:02:40.868 --> 00:02:50.058 enter passcode 989950 £1 and press star one. You will 00:02:50.069 --> 00:02:52.819 be placed in a queue and the operator will take your 00:02:52.830 --> 00:02:55.528 name and information. You will then be called upon 00:02:55.538 --> 00:02:58.069 to speak when we get to the public comment period in 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:01.308 today's agenda. Please note that if there are many 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:05.199 callers, the wait to speak may be long if you encounter 00:03:05.210 --> 00:03:07.969 difficulties calling into the public telephone line 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:13.550 please email voting meeting help at CPUC dot C a.gov 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:17.500 For those of you who are not able to provide oral public 00:03:17.508 --> 00:03:20.360 comments at today's public voting meeting or for those 00:03:20.368 --> 00:03:23.270 of you who would like to provide more lengthy comments 00:03:23.944 --> 00:03:26.854 you may submit written comments, written comments can 00:03:26.865 --> 00:03:30.774 be sent to us in two ways. One via an online form 00:03:30.784 --> 00:03:34.485 found in each proceedings, online docket card or two 00:03:34.493 --> 00:03:38.425 directly to our public advisor's office at Public dot 00:03:38.433 --> 00:03:44.219 advisor at CPUC dot C a.gov. For more information about 00:03:44.229 --> 00:03:46.960 providing public comments, please contact our public 00:03:46.969 --> 00:03:49.960 advisor's office and again, I'll read the email again 00:03:49.969 --> 00:03:55.360 Public dot advisor at CPUC dot C a.gov. Or you may 00:03:55.368 --> 00:04:04.278 call 18668498390. You can also visit our website and 00:04:04.288 --> 00:04:08.969 click on the make a comment icon. 00:04:08.969 --> 00:04:12.460 Ok. Before we get started, I did want to recognize 00:04:12.469 --> 00:04:17.059 that November 1st through November 30th is Native American 00:04:17.069 --> 00:04:21.250 Heritage Month. The California Public Utilities Commission 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:24.350 celebrates the Native American tribes of California 00:04:24.358 --> 00:04:27.889 and the many distinct cultures, languages and traditions 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:32.838 that reflect the 179 tribal nations located in what 00:04:32.850 --> 00:04:37.259 is now California and the 1.4 million people who identify 00:04:37.269 --> 00:04:41.750 as Native American or Alaska native. Join me and my 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:44.889 fellow commissioners as we appreciate countless contributions 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:49.829 to our state by those in Indian country since 1990 00:04:49.838 --> 00:04:53.069 when the first Native American Heritage Month was proclaimed 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:56.389 November has been a month to reflect upon and commemorate 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.189 the contributions of tribes and celebrate the unique 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.920 and widely diverse cultures of America's first peoples 00:05:03.329 --> 00:05:06.709 here at the CPUC, we recognize the essential role that 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.910 tribal governments play in our mission to ensure safe 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:14.040 reliable and affordable utility services for all Californians 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:17.939 from expanding broadband services in rural areas to 00:05:17.949 --> 00:05:21.298 partnering on projects that enhance energy infrastructure 00:05:21.309 --> 00:05:24.858 reliability. We are proud to collaborate with and support 00:05:24.869 --> 00:05:28.790 tribal communities. Our commitment goes beyond words 00:05:28.798 --> 00:05:31.428 through initiatives such as tribal, the tribal land 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:34.949 transfer policy and our new equity and access grant 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.350 program. The commission actively supports and empowers 00:05:38.358 --> 00:05:42.088 tribal communities to develop energy resilience initiatives 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.379 We're dedicated to standing alongside the first people 00:05:45.389 --> 00:05:48.588 of our lands and honoring the profound importance of 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:51.540 our shared history 00:05:51.540 --> 00:05:54.689 in the spirit of this month, we invite you to learn 00:05:54.699 --> 00:05:57.829 more about the wide array of tribal affairs work taking 00:05:57.838 --> 00:06:01.149 place at the puc. This work is aimed at addressing 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:04.139 utility challenges and repairing environmental and 00:06:04.149 --> 00:06:06.970 social justice inequities that California's tribes 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:11.189 have endured for generations be on the lookout for 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:14.809 upcoming announcements about future lunchtime learning 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:18.129 events featuring native American leaders. These events 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:21.449 will offer a unique opportunity to expand our understanding 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:24.709 and appreciation of the invaluable contributions made 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:28.528 by those in Indian country. So join us in acknowledging 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:31.540 and celebrating the enduring legacy of Native American 00:06:31.548 --> 00:06:35.480 tribes in California. Together, we can foster a spirit 00:06:35.488 --> 00:06:40.500 of unity, appreciation and support 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:44.939 and now we will go to public comments So a few uh 00:06:44.949 --> 00:06:48.379 instructions for folks in the room in person. Comments 00:06:48.389 --> 00:06:52.178 will be taken first followed by comments on the public 00:06:52.189 --> 00:06:54.809 comment, telephone line. And again, if you're attending 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:56.600 in person and would like to make a public comment, 00:06:56.608 --> 00:07:01.230 please visit the table outside. Um going to uh instructions 00:07:01.238 --> 00:07:04.178 for public comment by telephone. If you have already 00:07:04.189 --> 00:07:07.600 dialed into the public comment, telephone line, please 00:07:07.608 --> 00:07:12.119 press star one and unmute your phone. The public can 00:07:12.129 --> 00:07:15.278 make comments, addressing items on the consent and 00:07:15.290 --> 00:07:19.040 regular agenda as well as items that are not on the 00:07:19.048 --> 00:07:23.579 agenda. But CPUC rules do not allow for parties to 00:07:23.588 --> 00:07:28.119 proceedings to speak about open proceedings. 00:07:28.119 --> 00:07:30.850 All speakers will have one minute to speak. You will 00:07:30.858 --> 00:07:33.949 hear a bell sound when your time is up. Please be mindful 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:36.449 of other speakers waiting to speak and keep to your 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:40.100 allotted time. And as a reminder, please speak clearly 00:07:40.108 --> 00:07:43.869 and slowly to accommodate Spanish interpreters. So 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:48.170 with that guidance in mind, I welcome today's speakers 00:07:48.278 --> 00:07:51.889 So I'm gonna call the in person speakers. The first 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:54.928 um speaker is um we have the honor of having a member 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:57.910 of the County Board of Supervisors here, Ryan Kelly 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.879 So I'd like to call uh Mr Kelly up to the podium 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:21.819 Thank you, Commissioner. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:25.209 Got it. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Reynolds 00:08:25.369 --> 00:08:28.319 Ryan Kelly County Board of Supervisors. Welcome to 00:08:28.329 --> 00:08:31.730 Imperial County. We appreciate you making the journey 00:08:31.738 --> 00:08:35.158 here and having this process so that the public can 00:08:35.558 --> 00:08:40.788 be able to address some of their concerns. Uh We, the 00:08:40.798 --> 00:08:44.580 county board of supervisors have, uh, entered a letter 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:48.500 uh into the record. It's been mailed to the commission 00:08:49.168 --> 00:08:51.859 It's in regards to the Golden State Water, the private 00:08:51.869 --> 00:08:55.700 water service in Imperial County that serves three 00:08:55.710 --> 00:08:59.460 customers. The city of Calipatria, the township of 00:08:59.469 --> 00:09:04.750 Nyland and the Calipatria State Prison uh of California 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:09.548 Corrections. The rates in this valley or raw water 00:09:09.558 --> 00:09:15.129 is sold at $20 an acre foot and Golden State treats 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:19.070 that water and sells it here for over $2000 an acre 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:22.750 foot. This is a disadvantaged community. And as you 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:26.340 mentioned in your opening comments that the right to 00:09:26.349 --> 00:09:30.869 water or to public safety, fire or law enforcement 00:09:31.269 --> 00:09:37.239 those um shelter and protection needs. Uh If you visit 00:09:37.250 --> 00:09:41.119 Calipatria or Nyland, you will see the impact of those 00:09:41.129 --> 00:09:45.379 rates as they've increased over the last decade significantly 00:09:45.808 --> 00:09:49.500 and they are pooled with an area that is outside of 00:09:49.509 --> 00:09:52.899 Imperial County in the L A basin, San Bernardino County 00:09:52.908 --> 00:10:00.219 area. Uh The raw water um inexpensive cost in Imperial 00:10:00.229 --> 00:10:05.168 County actually is subsidizing the rate increases across 00:10:05.178 --> 00:10:08.279 this region. This District of Golden State Service 00:10:09.119 --> 00:10:12.609 it should be looked at that. This area is significantly 00:10:12.619 --> 00:10:18.779 different than Apple Valley, Monrovia or um Upland 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:22.279 So we hope that we will continue to have this good 00:10:22.288 --> 00:10:26.428 dialogue. And the County of Imperial with the city 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:30.639 of Calipatria is exploring options of challenging that 00:10:30.649 --> 00:10:36.200 right? For service for our community. 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:38.940 Thank you very much. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:51.190 Our next speaker is Jesse Res 00:10:51.190 --> 00:10:54.210 Good morning and thank you for allowing me to speak 00:10:54.690 --> 00:10:58.969 Um My name is Jesse Revis and I would like, like to 00:10:58.979 --> 00:11:03.048 comment on one of the biggest problems in the north 00:11:03.058 --> 00:11:08.869 end is the cost of water and how it affects our community 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.619 Visitors may pass through our town and see that it's 00:11:13.629 --> 00:11:18.500 very dry and why would I wanna visit this, this town 00:11:18.509 --> 00:11:23.250 Because uh Nyland is, is there's no green vegetation 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:27.259 there. Um So it it affects how uh we are in the 00:11:27.269 --> 00:11:31.359 community. Our landscapes of our homes are, are a lot 00:11:31.369 --> 00:11:35.798 of them are dirt and uh we can't afford the water and 00:11:35.808 --> 00:11:41.139 if it keeps going up, then what are we to do? Um 00:11:42.918 --> 00:11:45.469 And why would, why would any other people want to live 00:11:45.479 --> 00:11:48.710 here if the, if the city looks in the condition that 00:11:48.719 --> 00:11:52.239 it does? Because um you know, it's not very green, 00:11:52.250 --> 00:11:56.058 it's not uh healthy for the Children to play out. Um 00:11:56.070 --> 00:12:00.570 because there's so much dirt in the air. 00:12:00.570 --> 00:12:05.019 Um Thank you very much. I guess I couldn't finish. 00:12:05.029 --> 00:12:09.710 Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Diane Juarez 00:12:13.190 --> 00:12:24.509 Diana. Excuse me, 00:12:24.509 --> 00:12:28.288 good morning. Is this on it? So, um my parents in the 00:12:28.298 --> 00:12:32.570 seventies bought a dirt lot in Island and they worked 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:35.408 hard. They were working class people, they worked hard 00:12:35.619 --> 00:12:38.369 They had a lot of pride, the American dream like for 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:41.229 everyone was to have a home, have a yard for their 00:12:41.239 --> 00:12:44.700 Children have grass. They planted grass, they planted 00:12:44.710 --> 00:12:47.840 trees. My mother was a gardener. She loved to garden 00:12:47.908 --> 00:12:50.629 She would have calendula. She would, we learned the 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.469 names of these flowers because my mother would teach 00:12:52.479 --> 00:12:54.070 us. She would show us, oh, I'm gonna plant this. So 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.489 I'm gonna buy this. I'm gonna, my father had a garden 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:59.070 in the back. He grew peanuts because he wanted us to 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:02.200 see how peanuts grew. Carrots, zucchinis, anything 00:13:02.210 --> 00:13:06.320 he could grow, he would try to grow. We had um grapefruit 00:13:06.330 --> 00:13:11.099 trees. We had lemon trees. They worked very hard and 00:13:11.109 --> 00:13:14.609 they were very proud of what they accomplished. My 00:13:14.619 --> 00:13:18.340 mother, her Easter lilies. She was so proud to take 00:13:18.349 --> 00:13:24.308 them to church in Easter. Now you look out the backyard 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:27.500 It's just dirt, you look out the front yard, it's dirt 00:13:27.808 --> 00:13:31.889 It's the dirt that my parents bought. That's what it 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:34.269 is now, 00:13:34.269 --> 00:13:36.690 thank you. 00:13:36.690 --> 00:13:52.489 Our next speaker is Ana Garcia. 00:13:52.489 --> 00:13:55.869 Good morning. And thank you for having me. My name 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.288 is Anna Garcia. I'm a resident of Calipatria and a 00:13:59.298 --> 00:14:04.149 Golden State Water customer. 00:14:04.149 --> 00:14:08.979 I want to say that the Golden State Water Company is 00:14:08.989 --> 00:14:13.048 a public utility California and is owned by American 00:14:13.058 --> 00:14:18.330 State Water Company. Keep in mind these figures, Robert 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:22.330 J Sprawls. He is the chief executor at American States 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:34.798 Water made 3 million 483,000 $194 of this 899,000 $231 00:14:34.808 --> 00:14:38.979 was received a salary. Now, listen, well to this number 00:14:39.649 --> 00:14:48.349 1 million $133,100 was received as a bonus. 00:14:48.349 --> 00:14:59.859 $1,421,725 was awarded as stock and $29,138 came from 00:14:59.869 --> 00:15:05.570 other types of compensation. Keep in mind that Island's 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:11.369 poverty level is 61%. Calip pa poverty level is 29% 00:15:12.090 --> 00:15:15.070 social security. For those of us that are on, it will 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:20.840 be raised by 3.2% next year, 30% less than Golden State 00:15:20.849 --> 00:15:25.678 water increase. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker 00:15:25.690 --> 00:15:35.070 is Eric Reyes. 00:15:35.070 --> 00:15:39.340 Eric Reyes, a group, Los Amigos. And we help organize 00:15:39.349 --> 00:15:41.918 this and we want to tell you that we were this armband 00:15:41.928 --> 00:15:44.779 and symbolic of the fact of what state water is doing 00:15:44.788 --> 00:15:48.349 to that community. It is, it is strangling and stifling 00:15:48.359 --> 00:15:52.500 any type of group and slowly killing them as they are 00:15:52.509 --> 00:15:56.599 in a non attainment area already. Epa for uh PM 2.5 00:15:56.609 --> 00:16:00.320 PM 10 with the receding salt and sea for water transfers 00:16:00.529 --> 00:16:02.869 that is continued to have an assault on their health 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.529 and human health environment and human health and exacerbated 00:16:06.538 --> 00:16:09.210 by the fact that Golden State Water itself continues 00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:12.798 to raise its water rates at astounding rates compared 00:16:12.808 --> 00:16:16.629 to the region is serving here in our area. Uh Calipatria 00:16:17.129 --> 00:16:22.879 and Island are $7000 per person per capita. Uh, 29,000 00:16:22.889 --> 00:16:27.750 median income 12,000 in Island, 29,000 in, 00:16:27.750 --> 00:16:31.460 in Calipatria, San Dimas where their, where their state 00:16:31.469 --> 00:16:36.168 is, is that uh 3030 30,000 per capita and 100 and 1000 00:16:36.178 --> 00:16:38.869 So we ask you to take all that into account and the 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:42.399 fact that they pay the lowest water rate per acre foot 00:16:42.408 --> 00:16:46.269 in the nation, $20 versus 2200 that they charge these 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:51.269 people. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Sylvia 00:16:51.279 --> 00:17:09.309 Chavez. 00:17:09.309 --> 00:17:11.969 Good morning commissioners. Welcome to Imperial Valley 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:18.209 My name is Sylvia Chavez mayor pro temp for the city 00:17:18.219 --> 00:17:21.650 of Calipatria. And with me is our city manager, Laura 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:26.799 Gutierrez. We're requesting your reconsideration for 00:17:26.809 --> 00:17:30.239 the previously approved Golden State water rates as 00:17:30.250 --> 00:17:34.098 they are severely impacting our community. The city 00:17:34.108 --> 00:17:38.568 of Calipatria is a small rural community with a 29% 00:17:38.578 --> 00:17:44.430 poverty rate, a medium household income of 39,000 and 00:17:44.439 --> 00:17:49.479 a median property value of 100 and 49,000 with a roughly 00:17:49.489 --> 00:17:55.259 1/8 of the state's medium household income. As a disadvantaged 00:17:55.269 --> 00:17:58.769 community, the city of Calipatria is trying to improve 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:02.539 the quality of our life for our residents. We have 00:18:02.549 --> 00:18:06.229 very few immunities. The city currently has a park 00:18:06.239 --> 00:18:10.219 project on hold due to Golden State water not approving 00:18:10.229 --> 00:18:13.799 raw water directly from the Imperial Irrigation District 00:18:14.828 --> 00:18:18.979 which would be used solely for the landscape. Rates 00:18:18.989 --> 00:18:21.920 are hindering our ability for economic development 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:26.848 and the quality of life to our residents. Your consideration 00:18:27.729 --> 00:18:32.318 for these rates that are hindering our ability of economical 00:18:32.328 --> 00:18:36.078 development. If you can please reconsider. Thank you 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.650 Thank you. 00:18:40.650 --> 00:18:53.858 Our next speaker is Esmeralda Birch. 