WEBVTT

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The feed for this streaming event brought to you by

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AdminMonitor.com

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will begin momentarily. Thank you for your patience.

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You may begin. Thank you, Good morning everyone. We

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need to start by establishing a quorum. Agenda Clerk,

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could you please call the roll. Commissioner John Reynolds?

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Present. Commissioner Houck? Here. Commissioner Shiroma?

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Commissioner Rechtschaffen? Here. President Alice Reynolds?

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Here.

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We have a quorum. Welcome everyone to the California

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Public Utilities Commission. I'm calling this meeting

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of November 17, 2022, Public Agenda number 3518, to

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order. Today we are meeting virtually. This meeting is

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also being live streamed on the CPUC's website. You

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can view the meeting at www.adminmonitor.com/

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CA/CPUC. Closed captioning is available

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in English and Spanish through the webcast. To view

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the closed captioning, click on the green button beneath

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the webcast video player, and follow the instructions

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that appear on screen. Spanish interpretation is also

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available during the public comment portion of today's

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meeting. For Spanish interpretation, dial 800-857-1917,

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passcode 3799627#, and follow the instructions

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to be connected to the Spanish line. I ask that my

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colleagues and today speakers remain mindful, and speak

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clearly and slowly to allow for interpretation. Public

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engagement is critical to the CPUC process. And at today's

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meeting, the public will have the opportunity to make

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public comments by telephone. If you wish to make a

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public comment by telephone. Please dial into 800-857-1917,

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and enter passcode 9899501# and press * 1. You

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will be placed into a queue, and the operator will take

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your name and information. You will then be called

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upon to speak when we get to the public comment period

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in today's agenda. Please note that if there are a

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large number of callers, the wait to speak may be long.

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If you encounter difficulty calling into the public

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telephone line, please email votingmeetinghelp@


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cpuc.ca.gov. For those of you who are

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not able to provide oral public comments at today's

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public voting meeting or otherwise wish to provide

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more lengthy comments than allowed at our voting meeting.

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I want to remind you of the option to submit written

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comments. Written comments can be sent to us in two

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ways. One you can submit comments via an online form

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found on each proceedings online docket card. Or two

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you can send the comment to our Public Advisor's Office

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at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. More

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information can be found on our website or you can

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email our Public Advisor's Office at again, the email

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is public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. Or

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you may call 1-866-849-8390. We will now turn to public

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comment. If you wish to make a public comment by telephone,

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and you have already dialed into the public comment

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telephone line. Please press *1 and unmute your

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phone to enter the public comment queue. CPUC rules

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do not allow for parties in proceedings to speak about

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open proceedings. The public can make comments addressing

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items on the consent and regular agenda, as well as

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items not on the agenda. All speakers will have one

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minute to speak. You will hear a bell sound when your

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time is up. Please be mindful of other speakers in

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the queue and keep to your allotted time. As a reminder,

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please speak clearly and slowly to accommodate Spanish

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interpreters. With that guidance in mind, I welcome

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today's speakers and will ask the operator to open

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the public comment telephone line.

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Thank you the public comment telephone line is now

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open. For those on the phone, if you wish to speak during

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the public comment period. Please unmute your phone,

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press *1 and clearly record your First and Last

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Name when prompted. Our first caller is Dennis Delfar. You

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may go ahead. Thank you. Good morning Commissioners.

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My name is Dennis Delfas, and I live in Cypress, California,

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along with my wife. And we are solar system owners.

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I must convey to you that your mindset of still lowering

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the solar production credits by 75% for the new NEM

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3.0 solar system owners. Is too extreme for

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California. By allowing the Utility Companies to lower

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to solar credits. It will make new solar systems installed

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in California more expensive for everyone, including

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low income homeowners. And in doing so will drastically

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cut are desperately needed California rooftop solar

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industry in half or more. Studies have shown that California

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ratepayers can save greater than $120 billion

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by 2050, by just maintaining the current solar growth.

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So for the good of all Californians, please no lowering

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of the solar credits for new solar system owners. Thank

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you.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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Our next caller is Judith Anderson. You may go ahead.

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Um, hi. Uh, there have been thousands of people, as in

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the public. Telling you the best course of action on

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rooftop solar. And yet you persist in doing the Utility's

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bidding. You have the unique, absolutely once

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in a lifetime opportunity to change the trajectory

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of the climate catastrophe. But it looks like you are

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not going to take that opportunity. Just know that

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your grandchildren will despise you, for your cowardice

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in challenging the Utility's greed.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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And our next caller is Patricia Blevins. You may go

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ahead. Hello, my name is Patricia Blevins. I live in

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San Jose and I'm a retired Nurse Practitioner. I object

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to the current CPUC proposal that will reduce by 75%

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on average. The credit that new solar users receive

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for sharing their extra energy with the grid. This

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proposal would put solar out of reach for working and middle

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class families. Over 170,000 Californians, have

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already submitted public comments to the CPUC, in favor

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of making rooftop solar more affordable, not less.

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More people have commented on this issue than any other

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in CPUC history. The State's Energy Commission reports

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that California needs to triple the amount of solar

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currently on the grid, in order to meet it's clean energy

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goals. And yet here we are, with the proposal from

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the CPUC that will destroy any financial incentives

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for California residents to install rooftop solar.

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I am asking that you vote against this proposal. Thank

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you.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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Our next caller is Allen Marling. You may go ahead.

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I'm a Tri-Valley resident. President and Commissioners,

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your solar proposal is a betrayal. It will kill the

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rooftop solar industry, mid-climate crisis. And should

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you pass it, once people figure out what you've done

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we will demand your resignations. Better to resign now

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than pass a proposal, that will slow Green Energy when

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we need it most. This proposal will set California

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on fire with corporate greed. Because it's clear that

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you're passing it at request of PG&E. Which is

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a criminal company guilty of manslaughter. It would

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gladly burn California to the ground for one more great

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quarterly earnings. There's one industry that should

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go extinct in this climate crisis, it's not rooftop

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solar. Its for-profit utility companies. This proposal

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is so shameful, Gavin Newsom delayed it until after

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the election. The Governor appoints CPUC Commissioners,

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and is ultimately responsible for this travesty. He

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has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes,

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of campaign funds from PG&E. And has helped draft Legislation,

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to let them get away with murder.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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And our next caller is Tim McKeever from Rockland.

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You may go ahead.

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Yeah, I'm Tim McKeever. Thank you, Commissioners. I am both

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a rooftop solar owner and an employee in the solar

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industry. Uh, the newly released net billing plan has

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many severe flaws. Number one, it adds so much complexity

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to net metering. That homeowners will barely be able

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to understand how their systems would reward them.

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Uh, number two, it doesn't take into account any of

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the demands charged commercial rate plans. So the avoided

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cost calculator basically annoy, ignores the whole commercial

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market. And it seems crazy to change net metering rules,

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when it hasn't even been studied. Uh, excluding market

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rate multifamily properties from any opportunity for

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virtual net metering, will further alienate non-wealthy

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customers. And the same for meter aggregation will

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take the opportunity of adding solar to our Central

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Valley farmers , who uh, need that help to remain profitable.

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Uh, it also doesn't seem to take into account financing

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at all. Basically assuming that everybody's paying

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cash for these systems. And uh, the return on investment

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of nine years is ludicrous. Thank you. Thank you. Operator,

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next caller please.

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Our next caller is Ravena (inaudible). You may go ahead.

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Good morning. Good morning, I live in the foothills

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of the San Gabriel Valley, in the City of Sierra Madre.

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And in the last month it has rained three times. And

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all three times we've lost power for five hours. Uh,

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there's 2200 of us that are losing power, due to the

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sensors on the utility poles. We have complained and

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Southern California Edison crews tell us to complain

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to you. Because they're mandated to put the sensors

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due to fires. I understand having those for fires,

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but every time it rains, we cannot lose power for five

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hours, and we can't resort to generators. It's we all

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need house generators. There's businesses run out of

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our homes. You know, we have tankless water heaters.

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And they're quoting us 15 to $20,000 for these whole

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house generators. So we are not a third world country.

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We should not lose power for five hours, 2200 of us.

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Every time we lose, every time it rains. Just a couple

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drops of rain and the power goes out. So hopefully,

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you guys can find a solution. If you can't recalibrate

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the sensors, please have Southern California Edison

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expedite. Turn on the power. Thank you so much.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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And our next caller is David Reinerson. You may

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go ahead. Good morning, Commissioners. I'm David Reinerson,

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from Huntington Beach. My question to you is this, what

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are your objectives in revising the NEM agreement?

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Are you trying to reduce greenhouse gases and slow

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climate change? Are you trying to make electricity

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more affordable and more resilient for all Californians?

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Are you trying to reduce catastrophic wildfires sparked

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by transmission lines? Are you trying to protect environmentally

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sensitive lands and wildlife? If those are your objectives,

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then the NEM revisions you propose should support

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those objectives. Is that what you're NEM 3

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proposal does? Most emphatically, it does not. It makes

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solar and storage more expensive, not less. And doubles

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the investment payback time. It flies in opposition

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to California stated objectives to reduce greenhouse

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emissions. It encourages development of solar farms

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with attendant damage to the environment. It encourages

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more transmission lines because solar farms need connectivity

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to consumers. It is too extreme and it is a glide path

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into a brick wall. In short, it fails to support any

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of the goals of California and its citizens. Go back

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to the drawing board and craft a proposal that does.

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Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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And (inaudible), you may go ahead.

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Commissioners, once again I find myself chasing windmills.

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Today, I will try to persuade you to see the error

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of your ways. And stop trying to cut net energy credits

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by 75% aka NEM 3. Which supports the greed

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of Public Utilities. It was just last Summer that California

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was having a record triple digit heat wave. Thanks

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to homeowners who risk their own money to invest in

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solar and battery storage. The power grid was able

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to survive rolling blackouts and keep the power outages

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to a minimum. The world has changed since you first

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proposed updating NEM guidelines. Russia started a

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war with Ukraine. OPEC is cutting oil production.

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A worldwide pandemic has created massive shortages

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of many commodities. And inflation is now so bad it

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could have determined the outcome of the past election.

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Please do everything in control to keep solar adoption

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affordable for many working Californians, who are already

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stretched so thin by rising costs. As the effects of

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climate change become more severe, we will need all

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power solutions to help keep the lights on for everyone.

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Reject the latest NEM proposal and embrace rooftops

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solar and battery storage, as the best solution for

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California and the planet. Thanks. Thank you. Operator,

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our next caller please.

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And our next caller is Rob Hawley. You may go ahead. Hi, this

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is Rob Hawley from San Jose. The proposal will certainly

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kill the solar-only market. But what I found more alarming

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was the attitude. When I got my system in 2018, I did

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it with the belief, that a bright blue California. What

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I was doing was encouraged by the State and understood

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that any benefit to me was years in the future. That

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was before I learned how hostile the Legislature, the

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Governor and the regulators have become too independent

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energy generation. Your version of reality relies on

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customers shelling out huge sums and not caring if

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they ever see their money again. The proposal also

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makes it clear that no investment is safe. One of the

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cost drivers you failed to mention is the guaranteed

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profit. Utilities have a disincentive to become more

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efficient. To paraphrase Mayor Liccardo, you've chosen

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to prop up an expensive 19th century model, more appropriate

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in the coal age. Instead of promoting the distributed

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model solar favors. Thank you.

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Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

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And our next caller is Maggie Alma. You may go ahead.

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Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, great. Good morning,

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my name is Maggie Alma. I live in Santa Cruz. Your new

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:09.460
NEM 3 proposal is as untenable for most working class

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families, as your most recent NEM 3 proposal. This

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new NEM 3 proposal is too extreme. There is no way

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that California can meet the Governor's goals to triple

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solar installations by 2035. This plan will cut new

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solar installations in half. It is way too expensive

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and I repeat way too extreme. You are proposing a 75%

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:37.369
cut in net metering credit. This is the most extreme

00:17:37.369 --> 00:17:41.089
cut in the whole country. Everywhere net metering has

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:44.990
been cut, solar adoptions have dropped by more than

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.660
half. I repeat by more than half. We need to speed

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:53.519
up solar, not slow it down. Please vote against this

00:17:53.529 --> 00:17:57.240
proposal. Rooftop solar is essential, for the State

00:17:57.250 --> 00:18:00.750
of California to be able to reduce the impact of climate

00:18:00.750 --> 00:18:05.119
change. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.640
please.

00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:13.200
Our next caller is Jenn Gagnon. You may go ahead.

00:18:15.349 --> 00:18:18.490
Good morning, my name is Jim Gagnon. I'm the co-chair

00:18:18.490 --> 00:18:21.150
of the Country Broadband Committee. And speaking today,

00:18:21.150 --> 00:18:23.650
to urge the Commission to approve AT&T Advice

00:18:23.650 --> 00:18:27.960
Letter 491088 to bring fiber broadband service to (inaudible).

00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:30.319
The country cause and advice letter represents several

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:33.079
years of hard work of our Committee. While many of,

00:18:33.250 --> 00:18:35.890
many are supportive of the finds AT&T has incured.

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:39.059
Our aging copper network's slow, unreliable and a hazard

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:42.009
to our community. Every day it stays in place, is another

00:18:42.009 --> 00:18:45.069
day (inaudible) falls behind the modern world. They're currently

00:18:45.069 --> 00:18:47.829
suspended vice weather provides a path for (inaudible) to replace

00:18:47.829 --> 00:18:50.700
our copper network. With a modern safe and reliable

00:18:50.710 --> 00:18:53.829
fiber network. I strongly urge the Commission to grant

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.450
AT&T's request to bring essential fiber broadband

00:18:56.450 --> 00:19:00.609
services, for all (inaudible) residents, as soon as possible. Thank you.

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:06.630
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:19:06.630 --> 00:19:09.980
And our next caller is Susan Dubowski. You may go ahead.

00:19:11.029 --> 00:19:14.190
Hi, Good morning. My name is Susan Dubowski. I live in the

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.509
San Gabriel Valley. In following the U.N. Climate Summit's

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.009
conclusion, that we aren't where we must be to address

00:19:20.009 --> 00:19:22.799
our grave climate crisis. I'm wondering how this latest

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:25.980
proposal, this proposed decision, will help California

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:28.680
to achieve its clean energy goals. When we need 3 to

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:31.960
4 times the current clean renewable resources. I'm

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:34.289
wondering about the effects of the proposed decision's rate,

00:19:34.289 --> 00:19:36.759
for rooftop solar credit. For energy sent to the grid

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.279
being reduced by 75%. And a more reasonable rate has

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:44.259
been a key incentive for Californians to install solar.

00:19:44.789 --> 00:19:47.230
I'm wondering about the effects of the very steep five

00:19:47.230 --> 00:19:50.289
year step. And if homes, businesses, church, schools,

00:19:50.289 --> 00:19:53.490
will be incentivized to install rooftop solar when the time

00:19:53.490 --> 00:19:56.329
to recoup their investment is so long. I'm wondering

00:19:56.329 --> 00:19:58.960
about the effects of the very low rates of the adder

00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:02.309
to the avoided cost calculator. And that businesses,

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:06.289
churches, small commercial do not get the adder. Nothing

00:20:06.289 --> 00:20:09.740
for non-residential rooftop solar. I'm wondering about

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:12.250
the effect of remote solar versus rooftop solar. In

00:20:12.250 --> 00:20:14.500
terms of resilience, particularly regarding public

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:17.269
safety power shutoffs. I'm wondering about the effects

00:20:17.269 --> 00:20:22.319
of California (inaudible).

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:27.690
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:20:27.690 --> 00:20:32.109
Our next caller is John Knox. You may go ahead. Yes

00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:34.839
Good morning, Commissioners. John Knox from Chula Vista.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:38.089
The NEM 3 proposal made a year ago, at the end

00:20:38.089 --> 00:20:42.609
of 2021, featuring a monthly solar tax. Was designed

00:20:42.609 --> 00:20:47.309
to kill rooftop solar as quickly as possible. The latest

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:50.900
NEM 3 proposal made last week, featuring the

00:20:50.910 --> 00:20:54.990
slashing of solar credits. Is designed to wound and

00:20:54.990 --> 00:20:59.329
weaken rooftop solar with 1000 cuts. Causing it to

00:20:59.329 --> 00:21:03.329
limp along for a time. Diminished before dying a slow

00:21:03.329 --> 00:21:08.380
death. This proposal like the last one is unacceptable.

00:21:08.410 --> 00:21:12.190
Under it, the utilities would pay about 75% less for

00:21:12.190 --> 00:21:15.640
the energy they take from rooftop solar. To then sell

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:19.680
to others at premium rates. A nice windfall making

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.809
the State's rich utilities, richer. But an unfair deal

00:21:23.809 --> 00:21:27.980
breaker, for most would be solar homeowners. Almost doubling

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:32.240
the payback period for a system to over 10 years. That's

00:21:32.250 --> 00:21:36.880
too long. This proposal is too extreme and you still

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:41.380
have work to do. Thank you.

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:53.799
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:57.650
And our next caller is Sue Saunders. You may go ahead.

00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:03.349
Good after, morning. Uh, CPUC. This proposal will

00:22:03.349 --> 00:22:06.269
put an end to the growth of rooftop solar and battery

00:22:06.269 --> 00:22:09.269
storage. Which has severe consequences, not only for

00:22:09.269 --> 00:22:11.619
the growth of renewable energy, but for the greater

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:15.529
goal of decarbonization. Electrified transportation

00:22:15.529 --> 00:22:18.579
and buildings provide no benefit if they are not powered

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:21.730
with clean energy. Furthermore, during the September

00:22:21.730 --> 00:22:25.109
heatwave, a virtual power plant of rooftop solar and

00:22:25.109 --> 00:22:29.279
batteries, kept everyone's air conditioning on. Its ability

00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.839
to add to the clean power supply for everyone will

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:35.779
expand exponentially. When electric vehicle batteries

00:22:35.789 --> 00:22:39.289
can be used to backup solar. There is simply no good

00:22:39.289 --> 00:22:41.910
reason to slam the brakes on rooftop solar. And with

00:22:41.910 --> 00:22:45.299
the 75% reduction in payment for solar sent to the

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:49.759
grid. It is too important to all of California's goals

00:22:49.829 --> 00:22:53.269
to reduce emissions driving the climate crisis. It

00:22:53.269 --> 00:22:56.809
means (inaudible) for our children and grandchildren. Who's future you

00:22:56.809 --> 00:22:59.960
are stealing, if you implement this current proposal.

00:22:59.970 --> 00:23:03.069
I cannot believe anyone with good intentions would

00:23:03.069 --> 00:23:07.990
vote for this. And I implore you to vote no. Thank you.

00:23:07.990 --> 00:23:12.430
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:23:12.430 --> 00:23:16.130
And our next caller is Katie Marconi. You may go ahead.

00:23:18.130 --> 00:23:21.339
Good morning, this is Katie Marconi. I'm calling

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:25.569
in regards to what was previously item 10 on the agenda,

00:23:25.569 --> 00:23:30.880
but has been held. Um, this is Resolution M-4864, which

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:34.380
would remove PG&E from the enhanced oversight and

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:38.099
enforcement process. That it has been in related to

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:41.759
vegetation management. Um, this is the first use of

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:44.470
the enhanced oversight enforcement tool adopted in

00:23:44.470 --> 00:23:48.140
the PG&E bankruptcy. And given that fact, and that

00:23:48.150 --> 00:23:52.859
PG&E's history of safety failures. Um, I believe that

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:55.480
the decision to remove PG&E from the EOE

00:23:55.690 --> 00:23:59.190
needs a public discussion, and also a recorded vote

00:23:59.190 --> 00:24:01.960
from the Commissioners. I urge you to include this

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:04.700
Resolution on the regular agenda, when it is considered

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:09.150
by the Commission. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next

00:24:09.150 --> 00:24:15.799
caller please.

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:18.410
Our next caller is Johnna and Christopher Tribiyanda.


00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:35.200
You may go ahead.

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.910
And again, Johnna and Christopher Tribiyanda, we're not able to hear

00:24:37.910 --> 00:24:40.380
you. Please check your mute button. Hi, can you hear

00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:42.390
me? Yes.

00:24:42.390 --> 00:24:46.430
Can you hear me? Thank you. Um yes, Johnna and Christopher

00:24:46.470 --> 00:24:49.750
Tribiyanda, homeowners in Burbank, California. We believe

00:24:49.750 --> 00:24:54.230
the CPUC latest rooftop solar proposal is too extreme

00:24:54.230 --> 00:24:57.650
and expensive. And only benefits utility companies,

00:24:57.660 --> 00:25:00.730
not the public. Which is counterintuitive to rooftop

00:25:00.730 --> 00:25:03.789
solar advancement. The latest proposal is just more

00:25:03.789 --> 00:25:07.170
of the same. You gain, we lose. Cutting the solar credit

00:25:07.170 --> 00:25:10.710
by 75% is not a pathway, but a dead end for all

00:25:10.710 --> 00:25:14.059
consumers. We know this hasn't worked in other states.

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:17.109
The key is to give consumers affordable ways to add

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:20.599
solar to rooftops, not take it away. What's being proposed

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:23.960
doesn't make sense. Try to stop the most effective

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:26.710
way to contribute to this global cause should be viewed

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:31.319
as criminal. Please listen to the public, not the utilities.

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:34.430
You've heard from hundreds of nonprofit groups and

00:25:34.430 --> 00:25:38.109
schools, businesses, cities, more than countless individuals.

00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:41.079
And everyone is asking you to step up and do the right

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:44.319
thing, reject this proposal. California requires new

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:47.069
homes to have solar panels, but then you're gonna turn

00:25:47.069 --> 00:25:52.670
around and tax them. Thank you. Thank you. Operator,

00:25:52.670 --> 00:25:57.869
next caller please.

00:25:57.869 --> 00:26:00.390
Our next caller is Sharon Grant. You may go ahead.

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:16.259
Hi, sorry. I expected another three hour wait, as has

00:26:16.269 --> 00:26:20.019
been true in the past times I've called in. But I agree

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:23.740
with what everyone has said. Uh, this is a terrible

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:29.069
terrible um, proposal. And it's I don't know, the 5th-

00:26:29.069 --> 00:26:34.029
6th time, that the utility companies have tried to pass

00:26:34.329 --> 00:26:38.390
Legislation that's detrimental to solar. And it's been

00:26:38.390 --> 00:26:46.490
pointed out, the 75% decrease in net metering um, return.

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:51.430
Is going to get the solar industry by at least half

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:55.660
as other states and California counties have shown.

00:26:55.670 --> 00:27:00.460
Uh, we need more solar, not less. If we're to meet

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:05.960
Governors, Governor Newsom's, um, clean energy goal.

00:27:05.970 --> 00:27:11.490
Um, we need to step up solar energy, not gut it. It's

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:16.250
an appalling. Um, it's an appalling proposal. And I

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:20.470
urge the CPUC, to do the right thing and vote it

00:27:20.470 --> 00:27:26.809
down. And hopefully, thank you. Thank you. Operator, next

00:27:26.809 --> 00:27:29.250
caller please.

00:27:29.250 --> 00:27:32.779
Our next caller is Larry Justino. You may go ahead.

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:36.589
Yeah, this is Larry Justino. I'm in Berkeley, California.

