Southern California Edison Notice of Public Forum (Public Participation Hearing) A.20-10-018.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUM (Public Participation Hearing)
Southern California Edison’s Request to Increase Water and Electricity Rates
APPLICATION A.20-10-018 

How can I participate?  

Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) would like to hear from you. You are invited to participate in a Public Forum, also called a Public Participation Hearing (PPH), about SCE’s Application No. 20-10-018 for authority to increase rates for water service on Santa Catalina Island (Catalina) and recover costs from water and electric customers.  

These Public Forums are part of a formal proceeding that will be documented and placed into the formal record so the CPUC can make a decision about SCE’s request. You can make comments and raise concerns to the CPUC Administrative Law Judge overseeing this application. 

You can also provide written public comments at any time during the proceeding at cpuc.ca.gov/A2010018comments.  

Where and when will these Public Forum be held?  

The public forums can be viewed via internet, or listened to via phone, with the information above. If you wish to make a public comment, please participate by phone using the phone number above and pressing *1. Your participation by providing your thoughts on SCE’s request can help the CPUC make an informed decision.  Please note: If you need a language interpreter, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office using the contact information at the end of this notice at least five business days before the Public Forum.   

Why am I receiving this notice?  

On October 30, 2020, SCE filed with the CPUC Application No. 20-10-018 for authority to increase rates for SCE’s Catalina Water Utility and recover costs from water and electric customers.  SCE’s cost recovery proposal will likely increase the electricity rates for SCE’s system-wide electric customers in SCE’s service territory.  

The application is requesting an authorized base revenue requirement of $9.3 million from Catalina water customers, to be phased-in over a five-year period from 2022-2026.  SCE also requests a broader allocation of $29 million in extraordinary drought and environmental costs for recovery from SCE’s system-wide electric customers.  A total of $29 million in drought and environmental expenses, as well as deferred revenues from SCE’s proposed five-year revenue requirement phase-in. 

Why is SCE requesting these rate increases? 
SCE is requesting this rate increase to recover its expenses, among other things, for: 

• Increased operating expenses required to operate the Catalina Water safely and effectively; 

• Routine capital infrastructure necessary to produce and distribute safe drinking water to customers and visitors to Catalina;  
• Incremental Operations and Maintenance expense due to the recent historic drought and lost revenues due to the drought and implementing the Staged Water Conservation and Rationing Plan; and 
• Environmental related capital expenditures completed between 2012 and 2019.  

How could this affect my electricity bill?  

If SCE’s rate request is approved by the CPUC, the average residential monthly bill using 550 kWh per month would increase by approximately $0.29 or 0.2% per month in 2022. 
 

Proposed Electricity Rate Increase 

If SCE’s rate request is approved by the CPUC, there will be a five-year rate increase for SCE’s Catalina water customers beginning in 2022. The average residential bill with a 5/8” meter using 1,466 gallons per month would increase by approximately $29.03 or 40% per month in 2022 and up to approximately $110.52 or 153% in 2026.   

In the tables below, SCE is showing the impact of the initial rate increase in Year 1 as well as the impact to collect the full revenue requirement in Year 5.  The Year 1 proposed rate change in Table 1 is calculated above current authorized rates. The Year 5 rate change in Table 2 is calculated above the proposed Year 4 rates.  

Table 1: Proposed Water Rate Increase Above Current Rates – Year 1 of Phase-in Proposal 

Table 2:  Proposed Water Rate Increase – Year 5 of Phase-in Proposal