00:18:53.858 --> 00:18:56.039 Good morning. My name is Esmeralda Birch and I'm a 00:18:56.049 --> 00:19:00.489 resident of Calipatria and a business owner. I'm coming 00:19:00.509 --> 00:19:03.029 before you guys because I'm a third generation Calata 00:19:03.410 --> 00:19:05.729 resident. I actually was born and raised in the city 00:19:05.739 --> 00:19:10.969 of Brawley. I moved into Calapan in 2019. Before then 00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:15.189 I was able to have green grass trees. I could plant 00:19:15.199 --> 00:19:19.348 flowers seasonally. I'm a landscaper's daughter. So 00:19:19.358 --> 00:19:22.618 I took a lot of pride in that. In 2019, I moved 00:19:22.630 --> 00:19:25.598 to Calip Pa and quickly noticed that I would not be 00:19:25.608 --> 00:19:29.368 able to afford that. And um I went from green grass 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:32.209 to, you know, just, it's, it's a beautiful thing. It 00:19:32.219 --> 00:19:35.719 changes your mood. It chooses your mental abilities 00:19:35.838 --> 00:19:38.160 to having nothing to only having grass. If I want to 00:19:38.170 --> 00:19:41.588 have green grass in Calip, I need to pay over $600 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:45.699 and I can't afford that. And my grandparents also are 00:19:45.709 --> 00:19:48.500 on social security there. They can't afford the water 00:19:48.509 --> 00:19:51.449 either. We have to subsidize whatever they can't pay 00:19:51.848 --> 00:19:55.779 So we come to you as residents pleading, begging you 00:19:55.848 --> 00:19:59.769 to please reconsider this. That's all I have. Thank 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:03.949 you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Christian Frey 00:20:13.818 --> 00:20:19.098 welcome, welcome to the Valley. Um In PERL County, 00:20:19.108 --> 00:20:21.650 youngest county in the state. Number 58 we have seven 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.130 cities and a number of town sites. I happen to be a 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:28.088 resident of Calipatria. 00:20:28.088 --> 00:20:31.160 Um, so much to say 60 seconds. I know it's gonna go 00:20:31.170 --> 00:20:36.180 like that. Um, of the seven cities and most all the 00:20:36.189 --> 00:20:39.219 town sites, the water is simply brought in treated 00:20:39.229 --> 00:20:42.608 delivered. That's the end of the story. It's reasonable 00:20:42.618 --> 00:20:45.519 It's fair as you're beginning to get a sense and I 00:20:45.529 --> 00:20:47.739 don't think the use of the word predatory is out of 00:20:47.750 --> 00:20:53.729 line here. Um 00:20:53.729 --> 00:20:57.189 I went on the website for go uh Golden State Water 00:20:57.390 --> 00:21:01.750 and as you're probably aware, um it's um the parent 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:05.078 company, American State Water. Um ok, I'll just have 00:21:05.088 --> 00:21:08.519 to wrap this up. American State Water Company has paid 00:21:08.529 --> 00:21:12.680 dividends to shareholders every year since 1931 increasing 00:21:12.689 --> 00:21:15.140 the dividends received by shareholders each calendar 00:21:15.150 --> 00:21:18.358 year for 69 years conservatively, which places in an 00:21:18.368 --> 00:21:20.640 exclusive group of companies in the New York stock 00:21:20.650 --> 00:21:24.680 exchange. Very impressive. If you're an investor, people 00:21:24.689 --> 00:21:26.939 in Calip aren't investing in water, they're trying 00:21:26.949 --> 00:21:33.459 to invest in food and other things. Thank you. 00:21:33.459 --> 00:21:43.479 Our next speaker is Victor Nava. 00:21:43.479 --> 00:21:46.709 Hello, Victor Nava with GF Con. Um GF CON has been 00:21:46.719 --> 00:21:49.479 around over 35 years as a program and construction 00:21:49.489 --> 00:21:52.400 manager. We have multiple projects throughout the Imperial 00:21:52.410 --> 00:21:55.299 Valley and one in Island, the cities of Calipari and 00:21:55.309 --> 00:21:58.009 Island is one of the most underserved and poorest communities 00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:00.390 in the state of California. The community has severely 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.959 suffered due to the current water situation. Any increase 00:22:03.969 --> 00:22:06.269 would be detrimental to the community's opportunity 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:09.019 for existence and growth, especially at a time when 00:22:09.029 --> 00:22:11.108 the federal and state investments have been significant 00:22:11.118 --> 00:22:14.029 for lithium Valley. The community of Nyland and Calipatria 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.930 should be the first communities to be able to serve 00:22:15.939 --> 00:22:18.630 this new industry and it will be difficult to develop 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.348 and create a place to accommodate the future workforce 00:22:21.358 --> 00:22:24.170 hopes and dreams of our future generations to come 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:27.209 We ask you strongly reconsider with all the challenges 00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:31.640 that have been presented. Thank you. Thank you. That 00:22:31.650 --> 00:22:34.920 uh is the last speaker on my list? I will ask if 00:22:34.930 --> 00:22:37.009 there's anyone else who would like to make a public 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:43.630 comment here um of the folks in the room. 00:22:43.630 --> 00:22:49.309 Sure are you, can you come to the podium where 00:22:49.309 --> 00:22:54.670 just very quickly we're not asking to stop this rate 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.519 increase. We are asking to thank Golden State for their 00:22:57.529 --> 00:23:00.868 service and we don't need them any longer. Thank you 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:07.529 Thank you. 00:23:07.529 --> 00:23:11.729 All right. Um I don't if anybody else uh made the trip 00:23:11.739 --> 00:23:13.858 down here and wants to make a public comment. If not 00:23:13.868 --> 00:23:17.318 I'm gonna go to the phone. OK. I don't see anyone approaching 00:23:17.328 --> 00:23:20.410 So let's now go to the public comments on the phone 00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:22.618 line and I do wanna say thank you very much for everyone 00:23:22.630 --> 00:23:25.140 who came here today. And for providing your comments 00:23:25.150 --> 00:23:29.500 to us. Um All right, I I will now turn to the 00:23:29.509 --> 00:23:32.818 operator to open the public comment. Telephone line 00:23:32.828 --> 00:23:36.029 operator. 00:23:36.029 --> 00:23:38.630 Thank you. The public comment, telephone line is now 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:41.209 open for those on the phone. If you wish to speak during 00:23:41.219 --> 00:23:44.250 the public comment period, please unmute your phone 00:23:44.309 --> 00:23:47.209 Press star one and record your first and last name 00:23:47.219 --> 00:23:50.578 slowly and clearly when prompted. Our first caller 00:23:50.588 --> 00:23:54.739 is David Ryerson. You may go ahead. 00:23:54.739 --> 00:23:57.118 Good morning commissioners. Do you know why much of 00:23:57.130 --> 00:24:00.088 the public hates politics and politicians? It's because 00:24:00.098 --> 00:24:02.479 we cannot trust them. We cannot trust what they say 00:24:02.489 --> 00:24:05.358 or what they do. Like Supreme Court justices who take 00:24:05.368 --> 00:24:07.709 lavish gifts from wealthy billionaires who have interests 00:24:07.719 --> 00:24:11.348 in cases before the court or like yourselves, an agency 00:24:11.358 --> 00:24:13.578 tasked with regulating government ordained monopoly 00:24:14.130 --> 00:24:16.719 to stop them from taking advantage of the public, an 00:24:16.729 --> 00:24:19.279 agency that repeatedly does the bidding of the monopolies 00:24:19.289 --> 00:24:21.709 They are supposed to regulate and only mitigates the 00:24:21.719 --> 00:24:24.489 travesty after massive and persistent public outcry 00:24:24.709 --> 00:24:28.328 So yes, your revised VM proposal is not as draconian 00:24:28.338 --> 00:24:30.709 and not as unfair as your first proposal. But that 00:24:30.719 --> 00:24:33.650 doesn't mean it's either good or fair. You are still 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:36.118 disenfranchising school districts, community centers 00:24:36.130 --> 00:24:38.910 and farms completely and you're still precluding apartments 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:41.170 and condominiums from supporting their shared infrastructure 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:44.838 like pools, spas, garages where EVs can be charged 00:24:44.910 --> 00:24:46.699 You're still doing the bidding of the monopolies you 00:24:46.709 --> 00:24:48.930 are supposed to regulate and not protecting the public 00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:51.858 from them as is your charter, do your damn job or find 00:24:51.868 --> 00:24:54.568 yourself as distrusted and hated as the Supreme Court 00:24:54.578 --> 00:24:58.729 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 00:25:01.969 --> 00:25:04.868 Our next caller is Jessica Tovar. You may go ahead 00:25:06.650 --> 00:25:10.039 Hi, this is Jessica Thar with the local Clean Energy 00:25:10.049 --> 00:25:15.380 Alliance and I too am calling because I'm very disappointed 00:25:15.390 --> 00:25:18.900 in the new proposed decision around virtual net energy 00:25:18.910 --> 00:25:23.118 metering. Um while there's some inclusion of renters 00:25:23.430 --> 00:25:27.769 it is really astounding to me that schools farms resilience 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:31.348 hubs, community centers and even some multi family 00:25:31.358 --> 00:25:34.890 housing is being left out of the possibility of having 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:38.449 access to to solar day virtual net energy metering 00:25:38.459 --> 00:25:41.949 at a time when we're talking about doing fuel switching 00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:46.269 within homes and different buildings in our communities 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:49.286 And the fact that we are living in a most of to 00:25:49.296 --> 00:25:53.955 the climate crisis, we should be making it easy to 00:25:53.964 --> 00:25:57.765 access local solar throughout the state of California 00:25:57.776 --> 00:26:01.484 and make rates affordable. Um Another thing I wanna 00:26:01.494 --> 00:26:04.445 address is the fact that you are considering another 00:26:04.455 --> 00:26:08.806 PG and E rate increase. This is absolutely astounding 00:26:08.984 --> 00:26:12.036 and you really should be sending PG back to the drawing 00:26:12.046 --> 00:26:14.685 board because as far as we're concerned, they have 00:26:14.695 --> 00:26:19.352 not met any of the needs of energy needs of California 00:26:19.362 --> 00:26:22.201 As a matter of fact, they have devastated, they have 00:26:22.211 --> 00:26:26.151 incinerated communities, killed people already raised 00:26:26.161 --> 00:26:29.221 rates multiple times. And for you to consider that 00:26:29.231 --> 00:26:33.592 again, it's really really uh turning your back on already 00:26:33.602 --> 00:26:37.682 struggling ratepayers in California. So I absolutely 00:26:37.701 --> 00:26:40.821 do not support the fact that you're reducing access 00:26:40.832 --> 00:26:44.161 to solar in California and considering raising rates 00:26:44.171 --> 00:26:47.201 in favor of the utility, same power to the people. 00:26:47.739 --> 00:26:52.680 Thank you, operator. Next caller, please. 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:57.309 Our next caller is Beth Herman. You may go ahead. Hi 00:26:57.318 --> 00:27:00.088 my name is Be 00:27:00.088 --> 00:27:03.348 I'm a customer of Eugene and I am calling the CPUC 00:27:03.410 --> 00:27:06.170 requesting that you change your proposal to end rooftop 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:09.689 solar incentives that could power schools farms resiliency 00:27:09.699 --> 00:27:13.588 hubs, community health centers and even charging infrastructure 00:27:13.598 --> 00:27:16.269 for renters. I personally work at a community health 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:20.250 center and we are also have multiple resiliency hubs 00:27:20.630 --> 00:27:23.789 It's really important for us to have power at these 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:28.449 and electric power really is one of the main ways we 00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:31.420 can get it in a reliable way is through the solar power 00:27:31.828 --> 00:27:35.189 While the new CPUC proposed decision remain maintains 00:27:35.199 --> 00:27:37.539 incentives to renters, it still cuts all of the other 00:27:37.549 --> 00:27:40.539 customers I've named and would deny them the opportunity 00:27:40.549 --> 00:27:44.098 to reduce already skyrocketing utility bills, particularly 00:27:44.108 --> 00:27:47.979 with the improved PG and E. The proposal must be changed 00:27:47.989 --> 00:27:50.549 to maintain every incentive for multifamily housing 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:53.769 schools and farms to benefit from their own solar generation 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:57.009 CPU should be doing everything in its power to support 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:59.368 the build out of the distributed clean energy. We need 00:27:59.459 --> 00:28:01.838 to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis 00:28:01.848 --> 00:28:05.809 and to increase community resiliency and energy reliability 00:28:06.130 --> 00:28:09.640 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 00:28:12.239 --> 00:28:14.989 Our next scholar is Tim mckeever. You may go ahead 00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:19.328 first. I wanna acknowledge the folks that showed up 00:28:19.338 --> 00:28:21.338 in person to talk about their water rights. I think 00:28:21.348 --> 00:28:22.989 that's hugely important and they should be given a 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.219 fair shot. 00:28:25.219 --> 00:28:28.400 On a separate note, commissioners. Your latest update 00:28:28.410 --> 00:28:31.920 to the MA and VM proposal is but a fig leaf on 00:28:31.930 --> 00:28:37.269 another naked profit grab by the IO us by on site netting 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.209 for all multi meter properties. You have put forward 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:43.189 a plan that gives you only one option to vote it down 00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:46.209 and start over a vast majority of business owners, 00:28:46.219 --> 00:28:48.449 farmers and school administrators don't pay attention 00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:51.068 to net metering policy. They rely on you to have their 00:28:51.078 --> 00:28:54.019 best interest in mind. That's why it's so impressive 00:28:54.029 --> 00:28:56.709 that so many folks have spoken out through calls and 00:28:56.719 --> 00:28:59.328 letters to you and their state reps and through newspaper 00:28:59.338 --> 00:29:02.858 letters and articles posing these changes. It's time 00:29:02.868 --> 00:29:05.519 to listen to the public who are mandated to protect 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:09.930 and allow rooftop solar to continue to grow 00:29:09.930 --> 00:29:13.489 as you're required to do by law reject this proposal 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:17.890 On a side note, a vast majority of small business owners 00:29:18.049 --> 00:29:21.910 rent where they run their business. So they are two 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:26.910 renters and to take away their ability to access clean 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:30.049 energy on their roofs is a catastrophe. Thank you. 00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:35.848 Thank you. Operate our next caller, please. 00:29:35.848 --> 00:29:38.509 Our next caller is Allen Marling. You may go ahead 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:43.170 president and commissioners. I'm a limo resident PG 00:29:43.229 --> 00:29:46.959 and E is guilty of criminal neglect and man flaughter 00:29:47.029 --> 00:29:50.380 their fiery greed burns Californians alive in their 00:29:50.390 --> 00:29:53.598 homes. Continuing to give the corporation money and 00:29:53.608 --> 00:29:58.858 power will accelerate us into apocalypse. No. PGE doesn't 00:29:58.868 --> 00:30:02.469 deserve a rate hike. It deserves to be regulated back 00:30:02.479 --> 00:30:06.660 where it belongs in bankruptcy then into public ownership 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:11.630 amidst wildfires and brownouts, the CPUC should not 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:16.818 continue to prioritize Beijing. Doomsday profits, modify 00:30:16.828 --> 00:30:20.890 the PD to include on site netting and reverse your 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:23.779 prior decision that made it harder for homeowners to 00:30:23.789 --> 00:30:27.799 produce their own power. These commissioners are all 00:30:27.809 --> 00:30:31.769 appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom directly and directly 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:35.910 is accepted over $700,000 from PG and E according to 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:40.098 a 2019 Washington Post article by now, it's likely 00:30:40.108 --> 00:30:45.289 over a million. 00:30:45.289 --> 00:30:50.368 Thank you operator. Next caller please. 