A Monthly Newsletter From the CPUC - February 2023 Newsletter

Working for California | February 2023

CPUC Accelerates Climate Credit to Assist Those Experiencing High Natural Gas Prices Throughout California

Every year the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) tracks natural gas prices in preparation for the winter. Since early December, natural gas prices have tripled due to a variety of factors including early cold weather in the Western states. The cost of natural gas is paid by utilities and that cost is passed directly to utility customers. As the cost of natural gas paid by the utilities rose, residents throughout the state were faced with higher energy bills. These high bills could continue if these market conditions persist.

While the CPUC does not regulate natural gas prices or natural gas producers, given the impact of the high prices on utility customers, and given the role that natural gas plays in electricity production, the CPUC has taken immediate actions to address the issue. Upon seeing the price spikes in December, the CPUC promptly directed utilities to enhance customer communications via email, social media, customer calls, bill inserts, community based organizations, television spots, and even text messages to those enrolled in text communications. This includes information on enrolling in income qualified programs like CARE and FERA, enrolling in seasonal billing plans to stabilize monthly bills, opting into rate forecast tools, and strategies to safely conserve while retaining health, comfort, and safety during the holidays. MORE

YOU ARE INVITED:

Equity Initiatives and Clean Energy Access Grant Program Webinar

Please join the CPUC on February 15, 2023, from 10 a.m. – noon for an informational webinar on the draft Equity Initiatives and Clean Energy Access Grant Program.

Assembly Bill 179 (Ting, Chapter 249, Statutes of 2022) provided $30 million in funding to expand the scope of public participation to include community-based organizations that have not historically engaged in matters before the CPUC.

The purpose of the grant funding is to increase the breadth and depth of voices providing input to the CPUC on issues affecting them, especially those in diverse and low-income communities, hard to reach customers, tribal communities, individuals with access and functional needs, and frontline communities experiencing the impacts of climate change.

During the webinar, which is free and open to the public, CPUC staff will provide an overview of the draft grant program, and a Q&A session will provide attendees with an opportunity to share their opinions and ask questions on the issues discussed.

Comments on the draft grant program can be submitted to outreach@cpuc.ca.gov until 5 p.m. on February 27, 2023.

Please visit the CPUC’s website for more information.

CPUC Welcomes New Commissioner

A big welcome to the CPUC’s newest Commissioner, Karen Douglas!

Commissioner Douglas was appointed to the CPUC by Governor Gavin Newsom on Dec. 22, 2022. She was sworn in as a Commissioner on Jan. 13, 2023, by CPUC President Alice Reynolds.

Commissioner Douglas was previously Senior Advisor for Energy in the Office of Governor Newsom since 2022. She was a member of the California Energy Commission from 2008 to 2022. She was Director of the California Climate Initiative for the Environmental Defense Fund from 2005 to 2008. She held several positions at the Planning and Conservation League from 2001 to 2005, including Acting Executive Director and General Counsel. Commissioner Douglas earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School and a Master of Public Policy degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Colorado Boulder. MORE

CPUC President Reynolds and Commissioner Douglas at the swearing in ceremony, Jan. 13, 2023.

Be YOU at the CPUC: Join Our Team!

If you are looking for a rewarding career, consider joining our team at the CPUC! We typically have opportunities at all levels available: leadership, supervisory, engineers, lawyers, Administrative Law Judges, analysts, specialists, administration, and more. You will join a team of individuals tackling issues related to the regulation of essential services in California. For more information on job opportunities and the CPUC’s hiring process, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/careers or email CPUCRecruiter@cpuc.ca.gov.

THE DOCKET:

Proceedings Filed at the CPUC

November 2022 – January 2023

Proceeding Number | Filed Date | Filer

A2110010 | 4-Nov-22 | ALJ/KORPICS/CPUC

Proposed Decision authorizing Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Electric Vehicle Charge 2 Program. MORE

A2205002 et al. | 4-Nov-22 | ALJ/JUNGREIS/TOY/CPUC

Proposed Decision approving Investor-Owned Utilities’ Demand Response Programs, Pilots, and Budgets for Bridge Year 2023. MORE

R2007013 | 3-Nov-22 | CMMR/RECHTSCHAFFEN/CPUC

Proposed Phase II Decision adopting modifications to the Risk-Based Decision-Making Framework adopted in Decision 18-12-014 and directing Environmental and Social Justice Pilots. MORE

A2210019 | 28-Oct-22 | Bill’s Bus Inc.

Application of Bill’s Bus Inc. (PSC18345) to Amend its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Increase its Zone of Rate Freedom (ZORF) fares for its existing route and for permission to abandon San Diego Route from San Diego State to Pacific Beach due to lack of staff and financial viability. MORE

A2210020 | 25-Oct-22 | The Sonoma County Airport Express, Inc.

In the matter of the Application of The Sonoma County Airport Express, Inc. (PSC-1120 ) to establish new base tariff rates and to establish a Zone of Rate Freedom (“ZORF”) of Plus 15% or Minus 15%, to that newly established tariff, pursuant to provisions of Pub. Util. Code Section 454.2. MORE

A2210023 | 20-Oct-22 | Mussey Grade Road Alliance

Application of the Mussey Grade Road Alliance for award of intervenor compensation for substantial contributions to Resolutions SPD-1 and SPD-2. MORE

VIEW MORE FILINGS

About this Publication

This monthly newsletter is to keep you informed of proposals by the CPUC's Commissioners and Administrative Law Judges, as well as utility applications, and other issues and work of note. We also include a list summarizing the filings at the CPUC in the previous month.

We want to hear from you! If you have topics you'd like us to cover or if you'd like to make comment on our proceedings or work, please contact us at outreach@cpuc.ca.gov or call (855) 421-0400. You can find information about events we are having at www.cpuc.ca.gov/Events.

Prior editions of this newsletter are available on the CPUC's website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/newsletter.

California Public Utilities Commission | www.cpuc.ca.gov | Contact us

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