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:41.710
Um, I've been involved in California solar since 1965,

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:45.490
57 years ago. My brothers were top weather physicists

00:27:45.490 --> 00:27:49.650
for NASA and the Navy. Both discussed the melting of

00:27:49.650 --> 00:27:52.220
the polar ice caps 50 years ago, more than 50 years

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:55.460
ago. We're now seeing methane collapse, sublimating

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:59.059
bubbling up at accelerating rates. We're toast. This

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:02.519
is right on schedule. We must immediately implement

00:28:02.529 --> 00:28:06.420
all sources of renewables now, especially including

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:10.180
rooftop solar. Don't, don't trash our future. Please

00:28:10.190 --> 00:28:13.099
think of your kids. Your grandkids, you know, this

00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:17.680
is real. Get on board. Thank you.

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:26.319
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:30.029
And our next caller is Audrey Itchinosi. You may go ahead.

00:28:31.630 --> 00:28:37.150
Thank you. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Great. Um,

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:41.720
my name is Audrey Itchinosi. I live in Cal Berkeley in the Bay Area. Like

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:45.869
the previous proposal, this new NEM proposal severely

00:28:45.869 --> 00:28:49.480
reduces the incentive to require solar and storage.

00:28:49.490 --> 00:28:53.750
Um, and actually, I wanted to point out how it undermines

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:58.140
some basic, uh, programs that the State has advised on.

00:28:58.140 --> 00:29:03.059
Where average homeowners who own a tiny 1.7 kilowatt

00:29:03.069 --> 00:29:07.049
solar array, without batteries. And we hoped to add a

00:29:07.049 --> 00:29:10.640
few more panels, as well as battery storage in order

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:15.809
to prepare for the EV ownership. This proposal would severely

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:22.130
undercut easy adoption by residents. It would also

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:26.660
undermine the adoption of residential solar, by lowering

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:31.130
income ratepayers. So please, uh, this proposal is

00:29:31.130 --> 00:29:35.460
as bad as the last one. Thank you very much. Thank

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:40.210
you. Operator, the next caller please.

00:29:40.210 --> 00:29:46.200
Your next caller is Tom Perez. You may go ahead.

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:48.569
Good morning. My name is Tom Perez and I live in San

00:29:48.569 --> 00:29:52.180
Diego. You're just released rooftop solar proposal

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:56.700
is too extreme. Cutting the solar credit by 75% overnight

00:29:56.710 --> 00:30:00.410
is a recipe for disaster. We know this because other

00:30:00.410 --> 00:30:03.299
states have tried this before. Every time it happens,

00:30:03.309 --> 00:30:07.400
solar adoptions dropped by half or more. Please listen

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:10.569
to everyday Californians, not the big three utilities.

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:14.470
You've already heard from over 150,000 people.

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:19.400
Um, schools, cities, businesses were all asking you to make

00:30:19.410 --> 00:30:23.099
solar more affordable, not less. This very minute leaders

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:25.400
from around the world are meeting to discuss ways in

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:28.470
which to address this climate emergency. Here in

00:30:28.470 --> 00:30:31.940
California, your NEM 3 proposal actually undermines

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:35.339
our State clean energy goals. California Energy Commission

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:37.589
says we need to triple the amount of solar to get off

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:41.529
fossil fuels, both large scale and rooftop solar. We

00:30:41.529 --> 00:30:44.289
can't do that with large scale renewables alone. We

00:30:44.289 --> 00:30:47.559
need to speed up rooftop solar, not slow it down. Once

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:49.789
again, you need to go back to the drawing board and

00:30:49.789 --> 00:30:54.039
revise them to ensure all Californians are able to afford rooftop

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:58.079
solar. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.180
please.

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:05.319
And our next caller is David Hoyer. You may go ahead.

00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:08.039
Thank you. Um, wondering how many of you would raise

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:10.559
your hands if you're taking notes. And I know there's

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:16.849
a delay. Um, I don't like the new NEM proposal it's too extreme.

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:20.640
Um, I think everybody's forgetting the $10 monthly

00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:24.710
charge that PG&E is getting for, oh, say a million

00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:31.900
rooftop owners. That's $10 million income. 75% I think is even

00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:36.720
higher reduction from 30 cents to 5 cents. If my

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:40.079
credit is halved in my return on investment to pay

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:44.720
off, my system is doubled. I believe that quadrupling

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.700
or higher. The time for return on investment puts the

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:51.369
time to pay off, past the time of the lifetime expectancy

00:31:51.369 --> 00:31:54.099
of the of equipment. That means my equipment would

00:31:54.099 --> 00:32:00.579
remain perpetually totally, uh, non-functioning. And

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:03.539
by the time I pay it off. This I believe is the

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:07.619
taking of property. Um, taking a property is a violation

00:32:07.619 --> 00:32:11.009
of the 5th Amendment. 

00:32:11.009 --> 00:32:14.759
And I propose that you seek your lawyers, because I

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:18.900
will be seeking mine. Thank you. Thank you. Operator,

00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:21.740
next caller please.

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:24.980
Our next caller is Dempsey Nelson. You may go ahead.

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:28.569
Thank you. Thank you, Commissioners. Dempsey Nelson, Hermosa

00:32:28.569 --> 00:32:31.539
Beach, California. I'm calling in today to say that

00:32:31.549 --> 00:32:35.140
the CPUC latest rooftop proposal is still too extreme.

00:32:35.150 --> 00:32:37.670
And I'm calling in as an early adopter, having first

00:32:37.670 --> 00:32:40.990
put rooftop solar on my Hermosa Beach home in 1999.

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:43.900
The first to do so in Hermosa Beach. I'm Southern California

00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:47.779
Edison NEM customer number 33. My rooftop solar and

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:50.619
my battery storage, are grandfathered now under the

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:53.569
NEM 2, with this latest proposal. But it's not about

00:32:53.569 --> 00:32:57.170
me, as it wasn't about me in 1999. When I didn't expect

00:32:57.170 --> 00:33:00.180
the return of investment for several years. It was

00:33:00.190 --> 00:33:03.009
and is about the State of California, the Nation, and

00:33:03.009 --> 00:33:05.640
the Planet and the million rooftops campaign to get

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.890
every rooftop covered with solar. But I know from all

00:33:08.890 --> 00:33:12.960
of my advocacy for over 20 years, for most Californians

00:33:12.970 --> 00:33:16.440
adopting rooftop solar will still be about return of

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:19.430
investment. That's what I'm always told and cutting

00:33:19.430 --> 00:33:24.140
the solar credit by 75% will stop this important

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:27.440
piece of the renewable energy puzzle, dead on arrival.

00:33:27.450 --> 00:33:32.279
We need to be fully incentive (inaudible) not cutting back.

00:33:32.289 --> 00:33:34.660
There are so many things for which we don't have a

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:37.170
cure. We have the cure for this cancer. We need the

00:33:37.170 --> 00:33:39.609
political will to implement it. Thank you so much for

00:33:39.609 --> 00:33:43.710
your time. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:48.230
Our next caller is Jennifer Tanner. You may go ahead

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:54.970
Oh my God, I'm driving. And I um, let me just pull over give

00:33:54.970 --> 00:33:58.390
me one second. I didn't know you were going to call on me. Pulling over right now.

00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:04.180
Thank you. Uh, Jennifer Tanner, Indivisible, California

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:07.660
Green Team. Number one, we ask Resolution M-4864

00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:10.389
be removed from the consent agenda. Do not

00:34:10.389 --> 00:34:14.139
let PG&E exit step one of enhanced oversight. That's

00:34:14.150 --> 00:34:17.170
dangerous. And now to change the subject to rooftop

00:34:17.170 --> 00:34:20.940
solar. Over the last year, we've heard from 170,000

00:34:20.949 --> 00:34:24.590
people, including 600 nonprofits all over California.

00:34:24.590 --> 00:34:27.980
The messages to keep growing, not shrinking. More people

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:30.639
delivered this message to you than on any other issue

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:34.710
in CPUC history. Yet you still bow to PG&E, rather

00:34:34.710 --> 00:34:38.559
than the public. You know, we know this new proposal

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:41.550
will absolutely cause rooftop solar to shrink. Because

00:34:41.550 --> 00:34:43.530
this is exactly what happened when their ideas were

00:34:43.530 --> 00:34:47.539
implemented in other states. This is a cliff for rooftop

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:50.090
solar, even though the Governor has said he wants more

00:34:50.090 --> 00:34:53.460
rooftop solar, than less. People are suffering from fires

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:57.119
and blackouts caused by PG&E (inaudible).

00:34:57.119 --> 00:35:00.000
You approved. This is a real cost and the stain is on

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:02.679
your hands. You want to reward PG&E for burning down

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:05.690
California. We're in a climate emergency, shame on you.

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:14.170
Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:35:14.170 --> 00:35:16.559
And our next caller is Christopher Hamilton. You may

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:23.409
go ahead.

00:35:23.409 --> 00:35:25.519
And I'm Christopher Hamilton, we're not able to hear you.

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:35.730
Please check your mute button.

00:35:35.730 --> 00:35:38.739
And he's disconnected. Our next caller is Holly Esterbrook.

00:35:38.750 --> 00:35:41.380
You may go ahead.

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:44.690
Good morning. My name is Pauli Esterbrook. Can you

00:35:44.690 --> 00:35:46.900
hear me?

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:50.719
Yes, we can. Yes?

00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:54.539
Can you hear me? Yes we can hear you. Okay. I live in Los Angeles. I have

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:59.039
been following the Prop 27 proceedings as well. And realize

00:35:59.050 --> 00:36:03.320
how important it is that each of us do our part. Meaning

00:36:03.329 --> 00:36:08.099
our states and our countries do our part. In California,

00:36:08.110 --> 00:36:11.590
we have tremendous goals for cutting our greenhouse

00:36:11.590 --> 00:36:17.340
gases. By moving to 100% renewable power and promoting

00:36:17.349 --> 00:36:22.559
EV ownership. As many studies have shown and is known

00:36:22.570 --> 00:36:27.400
throughout, local solar energy generation is key to

00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:31.739
meeting these goals as in a rapid and cost effective

00:36:31.750 --> 00:36:36.480
manner. The new NEM 3.0 proposal will destroy the

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:40.619
incentive for businesses, public institutions and households,

00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:45.320
to install these local solar systems. The proposal

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:49.670
caters only to the for-profit utilities. And does not

00:36:49.670 --> 00:36:53.769
meet our state and world goals. Please reject this

00:36:53.769 --> 00:36:58.809
proposal. Thank you.

00:36:58.809 --> 00:37:04.219
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:37:04.219 --> 00:37:07.099
And our next caller is Joan Taylor. You may go ahead.

00:37:13.750 --> 00:37:15.960
And again, Joan Taylor we're not able to hear you. Please

00:37:15.969 --> 00:37:18.780
check your mute button.

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:21.789
Joan Taylor here.

00:37:21.789 --> 00:37:26.949
I'm just another voice objecting to the NEM proposal. Because

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:30.699
it just doesn't strike that balance. Um for one thing

00:37:30.710 --> 00:37:34.190
the major cost shift has to do with decreased income,

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:36.710
on the part of the utilities. And that, that just needs

00:37:36.710 --> 00:37:41.429
to be adjusted. Um, so whatever you do, I really urge

00:37:41.429 --> 00:37:46.119
you to reevaluate within a year. Because this truly

00:37:46.130 --> 00:37:49.980
could cut the legs off the industry. Thank you for

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:52.449
your consideration.

00:37:52.449 --> 00:37:57.190
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:37:57.190 --> 00:38:01.840
Our next caller is Linda Marin. You may go ahead. Um,

00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:04.920
Good morning, Commissioners. Um, Linda Marin from Santa

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.639
Cruz and also representing Citizens Climate Lobby

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:12.469
Santa Cruz Chapter. Right now, when both the Federal

00:38:12.469 --> 00:38:15.630
and State governments are mandating emissions reductions

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:19.250
meet the Paris agreement. We need rooftop solar more

00:38:19.250 --> 00:38:23.409
than ever, to be easily accessible and proliferating.

00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:26.530
The current proposal would decrease solar adoptions

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:29.860
by more than half. Like we've already seen happen in

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:33.340
Nevada and Florida and Hawaii. Let's not join those

00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:37.239
States. Please vote against this proposal. And create

00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:41.190
a policy that participates in a solution for the climate

00:38:41.190 --> 00:38:46.880
emergency that we are in. Thank you. Thank you. Operator,

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:50.800
next caller please.

00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:56.929
Our next caller is Howdy Gowdy. You may go ahead.

00:38:56.929 --> 00:39:00.840
Thank you. My name is Howdy Gowdy. I live in El Cerrito and I

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:03.849
wanna add my voice to all those criticizing the new

00:39:03.849 --> 00:39:09.010
proposed decision. Um, it really needs to offer a more

00:39:09.010 --> 00:39:14.320
moderated gradual transition for solar only. And a much

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:20.269
more aggressive incentive for solar plus storage. Because

00:39:20.269 --> 00:39:25.210
that offers the best uh, services to the grid. Um, it's

00:39:25.210 --> 00:39:31.019
really irresponsible to focus on um, only large industrial

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:34.559
scale solar right now. Behind the meter solar is, you

00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:36.730
know, half of the installed capacity in the State.

00:39:36.730 --> 00:39:39.360
It's a huge contribution. It's the most responsible

00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:43.969
place to put a new solar on the built environment instead

00:39:43.969 --> 00:39:47.900
of uh, contributing to environmental degradation elsewhere.

00:39:47.909 --> 00:39:51.510
And this is a climate emergency. You need to act to

00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:55.650
support the important goals of the State. To reduce

00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:59.630
greenhouse gas emissions. And rooftop solar behind

00:39:59.630 --> 00:40:03.989
the meter is an incredibly (inaudible) Thank you.

00:40:03.989 --> 00:40:08.289
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:40:08.289 --> 00:40:12.989
Our next caller is Mike Beggs. You may go ahead.

00:40:12.989 --> 00:40:17.829
Yes. Hi, this is Mike Beggs um, in San Jose. The CPUC

00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:21.559
latest rooftop solar proposal is not acceptable. And

00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:24.309
that it cuts the solar credit, which makes rooftop

00:40:24.309 --> 00:40:27.480
solar less affordable. As you've heard, other states

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:30.860
have tried this and it has reduced rooftop solar. We

00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:34.090
need more affordable rooftop solar, not less. This

00:40:34.090 --> 00:40:37.480
proposal would almost double the payback period, which

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:41.769
would de-incentivize people to get rooftop solar. Please

00:40:41.769 --> 00:40:44.630
reject this proposal and create one that is less extreme, and

00:40:44.630 --> 00:40:47.610
less cumbersome for regular customers. It's not true

00:40:47.610 --> 00:40:50.159
that rooftop solar owners have shifted costs and non

00:40:50.159 --> 00:40:54.300
rooftop solar owners. Rather rooftop solar hurts the

00:40:54.300 --> 00:40:58.510
PG&E profits. And I ask you to focus on the

00:40:58.519 --> 00:41:01.900
regular customer and not on the utilities. Thank you.

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:07.789
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:41:07.789 --> 00:41:10.380
And our next caller is Tom Benton. You may go ahead.

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:14.170
Yes, thanks so much. Tom Benton in Glen Ellen, California.

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:17.630
PG&E me burned down my house in 2017. And the rebuilding, 

00:41:17.630 --> 00:41:21.050
I installed solar panels. I'm calling to agree with everybody.

00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:23.739
Who has come out in favor of rooftop solar. I just

00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:29.179
want to say that the proposal fails, because its intent

00:41:29.190 --> 00:41:32.289
is to kill the growth of rooftop solar in California.

00:41:32.300 --> 00:41:35.789
And um, that's what the proposal is trying to do. That's

00:41:35.789 --> 00:41:37.900
what the utilities are trying to do. I'm asking you

00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:41.619
to reject that. It will not only harm climate, as everybody

00:41:41.630 --> 00:41:45.449
said, it will also harm the economic viability and

00:41:45.449 --> 00:41:49.500
competitive, competitiveness of our State. If you actually

00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:53.099
want to lower costs on rooftop solar, drive its expansion

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:56.769
as fast as you possibly can, which will lower costs

00:41:56.780 --> 00:41:59.639
on a learning curve. What you're trying to do right

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:04.730
now, is kill it instead. And that's unacceptable.

00:42:04.730 --> 00:42:09.639
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:13.210
And our next caller is Jeff Russo. You may go ahead.

00:42:13.929 --> 00:42:17.949
Jeffrey Russo, (inaudible) California here. It's clear to me that your

00:42:17.949 --> 00:42:22.389
latest NEM 3 proposals, based on strategies concocted

00:42:22.389 --> 00:42:26.320
by the private utilities. Eliminating a solar tax and

00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:30.280
grandfathering existing solar users, under NEM 2.

00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:34.599
They're red herrings, false compromises. What's

00:42:34.610 --> 00:42:38.000
actually at stake here. Is the right of the public to

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:42.329
generate their own electricity, and receive fair market

00:42:42.329 --> 00:42:46.639
value for overproduction versus the private utilities

00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:51.199
attempt to undermine rooftop solar. Which is the kryptonite

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:55.619
for their profits. The question becomes, do you act

00:42:55.619 --> 00:42:59.530
as the California Public Utilities Commissioners? Or

00:42:59.530 --> 00:43:03.559
the California Private Utilities Commissioners? Your

00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:08.440
answer will determine that.

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:12.639
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:17.699
Next caller is Eileen Metro. You may go ahead. Good

00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:21.519
morning, Commissioners. State planners say we need to

00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:26.530
triple both large scale and rooftop solar by 2035, to

00:43:26.530 --> 00:43:30.480
meet the State's energy goals. Your proposal to cut

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:34.699
net metering credits by 75% for new solar adopters

00:43:34.699 --> 00:43:38.719
effectively ruins future rooftop solar. That happened

00:43:38.719 --> 00:43:43.519
in Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona and also in Turlock, Modesto, 

00:43:43.519 --> 00:43:48.349
and Coachella Valley. 80% of the state population, strongly

00:43:48.349 --> 00:43:54.659
supports net metering, as it is now. 71% want more solar.

00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:58.769
Your mission is to serve the public interest by protecting

00:43:58.769 --> 00:44:02.849
consumers. The public interest is to promote solar.

00:44:03.070 --> 00:44:07.440
This proposal kills solar and definitely doesn't align

00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:11.920
with your commitment to environmental enhancement and

00:44:11.929 --> 00:44:15.889
a healthy California economy. Please vote against this

00:44:15.889 --> 00:44:20.980
proposal. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:24.050
please.

00:44:24.050 --> 00:44:27.320
And our next caller is Yvette DeCarlo. You may go ahead.

00:44:28.139 --> 00:44:30.650
Hi, my name is Yvette DeCarlo. I live and own solar

00:44:30.650 --> 00:44:33.639
panels in PG&E territory and I'm committed to fighting

00:44:33.639 --> 00:44:37.789
the NEM 3 proposal, because it remains reckless. Other

00:44:37.789 --> 00:44:40.489
local and state agencies, they've been enacting policies

00:44:40.489 --> 00:44:43.480
to problem solve climate change um, and incentivize

00:44:43.489 --> 00:44:47.019
solar energy. But NEM 3 is unnecessarily. It's

00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:51.280
an unnecessary problem, seeking justification. And I

00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:54.150
think it's rather bold for PG&E to lobby the CPUC.

00:44:54.150 --> 00:44:56.820
To aid in the theft of a public good, at the expense

00:44:56.820 --> 00:44:59.860
of solar ratepayers. Consider what would happen if the

00:44:59.869 --> 00:45:05.130
CPUC does not approve this proposal. One, PG&E continues

00:45:05.130 --> 00:45:07.599
getting risk free electricity generated by rooftop

00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:11.650
solar for a pittance. Two, PG&E minimizes costly contracts

00:45:11.650 --> 00:45:14.030
to build new solar farms. Avoiding sequel and costly

00:45:14.030 --> 00:45:17.019
legal fees. When long distance power lines inevitably

00:45:17.019 --> 00:45:21.260
caused devastating wildfires. Three, you help incentivize

00:45:21.260 --> 00:45:24.119
rooftop solar in the built environment. While the IOUs

00:45:24.119 --> 00:45:26.380
can use existing profits from NEM 1 and 2

00:45:26.380 --> 00:45:29.019
schemes, to increase battery storage close to where

00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:32.039
the power is generated and used. And four, California

00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:35.090
prisoners coveted open space for a higher use. Please

00:45:35.090 --> 00:45:37.650
don't harm ratepayers. Instead be the leaders we need

00:45:37.650 --> 00:45:40.690
to advance smart, rational and fair policies that advance

00:45:40.690 --> 00:45:43.570
climate change schools. Not slimy them. Thank you very

00:45:43.570 --> 00:45:50.570
much. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:45:50.570 --> 00:45:53.809
Our next caller is Kathleen Testino. You may go ahead.

00:45:55.659 --> 00:45:58.030
Yes. Good morning, my name is Kathleen Testino. I live

00:45:58.030 --> 00:46:00.829
in Berkeley. And I have solar on my house, my husband

00:46:00.829 --> 00:46:04.199
and I self installed in 2005. And have continued supporting

00:46:04.210 --> 00:46:06.920
solar by becoming a solar installation company. The

00:46:06.920 --> 00:46:10.449
NEM 3 has written, would obviate anybody's contribution.

00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:14.019
Everyone's individual choice to fight global warming

00:46:14.019 --> 00:46:18.050
by installing solar on the roof. Using PG&E data, to form

00:46:18.050 --> 00:46:21.849
your plans. Is like having the fox plan, the plan for you. So

00:46:21.849 --> 00:46:24.599
I totally think that the NEM 3 as written should

00:46:24.610 --> 00:46:27.530
be trashed. And that individual contribution to the

00:46:27.530 --> 00:46:30.650
grid should be treasured. My name is Kathleen Testino.

00:46:30.650 --> 00:46:32.820
I truly believe that you're making a mistake with

00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:37.159
NEM 3. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:46:37.159 --> 00:46:39.380
please.

00:46:39.380 --> 00:46:43.309
Go ahead shoot me. And our next caller is Vivian. You may go

00:46:43.309 --> 00:46:49.000
ahead.

00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:51.030
Vivian, we're not able to hear you. Please check your

00:46:51.030 --> 00:47:07.489
mute button.

00:47:07.489 --> 00:47:10.230
And should we go to the next caller?

00:47:10.230 --> 00:47:14.510
Yes, thank you. Our next caller is Jim Cramer. You

00:47:14.510 --> 00:47:16.760
may go ahead.

00:47:16.760 --> 00:47:19.769
My name is Glenn Kramer and I live in Auburn, California.

00:47:20.010 --> 00:47:23.719
The CPUC sees latest rooftop solar proposal remains

00:47:23.730 --> 00:47:27.219
too extreme. And will end up disincentive the

00:47:27.219 --> 00:47:30.070
move toward rooftop solar and battery storage. This

00:47:30.070 --> 00:47:32.650
has been shown when similar energy industry-backed

00:47:32.650 --> 00:47:36.039
proposals have been enacted in other states. Cutting

00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:39.619
the solar credit from 30% to 5% is not a glide path

00:47:39.630 --> 00:47:43.500
or a soft landing. It is a drastic cut. It will double

00:47:43.500 --> 00:47:45.920
the time it takes for a homeowner to recover their

00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:49.570
investment. Listen to the public, not the utility companies.

00:47:49.579 --> 00:47:52.210
Who are the only ones who stand to profit from this

00:47:52.210 --> 00:47:55.769
proposal. Continuing the current NEM 2 structure,

00:47:55.780 --> 00:47:59.230
and providing new incentives to rebates is the only

00:47:59.230 --> 00:48:02.550
way to meet California stated climate goals. Thank

00:48:02.550 --> 00:48:05.130
you.

00:48:05.130 --> 00:48:09.050
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:48:09.050 --> 00:48:11.539
Our next caller is James Pearson. You may

00:48:11.539 --> 00:48:15.670
go ahead. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is James

00:48:15.679 --> 00:48:20.170
Pearson. Uh, I live in Gilroy, California. I'm an early

00:48:20.170 --> 00:48:24.760
adopter of solar and I just finished adding new panels

00:48:24.769 --> 00:48:30.360
to my installation. So I won't be bothered much by the

00:48:30.360 --> 00:48:37.500
NEM 3. But the reason I put solar up first, was that I

00:48:37.510 --> 00:48:43.710
believe in solar. Rooftop solar takes up built space.

00:48:43.719 --> 00:48:47.750
We need three times the amount of solar on the roofs

00:48:47.750 --> 00:48:51.219
that we have now, according to the State. We actually

00:48:51.219 --> 00:48:56.119
need about double that. So this latest proposal is

00:48:56.130 --> 00:49:00.869
one in a long line of utility crafted proposals. That

00:49:00.880 --> 00:49:05.730
are designed to kill rooftop solar. Because they don't

00:49:05.730 --> 00:49:10.239
make any money at it. So I would hope that the Commission

00:49:10.239 --> 00:49:18.190
would get an independent evaluation of our entire grid

00:49:18.199 --> 00:49:21.610
system. Thank you very much, Commissioners. Have a great

00:49:21.610 --> 00:49:27.920
day. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:49:27.920 --> 00:49:31.280
Our next caller is Richard Dawson. You may go ahead.

00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:35.280
My name is Richard Dawson. I live in Los Angeles and

00:49:35.280 --> 00:49:39.940
I'm basically echoing what has gone before. I totally

00:49:39.940 --> 00:49:44.369
disapprove of this Commission's latest proposal. It's

00:49:44.380 --> 00:49:50.849
it's radical, the extreme. And it will, it will deter

00:49:50.849 --> 00:49:54.070
people from getting solar on their rooftops. Which

00:49:54.070 --> 00:49:58.389
is something that we all the State of California and

00:49:58.389 --> 00:50:02.510
the people of California need. Thank you.

00:50:02.510 --> 00:50:07.820
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:50:07.820 --> 00:50:10.650
And our next caller is Barry Coe. You may go ahead.

00:50:12.139 --> 00:50:16.059
Yes, this is Barry calling from Davis, California. I

00:50:16.059 --> 00:50:19.000
don't know what justification Commission used to justify

00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:21.800
the proposal. That is drastically cutting the solar credit

00:50:21.800 --> 00:50:25.489
by 75%. But you must have copied the whole thing from

00:50:25.489 --> 00:50:28.360
the five utilities plan, because it does not make any

00:50:28.360 --> 00:50:31.940
sense. With that people cuts, no one the right mind would

00:50:31.940 --> 00:50:34.949
want to install solar. Since it makes the return investment

00:50:34.960 --> 00:50:38.260
way too long. And with less installation, the price will

00:50:38.269 --> 00:50:41.699
go up. Making matters even worse. This proposal would

00:50:41.699 --> 00:50:45.619
actually hurt the lower income household, the most. Furthermore,

00:50:45.619 --> 00:50:48.260
the proposal allows private utilities to buy our solar

00:50:48.260 --> 00:50:52.050
energy for 8 cents and sell to my neighbor for 30 cents

00:50:52.050 --> 00:50:54.960
for substantial profit. I don't see the Commission

00:50:54.960 --> 00:50:58.809
requires utility lower their rates or refund rate players

00:50:58.820 --> 00:51:01.670
in the proposal. In other words, the regular rate players

00:51:01.679 --> 00:51:05.210
receive no benefit from this all profit goes to private

00:51:05.210 --> 00:51:09.539
utility. If he Commission passes this proposal, the Commission

00:51:09.539 --> 00:51:11.960
might as well change his name from Public Utility Commission

00:51:11.960 --> 00:51:14.909
to Privatize Commission. Because that's exactly

00:51:14.909 --> 00:51:20.400
what protecting the private utility problems. Please

00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:22.800
stand with the people of California, vote no on the

00:51:22.809 --> 00:51:26.989
proposal. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:51:26.989 --> 00:51:34.199
please.

00:51:34.199 --> 00:51:37.280
Our next caller is Wendy Gardocki. You may go ahead.

00:51:46.110 --> 00:51:50.280
Okay. Yeah, I agree with everybody that's already spoken.

00:51:50.289 --> 00:51:53.250
I'm in the process of having solar panels put on right

00:51:53.250 --> 00:51:58.269
now. But I don't understand how this is going to help

00:51:58.280 --> 00:52:02.289
us. We need solar panels everywhere. On Home Depot,

00:52:02.289 --> 00:52:05.449
in parking lots, everywhere. And I don't see how this

00:52:05.449 --> 00:52:10.860
is gonna help at all. We're in a climate crisis and

00:52:10.869 --> 00:52:13.849
in 10 years it's gonna be too late. Think about your

00:52:13.860 --> 00:52:16.519
grandchildren, think about your children who will only

00:52:16.519 --> 00:52:21.360
be 60 years old. Or your grandchildren who will be starving

00:52:21.360 --> 00:52:24.829
because we can't have food to feed our children. We're

00:52:24.829 --> 00:52:27.869
already suffering from this. We need to increase it.

00:52:27.869 --> 00:52:31.369
What was your plan? How are you increasing all this

00:52:31.380 --> 00:52:35.739
solar? Anyway, thank you very much and please vote against

00:52:35.739 --> 00:52:38.659
this. This is insane.

00:52:38.659 --> 00:52:43.920
Thank you. Operator, next caller please. Your next caller

00:52:43.920 --> 00:52:49.179
is Michael Langton. You may go ahead. Yes, uh.  March

00:52:49.190 --> 00:52:54.429
2022, PG&E raised my electrical rates by 20%. August

00:52:54.429 --> 00:52:58.210
of 22, President Biden, increased the support to the

00:52:58.219 --> 00:53:02.300
solar system. And December 15th, the CPUC will make

00:53:02.300 --> 00:53:07.420
it harder to get solar rooftops solar. Second, PG&E makes

00:53:07.420 --> 00:53:11.050
more money, more profits from transporting electricity

00:53:11.050 --> 00:53:14.309
than they do from generating electricity. And yet when

00:53:14.309 --> 00:53:17.849
I receive solar power from my neighbors, I never see

00:53:17.860 --> 00:53:21.820
a reduction in the transmission or distribution fees.

00:53:22.059 --> 00:53:26.280
And last, the U.S. Census states that people move every

00:53:26.280 --> 00:53:30.760
seven years. That's all I have.

00:53:30.760 --> 00:53:35.969
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:53:35.969 --> 00:53:39.090
Thank you. Our next caller is (inaudible) on Greece. You may

00:53:39.090 --> 00:53:41.530
go ahead.

00:53:41.530 --> 00:53:45.909
Hello. It's actually Steve Ongerth. Can you

00:53:45.909 --> 00:53:51.789
hear me? Yes, we can. I am Steve Ongerth. I live in

00:53:51.789 --> 00:53:54.409
Richmond, California. I am a union member of the ILWU.

00:53:54.409 --> 00:53:57.239
Which is going to be involved in the building

00:53:57.239 --> 00:53:59.679
of offshore wind off the coast of California, in the

00:53:59.679 --> 00:54:02.920
upcoming years. I want to add my voice to every other

00:54:02.920 --> 00:54:06.719
caller that's opposing this proposal. Even with rooftop

00:54:06.719 --> 00:54:08.840
solar and distributed generation, they're still gonna

00:54:08.849 --> 00:54:11.670
be a need for interconnection. So rooftop solar will

00:54:11.670 --> 00:54:15.110
not cost people their jobs. And I want to address the

00:54:15.110 --> 00:54:18.260
cost shifting argument, which is bogus. The real cost

00:54:18.260 --> 00:54:21.030
shifting is the money that's being funneled into PG&E

00:54:21.030 --> 00:54:24.969
shareholders. In the inefficient profiteering

00:54:24.969 --> 00:54:27.800
of private investor owned utilities. If the Public

00:54:27.800 --> 00:54:30.340
Utilities Commission is really concerned about cost

00:54:30.340 --> 00:54:33.710
shifting. They would explore the possibility of nationalizing

00:54:33.710 --> 00:54:38.039
PG&E, having it be operated by PG&E workers.

00:54:38.050 --> 00:54:40.880
Run by the State and having that money be used for

00:54:40.880 --> 00:54:45.280
productive purposes. So I oppose this decision or this

00:54:45.280 --> 00:54:48.090
proposal that the Public Utilities Commission is making.

00:54:48.099 --> 00:54:52.530
And urge you to vote no on it. Thank you. Thank you.

00:54:52.539 --> 00:54:58.389
Operator, next caller please. Our next caller is Greg Ferry. You may go ahead.

00:54:58.389 --> 00:55:05.630
Yeah. 48 years ago I was an engineer at SCG&E.

00:55:05.630 --> 00:55:09.539
During my tenure there, I was witness to three momentous

00:55:09.550 --> 00:55:14.030
decisions. The denial of the nuclear power plant permit.

00:55:14.039 --> 00:55:19.659
The building of the Encino uh, stack single, stack

00:55:19.659 --> 00:55:23.630
that put pollution further out. More importantly though,

00:55:23.630 --> 00:55:27.510
I was an intendant at a meeting for the program to

00:55:27.510 --> 00:55:31.130
buy alternate energy companies and dismantle them, with

00:55:31.139 --> 00:55:35.440
details. This is the opening salvo by SCG&E, to

00:55:35.449 --> 00:55:40.119
to fight against, rather than embrace powerful disruptive

00:55:40.130 --> 00:55:44.820
technologies. Yet another bad decision. SDG&E can

00:55:44.829 --> 00:55:47.690
still impress rooftop solar. For example, it can lease

00:55:47.690 --> 00:55:52.989
roof space, uh, that is already in use. In doing so

00:55:52.989 --> 00:55:56.610
it would obviate the need for more transmission lines.

00:55:56.619 --> 00:56:00.739
While making the grid more robust. It can change its

00:56:00.750 --> 00:56:06.000
straight structure with more encouragement.

00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:09.360
One where the fixed fee was for the grid at a time

00:56:09.360 --> 00:56:15.699
of use, (inaudible) for energy. Uh, it's in a monopoly.

00:56:15.699 --> 00:56:21.239
Waiting fine, thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller

00:56:21.239 --> 00:56:23.679
please.

00:56:23.679 --> 00:56:25.860
And before we go to the next caller, if you would like

00:56:25.860 --> 00:56:29.010
to make a comment. Please unmute your phone, press *1

00:56:29.010 --> 00:56:31.869
and record your First and Last Name slowly and

00:56:31.869 --> 00:56:35.639
clearly when prompted. Our next caller is Mark L. Fields.

00:56:35.900 --> 00:56:41.510
You may go ahead. Um, my name is Mark L. Fields from

00:56:41.510 --> 00:56:46.610
Berkeley, California. Uh, this proposal is (inaudible)

00:56:46.610 --> 00:56:51.349
proposal is terrible. The CPUC should be doing everything

00:56:51.349 --> 00:56:56.780
they can to increase incentives. For solar, for people

00:56:56.789 --> 00:57:03.059
to get solar. Any model that shows that um, solar is

00:57:03.070 --> 00:57:09.670
unfair is obviously wrong. Obviously bought by the

00:57:09.679 --> 00:57:14.840
Public Utilities to misinform. Solar is free energy

00:57:14.840 --> 00:57:22.130
from the sun. And it is much more efficient to, to provide

00:57:22.130 --> 00:57:26.519
excess solar, excess electricity to the nearby neighborhood.

00:57:26.530 --> 00:57:30.260
As opposed to pumping it through long distance power line. The

00:57:30.260 --> 00:57:35.300
most uh, salient point was made by, of the many salient

00:57:35.309 --> 00:57:38.260
points. The most important one I thought was shame

00:57:38.260 --> 00:57:44.849
on. Shame on you for endangering our (inaudible).

00:57:44.849 --> 00:57:50.320
Please vote against this.

00:57:50.320 --> 00:57:54.150
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:57:54.150 --> 00:58:05.710
Our next caller is Julie Rosen. You may go ahead.

00:58:05.710 --> 00:58:07.769
And Julie Rosen we're not able to hear you. Please check

00:58:07.769 --> 00:58:15.940
your mute button.

00:58:15.940 --> 00:58:22.510
All right, sorry. Yes, um. Added to what everyone has

00:58:22.519 --> 00:58:27.800
said. Uh, they're over 600 groups that have come out

00:58:27.800 --> 00:58:35.429
against this Proposal. And over a 170,000

00:58:35.429 --> 00:58:40.539
spoken to CPUC. In one of these meetings, emailed

00:58:40.539 --> 00:58:46.050
or called the Governor. Um, gone in person to protest

00:58:46.059 --> 00:58:50.579
rallies, etc. This is a grassroots movement.

00:58:51.230 --> 00:58:56.420
Everybody is outraged at the continued reproposals

00:58:56.429 --> 00:59:01.579
by the utility companies to try to gut solar. We could

00:59:01.579 --> 00:59:10.719
save $120 billion by 2050. If we backed the rooftop solar,

00:59:10.719 --> 00:59:15.170
instead of trying to destroy it. Please Members of

00:59:15.170 --> 00:59:20.179
the PUC. Close your eyes and think, do you honestly

00:59:21.320 --> 00:59:26.340
that this proposal is for the good of the State and

00:59:26.340 --> 00:59:32.920
the people? Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

00:59:35.099 --> 00:59:39.630
And our next caller is Vivian. You may go ahead.

00:59:39.630 --> 00:59:45.239
Hi, my name is Vivian. I'm calling in from San Jose. I just

00:59:45.250 --> 00:59:49.369
wanted to really basically echo everything people

00:59:49.369 --> 00:59:52.630
have said. I'm a relatively new homeowner and I haven't

00:59:52.630 --> 00:59:55.949
installed my own solar panels yet. But proposals like

00:59:55.949 --> 00:59:59.489
this will really make it more difficult for homeowners

00:59:59.489 --> 00:59:59.610
and

00:59:59.610 --> 01:00:01.630
Really, I think young homeowners who is trying to start

01:00:01.630 --> 01:00:05.610
families, to actually get on board with this. Um, I

01:00:05.610 --> 01:00:08.420
understand that, you know, this is one of many different

01:00:08.420 --> 01:00:10.520
ways to tackle the climate crisis. But we need to do

01:00:10.520 --> 01:00:14.410
everything we can and all aspects of life, governance,

01:00:14.410 --> 01:00:17.969
and public life. To make that move, so that we don't

01:00:17.980 --> 01:00:22.410
trash our own future. So I strongly urge you and all

01:00:22.410 --> 01:00:25.820
the other 20-30 callers who dialed in today, maybe 40.

01:00:26.009 --> 01:00:29.239
Um, to vote no on this. I think, I know where you

01:00:29.239 --> 01:00:31.469
should know where your consciousness lies. Thank you.

01:00:32.670 --> 01:00:36.769
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

01:00:36.769 --> 01:00:39.829
And our next caller is Patrick Kearns. You may go ahead.

01:00:42.560 --> 01:00:46.689
I have my mute off and I'm assuming I can be heard,

01:00:46.689 --> 01:00:51.740
Commissioners? Yes, we can hear you. Thank you. Um

01:00:51.750 --> 01:00:56.320
uh, I have spoken before about water issues. And I was

01:00:56.320 --> 01:01:01.329
just listening in today. I certainly um, ratify and

01:01:01.329 --> 01:01:06.489
amplify everything that is being said about this, um

01:01:07.519 --> 01:01:12.400
vote. It is unreasonable and the Commission is led

01:01:12.400 --> 01:01:16.540
by what is reasonable. It is anathema to the public

01:01:16.549 --> 01:01:22.179
interest, and you are hearing the public interest. And

01:01:22.179 --> 01:01:25.870
the public interest is not the 30% increase in the

01:01:25.870 --> 01:01:32.640
stock price of PG&E over the last period. The interest

01:01:32.640 --> 01:01:39.730
is in the Region, the State and the global climate

01:01:39.730 --> 01:01:46.319
crisis. This is I believe, under the term arbitrage,

01:01:46.329 --> 01:01:52.299
which PG&E is buying the energy and filming it.

01:01:53.230 --> 01:01:56.950
Uh and it's, it's cold (inaudible).

01:01:56.950 --> 01:02:00.429
You can't convict them of this, but arbitrage is illegal.

01:02:01.150 --> 01:02:05.920
They should pay what they get for what they are dealing

01:02:05.920 --> 01:02:10.600
with. Thank you. Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

01:02:12.529 --> 01:02:14.709
And before we go to the next caller, again if you would

01:02:14.709 --> 01:02:17.660
like to make a comment, please unmute your phone. Press

01:02:17.660 --> 01:02:20.880
*1 and slowly and clearly record your First and

01:02:20.880 --> 01:02:25.709
Last Name. Our next caller is Jennifer Nemorial with

01:02:25.709 --> 01:02:34.600
Hillsborough. You may go ahead.

01:02:34.600 --> 01:02:36.260
Jennifer, we're not able to hear you. Please check

01:02:36.260 --> 01:02:42.350
your mute button. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay

01:02:42.360 --> 01:02:48.200
great, thank you. Um, yes, I'm calling into echo the

01:02:48.209 --> 01:02:51.690
voices that are, that are speaking out against the proposed

01:02:51.700 --> 01:02:56.670
changes through rooftop solar. I would also like to comment

01:02:56.670 --> 01:03:00.499
on resolution M-4864. It must be removed from

01:03:00.499 --> 01:03:03.499
the consent agenda. And PG&E, cannot be allowed to

01:03:03.499 --> 01:03:07.749
exit step one of the enhanced oversight and enforcement

01:03:07.749 --> 01:03:11.369
process. PG&E's program to clear thousands of acres

01:03:11.369 --> 01:03:14.119
of trees, in the name of wildfire risk reduction is

01:03:14.119 --> 01:03:17.720
reckless, costly and detrimental. It actually worsens

01:03:17.730 --> 01:03:21.110
the chances of wildfire, due to miles of highly flammable

01:03:21.110 --> 01:03:25.329
(inaudible) and the subsequent growth of flammable grasses.

01:03:25.339 --> 01:03:28.749
It sends carbon into the atmosphere, removes the shade

01:03:28.760 --> 01:03:33.059
and heats the land. PG&E should not only remain on level

01:03:33.059 --> 01:03:35.399
one, it should be advanced to level two. For basing

01:03:35.399 --> 01:03:38.769
its wildfire mitigation, on the myth that the trees

01:03:38.769 --> 01:03:42.230
are the problem. It's a waste of consumer dollars. Fails

01:03:42.239 --> 01:03:45.649
to provide safe dependable power. Increases wildfire

01:03:45.649 --> 01:03:48.420
risk and accelerate the climate change. Thank you.

01:03:50.540 --> 01:03:56.510
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

01:03:56.510 --> 01:03:59.260
Our next caller is Jackie Garcia. You may go ahead.

01:04:01.869 --> 01:04:04.809
Hi, can you hear me?

01:04:04.809 --> 01:04:10.360
Yes, we can. Yes, I like most of the callers calling

01:04:10.360 --> 01:04:15.739
in. Um, I'm hoping that this proposal will be voted

01:04:15.739 --> 01:04:18.259
down. Matter of fact, I think it should not even be

01:04:18.270 --> 01:04:23.249
voted on in. In light of PG&E corporate profits.

01:04:23.259 --> 01:04:28.429
Uh, we should not be looking to increase the company's

01:04:28.439 --> 01:04:31.710
profits. We should be looking to protect homeowners

01:04:31.710 --> 01:04:36.889
access to solar and make it affordable. So, please

01:04:36.900 --> 01:04:41.799
um, change this proposal. It's too extreme. Thank you.

01:04:42.739 --> 01:04:50.330
Thank you. Operator, next caller please.

01:04:50.330 --> 01:04:53.059
And our next caller is Don Eichelberger. You may go

01:04:53.059 --> 01:05:00.660
ahead. Hi, I appreciate the chance to let my, add my

01:05:00.660 --> 01:05:08.009
voice to the list of opponents to this. Solar is land intensive.

01:05:08.020 --> 01:05:11.480
And to be able to get access to, there's millions of

01:05:11.489 --> 01:05:16.150
acres of solar rooftops. That have access to them in

01:05:16.150 --> 01:05:20.220
the United States, we could use those. We should not

01:05:20.230 --> 01:05:24.590
be um, penalizing people who try to unplug. We should

01:05:24.600 --> 01:05:30.360
be lowering the price of solar. Um, and allow so that

01:05:30.360 --> 01:05:36.009
it allows people to um, in install it that aren't rich.

01:05:36.020 --> 01:05:40.230
You know, we need people um, to be able, we need rental

01:05:40.230 --> 01:05:42.850
places to be able to. I would love my apartment building

01:05:42.850 --> 01:05:45.689
to be able to install solar. Have some incentive for

01:05:45.689 --> 01:05:52.660
the landlady to, you know, put on solar for us. And

01:05:52.670 --> 01:05:58.509
allow, you know, small, you know, grid interlocking

01:05:58.509 --> 01:06:05.350
rings with, with you know, micro um rinks. You

01:06:05.350 --> 01:06:07.610
know to (inaudible).

01:06:07.610 --> 01:06:15.069
So yeah, oppose this effort to tax. Thank you. Thank

01:06:15.069 --> 01:06:19.639
you. Operator, next caller please.

01:06:19.639 --> 01:06:21.790
We have no additional callers on the public comment

01:06:21.790 --> 01:06:23.730
telephone line at this time. But again, if you would

01:06:23.730 --> 01:06:26.749
like to make a comment, please unmute your phone. Press

01:06:26.749 --> 01:06:29.710
*1 and record your First and Last Name slowly

01:06:29.710 --> 01:06:34.280
and clearly when prompted.

01:06:34.280 --> 01:06:36.610
Thank you. We'll pause for a moment and let anyone

01:06:36.610 --> 01:07:39.509
else, who's on the line join the queue.

01:07:39.509 --> 01:07:41.730
And President Reynolds, there are no more participants

01:07:41.739 --> 01:07:45.059
on the public comment telephone line. Okay, thank you

01:07:45.059 --> 01:07:48.319
very much Operator. With no more callers on the line,

01:07:48.319 --> 01:07:52.600
the public comment period is now closed.