00:30:50.368 --> 00:30:54.189 Our next caller is Sarah Rouse. You may go ahead. Uh 00:30:54.199 --> 00:30:58.910 Can you hear me? Yes, we can. 00:30:58.910 --> 00:31:02.729 Thank you. I am still the same as when I called in 00:31:02.739 --> 00:31:06.420 previously over and over. I am chair of the Children's 00:31:06.430 --> 00:31:09.358 caucus of the California Democratic Party for identification 00:31:09.368 --> 00:31:13.338 purposes only. I'm calling about the VM MA Man which 00:31:13.348 --> 00:31:16.328 I still believe should be amended with regard to schools 00:31:16.434 --> 00:31:19.414 Solar arrays on public schools are public property 00:31:19.424 --> 00:31:22.375 built with public money intended for the common benefit 00:31:22.384 --> 00:31:25.884 of the public. Our Children, our tomorrow Children 00:31:25.894 --> 00:31:28.993 are not with it to be utilized for the benefit of private 00:31:29.005 --> 00:31:32.104 profit. Their facilities should not be free for the 00:31:32.114 --> 00:31:36.098 taking by private interests. If that's what your proposal 00:31:36.108 --> 00:31:39.098 amounts to, you're using our children's public funds 00:31:39.108 --> 00:31:42.680 to fill private pockets. I have no idea why this is 00:31:42.689 --> 00:31:45.650 a thing, but I'm here to ask you politely to do the 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:49.769 right thing and stop it. We need public money to be 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:53.199 benefiting our public school kids don't deal their 00:31:53.209 --> 00:31:56.680 resources. Please amend this agreement to allow on 00:31:56.689 --> 00:32:01.049 site netting for our schools. Thank you. Thank you 00:32:01.088 --> 00:32:05.430 operator. Next caller, please. 00:32:05.430 --> 00:32:10.500 Our next caller is Rennie Wise, you may go ahead. 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:14.088 Commissioners. Despite what the movie Wall Street proposes 00:32:14.098 --> 00:32:18.140 Greed is not good and yet we are in a society of 00:32:18.150 --> 00:32:19.959 billion dollar corporations. Like did you need that 00:32:19.969 --> 00:32:23.769 can now thanks to the Citizens United decision legally 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:26.549 spend millions of dollars to lobby California legislators 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:29.739 and buy a governor. So today we find ourselves trying 00:32:29.750 --> 00:32:34.519 to determine the TPUC has also been bought by PGD based 00:32:34.529 --> 00:32:36.910 on the last few years of inflation, beating great payer 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:39.828 hikes and diminishing returns for solo homeowners. 00:32:40.130 --> 00:32:43.059 I'm beginning to see the truth. So feel free to prove 00:32:43.068 --> 00:32:45.989 me wrong today. You'll be voting to decide if investor 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:48.799 owned utilities can charge even more exorbitant utility 00:32:48.809 --> 00:32:52.608 rates and also get solar returns for multifamily housing 00:32:52.618 --> 00:32:57.818 schools and farms. So how will you vote on these proposals 00:32:58.259 --> 00:33:00.868 Will you honor your mandate to protect California utility 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:04.689 ratepayers from blatant corporate greed or you give 00:33:04.699 --> 00:33:07.219 to all the millions spent to lobby our state government 00:33:07.729 --> 00:33:10.219 just so PG and E can appease their shareholders and 00:33:10.229 --> 00:33:12.979 pay their executives even more millions in salary and 00:33:12.989 --> 00:33:16.608 compensation. I hope you make the right. Thank you 00:33:17.358 --> 00:33:22.689 Thank you operator. Next caller, please. 00:33:22.689 --> 00:33:25.259 Our next caller is Sasha Horowitz with the Los Angeles 00:33:25.269 --> 00:33:29.368 Unified School District. You may go ahead. 00:33:29.368 --> 00:33:31.900 Good morning commissioners, Sacha Hurwitz with L A 00:33:31.910 --> 00:33:35.239 US D. So Los Angeles Unified strongly opposes the net 00:33:35.250 --> 00:33:38.618 energy meeting aggregation tariff proposal. Los Angeles 00:33:38.630 --> 00:33:41.299 units will not back down from our promise to operate 00:33:41.309 --> 00:33:45.430 schools that run on 100% clean renewable energy. However 00:33:45.439 --> 00:33:47.779 this action would block schools from generating the 00:33:47.789 --> 00:33:50.868 rooftop solar energy. We need to achieve our goals 00:33:51.150 --> 00:33:54.318 If the proposed net energy metering rules are adopted 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:56.390 schools will not be permitted to generate their own 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:59.189 power any longer, instead will be forced to buy their 00:33:59.199 --> 00:34:02.348 own solar back from utilities at full price. These 00:34:02.358 --> 00:34:05.729 unfair practices help utility companies and harm students 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:08.659 rising energy costs will make it harder for Los Angeles 00:34:08.668 --> 00:34:11.570 Unified to reach its climate goals and these costs 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:14.168 will come out of our classrooms, hurting our ability 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:18.168 to reduce emissions, electrify our schools and invest 00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:20.750 in safe healthy learning environments for our Children 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:23.559 We owe it to our students to stand up against this 00:34:23.570 --> 00:34:25.958 proposal and we urge you to vote it down. Thank you 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:32.447 Thank you operator. Next caller please. 00:34:32.447 --> 00:34:35.298 Our next caller is Patricia Blevin. You may go ahead 00:34:36.010 --> 00:34:38.469 My name is Patricia Blevins and I'm calling from San 00:34:38.478 --> 00:34:43.199 Jose to demand that the CPU give schools, farms, community 00:34:43.208 --> 00:34:46.128 health centers and all facilities with multiple meters 00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:49.329 the right to use the electricity generated by their 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:53.159 solar panels without interference from investor owned 00:34:53.168 --> 00:34:57.918 utilities like the convicted felon PG and E your proposal 00:34:57.929 --> 00:35:01.800 must be changed to allow everyone to use the electricity 00:35:01.809 --> 00:35:04.958 generated by their solar panels with no exceptions 00:35:04.969 --> 00:35:09.280 whatsoever. In a time of climate disaster, the CPUC 00:35:09.289 --> 00:35:11.550 should be doing whatever it can to promote rooftop 00:35:11.610 --> 00:35:14.199 solar in California and not destroy it. And lastly 00:35:14.369 --> 00:35:17.320 you cannot give any rate increases to invest your own 00:35:17.329 --> 00:35:21.478 utility power companies like the convicted felon PG 00:35:21.489 --> 00:35:25.199 and E they have enough and the ratepayers need a break 00:35:25.208 --> 00:35:29.668 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:36.030 Our next caller is Rob Polly. You may go ahead. Hi 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:38.969 this is Rob Hawley from San Jose. I'm calling to oppose 00:35:38.978 --> 00:35:42.280 the CPUC S efforts to kill virtual net metering. The 00:35:42.289 --> 00:35:44.659 recent concession to allow it for renters is just for 00:35:44.668 --> 00:35:48.628 show by seizing control of the power generated by apartment 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.789 owners, it'll kill new installations. You have to know 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:54.860 that and, and it still results in having the power 00:35:54.869 --> 00:35:58.010 generated by schools and farms seized. I've passed 00:35:58.019 --> 00:36:00.809 these comments along to the governor as well. Thank 00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:06.780 you. Thank you, operator. Next caller, please. 00:36:06.780 --> 00:36:09.478 Our next caller is Bill Woodbridge. You may go ahead 00:36:09.489 --> 00:36:11.269 and 00:36:11.269 --> 00:36:13.610 hi, my name is Bill Woodbridge, calling from Santa 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:18.059 Barbara. The CPUC is supposed to be a public commission 00:36:18.208 --> 00:36:21.128 representing the interests of the people of California 00:36:21.309 --> 00:36:23.929 Your recent decision regarding reducing residential 00:36:23.938 --> 00:36:27.000 credit credits for net metering was a disaster for 00:36:27.010 --> 00:36:31.519 reaching the state's emissions goals. Now incredulously 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:36.208 you propose to change private, private people to charge 00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:40.739 private people and entities a retail utility rate for 00:36:40.750 --> 00:36:44.148 the very solar that they created for themselves at 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:48.099 their own expense. This makes it abundantly clear that 00:36:48.110 --> 00:36:51.438 you represent only the interests of the utility companies 00:36:51.458 --> 00:36:54.829 and are most likely being financially well rewarded 00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:58.570 for advancing their proposals. Rooftop solar is an 00:36:58.579 --> 00:37:01.438 important way to reduce California's high cost of living 00:37:01.449 --> 00:37:04.780 for renters and millions of others. This proposal makes 00:37:04.789 --> 00:37:08.849 the problem way worse. Your proposal cuts out the ability 00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:13.168 of schools, farms, factories, churches, hospitals, 00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:17.039 medical facilities to reduce their utility burden through 00:37:17.050 --> 00:37:21.519 solar systems that they paid to install. This is nothing 00:37:21.530 --> 00:37:26.398 short of blatant blatant seizures of property. 00:37:26.398 --> 00:37:29.269 Thank you. And what we found to be unconstitutional 00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:33.449 in courts. You must abandon this insane idea. It should 00:37:33.458 --> 00:37:36.119 speak volumes to anyone with any sense that all of 00:37:36.128 --> 00:37:39.438 the callers are opposed to this idea. You should be 00:37:39.449 --> 00:37:42.699 you should all be replaced in disgrace for your sole 00:37:42.708 --> 00:37:46.469 interest in providing even more profits to the greedy 00:37:46.688 --> 00:37:50.530 electric utilities. Thank you. Thank you operator. 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:54.579 Next caller, please. 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:59.800 Our next call is Kevin Lee. You may go ahead. 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:02.099 Hi, my name is Kevin Lee and I urge the commissioners 00:38:02.110 --> 00:38:05.030 to vote in support of the judge issued proposed decision 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:10.389 in PG and ES general rate increase. 8 21 060 21. California 00:38:10.398 --> 00:38:13.648 energy consumers cannot afford endless rate increases 00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:16.269 We're paying for the criminal negligence of PG and 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:18.878 E and their proposal is just a way to maintain the 00:38:18.889 --> 00:38:21.668 bottom line while performing maintenance that should 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:24.458 have been done years ago. Based on their track record 00:38:24.469 --> 00:38:27.039 this will only be the beginning and year after year 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:30.250 They'll be back for more. Yes, we need faster, cheaper 00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:33.668 solution for wild wildfire safety. And I believe those 00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:36.969 solutions exist and include insulating overhead power 00:38:36.978 --> 00:38:40.438 lines. We vote to support the proposed decision and 00:38:40.449 --> 00:38:44.110 reject the PG and E giveaway. Enough is enough. Thank 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:50.800 you. Thank you operator. Next caller please. 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:53.199 And our next caller is Mark Montgomery. You may go 00:38:53.208 --> 00:38:55.389 ahead. 00:38:55.389 --> 00:38:57.679 Thank you commissioners for the opportunity to speak 00:38:57.688 --> 00:39:00.898 today. I'm Mark Montgomery with chip community housing 00:39:00.909 --> 00:39:03.590 improvement program. We are a nonprofit affordable 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:06.090 housing developers serving seven counties in northern 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:09.418 California. We urge the commission to vote no on agenda 00:39:09.429 --> 00:39:13.168 item number for 28. Eliminating the financial benefits 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:16.179 of on site generations from affordable multifamily 00:39:16.188 --> 00:39:19.769 programs. Serving disadvantaged residents is inequitable 00:39:20.110 --> 00:39:22.889 It deters the goal of accelerating housing development 00:39:23.269 --> 00:39:25.628 and is an impediment to addressing the state's housing 00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:28.809 shortage. We ask you to please consider implementing 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:31.829 affordability thresholds into the decision so that 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:34.099 affordable housing developers will not be forced to 00:39:34.110 --> 00:39:37.050 find additional funding for both operating existing 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:40.929 housing and building future housing in California. 00:39:40.938 --> 00:39:45.019 Thank you for your time. Thank you operator. Next caller 00:39:45.030 --> 00:39:47.898 please. 00:39:47.898 --> 00:39:52.489 Arnett caller is Art Kennett. You may go ahead 00:39:52.489 --> 00:39:56.409 the city of Lakewood on the subject of apartment rooftop 00:39:56.418 --> 00:39:59.840 solar. Surely with today's technology, we should be 00:39:59.849 --> 00:40:02.849 able to have a master meter on an apartment building 00:40:02.860 --> 00:40:06.250 solar system. The provisions for the building's landlord 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:09.969 to meter power to the individual units and add any 00:40:09.978 --> 00:40:14.289 loss or gain to the tenants bill. The rub is the utilities 00:40:14.300 --> 00:40:17.500 will lose all of the individual payers accounts that 00:40:17.510 --> 00:40:20.708 includes fees, taxes and whatever else they can affect 00:40:21.510 --> 00:40:24.050 The landlord would become the sole proprietor of the 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:27.340 power distribution to the units which includes all 00:40:27.349 --> 00:40:30.849 the expenses outside of the power generated or used 00:40:31.510 --> 00:40:34.889 The rental costs will surely be adjusted accordingly 00:40:35.648 --> 00:40:39.429 It's easy to see why utilities object to solar on apartments 00:40:39.668 --> 00:40:43.360 It's not easy to see why the CPUC would support the 00:40:43.369 --> 00:40:46.760 utilities and not the citizens who would benefit by 00:40:46.769 --> 00:40:50.159 utilizing clean energy, lowering their living costs 00:40:50.289 --> 00:40:53.510 and increasing their health. Please vote for the citizens 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:57.219 right to benefit from solar energy. 00:40:57.219 --> 00:41:01.119 Thank you, operator. Thank you, operator. Next caller 00:41:01.128 --> 00:41:03.978 please. 00:41:03.978 --> 00:41:07.250 Our next caller is Elsa Visa Potter. You may go ahead 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:12.800 Hello, uh this is SJ Potter with the local Clean Energy 00:41:12.809 --> 00:41:15.208 Alliance and I would similarly like to voice my concerns 00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:17.648 about the proposed decision for virtual net energy 00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:20.800 metering. I'm calling for all commissioners to vote 00:41:20.809 --> 00:41:23.909 for a change to the proposed decision to include on 00:41:23.918 --> 00:41:26.760 site netting for all facilities including schools, 00:41:26.769 --> 00:41:29.969 farms, resilience centers, and any other facilities 00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:34.239 where the public might benefit from actually using 00:41:34.250 --> 00:41:37.260 the solar that's already on site. I would also like 00:41:37.269 --> 00:41:40.550 to voice my opposition for the proposed rate hike which 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:43.590 again would only line the pockets of the investors 00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:46.489 and the CEO S of the investor and utilities. Um It's 00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:50.188 really outrageous that the CPSC is simultaneously cutting 00:41:50.199 --> 00:41:54.679 rooftop solar benefits and uh doing a rate rate hike 00:41:54.688 --> 00:41:58.260 that would only serve to increase the profits of the 00:41:58.269 --> 00:42:02.280 investor in utilities. Thank you. Thank you, operator 00:42:02.289 --> 00:42:06.000 Next caller, please. 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:08.750 Our next caller is Paley Jennings. You may go ahead 00:42:09.530 --> 00:42:12.280 Yes, my name is Tammy Jennings. I'm calling from Monterey 00:42:12.289 --> 00:42:16.938 California. I want to applaud all of the speakers prior 00:42:16.949 --> 00:42:20.250 to me. I agree with everything that they've said and 00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:27.840 I really wish that the CPU would follow the people's 00:42:27.849 --> 00:42:34.958 voices. What we need is cheaper utilities, everything's 00:42:34.969 --> 00:42:39.070 going up. You want to now raise PG and E rates from 00:42:39.079 --> 00:42:44.510 13 to at 13%. You shouldn't raise it at all period 00:42:44.708 --> 00:42:49.800 when we're only getting 3.2% increase for Medicare 00:42:49.898 --> 00:42:53.199 That's supposed to cover our increase in water utilities 00:42:53.208 --> 00:42:57.438 gas, food. How, how do you expect people to live? I 00:42:57.449 --> 00:43:02.478 really don't understand that. And the CPUC was designed 00:43:02.489 --> 00:43:06.750 to help the people. I have been coming to CPUC meetings 00:43:06.820 --> 00:43:11.489 for 10 years now all of them and there isn't one time 00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:16.090 where I felt that the CPUC was voting for the people's 00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:20.550 interest. Please do your job and listen to everybody 00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:24.050 that's called in or been there today. We need your 00:43:24.059 --> 00:43:29.280 help, do your job. Thank you. Thank you operator. Next 00:43:29.289 --> 00:43:32.809 caller, please. 