James Hunter
Showing posts with label WRAM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WRAM. Show all posts

Saturday, September 19, 2015

SJWC transcript 8/19/15 Status Conference (WRAM, Bonuses, Conservation, Freedom of Information)

The following is the CPUC transcript for the GRC A1501002 8/19/2015:

August 31, 2015TRANSCRIPTREPORTING SECTION8/19/15 Status Conference; Vol. 5; Pages 448-464.

Click for access to the PDF file of the transcript
The transcript indicates open issues regarding the time periods between the Governor's Drought Executive Order, issues concerning the actual water sales by SJWC during the periods and the likely "bounce back" increase in water use after the expiration of the drought controls and surcharges (penalties). The objective is to prevent a large surcharge from accumulating and be billed to ratepayers after the drought controls are rescinded or expire, a good objective.

We still have significant pending contested issues, as documented in my posting to this blog, before a settlement (a proposal) can be submitted to the CPUC Commission for a decision.

You should note that the transcript indicates that SJWC customers reduced water consumption by over 35%, 5% over the 30% reduction imposed by an agreement of SCVWD (Santa Clara Water District), SJWC and the City of San Jose, in response to the State Water Board required 20%.

I would argue that the current revenue protection that is in place for SJWC is adequate, while SJWC will argue that a full decoupling of sales and revenue is required to protect them and allow them to continue to pursue conservation measures. Hmm, we the customers exceeded expectations beyond both the State and the SCVWD requirements.  I don't recall any new efforts by SJWC to promote water conservation.

I'm sure the SJWC managers and officers deserve annual bonuses based on motivating SJWC customers to exceed conservation expectations, LOL. Hmm it could at best be argued that their contribution was a "speedy" implementation of DS1 and DS2 drought surcharges, in time to be included in the first water bill after the the Governor's Executive Order was effective. I seem to remember SJWC saying it would take weeks if not months to make changes to their billing software.........some changes are apparently easier to make than others  (;->) (an emoticon). You should also note that SJWC was prepared in 1992 tocalculate water savings based on each customer's prior usage.

An issue of Public Information, the transcript cost me $34.00 to get a copy. Interestingly it existed as both an Adobe PDF and an MS-Word file and was sent to me within a day of my request, I also received a hardcopy of the transcript. Yet it can't be downloaded from the CPUC GRC A1501002 docket/documents available online on the CPUC website? I know for a fact that Adobe PDF files can be password locked to prevent modification. So I have to assume that CPUC wants to limit access to information that should be easily provide at no charge. If you send email to the CPUC Public Advisor they will forward your request to the CPUC ALJ Division – Reporting Section who are helpful. I wonder if the legislation in process in Sacramento have any effect on making the transcripts downloadable and free?

FYI, the transcript download is hosted on my free account at Google, really time consuming and expensive, to make the transcript available, "right". The file can be downloaded, but the copy hosted on Google cannot be modified by the public.

Monday, September 7, 2015

SJWC Requested 22% Rate Increase 2016, 2017, 2018 GRC A1501002


The following is the list of some of the more visible contested Items, in SJWC Rate Increase Request (GRC A1501002) and their current status, as of 9/7/2015. The proposed rate increase is about 22% over the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The overall increase seems excessive since inflation historically has been running very low, annually 3%, or less.


SJWC Requested Item
Status
Blogger Comment
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?
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?
Contested as of 9/18/15
Who should pay?You ( SJWC customers) or Shareholders? Shareholders set goals for their benefit, not SJWC customers.
Tentative Agreement
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 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 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 Advisopublic.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: