CPUC Reaches Out to Small Businesses

The CPUC joined the City of San Jose and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley for Festiv’ALL, the 7th annual expo and mixer celebrating the diversity and the vitality of the region’s small business community. More than 38 chambers/organizations participated in the event. The CPUC provided materials on state and utility procurement, time of use pricing, energy efficiency, smart grid, and electricity bill calculation.

Also in October, the CPUC and the California Water Association co-sponsored a Silicon Valley Small Business Expo. The event began with brief comments given by Assemblymember Paul Fong (22nd District) and CPUC Commissioner Catherine J.K. Sandoval. Exhibitors included federal agencies, state agencies, city/county agencies, utilities, chambers, small business resources providers, and others. Workshops at the Expo included: Access to Capital; Small Businesses Go Green; and Social Media Marketing.

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CPUC Provides Information to Seniors About Scams to Watch Out For!

In October the CPUC participated in the Seniors Lifestyle Expo held during Fresno Fair. Dozens of vendors, local agencies, community based organizations, and senior resource specialists provided seniors and their families with information, products, and services. The CPUC discussed consumer programs, telephone usage in emergencies and during power outages, telephone scams, water and energy efficiency, passenger carrier and moving company tips, Do Not Call list information, and more.

The CPUC also participated in the 5th annual Yolo County Fraud Awareness Fair organized by the Yolo County District Attorney’s office. More than 350 seniors received information from the CPUC on CalPhoneInfo, consumer programs, and more.

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CPUC Opens Formal Investigation into San Onofre Outages

The CPUC has opened a formal investigation into the extended outages of Units 2 and 3 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The investigation will determine whether to remove all costs related to SONGS from the rates of Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) going forward, and whether to refund SONGS-related costs already collected in rates back to January 1, 2012.

The investigation will consider the causes of the outages, the utilities’ responses, the future of the SONGS units, and the resulting effects on the provision of safe and reliable electric service at just and reasonable rates, including:

• Whether or not rate adjustments should be made; if so, when they should start and the amount;
• The reasonableness of the actions and expenditures of SCE and SDG&E with respect to SONGS steam generator replacements and subsequent activities;
• The reasonableness of the actions and expenditures of SCE and SDG&E in securing energy, capacity, and other related services to replace the output of SONGS during the outage;
• The cost-effectiveness of various options for repairing or replacing one or both units of SONGS going forward;
• Any additional ratemaking issues associated with the above, including the availability of insurance or warranty coverage for any of the costs related to the SONGS outage; and,
• The reasonableness and necessity of each SONGS-related operation and maintenance expense, and capital expenditure made, on and after January 1, 2012, reviewed within the context of the facts and circumstances of the extended outages of Units 2 and 3.

The investigation provides a forum to consider evidence and argument on these issues. Evidence taken in the proceeding will be the basis for findings, conclusions, and CPUC orders.

A Pre-hearing Conference will be set in the coming weeks to establish the schedule for the proceeding.

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CPUC Sets Public Participation Hearings on Smart Meter Opt-Out Costs

The CPUC has set five Public Participation Hearings to hear from consumers about costs and cost allocation issues associated with requiring Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to offer an analog opt-out option for residential customers who do not wish to have a wireless Smart Meter installed at their location. Each Public Participation Hearings will run for two hours at the following locations:

BAKERSFIELD (PG&E and SoCalGas territories)
December 13, 2012, 6 p.m.
Bakersfield City Hall Council Chambers
1501 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301

SANTA BARBARA (PG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas territories)
December 14, 2012, 3 p.m.
County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, 4th Floor
105 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

LOS ANGELES (SCE and SoCalGas territories)
December 17, 2012, at 6 p.m.
Junipero Serra State Office Building
Carmel Room - Auditorium, 1st Floor
320 West 4th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

SAN CLEMENTE (SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E territories)
December 18, 2012, 6 p.m.
San Clemente Community Center – Ole Hanson Fireside Room
100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA 92672

SANTA ROSA (PG&E territory)
December 20 2012, at 2 p.m.
Steel Lane Community Center – Dohn Room
415 Steele Ln., Santa Rosa, CA 95403

PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) will provide a company representative at the Public Participation Hearings to address comments or concerns expressed by attendees. Intervenors may also provide representatives at the meetings. No presentations by the utilities or intervenors will be allowed. A time limit may be imposed, if necessary, to ensure that all members of the public are provided an opportunity to speak. If special accommodations, such as assisted listening devices or language interpreters, are needed, please send an email to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or call toll free at 866-849-8390 at least three business days before the hearing date.

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