01:07:52.600 --> 01:07:56.379
I will now turn to the public agenda, and I'll start

01:07:56.379 --> 01:08:02.749
with the following changes to today's agenda. Items

01:08:02.759 --> 01:08:10.049
2, 3, 9, 10 and 13 are held until December 1, 2022. Item

01:08:10.059 --> 01:08:17.689
7 is held until January 12, 2023. Item 8 has

01:08:17.699 --> 01:08:21.540
been moved to the regular agenda. We will now take

01:08:21.540 --> 01:08:24.689
up the consent items. Is there a motion on the consent

01:08:24.689 --> 01:08:29.410
items? So moved. Motion by Commissioner Rechtschaffen.

01:08:29.410 --> 01:08:33.249
Do we have a second?

01:08:33.249 --> 01:08:37.869
Second. Second by Commissioner Reynolds. With a motion

01:08:37.869 --> 01:08:41.749
and a second for the consent agenda items. Agenda Clerk,

01:08:41.749 --> 01:08:45.289
could you please call the roll. Commissioner John Reynolds?

01:08:46.100 --> 01:08:50.029
Yes. Commissioner Houck?

01:08:50.029 --> 01:08:56.169
Yes. Commissioner Shiroma? Yes. Commissioner Rechtschaffen?

01:08:56.879 --> 01:09:03.739
Yes. President Alice Reynolds? Yes. The vote is 5-0. The

01:09:03.739 --> 01:09:08.659
consent items have been approved. Uh, Commissioner Rechtschaffen, I understand

01:09:08.659 --> 01:09:10.779
that you would like to make a brief comment, before

01:09:10.779 --> 01:09:14.600
we move to the next item. Yes, thank you. This is about

01:09:14.600 --> 01:09:19.050
item 6, the where we approved an electrification

01:09:19.050 --> 01:09:24.419
rate for (inaudible) and Electric. I supported this

01:09:24.430 --> 01:09:27.769
decision. I think having the right rate, are an essential

01:09:27.769 --> 01:09:31.149
part of our electrification and decarbonization efforts.

01:09:31.159 --> 01:09:34.749
I just want to make one brief comment on a narrow aspect

01:09:34.759 --> 01:09:39.119
of the decision. And in particular, I would have liked

01:09:39.119 --> 01:09:44.499
to see us establish a lower cost midday, off-peak

01:09:44.499 --> 01:09:48.249
time. That's the time of the day when our grid has

01:09:48.259 --> 01:09:52.779
the lowest DHG Emissions. Uh, some people have

01:09:52.779 --> 01:09:58.220
called this an EV happy hour. Um, but the basic

01:09:58.230 --> 01:10:03.180
concept is having a midday off-peak like this. Can be

01:10:03.180 --> 01:10:06.800
a useful way to get our electric vehicle customers

01:10:06.810 --> 01:10:10.169
charging in the middle of the day. Right now, we have

01:10:10.180 --> 01:10:15.470
excess solar energy that we're curtailing. A happy hour

01:10:15.470 --> 01:10:20.050
midday, happy hour could encourage EV owners to use

01:10:20.060 --> 01:10:23.019
electricity at that time. I think this would have been

01:10:23.019 --> 01:10:27.759
a good vehicle, and a good decision to create that opportunity.

01:10:27.769 --> 01:10:30.050
But going forward, I think we really should look at

01:10:30.050 --> 01:10:34.259
that, as we have more and more EVs on the road. We

01:10:34.259 --> 01:10:37.610
want to send the right signals for owners of EVs,

01:10:37.610 --> 01:10:39.539
to charge at the best time of the day for the

01:10:39.539 --> 01:10:42.700
grid. Thank you.

01:10:42.700 --> 01:10:49.039
Thank you. And I did want to make a note on item

01:10:49.050 --> 01:10:53.239
three on today's meeting agenda. Item 3 was subject

01:10:53.249 --> 01:10:56.050
to a rate setting deliberative meeting. And has been

01:10:56.050 --> 01:11:01.330
held to December 1, 2022. Um, I want to inform everyone.

01:11:01.330 --> 01:11:04.759
As a result, this item will be subject to a default

01:11:04.769 --> 01:11:08.960
ex parte quiet period. Pursuant to Public Utilities Code

01:11:08.970 --> 01:11:15.430
1701.3, paragraph 8, sub-paragraph 6. This item

01:11:15.430 --> 01:11:18.550
may be subject to additional quiet time, if the Commission

01:11:18.550 --> 01:11:21.700
chooses to extend the default quiet time for the December

01:11:21.700 --> 01:11:26.830
1st meeting. So the default quiet, for the default quiet

01:11:26.840 --> 01:11:30.860
period. No oral or written ex parte communications

01:11:30.860 --> 01:11:35.460
will be allowed from November 28, 2022 until the end

01:11:35.470 --> 01:11:39.529
of December 1st, the December 1, 2022 voting meeting.

01:11:40.340 --> 01:11:43.480
If the quiet time period changes, the parties will

01:11:43.480 --> 01:11:47.779
be notified. If this item is held again, the Commission

01:11:47.779 --> 01:11:50.639
will continue to have the ability to establish further

01:11:50.649 --> 01:11:55.310
ex parte quiet period. I will now move to item 8,

01:11:55.320 --> 01:12:04.610
on the regular agenda. Item 8 is R20-08-021.

01:12:04.619 --> 01:12:07.810
It is a proposed decision in a rulemaking, regarding

01:12:07.810 --> 01:12:10.800
revisions to the California Advanced Services Fund.

01:12:10.800 --> 01:12:13.749
Which proposes to modify program rules for the broadband

01:12:13.749 --> 01:12:17.340
infrastructure grants account. Commissioner Houck, would you like

01:12:17.340 --> 01:12:22.659
to open this item? Thank you, President Reynolds. This

01:12:22.669 --> 01:12:27.409
decision um, if adopted today in our uh, CSF rulemaking.

01:12:27.409 --> 01:12:30.610
Is one more step in the CPUCs implementation

01:12:30.610 --> 01:12:34.279
of SB156 and Governor Newsom's historic broadband

01:12:34.279 --> 01:12:37.639
investment package. The decision makes changes to the

01:12:37.639 --> 01:12:41.860
broadband infrastructure grant program guidelines. Significantly

01:12:41.860 --> 01:12:45.129
this decision updates the speed requirements for completed

01:12:45.129 --> 01:12:48.560
projects. Requiring grantees to deliver speeds of at

01:12:48.560 --> 01:12:52.800
least 100 megabytes per second, upload and 20 megabytes

01:12:52.810 --> 01:12:56.580
per second download. This update ensures that public

01:12:56.590 --> 01:12:59.820
funds support projects that deliver the speed necessary

01:12:59.830 --> 01:13:02.789
for video, conferencing, streaming and supporting multiple

01:13:02.789 --> 01:13:06.269
users in a household. The decision also updates the

01:13:06.279 --> 01:13:10.039
definition of an unserved location. Identifying locations

01:13:10.039 --> 01:13:13.249
as unserved if they lack access to speeds of at least

01:13:13.249 --> 01:13:16.470
25 megabits per second download and three megabits

01:13:16.480 --> 01:13:20.350
per second upload. This change allows for more locations

01:13:20.350 --> 01:13:23.230
to be eligible for funding for the speed upgrades, noted

01:13:23.239 --> 01:13:27.480
um previously. And the decision increases the budget

01:13:27.480 --> 01:13:30.529
limit. Under which proposed projects must fall in order,

01:13:30.529 --> 01:13:34.519
to be processed ministerially from $10 million to $25

01:13:34.519 --> 01:13:37.759
million. This will allow more projects to be reviewed

01:13:37.759 --> 01:13:40.330
ministerially, potentially speeding up the approval

01:13:40.330 --> 01:13:44.110
process. The decision also requires all grantees to

01:13:44.119 --> 01:13:47.590
offer a low-income broadband service plan and incentivizes,

01:13:47.600 --> 01:13:50.749
incentivizes the offer of a low-income plan that costs

01:13:50.749 --> 01:13:54.419
no more than $15. And participation in the Affordable

01:13:54.419 --> 01:13:57.850
Connectivity Program. Finally, the decision requires

01:13:57.850 --> 01:14:01.279
grantees to maintain the rates proposed in their applications,

01:14:01.289 --> 01:14:04.489
for five years following project completion. With the

01:14:04.489 --> 01:14:07.499
option to request modifications due, to changes in the

01:14:07.499 --> 01:14:11.379
gross domestic product price index. These changes ensure

01:14:11.379 --> 01:14:14.350
Californians benefit from the significant public funding

01:14:14.350 --> 01:14:17.060
invested in broadband infrastructure. And receive the

01:14:17.060 --> 01:14:20.570
digital services necessary for full participation in

01:14:20.570 --> 01:14:23.590
civic life. While also using administrative burdens

01:14:23.590 --> 01:14:26.499
and increasing the rate at which projects are reviewed.

01:14:26.759 --> 01:14:30.340
I'd like to thank um, Judge Gao, for her continued hard

01:14:30.340 --> 01:14:33.129
work in this proceeding. And particularly on this proposed

01:14:33.129 --> 01:14:36.419
decision. I'd like to thank my Advisor Eileen Odell,

01:14:36.419 --> 01:14:39.399
and our Communications Division Staff, including Selina

01:14:39.399 --> 01:14:44.169
Wang, Lou Fisher, Phil Ines, Vincent Copy, Attorney Enrique

01:14:44.169 --> 01:14:47.440
Gallardo. Um, for all of their work on this proposed

01:14:47.450 --> 01:14:50.379
decision. And I also would like to thank my baggly

01:14:50.379 --> 01:14:53.269
partner President Alice Reynolds and her advisor, Michael

01:14:53.269 --> 01:14:56.169
Mulaney. For all of their support in moving this decision

01:14:56.180 --> 01:15:00.060
forward. And with that, um I ask for your support in

01:15:00.060 --> 01:15:03.399
approving this proposed decision and conclude my comments.

01:15:04.919 --> 01:15:08.389
Thank you, Commissioner Houck. Um, I wanted to start by

01:15:08.389 --> 01:15:11.279
thanking you for your leadership in this proceeding.

01:15:11.279 --> 01:15:15.320
I will be supporting the proposed decision. Um, I also

01:15:15.320 --> 01:15:18.850
wanted to note, that the infrastructure grant account

01:15:18.860 --> 01:15:22.159
is the Commission's longest standing broadband grant

01:15:22.169 --> 01:15:28.930
program since 2008. The program has awarded 108 last

01:15:28.930 --> 01:15:31.669
mile and middle mile broadband infrastructure grants,

01:15:31.680 --> 01:15:36.509
totaling about 350 million. And we estimate that these

01:15:36.519 --> 01:15:39.360
grants have helped, to provide vital infrastructure

01:15:39.360 --> 01:15:44.830
to approximately 328,000 Californians. So it's a very

01:15:44.830 --> 01:15:48.529
important program. This decision is a great step forward.

01:15:48.539 --> 01:15:54.350
Um, and it implements the renewal that was adopted last

01:15:54.350 --> 01:15:57.379
year as part of the State's historic broadband package,

01:15:57.389 --> 01:16:00.550
enacted by Governor Newsom and the State Legislature.

01:16:00.940 --> 01:16:04.550
And with the changes that are being made, the program

01:16:04.550 --> 01:16:07.340
will continue to fund broadband infrastructure for

01:16:07.340 --> 01:16:11.090
an additional 10 years. And will receive a substantial

01:16:11.090 --> 01:16:15.009
increase in revenue. This is vital to achieving the

01:16:15.019 --> 01:16:19.830
State's broadband objective. And uh, and will continue

01:16:19.830 --> 01:16:23.989
to provide a funds, networks that provide broadband service

01:16:23.999 --> 01:16:27.700
that meets today's needs in the most underserved communities.

01:16:28.480 --> 01:16:31.820
Um, I wanted to thank Commissioner Houck again, and again

01:16:31.820 --> 01:16:34.320
note that I'll be supporting this item. I'll now turn

01:16:34.320 --> 01:16:41.739
to other Commissioners for comments.

01:16:41.739 --> 01:16:47.649
Commissioner Shiroma? Thank you, President Reynolds. I am in support

01:16:47.659 --> 01:16:51.739
of this proposed decision. I also want to thank Commissioner

01:16:51.739 --> 01:16:57.119
Houck. Uh, for your work to improve the broadband infrastructure

01:16:57.119 --> 01:17:01.230
grant account. And with this proposed decision, our

01:17:01.230 --> 01:17:05.399
Staff, prioritized review of projects based on service

01:17:05.399 --> 01:17:10.449
areas with low speeds uh, and projects in low-income

01:17:10.449 --> 01:17:14.740
communities. I strongly support the requirement for participating

01:17:14.740 --> 01:17:18.939
carriers, providing low-income programs such as California

01:17:18.939 --> 01:17:23.550
Lifeline or the Affordable Connectivity Program. And

01:17:23.550 --> 01:17:26.459
this will ensure that low-income customers in these

01:17:26.459 --> 01:17:31.139
service areas have affordable plans. With that I am

01:17:31.139 --> 01:17:35.149
in support of the decision. Thank you.

01:17:35.149 --> 01:17:38.020
Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma.

01:17:38.020 --> 01:17:41.560
Commissioner Reynolds?

01:17:41.560 --> 01:17:44.070
Thank you, President Reynolds. And I would like to thank

01:17:44.070 --> 01:17:47.490
Commissioner Houck, for your leadership in this proceeding.

01:17:47.490 --> 01:17:51.169
And also thanks to Judge Gao. I'm excited to see such

01:17:51.169 --> 01:17:54.209
a thoughtful proposed decision on modifications to

01:17:54.209 --> 01:17:57.990
the CASS infrastructure grant account. This decision

01:17:58.000 --> 01:18:00.990
is an important and necessary step to providing funding

01:18:00.990 --> 01:18:04.340
for infrastructure projects. Capable of providing broadband

01:18:04.340 --> 01:18:07.449
access to unserved areas or unserved households throughout

01:18:07.449 --> 01:18:11.110
California. There's, there are a lot of great elements

01:18:11.110 --> 01:18:12.869
of the (inaudible), and a couple of elements I'd like to

01:18:12.869 --> 01:18:16.949
highlight really. Are the better accounting for geographic

01:18:16.959 --> 01:18:20.840
differences in cost of living across the State. I agree

01:18:20.840 --> 01:18:24.270
with the proposed decisions modification of the low-

01:18:24.270 --> 01:18:28.469
income criteria. To refer to the Department of Housing

01:18:28.469 --> 01:18:31.959
and Community Development bench mark for defining low-

01:18:31.959 --> 01:18:36.919
income. Which um, will really help the funds reach more

01:18:36.919 --> 01:18:41.490
uncertain communities. Um, I also really appreciated

01:18:41.500 --> 01:18:45.020
the proposed decisions commitment, to optimizing the

01:18:45.030 --> 01:18:49.719
use of the State's middle mile network. Including feasible

01:18:49.719 --> 01:18:52.990
and cost effective interconnection with infrastructure

01:18:52.990 --> 01:18:56.340
projects. Recognizing that where such interconnection

01:18:56.340 --> 01:18:59.919
is not reasonable or reasonable. Our applicants will

01:18:59.919 --> 01:19:03.729
be able, will be required to provide a verifiable statement

01:19:03.729 --> 01:19:07.350
explaining why that interconnection is not feasible

01:19:07.350 --> 01:19:12.060
or reasonable. Um ultimately, I think the review process

01:19:12.070 --> 01:19:15.840
embedded in this proposed decision, will really streamline

01:19:15.850 --> 01:19:22.040
the review for applications. Um, really prioritizing

01:19:22.639 --> 01:19:27.540
projects in areas where service is currently below

01:19:27.550 --> 01:19:32.189
10-1 speeds. And then following, following those areas

01:19:32.189 --> 01:19:36.090
with low-income areas, really in order from lowest to

01:19:36.090 --> 01:19:38.020
highest income as we're reviewing projects. And I think

01:19:38.020 --> 01:19:41.100
it's, it's great to put that prioritization in place.

01:19:41.110 --> 01:19:45.860
So, that we are getting projects to communities that

01:19:45.860 --> 01:19:51.189
need the most first. Um,

01:19:51.189 --> 01:19:54.530
with that, I will be supporting this proposed decision.

01:19:54.540 --> 01:19:57.330
And thanks again to Commissioner Houck, for your leadership.

01:19:57.340 --> 01:20:00.300
Thank you to Judge Gao and to Communications Division,

01:20:00.310 --> 01:20:03.850
for all of the work. In ensuring that California is

01:20:03.860 --> 01:20:07.050
on track to support infrastructure funds and projects

01:20:07.050 --> 01:20:10.570
of the new year. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner

01:20:10.570 --> 01:20:16.770
Reynolds. Commissioner Rechtschaffen? I want to briefly, excuse

01:20:16.770 --> 01:20:22.050
me. I want to briefly express my support for this decision.

01:20:22.050 --> 01:20:26.490
My thanks to Commissioner Houck, Judge Gao, and Communications

01:20:26.500 --> 01:20:30.679
Division for their work on this. We've done a lot over

01:20:30.679 --> 01:20:34.159
the past several years to try to close the digital

01:20:34.159 --> 01:20:39.040
divide. And this is one of many very important efforts.

01:20:39.050 --> 01:20:42.090
I agree with what my colleague said, highlighting the

01:20:42.090 --> 01:20:46.159
importance of the affordable broadband plan. That's

01:20:46.159 --> 01:20:49.379
been provided the change in the definition of what

01:20:49.379 --> 01:20:55.669
constitutes a low-income customer. Also, the requirements

01:20:55.679 --> 01:20:59.649
that funding application, funding applicants, include

01:20:59.649 --> 01:21:02.469
a plan for engaging and marketing to environmental

01:21:02.469 --> 01:21:06.929
and social justice communities. So that they can benefit

01:21:06.939 --> 01:21:09.729
from the broadband that's going to become available

01:21:09.740 --> 01:21:14.909
in their area. I would close by making one point. Which

01:21:14.909 --> 01:21:18.110
I think everyone knows, that it's worth of all keeping

01:21:18.110 --> 01:21:22.959
in mind going forward. Uh, affordability continues to

01:21:22.959 --> 01:21:28.389
be a major issue for many Californians. So infrastructure

01:21:28.389 --> 01:21:32.229
is very important. It's critical but affordability

01:21:32.240 --> 01:21:36.500
remains an important barrier to access for many of

01:21:36.500 --> 01:21:39.179
our fellow residents. And we need to continue to work

01:21:39.189 --> 01:21:42.500
on, on that issue at the Commission, as this decision

01:21:42.500 --> 01:21:44.860
does. And there's other decisions too. But we can't

01:21:44.860 --> 01:21:47.929
lose sight. It's not just access, it's also affordability.

01:21:47.939 --> 01:21:50.590
With that, I'm strongly supportive of this decision.

01:21:52.979 --> 01:21:57.209
Thank you. That concludes Commissioner remarks. Um

01:21:57.219 --> 01:22:04.270
would, I welcome now a motion on item 8?

01:22:04.270 --> 01:22:07.449
So moved. Motion by Commissioner Rechtschaffen. Is

01:22:07.449 --> 01:22:10.020
there a second? I see Commissioner Shiroma with a

01:22:10.030 --> 01:22:15.240
second. I second. Thank you. With a motion and a

01:22:15.250 --> 01:22:17.820
second on item 8, Agenda Clerk, would you please

01:22:17.820 --> 01:22:23.389
call the roll. Commissioner John Reynolds? Yes. Commissioner

01:22:23.389 --> 01:22:30.860
Houck? Yes. Commissioner Shiroma? Yes. Commissioner Rechtschaffen?

01:22:32.820 --> 01:22:38.939
President Alice Reynolds? Yes. The vote is 5-0. The item

01:22:38.939 --> 01:22:45.389
passes. We'll now move to item 31. Item 31 is the initiation

01:22:45.399 --> 01:22:48.790
of an order instituting rulemaking, to develop policy

01:22:48.790 --> 01:22:52.679
and create a consistent regulatory framework. For distributed

01:22:52.689 --> 01:22:57.610
energy resource customer programs. Uh, this rulemaking

01:22:57.610 --> 01:23:01.619
continues and expands our previous efforts around cost

01:23:01.619 --> 01:23:05.389
effectiveness of distributed energy resources. In order

01:23:05.389 --> 01:23:09.010
to ensure that we are accurately and consistently valuing

01:23:09.010 --> 01:23:12.350
these resources, in terms of benefits to the grid and

01:23:12.350 --> 01:23:16.790
rate pairs. The rulemaking also initiates a new focus

01:23:16.800 --> 01:23:19.949
on improving distributed energy resources customer

01:23:19.949 --> 01:23:24.020
programs in two ways. By improving the collection and

01:23:24.020 --> 01:23:28.250
usage of distributed energy resources data. And by considering

01:23:28.260 --> 01:23:31.260
how we can improve equipment and performance standards

01:23:31.270 --> 01:23:34.179
for distributed energy resource customer programs.

01:23:35.250 --> 01:23:38.860
Taking together the three tracks, that are created are

01:23:38.860 --> 01:23:42.369
intended to support the distributed energy resource

01:23:42.379 --> 01:23:45.699
customer experience. Particular for customers living

01:23:45.699 --> 01:23:48.679
in environmental injustice, social communities and

01:23:48.679 --> 01:23:52.040
to further the CPUC's DER Action Plan

01:23:52.040 --> 01:23:55.060
goal. To enable customers to effectively manage their

01:23:55.060 --> 01:23:58.770
energy use in a manner that ensures equitable participation

01:23:58.780 --> 01:24:03.610
and distribution of benefits. I mean they briefly described

01:24:03.619 --> 01:24:06.399
the three components of the rule making and more detail.

01:24:06.409 --> 01:24:08.790
And then turned to my fellow Commissioners, starting

01:24:08.790 --> 01:24:12.610
with Commissioner Houck. Who led the predecessor proceeding

01:24:12.610 --> 01:24:17.550
to this OIR. Uh, the rulemaking primarily continues

01:24:17.550 --> 01:24:20.669
and expands the work previously conducted in the integrated

01:24:20.669 --> 01:24:24.740
distributed energy resources proceeding. The continuation

01:24:24.740 --> 01:24:28.550
of that work involves the following, continued bi-annual

01:24:28.560 --> 01:24:32.030
updates of the avoided cost calculator, determining

01:24:32.030 --> 01:24:35.790
whether and how to adopt a societal cost test for DERs,

01:24:35.790 --> 01:24:39.479
and determining how to best apply air quality

01:24:39.479 --> 01:24:43.169
resource, research results.

01:24:43.169 --> 01:24:46.669
Additionally, the third element is improving coordination

01:24:46.669 --> 01:24:49.800
with other proceedings. Particularly the integrated

01:24:49.800 --> 01:24:52.750
resource planning or IRP proceeding. In order to

01:24:52.750 --> 01:24:56.850
ensure that DER costs and implementation are consistent

01:24:56.860 --> 01:25:01.479
across resources. Rulemaking will also focus on improving

01:25:01.479 --> 01:25:04.919
the reporting availability, and privacy protections,

01:25:04.929 --> 01:25:09.490
and use of data from smart meter devices.

01:25:09.490 --> 01:25:11.760
And finally, in the second phase of the proceeding.

01:25:11.760 --> 01:25:14.689
The CPUC will turn its attention to considering whether

01:25:14.689 --> 01:25:17.639
equipment performance standards, can support the development

01:25:17.639 --> 01:25:20.560
and deployment of technologies. In ways that ensure

01:25:20.560 --> 01:25:24.369
they meet grid deeds. I'm really looking forward to

01:25:24.369 --> 01:25:29.050
seeing this work unfold. And I also um, before turning

01:25:29.050 --> 01:25:32.409
to other Commissioners. Wanted to give a huge thanks

01:25:32.419 --> 01:25:35.969
to Energy Division Staff. Who have worked very hard

01:25:35.979 --> 01:25:41.219
on this OIR including, specifically Joy Morgenstern,

01:25:41.229 --> 01:25:45.139
Dan Bush and (inaudible). Additionally, I'd like

01:25:45.139 --> 01:25:48.250
to thank Judge Fogel, the Assigned Administrative Law

01:25:48.250 --> 01:25:52.850
Judge, and my staff Carrie Fleischer and Ana (inaudible).

01:25:52.850 --> 01:25:57.040
Um with, that um, I would will now turn to Commissioner

01:25:57.040 --> 01:26:00.320
Houck. And I'd like to thank her, for her work in preparing

01:26:00.320 --> 01:26:04.580
this OIR. Um and let her provide additional comments.

01:26:04.590 --> 01:26:07.699
Commissioner Houck.

01:26:07.699 --> 01:26:11.139
Thank you, President Reynolds. The customer programs

01:26:11.149 --> 01:26:14.740
proceeding um, will continue the work of the cost effectiveness

01:26:14.750 --> 01:26:18.119
track of the previous IDER proceeding. As well

01:26:18.119 --> 01:26:21.189
as take on new work consistent with the DER action

01:26:21.189 --> 01:26:24.219
plan. I agree with President Reynolds comment that

01:26:24.229 --> 01:26:28.439
um, this is a much needed proceeding. And I will be excited

01:26:28.439 --> 01:26:32.360
to follow um, it as it moves forward, to address the

01:26:32.360 --> 01:26:35.810
goals that were set out in the DER action plan 2.0

01:26:35.810 --> 01:26:39.719
Through this rulemaking, we're going to continue

01:26:39.719 --> 01:26:42.610
our efforts to correctly value the contribution of

01:26:42.610 --> 01:26:46.389
distributed energy resources to the grid. This is essential

01:26:46.389 --> 01:26:50.010
for determining DER cost effectiveness. These efforts

01:26:50.010 --> 01:26:52.879
are also essential to our work and planning the reliable

01:26:52.879 --> 01:26:57.179
resilience and clean grid of the future. That um,

01:26:57.179 --> 01:27:00.320
to be needed to meet our climate goals. On the resource

01:27:00.320 --> 01:27:03.699
evaluation and planning side, the OIR invites interested

01:27:03.699 --> 01:27:08.280
parties to provide comment on several questions. Such

01:27:08.280 --> 01:27:11.260
as how to procurement and cost effectiveness analysis

01:27:11.270 --> 01:27:14.189
changes, as we incorporate air quality adders or use a

01:27:14.199 --> 01:27:19.689
societal cost test. Um, and how can we advance our understanding

01:27:19.689 --> 01:27:24.520
of DER contribution to the grid. On the consumer

01:27:24.520 --> 01:27:28.330
side, smart meters and network DERs, allow unprecedented

01:27:28.330 --> 01:27:31.479
opportunities to maximize benefits for individuals

01:27:31.490 --> 01:27:35.179
and rate payers as a whole. We will explore new opportunities

01:27:35.189 --> 01:27:38.070
for data sharing. As well as the possibility of providing

01:27:38.070 --> 01:27:41.369
real time prices to customer devices. All while maintaining

01:27:41.369 --> 01:27:45.179
customer privacy. Finally, the phase two of the proceeding

01:27:45.179 --> 01:27:47.709
will consider equipment standards, to ensure that we

01:27:47.709 --> 01:27:51.379
maximize benefits for ratepayer funded DER programs.

01:27:52.050 --> 01:27:55.129
As President Reynolds mentioned, I was the assigned

01:27:55.129 --> 01:27:59.229
Commissioner for the predecessor IDER rulemaking.

01:27:59.240 --> 01:28:03.149
And my office worked closely with Staff um, as this

01:28:03.159 --> 01:28:06.179
OIR was developed. And I also want to recognize

01:28:06.179 --> 01:28:08.629
and thank the many Staff who worked on this matter.

01:28:08.629 --> 01:28:11.810
And you know, made the heavy lift to bring this proposal

01:28:11.810 --> 01:28:15.060
before us. Um, a special thanks to recognize all of the

01:28:15.060 --> 01:28:21.350
work of Joy Morganstein, um Dan Bush, (inaudible), um

01:28:21.360 --> 01:28:28.179
ALJ Kathie Vogel, and ALJ Elaine Lau. Um and again, just

01:28:28.189 --> 01:28:31.879
really want to um, acknowledge all of the hard work

01:28:31.879 --> 01:28:35.310
that Joy Morgenstein has put into this. Over um, not

01:28:35.320 --> 01:28:39.010
just um, the last couple of months, but really the last

01:28:39.020 --> 01:28:41.479
couple of years. Both in the development of the DER

01:28:41.479 --> 01:28:45.770
action plan as well as um, the OIR. And also

01:28:45.780 --> 01:28:49.219
recognize all of the work of Simon Baker, (inaudible).

01:28:49.229 --> 01:28:53.199
And um thank you to my former Advisor, Kathleen

01:28:53.199 --> 01:28:58.429
(inaudible), for her work on this. And Adam, my current Advisor,

01:28:58.439 --> 01:29:02.330
who also um, jumped in to provide feedback and comment.

01:29:02.340 --> 01:29:05.649
And then just the dozens of other Energy Division Staff.

01:29:05.659 --> 01:29:09.399
That read and made comments to the OIR. Um, it was

01:29:09.409 --> 01:29:13.740
truly a team effort. Given um, the number of areas that

01:29:13.750 --> 01:29:16.530
will be touched on by this OIR. So again, I

01:29:16.530 --> 01:29:20.510
just wanted to thank Energy Division for the outstanding

01:29:20.510 --> 01:29:24.270
an excellent job in preparing this. And um, I will be

01:29:24.280 --> 01:29:27.270
supporting the OIR.

01:29:27.270 --> 01:29:33.320
Thank you. Comments from other Commissioners?

01:29:33.320 --> 01:29:36.490
Commissioner Shiroma?

01:29:36.490 --> 01:29:40.129
Thank you, President Reynolds. Uh, I'm in support of this

01:29:40.139 --> 01:29:45.199
order. Instituting rulemaking for distributed energy

01:29:45.199 --> 01:29:49.310
resource customer programs. I really like how it will

01:29:49.310 --> 01:29:53.409
push for consistency of cost effectiveness. Improve

01:29:53.409 --> 01:29:57.490
the data collection and use. And eventually consider

01:29:57.490 --> 01:30:01.169
equipment performance standards across the various

01:30:01.179 --> 01:30:05.820
DER related proceedings. And really interested

01:30:05.830 --> 01:30:09.369
in the focus on improving and supporting the customer

01:30:09.369 --> 01:30:13.939
experience. Especially for customers living in environmental

01:30:14.050 --> 01:30:18.100
and social justice communities. And of course, advancing

01:30:18.110 --> 01:30:22.719
California's climate goals, for ease of access for low-

01:30:22.719 --> 01:30:26.780
income Californians. Uh and environmental and social

01:30:26.780 --> 01:30:30.860
justice communities. Also appreciate that this proceeding

01:30:30.869 --> 01:30:34.219
will not limit the ability of any resource proceeding.

01:30:34.219 --> 01:30:39.110
To determine the policies or procedures needed to achieve

01:30:39.119 --> 01:30:42.629
preceding goals. And rather this proceeding will look

01:30:42.629 --> 01:30:46.909
to smooth out coordination and hopefully find synergies.

01:30:46.919 --> 01:30:50.600
Critical for informing program development and rate

01:30:50.600 --> 01:30:54.850
design. Uh, I'm keen to see how these efforts will support

01:30:54.860 --> 01:30:58.800
vehicle to grid integration, in addition (inaudible) in

01:30:58.800 --> 01:31:03.330
the near term decarbonization efforts and grid reliability.

01:31:03.340 --> 01:31:05.629
I appreciate all the work that has gone into this OIR.

01:31:05.629 --> 01:31:11.219
I want to thank Energy Division, and the (inaudible)

01:31:11.219 --> 01:31:19.060
division for briefing me in advance on this effort.

01:31:19.100 --> 01:31:23.500
And I do want to particularly note Joy Morgenstern,

01:31:23.510 --> 01:31:28.610
for her keen attention to this effort, long time effort.

01:31:29.240 --> 01:31:34.500
Uh and with, that I'll be in support of this new

01:31:34.510 --> 01:31:38.879
OIR. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma. Commissioner

01:31:38.879 --> 01:31:42.330
Reynolds?

01:31:42.330 --> 01:31:45.780
Thank you, President Reynolds. I will reiterate my colleague's

01:31:45.790 --> 01:31:48.689
thanks to Energy Division and the enormous teams that

01:31:48.699 --> 01:31:52.280
contributed to the development of this rulemaking. And

01:31:52.280 --> 01:31:55.770
to the DER Action plan overall, as well. We and we

01:31:55.780 --> 01:31:58.240
cannot fail to acknowledge, the one person who's been

01:31:58.240 --> 01:32:01.159
recognized a few times already. In particular, who was,

01:32:01.169 --> 01:32:04.100
with it at the start, Joy Morganstern.

01:32:04.110 --> 01:32:07.340
Whose commitment to improve cost effectiveness and

01:32:07.340 --> 01:32:11.540
the equity of CBC programs, (inaudible) to them.

01:32:11.540 --> 01:32:14.929
Overall, I appreciate how the OIR is actionable.

01:32:14.939 --> 01:32:19.439
With each track broken down into parts. Making, making

01:32:19.439 --> 01:32:22.669
all of our programs um, more consistent and coordinated

01:32:22.669 --> 01:32:25.619
across multiple proceeding, is a really complicated

01:32:25.619 --> 01:32:29.639
endeavor. But with such discrete tasks outlined already,

01:32:29.649 --> 01:32:34.060
it becomes more manageable. In spite of the fact that

01:32:34.060 --> 01:32:37.090
it does become more manageable. Um, I recognize that

01:32:37.090 --> 01:32:40.840
this proceeding is a big, complex undertaking. And we

01:32:40.840 --> 01:32:44.219
will have to think carefully about what we can do here.

01:32:44.729 --> 01:32:48.679
And, and how we can do that versus what remains in individual

01:32:48.679 --> 01:32:51.949
resource proceedings. I look forward to coordinating

01:32:51.949 --> 01:32:54.820
particularly on demand response issues. Which are assigned

01:32:54.820 --> 01:32:58.159
to my office. I am eager to see where this proceeding

01:32:58.159 --> 01:33:01.750
goes, as the scoping develops. And with this kind of

01:33:01.760 --> 01:33:05.050
overarching focus, that touches on many issue areas.

01:33:05.060 --> 01:33:08.949
And that many DERs have their own proceedings. It may

01:33:08.949 --> 01:33:11.709
make sense to incorporate some regular updates. That

01:33:11.709 --> 01:33:15.240
are directed to all of the offices, on the other service

01:33:15.240 --> 01:33:19.280
lists or via other means. So that um, we all can coordinate

01:33:19.280 --> 01:33:22.350
the work in our own individual proceedings. And with

01:33:22.350 --> 01:33:24.360
that, I will be supporting this item and, and look forward

01:33:24.360 --> 01:33:27.830
to working of this proceeding.

01:33:27.830 --> 01:33:30.850
Thank you, Commissioner Reynolds.

01:33:30.850 --> 01:33:35.280
Commissioner Rechtschaffen? I'm also very supportive of this

01:33:35.290 --> 01:33:40.639
proceeding. We know that in order to meet our decarbonization,

01:33:40.649 --> 01:33:44.040
decarbonization goals. We, we need to encourage and

01:33:44.040 --> 01:33:47.969
optimize the deployment of distributed energy resources

01:33:47.969 --> 01:33:51.479
in California. And this decision is one of many that

01:33:51.479 --> 01:33:54.740
we've undertaken to make that happen. The two issues

01:33:54.740 --> 01:33:57.250
that are going to be addressed right at the outset

01:33:57.250 --> 01:34:02.389
that I think are really important. One is whether to

01:34:02.389 --> 01:34:07.490
adopt a societal cost test. We've been thinking about

01:34:07.490 --> 01:34:10.729
that and discussing that for some time, and I'm glad

01:34:10.729 --> 01:34:13.879
that the OIR is taking that on. Uh, if it's

01:34:13.879 --> 01:34:16.990
adopted, it will have a very significant impact on

01:34:16.990 --> 01:34:20.769
our uh, the overall cost effects of this framework for

01:34:20.769 --> 01:34:24.329
distributed energy resources. That's very important.

01:34:24.629 --> 01:34:27.559
The second is something others have mentioned. How

01:34:27.559 --> 01:34:33.530
do we make the best use of data that we get from

01:34:33.530 --> 01:34:37.160
customers about their energy consumption? There's enormous

01:34:37.169 --> 01:34:41.579
potential to use that data to help increase customer

01:34:41.579 --> 01:34:44.450
awareness. Increase adoption of distributed energy

01:34:44.450 --> 01:34:48.120
resources. We know that there's been longtime barriers

01:34:48.129 --> 01:34:52.110
to getting, using that data effectively. I'm very happy

01:34:52.110 --> 01:34:55.180
that, that is one of the issues that will be addressed

01:34:55.189 --> 01:34:59.490
very early on in this OIR. I would feel very badly

01:34:59.490 --> 01:35:03.019
if my East Coast buddy, Joy Morgenstern did not get

01:35:03.019 --> 01:35:06.689
a thanks and shoutout for me too. So I echo everybody's

01:35:06.700 --> 01:35:09.689
endorsement. And Commissioner Shiroma, she's been working

01:35:09.689 --> 01:35:12.090
on this for years, more than two years, three years.

01:35:12.090 --> 01:35:14.849
She's been working this for close to a decade, probably.

01:35:14.849 --> 01:35:18.519
And I greatly appreciate her incredible knowledge and

01:35:18.519 --> 01:35:25.979
expertise on this issue.

01:35:25.979 --> 01:35:29.289
Thank you, Commissioner Rechtschaffen. Uh, that concludes

01:35:29.289 --> 01:35:33.410
Commissioner comments. Um, do we have a motion on item

01:35:33.410 --> 01:35:38.820
31?

01:35:38.820 --> 01:35:41.849
I'll be pleased to make the motion.

01:35:41.849 --> 01:35:44.829
Wonderful. Motion by Commissioner Shiroma. And who would

01:35:44.829 --> 01:35:49.140
like to second? Commissioner Houck, I see your hand.

01:35:49.149 --> 01:35:52.860
Second by Commissioner Houck. With a motion and a second,

01:35:52.860 --> 01:35:55.740
on item 31. Agenda Clerk, could you please call the

01:35:55.740 --> 01:36:01.110
roll. Commissioner John Reynolds? Yes. Commissioner

01:36:01.110 --> 01:36:07.789
Houck? Yes. Commissionership Shiroma? Yes. Commissioner Rechtschaffen?

01:36:10.490 --> 01:36:16.010
President Alice Reynolds? Yes. The vote is 5-0. The

01:36:16.010 --> 01:36:21.970
item passes. We'll now move to item 32. Item 32 is a

01:36:21.970 --> 01:36:25.370
proposed decision in a rulemaking, to continue the development

01:36:25.370 --> 01:36:29.209
of rates and infrastructure for vehicle electrification.

01:36:29.220 --> 01:36:36.990
It is R18-12-006. And um, let's see. I understand

01:36:36.990 --> 01:36:39.709
that Commissioner Reynolds will be recusing himself.

01:36:41.140 --> 01:36:43.939
Yes. Thank you, President Reynolds. Due to my prior employment,

01:36:43.950 --> 01:36:49.340
I will be recusing myself on this item.

01:36:49.340 --> 01:36:53.570
Okay. Um, we're now ready to move to opening comments.

01:36:53.579 --> 01:36:57.120
Commissioner Rechtschaffen? Thank you, President Reynolds.

01:36:58.209 --> 01:37:02.530
This decision marks what I think, is an important milestone

01:37:02.539 --> 01:37:07.300
in our role in promoting transportation electrification.

01:37:07.890 --> 01:37:11.809
And achieving the State's very ambitious climate goals.

01:37:11.820 --> 01:37:16.030
Transportation emissions, as we often hear, are the

01:37:16.030 --> 01:37:20.019
State's largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. They are

01:37:20.019 --> 01:37:22.620
also the largest, responsible for the largest share

01:37:22.620 --> 01:37:26.879
of harmful air pollutants. Such as NOX, which causes

01:37:26.890 --> 01:37:29.720
ozone and particulate matter, which has very harmful

01:37:29.720 --> 01:37:32.590
health effects. I want to take a step back and just

01:37:32.590 --> 01:37:35.370
situate this decision. In light of everything that's

01:37:35.370 --> 01:37:38.300
gone on, and everything that we've done over the years.

01:37:39.019 --> 01:37:43.019
The CPUC actually opened up our first transportation

01:37:43.019 --> 01:37:48.110
electrification rulemaking in 2009. Which was way ahead

01:37:48.110 --> 01:37:52.840
of almost anybody. Uh, we've probably issued over a

01:37:52.840 --> 01:37:57.570
dozen decisions promoting electrification, since then.

01:37:58.260 --> 01:38:06.490
In 2015, the Legislature passed SB350, and that enhanced

01:38:06.490 --> 01:38:10.870
our role. Uh, that Bill directed utilities to file

01:38:10.879 --> 01:38:14.700
applications with us, for programs to support widespread

01:38:14.700 --> 01:38:17.849
transportation electrification. And that's been the

01:38:17.860 --> 01:38:22.180
framework we've been operating under, since then. In

01:38:22.180 --> 01:38:27.149
the meantime, are the states EV goals have gone, have

01:38:27.160 --> 01:38:31.399
grown very dramatically. In 2012, Governor Jerry Brown,

01:38:31.410 --> 01:38:35.439
established a goal to have 1.5 million zero emission

01:38:35.439 --> 01:38:40.269
vehicles on the road by 2025. He later upped that to 5

01:38:40.269 --> 01:38:44.970
million by 2030. And at that time in 2012, there maybe,

01:38:44.979 --> 01:38:49.169
there were maybe two or three models of electric vehicles

01:38:49.180 --> 01:38:54.320
being sold. Uh, you jump forward, fast forward to this

01:38:54.320 --> 01:38:58.840
year. Earlier this year, the Air Resources Board mandated

01:38:58.849 --> 01:39:04.070
that by 2035, all new light duty vehicles sold in California

01:39:04.070 --> 01:39:08.129
has to be electric vehicles or zero emission vehicles.

01:39:08.140 --> 01:39:11.309
The Air Board has also established rules for heavy duty

01:39:11.309 --> 01:39:15.439
vehicles. Those are the flow of time, time frame, but

01:39:15.450 --> 01:39:20.820
all by 2045, 100% have to be zero emission, zero emission

01:39:20.820 --> 01:39:25.849
vehicles. 55% by 2035. We have a zero emission bus

01:39:25.849 --> 01:39:28.399
rules. So all busses in the state have to be electric

01:39:28.410 --> 01:39:33.459
by 2040. The good news is the EV sector is growing

01:39:33.459 --> 01:39:38.919
rapidly in California. We have over 1.3 million EVs

01:39:38.919 --> 01:39:42.760
on the road in California. There are now over 115

01:39:42.769 --> 01:39:48.860
models of EVs for sale. EV sales are 17%

01:39:48.870 --> 01:39:53.599
of new California sales, in California. A, a very significant

01:39:53.599 --> 01:39:57.820
potential tipping point. And by the way, ZEVs are one

01:39:57.820 --> 01:40:02.019
of California's leading exports. So, that's the background.

01:40:02.019 --> 01:40:07.559
Now today's decision, is part of a much larger set of

01:40:08.099 --> 01:40:11.829
regs and policies that have been moving transportation

01:40:11.829 --> 01:40:15.800
electrification forward at the State. There other State

01:40:15.800 --> 01:40:18.860
agencies, many others that have a suite of complementary

01:40:18.860 --> 01:40:22.780
policies. That have been addressing barriers, barriers

01:40:22.789 --> 01:40:27.870
to the adoption and easy deployment. Our sister agency

01:40:27.870 --> 01:40:31.129
the Energy Commission, they have been given the lead

01:40:31.140 --> 01:40:38.419
under State Law, under AB2127. For developing a comprehensive

01:40:38.419 --> 01:40:42.340
roadmap for the State's infrastructure needs. One that

01:40:42.340 --> 01:40:45.059
we've relied on a great deal in this decision. And in

01:40:45.059 --> 01:40:48.959
our other transportation electrification work. So right

01:40:48.959 --> 01:40:53.059
at the start, I wanna just express my very deep gratitude.

01:40:53.070 --> 01:40:56.399
To my colleagues at the Energy Commission, the Resources

01:40:56.410 --> 01:41:00.570
Board, the California Transportation Agency, and the

01:41:00.570 --> 01:41:03.309
Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

01:41:03.320 --> 01:41:06.749
Which has a ZEV coordinating, ZEV Coordinator and has

01:41:06.760 --> 01:41:11.399
played a great role in helping to collaborate uh, across

01:41:11.410 --> 01:41:15.979
agencies. But all of those uh, agencies for their collaboration

01:41:15.990 --> 01:41:20.220
and for making California the place to be. For forward

01:41:20.220 --> 01:41:23.349
looking EV policy and transportation electrification

01:41:23.349 --> 01:41:28.539
development. The decision today uh, results from over

01:41:28.539 --> 01:41:33.780
three years of hard work by Staff and very engaged

01:41:33.789 --> 01:41:38.700
stakeholders. So as I mentioned briefly in the past

01:41:38.709 --> 01:41:43.879
up till now, our electrification funding decisions came

01:41:43.879 --> 01:41:48.669
as a result of individual and really ADHOC applications,

01:41:48.680 --> 01:41:53.340
for programs by each of the utilities. These programs

01:41:53.340 --> 01:41:56.720
weren't especially well coordinated. They typically

01:41:56.720 --> 01:42:01.189
been slow to approve. Uh, it's a full application process

01:42:01.200 --> 01:42:05.910
typically necessitating evidentiary hearings, and the

01:42:05.910 --> 01:42:11.680
long decision making process that we're we, we do often

01:42:11.680 --> 01:42:15.439
find ourselves subject to. In any case, we've approved

01:42:15.450 --> 01:42:20.140
close to $2 billion, 1.8 billion dollars for a whole

01:42:20.140 --> 01:42:23.840
number, a whole host of utility programs. Light duty

01:42:23.849 --> 01:42:28.840
and medium duty uh, market segments, workplaces, forklift,

01:42:28.840 --> 01:42:34.849
school buses and many more. But as we gained more

01:42:34.849 --> 01:42:40.959
and more experience in this space. We thought it better

01:42:40.959 --> 01:42:44.519
to replace this ADHOC approach. With something that's

01:42:44.530 --> 01:42:49.970
more uniform, more streamlined and hopefully faster.