00:43:32.809 --> 00:43:37.418 Our next caller is Mary Z. You may go ahead. Hi, I'm 00:43:37.429 --> 00:43:41.530 calling up about your upcoming vote on either the PD 00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:47.179 or a PD. Uh regarding Pggs rate hike in the interest 00:43:47.188 --> 00:43:50.519 of customers. Please vote for the proposed decision 00:43:50.978 --> 00:43:54.070 Given that customers will be paying for underground 00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:58.329 wires. Let us pay in advance only for one year's work 00:43:58.340 --> 00:44:04.378 at a time. Currently PGE underground 70 miles per year 00:44:04.389 --> 00:44:08.300 at this rate. Only the proposed decision of underground 00:44:08.309 --> 00:44:12.260 in 200 miles has any chance of completion within the 00:44:12.269 --> 00:44:17.019 four years of PGES rate hike. The alternative PD of 00:44:17.030 --> 00:44:21.878 973 miles will take nearly 18 years to complete. So 00:44:21.889 --> 00:44:27.260 why raise our rate for this fantasy goal? The alternative 00:44:27.269 --> 00:44:31.610 PD should also be rejected for its aspirational economy 00:44:31.619 --> 00:44:35.139 of scale cost of underground, which works out to be 00:44:35.148 --> 00:44:39.938 $1.8 million per mile. Well, in the real world, it 00:44:39.949 --> 00:44:46.958 is the $3.3 million per mile. Have mercy on us. Ratepayers 00:44:46.969 --> 00:44:53.449 Please vote in the PD. It is realistic and it's, it's 00:44:53.458 --> 00:44:59.250 an honest PD um restore our trust in CPUC. I restore 00:44:59.260 --> 00:45:03.139 well, build our trust. Thank you. Thank you. Operate 00:45:03.148 --> 00:45:07.519 our next caller, please. 00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:10.438 Our next caller is Emily Brand from Fresno. You may 00:45:10.449 --> 00:45:17.809 go ahead 00:45:17.809 --> 00:45:19.679 again, Emily Brand, you may go ahead. We're not able 00:45:19.688 --> 00:45:21.878 to hear you. 00:45:21.878 --> 00:45:25.530 Can you hear me now? Yes, we can. 00:45:25.530 --> 00:45:29.159 Thank you. Uh, my name is Emily Brandt from Fresno 00:45:29.168 --> 00:45:32.309 California. I'm the secretary of the California Democratic 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:36.019 Environmental Caucus. And I'm calling today because 00:45:36.030 --> 00:45:39.500 uh, over the last month, um, since the VM and N A 00:45:39.898 --> 00:45:44.090 proposal to end thousands of people, uh, I'm sorry 00:45:44.099 --> 00:45:48.349 to end to be ended. Uh, thousands of people have called 00:45:48.360 --> 00:45:53.809 and, uh, emailed and pressed their opposition for very 00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:57.030 obvious reasons which, um, really shouldn't need to 00:45:57.039 --> 00:46:01.378 be repeated again and again and again yet, um, in the 00:46:01.389 --> 00:46:06.989 face of this incredibly high increase in cost of living 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:11.949 without wage or salary increase, uh, we're being asked 00:46:11.958 --> 00:46:15.590 yet to pay more and, and to pay for something that 00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:19.389 we've already invested in at our own cost and I'll 00:46:19.398 --> 00:46:24.849 be paying for 20 years. Um, I don't understand how 00:46:24.860 --> 00:46:29.659 this can be acceptable to this commission. Then I look 00:46:29.668 --> 00:46:32.929 at past commission members like Carla Peterson, who 00:46:32.938 --> 00:46:36.349 is part of a revolving door. And I think to myself 00:46:36.360 --> 00:46:40.849 well, of course, this is the way it works but, but 00:46:40.860 --> 00:46:45.869 the transparency of the, the obviousness of this and 00:46:46.110 --> 00:46:49.519 and the fact that Governor Newsom probably has ambitions 00:46:49.530 --> 00:46:53.139 to run again and yet is he speaking out on this, uh 00:46:53.168 --> 00:46:56.809 is our superintendent of schools, Tony Thur is speaking 00:46:56.820 --> 00:47:04.489 out on this. No, why we need this decision, this proposal 00:47:04.668 --> 00:47:09.809 to be rescinded and this vote today to end it, please 00:47:09.898 --> 00:47:13.889 Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next caller, please 00:47:16.378 --> 00:47:21.039 Our next caller is, will Abram? You may go ahead. 00:47:21.039 --> 00:47:24.559 Good morning commissioners. Uh PG forced me and other 00:47:24.570 --> 00:47:27.398 victims to take stock in hopes that that would keep 00:47:27.409 --> 00:47:30.378 us silent about the egregious rate increases that are 00:47:30.389 --> 00:47:34.099 now before the commission, they also told us that this 00:47:34.110 --> 00:47:38.010 13.5 billion deception was going to make us whole. 00:47:38.418 --> 00:47:42.059 I strongly suggest that the commission reconsider and 00:47:42.070 --> 00:47:46.079 instead of having the $40 million of the 45 million 00:47:46.090 --> 00:47:49.800 fine for the dixie fire going right back to PGE to 00:47:49.809 --> 00:47:53.179 pay for the record keeping, which was more of a reward 00:47:53.188 --> 00:47:56.000 than a punishment that the commission should force 00:47:56.010 --> 00:47:59.489 PG and E to pay that to their victims who were told 00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:03.090 they would be made whole. And the first priority for 00:48:03.099 --> 00:48:06.628 PG and E, if PGE is going to not live up to 00:48:06.639 --> 00:48:09.820 their commitments to victims, then the CPUC should 00:48:09.829 --> 00:48:12.688 do everything in their power to help their victims 00:48:12.699 --> 00:48:16.728 and to hold PGE to account for their deceptive practices 00:48:16.739 --> 00:48:20.929 lies and atrocities. On a procedural note, I would 00:48:20.938 --> 00:48:24.648 ask the commission to move this off the consent calendar 00:48:24.679 --> 00:48:27.789 and onto the regular agenda for your next voting meeting 00:48:28.119 --> 00:48:31.590 The second largest fire in California history that 00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:34.849 also killed one of our brave firefighters should not 00:48:34.860 --> 00:48:38.510 be swept under the rug and moved to the consent calendar 00:48:38.519 --> 00:48:42.070 by the commission. Thank you very much for your consideration 00:48:42.458 --> 00:48:47.750 Thank you operator. Next caller, please. 00:48:47.750 --> 00:48:50.398 Our next caller is Stephen King. You may go ahead. 00:48:52.349 --> 00:48:55.438 Hi, I'm Stephen King and I'm with Environment California 00:48:55.510 --> 00:48:58.570 As highlighted by this week's National Climate Assessment 00:48:58.579 --> 00:49:01.030 the potential consequences of climate change to our 00:49:01.039 --> 00:49:04.360 environment. Our economy and our society are severe 00:49:04.489 --> 00:49:07.360 from extreme heat to devastating wildfires. We know 00:49:07.369 --> 00:49:10.119 these disasters will only get worse if we don't swiftly 00:49:10.128 --> 00:49:13.510 transition to clean energy. The best way to dramatically 00:49:13.519 --> 00:49:16.679 reduce our climate pollution is to go all in on proven 00:49:16.688 --> 00:49:20.938 ready to deploy solutions like rooftop solar. No, Californian 00:49:20.949 --> 00:49:23.239 should be discouraged from going solar if they want 00:49:23.250 --> 00:49:26.300 to use their rooftop to generate clean renewable energy 00:49:26.309 --> 00:49:29.559 and lower their electricity bills. Unfortunately, your 00:49:29.570 --> 00:49:32.438 proposed decision would eliminate the benefits of solar 00:49:32.449 --> 00:49:34.938 for buildings with multiple electric meters including 00:49:34.949 --> 00:49:39.070 schools, farms and businesses by not allowing multi 00:49:39.079 --> 00:49:42.360 family building owners to use their own solar energy 00:49:42.500 --> 00:49:45.478 This decision also effectively bars many renters from 00:49:45.489 --> 00:49:49.340 the benefits of solar as well. Every viable rooftop 00:49:49.349 --> 00:49:52.438 without solar panels represents a missed opportunity 00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:55.550 We urge the commission to alter its proposal and allow 00:49:55.559 --> 00:49:58.219 everyone to benefit from the solar power produced on 00:49:58.228 --> 00:50:01.989 their own rooftops. Thank you. Thank you, operator 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:05.628 Next caller, please. 00:50:05.628 --> 00:50:10.550 Our next caller is Jeff Smith. You may go ahead. 00:50:10.550 --> 00:50:13.418 Yes, President Reynolds and commissioners. Thank you 00:50:13.429 --> 00:50:15.590 for that time to speak. I echo a lot of the comments 00:50:15.599 --> 00:50:18.769 that were brought up today about the PG and ES general 00:50:18.780 --> 00:50:24.708 rate case. Please vote against PG and ES desired exorbitant 00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:28.409 rate increase and restore rates that are in line with 00:50:28.418 --> 00:50:32.889 the cost of living so that we can, um, get through 00:50:32.898 --> 00:50:36.590 these very tough times right now. 00:50:36.590 --> 00:50:39.619 First of all PG and ES rates are about a 50 100% 00:50:39.628 --> 00:50:42.119 more expensive than the two other investor owned utilities 00:50:42.128 --> 00:50:45.228 that also provide power to geographic dispersed areas 00:50:45.239 --> 00:50:51.070 that have wildfire risks. Also, the um the gas rates 00:50:51.079 --> 00:50:53.619 are creeping up again, the wholesale gas rates and 00:50:53.628 --> 00:50:57.760 PGD and the spring wants to increase the transportation 00:50:57.769 --> 00:51:02.199 cost which we pay on top of the wholesale cost by 28% 00:51:02.668 --> 00:51:05.898 Please do what you can to keep these rates down because 00:51:05.909 --> 00:51:10.260 they talk about safety but it's not safe when elderly 00:51:10.269 --> 00:51:13.458 and struggling families turn their heat off in the 00:51:13.469 --> 00:51:15.938 winter and their air conditioning off in the summer 00:51:15.949 --> 00:51:18.530 It's 110 degrees here in the central valley is just 00:51:18.539 --> 00:51:23.918 not safe. Please keep this in consideration and also 00:51:23.938 --> 00:51:28.969 with the issue with underground utilities, there's 00:51:28.978 --> 00:51:32.059 a lot of valleys, our populated valleys do not have 00:51:32.070 --> 00:51:36.530 a lot of vegetation concerns so we can do with less 00:51:36.820 --> 00:51:39.250 underground utilities. Look at covered conductor as 00:51:39.260 --> 00:51:41.918 an option. Thank you for the time to speak today and 00:51:41.929 --> 00:51:44.289 please consider this today when you vote. Thank you 00:51:44.300 --> 00:51:49.820 Thank you operator. Next caller, please. 00:51:49.820 --> 00:51:54.050 Our next caller is Rob Porter. You may Go ahead. 00:51:54.050 --> 00:51:56.389 Hello, my name is Rob Porter and I'm a small business 00:51:56.398 --> 00:51:58.869 owner here in California. And last week I signed a 00:51:58.878 --> 00:52:01.280 letter along with hundreds of other small businesses 00:52:01.360 --> 00:52:04.918 across the state urging the commission to include on 00:52:04.929 --> 00:52:07.289 site netting and the virtual net billing tariff for 00:52:07.300 --> 00:52:10.329 non residential customers. Grocery stores are critical 00:52:10.340 --> 00:52:12.769 infrastructure with high energy costs and are often 00:52:12.780 --> 00:52:15.378 at multi meter commercial properties and unable to 00:52:15.389 --> 00:52:18.530 install solar themselves and they deserve and other 00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:20.769 businesses deserve the right to use solar power to 00:52:20.780 --> 00:52:23.599 keep their electricity costs down. The edit to the 00:52:23.610 --> 00:52:26.188 proposed decision to include non residential accounts 00:52:26.199 --> 00:52:28.840 would be very minor but the benefit to small business 00:52:28.849 --> 00:52:32.139 across the state would be enormous. So I urge the commission 00:52:32.148 --> 00:52:35.878 to modify the decision to include non residential customers 00:52:35.889 --> 00:52:40.458 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 00:52:42.760 --> 00:52:45.699 Our next caller is name L Cardo. You may go ahead. 00:52:48.458 --> 00:52:51.409 Good morning commissioners. Uh Sm Carter, the Director 00:52:51.418 --> 00:52:53.708 of Fair, California and the former mayor of the city 00:52:53.719 --> 00:52:56.378 of Santa J. Uh calling regarding the PG and E general 00:52:56.389 --> 00:52:59.668 rate case. I represent a coalition of organizations 00:52:59.679 --> 00:53:01.840 representing small businesses workers, renters and 00:53:01.849 --> 00:53:04.280 many other Californians struggling under the weight 00:53:04.289 --> 00:53:07.070 of PG and E bill has skyrocketed at three times the 00:53:07.079 --> 00:53:10.059 rate of inflation since 2020. While the company spends 00:53:10.070 --> 00:53:12.699 several million dollars a week to bombard us with TV 00:53:12.708 --> 00:53:15.708 And internet commercials has compensated CEO of more 00:53:15.719 --> 00:53:19.119 than $60 million in the last two years. Regardless 00:53:19.128 --> 00:53:21.070 of whether those expenditures come from shareholder 00:53:21.079 --> 00:53:24.260 or ratepayer funds, our ratepayers will pay more than 00:53:24.269 --> 00:53:26.780 $3 billion. In this general rate case for return on 00:53:26.789 --> 00:53:29.878 capital to bolster those shareholder funds. If the 00:53:29.889 --> 00:53:32.619 company was shareholder funds on useless TV, commercials 00:53:32.739 --> 00:53:35.590 the ratepayers should pay less for return. We urge 00:53:35.599 --> 00:53:39.119 the CPU to defer any increases until it is conducted 00:53:39.128 --> 00:53:43.128 public reasonableness reviews of such PGD expenditures 00:53:43.139 --> 00:53:46.429 as advertising, public communications, executive pay 00:53:46.438 --> 00:53:48.898 lobbyists and political contributions. I encourage 00:53:48.909 --> 00:53:52.010 many other callers fed up with PGD to join our coalition 00:53:52.139 --> 00:53:55.820 at Fair, californian.org FC a.org. Thank you very much 00:53:56.260 --> 00:54:01.878 Thank you operator. Next caller, please. 00:54:01.878 --> 00:54:04.769 Our next caller is Tyler Valdez. You may go ahead. 00:54:07.688 --> 00:54:09.958 Hello, commissioner, my name is Tyler Valdez and I'm 00:54:09.969 --> 00:54:12.699 an energy equity manager with the California Environmental 00:54:12.708 --> 00:54:15.539 Justice Alliance or Seja. And we call on the commission 00:54:15.550 --> 00:54:17.989 to protect solar incentives for renters and community 00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:21.219 resilient centers in the BM proceeding. This is imperative 00:54:21.228 --> 00:54:23.688 for environmental justice. We support the protection 00:54:23.699 --> 00:54:26.340 of living them tiff for the historic Soma program and 00:54:26.349 --> 00:54:29.300 appreciate the that extends on site netting for residential 00:54:29.309 --> 00:54:31.840 accounts so tenants can receive critically needed bill 00:54:31.849 --> 00:54:34.628 savings. However, on site netting for commercial accounts 00:54:34.639 --> 00:54:37.668 is vital for the financial viability of community resilience 00:54:37.679 --> 00:54:41.039 centers which will help ej communities access emergency 00:54:41.050 --> 00:54:44.309 services during climate disasters. Moreover, without 00:54:44.320 --> 00:54:46.679 on site netting for commercial accounts, some property 00:54:46.688 --> 00:54:49.300 owners will not be incentivized since all solar which 00:54:49.309 --> 00:54:51.938 would prevent any benefits accruing to tenants if a 00:54:51.949 --> 00:54:53.869 property owner installed solar but does not receive 00:54:53.878 --> 00:54:56.090 the benefits of on site netting, they may pass the 00:54:56.099 --> 00:54:59.188 cost of tenants through rate rent. So we strongly urge 00:54:59.199 --> 00:55:01.719 the commission to modify the BM proposal to include 00:55:01.728 --> 00:55:04.570 on site netting for commercial accounts. So EJ community 00:55:04.579 --> 00:55:07.039 and more Californians can benefit from clean local 00:55:07.050 --> 00:55:11.590 energy. Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next caller 00:55:11.599 --> 00:55:14.539 please. 00:55:14.539 --> 00:55:19.110 Our next call is Kevin Collins. You may go ahead. Yes 00:55:19.119 --> 00:55:22.659 hello. Uh I'm a member of the public who actually understands 00:55:22.668 --> 00:55:26.329 how utility circuits will work and why they fail. And 00:55:26.340 --> 00:55:28.898 I'd like to point out a couple things that make the 00:55:28.909 --> 00:55:33.539 general rate case proposal for uh capital improvements 00:55:33.550 --> 00:55:37.260 preposterous. Uh According to your own office of the 00:55:37.269 --> 00:55:40.458 Public Safe of the Public Advocate Public Advocates 00:55:40.469 --> 00:55:46.000 office VG A has 100 and 20,000 pole replacement backlog 00:55:46.289 --> 00:55:52.579 and a repair tag backlog of 477,000 locations where 00:55:52.590 --> 00:55:57.039 there's worn out dangerous equipment that needs replacement 00:55:57.269 --> 00:56:00.849 This, these backlogs need to be dealt with. They are 00:56:00.860 --> 00:56:05.760 immediate fire and electrocution hazards. All this 00:56:05.769 --> 00:56:09.340 needs to be handled before any pretense of sticking 00:56:09.349 --> 00:56:13.750 wires underground is regarded as a solution to wildfire 00:56:13.760 --> 00:56:18.329 ignition. The whole notion of underground is irrelevant 00:56:18.500 --> 00:56:22.510 It's entirely possible to make overhead circuits as 00:56:22.519 --> 00:56:28.360 safe as circuits. Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next 00:56:28.369 --> 00:56:32.030 call, please. 00:56:32.030 --> 00:56:34.918 Our next caller is Wha Brightman. You may go ahead 00:56:36.289 --> 00:56:38.840 Good morning. My name is Wana Parker Brightman. I'm 00:56:38.849 --> 00:56:41.699 Executive Director of United Native Americans. I'm 00:56:41.708 --> 00:56:44.978 also an enrolled tribal citizen of the LA Cota nation 00:56:45.478 --> 00:56:47.909 and here to bring voice to the voiceless the indigenous 00:56:47.918 --> 00:56:51.389 population whose land you currently occupy illegally 00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:57.039 Now price gouging is illegal in California, California's 00:56:57.050 --> 00:57:02.320 anti price gouging statute penalty code section 396 00:57:02.329 --> 00:57:06.739 prohibits raising the price of major necessities such 00:57:06.750 --> 00:57:11.878 as PGE and water rights to our customers in 42 states 00:57:11.889 --> 00:57:17.264 Price gouging is set as a violation of the unfair deceptive 00:57:17.273 --> 00:57:22.324 trade practices under the Customer Protection Act. 00:57:22.333 --> 00:57:26.625 We as the United Native Americans urge you to vote 00:57:26.635 --> 00:57:30.954 no on raising the rates on water and on our PG and 00:57:30.994 --> 00:57:34.894 E. Thank you very much. Have a good day. Thank you 00:57:34.974 --> 00:57:39.309 operator. Next caller, please. 