8 week schedule slip? SJWC 2016, 2017, 2018 - RATE CASE AND INCREASE

The original Plan Schedule has "slipped" from a planned June 15, 2015 Mandatory Conference, to August 19, 2015. It's understandable that there would be a slip due to drought related actions that were required, as well as some difficult negotiation on several topics.

Click to view schedule, Exhibit A

SJWC has already requested and received approval for interim rates, starting on January 1, 2016, An encouraging item is SJWC requested current rate plus an optional inflation increase by month. Obviously they'll charge the difference between inflation and the likely 8-10% annual increase for 2016 when CPUC commissioners approve the resolution to the rate case.

The contested issues still are open as I posted, on this blog.

SJWC Requested Item	Status	Blogger Comment
WRAM full de-coupling of revenue and sales	Contested as of 9/18/15	PG&E got an ERAM, guarantees revenue independent of sales. Over the past 25 years have PG&E customers benefited?
WRAM contingent conservation programs	Contested as of 9/18/15	The proposed rate is 2,000 toilets a year, there are over 1 million toilets in SJWC system. Are you going to live long enough to get a free low flow toilet?
Staffing requests for 33 new staff positions	Contested as of 9/18/15	Since it appears that SJWC is delivering less water, has available man-hours(6 staff full-time) to use for NTP&S, do they really need 33 more staff people that we would pay for or would they be used for NTP&S?
Bonuses for Officers and Managers	Contested as of 9/18/15	Who should pay?You ( SJWC customers) or Shareholders? Shareholders set goals for their benefit, not SJWC customers.
Non-Tariffed Products and Services (“NTP&S”)	Tentative Agreement	Tentative Agreement, Appendix A Relates to staffing request, above.
Other financial items have contingent agreements or are pending and contested	Pending  as of 9/18/2015	Pending resolution of contested Items

I also have a previous post to this blog discussing the items above in more detail.

Please send email,

 make your opinion heard!

 If you are concerned about these issues, send email to CPUC at: District 5 United eForm eMail  Simply click on the "eForm eMail" and you will get a page to fill out the information and specify the reason for your opposition to the currently contested issues and continuing requests to de-couple their revenue from the requirement to do business efficiently and your concern about their lack of openness and transparency. 

Please consider pasting the following, or parts you agree with, when you fill in the eForm:

"I OPPOSE SJWC paying management and officers bonuses with money included in our water rates, bonuses benefit shareholders, shareholders should pay the bonuses. I oppose a WRAM separating revenues from sales, I oppose using regulated staff for unregulated projects with insufficient controls, reporting and evaluation of the risk/reward for ratepayers. I oppose a major staffing increase of 33 positions, an almost 10% staff increase. I oppose proposals by SJWC that discriminate against seniors or other classes of SJWC ratepayers. Reference San Jose Water Company (SJWC) GRC 1501002."

You can also send an email to express your opinion on who should pay the bonuses you or the shareholders:

CPUC Public Advisor public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov  Reference San Jose Water Company (SJWC) GRC 1501002.The Public Adviser will insure your email will be sent to all the appropriate CPUC staff members. 

Other people to drop an email (note) and express your opinion are:

• Scott Herhold, San Jose Mercury News, sherhold@mercurynews.com
• Paul Rodgers, San Jose Mercury News, progers@mercurynews.com
• Julie Putnam, NBC Channel 5, julie.putnam@nbcuni.com