01:42:49.979 --> 01:42:55.340
And, and that's what is, that's what's been developed

01:42:55.340 --> 01:42:59.410
here. Staff was working hard on alternatives to that

01:42:59.419 --> 01:43:03.860
uncoordinated approach. Initially, Staff proposed requiring

01:43:03.860 --> 01:43:07.599
utilities to prepare transportation electrification

01:43:07.599 --> 01:43:12.620
investment plans. Those would be comparable to electric,

01:43:12.629 --> 01:43:18.269
electricity procurement plans, like our RRP plan. But steps

01:43:18.269 --> 01:43:21.050
up, that after getting a lot of unfavorable stakeholder

01:43:21.050 --> 01:43:27.079
comments. Uh, (inaudible) the markets too young to need

01:43:27.079 --> 01:43:29.860
such a thorough study. And, and this would really

01:43:29.860 --> 01:43:32.419
harm things, would slow down the planning process too

01:43:32.419 --> 01:43:37.220
much. But to their credit Staff pivoted and moved away

01:43:37.220 --> 01:43:42.410
from that formula. Then very significantly in 2021,

01:43:42.419 --> 01:43:48.099
the Legislature enacted AB841. And 841, sets up

01:43:48.099 --> 01:43:52.720
a new paradigm for distribution side upgrades for

01:43:52.720 --> 01:43:56.530
EVs. It said those don't have to be approved any longer,

01:43:56.539 --> 01:44:01.789
in individual utility applications. Rather utilities

01:44:01.800 --> 01:44:06.860
can get those costs approved along with other distribution

01:44:06.860 --> 01:44:11.349
upgrade costs in their GRC. So that's taken that

01:44:11.349 --> 01:44:15.669
out of the role of these individual proceedings. That

01:44:15.669 --> 01:44:18.399
proceed that, that statute also makes clear. By the

01:44:18.399 --> 01:44:22.820
way, that any distribution upgrade and the cost of any

01:44:22.820 --> 01:44:26.959
upgrades triggered by new EV load ,are paid for by rate

01:44:26.959 --> 01:44:30.360
payers as a whole. Those are socialized costs. So

01:44:30.360 --> 01:44:34.129
this decision replaces those multiple applications.

01:44:34.129 --> 01:44:37.240
And establishes, would establish a single Statewide

01:44:37.240 --> 01:44:41.120
program. For utility transportation electrification

01:44:41.120 --> 01:44:44.669
investments starting in 2025, and lasting through the

01:44:44.669 --> 01:44:49.450
end of the decade. It will consist of rebates. Rebates

01:44:49.459 --> 01:44:53.340
for customer side, behind the meter infrastructure. And

01:44:53.340 --> 01:44:56.229
this includes, the so called make ready conduit and

01:44:56.229 --> 01:44:59.849
other electricity infrastructure needed. As well as,

01:44:59.860 --> 01:45:03.599
for the actual charges. And it's, it includes both light

01:45:03.610 --> 01:45:09.099
duty and medium and heavy duty charging. The utilities

01:45:09.110 --> 01:45:12.680
will not be permitted to own any of this infrastructure.

01:45:12.689 --> 01:45:16.240
And the rationale for that, is that will mean lower

01:45:16.240 --> 01:45:20.160
costs for ratepayers. These charges and the other equipment

01:45:20.160 --> 01:45:25.129
will not be in utility rate base. Also while there's

01:45:25.129 --> 01:45:28.110
been an argument for utility ownership in a nascent

01:45:28.110 --> 01:45:31.689
market. Where customers need more hand holding. Given

01:45:31.689 --> 01:45:36.269
the advancing state of the market. By mid decade, utility

01:45:36.269 --> 01:45:39.209
ownership should really not be necessary, even to reach

01:45:39.209 --> 01:45:45.309
difficult to access segments. Uh, so. Uh, that's

01:45:45.320 --> 01:45:49.180
the rationale for that. We think the program moves

01:45:49.180 --> 01:45:53.229
in the direction of right sizing the role of utility,

01:45:53.240 --> 01:45:57.820
in the EV infrastructure. And will allow the utilities

01:45:57.829 --> 01:46:02.439
to focus more on the areas within their core competencies.

01:46:02.860 --> 01:46:07.870
And that includes distribution side upgrades. Interconnecting

01:46:07.870 --> 01:46:12.110
new EV charging loads. Providing the clean electricity

01:46:12.110 --> 01:46:15.419
to customers, rate design, technical assistance, and

01:46:15.419 --> 01:46:21.129
so forth. Uh, this program complements some of our existing

01:46:21.129 --> 01:46:25.610
utility programs. As well as, other EV infrastructure

01:46:25.610 --> 01:46:29.459
programs, that other state agencies are administering.

01:46:30.340 --> 01:46:33.349
So I want to note just again that the rebate program

01:46:33.349 --> 01:46:37.760
and the marketing, education and outreach will be run

01:46:37.760 --> 01:46:40.410
by a third party administrator. And that again frees

01:46:40.410 --> 01:46:43.919
up utility resources for those other functions, that

01:46:43.919 --> 01:46:47.450
I mentioned. The decision does direct utilities to

01:46:47.459 --> 01:46:52.180
focus on technical assistance to help customers uh,

01:46:52.189 --> 01:46:55.039
go through the energization process. Figure out the

01:46:55.039 --> 01:46:57.629
right rates, the right technology for them. That's a

01:46:57.629 --> 01:47:00.419
really important role for the utilities and when we

01:47:00.419 --> 01:47:03.590
want them to focus on.

01:47:03.590 --> 01:47:08.180
The budget for the, for the investment program is $1

01:47:08.180 --> 01:47:12.479
billion dollars over this 5 year period. Uh, that

01:47:12.479 --> 01:47:15.269
of course is a substantial amount. But I think it's

01:47:15.269 --> 01:47:20.729
an appropriate amount. We know from uh, the Energy Commission.

01:47:20.740 --> 01:47:23.970
Their estimate of how much infrastructure we need to

01:47:23.970 --> 01:47:29.189
get to the Governor's goals. Uh, we'll need about 1.1

01:47:29.189 --> 01:47:33.340
million public or share chargers at workplaces or

01:47:33.340 --> 01:47:37.910
homes. Plus um, fast charges. Thousands more fast chargers.

01:47:38.510 --> 01:47:41.910
Right now in California, we probably have about 200,000

01:47:41.910 --> 01:47:45.669
that are either installed or planned. Probably more

01:47:45.680 --> 01:47:48.840
planned, than installed. We probably have close to 80,000

01:47:48.849 --> 01:47:52.990
that are actually installed. We'll need very considerable

01:47:52.990 --> 01:47:56.160
amounts of additional investment, to reach our infrastructure

01:47:56.160 --> 01:47:59.720
goals. Especially in underserved communities, where

01:47:59.720 --> 01:48:03.329
infrastructure has not been built yet. We coordinated

01:48:03.329 --> 01:48:07.390
very closely with our sister agencies and considered

01:48:07.399 --> 01:48:10.300
other funding sources in arriving at this proposed

01:48:10.309 --> 01:48:14.649
budget. Also, I think one way to think about this is.

01:48:15.439 --> 01:48:18.640
This is not in addition to existing programs, but it's

01:48:18.649 --> 01:48:23.160
replacing programs of this size or even greater. That

01:48:23.160 --> 01:48:26.120
the utilities would likely be proposing over this period

01:48:26.120 --> 01:48:29.160
of time. In the absence of a consolidated program like

01:48:29.169 --> 01:48:34.769
this. And then finally, to help ensure that we keep

01:48:34.780 --> 01:48:38.370
cost discipline. The decision provides that halfway

01:48:38.370 --> 01:48:40.849
through the funding cycle. There'll be a mid cycle

01:48:40.849 --> 01:48:44.910
review. Uh, to account for any new sources of funding

01:48:44.910 --> 01:48:48.300
that may come along. Or any other issues that might

01:48:48.300 --> 01:48:51.640
lead us to question whether or not, after the first 600

01:48:51.640 --> 01:48:55.209
million has been spent. We want to continue with the

01:48:55.220 --> 01:49:00.269
funding. Few more, few more things about the decision.

01:49:00.280 --> 01:49:04.450
70% of the money is dedicated to medium and heavy duty,

01:49:05.709 --> 01:49:09.169
the medium and heavy duty sector. Emissions are the

01:49:09.169 --> 01:49:11.910
highest there. There's a pressing need for infrastructure

01:49:11.910 --> 01:49:15.189
there, to meet the State's medium and heavy duty goals.

01:49:15.200 --> 01:49:18.300
We've heard that very loud and clear from our colleagues

01:49:18.300 --> 01:49:22.229
at the Air Resources Board. The decision has a very strong

01:49:22.229 --> 01:49:26.410
focus on equity and prioritizing underserved communities.

01:49:26.419 --> 01:49:30.879
65% of the funds are reserved for underserved communities.

01:49:31.689 --> 01:49:36.280
There's also a specific set aside for tribes, exact

01:49:36.289 --> 01:49:40.349
amount will be determined in the next, after the proceeding.

01:49:40.360 --> 01:49:44.539
Their higher rebates for low-income, multi-family, and

01:49:44.550 --> 01:49:47.379
medium, and heavy duty vehicles, and disadvantaged

01:49:47.379 --> 01:49:50.030
communities. These are the sectors again, that need

01:49:50.030 --> 01:49:54.140
the most investment. They also offer the greatest air

01:49:54.140 --> 01:49:59.890
quality benefits. Were proving a separate pilot focused

01:49:59.890 --> 01:50:04.320
on equity. That will allow community choice aggregators

01:50:04.329 --> 01:50:09.149
or nonprofits to propose innovative ideas for pilots.

01:50:09.160 --> 01:50:12.019
They would administer, a thought and hope would be,

01:50:12.019 --> 01:50:15.809
we could use the lessons from those programs to inform

01:50:15.820 --> 01:50:19.370
the rest of the rebate programs. There are strong workforce

01:50:19.370 --> 01:50:23.099
development measures. Um, eligible contractors have

01:50:23.099 --> 01:50:26.459
to meet prevailing wage standards, workforce training

01:50:26.459 --> 01:50:29.760
and hiring diversity measures. And they cannot have

01:50:29.769 --> 01:50:34.070
safety or labor violations. I mentioned there'll be

01:50:34.070 --> 01:50:36.939
a mid-cycle review. That will not, that will not just

01:50:36.950 --> 01:50:41.610
budget. But also other program changes, that might be

01:50:41.620 --> 01:50:46.829
appropriate. We direct annual round tables to provide

01:50:46.840 --> 01:50:50.579
parties, with the opportunity to take a look at how

01:50:50.579 --> 01:50:56.360
the program is doing. Importantly, this does not preclude

01:50:56.370 --> 01:51:01.019
new utility applications. Even in this period of time

01:51:01.030 --> 01:51:05.360
2026. 2025 to 2029.

01:51:05.360 --> 01:51:09.349
Utilities can still propose new pilots and programs.

01:51:09.490 --> 01:51:11.660
So long as they're not duplicative of the existing

01:51:11.660 --> 01:51:14.110
program, and they show that they're the best suited

01:51:14.120 --> 01:51:19.680
to fill the role. And existing RIU programs will continue

01:51:19.680 --> 01:51:24.870
as authorized. The proposed decision was revised to

01:51:24.870 --> 01:51:27.629
make it clear that the programs, existing programs,

01:51:27.629 --> 01:51:31.220
can accept customer applications until the end of 2026.

01:51:31.220 --> 01:51:34.059
And in other words, they don't need to finish dispersing the funds by

01:51:34.059 --> 01:51:38.180
then, by then. They just need to have accepted all customer

01:51:38.180 --> 01:51:43.379
applications by then. Uh, there's a very big focus emphasis

01:51:43.390 --> 01:51:46.879
on vehicle to grid integration, in this decision. It

01:51:46.879 --> 01:51:50.740
lays out a comprehensive strategy for addressing vehicle

01:51:50.749 --> 01:51:53.820
grid integration. We plan to hold annual forums on

01:51:53.820 --> 01:51:57.499
that topic. Utilities can propose changes based on

01:51:57.499 --> 01:52:01.280
that. Um, we've heard from stakeholders of frustration.

01:52:01.280 --> 01:52:03.899
That there aren't enough vehicle to grid pilots up

01:52:03.910 --> 01:52:07.550
and running. The utilities can use the pathway. I've

01:52:07.550 --> 01:52:11.099
identified the proposed new pilots and programs, if

01:52:11.099 --> 01:52:15.459
they'd like to. We also lay out the possibility for

01:52:15.459 --> 01:52:19.629
a higher rebate for customers. That choose to invest

01:52:19.629 --> 01:52:23.419
in something known as automated load management technology.

01:52:23.430 --> 01:52:27.329
And that's a very interesting technology. Could be

01:52:27.329 --> 01:52:30.499
hardware, software, a combination. But basically it's

01:52:30.499 --> 01:52:35.660
an energy management system, that if used can reduce

01:52:35.669 --> 01:52:40.200
the charging load. And very importantly, that can minimize

01:52:40.200 --> 01:52:44.019
impacts on the grid. Eliminate the need for capacity

01:52:44.019 --> 01:52:47.390
upgrades. It's very promising. We're going to conduct

01:52:47.390 --> 01:52:52.459
a study to assess ALM strategies, and offerings. And

01:52:52.459 --> 01:52:56.640
then, decide if higher rebate for, for customers who

01:52:56.640 --> 01:53:00.769
use this is appropriate. So one last thing, while I

01:53:00.769 --> 01:53:05.899
have the floor. I want to highlight what's a crucial

01:53:05.899 --> 01:53:08.629
issue in transportation electrification right now.

01:53:08.640 --> 01:53:11.599
It's somewhat separate from the particulars of this

01:53:11.599 --> 01:53:14.729
immediate decision, but not entirely. And it's certainly

01:53:14.729 --> 01:53:19.349
relevant to this, the overall drive proceeding. The overall

01:53:19.360 --> 01:53:22.140
transportation electrification proceedings in which

01:53:22.140 --> 01:53:29.539
this uh, decisions part of. And that's how quickly, new

01:53:29.550 --> 01:53:32.979
transportation electrification load is being energized.

01:53:32.990 --> 01:53:37.160
How quickly customers are getting to interconnect to

01:53:37.160 --> 01:53:41.610
the grid. And we've heard a lot of serious concerns

01:53:41.620 --> 01:53:45.519
about this. Especially from medium and heavy duty fleet

01:53:45.519 --> 01:53:49.370
owners. They need to quickly electrify under carb rules.

01:53:49.379 --> 01:53:52.809
They say utilities have been slow or too slow to connect

01:53:52.809 --> 01:53:56.570
their charges to the grid. So this is a real problem

01:53:56.579 --> 01:54:00.459
for us. Meeting our transportation and climate goals.

01:54:01.149 --> 01:54:03.990
We have a draft resolution that we're gonna vote on

01:54:03.999 --> 01:54:08.320
in two meetings. That begins to adjust this issue. Uh,

01:54:08.329 --> 01:54:11.439
it will set timelines and transparency requirements.

01:54:11.450 --> 01:54:15.660
For how quickly utilities need to energize loads connecting

01:54:15.660 --> 01:54:19.450
to the grid. But there's more to be done. Um as I

01:54:19.450 --> 01:54:21.419
said, part of the reason we went with the 3rd party

01:54:21.419 --> 01:54:26.360
administrator. It helps utilities to focus on this

01:54:26.360 --> 01:54:29.209
crucial work. They don't have to worry about administering

01:54:29.209 --> 01:54:34.539
the rebate program. I also recommend that after this

01:54:34.550 --> 01:54:38.720
decision, and after the energization decision. This

01:54:38.720 --> 01:54:43.410
proceeding should consider next steps. Such as whether

01:54:43.410 --> 01:54:46.419
or not to make the energization timeline, not just

01:54:46.419 --> 01:54:51.599
mandatory, but enforceable with appropriate consequences.

01:54:51.610 --> 01:54:54.539
And what else we can do to make sure the utilities

01:54:54.550 --> 01:54:58.680
are appropriately planning, and building distribution

01:54:58.689 --> 01:55:02.039
in anticipation of the new load. We've got to make

01:55:02.039 --> 01:55:05.550
sure that we're, we're meeting. That the utilities are

01:55:05.559 --> 01:55:09.120
addressing all of the needs of new EV (inaudible). In a

01:55:09.120 --> 01:55:12.539
timely way or else we'll fall behind our ambitious

01:55:12.539 --> 01:55:16.930
goals. I want to thank many people here. Uh, the Energy

01:55:16.930 --> 01:55:20.579
Division, contributed enormously to this decision. I'm

01:55:20.579 --> 01:55:24.079
very grateful to the whole team from top to bottom.

01:55:24.090 --> 01:55:28.180
Dan Caliphate, Paula Grumbling, Audrey Newman, Michael

01:55:28.180 --> 01:55:35.439
Truax, Josh Honeycutt, Palica Chalopaiya, Paul Hernandez, (inaudible ), Paul

01:55:35.439 --> 01:55:39.820
Douglas. Also past Supervisor Sara Kamin, our previous

01:55:39.829 --> 01:55:44.209
Lead Analyst Carrie Sisto, Tony Manzo, and Teresa Buckley.

01:55:44.220 --> 01:55:48.899
From Legal ALJ's (inaudible), ALJ Goldberg

01:55:48.899 --> 01:55:53.289
now um, stolen by Commissioner Reynolds. ALJ Doherty,

01:55:53.289 --> 01:55:57.760
currently serving as an Assistant Chief ALJ, my bagly

01:55:57.760 --> 01:56:00.660
keen partner President Reynolds, and her Advisers

01:56:00.669 --> 01:56:05.240
Rosie O'Hara, Arnan Survasula. And then finally, I

01:56:05.240 --> 01:56:08.550
want to express great thanks to Julia Schmidt. She's

01:56:08.559 --> 01:56:13.459
been my longtime Adviser, longtime thought Partner, thought leader on

01:56:13.459 --> 01:56:16.740
these issues. I want to thank my Chief of Staff Sean

01:56:16.740 --> 01:56:21.479
Simon. And then a shout out to Karen Sung. Who uh, for

01:56:21.479 --> 01:56:24.039
a short period of time, that she worked in my office.

01:56:24.050 --> 01:56:27.200
While Julia was on leave, helped enormously as well,

01:56:27.209 --> 01:56:34.200
on this decision. With that I ask for your support.

01:56:34.200 --> 01:56:37.829
Thank you, Commissioner  electrification. Um, and I wanted

01:56:37.829 --> 01:56:40.930
to start by first of all, thanking you for your long

01:56:40.930 --> 01:56:46.129
term leadership on this issue. This um, decision has

01:56:46.140 --> 01:56:51.860
so much to like, as you've described. And I agree that

01:56:51.870 --> 01:56:55.860
it's really important for us to create a unified streamline

01:56:55.860 --> 01:56:59.329
approach. For utility investments in transportation

01:56:59.340 --> 01:57:02.410
electrification. And that this is critical, as we move

01:57:02.410 --> 01:57:05.459
towards widespread transportation electrification. And

01:57:05.459 --> 01:57:09.559
really as that being a cornerstone of our climate goals.

01:57:09.870 --> 01:57:14.309
Um, you did an excellent job articulating all of the

01:57:14.309 --> 01:57:18.689
components of the decision. And why there's such a valuable

01:57:18.689 --> 01:57:22.620
piece of the overall proposed decision. I did wanna

01:57:22.629 --> 01:57:28.329
um, highlight the fact that the decision um, enables

01:57:28.340 --> 01:57:33.349
us to reach um, really difficult market segments. Um,

01:57:33.349 --> 01:57:37.769
and really important ones. And in particular the heavy

01:57:37.769 --> 01:57:41.879
duty components um, medium and heavy duty vehicles

01:57:41.879 --> 01:57:45.269
and dax. And, and of course these vehicles are responsible

01:57:45.269 --> 01:57:48.539
for a disproportionate share of greenhouse gas emissions,

01:57:48.539 --> 01:57:51.870
and other pollutants. The light duty charging near

01:57:51.870 --> 01:57:56.470
multi-unit dwellings. And the significant percentage

01:57:56.479 --> 01:58:01.490
of um, of an emphasis and funding on projects and underserved

01:58:01.490 --> 01:58:04.769
disadvantage and tribal communities. All of those things

01:58:04.769 --> 01:58:08.110
are very important. As well as the other elements that

01:58:08.110 --> 01:58:13.090
you outlined. I very much appreciate um the work on

01:58:13.090 --> 01:58:16.189
this proceeding. To ensure that the framework is not

01:58:16.189 --> 01:58:19.570
duplicative of other state investments and incentives

01:58:19.570 --> 01:58:22.640
in the transportation sector. And also the emphasis

01:58:22.649 --> 01:58:25.689
on cost effectiveness as you've, you've outlined. It's

01:58:25.689 --> 01:58:29.439
going to be really important, as we continue to implement

01:58:29.439 --> 01:58:32.910
this proposed decision to recognize those goals. Um

01:58:32.919 --> 01:58:36.149
throughout the implementation of the framework.

01:58:36.550 --> 01:58:40.209
Um, thank you again. And I will be supporting this item.

01:58:41.160 --> 01:58:44.439
Comments from other Commissioners?

01:58:44.439 --> 01:58:48.590
Commissioner Houck?

01:58:48.590 --> 01:58:52.860
Thank you, President Reynolds. Um, I also want to

01:58:52.860 --> 01:58:55.209
thank Commissioner Rechtschaffen, and for your leadership.

01:58:55.220 --> 01:59:03.340
This is a tremendous um, decision. And um, it is very

01:59:03.340 --> 01:59:06.140
important for us in meeting our clean energy goals.

01:59:06.149 --> 01:59:08.899
So just thank you for all of the work, that you've done

01:59:08.899 --> 01:59:13.329
on this. Um, this decision is intended to assist with

01:59:13.329 --> 01:59:15.970
achieving our climate goals. Um, according to the Air

01:59:15.970 --> 01:59:18.760
Resources Board, transportation is the leading cause

01:59:18.760 --> 01:59:22.979
of greenhouse gas emissions. As of 2022, transportation

01:59:22.979 --> 01:59:26.120
is 38% of carbon emissions, with the second closest

01:59:26.129 --> 01:59:32.309
emitter being industrial (inaudible) 20%. The decision, um as was

01:59:32.320 --> 01:59:35.039
noted by both Commissioner Rechtschaffen and then President

01:59:35.039 --> 01:59:37.820
Reynolds. Is intended to meet our environmental, social

01:59:38.629 --> 01:59:41.820
and social justice action plan goals. Which include

01:59:41.820 --> 01:59:45.450
high jobs, high road jobs with prevailing wage requirements.