00:57:39.309 --> 00:57:42.079 Our next caller is Cheryl Maynard. You may go ahead 00:57:43.110 --> 00:57:46.958 Hi. My name is Cheryl. I'm of the wildfire disaster 00:57:46.969 --> 00:57:50.000 advocacy group. I'm the president. I have been advocating 00:57:50.010 --> 00:57:53.659 for fire victims for five years. I am a campfire survivor 00:57:53.668 --> 00:57:58.079 in paradise, California PG and E rate hikes are outrageous 00:57:58.090 --> 00:58:01.599 Fire victims have not been made whole PG and E hid 00:58:01.610 --> 00:58:04.708 in bankruptcy to avoid pain for all the people they 00:58:04.719 --> 00:58:08.030 killed also the homes and businesses, they destroyed 00:58:08.159 --> 00:58:11.958 PG and E is getting our settlements back from us by 00:58:11.969 --> 00:58:16.349 raising rates. This has to stop all PG and a fire victims 00:58:16.360 --> 00:58:18.469 should have free bills for the rest of their lives 00:58:18.478 --> 00:58:22.050 For the de devastation they caused to our lives. It 00:58:22.059 --> 00:58:24.809 should have been in our settlement. If not, we need 00:58:24.820 --> 00:58:27.679 the same rebate they gave to the San Bruno victims 00:58:27.829 --> 00:58:32.570 Also the Dixie fire fine of $440 million should be 00:58:32.579 --> 00:58:35.409 put into the fire victims. Trust to increase their 00:58:35.418 --> 00:58:40.889 settlements as we are only at 50% of bankruptcy pennies 00:58:40.898 --> 00:58:43.719 on the dollar dollar settlement. We have people in 00:58:43.728 --> 00:58:47.398 paradise still living in dirt in the trailers. PPJ 00:58:47.438 --> 00:58:50.389 and E should not receive their own money back. That 00:58:50.398 --> 00:58:52.820 is not a punishment for killing a first responder in 00:58:52.829 --> 00:58:55.648 the Dixie fire 00:58:55.648 --> 00:59:00.469 CJ and ECP CEO Poppy should not get a salary, should 00:59:00.478 --> 00:59:03.679 get a salary cut, not raise our rates to pay her and 00:59:03.688 --> 00:59:07.070 her decisions to continue to burn down communities 00:59:07.079 --> 00:59:12.079 Your rate hike rate hike only to increase in inflation 00:59:12.090 --> 00:59:17.079 I urge you to not do anything that raises our rate 00:59:17.360 --> 00:59:21.610 and A awards PG and E. Thank you for your time. Thank 00:59:21.619 --> 00:59:26.619 you operator. Next color, please. 00:59:26.619 --> 00:59:29.929 Our next caller is Nancy Chitti Espinosa. You may go 00:59:29.938 --> 00:59:32.039 ahead. 00:59:32.039 --> 00:59:34.829 Thank you madam. The commissioners on behalf of the 00:59:34.840 --> 00:59:37.659 School Energy Coalition. I must express our confusion 00:59:37.668 --> 00:59:39.918 and disappointment at the complete lack of response 00:59:39.929 --> 00:59:41.978 to the serious issues we have raised with respect to 00:59:41.989 --> 00:59:45.030 the nema proposed sufficient for months. We have described 00:59:45.039 --> 00:59:47.780 for you how the PD will disincentivize and slow the 00:59:47.789 --> 00:59:51.478 transition to clean energy by schools? Why state facilities 00:59:51.489 --> 00:59:53.840 funding rules and building codes require us to have 00:59:53.849 --> 00:59:56.610 multiple meters per site, the fiscal and physic. 00:59:56.629 --> 00:59:59.649 And possibilities of installing several shipping container 00:59:59.658 --> 01:00:03.470 sized batteries with 100 ft setbacks on built out school 01:00:03.478 --> 01:00:06.610 sites. It will qualify for any benefit for our investments 01:00:06.619 --> 01:00:09.338 in solar and how the increased cost of energy will 01:00:09.349 --> 01:00:12.029 directly take money out of the classroom because we 01:00:12.039 --> 01:00:14.489 are neither private businesses who can raise prices 01:00:14.498 --> 01:00:16.509 nor general purpose, local governments who can raise 01:00:16.518 --> 01:00:19.599 taxes with the great power. You are exercising today 01:00:19.610 --> 01:00:21.960 comes a great responsibility to make this right for 01:00:21.969 --> 01:00:25.158 schools, your partners who are integral to California's 01:00:25.169 --> 01:00:28.619 ability to meet its clean energy goals. If you approve 01:00:28.630 --> 01:00:31.728 the PD, we expect leadership from this commission on 01:00:31.740 --> 01:00:34.860 addressing the harm that it will do. Thank you. Thank 01:00:34.869 --> 01:00:40.208 you operator. Next caller, please. 01:00:40.208 --> 01:00:44.338 Our next caller is Pam rude. You may go ahead. Hi, 01:00:44.350 --> 01:00:49.249 I'm Pam Rood in San Diego. And I'm calling to demand 01:00:49.259 --> 01:00:53.310 that the CPUC does everything in your power to stop 01:00:53.319 --> 01:00:57.350 the utilities proposal to block rooftop solar that 01:00:57.360 --> 01:01:01.569 could power schools, farms, resiliency, hubs, community 01:01:01.579 --> 01:01:05.840 health centers and even e charging infrastructure for 01:01:05.849 --> 01:01:10.528 renters. The new CPUC proposed decision still cuts 01:01:10.540 --> 01:01:14.278 them all out and would deny them the opportunity to 01:01:14.290 --> 01:01:18.429 reduce working folks already skyrocketing utility burden 01:01:18.870 --> 01:01:22.209 and make their lives even harder. Their proposal must 01:01:22.219 --> 01:01:25.870 be changed to allow every nook and cranny of multifamily 01:01:25.879 --> 01:01:30.558 housing schools and farms to use their solar power 01:01:30.569 --> 01:01:35.498 without utility interference with no exceptions whatsoever 01:01:35.599 --> 01:01:39.579 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 01:01:43.179 --> 01:01:46.739 Our next caller is Jennifer O Moyle. You may go ahead 01:01:48.079 --> 01:01:50.689 Um 01:01:50.689 --> 01:01:54.439 ok, you can hear me. Yes, we can. 01:01:54.439 --> 01:01:56.540 Ok, great. Thank you so much. Thank you for giving 01:01:56.549 --> 01:01:58.998 me the opportunity to speak. My name is Jennifer nor 01:01:59.179 --> 01:02:02.998 I live south of San Francisco. I urged the commissioners 01:02:03.230 --> 01:02:06.100 and supported the judge issued proposal, the proposed 01:02:06.110 --> 01:02:11.309 decision in PG and ES general rate case, a 0.21 dash 01:02:11.320 --> 01:02:18.759 06-021 PG and E and energy consumers can't afford endless 01:02:18.769 --> 01:02:23.269 rate increases that far exceed inflation. And we need 01:02:23.279 --> 01:02:26.868 we need while we need more protection against the, 01:02:26.880 --> 01:02:32.898 the the against wildfires, we can achieve that through 01:02:32.910 --> 01:02:37.009 the faster cheaper solution of insulating overhead 01:02:37.019 --> 01:02:41.630 power lines and upgrading the infrastructure. Uh So 01:02:41.638 --> 01:02:44.978 I please vote to support the post decision and reject 01:02:44.989 --> 01:02:48.579 the PG and E giveaway. Also, I want to say that the 01:02:48.589 --> 01:02:52.648 power of the sun should be available to everybody. 01:02:53.570 --> 01:02:57.779 It should not be monopolized by PG and E the climate 01:02:57.789 --> 01:03:05.478 crisis is far too dire to deny this right to everybody 01:03:05.499 --> 01:03:09.360 Thank you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 01:03:12.148 --> 01:03:17.209 Our next caller is Ken Meeran. You may go ahead. Thank 01:03:17.220 --> 01:03:22.350 you. I am a PG and E customer in ST Louis Obispo 01:03:22.448 --> 01:03:27.130 County. And I am urging the commission to please vote 01:03:27.138 --> 01:03:33.198 in support of the judge issued proposed decision in 01:03:33.228 --> 01:03:42.179 PG and E general rate case. A 21-06 dash 021. Um The 01:03:43.489 --> 01:03:47.929 the rate increases that are proposed are just mind 01:03:48.019 --> 01:03:52.618 boggling California consumers, uh energy consumers 01:03:52.630 --> 01:03:57.749 can't afford these endless increases and in addressing 01:03:57.759 --> 01:04:02.910 the fire fire wildfire issue, um There is a faster 01:04:02.918 --> 01:04:08.239 cheaper solution for wildfire safety, which is and 01:04:08.249 --> 01:04:14.369 has been proven to, um, to be effective, uh, by insulating 01:04:14.379 --> 01:04:17.819 the overhead power lines, um, which is what should 01:04:17.830 --> 01:04:22.090 be done. It's cost effective. It's, it gets the job 01:04:22.098 --> 01:04:27.669 done. And, um, I'm urging the commission to please 01:04:27.788 --> 01:04:31.999 uh, support the proposed decision, reject the PG and 01:04:32.009 --> 01:04:35.360 E giveaway. Thank you. Uh, just anecdotally. I found 01:04:35.369 --> 01:04:39.939 an old PG and E bill from seven years ago. I compared 01:04:39.948 --> 01:04:43.830 it to my current bill and I was using the same amount 01:04:43.840 --> 01:04:48.598 of energy and my current bill is more than two times 01:04:48.629 --> 01:04:51.739 what I was paying seven years ago that that should 01:04:51.749 --> 01:04:57.460 not stand it. It's a, it should not happen anyway. 01:04:57.468 --> 01:05:00.819 Thank you for your time. Thank you operator. Next caller 01:05:00.830 --> 01:05:03.908 please. 01:05:03.908 --> 01:05:07.129 Our next scholar is Susan Dembowski. You may go ahead 01:05:08.259 --> 01:05:11.360 Hi, my name is Susan Dembowski. I live in the San Gabriel 01:05:11.369 --> 01:05:14.749 Valley at a time when California electricity customers 01:05:14.759 --> 01:05:19.080 pay far more than almost all other states and continue 01:05:19.270 --> 01:05:22.749 to face significant increases. PG and E is requesting 01:05:22.929 --> 01:05:27.044 many billions of dollars of rate increases. One option 01:05:27.054 --> 01:05:29.684 to help control such spiraling electricity costs for 01:05:29.694 --> 01:05:32.434 schools, farms, businesses and community health centers 01:05:32.715 --> 01:05:36.525 does having more than 1 m has been rooftop solar. My 01:05:36.533 --> 01:05:39.395 town school district has invested in rooftop solar 01:05:39.405 --> 01:05:42.093 for several school buildings and had planned to install 01:05:42.104 --> 01:05:45.340 it on more school facilities. My brother in Moreno 01:05:45.348 --> 01:05:48.569 Valley wants to but hasn't yet installed solar at a 01:05:48.580 --> 01:05:51.729 small fruit farm. If he had. If this proposal passes 01:05:51.819 --> 01:05:54.549 he'd have an even tougher time making go of his farm 01:05:54.559 --> 01:05:57.968 business since he'd have had to buy back from the utility 01:05:57.979 --> 01:06:02.004 at full price. His own generated solar energy used 01:06:02.013 --> 01:06:05.913 on his farm. His proposal really discourages California 01:06:05.924 --> 01:06:08.735 schools farms businesses from installing clean break 01:06:08.874 --> 01:06:13.163 up solar. It's completely unfair and it also makes 01:06:13.174 --> 01:06:16.614 it harder for California to achieve its clean energy 01:06:16.624 --> 01:06:20.455 goals. Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next caller 01:06:20.465 --> 01:06:25.439 please. 01:06:25.439 --> 01:06:30.429 Our next caller is Donna Odell. You may go ahead. Hi 01:06:30.439 --> 01:06:34.809 this is Donna Odell. And I know that PG and E executives 01:06:34.819 --> 01:06:37.989 have been lobbying the commission staff for an additional 01:06:37.999 --> 01:06:43.400 1.8 billion in ratepayer increases. And that's the 01:06:43.408 --> 01:06:46.229 bolster its credit rating on Wall Street, Wall Street 01:06:46.239 --> 01:06:50.489 investors, company shareholders or pro this is all 01:06:50.499 --> 01:06:57.468 while the company is worth 45.44 billion today. Ok 01:06:57.840 --> 01:07:01.038 CJ and E has been charging his customers to put the 01:07:01.049 --> 01:07:06.229 lines underground for many years. However, they've 01:07:06.239 --> 01:07:10.119 just diverted the money for other projects. 01:07:10.119 --> 01:07:15.158 So we, the customers have already funded this project 01:07:15.169 --> 01:07:19.259 through rate hike to put these lines underground for 01:07:19.270 --> 01:07:21.960 many years. 01:07:21.960 --> 01:07:25.900 And the customers are not the ones that started the 01:07:25.908 --> 01:07:31.638 fight teaching these greed this now on a personal level 01:07:32.489 --> 01:07:37.448 $40 a month rate increase is an excessive amount that 01:07:37.460 --> 01:07:40.908 lowers my ability to buy food and other essentials 01:07:41.689 --> 01:07:44.288 I already reduced my electricity. I don't turn lights 01:07:44.299 --> 01:07:47.189 on at night. I sit in the dark. I don't watch TV 01:07:48.330 --> 01:07:51.610 I have not left the pilot light on my gas stove because 01:07:51.619 --> 01:07:56.270 I can't afford it. So I sit and I freeze. You know 01:07:56.280 --> 01:08:01.369 I never thought I'd have to live in America. 01:08:01.369 --> 01:08:07.360 So I hope that CPUC will really, really think about 01:08:07.369 --> 01:08:11.538 what this is doing to the people of California. Thank 01:08:11.549 --> 01:08:18.009 you. Thank you operator. Next caller, please. 01:08:18.009 --> 01:08:20.948 The next caller is Peggy Emmanuel. You may go ahead 01:08:22.598 --> 01:08:26.590 Hi. Yes, I live in Calipatria and there is no way this 01:08:26.598 --> 01:08:30.829 community can tolerate the 33% water rate increase 01:08:30.999 --> 01:08:33.700 We want to be able to take showers, we want to be 01:08:33.709 --> 01:08:36.509 able to wash our clothes. Like this woman said, she 01:08:36.518 --> 01:08:40.028 sits in the dark. That is unacceptable in the United 01:08:40.038 --> 01:08:43.788 States of America. Please can the Public Utilities 01:08:43.800 --> 01:08:47.148 Commission do what's right for the public and not for 01:08:47.158 --> 01:08:50.329 the giant corporations that are already making billions 01:08:50.339 --> 01:08:55.148 off of our backs. Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next 01:08:55.158 --> 01:08:58.469 caller, please. 01:08:58.469 --> 01:09:00.528 And before we go to the next caller again, if you would 01:09:00.538 --> 01:09:03.278 like to make a public comment, please unmute your phone 01:09:03.360 --> 01:09:06.129 Press star one and record your first and last name 01:09:06.139 --> 01:09:11.219 slowly and clearly our next caller is walk, walk. You 01:09:11.229 --> 01:09:16.459 may go ahead. Hi. Um, this is Kula Fox and I would 01:09:16.469 --> 01:09:22.950 like to urge the commissioner to adopt the faster cheaper 01:09:22.959 --> 01:09:29.050 proposal is used by the judge to insulate 1800 miles 01:09:29.060 --> 01:09:34.028 of overhead power line and vary only 200 miles of line 01:09:34.038 --> 01:09:39.668 which save the customers $2.2 billion more than the 01:09:39.680 --> 01:09:45.700 alternate proposal. Again, please adopt the faster 01:09:45.709 --> 01:09:51.499 cheaper proposal to save our money and please do not 01:09:51.509 --> 01:09:56.820 allow any more increases in utilities. It is ridiculous 01:09:56.829 --> 01:10:01.619 like the previous um person who called that we just 01:10:01.629 --> 01:10:06.658 can't afford any more utility increases and this is 01:10:06.668 --> 01:10:12.440 price gouging for basic needs. Thank you. Thank you 01:10:12.450 --> 01:10:16.739 operator. Next caller, please. 01:10:16.739 --> 01:10:22.209 Our next caller is Ruben Perez. You may go ahead. 01:10:22.209 --> 01:10:25.339 Uh Thank you madam chair and commission members. My 01:10:25.349 --> 01:10:27.259 name is Ruben Perez and I work for assembly member 01:10:27.268 --> 01:10:29.579 Garcia. I call the assembly member's request on his 01:10:29.589 --> 01:10:32.310 behalf to address the matter of urgent concern. The 01:10:32.440 --> 01:10:35.788 proposed rate increase by Golden State Water Company 01:10:35.839 --> 01:10:38.349 This proposal has caused significant distress among 01:10:38.360 --> 01:10:41.398 residents of Calipari and Island communities already 01:10:41.408 --> 01:10:44.268 grappling with financial challenges. In recent times 01:10:44.278 --> 01:10:46.499 our constituents have seen their water bills rise almost 01:10:46.509 --> 01:10:49.739 50% considering the cumulative effect of past rate 01:10:49.749 --> 01:10:52.168 hikes. This latest proposal adds to an already heavy 01:10:52.180 --> 01:10:55.099 burden coming at a time when we many are still recovering 01:10:55.110 --> 01:10:59.560 from the damages wrought by recent storms. The cost 01:10:59.570 --> 01:11:01.589 of cleaning up and restoring homes and properties has 01:11:01.599 --> 01:11:04.158 stretched their finances thin and this rate increase 01:11:04.168 --> 01:11:07.619 threatens to push them beyond their limits. We understand 01:11:07.629 --> 01:11:09.820 the need for infrastructure improvements and operational 01:11:09.829 --> 01:11:12.599 cause. However, it is essential that these needs are 01:11:12.610 --> 01:11:15.749 balanced against the financial realities of the families 01:11:15.759 --> 01:11:18.709 and businesses in our community. Therefore, I urge 01:11:18.719 --> 01:11:21.249 the commission to thoroughly review this rate proposal 01:11:21.259 --> 01:11:23.339 consider the voices of those who have reached out to 01:11:23.349 --> 01:11:25.398 us worried about how they will manage another increase 01:11:25.479 --> 01:11:28.538 to their expenses. We seek a resolution that recognizes 01:11:28.550 --> 01:11:31.369 the financial struggle of our constituents and supports 01:11:31.379 --> 01:11:34.009 the economic development of our region. Thank you for 01:11:34.018 --> 01:11:36.028 your attention to this pressing matter. We trust that 01:11:36.038 --> 01:11:38.329 the commission will make a decision that reflects both 01:11:38.339 --> 01:11:40.538 the needs and concerns of the people of Imperial County 01:11:40.690 --> 01:11:43.408 Thank you. Thank you and please thank the assembly 01:11:43.418 --> 01:11:50.050 member operator. Next call, please. 01:11:50.050 --> 01:11:55.668 Our next caller is Elise Kian. You may go ahead. 01:11:55.668 --> 01:11:58.418 Hello, commissioners. My name is Elise Kayan with the 01:11:58.430 --> 01:12:01.550 Glendale Environmental Coalition. We and many other 01:12:01.560 --> 01:12:05.599 local grassroots groups are advocating for a 100% clean 01:12:05.610 --> 01:12:09.518 zero carbon and reliable energy future for our region 01:12:09.768 --> 01:12:13.849 This must include as much local solar and storage generation 01:12:13.860 --> 01:12:17.499 as possible. The proposal to end solar incentives that 01:12:17.509 --> 01:12:20.278 could power schools arms resiliency hubs, community 01:12:20.288 --> 01:12:24.360 health centers and even charging for renters is completely 01:12:24.369 --> 01:12:28.709 contrary to our goals. It also denies these parties 01:12:28.719 --> 01:12:31.440 the opportunity to reduce their skyrocketing utility 01:12:31.450 --> 01:12:34.839 bills. We need to empower renters, property owners 01:12:34.849 --> 01:12:38.060 nonprofit schools, farms and community centers so they 01:12:38.070 --> 01:12:41.219 can benefit from their own solar generation. You're 01:12:41.229 --> 01:12:44.339 just should be based on what the public needs and what 01:12:44.349 --> 01:12:48.119 climate action requires. The CPU she should be doing 01:12:48.129 --> 01:12:51.469 everything in its power to support the build out of 01:12:51.479 --> 01:12:54.768 the distributed clean energy. We need to mitigate the 01:12:54.778 --> 01:12:57.918 worst impacts of the climate crisis and that includes 01:12:57.930 --> 01:13:00.469 not going forward with your proposal and ending it 01:13:00.479 --> 01:13:04.349 now. Thank you. Thank you, operator. Next caller, please 01:13:06.820 --> 01:13:09.680 The next caller is Bryce Nesbit. You may go ahead. 01:13:13.889 --> 01:13:18.190 Hello, my name is Bryce Nesbitt. So to the CPUC, if 01:13:18.200 --> 01:13:21.820 you pass the draft of the Zen proposal, as said, I 01:13:21.829 --> 01:13:24.360 will as an electrical engineer immediately develop 01:13:24.369 --> 01:13:27.619 a device to support the tariff, the device will hold 01:13:27.629 --> 01:13:30.719 generated solar off the grid, feeding it behind tenant 01:13:30.729 --> 01:13:33.680 meters. So it never touches the VNM back feed meter 01:13:33.979 --> 01:13:38.009 and never sends any electricity forward through the 01:13:38.018 --> 01:13:41.259 tenant meters. This device will not improve the grid 01:13:41.268 --> 01:13:44.329 but it's the best that can be done if you as the 01:13:44.339 --> 01:13:49.089 CPUC, make the wrong regulatory mood move on VM. Uh 01:13:49.459 --> 01:13:53.139 Thank you and I hope you don't do it. Good day. Thank 01:13:53.148 --> 01:13:57.930 you operator. Next caller please. 