CPUC Public Participation Hearings

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) holds Public Forums (also called Public Participation Hearings or PPHs) to give the public a chance to learn about and express their opinions on issues before the CPUC. Each Public Forum is about a specific issue that is pending resolution at the CPUC, such as a utility’s request to change the rates that customers pay. 

  • Public Forums are free and open to the public. No RSVP is necessary to attend, but you must sign up when you arrive if you wish to speak. 
  • Public Forums are led by a CPUC Administrative Law Judge, and CPUC Commissioners may also attend.
  • To ensure that consumers directly affected by a proceeding get a chance to express their views, the CPUC holds Public Forums in the area where a utility’s customers live to get their input or may hold public webinars.

See information on upcoming PPHs and other events below. 

To receive electronic updates on CPUC proceedings, sign-up for the CPUC’s free subscription service.

Please check the calendar for any other upcoming events. 

 

 



Upcoming Public Forums (Public Participation Hearings) and Other Events

Great Oaks Water Company’s Request to Increase Water Rates
APPLICATION 24-07-001

How can I participate?
Great Oaks Water Company (Great Oaks) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) would like to hear from you. You are invited to participate in a Public Forum, also called a Public Participation Hearing (PPH), about Great Oaks’ application to increase rates charged for water service beginning July 1, 2025.

This Public Forum is part of a formal proceeding that will be documented and placed into the formal record so the CPUC can make a decision about Great Oaks' request. You may make comments and raise concerns to the CPUC Administrative Law Judge overseeing this application.
You may also provide written public comments at any time during the proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2407001.

Where and when will this Public Forum be held?
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Call-in and Webcast Information
Call-in: 800-857-1917 Passcode: 6032788#
To make public comment: Press *1 to be added to the queue
Webcast (view-only): www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/

Please note: If you need a language interpreter, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office using the contact information at the end of this notice at least five business days before the Public Forum.

For updates and additional information, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph.

Contact CPUC
Please visit apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2407001 to submit a comment about this proceeding on the CPUC Docket Card. Here you can also view documents and other public comments related to this proceeding. Your participation by providing your thoughts on Great Oaks’ request can help the CPUC make an informed decision. If you have procedural questions about CPUC processes, you may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at:

Phone: (866) 849-8390 Email: Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
Mail: CPUC Public Advisor’s Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102

Please reference Application 24-07-001 in any communications you have with the CPUC regarding this matter.

Para más información sobre esta reunión pública, y cómo este cambio impactará su factura, llame al 408-227-9540.

Customer Notice

Order Instituting Rulemaking Proceeding to Consider Changes to Requirements on Video Franchisees Under the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act, and Revisions to General Order 169 (R.23-04-006)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold in person public forums and virtual public forums for the public to provide input regarding the possible changes to the Commission’s licensing and oversight of video franchisees under the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA), as recently updated by Senate Bill (SB) 28 (Stats. 2021, Chap. 673). Among other items, SB 28 directs the Commission to adopt video and customer service requirements for a holder of a state video franchise and to adjudicate customer complaints regarding these services. The Commission may also consider potential ways to modernize and make the implementation of DIVCA more efficient and effective.

You can also make your voice heard in the proceedings, and read the comments of others, on our online Docket Card comment section for this proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/R2304006.

When:

  • August 14, 2024: 1 p.m. (IN PERSON)
  • August 14, 2024: 5 p.m. (IN PERSON)
  • September 5, 2024: 1 p.m. (IN PERSON)
  • September 5, 2024: 5 p.m. (IN PERSON)
  • September 19, 2024: 1 p.m. (VIRTUAL ONLY)
  • September 19, 2024: 5 p.m. (VIRTUAL ONLY)

Access for the In Person Public Forum:

  • August 14, 2024 Location: Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, 700 H Street, Suite 1450, Sacramento, CA 95814
  • September 5, 2024 Location: Monterey Park City Council Chambers, 320 W Newmark Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754

If you would like to make a public comment at the in person public forum, you must sign up at the table with the Public Advisor’s Office.

Remote Access for the September 19, 2024 Virtual Public Forum:

Live video broadcast with English or Spanish captions via webcast: adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc

  • Participants who choose to participate via webcast only will have audio and video capabilities but will not be able to make verbal comments. If you would like to make a comment during the meeting, the phone-in information is below.
  • For captions, after clicking on the name of the workshop, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
  • The forums will also be recorded and archived for future viewing.

Phone line:

  • Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 6032788#
  • Participants will have audio in English and will be able to make comments. (To make a comment, after entering the passcode, when prompted press *1, unmute your phone, and record your name.)
  • Wait times depend on the number of speakers in the public comment queue. During times of high call volumes, wait times will be longer. The operator will call on you when it is your turn to speak.