01:59:45.459 --> 01:59:48.269
and affirmative steps to serve and invest in underserved

01:59:48.280 --> 01:59:52.140
communities. Other agencies such as the California

01:59:52.140 --> 01:59:55.160
Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.

01:59:55.160 --> 01:59:58.669
Are working in parallel to reduce emissions from transportation.

01:59:58.669 --> 01:59:59.590
And we see this

01:59:59.590 --> 02:00:03.400
the statewide interagency effort to promote EVs. While

02:00:03.409 --> 02:00:06.740
we support the advanced clean cars to, an advanced clean

02:00:06.740 --> 02:00:10.099
trucks program at CARB and the CEC funded program

02:00:10.099 --> 02:00:13.029
California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project.

02:00:13.990 --> 02:00:17.419
This decision also addresses much needed and important

02:00:17.429 --> 02:00:20.809
energy storage solutions, that can mitigate grid stresses.

02:00:20.820 --> 02:00:24.640
By creating a framework for vehicle to grid integration

02:00:24.640 --> 02:00:28.890
or VGI. And vehicle to everything V2X. And

02:00:28.899 --> 02:00:32.739
this is extremely important, especially given um, the

02:00:32.739 --> 02:00:34.889
comments that Commissioner Rechtschaffen had been mentioned,

02:00:34.889 --> 02:00:38.330
regarding the distribution grid. And given the rapid

02:00:38.330 --> 02:00:43.264
increase in EVs um use. And um, again the concerns

02:00:43.264 --> 02:00:45.294
that Commissioner Rechtschaffen mentioned, regarding the

02:00:45.294 --> 02:00:48.845
grid. I also want us to be mindful of those challenges.

02:00:48.855 --> 02:00:52.035
That we need to meet as we approve and invest in these

02:00:52.035 --> 02:00:55.595
programs. And expand our charging infrastructure and

02:00:55.595 --> 02:00:58.735
use of electric vehicles. Um, exponentially we need

02:00:58.735 --> 02:01:02.355
to be paying equal attention to investing and updating

02:01:02.355 --> 02:01:06.850
our distribution grid. Um, much of this planning and

02:01:06.850 --> 02:01:10.049
a big focus of our DER proceeding. Is specifically

02:01:10.049 --> 02:01:12.329
looking at how we're going to accommodate the huge

02:01:12.329 --> 02:01:16.790
influx of electric vehicles um, on the grid. And hopefully

02:01:16.790 --> 02:01:19.889
the work in that proceeding will be complimenting. And

02:01:19.889 --> 02:01:22.790
helping us prepare to make sure we're ready to meet

02:01:22.799 --> 02:01:26.909
um, the needs of the electric vehicle transportation

02:01:26.909 --> 02:01:32.120
sector. That we're, we're um, need to encourage and promote

02:01:32.120 --> 02:01:35.159
in order to meet our climate goals. And so again, this

02:01:35.159 --> 02:01:38.109
is a tremendous program. That is the result of an equally

02:01:38.109 --> 02:01:40.290
tremendous effort from the assigned Commissioner's

02:01:40.290 --> 02:01:44.689
office, Energy Division Staff, the parties, and the coordination

02:01:44.699 --> 02:01:47.740
with our sister agencies. And so, I also would like

02:01:47.740 --> 02:01:51.299
to thank um, are excellent, excellent Energy Division

02:01:51.299 --> 02:01:54.719
team for all of their work. And um, the Administrative

02:01:54.719 --> 02:01:57.439
Law Judges, and again Commissioner Rechtschaffen, and his

02:01:57.439 --> 02:02:00.609
Adviser, Julia Schmidt and Chief of Staff Sean Simon.

02:02:00.620 --> 02:02:05.960
As well as my Advisor um, Karen Song. And um, for all

02:02:05.960 --> 02:02:09.029
of their work and getting us to this decision. Which

02:02:09.039 --> 02:02:12.020
I will be supporting. So with that, will conclude my

02:02:12.020 --> 02:02:17.219
comments. Thank you, Commissioner Houck.

02:02:17.219 --> 02:02:20.840
Commissioner Shiroma. Thank you, President Reynolds.

02:02:20.849 --> 02:02:24.569
I'm also pleased to support this proposed decision.

02:02:25.200 --> 02:02:31.039
A thoughtful and expensive effort. Uh, Commissioner Rechtschaffen,

02:02:31.039 --> 02:02:35.420
I want to express my appreciation to you. The Energy

02:02:35.420 --> 02:02:41.129
Division, Administrative Law Judges, Legal uh, just

02:02:41.140 --> 02:02:45.529
in total. Um, through your leadership has ensured that

02:02:45.539 --> 02:02:49.729
equity is woven into the fabric of this proposed decision.

02:02:49.740 --> 02:02:54.270
I'm happy to see that it fills in the gap for medium

02:02:54.270 --> 02:02:59.469
and heavy duty infrastructure. While also uh, supporting

02:02:59.469 --> 02:03:03.029
multi-unit dwellings. All of these that have lagged

02:03:03.039 --> 02:03:07.689
behind light duty infrastructure for charging. Uh, I

02:03:07.689 --> 02:03:11.620
mentioned before the vehicle to grid integration, is

02:03:11.620 --> 02:03:16.559
an issue of high importance. And the PD requires

02:03:16.569 --> 02:03:19.309
annual round tables, which will be an important forum.

02:03:19.879 --> 02:03:24.830
To evaluate progress uh, and evaluate whether EVs

02:03:24.830 --> 02:03:27.789
can provide cost effective energy, at times of peak

02:03:27.789 --> 02:03:32.409
demand. Through this investment in the infrastructure.

02:03:33.159 --> 02:03:37.490
I appreciate the comments garnered on affordability

02:03:37.499 --> 02:03:42.590
for this effort. I think the mid program evaluation

02:03:42.599 --> 02:03:46.770
that the decision proposes. Uh, will provide an important

02:03:46.770 --> 02:03:51.249
opportunity to evaluate and pivot, if necessary. I also

02:03:51.249 --> 02:03:56.979
appreciate the uh, focus on workforce providing wage

02:03:56.979 --> 02:04:00.979
requirements, compliance of labor standards. It really

02:04:00.979 --> 02:04:05.430
shows a lot of leadership for other proceedings. And

02:04:05.430 --> 02:04:08.159
overall again, thank you Commissioner Rechtschaffen,

02:04:08.159 --> 02:04:12.210
for your leadership. In this transportation electrification

02:04:12.219 --> 02:04:15.590
space. Over the years, you've mentioned the multiple

02:04:15.590 --> 02:04:21.210
decisions, we have voted out. I think that um, your

02:04:21.219 --> 02:04:25.429
wisdom and advising us going forward. On interconnection,

02:04:25.440 --> 02:04:29.710
the energization of the grid, the distribution. And

02:04:29.710 --> 02:04:33.919
these uh, for the future are important for us to pay

02:04:33.919 --> 02:04:38.909
attention to. Overall, I think this PD is a fitting

02:04:38.909 --> 02:04:44.109
capstone to your leadership, over the years on transportation

02:04:44.109 --> 02:04:49.679
electrification. Thank you. I'm in support.

02:04:49.679 --> 02:04:54.239
Thank you, Commissioner Shiroma. Um, with that I will

02:04:54.239 --> 02:05:00.590
now ask for a motion on item 32.

02:05:00.590 --> 02:05:04.609
Motion by Commissioner. Sorry, let me, let you go ahead.

02:05:05.659 --> 02:05:10.739
I moved to approve item 32. Excellent. Okay, motion

02:05:10.739 --> 02:05:17.750
by Commissioner Houck. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Shiroma.

02:05:17.919 --> 02:05:21.270
Agenda Clerk, could you please call the roll. Commissioner

02:05:21.270 --> 02:05:28.190
Houck? Yes. Commissioner Shiroma? Yes. Commissioner Rechtschaffen?

02:05:28.190 --> 02:05:34.500
Yes. President Alice Reynolds? Yes. The vote

02:05:34.510 --> 02:05:40.849
is 4-0. Item 32 passes. I am going to move to item

02:05:40.849 --> 02:05:44.029
33, but I will give Commissioner Reynolds a moment to

02:05:44.029 --> 02:05:49.599
rejoin us, and there he is. Good timing. Um, item 33

02:05:49.609 --> 02:05:52.500
is management report on administrative actions and

02:05:52.500 --> 02:05:55.969
consumer protection safety activities. There are no

02:05:55.969 --> 02:06:00.340
reports today for item 33. So I am moving now to item

02:06:00.340 --> 02:06:05.700
34. Item 34 is the new appointment to the Disadvantaged

02:06:05.710 --> 02:06:09.890
Communities Advisory Group, and I'm turning to Commissioner

02:06:09.890 --> 02:06:13.310
Houck to present this item.

02:06:13.310 --> 02:06:17.000
Thank you, President Reynolds. So I am pleased to introduce

02:06:17.000 --> 02:06:19.840
the nominee for our Disadvantaged Communities Advisory

02:06:19.840 --> 02:06:23.710
Group Member. Um, the date tag was established under Senate

02:06:23.710 --> 02:06:27.570
Bill 350, and is comprised of 11 members. Serving staggered

02:06:27.570 --> 02:06:30.869
two year terms. The PUC and the CEC

02:06:30.880 --> 02:06:33.750
Staff solicited applications for membership, to fill

02:06:33.750 --> 02:06:36.890
a recently vacated seat. And reached consensus to advance

02:06:36.900 --> 02:06:40.630
today's nominee. Um, the nominee we introduce today

02:06:40.630 --> 02:06:46.419
is Sahara Lozano. And Sahara Lozano is based in Indio.

02:06:46.429 --> 02:06:50.500
She is the Director of Programs for Alianza Coachella

02:06:50.500 --> 02:06:53.880
Valley. A sustainability organization which focuses

02:06:53.880 --> 02:06:56.979
on pollution, infrastructure, health care and youth

02:06:56.989 --> 02:07:01.085
outreach. She has worked for Alianza since 2014,

02:07:01.085 --> 02:07:04.734
when she graduated with Honors from UC-Santa Cruz.

02:07:04.744 --> 02:07:07.755
Earning a degree in Environmental Studies. She is the

02:07:07.755 --> 02:07:10.755
community appointed Co-chair of the California Natural

02:07:10.755 --> 02:07:14.135
Resource Agency Salton Sea Management Program Community

02:07:14.135 --> 02:07:17.494
Engagement Committee. And has previously served as a

02:07:17.494 --> 02:07:20.174
Governor appointed board member of the California Regional

02:07:20.174 --> 02:07:23.929
Water Quality Control Board. The City Council appointed

02:07:23.929 --> 02:07:26.840
plan, she was a City council appointed Planning Commissioner,

02:07:26.840 --> 02:07:30.279
for City of Coachella. An appointed member of the California

02:07:30.279 --> 02:07:33.400
South Coast Air Quality Management District Environmental

02:07:33.409 --> 02:07:37.099
Justice Advisory Group. Sahara's broad experience

02:07:37.109 --> 02:07:39.529
will be an excellent addition to the day tag. And I

02:07:39.529 --> 02:07:42.010
hope you will join me in supporting her nomination.

02:07:43.989 --> 02:07:46.299
Thank you, Commissioner Houck. Would any Commissioners

02:07:46.310 --> 02:07:52.150
like to make comments on this appointment?

02:07:52.150 --> 02:07:57.049
Okay, I will move to a motion. Um and ask for a

02:07:57.049 --> 02:08:02.820
motion on item 34. So moved. Motion by Commissioner Rechtschaffen.

02:08:02.820 --> 02:08:06.520
Do we have a second?

02:08:06.520 --> 02:08:10.210
I'm pleased to second, thank you. Second by Commissioner

02:08:10.210 --> 02:08:15.390
Shiroma. Agenda Clerk, could you please call the roll.

02:08:16.049 --> 02:08:20.380
Commissioner John Reynolds? Yes. Commissioner Houck?

02:08:21.219 --> 02:08:28.789
Yes. Commissioner Shiroma? Yes. Commissioner Rechtschaffen? Yes.

02:08:29.580 --> 02:08:35.800
President Alice Reynolds? Yes. The vote is 5-0. Item 34

02:08:35.800 --> 02:08:42.489
passes. Now moving to Commissioner report. Um, the Commissioner

02:08:42.489 --> 02:08:47.379
reports of uh, (inaudible) next. Who would like to go first with

02:08:47.379 --> 02:08:53.040
their

02:08:53.040 --> 02:08:55.570
Commissioner Shiroma?

02:08:55.570 --> 02:09:00.649
Okay, thank you. I have several reports. Uh, first of

02:09:00.660 --> 02:09:07.080
all, a report that I attended the recent symposium.

02:09:07.660 --> 02:09:11.170
It was held in Sacramento, on November 9th and 10th.

02:09:11.910 --> 02:09:15.560
The California ISO is charged with ensuring faith and

02:09:15.560 --> 02:09:18.410
reliable transportation, electricity and the power

02:09:18.410 --> 02:09:23.749
grid. They are a (inaudible) agency. The symposium brought together

02:09:23.759 --> 02:09:29.790
uh, I think the prediction was 800 or the 800 people,

02:09:29.800 --> 02:09:34.340
attending the symposium. It was really impressive.

02:09:34.349 --> 02:09:39.249
Uh, this being their first, since the stay at home and

02:09:39.249 --> 02:09:43.269
pandemic requirements. Uh, it brought together Energy

02:09:43.269 --> 02:09:47.040
Professional, Leaders, Policy makers in the Western States,

02:09:47.040 --> 02:09:51.210
that come across the US. Speakers included Jennifer

02:09:51.210 --> 02:09:55.290
Graham, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. (inaudible)

02:09:55.300 --> 02:09:59.060
was Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of the California ISO.

02:09:59.070 --> 02:10:03.410
Uh, did quite a bit of moderating. There was a really

02:10:03.420 --> 02:10:07.460
about really particularly excellent panel of CEO, uh

02:10:07.469 --> 02:10:12.560
CEOs, in a roundtable of leadership across the Western

02:10:12.570 --> 02:10:16.070
States. It's very insightful to hear the discussion

02:10:16.080 --> 02:10:20.200
of the ISO extended day ahead market proposal, known

02:10:20.200 --> 02:10:24.700
as EDAM. And hear perspectives on regional coordination

02:10:24.700 --> 02:10:28.619
collaboration governance. You know, all geared towards

02:10:28.629 --> 02:10:31.849
maximizing cost savings for electricity customers.

02:10:32.810 --> 02:10:37.050
You also would like to share that, uh there was a recent

02:10:37.060 --> 02:10:41.450
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

02:10:41.460 --> 02:10:46.460
annual meeting. Uh, and at those meetings, there are

02:10:46.460 --> 02:10:50.759
regional meetings of various conferences. Uh, I happen

02:10:50.759 --> 02:10:53.690
to be President of the new Western Conference

02:10:53.690 --> 02:10:57.639
of Public Service Commissioners. It's comprised of the

02:10:57.639 --> 02:11:02.009
11 Western states. I'm pleased to report that the Western

02:11:02.009 --> 02:11:07.050
Conference regional meeting adopted a first time charter.

02:11:07.060 --> 02:11:11.399
For the Committee on Regional Electric Power Corporation,

02:11:11.410 --> 02:11:15.629
or CREPC. CREPC was formed more than 20 years ago,

02:11:15.629 --> 02:11:19.940
as a joint committee of the Western Conference Commissioners.

02:11:19.950 --> 02:11:24.219
And the Western Interstate Energy Board or WIEB. WIEB

02:11:24.229 --> 02:11:28.099
is made up of Representatives from State Energy uh,

02:11:28.109 --> 02:11:32.149
and Governor's offices, such as the Energy Commission.

02:11:32.160 --> 02:11:35.810
Prep C was formed as a collaboration between Western

02:11:35.810 --> 02:11:39.759
regulators and energy office officials. The charter

02:11:39.769 --> 02:11:42.859
advances regulatory collaboration needed across the

02:11:42.859 --> 02:11:46.379
west. Address electric power systems challenges and

02:11:46.379 --> 02:11:51.070
opportunities. And I want to thank Commissioner Houck for representing

02:11:51.070 --> 02:11:57.340
California at the meeting. Uh and then next week, not

02:11:57.349 --> 02:11:59.090
next week. The week after that, that's what Thanksgiving. That

02:11:59.090 --> 02:12:05.889
we um, will have a workshop on November 29. On the uh,

02:12:05.899 --> 02:12:09.200
water acquisitions and consolidations we're making.

02:12:09.210 --> 02:12:12.629
It will be hosted by the Water Division. Uh, it'll go

02:12:12.629 --> 02:12:16.129
from 9 am to 4pm. It's the first workshop

02:12:16.139 --> 02:12:20.340
of several for this proceeding. Uh and it is in line

02:12:20.340 --> 02:12:23.670
with goal three of our environmental, social justice

02:12:23.680 --> 02:12:27.690
action plan. To improve access to high quality water

02:12:27.690 --> 02:12:31.070
service for ESJ communities. This workshop will

02:12:31.070 --> 02:12:35.200
focus on inadequately operated and maintained water

02:12:35.200 --> 02:12:42.190
systems throughout California. Uh, looking at, are there

02:12:42.200 --> 02:12:46.560
some opportunities for the publicly owned utilities.

02:12:46.570 --> 02:12:51.840
To be consolidated with our regulated utilities. We

02:12:51.840 --> 02:12:58.530
hope to gain some insight on uh, efforts in disadvantaged

02:12:58.540 --> 02:13:02.550
communities. Whether additional or alternative incentives

02:13:02.560 --> 02:13:06.399
are needed to support acquisition, living systems. And

02:13:06.399 --> 02:13:10.999
how can we expedite such acquisitions. Information on

02:13:10.999 --> 02:13:15.040
the workshop will be in the daily calendar. And then

02:13:15.050 --> 02:13:20.519
finally, uh our Low-Income Oversight Board, will be hosting

02:13:20.530 --> 02:13:25.670
the subcommittee on low-income energy assistance programs.

02:13:25.670 --> 02:13:30.290
On November 30, that will be from 10 to 12 pm. The

02:13:30.300 --> 02:13:34.420
investor owned utilities will share information, respond

02:13:34.420 --> 02:13:39.330
to inquiries, regarding the upcoming 2023 Energy Savings

02:13:39.330 --> 02:13:44.129
Assistance Program. And that is the weatherization program,

02:13:44.379 --> 02:13:49.570
which is free of charge to the qualified homeowners.

02:13:49.580 --> 02:13:52.460
All are welcome to attend. There'll be more details.

02:13:52.469 --> 02:13:56.170
But also to share that, (inaudible) oversight board

02:13:56.170 --> 02:14:01.379
receives quarterly reports from the IOUs. On the

02:14:01.389 --> 02:14:05.460
low-income discount preference for energy bills, the

02:14:05.469 --> 02:14:10.540
program on weatherization, um, and also on the medical

02:14:10.540 --> 02:14:14.340
baseline program. And today, we voted out a decision

02:14:14.349 --> 02:14:18.899
uses reenrollment for medical baseline customers.

02:14:18.910 --> 02:14:22.599
The low-income oversight board will receive updates going

02:14:22.609 --> 02:14:29.160
forward. On how that new effort uh, will be working.

02:14:29.489 --> 02:14:34.310
Thank you. And back to you, President Reynolds. Thank

02:14:34.310 --> 02:14:39.149
you, Commissioner Shiroma. Commissioner Reynolds?

02:14:39.149 --> 02:14:41.229
Thank you, President Reynolds. I have a couple of reports

02:14:41.239 --> 02:14:45.280
today. First, I want to highlight item 5, from our

02:14:45.280 --> 02:14:49.060
content agenda today. Which is a decision approving

02:14:49.060 --> 02:14:53.420
the final step, in the long process to enable the voluntary

02:14:53.420 --> 02:14:59.509
allocation market offer, known as VAMO. Which will share out the value

02:14:59.519 --> 02:15:03.210
from the investor owned utilities renewable portfolios.

02:15:03.219 --> 02:15:07.710
With other load serving entities like CCAs.

02:15:07.710 --> 02:15:11.050
This is an important decision and process that was

02:15:11.060 --> 02:15:15.210
really hot potatoed into the (inaudible) proceeding. And then

02:15:15.210 --> 02:15:17.989
Commissioner Rechtschaffen's final year no less. And

02:15:17.989 --> 02:15:21.969
the whole team seems to really effortlessly expand. To make

02:15:21.969 --> 02:15:24.369
this happen, along with everything else they've had

02:15:24.369 --> 02:15:26.379
going on in the docket. Which, which I understand is

02:15:26.379 --> 02:15:30.070
a lot. Um, as the assigned Commissioner for the

02:15:30.070 --> 02:15:32.960
PCIA proceeding and for the utility power costs

02:15:32.960 --> 02:15:36.290
proceedings, also the era proceedings. Which linked

02:15:36.290 --> 02:15:38.700
to the VAMO (inaudible) outcomes. I really appreciate the

02:15:38.700 --> 02:15:41.609
timely efforts to deliver this decision. So I really

02:15:41.609 --> 02:15:46.729
want to offer my kudos to ALJ Locken Paul, Cheryl Lee, Brandon

02:15:46.729 --> 02:15:51.070
Gerstel, Dina Machan, and Nick Dahlberg. Teresa Buckley

02:15:51.070 --> 02:15:53.499
and the Legal Division. And so many others, who have

02:15:53.509 --> 02:15:56.999
supported all these efforts to make VAMO possible.

02:15:57.160 --> 02:15:59.160
And of course, to Commissioner Rechtschaffen, and his

02:15:59.170 --> 02:16:04.830
team, for taking this on and delivering. Um, as a second

02:16:04.830 --> 02:16:08.300
report, I would also like to share a Staffing update.

02:16:08.310 --> 02:16:11.649
I'm excited to share that, starting next week,

02:16:11.660 --> 02:16:14.999
Jake McDermott, will be joining my office as an Advisor.

02:16:15.009 --> 02:16:18.629
He comes to my office from the Public Advocate's Office.

02:16:18.639 --> 02:16:21.269
Where he spent a few years working on a variety of

02:16:21.269 --> 02:16:25.550
topics, including rate design, DER markets and policy,

02:16:25.560 --> 02:16:29.410
offshore wind, and climate policy. Prior to joining

02:16:29.410 --> 02:16:32.420
the Commission, Jake worked at a variety of energy

02:16:32.420 --> 02:16:36.769
related organizations, including a Boston based consultancy,

02:16:36.780 --> 02:16:40.109
an energy efficiency nonprofit, and an EV charging

02:16:40.109 --> 02:16:44.489
provider. Jake holds Graduate degrees in Public Policy

02:16:44.489 --> 02:16:48.119
and Engineering from the University of California, and

02:16:48.119 --> 02:16:50.509
an Undergraduate degree in Political Science from the

02:16:50.509 --> 02:16:54.129
University of Massachusetts. I also want to offer my

02:16:54.139 --> 02:16:57.509
thanks to Public Advisers, Public Advocates Director

02:16:57.519 --> 02:17:01.729
Matt Baker and Supervisor Karen Haida, for their collaboration

02:17:01.729 --> 02:17:06.020
to support Jake joining my office. That ends my report

02:17:06.020 --> 02:17:09.369
for this week. Thank you, President Reynolds. Thank you,

02:17:09.369 --> 02:17:11.949
Commissioner Reynolds.