01:13:57.930 --> 01:14:00.489 Our next scholar is Edward Merrick. You may go ahead 01:14:02.239 --> 01:14:07.079 Yes, I called the last meeting to reiterate that the 01:14:07.089 --> 01:14:11.489 puc should turn back both proposals. The solution for 01:14:11.499 --> 01:14:16.050 rural and exurban California is not burring or insulating 01:14:16.060 --> 01:14:20.070 power lines. It's getting rid of them. They are obsolete 01:14:20.079 --> 01:14:23.418 under current economic environments. For many customers 01:14:24.200 --> 01:14:27.860 We have a road grid. We have inexpensive batteries 01:14:28.168 --> 01:14:31.729 and there is absolutely no reason that we cannot quickly 01:14:31.739 --> 01:14:36.168 transition. By the time the fleet of vehicles has completely 01:14:36.180 --> 01:14:38.959 switched to a battery electric. By the end of this 01:14:38.969 --> 01:14:43.940 decade, we can distribute electricity the final miles 01:14:43.950 --> 01:14:49.129 through batteries and roadways. It's a complete waste 01:14:49.139 --> 01:14:54.450 of resources to prop up this dangerous, expensive and 01:14:54.459 --> 01:14:57.450 unreliable technology. When there is an alternative 01:14:58.028 --> 01:15:03.930 Just an example. I a 60 minute round trip to uh to 01:15:03.940 --> 01:15:07.729 the valley floor where my electricity originates. I 01:15:07.739 --> 01:15:12.139 follow the power line when I drive there every time 01:15:12.148 --> 01:15:16.579 I drive down to the valley floor. Now it's silly for 01:15:16.589 --> 01:15:20.028 me to have to pay twice as much for electricity from 01:15:20.038 --> 01:15:22.759 its source as it is when it's delivered to my house 01:15:22.768 --> 01:15:25.918 which is currently what the irrational rate structure 01:15:26.249 --> 01:15:31.190 of PGD and the PUC and the PV UC direction is. You've 01:15:31.200 --> 01:15:37.538 got to stop subsidizing dangerous power line electricity 01:15:38.079 --> 01:15:41.918 Thank you very much and I, I hope you will take what 01:15:41.930 --> 01:15:44.979 I've said seriously and begin to actually think about 01:15:44.989 --> 01:15:48.849 the alternatives. Goodbye. Thank you operator. Next 01:15:48.860 --> 01:15:52.658 caller, please. 01:15:52.658 --> 01:15:55.589 Our next caller is Crystal Reitzel. You May go ahead 01:15:57.619 --> 01:16:00.629 Hi, my name is Crystal Reel. I'm the admin for debate 01:16:00.639 --> 01:16:03.879 area Clean Air Coalition. Um I'm calling yet again 01:16:03.889 --> 01:16:07.038 to ask the CPU to change its proposal to end rooftop 01:16:07.050 --> 01:16:10.499 solar in trance. Um that could power schools farms 01:16:10.509 --> 01:16:13.110 resiliency, hubs, community health centers and even 01:16:13.119 --> 01:16:16.329 e charging infrastructure for renters. While the new 01:16:16.339 --> 01:16:19.700 CPUC proposed decision maintains incentives for renters 01:16:20.009 --> 01:16:22.499 It still cuts all the other customers I named and would 01:16:22.509 --> 01:16:25.930 deny them the opportunity to reduce already skyrocketing 01:16:25.940 --> 01:16:28.690 utility bills. The proposed the proposed bill must 01:16:28.700 --> 01:16:31.739 be changed to maintain every incentive for multifamily 01:16:31.749 --> 01:16:35.369 housing schools and farms to benefit from their own 01:16:35.379 --> 01:16:38.288 solar generation. Like another caller said, I don't 01:16:38.300 --> 01:16:41.560 understand how this is even possible. Um Their proposal 01:16:41.570 --> 01:16:44.749 it's basically stealing. Um How can you say people 01:16:44.759 --> 01:16:47.360 like schools that benefit Children can't use their 01:16:47.369 --> 01:16:50.950 own solar top panels? The CPUC should be doing everything 01:16:50.959 --> 01:16:53.668 in its power to support the build out of clean energy 01:16:53.759 --> 01:16:59.440 Also, please repeal nem 3.0. Thank you. Thank you operator 01:16:59.450 --> 01:17:03.099 Next caller, please. 01:17:03.099 --> 01:17:06.468 Our next caller is Inga Lorenzen Doyer. You may go 01:17:06.478 --> 01:17:11.599 ahead. Thank you. My name is Inga Lorenzen Deimer and 01:17:11.610 --> 01:17:15.079 I'm a resident of Pacific Grove in Monterey County 01:17:16.318 --> 01:17:21.258 and it is way past time to actually hold PG and E 01:17:21.269 --> 01:17:27.359 accountable for their abysmal safety record while padding 01:17:27.369 --> 01:17:32.187 their profits and salaries. You are supposedly regulating 01:17:32.197 --> 01:17:37.559 these private for profit utilities. We will never be 01:17:37.569 --> 01:17:43.889 safe with PG and ES plan of slowly underground, a miniscule 01:17:43.899 --> 01:17:48.579 miles of transmission lines while charging the public 01:17:48.589 --> 01:17:54.349 for their improvements. PG and E has literally been 01:17:54.360 --> 01:17:59.559 raping and pillaging the public blind and have completely 01:17:59.569 --> 01:18:05.149 burned up their credibility. Please do not continue 01:18:05.159 --> 01:18:10.589 to allow PG and es outrageous rate hikes. Thank you 01:18:10.599 --> 01:18:14.069 very much. Thank you operator. Next caller, please 01:18:16.740 --> 01:18:21.540 Our next caller is Alice B. You may go ahead. 01:18:21.540 --> 01:18:25.629 Hello? Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you so much 01:18:25.860 --> 01:18:30.540 Yes, I'm here speaking again in support of 6 million 01:18:30.790 --> 01:18:35.369 public school Children, 3.5 of which are title one 01:18:35.379 --> 01:18:39.919 eligible. I want you to reverse your proposed decision 01:18:39.928 --> 01:18:44.780 for the N MD. Mm uh proposed decision. And I'm asking 01:18:44.790 --> 01:18:48.599 you to, to seriously think about this. What will happen 01:18:48.889 --> 01:18:52.089 to the next generation and what will they think of 01:18:52.099 --> 01:18:56.678 what this generation did for them in denying them their 01:18:56.688 --> 01:19:01.218 benefits to their own solar energy? 01:19:01.218 --> 01:19:05.040 Such a tariff as proposed at a minimum should include 01:19:05.049 --> 01:19:08.740 on site netting and the ability for all schools, multifamily 01:19:08.750 --> 01:19:12.280 residences and farms to benefit from their own produced 01:19:12.290 --> 01:19:16.119 local renewable energy. And in the case of public schools 01:19:16.129 --> 01:19:18.938 it's our local bond and state public state dollars 01:19:18.948 --> 01:19:22.280 that will be required now by the state energy code 01:19:22.290 --> 01:19:25.329 and the building code to invest in solar. As we move 01:19:25.339 --> 01:19:28.520 forward, these future benefits should not go to the 01:19:28.530 --> 01:19:32.938 utility shareholders and executives for profit remain 01:19:32.948 --> 01:19:35.119 with the schools for the benefit of our children's 01:19:35.129 --> 01:19:39.240 education. I implore you, please reverse this decision 01:19:39.299 --> 01:19:44.329 and go back to NM 2.0 in fact, and allow at least 01:19:44.740 --> 01:19:48.369 on site netting. Thank you. Thank you operator. Next 01:19:48.379 --> 01:19:52.428 caller, please. 01:19:52.428 --> 01:19:55.728 Our next caller is Jose Lopez. Do you wanna go ahead 01:19:58.448 --> 01:20:01.319 Hi, I'm calling uh my name Jose Lopez. I'm calling 01:20:01.329 --> 01:20:03.899 from the Central Valley. I am asking the commission 01:20:04.178 --> 01:20:08.159 to please not allow the rate increase that PGE is asking 01:20:08.169 --> 01:20:12.559 for. Uh they keep causing disasters and they keep getting 01:20:12.569 --> 01:20:16.468 rewarded by our state officials. I ask you not to do 01:20:16.478 --> 01:20:19.619 this especially at this time when inflation is high 01:20:20.059 --> 01:20:24.059 and people are struggling to pay their bills um as 01:20:24.069 --> 01:20:26.919 it is. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you 01:20:27.178 --> 01:20:31.569 operator. Next call, please. 01:20:31.569 --> 01:20:34.020 Our next caller is Laura Hanson. You may go ahead. 01:20:35.218 --> 01:20:40.438 Thank you. My name is Laura Hanson and I urge the commissioners 01:20:40.448 --> 01:20:44.178 to vote in support of the judges issued proposed decision 01:20:44.188 --> 01:20:47.978 in PG and ES General rate case. 01:20:47.978 --> 01:20:52.399 The fact of the matter is that energy and gas are necessities 01:20:52.409 --> 01:20:57.750 of life and there will be many people who cannot afford 01:20:57.760 --> 01:21:01.860 that basic necessity if this goes through, I think 01:21:01.869 --> 01:21:07.928 they should be given priority and that the priority 01:21:08.250 --> 01:21:12.629 is to make the energy affordable. 01:21:12.629 --> 01:21:16.448 Thank you. Thank you. Operate. Our next caller, please 01:21:19.419 --> 01:21:22.760 Our next caller is Andrea Barnier. You may go ahead 01:21:24.958 --> 01:21:28.948 Hi, good afternoon. Uh Self help Enterprises is a nonprofit 01:21:28.958 --> 01:21:31.520 affordable housing developer with many multi family 01:21:31.530 --> 01:21:34.938 projects utilizing VM. The outcome of the revised proposed 01:21:34.948 --> 01:21:37.639 decision will threaten the feasibility of adding more 01:21:37.649 --> 01:21:41.110 than the minimum required solar PV to our new construction 01:21:41.119 --> 01:21:44.599 project. We rely on solar PV, generation and energy 01:21:44.610 --> 01:21:47.860 storage to offset the increased costs and usage of 01:21:47.869 --> 01:21:51.399 electricity, especially as we've increased our decarbonization 01:21:51.409 --> 01:21:54.379 efforts with all electric properties. Common areas 01:21:54.389 --> 01:21:57.240 may be classified as non residential or commercial 01:21:57.250 --> 01:22:00.110 However, in affordable multi family housing, common 01:22:00.119 --> 01:22:02.938 areas provide direct benefit to our low income tenants 01:22:02.948 --> 01:22:06.030 in the form of safety and services like shared lighting 01:22:06.040 --> 01:22:09.208 laundry, elevators and ev charging stations. Please 01:22:09.218 --> 01:22:12.669 vote no on the proposed decision. Thank you. Thank 01:22:12.678 --> 01:22:18.020 you operator. Next color, please. 01:22:18.020 --> 01:22:23.468 Our next caller is Curtis Diaz. You may go ahead. 01:22:23.468 --> 01:22:26.208 Hi guys. Thank you for the opportunity to call in. 01:22:27.040 --> 01:22:30.559 Wanted to uh start with uh my name is Curtis Kidd. 01:22:30.569 --> 01:22:34.698 I'm a resident of San Jose. We know you guys have a 01:22:34.708 --> 01:22:39.360 difficult job. We as a community and as a private body 01:22:39.369 --> 01:22:42.010 need to consider our responsibilities for our share 01:22:42.159 --> 01:22:45.770 too. Decades ago, we wanted lines to the outermost 01:22:45.780 --> 01:22:48.069 regions of the state. Then in the same breath, throw 01:22:48.079 --> 01:22:50.419 the responsibility onto the company to keep it going 01:22:50.428 --> 01:22:53.799 for less. Although the rate increases might be a sore 01:22:53.809 --> 01:22:56.839 subject for all Californians alike. A complaint isn't 01:22:56.849 --> 01:23:00.059 resolve to the problem. There are many other solutions 01:23:00.069 --> 01:23:02.280 that will offset the cost of underground construction 01:23:03.228 --> 01:23:06.718 PG and E is in the business of selling power, so sell 01:23:06.728 --> 01:23:10.309 it, sell more of it not to just Californians but others 01:23:10.319 --> 01:23:14.549 abroad. Many many clean energy sources can be allocated 01:23:14.559 --> 01:23:18.188 for this Calpine and Millipedes is one example of a 01:23:18.198 --> 01:23:21.040 clean energy source that generates power per PG and 01:23:21.049 --> 01:23:24.728 ES requests. I support the rate increase and also I 01:23:24.740 --> 01:23:28.770 support the subsid subsidiary for the low income families 01:23:28.780 --> 01:23:32.059 that nobody's talking about. Let's fix this problem 01:23:32.069 --> 01:23:34.010 but let's do it together and make sure there's never 01:23:34.020 --> 01:23:37.059 a repeat of paradise underground is the safest place 01:23:37.069 --> 01:23:42.948 for our infrastructure. 01:23:42.948 --> 01:23:47.049 Thank you very much. Thank you, operator. Next caller 01:23:47.059 --> 01:23:50.040 please. 01:23:50.040 --> 01:23:52.619 Our next caller is James Campbell. You may go ahead 01:23:59.448 --> 01:24:05.968 Hi, I just want to um to read 01:24:05.968 --> 01:24:09.928 we um state of the importance of environmental justice 01:24:09.938 --> 01:24:14.659 and um and I just wanna leave my contact information 01:24:14.669 --> 01:24:22.119 Um 6506427087. I've heard everybody on the call and 01:24:22.129 --> 01:24:26.099 I know that there is a solution to some of these ongoing 01:24:26.110 --> 01:24:30.760 issues and I urge you to contact me. Thank you. Thank 01:24:30.770 --> 01:24:37.629 you operator. Next caller, please. 01:24:37.629 --> 01:24:39.549 And at this time, we have no additional callers on 01:24:39.559 --> 01:24:42.010 the public comment, telephone line. But again, if you 01:24:42.020 --> 01:24:45.040 would like to make a comment, please unmute your phone 01:24:45.059 --> 01:24:48.089 Press star one and record your first and last name 01:24:48.099 --> 01:25:04.349 slowly and clearly, 01:25:04.349 --> 01:25:11.510 please stand by for our next caller. 01:25:11.510 --> 01:25:15.419 Our next caller is John Jensen. You may go ahead. 01:25:15.419 --> 01:25:18.349 Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity My name is 01:25:18.360 --> 01:25:20.849 John Jensen. I'm the president of the Lucerne Area 01:25:20.860 --> 01:25:24.458 revitalization Association in hard hit Lake County 01:25:24.468 --> 01:25:28.678 California. Uh 01:25:28.678 --> 01:25:31.780 It seems like you guys are regulating a criminal institution 01:25:31.790 --> 01:25:34.339 and because you're regulating a criminal institution 01:25:34.349 --> 01:25:36.379 you can do more to treat it as such and not like 01:25:36.389 --> 01:25:39.579 any other responsible law abiding business. They need 01:25:39.589 --> 01:25:42.938 to be held accountable and not given raises. Similarly 01:25:42.948 --> 01:25:45.569 your agency should be encouraging the proliferation 01:25:45.579 --> 01:25:48.619 of cheap available solar energy production and not 01:25:48.629 --> 01:25:52.619 discouraging it. PG and es incomprehensible attempt 01:25:52.629 --> 01:25:56.059 to steal the sun must be rejected. Deny them this theft 01:25:56.069 --> 01:26:00.139 deny the rate increase. Don't set this predic ridiculous 01:26:00.149 --> 01:26:02.740 precedent that will be used to apply this tariff to 01:26:02.750 --> 01:26:06.639 single mass, single meter units in the future, alter 01:26:06.649 --> 01:26:09.379 the proposal to encourage clean energy and let PGE 01:26:09.389 --> 01:26:13.049 prove to us they are a noncriminal organization or 01:26:13.159 --> 01:26:17.369 must be dismantled. Thank you. Thank you operator. 01:26:17.379 --> 01:26:20.869 Next caller, please. 01:26:20.869 --> 01:26:26.438 Our next caller is Max Gray. You may go ahead. 01:26:26.438 --> 01:26:30.309 Good afternoon. Uh My name is Max Parade. I am with 01:26:30.319 --> 01:26:33.129 uh all of health. We are a consortium of community 01:26:33.139 --> 01:26:36.520 health centers across northern California. Our nonprofit 01:26:36.530 --> 01:26:39.250 community health center members are doing what's right 01:26:39.260 --> 01:26:42.500 They're installing solar battery back up uh addressing 01:26:42.510 --> 01:26:45.589 energy efficiency and serving their patients who are 01:26:45.599 --> 01:26:51.020 majority low income uh every single day. Um In terms 01:26:51.030 --> 01:26:56.520 of this rule, this has unfortunately an adverse impact 01:26:56.530 --> 01:27:00.698 on our health centers and we urge you to vote no, if 01:27:00.708 --> 01:27:03.520 it passes. Of course, our health centers will continue 01:27:03.530 --> 01:27:06.688 to attempt to install solar and look for other funding 01:27:06.698 --> 01:27:10.240 sources, but many are hoping to install solar quickly 01:27:10.583 --> 01:27:15.843 and having uh the stability. Uh and um the knowledge 01:27:15.853 --> 01:27:19.843 that they will receive funding over time uh makes not 01:27:19.853 --> 01:27:23.053 only the installation affordable uh but makes the ongoing 01:27:23.063 --> 01:27:26.224 maintenance costs possible. Thank you for your consideration 01:27:26.235 --> 01:27:30.224 and voting. Now, thank you operator. Next caller, please 01:27:32.728 --> 01:27:34.750 President Reynolds. We have no additional participants 01:27:34.760 --> 01:27:37.589 on the public comment. Telephone line. Ok, thank you 01:27:37.599 --> 01:27:41.299 very much. Operator. We do have um three additional 01:27:41.309 --> 01:27:44.309 speakers here in the room. And uh so I would like to 01:27:44.319 --> 01:27:47.119 give them an opportunity to speak. And first, uh we 01:27:47.129 --> 01:28:00.389 have the honor of having Mayor Maria Nava Firlik. 