Before the Public Utilities Commission 04:59 Pm of the State of California
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FILED 04/27/21 BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 04:59 PM OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Recover Insurance Costs Application 20-02-004 Recorded in the Wildfire Expense (Filed February 7, 2020) Memorandum Account (U 39 M) PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S (U 39 M) PROOF OF RULE 13.1(b) COMPLIANCE STEVEN W. FRANK MICHAEL R. KLOTZ Pacific Gas and Electric Company Law Department 77 Beale Street, B30A San Francisco, CA 94105 Telephone: (415) 973-7565 Facsimile: (415) 973-5520 E-mail: [email protected] Attorneys for PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Dated: April 27, 2021 1 / 14 BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Recover Insurance Costs Application 20-02-004 Recorded in the Wildfire Expense (Filed February 7, 2020) Memorandum Account (U 39 M) PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S (U 39 M) PROOF OF RULE 13.1(b) COMPLIANCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) files this proof of compliance with Rule 13.1(b) of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure regarding Notice of Evidentiary Hearing in the Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account proceeding A.20-02-004 (Notice). Posting PG&E’s front counter offices are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PG&E met the requirement specified in Rule 13.1(b) by timely posting the required Notice on the front doors of its front counter offices throughout its service area. The Notice was posted on or before April 16, 2021. (See Attachment A.) Publication PG&E met the additional requirement in Rule 13.1(b) by publishing the required Notice in print newspapers of general circulation or online within its service area on or before April 22, 2021. One twice-weekly publication, the Madera Tribune, inadvertently did not run the Notice as scheduled on April 17, 2021. To rectify the error, the publication immediately placed the Notice online on April 21, 2021, and ran the Notice in print on April 24, 2021. Two newspapers, the Feather River Bulletin and the Lassen County Times, are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and not distributing print newspapers. However, both publications are available online -1- 2 / 14 and the Notice was electronically placed in the Feather River Bulletin and the Lassen County Times on April 21, 2021.1 (See Attachment B.) Respectfully Submitted, MICHAEL R. KLOTZ By: /s/ Karen Alcantara KAREN ALCANTARA Legal Assistant to Michael R. Klotz Pacific Gas and Electric Company Law Department 77 Beale Street, B30A San Francisco, CA 94105 Telephone: (415) 973-7565 Facsimile: (415) 973-5520 E-mail: [email protected] Attorney for PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Dated: April 27, 2021 1 Administrative Law Judge Elaine C. Lau issued an e-mail ruling in A.20-07-020 on September 10, 2020, that noted that Rule 3.2(c), which has a similar requirement to publish notice in “newspapers of general circulation,” does not mandate use of a printed newspaper. “Rule 3.2(c) refers only to the obligation of a utility to ‘publish at least once in a newspaper of general circulation.’ The Rule does not specify that the newspaper must be in print form. Considering that print newspaper publications have been suspended in certain counties, publication of the required notices in online newspapers of general circulation is sufficient in complying with the noticing requirements under Rule 3.2(c).” -2- 3 / 14 ATTACHMENT A 4 / 14 5 / 14 Para más información en cómo este cambio impactará su factura, llame al 1-800-660-6789 • 詳情請致電 1-800-893-9555 NOTICE OF EVIDENTIARY HEARING FOR PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S REQUEST TO INCREASE RATES FOR THE WILDFIRE EXPENSE MEMORANDUM ACCOUNT (A.20-02-004) The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is scheduled to hold an evidentiary hearing at the time and place below regarding Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) application A.20-02-004. At this hearing, PG&E, consumer advocacy groups, and other parties to this proceeding testify before a CPUC Administrative Law Judge regarding PG&E’s request. The public can attend and listen to the proceeding but are not allowed to testify. Where and when will the Evidentiary Hearing be held? In compliance with the Governor’s directive and CPUC’s ongoing efforts to protect customers and community members, there will be no in-person physical location for the evidentiary hearing. The hearing will instead be held virtually. Please monitor the CPUC’s daily calendar (located at www.cpuc.ca.gov) for any changes relating to the evidentiary hearing. Date Time/Location/Remote Access April 27-28, 2021 This information will be made available on the CPUC’s website at www.cpuc.ca.gov. Why is PG&E requesting this rate increase? On February 7, 2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed its Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account (WEMA) application with the CPUC. PG&E seeks recovery of certain costs recorded in the WEMA, including $498.7 million for insurance costs incurred between July 26, 2017, and December 31, 2019. These costs exceed previously authorized rates for the same period. PG&E purchases excess liability insurance to protect against claims that may arise in connection with business operations. The program is designed to protect against significant losses, which could ultimately lead to increased rates for customers. The cost of this insurance has increased dramatically due to high wildfire liabilities in California. How could this affect my monthly electric rates? Many customers receive bundled electric service from PG&E, meaning they receive electric generation, transmission and distribution services. Based on rates currently in effect, the bill for a typical residential non-CARE customer using 500 kWh per month would increase from $138.86 to $141.65, or 2.0%. Direct Access and Community Choice Aggregation are unbundled electric service customers who only receive electric transmission and distribution services from PG&E. On average, these customers would see an increase of 2.6%. Other Departing Load customers do not receive electric generation, transmission or distribution services from PG&E. However, these customers are required to pay certain charges by law or CPUC decisions in the form of exit fees. On average, these customers would see an increase of 0.9%. Actual impacts will vary depending on usage. How will the application affect gas rates? If PG&E’s rate request is approved by the CPUC, the average monthly gas bill for a typical residential customer averaging 32 therms per month would increase from $58.10 to $60.08, or 3.4%. Actual impacts will vary depending on usage and are subject to CPUC regulatory approval. 1 6 / 14 How does the rest of this process work? This application has been assigned to a CPUC Administrative Law Judge who will consider proposals and evidence presented during the formal hearing process. The Administrative Law Judge will issue a proposed decision that may adopt PG&E’s application, modify it, or deny it. Any CPUC Commissioner may sponsor an alternate decision with a different outcome. The proposed decision, and any alternate decisions, will be discussed and voted upon by the CPUC Commissioners at a public CPUC Voting Meeting. Parties to the proceeding are currently reviewing PG&E’s application, including the Public Advocates Office, which is an independent consumer advocate within the CPUC that represents customers to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. For more information about the Public Advocates Office, please call 1- 415-703-1584, email [email protected], or visit PublicAdvocates.cpuc.ca.gov. Where can I get more information? Contact PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account (A.20-02-004) P.O. Box 7442 San Francisco, CA 94120 Phone: 1-800-743-5000 TTY: 1-800-652-4712 Contact CPUC Please visit cpuc.ca.gov/A2002004Comment to submit a comment about this proceeding on the CPUC Docket Card. Here you can view documents and other public comments related to this proceeding. Your participation by providing your thoughts on PG&E's request can help the CPUC make an informed decision. If you have questions about CPUC processes, you may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office. Public Advisor’s Office 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-866-849-8390 Please reference Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account A.20-02-004 in any communications you have with the CPUC regarding this matter. 2 7 / 14 PG&E’s 65 Front Counters at Local Offices Local Office Address Angels Camp 1108 Murphy’s Grade Road Antioch 800 Second Street Bakersfield 1918 H Street Berkeley 1900 Addison Street Burney 20806 Black Ranch Road Capitola 1955 41st Avenue Chico 350 Salem Street Clear Lake 14730 Olympic Drive Coalinga 240 Coalinga Plaza Concord 1030 Detroit Avenue Cupertino 10900 North Blaney Avenue Dinuba 152 North K Street East Oakland 6537 Foothill Boulevard Eureka 2555 Myrtle Avenue Fort Bragg 100 North Main Street Fortuna 2755 Rohnerville Road Fremont 41800 Boscell Road Fresno 705 P Street Garberville 1328 Redwood Drive Grass Valley 127 East Main Street Guerneville 14040 Church Street Hayward 24300 Clawiter Road Hollister 401 McCray Street Jackson 12626 Jackson Gate Road King City 118 South Third Street Lemoore 208 West D Street Lodi 1361 South Lower Sacramento Road Los Banos 940 I Street Madera 2871 Airport Drive Manteca 226 East Yosemite Avenue Mariposa 5166 Jones Street Marysville 231 D Street Merced 3185 M Street Modesto 2225 Plaza Parkway Napa 1850 Soscol Avenue Oakdale 285 North Third Street Oakland 1425 Clay Street Oroville 1567 Huntoon Street Placerville 4636 Missouri Flat Road Quincy 435 West Main Street Red Bluff 515 Luther Road Redding 3600 Meadow View Drive Richmond 1100 South 27th Street Ridgecrest 530 S.