02:17:11.949 --> 02:17:15.709
Commissioner Houck.

02:17:15.709 --> 02:17:19.859
Uh thank you, President Reynolds. Um for my report, I

02:17:19.869 --> 02:17:23.209
want to note that I also attended that Cal ISO symposium.

02:17:23.209 --> 02:17:26.530
And I thought the Cal ISO did an excellent job. There was

02:17:26.540 --> 02:17:29.290
tremendous turnout folks from all over the West. It

02:17:29.290 --> 02:17:33.659
was a great opportunity to meet and um, engage with

02:17:33.669 --> 02:17:36.699
our fellow Commissioners from other States. As well

02:17:36.699 --> 02:17:41.080
as, Commissioner Shiroma mentioned industry folks. Um, there

02:17:41.080 --> 02:17:44.730
was a great PUC presence there. Many of our Staff were

02:17:44.730 --> 02:17:47.560
there and I think they benefited from the great lineup

02:17:47.570 --> 02:17:51.659
that, that was provided at the symposium. So um, wanted

02:17:51.659 --> 02:17:57.709
to acknowledge that event. And um, I also attended my

02:17:57.720 --> 02:18:03.260
first uh, for (inaudible) Task Force, as a Task Force member. Um,

02:18:03.270 --> 02:18:06.609
September, I stepped into the role that former, the

02:18:06.639 --> 02:18:10.659
role that Commissioner Rechtschaffen, had formerly had. And

02:18:10.669 --> 02:18:15.470
um, this was a great experience. It was a great discussion.

02:18:15.480 --> 02:18:20.179
Um, I got to engage with um, 9 of our other um,

02:18:20.189 --> 02:18:23.220
fellow Commissioners from across the country. That um,

02:18:23.230 --> 02:18:26.760
sit on the NARUC representation for the N10, and the

02:18:26.770 --> 02:18:30.740
5 FERC Commissioners. The topic for the task force um,

02:18:30.750 --> 02:18:34.889
event was addressing regulatory gaps and challenges,

02:18:34.889 --> 02:18:37.959
and oversight of transmission development. Because

02:18:37.959 --> 02:18:41.470
we're all really aware, that the increasing cost of

02:18:41.480 --> 02:18:45.810
transmission. Has um, seriously impacted affordability.

02:18:45.820 --> 02:18:49.330
And it's an issue, that I think all of the Commissions

02:18:49.340 --> 02:18:54.060
across the country are grappling with. And at the meeting,

02:18:54.080 --> 02:18:57.490
we discussed um, what gaps and challenges there are.

02:18:57.500 --> 02:19:02.750
And oversight and um, cost containment issues. We talked

02:19:02.750 --> 02:19:07.099
about potential solutions. Um, one of which is the potential

02:19:07.099 --> 02:19:10.490
for looking at independent transmission monitors. And

02:19:10.490 --> 02:19:13.820
what the scope roles and responsibilities of that independent

02:19:13.820 --> 02:19:16.980
transmission monitor, maybe. There was a wide range

02:19:16.980 --> 02:19:24.230
of topics, positions. On um one whether um, an independent

02:19:24.230 --> 02:19:27.169
transmission monitor was needed or not? What kind of

02:19:27.169 --> 02:19:30.609
flexibility there would need to be across either um,

02:19:30.619 --> 02:19:34.109
RTOs, ISOs, or individual states? Um,

02:19:34.109 --> 02:19:38.709
it was a robust discussion, a lot of information exchanged.

02:19:38.709 --> 02:19:43.300
We also talked about FERC formula rates, and um prudence

02:19:43.310 --> 02:19:47.929
review for those formula rates. Uh, Commissioner Christie

02:19:47.939 --> 02:19:53.340
um, referenced several times. Um, he put out there to

02:19:53.340 --> 02:19:56.020
the Commissioners. Um, whether FERC should consider

02:19:56.020 --> 02:19:59.470
having some sort of a process. Where States have to

02:19:59.470 --> 02:20:03.359
basically verify or validate, that there is a robust

02:20:03.369 --> 02:20:09.770
review at the State level. Um for these local life projects,

02:20:09.780 --> 02:20:12.639
before FERC would apply formula rates. So that was

02:20:12.639 --> 02:20:15.310
a very interesting discussion. That, that we're gonna

02:20:15.310 --> 02:20:20.260
be continuing. And one that um that, you know, I wanted

02:20:20.260 --> 02:20:23.290
to take back to all of you. As something that was put

02:20:23.290 --> 02:20:26.649
on the table that, that's being looked at. And um, can

02:20:26.649 --> 02:20:30.000
address and have further information about that. We

02:20:30.010 --> 02:20:33.720
um, also talked about other potential options. In regards

02:20:33.730 --> 02:20:36.520
to some of these lower risk projects or self approved

02:20:36.520 --> 02:20:41.980
projects. That um, one of the proposals was um, looking

02:20:41.980 --> 02:20:46.389
at a possible lower ROE, for some of these lower

02:20:46.389 --> 02:20:49.369
risk projects, and how that might work. So again, it

02:20:49.369 --> 02:20:53.590
was a robust discussion. Um, a lot of information exchanged,

02:20:53.590 --> 02:20:55.879
and I look forward to continuing to participate on

02:20:55.879 --> 02:20:59.909
the task force. And um, continuing with those discussions.

02:20:59.919 --> 02:21:04.030
Um, I also wanted to note, we had our loan loss reserve

02:21:04.040 --> 02:21:10.330
workshop on November 8th. And there was some good turnout.

02:21:10.340 --> 02:21:14.629
Um, and we're hoping to receive um, comments on that.

02:21:14.639 --> 02:21:18.240
So if anyone wants to provide uh, public comments or

02:21:18.240 --> 02:21:20.720
comments on the proposal that's out there, please do.

02:21:20.720 --> 02:21:23.699
We look forward to having those comments. And then

02:21:23.709 --> 02:21:30.919
yesterday um, I presented at um, a School to Home event.

02:21:30.929 --> 02:21:33.709
That was sponsored by the California Emerging Technology

02:21:33.709 --> 02:21:36.399
Fund. To highlight the work that we have been doing

02:21:36.399 --> 02:21:39.770
here at the Commission. On broadband and to talk to

02:21:39.770 --> 02:21:43.070
some of our, our local partners that have been working

02:21:43.070 --> 02:21:46.409
with us. On hoping to eliminate the digital divide.

02:21:46.409 --> 02:21:49.510
There was a good turn out there. And um, they seem very

02:21:49.510 --> 02:21:52.169
appreciative of all the work that the Commission is

02:21:52.179 --> 02:21:58.060
doing. Um and I think that is the last item, that I

02:21:58.060 --> 02:22:02.699
have um, for my report. Great. Thank you, Commissioner

02:22:02.699 --> 02:22:05.609
Houck. Commissioner Rechtschaffen?

02:22:05.609 --> 02:22:09.970
First I wanna, I wanna say to Commissioner Reynolds.

02:22:09.980 --> 02:22:13.290
Thank you very much for your kind words, about the VAMO

02:22:13.290 --> 02:22:17.429
decision. It is a very important decision. And it's

02:22:17.439 --> 02:22:20.899
I thought it was significant, and necessary for us to

02:22:20.899 --> 02:22:24.490
try to get that out sooner, rather than later. Uh, I

02:22:24.500 --> 02:22:27.300
appreciate you thanking everybody. Which I didn't get

02:22:27.300 --> 02:22:31.090
a chance to do. Judge Lockenhop, did heroic work to

02:22:31.090 --> 02:22:35.570
get it done. And I also want to thank my longtime Adviser,

02:22:35.570 --> 02:22:39.399
Sandy Goldberg, who worked on this most of the year.

02:22:39.409 --> 02:22:42.540
And then in particular Sean Simon, my Chief of Staff.

02:22:42.550 --> 02:22:46.379
Who pulled a rabbit from a hat to get this through

02:22:46.379 --> 02:22:49.220
on today's agenda. Actually, this is going to be a

02:22:49.230 --> 02:22:52.590
theme the next couple, few meetings. About Sean pulling

02:22:52.590 --> 02:22:55.220
a rabbit out of the hat. He pulled, he had many, he

02:22:55.220 --> 02:22:57.619
has many hands. He's been pulling rabbits out of hats,

02:22:57.629 --> 02:23:03.590
all the past few weeks and months. Uh, I wanted to talk

02:23:03.590 --> 02:23:07.990
about uh, last week I had the great privilege to be

02:23:07.990 --> 02:23:10.560
part of the California Delegation to the Conference

02:23:10.560 --> 02:23:13.320
of Parties, the International Climate Conference in

02:23:13.320 --> 02:23:18.179
Egypt. Along with President Reynolds and Energy Director.

02:23:18.750 --> 02:23:23.030
(inaudible) and also my uh, Sean Simon was able to come as

02:23:23.030 --> 02:23:27.899
well. We also had other Representatives from the Administration,

02:23:27.899 --> 02:23:30.590
including Commissioner Gunda from the Energy Commission.

02:23:30.599 --> 02:23:34.080
Folks from the California Transportation Agency, the

02:23:34.080 --> 02:23:36.720
Air Resources Board, and the Department of Food and

02:23:36.720 --> 02:23:40.550
Agriculture. The fact that we had a broad delegation,

02:23:40.550 --> 02:23:44.030
is reflective of how important California is, at these

02:23:44.030 --> 02:23:46.949
events. And how much of a climate leader we are. It

02:23:46.959 --> 02:23:50.030
was a very exciting event. Many interesting and worthwhile

02:23:50.030 --> 02:23:53.699
panels and talks. We got to hear President Biden speak.

02:23:53.699 --> 02:23:56.730
I'm very grateful for that. He was able to proudly

02:23:56.730 --> 02:24:00.070
proclaim that the U.S. is honoring its commitment to

02:24:00.070 --> 02:24:03.899
the 2015 Paris accord. And that because of the Inflation

02:24:03.899 --> 02:24:08.260
Reduction Act, we're on track to meet those uh, commitments.

02:24:08.889 --> 02:24:11.159
There was a very strong focus and it's still going

02:24:11.159 --> 02:24:14.220
on as the conference is still going on, right now. On

02:24:14.230 --> 02:24:20.070
loss and damage. And the concept here, is developed nations

02:24:20.070 --> 02:24:23.709
have cosmos of the climate change. But developed the,

02:24:23.709 --> 02:24:26.560
developing world is going to bear the brunt of the

02:24:26.560 --> 02:24:31.750
consequences. And uh, they had very little role in causing

02:24:31.760 --> 02:24:35.689
this damage. What is the appropriate role for developing

02:24:35.689 --> 02:24:39.300
countries like the US? To provide compensation, for those

02:24:39.300 --> 02:24:42.639
other nations? It was introduced for the first time

02:24:42.639 --> 02:24:45.830
on the formal agenda at this meeting. There's a lot

02:24:45.830 --> 02:24:48.500
of details about what it means in practice. I don't

02:24:48.500 --> 02:24:51.139
think there any agreements reached yet, about how

02:24:51.139 --> 02:24:54.810
much compensation to provide. But that's a critical

02:24:54.810 --> 02:24:57.230
theme. I think it's going to continue to be a critical

02:24:57.230 --> 02:25:01.720
theme. California received a lot of, and I think it's

02:25:01.720 --> 02:25:05.099
well deserved love and attention, for leading climate

02:25:05.099 --> 02:25:08.090
policies. I was on various panels talking about our

02:25:08.099 --> 02:25:12.199
decarbonization policies. We also met with other sub

02:25:12.199 --> 02:25:16.419
national entities, leading sub national entities from

02:25:16.419 --> 02:25:20.419
around the world. Who want a greater voice for us, provinces

02:25:20.429 --> 02:25:25.459
states, cities in the climate negotiations process,

02:25:25.459 --> 02:25:29.649
if possible. Um, and we met with other people, who were

02:25:29.649 --> 02:25:33.599
very interested in California's policy. Such as offshore

02:25:33.599 --> 02:25:35.919
wind developers from other countries, who wanted to

02:25:35.919 --> 02:25:41.300
tell us about um, their experiences and learn of, of

02:25:41.310 --> 02:25:44.050
of what we're doing here in California. And expressed

02:25:44.060 --> 02:25:47.270
their interest in that, in that with some California

02:25:47.280 --> 02:25:49.760
stakeholders. There was a delegation from the Yurok

02:25:49.760 --> 02:25:52.929
Tribe, that we had an excellent meeting with. So it's

02:25:52.929 --> 02:25:56.530
a very valuable experience. And I again, I'm very grateful

02:25:56.530 --> 02:25:59.609
that I was able to be part of that. That's it for

02:25:59.609 --> 02:26:02.540
me.

02:26:02.540 --> 02:26:06.250
Thank you, Commissioner Rechtschaffen. And um, I have a couple

02:26:06.250 --> 02:26:10.429
of things to report um. First, just to add to your comments.

02:26:10.439 --> 02:26:14.609
On um, the trip to the 27th Conference of the Parties.

02:26:14.619 --> 02:26:20.139
Um, I really share your thoughts on the Conference, Commissioner

02:26:20.139 --> 02:26:23.050
Rechtschaffen and it was a privilege and honor to interact

02:26:23.050 --> 02:26:25.580
with climate leaders from all over the world. And as

02:26:25.580 --> 02:26:29.000
you noted. Um, it was really clear that the World looks

02:26:29.010 --> 02:26:34.459
to California, for our experiences, and our implementation

02:26:34.459 --> 02:26:38.330
and determination, to achieve climate goals. And there

02:26:38.330 --> 02:26:42.560
was um, in addition to the emphasis that, that Commissioner

02:26:42.560 --> 02:26:44.970
Rechtschaffen noted. There was also an emphasis on

02:26:44.970 --> 02:26:48.699
this um, in this conference on implementation. Really

02:26:48.699 --> 02:26:53.159
moving beyond goals. And ambition to action and thinking

02:26:53.159 --> 02:26:57.030
about implementation and achieving goals. Um, it was

02:26:57.040 --> 02:27:00.480
notable, that we had 3 members of the 5 member

02:27:00.480 --> 02:27:04.129
California delegation from energy agencies. Which I

02:27:04.129 --> 02:27:07.020
think reflects the importance of the energy transition.

02:27:07.020 --> 02:27:10.760
And our electrification efforts, as well as, the progress

02:27:10.760 --> 02:27:13.869
we have made in the energy sector and reducing greenhouse

02:27:13.869 --> 02:27:18.159
gas emissions. Um, I was able to share lessons learned

02:27:18.159 --> 02:27:21.849
in California, and plans for the future. Um, through participation

02:27:21.849 --> 02:27:23.949
and panels, some of the ones that Commissioner Rechtschaffen,

02:27:23.949 --> 02:27:27.320
often mentioned, and others. And I really, you know,

02:27:27.320 --> 02:27:30.490
found a chance to bring home from the conference, a

02:27:30.490 --> 02:27:33.859
lot of that energy that was there. And a lot of excitement

02:27:33.869 --> 02:27:36.849
and resolve to do more here at the Commission, and in

02:27:36.849 --> 02:27:42.389
California. Um a couple of other updates. I am really

02:27:42.389 --> 02:27:47.320
excited to report two new Advisors, that I have. Uh, Drew

02:27:47.320 --> 02:27:51.129
Hodel and Jamie Gannon are joining my office. Um, a

02:27:51.139 --> 02:27:53.919
little bit about their background. Jamie has been with

02:27:53.929 --> 02:27:58.290
the CPUC since 2009. Spending a majority of her time

02:27:58.300 --> 02:28:02.230
as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Resource Adequacy

02:28:02.230 --> 02:28:06.080
and Procurement Oversight Section of the Energy Division.

02:28:06.780 --> 02:28:10.220
Since joining the Commission, she worked on uh, she

02:28:10.220 --> 02:28:13.220
has worked on a broad range of policy issues related

02:28:13.220 --> 02:28:16.570
to electric reliability, cost allocation, energy market

02:28:16.580 --> 02:28:19.659
products and mechanisms, compliance and procurement.

02:28:19.669 --> 02:28:24.349
Um, Jamie holds a B.A in International Business and

02:28:24.349 --> 02:28:27.590
she earned a Master's degree in Economics, from San

02:28:27.590 --> 02:28:31.619
Francisco State University. She also enjoys spending

02:28:31.619 --> 02:28:35.129
time with her family, hiking, birding, traveling and

02:28:35.129 --> 02:28:40.030
going on adventures. I also wanted to report that Drew

02:28:40.030 --> 02:28:44.020
Hodel is joining my office as an advisor. He comes

02:28:44.020 --> 02:28:46.990
from the Advocacy Section of the Legal Division. Where

02:28:46.990 --> 02:28:50.080
he represents the Public Advocate's Office, and the

02:28:50.080 --> 02:28:52.859
Consumer protection and Enforcement Division, focusing

02:28:52.859 --> 02:28:56.980
on energy issues. He graduated from New York University

02:28:56.980 --> 02:29:01.179
School of Law in 2012 and obtained a Master's in Environmental

02:29:01.179 --> 02:29:07.570
Policy in 2017. Uh, Drew is a second generation Californian.

02:29:07.580 --> 02:29:11.250
And he was drawn to the challenging issues faced by

02:29:11.260 --> 02:29:15.260
the CPUC from childhood backpacking trips in the Sierra.

02:29:15.270 --> 02:29:18.619
And observing the impacts of climate change firsthand.

02:29:18.629 --> 02:29:22.770
He lives with his wife and 1 year old daughter in San Francisco.

02:29:24.010 --> 02:29:27.669
And finally, I would like to take a moment to recognize

02:29:27.679 --> 02:29:31.760
the retirement of Felix Robles. Who will be retiring after

02:29:31.760 --> 02:29:34.990
more than 20 years of service at the CPUC.

02:29:35.629 --> 02:29:39.929
And I think Felix is joining us here. Uh Felix, I see

02:29:39.929 --> 02:29:43.270
you. Oh there you are, welcome. Thank you for joining

02:29:43.270 --> 02:29:50.590
us. Um Felix, began his State career with the PUC, as

02:29:50.599 --> 02:29:54.820
Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst III uh, in the

02:29:54.820 --> 02:29:57.899
Energy Division handling Department of Water resources

02:29:57.909 --> 02:30:01.330
energy contracts, general rate cases, and cost of capital

02:30:01.330 --> 02:30:05.330
proceedings. In 2018, he moved to the Communications

02:30:05.330 --> 02:30:08.679
Division becoming APARA 5, and working on critical

02:30:08.679 --> 02:30:11.879
infrastructure issues, including the American Recovery

02:30:11.879 --> 02:30:15.040
and Reinvestment Act Project, and the uniform regulatory

02:30:15.040 --> 02:30:19.320
framework. He led the Commission's work on communications.

02:30:19.330 --> 02:30:22.109
General rate cases for small independent telephone

02:30:22.109 --> 02:30:24.899
corporations. Operating in rural and high cost areas

02:30:24.899 --> 02:30:27.740
of the State. Oversaw the Commission's administration

02:30:27.740 --> 02:30:32.280
of high cost fund A and B programs, and led the Commission's

02:30:32.290 --> 02:30:35.230
efforts in overseeing the reporting and Remittance

02:30:35.240 --> 02:30:40.429
of user surcharges. Throughout his career, Felix distinguished

02:30:40.429 --> 02:30:43.439
himself through his professional demeanor and thoroughness.

02:30:43.449 --> 02:30:46.429
Earning the respect of those he worked with, via

02:30:46.439 --> 02:30:50.720
CPUC Staff, consumer groups or utility staff. Felix

02:30:50.720 --> 02:30:53.669
has been an invaluable asset to the Commission and

02:30:53.669 --> 02:30:57.250
will be missed by those who worked with him. And I am

02:30:57.250 --> 02:30:59.639
noting that Felix, it appears that you did pretty much

02:30:59.649 --> 02:31:03.990
everything at the PUC, in various roles that you held. While

02:31:03.990 --> 02:31:08.389
you were here. Um, Felix's plans for retirement

02:31:08.399 --> 02:31:11.300
include spending more time with his family, carrying

02:31:11.300 --> 02:31:15.209
on his favorite baseball and football teams and traveling.

02:31:15.220 --> 02:31:20.830
Um, Felix, we do have a certificate for you. Um, I

02:31:20.830 --> 02:31:24.240
believe that I don't know Christy (inaudible), is available to

02:31:24.250 --> 02:31:27.070
show it virtually. If we were in person, we would present

02:31:27.070 --> 02:31:30.149
it to you. Um, but we will be sending that to you

02:31:30.149 --> 02:31:34.330
in the mail. So you'll be receiving that from us. Congratulations

02:31:34.340 --> 02:31:38.330
on your retirement. We wish you all the best. Um, and

02:31:38.330 --> 02:31:41.230
really appreciate all of your years of service, at the

02:31:41.230 --> 02:31:46.510
PUC. Um, Felix if you, well first I'll turn to my

02:31:46.520 --> 02:31:49.060
colleagues. And see if anyone wants to make remarks,

02:31:49.060 --> 02:31:52.740
and then I'll give you a moment Felix. Commissioner

02:31:52.740 --> 02:31:57.389
Houck? Just briefly, I just wanted to thank you Felix.

02:31:57.389 --> 02:32:00.820
Like for all of his work and support on the first Telco

02:32:00.830 --> 02:32:05.070
rate case I worked on. He really helped um, provide

02:32:05.080 --> 02:32:09.399
support and um, just really enjoyed being able to work

02:32:09.409 --> 02:32:14.000
with you. And appreciated um, your dedication and knowledge

02:32:14.010 --> 02:32:18.099
in all areas that you've worked on. So thank you. Thank

02:32:18.099 --> 02:32:22.290
you. And Commissioner Reynolds?

02:32:22.290 --> 02:32:24.790
Thank you, President Reynolds. Felix, I've had a chance to work

02:32:24.790 --> 02:32:26.980
with you. In a couple of different capacities over the

02:32:26.980 --> 02:32:30.980
years. And I've always appreciated um, both your, your

02:32:30.980 --> 02:32:33.919
depth of knowledge. And you're really wonderful, the

02:32:33.929 --> 02:32:37.340
wonderful and collaborative demeanor. In working through

02:32:37.340 --> 02:32:40.300
difficult issues and trying to reach the right the

02:32:40.300 --> 02:32:42.510
right decisions and outcomes for the people of California.

02:32:42.520 --> 02:32:47.369
Um, congratulations on your retirement. And um, I will

02:32:47.369 --> 02:32:50.679
be sad not to have you continuing to work, on the

02:32:50.689 --> 02:32:54.919
telephone company GRCs, but I do wish you the best.

02:32:59.590 --> 02:33:03.480
Wonderful. Well, thank you for joining us, Felix. And

02:33:03.490 --> 02:33:07.530
really our hearty congratulations on your retirement.

02:33:08.689 --> 02:33:12.449
Thank you.

02:33:12.449 --> 02:33:19.199
And um, that concludes my report. Um, and with that

02:33:19.209 --> 02:33:24.050
that's the last item on our agenda. So this public

02:33:24.050 --> 02:33:26.879
meeting is now adjourned. Thank you everyone.