01:28:00.389 --> 01:28:04.319 Hear me. There you go. Ok, so I wanna thank the California 01:28:04.329 --> 01:28:06.879 Public Utilities Commission for coming here to Imperial 01:28:06.889 --> 01:28:12.010 County. Um I am here to speak in regards to opposition 01:28:12.020 --> 01:28:15.309 of the Golden State Water uh proposed rate increase 01:28:15.319 --> 01:28:19.490 if you allow me to um read, read a prepared document 01:28:21.938 --> 01:28:25.079 So dear public California Public Utilities Commission 01:28:26.428 --> 01:28:30.379 This is a, a petition and customer protest of the Golden 01:28:30.389 --> 01:28:32.879 State Waters Company's request to the increased water 01:28:32.889 --> 01:28:36.428 rates. Golden State Water Company General rate case 01:28:36.438 --> 01:28:43.208 application number 23-080 XX region three area submitted 01:28:43.218 --> 01:28:46.500 to the California Public Utilities Commission request 01:28:46.510 --> 01:28:51.240 of a rate of a total of 33.29% in a period of 01:28:51.250 --> 01:28:54.659 three years, I the undersigned golden state water rate 01:28:54.669 --> 01:28:57.619 payer and mayor of the city of Calipatria strongly 01:28:57.629 --> 01:29:01.419 disapprove and opposed the proposed three year rate 01:29:01.428 --> 01:29:06.030 increase of 33.29 water rate increase and request the 01:29:06.040 --> 01:29:10.599 CPUC to deny the proposed increase in the service areas 01:29:10.610 --> 01:29:14.669 of Nyland and Calipatria Imperial County. And respectfully 01:29:14.678 --> 01:29:19.250 request if at all possible a public hearing at the 01:29:19.260 --> 01:29:22.899 local level in both the locations to be held in the 01:29:22.909 --> 01:29:27.149 town site of Nyland, California and another one held 01:29:27.159 --> 01:29:31.669 in our city of Calipatria. Due to the COVID pandemic 01:29:31.678 --> 01:29:34.319 Our high unemployment and high poverty rate in our 01:29:34.329 --> 01:29:38.089 rural areas. The increase will be detrimental and a 01:29:38.099 --> 01:29:41.770 financial burden to our city of Calipatria and community 01:29:41.780 --> 01:29:46.468 of Nyland families and our communities. The proposed 01:29:46.478 --> 01:29:48.869 Golden State water rate increase that would go into 01:29:48.879 --> 01:29:53.020 effect January 1st of 2025 with a monthly bill increase 01:29:53.030 --> 01:29:59.040 of $17 or 24.90% to the residents. They would see a 01:29:59.049 --> 01:30:07.610 monthly bill of $69.49 increase to $86.79. Beginning 01:30:07.619 --> 01:30:12.829 in 2025. In 2026 the average residential customer would 01:30:12.839 --> 01:30:16.740 see a monthly bill increase of an additional $3.57 01:30:17.329 --> 01:30:24.659 or 4.11%. And their bill would go from 8679 to $90.36 01:30:25.579 --> 01:30:31.399 and then a monthly increase of another $3.87 or increase 01:30:32.000 --> 01:30:41.129 4.28% from $90.36 to $94.28 in 2027 for a three year 01:30:41.139 --> 01:30:47.490 total of $24.74 increase excluding any applicable charges 01:30:47.740 --> 01:30:50.760 This considerably exceeds the amount charged by any 01:30:50.770 --> 01:30:54.750 other provider of residential water services. In Imperial 01:30:54.760 --> 01:30:58.178 County. These exorbitant rates are in the communities 01:30:58.188 --> 01:31:01.669 that suffer from high poverty and unemployment rates 01:31:01.790 --> 01:31:04.948 as well as other economic, environmental and health 01:31:04.958 --> 01:31:08.968 burdens including asthma. The constant rate increases 01:31:08.978 --> 01:31:12.139 put additional burdens and challenges on the residents 01:31:12.149 --> 01:31:16.549 of these communities. I wanna say that for many decades 01:31:16.990 --> 01:31:19.500 my husband and I Christian Frolich, which was here 01:31:19.510 --> 01:31:23.549 earlier along with other residents from Kape and Island 01:31:23.790 --> 01:31:28.899 We have um sent protest letters to the CPUC. We have 01:31:28.909 --> 01:31:32.728 had you come and we've done petitions asking you to 01:31:32.740 --> 01:31:36.860 please help us. Our community is the poorest uh two 01:31:36.869 --> 01:31:40.379 communities in the northern name comu communities and 01:31:41.119 --> 01:31:45.860 we feel like it's gone, falling on deaf ears. So um 01:31:45.919 --> 01:31:50.339 the Golden State Water Company um has been a crutch 01:31:50.349 --> 01:31:54.169 to our communities for um economic development for 01:31:54.178 --> 01:31:58.119 residential growth. Um Everybody's yards are very dry 01:31:58.129 --> 01:32:02.020 the parks are dry in our city as well. Uh We um 01:32:02.030 --> 01:32:06.069 did propose a grant to put in piping on our east side 01:32:06.079 --> 01:32:10.000 Hernandez Park and the Golden State Water is opposing 01:32:10.110 --> 01:32:12.760 the fact that we're bringing in canal water. So what 01:32:12.770 --> 01:32:15.228 do we do. If we're pushed on a corner, we've been too 01:32:15.240 --> 01:32:21.030 afraid to do any extreme measures such as, um trying 01:32:21.040 --> 01:32:25.250 to acquire the Golden State Water, either by eminent 01:32:25.260 --> 01:32:28.549 domain or otherwise, because we're afraid the Golden 01:32:28.559 --> 01:32:31.849 State water as wealthy as they are will sue us and 01:32:31.860 --> 01:32:35.809 it will bankrupt our city. We are both in with region 01:32:35.819 --> 01:32:39.968 three, with a lot of um bigger communities that don't 01:32:39.978 --> 01:32:44.149 compare to the numbers and the income of the residents 01:32:44.159 --> 01:32:48.490 like they do. Uh We do have a franchise agreement that 01:32:48.500 --> 01:32:52.198 was established in 1994 by the city council. It was 01:32:52.208 --> 01:32:56.829 a 40 year franchise agreement that has expired in 1994 01:32:57.829 --> 01:33:00.208 Um 01:33:00.208 --> 01:33:05.718 We respectfully request that the CPUC allow us to begin 01:33:05.728 --> 01:33:09.938 the process of allowing the city of Calipari to reacquire 01:33:09.948 --> 01:33:12.760 the water plant to serve our Calipatria and Island 01:33:12.770 --> 01:33:17.319 residents um and get from under them and then possibly 01:33:17.329 --> 01:33:20.889 offer them more f more affordable rates for the good 01:33:20.899 --> 01:33:25.839 of our communities. Um Wanna uh finalize by saying 01:33:25.849 --> 01:33:29.629 for these reasons, I request that the CPUC deny the 01:33:29.639 --> 01:33:33.188 application for the rate increase proposal and also 01:33:33.198 --> 01:33:37.309 if you could uh possibly consider visiting our community 01:33:37.319 --> 01:33:39.770 so that more residents can come and speak with you 01:33:39.849 --> 01:33:43.290 in both Calipatria and Island. I will submit my letter 01:33:43.299 --> 01:33:46.030 for the record and uh please feel free to reach out 01:33:46.040 --> 01:33:49.579 at any time. Respectfully. Thank you. Thank you very 01:33:49.589 --> 01:33:54.079 much. Thank you. Our next speaker is Debbie Solis. 01:33:58.978 --> 01:34:01.760 Hello Commissioners. My name is Debbie Solis. I am 01:34:01.770 --> 01:34:05.519 from Nyland, California. I'm a little bit nervous but 01:34:05.528 --> 01:34:08.939 um, I'm here because some of our residents in Ireland 01:34:08.948 --> 01:34:12.077 can't afford the water. I have helped several of them 01:34:12.088 --> 01:34:15.459 to either pay their bill or get their medicine. I am 01:34:15.470 --> 01:34:18.019 from the chamber of commerce and I hope you guys can 01:34:18.028 --> 01:34:22.419 attend in our little town of Nyland to see how we live 01:34:22.430 --> 01:34:25.749 to see how it is, how it looks over there. I used 01:34:25.758 --> 01:34:28.269 to be from Pomona, California, which is near San Dimas 01:34:28.278 --> 01:34:31.088 where the Golden State Water has their corporate office 01:34:31.220 --> 01:34:33.410 totally different than from Nyland and some of the 01:34:33.419 --> 01:34:37.519 towns over here that are in poverty. So that's my only 01:34:37.528 --> 01:34:40.860 request. If you do not, please listen to us and don't 01:34:40.870 --> 01:34:43.048 pass that for Golden State Water so they can raise 01:34:43.059 --> 01:34:47.838 the bill more. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker 01:34:47.849 --> 01:34:53.309 is Alfonso Nava. 01:34:53.309 --> 01:34:56.488 My name is Alfonso Nava. I'm from the city of central 01:34:56.890 --> 01:35:00.140 but raised almost born in the city in the town side 01:35:00.149 --> 01:35:03.610 of Nyland went to school in Calip Pa. I respectfully 01:35:03.620 --> 01:35:06.329 request that the proposed three year rate increase 01:35:06.338 --> 01:35:09.709 in the service areas of Nyland and Calipatria region 01:35:09.720 --> 01:35:13.599 three in per county be united. I also request that 01:35:13.610 --> 01:35:16.450 a public hearing be scheduled and held at the local 01:35:16.459 --> 01:35:20.338 level at both locations uh in Nyland and in and in 01:35:20.349 --> 01:35:25.649 Calip Pa. And um the reasons why um I'm presenting 01:35:25.660 --> 01:35:29.988 my concern at this point is because the town side of 01:35:29.999 --> 01:35:33.910 Nyland, the city of Calipatria, they suffer from lack 01:35:33.919 --> 01:35:38.399 of public input. They have high unemployment and underemployment 01:35:39.088 --> 01:35:42.338 Uh the whole valley as a whole suffers from high welfare 01:35:42.349 --> 01:35:46.818 caseload, high poverty rate and these inflated rates 01:35:46.829 --> 01:35:50.899 uh as compared to other cities in the county are way 01:35:50.910 --> 01:35:54.910 too high. Um I know as a, as a resident of uh 01:35:54.959 --> 01:35:59.209 El Central, uh we don't pay what they're proposing 01:35:59.220 --> 01:36:03.249 to charge the town site of Nyland or Calipatria. I 01:36:03.258 --> 01:36:07.099 respectfully submit this request and I thank you for 01:36:07.110 --> 01:36:11.749 your consideration. Thank you. 01:36:11.749 --> 01:36:15.439 Ok. Um With no more speakers in the room and no more 01:36:15.450 --> 01:36:18.528 callers on the line. The public comment period is now 01:36:18.539 --> 01:36:23.680 closed. We now turn to the public agenda and I'm going 01:36:23.689 --> 01:36:27.818 to start with the changes to today's agenda. And I 01:36:27.829 --> 01:36:31.039 I'd like to uh I believe we have a motion um with 01:36:31.048 --> 01:36:34.419 respect to changes to the agenda. 01:36:34.419 --> 01:36:37.140 Thank you, President Reynolds. Um I have one point 01:36:37.149 --> 01:36:41.028 of clarification um that I wanted to just confirm with 01:36:41.039 --> 01:36:44.370 um Chief Judge Cook. There was a apparently a revision 01:36:44.379 --> 01:36:48.528 to item 24 issued late yesterday and I just wanted 01:36:48.539 --> 01:36:51.200 to confirm, I think that is what we would be voting 01:36:51.209 --> 01:36:54.528 on today for, for that item and it's an intervenor 01:36:54.539 --> 01:36:57.729 compensation claim for environmental defense fund. 01:37:01.849 --> 01:37:06.470 Yes, that's correct. Ok. Thank you. Um With that confirmation 01:37:06.479 --> 01:37:10.610 I would like to make a request to hold only item 23 01:37:10.680 --> 01:37:14.120 which is also an intervenor compensation uh, proposed 01:37:14.129 --> 01:37:20.559 decision for turn in proceeding. A 21 02021 and uh 01:37:20.568 --> 01:37:23.610 commission. How is that a motion to hold? Item? 23 01:37:23.629 --> 01:37:29.318 Yes. Ok. Do we have a second? Ok, 01:37:29.318 --> 01:37:32.140 I'll second the motion. Ok. We have a motion and a 01:37:32.149 --> 01:37:37.610 second to ho hold item 23 to November 30th 2023. I 01:37:37.620 --> 01:37:42.758 just want to confirm the motion. Yes. Ok. Um All right 01:37:42.769 --> 01:37:46.439 Uh, agenda. Are there any comments on the motion? No 01:37:46.450 --> 01:37:50.088 Ok. Agenda clerk. Could you please call the roll Commissioner 01:37:50.099 --> 01:37:55.059 Douglas. Commissioner John Reynolds. Commissioner. 01:37:55.068 --> 01:37:59.860 How? Yes, Commissioner Shama, I President Alice Reynolds 01:37:59.870 --> 01:38:04.298 Yes, the vote is 50. The motion passes. All right. 01:38:04.309 --> 01:38:07.149 With that, I'd like to read the changes to the agenda 01:38:07.700 --> 01:38:14.499 items. 4723 and 30 have been held to November 30. The 01:38:14.508 --> 01:38:19.220 November 30 2023 voting meeting item two has been held 01:38:19.229 --> 01:38:25.298 to the December 14th, 2023. Voting meeting items 512 01:38:25.309 --> 01:38:29.430 and 18 have been moved to the regular agenda. With 01:38:29.439 --> 01:38:32.660 that. We'll now take up the consent agenda. Is there 01:38:32.669 --> 01:38:36.318 a motion on the consent agenda? 01:38:36.318 --> 01:38:40.419 So moved? All right as their second. A second. Ok. 01:38:40.430 --> 01:38:42.689 We have a motion by Commissioner S and a second by 01:38:42.700 --> 01:38:46.559 Commissioner Hauck. Um, on the consent agenda agenda 01:38:46.568 --> 01:38:49.099 Clerk, could you please call the roll Commissioner 01:38:49.129 --> 01:38:53.169 Duds Commissioner John Reynolds. Commissioner. How 01:38:53.528 --> 01:38:57.399 Yes, Commissioner Shama, I President Alice Reynolds 01:38:57.410 --> 01:39:02.140 Yes, the vote is 50. The consent agenda has been approved 01:39:03.399 --> 01:39:07.689 All right. Um I'll now go to item five on the regular 01:39:07.700 --> 01:39:14.499 agenda. Um, item five is a 1204 019 denying the petition 01:39:14.508 --> 01:39:17.798 for modification by the, by California American Water 01:39:17.809 --> 01:39:23.238 Company of decision 1809 017. My understanding is that 01:39:23.249 --> 01:39:26.399 Commissioner Reynolds will be recusing himself. Thank 01:39:26.410 --> 01:39:28.999 you, President Reynolds. Yes, I previously represented 01:39:29.008 --> 01:39:31.508 Public Advocate's office in this proceeding. So I will 01:39:31.519 --> 01:39:36.499 be recusing myself from items five and 12. 01:39:36.499 --> 01:39:39.249 Ok. We'll take a minute while, uh, Commissioner Reynolds 01:39:39.258 --> 01:40:04.008 leaves the room. 01:40:04.008 --> 01:40:08.410 All right. Um, item five. would any commissioners like 01:40:08.419 --> 01:40:14.588 to make a comment on item five? 01:40:14.588 --> 01:40:17.700 Uh, I would just like to move approval of item five 01:40:17.709 --> 01:40:25.059 which is the denial uh, of the, um, uh, let's see, 01:40:25.068 --> 01:40:29.289 denial of the petition for modification and all. Second 01:40:29.579 --> 01:40:33.669 Ok. We have a motion and a second on item five. no 01:40:33.680 --> 01:40:36.110 further comment. Uh, agenda clerk. Could you please 01:40:36.120 --> 01:40:39.390 call the roll? 01:40:39.390 --> 01:40:43.499 Commissioner Douglas Commissioner, how? Yes. Commissioner 01:40:43.508 --> 01:40:48.390 Shama President Alice Reynolds. Yes, the vote is 50 01:40:48.399 --> 01:40:54.410 The motion passes. I'll now move to item 12. Commissioner 01:40:54.419 --> 01:40:58.689 Reynolds has recused himself from item 12 and so he 01:40:58.700 --> 01:41:02.588 remains out of the room, uh, for this item. Item 12 01:41:02.599 --> 01:41:09.238 is a 1204 019 which would deny the petition for modification 01:41:09.249 --> 01:41:15.099 of decision 2012 054 by California American Water Company 01:41:15.499 --> 01:41:21.519 which denied rehearing of D 2004 018. Would any commissioners 01:41:21.528 --> 01:41:25.129 like to make a comment on this item? 01:41:25.129 --> 01:41:28.430 All right. No further comments. I'll ask for a motion 01:41:29.048 --> 01:41:32.169 I move approval of this one as well. Item 12, denial 01:41:32.180 --> 01:41:34.229 of the petition for modification. Ok. Do we have a 01:41:34.238 --> 01:41:38.008 second? I'll second that. Ok. We have a motion and 01:41:38.019 --> 01:41:40.749 a second on item 12, a gender clerk. Could you please 01:41:40.758 --> 01:41:43.979 call the roll Commissioner Douglas Commissioner? How 01:41:44.709 --> 01:41:49.439 Yes, Commissioner Shama President Alice Reynolds. Yes 01:41:49.450 --> 01:41:56.809 the vote is 40. The motion passes. 01:41:56.809 --> 01:42:01.160 Ok. We are on item 28 and again, I will read the 01:42:01.169 --> 01:42:05.919 item number. Um It is so item 28 and that is R 01:42:05.930 --> 01:42:11.720 2005 020, adopting a virtual net billing tariff as 01:42:11.729 --> 01:42:14.919 well as addressing other issues related to net energy 01:42:15.068 --> 01:42:20.838 metering. Um I will introduce the item um with a few 01:42:20.849 --> 01:42:25.620 comments. So this proposed decision spans a wide variety 01:42:25.629 --> 01:42:29.559 of topics that complete our multiyear review of existing 01:42:29.568 --> 01:42:33.899 rooftop solar tariffs and related issues. The December 01:42:33.910 --> 01:42:38.488 2022 update of our net energy metering or Nam Tariff 01:42:38.499 --> 01:42:42.669 marked a key milestone in this complex and long process 01:42:43.008 --> 01:42:46.008 The proposed decision before us today builds off that 01:42:46.019 --> 01:42:50.729 established framework and the PD reflects much of the 01:42:50.738 --> 01:42:54.379 work that we undertake here at the at the puc. The 01:42:54.390 --> 01:42:57.579 changes we're proposing help us achieve a constellation 01:42:57.588 --> 01:43:01.110 of goals including grid reliability, greenhouse gas 01:43:01.120 --> 01:43:04.979 reductions, affordability, equity, consumer protections 01:43:04.988 --> 01:43:08.919 and cost containment of utility bills. This proposed 01:43:08.930 --> 01:43:12.519 decision would conclude our review of net energy metering 01:43:12.528 --> 01:43:15.899 tariffs and close this proceeding. There are a number 01:43:15.910 --> 01:43:19.318 of areas covered in the proposed decision and I'm going 01:43:19.329 --> 01:43:24.099 to briefly describe them. So first, the proposed decision 01:43:24.110 --> 01:43:28.140 establishes a new solar and new solar and storage tariffs 01:43:28.149 --> 01:43:31.870 for a subset of customers that want to install solar 01:43:31.879 --> 01:43:34.479 and storage on their property and share build credits 01:43:34.488 --> 01:43:39.019 among tenants. So I mean, the first I wanted to explain 01:43:39.028 --> 01:43:42.338 what I mean by tariff. So when I say tariff, I mean 01:43:42.349 --> 01:43:45.450 the terms and conditions that govern the share or the 01:43:45.459 --> 01:43:48.129 proportion of the cost of maintaining and investing 01:43:48.140 --> 01:43:51.899 in utility infrastructure paid by a customer who wishes 01:43:51.910 --> 01:43:55.329 to generate electricity. These are the costs that are 01:43:55.338 --> 01:43:58.430 paid for by all customers. Um And what we're doing 01:43:58.439 --> 01:44:01.390 is defining the share that are paid for by the customers 01:44:01.399 --> 01:44:06.200 who have solar versus those that don't. And a tariff 01:44:06.209 --> 01:44:09.200 also defines the amount of the obligation of other 01:44:09.209 --> 01:44:12.479 customers of the utility to pay for that generation 01:44:12.700 --> 01:44:16.640 So to pay the amount that solar customers receive um 01:44:16.649 --> 01:44:19.919 from the energy bills paid for by other customers. 01:44:19.930 --> 01:44:22.640 So remember the only source of funding from utility 01:44:22.720 --> 01:44:25.019 is customers. They don't sell ads, they don't sell 01:44:25.028 --> 01:44:27.899 other products. They provide a service that is paid 01:44:27.910 --> 01:44:31.818 for by through utility bills. So the subsidies for 01:44:31.829 --> 01:44:36.459 personal solar systems um or, or, or uh commercial 01:44:36.470 --> 01:44:39.499 solar systems come from one place other customers on 01:44:39.508 --> 01:44:42.860 the system. And that's why these decisions are so difficult 01:44:42.870 --> 01:44:45.669 That's why we have to be very, very careful about how 01:44:45.680 --> 01:44:49.488 we design tariffs because any seller subsidy done through 01:44:49.499 --> 01:44:53.099 a tariff does affect other customers and many of those 01:44:53.110 --> 01:44:56.370 customers are already struggling to pay their bills 01:44:57.789 --> 01:45:01.220 So the first proposed tariff in this proposed decision 01:45:01.229 --> 01:45:05.278 is desi designed for multi-tenant properties. The proposed 01:45:05.289 --> 01:45:08.269 tariff closely mirrors the net billing tariff that 01:45:08.278 --> 01:45:12.519 the puc adopted in December 2022 for single family 01:45:12.528 --> 01:45:16.548 homes and businesses. This proposed decision also creates 01:45:16.559 --> 01:45:20.019 a new tariff for customers who own lease or rent adjacent 01:45:20.028 --> 01:45:23.548 properties and want to install solar and storage and 01:45:23.559 --> 01:45:28.338 share bill credits among their electric meters. Today 01:45:28.349 --> 01:45:31.559 we propose to modernize our tariffs for the same reasons 01:45:31.568 --> 01:45:35.988 We modernize the nem tariff one to support the dynamic 01:45:35.999 --> 01:45:39.738 flexible electric grid which increasingly is powered 01:45:39.749 --> 01:45:42.838 by intermittent renewable energy and two to control 01:45:42.849 --> 01:45:46.379 costs for all rate pairs as we electrify our economy 01:45:47.068 --> 01:45:50.329 So these new tariffs just like the net billing tariff 01:45:50.338 --> 01:45:54.008 significantly improve the price signals so that property 01:45:54.019 --> 01:45:57.088 owners are incentivized to install battery storage 01:45:57.099 --> 01:46:01.519 with their solar. And the proposed decision also similar 01:46:01.528 --> 01:46:04.309 to the net billing tariff provides a glide path for 01:46:04.318 --> 01:46:07.669 the industry and consumers to help transition to the 01:46:07.680 --> 01:46:11.508 new tariff design. It does this by providing extra 01:46:11.519 --> 01:46:15.528 bill credits for new customers that install um that 01:46:15.539 --> 01:46:18.379 will last the the bill credits will last for nine years 01:46:18.499 --> 01:46:21.610 these extra bill credits are on top of their regular 01:46:21.620 --> 01:46:25.370 bill credits and these extra bill credits are available 01:46:25.379 --> 01:46:28.160 to any new customer that signs up for these tariffs 01:46:28.169 --> 01:46:32.499 in the next five years. We also made a key change in 01:46:32.508 --> 01:46:35.999 a revision to the decision, proposed decision that 01:46:36.008 --> 01:46:39.700 was originally issued. The proposed decision with this 01:46:39.709 --> 01:46:42.939 revision now allows property netting for residential 01:46:42.950 --> 01:46:47.738 customers enrolled on the new tariff. So before I move 01:46:47.749 --> 01:46:50.028 to the next topic covered by the PD, I just want to 01:46:50.039 --> 01:46:53.028 clear up quickly some confusion. I've heard about the 01:46:53.039 --> 01:46:56.778 new tariffs. One, the new tariffs will only apply to 01:46:56.789 --> 01:47:01.709 future customers that sign up in 2024 and beyond no 01:47:01.720 --> 01:47:04.939 existing customers on the current VM or N A tariffs 01:47:04.950 --> 01:47:08.360 are impacted in any way including customers who sign 01:47:08.370 --> 01:47:11.470 up with a 90 within a 90 day grace period before these 01:47:11.479 --> 01:47:15.849 new tariffs go into effect. And two, I also want to 01:47:15.860 --> 01:47:21.160 make it clear that um this uh PD maintains the existing 01:47:21.169 --> 01:47:24.079 tariffs dedicated to our low income and affordable 01:47:24.088 --> 01:47:27.298 housing solar programs. So that means that the current 01:47:27.309 --> 01:47:30.680 tariffs for, for our. So mash and mash programs will 01:47:30.689 --> 01:47:33.720 continue to be based on the existing DNM framework 01:47:34.019 --> 01:47:36.798 with slight improvements to encourage battery storage 01:47:37.950 --> 01:47:40.910 So next turn to the topic of consumer protections. 