SDG&E customers have an opportunity to let regulators hear their voice during the week of October 10

[bananas]

http://www.ucan.org/energy/electricity/advanced_metering/immediate_release_ucan_investigation_shows_sdge_must_lower_its_rates

For Immediate Release: UCAN investigation shows SDG&E must lower its rates.
Posted September 23rd, 2011 by Charles Langley

UCAN News

For Immediate Release September 22, 2011

Contact: Michael Shames [phone]
UCAN Main Switchboard: [phone]

UCAN FIGHTING TO LOWER SDG&E'S RATES FOR ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS PRICES


Today, UCAN, the Utility Consumers' Action Network, announced the results of a one year probe into SDG&E's rate-setting activities.

UCAN's intensive audit shows that in the last three years, SDG&E’s rates have skyrocketed, its profits have soared, and its executives have reaped enormous bonuses even as its customers have suffered through the worst recession since 1929.

For 2012, SDG&E is seeking a "general rate" increase of $168 million. It claims its costs of doing business is higher and it needs more money from its customers. UCAN's team of experts -- 11 of them, pored through SDG&E's books and found that SDG&E should be lowering rates, not raising them. This means a rate reduction could be in the offing.

UCAN was able to document $142 million in inflated costs. UCAN's audit shows that SDG&E's rate increase should be pared back to $26 million. What’s more, the regulatory staff at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) found an even larger potential for saving of as much as $200 million in reductions. Between UCAN's work and that of the CPUC staff, there's a good chance for a rate reduction.

"This case comes down to a question of fairness." says UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames, "In the middle of the worst recession in many of our lifetimes, SDG&E’s rate request is lavish, extravagant, and unnecessary."

SDG&E customers have an opportunity to let regulators hear their voice during the week of October 10th, when there will be eight public hearings throughout San Diego County. CPUC, the regulatory agency that makes the final decision on SDG&E's rates is taking public input on the proposed rate increase.

Hearings will be held in San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon and Oceanside. The public now has all of the facts. UCAN's experts have shown a tremendous amount of waste and deceit in SDG&E's request for more money. Similarly, the regulators' own staff has found a larger pool of inflated costs. We’ve done our work. The regulatory staff has done theirs. Now it is time for SDG&E customers to express their opinion.

If you can afford a 5-7% rate increase locked in for the next four years, then you needn't do anything but sit on a couch and wave goodbye to your money. But if you feel that you simply can't afford higher gas and electric prices at the moment, you need to make these facts known at the upcoming public hearings held at 2pm and 7pm at each of the four locations:


• San Diego: October 10, 2011 (Al Bahr Shriners Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego 92111)

• Chula Vista: October 11, 2011 (Comfort Inn & Suites, 632 E. St., Chula Vista 91910)

• El Cajon: October 12, 2011 (El Cajon City Hall Council Chambers, 200 E. Main St, El Cajon 92020)

• Oceanside: October 13, 2011 (Civic Center Library, 330 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside 92054)

Here are just some of the disturbing facts uncovered by UCAN's experts.

<snip>

More information about UCAN's experts' findings can be found at:

http://www.ucan.org/energy/electricity/general_rate_case_2012/ucan_testimony_sdge_grc_2012