CPUC and SJW Corporation - Integrity, Openness and Transparency

The current CPUC president Michael Peevey has gotten a few free rides - paid for trips! 

• Did he use vacation days? or was it considered business travel?
• Did he pay any income tax on gifts, travel and expenses paid for by lobbyists?

His travel expenses that can be documented were $165,185, according to KNBC Investigative Unit, based on filings in the public record. The number of days Mr. Peevey traveled was 119 over 6 years, about 20 days a year.

We need to see what the mission statements of the California Public Utility Commission, published on the CPUC website, keywords are in bold, are:

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

The CPUC regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies.  The CPUC serves the public interest by  and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy.  We regulate utility services, stimulate innovation, and promote competitive markets, where possible.

Further CPUC expands the statement:

CPUC Mission

The California Public Utilities Commission serves the public interest by protecting consumersand ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy.  We regulate utility services, stimulate innovation, and promote competitive markets, where possible, in the communications, energy, transportation, and water industries.

Values

• Leadership
• We lead with integrity, take initiative, and inspire a shared vision in the pursuit of thepublic interest.
• Excellence
• Our skilled, dedicated, and diverse workforce provides the highest quality products and services.
• People
• We promote professional growth, empowerment, innovation, accountability, teamwork, collegiality, and mutual respect.
• Participation
• We provide an open, fair, timely, and inclusive process.  
• Stewardship
• We are responsible stewards of the human, financial, information, and natural resources entrusted to us.
• Communication
• We provide accurate, timely information and consumer education.

Vision

The California Public Utilities Commission betters the lives of all Californians through our recognized leadership in innovative communications, energy, transportation, and water policies and regulation. 

I can't seem to find any reference to frequent flyer miles? I do see many references to very fine sounding statements:

• lead with integrity
• public interest
• protecting consumers
• healthy California economy
• accountability
• open, fair, timely, and inclusive process
• provide accurate, timely information and consumer education

Do these fine sentiments include CPUC president Michael Peevey? or do they only apply to other staff members at CPUC?

We seem to have a lack of openness and transparency not only at CPUC, but also at the San Jose Water Company. Both organizations seem to be able avoid "Freedom of Information" laws. CPUC can go off the record in hearing, CPUC can classify information from the utilities they are "supposed" to be regulating.  To take a moment lets look at the one accepted definition of regulate:

• to put in good order

Then we can look at some other sentiments published by CPUC: lead with integrity, public interest, protecting consumers, accountability, reasonable rates,  "open, fair, timely, and inclusive process", "provide accurate, timely information", etc.   ...............

Let's see what Mr. Michael Peevey and Mr. Richard Roth had to say when KNBC Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski managed to ask questions about their expenses and how they are spending our (ratepayers) money.:

Tony Kovaleski asks tough questions of Richard Roth CEO San Jose Water Company
and Michael Peevey President CPUC

Click above and view KNBC videos, see the answers KNBC Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski managed to get, so far for us.

The common thread in the interviews is both don't wish to discuss a range of issues, in a public interview.  It's obvious that both disclose their salary, benefits, expenses only when required legally. Mr. Roth is required as CEO of a public utility to disclose certain information in filings with the SEC, Mr. Peevey as the President of a State Agency, CPUC, certain disclosures on salary, benefits, expenses and gifts are required by California State Law. In both cases it is not easy for a common ratepayer to find out the information.

Hard questions have to be asked in both cases we the ratepayers deserve answers:

CPUC Statement

The California Public Utilities Commission serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy.

San Jose Water Company (wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Corporation)

"..... SJWC also provides services to other utilities including operations and maintenance, billing, and backflow testing. By sharing these services with others, we provide a benefit to the local community, lower the cost of water operations, improve opportunities, and earn a profit. "

You will have to admit both CPUC and SJWC that both appear to embrace positions that would benefit us the consumer/ratepayer.  We need to keep in mind where the money comes from and goes to, as well as the kind of money and who it finally appears to benefit.  

If you are concerned about the 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 SJWC 44% Rate Increase and your concern about the lack of openness and transparency discovered by KNBC Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski. Please also mention if you feel the lobbying and/or personal gifts/expenses represent an possible integrity issue or a potential conflict of interest.

You can also send an email to CPUC Public Advisor public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov  The Public Advisor will insure your email will be sent to all the appropriate CPUC staff members.