01:47:41.189 --> 01:47:44.289 This proposed decision strengthens our existing consumer 01:47:44.298 --> 01:47:47.349 protections for residential rooftop solar customers 01:47:47.470 --> 01:47:50.450 Specifically, the proposed decision improves the Pu 01:47:50.459 --> 01:47:54.180 CS public watch list of non compliant solar providers 01:47:54.519 --> 01:47:58.329 The watch list was devised in October 2022 after we 01:47:58.338 --> 01:48:01.629 heard there was an increasing number of cases of reported 01:48:01.640 --> 01:48:05.499 fraud and unscrupulous behavior by solar developers 01:48:05.508 --> 01:48:09.220 In response to this alarming trend. The CPUC created 01:48:09.229 --> 01:48:12.200 a joint agency task force with the contractor state 01:48:12.209 --> 01:48:15.338 licensing board and the Department of Financial Protection 01:48:15.349 --> 01:48:19.019 and Innovation. The task force examined reported cases 01:48:19.028 --> 01:48:21.769 of solar developers taking money from customers and 01:48:21.778 --> 01:48:25.309 failing to submit interconnection applications to utilities 01:48:25.539 --> 01:48:28.579 and solar developers signing up customers for multiple 01:48:28.588 --> 01:48:31.758 loans they can't afford under the pace program. These 01:48:31.769 --> 01:48:35.338 are just a couple of examples. So in order to deter 01:48:35.349 --> 01:48:39.838 this type of behavior, the PUC and CS Lb created a 01:48:39.849 --> 01:48:43.349 consumer protection guide and a set of disclosure documents 01:48:43.360 --> 01:48:46.140 that solar providers must present to customers to read 01:48:46.149 --> 01:48:50.229 and sign before they go solar. The puc watch list tracks 01:48:50.238 --> 01:48:52.439 solar providers that failed to submit the paperwork 01:48:52.450 --> 01:48:56.258 correctly and this proposed decision improves that 01:48:56.269 --> 01:49:00.709 oversight process. The PD also requires the utilities 01:49:00.720 --> 01:49:05.129 to conduct audit, 100 audits randomly selected um of 01:49:05.140 --> 01:49:08.479 interconnection applications every six months to identify 01:49:08.488 --> 01:49:12.390 non compliance. And this PD also proposes a process 01:49:12.399 --> 01:49:15.120 for revising how solar providers must present bill 01:49:15.129 --> 01:49:18.849 saving estimates to prospective customers, which is 01:49:18.860 --> 01:49:23.298 a key component of our consumer protections. Um The 01:49:23.309 --> 01:49:26.508 next two topics covered in the PD were crafted to comply 01:49:26.519 --> 01:49:30.238 with recent laws passed by the legislature. The proposed 01:49:30.249 --> 01:49:34.789 decision implements assembly bill 1637 which requires 01:49:34.798 --> 01:49:37.939 fuel cells on the nem fuel cell tariff to comply with 01:49:37.950 --> 01:49:40.769 greenhouse gas emissions standards established by the 01:49:40.778 --> 01:49:44.829 California Air Resources Board per statutory direction 01:49:44.838 --> 01:49:47.568 The proposed decision clarifies rules for fuel cell 01:49:47.579 --> 01:49:50.278 systems that started operating after the effective 01:49:50.289 --> 01:49:55.778 date of A B 1637. These rules include reporting requirements 01:49:55.789 --> 01:49:59.700 verification and penalties and renewable fuel blending 01:50:00.548 --> 01:50:03.749 The proposed decision also implements assembly bill 01:50:03.758 --> 01:50:08.068 2143 which mandates fair wage requirements for construction 01:50:08.079 --> 01:50:11.508 workers on certain large solar and storage projects 01:50:12.048 --> 01:50:14.879 The proposed decision implements the legislation by 01:50:14.890 --> 01:50:18.059 requiring proof of payment of prevailing wage at the 01:50:18.068 --> 01:50:21.729 time of interconnection. The last topic covered in 01:50:21.738 --> 01:50:25.488 the proposed decision is a proposed process for the 01:50:25.499 --> 01:50:28.669 future evaluation of all new solar tariffs including 01:50:28.680 --> 01:50:31.588 the net billing tariff. So we will have the opportunity 01:50:31.599 --> 01:50:34.649 to evaluate implementation and make adjustments as 01:50:34.660 --> 01:50:36.829 we go. 01:50:36.829 --> 01:50:40.399 Um Next, I would like to uh circle back quickly to 01:50:40.410 --> 01:50:43.430 the uh revision that we made to the proposed decision 01:50:43.439 --> 01:50:46.729 which I mentioned earlier. This is a revision to allow 01:50:46.738 --> 01:50:49.860 property netting for residential customers participating 01:50:49.870 --> 01:50:53.838 in the multifamily solar tariff. The proposed multifamily 01:50:53.849 --> 01:50:56.809 tariff now provides the same subsidy opportunities 01:50:56.818 --> 01:50:59.959 for renters in multifamily family buildings with solar 01:50:59.970 --> 01:51:03.120 and storage as single family homeowners who install 01:51:03.129 --> 01:51:06.870 rooftop solar and storage. I also want to note that 01:51:06.879 --> 01:51:10.479 this subsidy although it will show up on other customers 01:51:10.488 --> 01:51:14.459 energy bills is several orders of magnitude smaller 01:51:14.470 --> 01:51:17.169 than the ongoing subsidy that ratepayers continue to 01:51:17.180 --> 01:51:23.149 pay NE A uh uh nem 1.0 and NM 2.0 customers over 01:51:23.160 --> 01:51:27.220 their 20 year legacy period. 01:51:27.220 --> 01:51:32.068 And I do want to underscore that this tariff is, does 01:51:32.079 --> 01:51:36.160 not act in a vacuum. We have many other state programs 01:51:36.169 --> 01:51:39.939 to customers um for reduction of electricity bills 01:51:40.110 --> 01:51:43.278 which uh cut greenhouse gas emissions from electricity 01:51:43.289 --> 01:51:47.189 generation and support grid reliability because I think 01:51:47.200 --> 01:51:50.289 it's really important to recognize these other programs 01:51:50.298 --> 01:51:53.789 and the role that they play in our climate change goals 01:51:53.798 --> 01:51:57.309 and in cost savings, I wanna just list them quickly 01:51:57.890 --> 01:52:02.229 Um So for the same types of customers who could qualify 01:52:02.238 --> 01:52:07.059 for the VM and N and Nema tariffs, um we have a 01:52:07.068 --> 01:52:10.660 number of programs. Some of them are the Food pro food 01:52:10.669 --> 01:52:14.149 production incentive program which has provided upward 01:52:14.160 --> 01:52:17.539 of 100 and 20 million in grants to help food producers 01:52:17.548 --> 01:52:20.588 reduce greenhouse gas emissions through adoption of 01:52:20.599 --> 01:52:24.008 advanced energy technologies. We have the California 01:52:24.019 --> 01:52:26.629 climate investment programs which use cap and trade 01:52:26.640 --> 01:52:29.488 funds to pay agricultural customers for equipment and 01:52:29.499 --> 01:52:33.039 management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions 01:52:33.220 --> 01:52:36.610 We have demand response programs through which industrial 01:52:36.620 --> 01:52:40.019 and commercial customers can earn ongoing bill credits 01:52:40.129 --> 01:52:43.419 or incentives by reducing their electricity use during 01:52:43.430 --> 01:52:47.088 critical hours of the year. And some utilities even 01:52:47.099 --> 01:52:50.059 offer incentive for, for farmers to adopt automatic 01:52:50.180 --> 01:52:53.959 automated controls on their irrigation pumps. There's 01:52:53.970 --> 01:52:57.450 currently a new dynamic rate pilot in YOLO County that 01:52:57.459 --> 01:53:00.269 is testing how irrigation technologies can support 01:53:00.278 --> 01:53:04.519 summer reliability. Other customers including schools 01:53:04.528 --> 01:53:07.238 have an additional existing solar tariff available 01:53:07.249 --> 01:53:11.959 to them called the RES BC T solar tariff. This tariff 01:53:11.970 --> 01:53:14.879 includes enable solar systems up to five megawatts 01:53:14.890 --> 01:53:17.870 to share bill credits from a system located on one 01:53:17.879 --> 01:53:20.470 government property with billing accounts at other 01:53:20.479 --> 01:53:23.519 government properties. And notably, this program was 01:53:23.528 --> 01:53:26.318 recently expanded to include California native American 01:53:26.329 --> 01:53:29.879 tribal governments. We also have a number of programs 01:53:29.890 --> 01:53:33.439 available for schools to reduce energy costs and contribute 01:53:33.450 --> 01:53:36.738 to climate change goals. We have a new program, the 01:53:36.749 --> 01:53:39.640 California schools healthy air plumbing and efficiency 01:53:39.649 --> 01:53:42.838 program called CAL Shape, which provides schools with 01:53:42.849 --> 01:53:45.769 nearly 1 billion in funding to install energy efficient 01:53:45.778 --> 01:53:48.649 upgrades including heating, air conditioning and ventilation 01:53:48.729 --> 01:53:51.640 as well as water efficient plumbing. And this program 01:53:51.649 --> 01:53:54.499 targets schools in disadvantaged communities. Schools 01:53:54.508 --> 01:53:57.298 can also participate in a suite of other energy efficiency 01:53:57.309 --> 01:54:01.149 programs such as PG and E and Sggnesk through 12 energy 01:54:01.160 --> 01:54:04.950 efficiency program. Schools are eligible to apply to 01:54:04.959 --> 01:54:09.220 C PC self generation incentive program upfront incentives 01:54:09.229 --> 01:54:12.838 for on site battery storage. They're also really great 01:54:12.849 --> 01:54:15.629 pro pilot programs for schools to install charging 01:54:15.640 --> 01:54:20.249 infrastructure for electric school buses. And uh schools 01:54:20.258 --> 01:54:22.899 are eligible to participate in a number of demand response 01:54:22.910 --> 01:54:25.390 programs which pay them to reduce their electricity 01:54:25.399 --> 01:54:28.129 during grid emergencies which we really need so we 01:54:28.140 --> 01:54:31.528 can avoid fossil fuel generation and help out the grid 01:54:31.539 --> 01:54:34.629 during emergencies. 01:54:34.629 --> 01:54:39.008 Um I did want to make one final point um on parties 01:54:39.019 --> 01:54:41.798 have raised concerns in this proceeding about climate 01:54:41.809 --> 01:54:46.318 change as well as cost savings. I absolutely agree 01:54:46.329 --> 01:54:49.028 that we need to reach our decarbonization goals as 01:54:49.039 --> 01:54:52.899 fast as we can to mitigate the impacts of climate change 01:54:53.209 --> 01:54:56.749 But we also need to be extremely thoughtful about how 01:54:56.758 --> 01:54:59.700 we reach our climate change goals in the most cost 01:54:59.709 --> 01:55:03.189 effective manner that addresses the state's needs in 01:55:03.200 --> 01:55:07.680 2023. And which are very different from when these 01:55:07.689 --> 01:55:09.849 tariffs from the needs of the state. When these tariffs 01:55:09.860 --> 01:55:13.789 were enacted, we created the nem tariff 30 years ago 01:55:13.829 --> 01:55:16.289 when the rooftop solar market was just beginning to 01:55:16.298 --> 01:55:21.068 gain traction. California later uh made an intentional 01:55:21.079 --> 01:55:25.758 policy choice 25 years ago to collect 33 billion from 01:55:25.769 --> 01:55:29.200 energy bills to fund the California Solar initiative 01:55:29.548 --> 01:55:32.629 This first of its kind program was intended to transform 01:55:32.640 --> 01:55:35.720 the rooftop solar industry and encourage early solar 01:55:35.729 --> 01:55:39.430 adopters and it was incredibly successful. These programs 01:55:39.439 --> 01:55:42.610 and tariffs however, were always intentionally designed 01:55:42.620 --> 01:55:45.778 to ramp down as the industry came up to commercial 01:55:45.789 --> 01:55:49.048 scale and became able to provide their products to 01:55:49.059 --> 01:55:52.548 customers at a lower cost. 01:55:52.548 --> 01:55:55.789 So despite these years of subsidies, evidence shows 01:55:55.798 --> 01:55:59.568 that rooftop solar continues to be a relatively expensive 01:55:59.579 --> 01:56:02.180 way to produce electricity compared to other clean 01:56:02.189 --> 01:56:05.249 energy resources that competitively bid into wholesale 01:56:05.258 --> 01:56:08.838 markets. And as we are all aware and if we, as we've 01:56:08.849 --> 01:56:11.789 heard today, electricity bills are on the rise and 01:56:11.798 --> 01:56:15.189 affordability is front and center. We need to make 01:56:15.200 --> 01:56:18.499 everyone's bills more affordable, not less. And if 01:56:18.508 --> 01:56:23.068 we are going to meet our urgent climate goals, uh we 01:56:23.079 --> 01:56:26.979 need to pay for every unit of clean energy at its value 01:56:27.528 --> 01:56:31.169 So we do this by continuing to subsidize but by right 01:56:31.180 --> 01:56:36.269 sizing these tariffs to our grid needs. In 2023 this 01:56:36.278 --> 01:56:38.870 decision has nothing to do with slowing down on climate 01:56:38.879 --> 01:56:42.309 change. These updates are in fact taking us in the 01:56:42.318 --> 01:56:45.470 right direction for the current grid and for our future 01:56:45.999 --> 01:56:48.959 updating these tariffs where will incentivize customers 01:56:48.970 --> 01:56:52.149 to install battery storage compared to the status quo 01:56:52.160 --> 01:56:55.508 which is critical to meeting our climate goals. But 01:56:55.519 --> 01:56:58.439 at a lower subsidy that doesn't burden other rate payers 01:56:58.450 --> 01:57:01.059 as much because those are the rate pairs that are ultimately 01:57:01.068 --> 01:57:05.008 on the hook for the subsidy. And we know that we need 01:57:05.019 --> 01:57:08.019 to keep electric rates as affordable as possible so 01:57:08.028 --> 01:57:10.579 that we can electrify our economy and wean ourselves 01:57:10.588 --> 01:57:14.338 off of natural gas. So the technologies that we know 01:57:14.349 --> 01:57:17.479 we need to reach our net zero goals, use electricity 01:57:17.488 --> 01:57:20.579 and we need to keep that fuel affordable electric vehicles 01:57:20.588 --> 01:57:24.360 heat pumps and other electric appliances. The rate 01:57:24.370 --> 01:57:27.610 of uptake of these technologies will ultimately depend 01:57:27.620 --> 01:57:31.088 on how affordable our electric electricity rates are 01:57:31.099 --> 01:57:34.738 since these technologies are powered purely by electricity 01:57:35.959 --> 01:57:40.709 So in closing, I do wanna share my gratitude to judge 01:57:40.720 --> 01:57:44.910 Himes for her careful approach to this PD. She did 01:57:44.919 --> 01:57:48.738 an incredible job. It spanned the PD spans a broad 01:57:48.749 --> 01:57:52.579 range of such important topics which she has done handled 01:57:52.588 --> 01:57:55.860 masterfully and is always with great professionalism 01:57:57.120 --> 01:58:00.160 Um And I would like to thank her for her dedication 01:58:00.169 --> 01:58:02.870 to the entire difficult proceeding which is nearing 01:58:02.879 --> 01:58:06.849 a close. It contains a dense record and a nuanced set 01:58:06.860 --> 01:58:11.930 of issues. I'd like to extend a huge thanks also to 01:58:11.939 --> 01:58:14.129 all the staff in the Energy division and the legal 01:58:14.140 --> 01:58:16.689 division for their hard work and collaborative spirit 01:58:16.700 --> 01:58:22.269 on this PD. Um Those folks include um Sarah Lah, Erica 01:58:22.278 --> 01:58:26.439 P, Petrovsky, Chris Wessling Brett Palmer, Tory Franci 01:58:26.599 --> 01:58:30.970 Francisco, Dan Bush, Jack Mulligan, Stephanie Hone 01:58:30.979 --> 01:58:36.629 Galen, LeMay A and of course, my adviser, Carrie Fleischer 01:58:37.758 --> 01:58:40.959 So with that, I will turn to other commissioners to 01:58:40.970 --> 01:58:43.829 comment 01:58:43.829 --> 01:58:50.419 who'd like to go first, Commissioner Reynolds. 01:58:50.419 --> 01:58:53.129 Thank you, President Reynolds. I'll keep my remarks 01:58:53.140 --> 01:58:55.919 relatively brief as I'll be speaking quite a bit about 01:58:55.930 --> 01:58:59.200 the next item on the agenda. Um I do want to echo 01:58:59.209 --> 01:59:02.200 your remarks about affordability and the importance 01:59:02.209 --> 01:59:05.360 of making decisions that think about the big picture 01:59:05.370 --> 01:59:09.220 of affordability. Um We are definitely confronting 01:59:09.229 --> 01:59:13.519 a lot of necessary investments in our systems going 01:59:13.528 --> 01:59:18.059 forward and those investments mean mean costs, costs 01:59:18.068 --> 01:59:20.640 that will be have to be paid for and making sure that 01:59:20.649 --> 01:59:23.439 we're getting customers who are using the grid and 01:59:23.450 --> 01:59:26.390 benefiting from it. Uh Contributing to those costs 01:59:26.399 --> 01:59:28.559 is important to make sure that service is affordable 01:59:28.568 --> 01:59:31.789 for everyone. I'll highlight a couple of things briefly 01:59:31.798 --> 01:59:35.620 Um First, I'm supportive of the change made to the 01:59:35.629 --> 01:59:39.700 PD to permit virtual netting for residential customers 01:59:39.709 --> 01:59:42.680 So that multifamily customers receive the same treatment 01:59:42.689 --> 01:59:46.220 as single family households, multifamily customers 01:59:46.229 --> 01:59:49.019 are typically renters and more likely to be low income 01:59:49.028 --> 01:59:52.229 households. So this change is an improvement. And I 01:59:52.238 --> 01:59:55.459 note that all along the PD has proposed maintaining 01:59:55.629 --> 01:59:56.220 VM for.