Related Documents

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Revisions and Updates to the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (R.23-11-001)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold in person public forums and virtual public forums for the public to provide input to consider revisions and updates to the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP).

You can also make your voice heard in the proceedings, and read the comments of others, on our online Docket Card comment section for this proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/R2311001.

WHEN:               

  1. August 15, 2024: 2 p.m. (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  2. August 15, 2024: 6 p.m. (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  3. September 4, 2024: 2 p.m. (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  4. September 4, 2024: 6 p.m. (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  5. September 11, 2024: 2 p.m. (CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  6. September 11, 2024: 6 p.m. (CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, IN PERSON)
  7. September 17, 2024: 2 p.m. (VIRTUAL ONLY)
  8. September 17, 2024: 6 p.m. (VIRTUAL ONLY)

ACCESS FOR THE IN PERSON PUBLIC FORUM:

  1. August 15, 2024 (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA)
    Location: Roseville City Council Chambers, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 95678
  1. September 4, 2024 (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA)
    Location: Buena Park City Council Chambers, 6650 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90621
  1. September 11, 2024 (CENTRAL CALIFORNIA)
    Location: Clovis City Council Chambers, 1033 5th Street, Clovis, CA 93612
  1. If you would like to make a public comment at the in person public forum, you must sign up at the table with the Public Advisor’s Office.

REMOTE ACCESS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 VIRTUAL PUBLIC FORUM:

  1. Live video broadcast with English or Spanish captions via webcast: adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
    1. Participants who choose to participate via webcast only will have audio and video capabilities but will not be able to make verbal comments. If you would like to make a comment during the meeting, the phone-in information is below.
    2. For captions, after clicking on the name of the workshop, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
    3. The forums will also be recorded and archived for future viewing.
  2. Phone line:
    1. Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 6032788#
    2. Participants will have audio in English and will be able to make comments. (To make a comment, after entering the passcode, when prompted press *1, unmute your phone, and record your name.)
    3. Wait times depend on the number of speakers in the public comment queue. During times of high call volumes, wait times will be longer. The operator will call on you when it is your turn to speak.

Related Documents

  1. Ruling Setting the Public Forums
  2. Proceeding Documents
  3. Fact Sheet
  4. Media Advisory

information about participating

Can My Participation Make a Difference in a Decision?

Yes! The CPUC wants to hear from the public. Public comments are taken into consideration by the Commissioners and Administrative Law Judge in their decision-making. 

  • Public comment may raise issues and concerns that influence how a project or issue is analyzed and what decision gets made. 
  • Even if you don’t plan to comment, attending a Public Forum provides an opportunity to learn about topics that are pending at the CPUC and hear the positions of others. 

Tips for Attending and Speaking at a Public Forum

At the beginning of a Public Forum, an Administrative Law Judge provides an overview of the CPUC process and the issue to be discussed. There may also be a presentation to the audience about the utility’s proposal. From there, most of the meeting is reserved for the public to provide comments and share their perspective about the issue. 

If you wish to speak, please keep the following in mind:

  • Elected officials attending a Public Forum are usually allowed to speak first. 
  • We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign up to speak. 
  • Speakers need to be present to sign up to speak. You cannot sign up others or yield your time to someone else. 
  • If many people sign up to speak, the Administrative Law Judge may set a time limit in order to allow everyone a chance to speak. 
  • There will be a CPUC court reporter present to record your comments for the record. 
  • Attendees are expected to be respectful of others’ opinions. 
  • If you have written your speech, you may bring a copy for the Administrative Law Judge and one for the court reporter. 
  • Often, the Administrative Law Judge will not be able to answer questions at the Public Forum because of legal reasons. They may refer you to a utility representative or CPUC staff. 
  • For safety purposes, signs of any size that are mounted on sticks are not allowed in any room where a Public Forum, hearing, or workshop is taking place; neither are signs larger than 8.5 by 11 inches, whether mounted or not.

If I Can’t Participate in Person, Can I Still Make a Comment?

Yes! If you can’t attend a Public Forum in person, you can still make comments:

Use the Docket Card where you can also read the comments of others. 

Contact the Public Advisor’s Office:

Email: public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
Call: 866-849-8390 or 415-703-2074  TTY 866-836-7825
Write: CPUC Public Advisor’s Office, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102

Language interpretation is available

The CPUC can provide language interpreters and/or American Sign Language interpreters at a CPUC event. Please send a request to the Public Advisor’s Office at least three business days before the event. The CPUC will provide these services at no-cost.

Meetings and Events Calendar

To see more CPUC events, check out our calendar.

Prior Public Forums and Other Events

To see a list of prior public participation hearings, check out this page.

Electric Rate Comparison Website

This website allows consumers to view the residential electric rates for any geographic area in a comparison chart.

Glossary

Glossary of Acronyms and Other Frequently Used Terms

CPUC Public Participation Hearings