Public Forum on San Gabriel Valley Water's Rate Increase Requests for 2023-2025

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold remote public forums to provide an opportunity for customers of San Gabriel Valley Water Company to offer their perspective and input to the CPUC about the company’s rate increase requests, as follows:

WHEN:

• July 7, 2022, 2 p.m. AND 6 p.m.: Fontana Water Company division; all commentors welcome
• July 11, 2022, 2 p.m. AND 6 p.m.: Los Angeles County division; all commentors welcome

WHERE: Remote access via webcast or phone for ALL public forums:

• Live video broadcast with English or Spanish captions via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
  • Participants who choose to participate via webcast only will have audio and video capabilities but will not be able to make verbal comments. If you would like to make a comment during the meeting, the phone-in information is below.
  • For captions, after clicking on the name of the workshop, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
  • The forums will also be recorded and archived for future viewing.
• Phone (English): 800-857-1917, passcode: 1767567#
  • Participants will have audio in English and will be able to make comments.
• Phone (Spanish): 800-857-1917, passcode: 3799627#
  • Participants will have audio in Spanish and will be able to make comments.

Customers from San Gabriel Valley Water service areas are encouraged to participate in the public forums.

Due to continued concerns about COVID-19, these public forums (also formally known as Public Participation Hearings) will not have in-person attendance. Members of the public can view the public forums via the Internet or listen and make comment by toll-free phone line. Those who would like to make public comment must participate by telephone.

You can also make your voice heard in this proceeding, and read the comments of others, on our online Docket Card comment section at https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2201003.

WHAT:  Each remote public forum will begin with a brief overview by San Gabriel Valley Water explaining the proposed rate changes, followed by a presentation by the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office and Fontana Unified School District. Public comments will be taken via phone. At least one representative from San Gabriel Valley Water will be present throughout the forum to answer service or billing customer questions.

The July 7 remote public forums will focus on the proposed rate changes in the Fontana Water Company division. The July 11 remote public forums will focus on the proposed rate changes in the Los Angeles County division. Although each forum will be designated for either division, San Gabriel Valley Water customers are welcome to attend any of the forums, regardless of their service area.

BACKGROUND:  On January 3, 2022, San Gabriel Valley Water submitted its 2023 General Rate Case application requesting CPUC approval to increase its rates for water service in its Los Angeles County and Fontana Water Company divisions for 2023-2025.

San Gabriel Valley Water is requesting to increase the Los Angeles County division’s gross annual revenues by $10,791,000 (or 13.1 percent) in 2023; $4,847,000 (or 5.2 percent) in 2024; and $5,044,000 (or 5.1 percent) in 2025. If San Gabriel Valley Water’s rate request for its Los Angeles County division is approved by the CPUC, the average residential monthly bill with a ⅝ x ¾-inch meter using 11 cubic feet of water per month would increase by approximately $5.52 (or 7.7 percent) in 2023, by $9.54 (or 12.4 percent) in 2024, and by $4.73 or (5.5 percent) in 2025.

San Gabriel Valley Water is requesting to increase the Fontana Water Company division’s gross annual revenues by $9,202,000 (or 11.3 percent) in 2023; $5,164,000 (or 5.7 percent) in 2024; and $5,281,000 (or 5.4 percent) in 2025. If San Gabriel Valley Water’s rate request for its Fontana Water Company division is approved by the CPUC, the average residential monthly bill with a ⅝ x ¾-inch meter using 11 cubic feet of water per month would increase by approximately $4.64 (or 5.9 percent) in 2023, by $9.29 (or 11.2 percent) in 2024, and by $4.85 or (5.2 percent) in 2025.

San Gabriel Valley Water supplies water to the general public in the counties of Los Angeles and San Bernadino, serving approximately 97,750 customers.

The CPUC welcomes remote attendance and comments on San Gabriel Valley Water’s requests at the public forums, as public comments will help the CPUC reach an informed decision. The Administrative Law Judge assigned to the proceeding is scheduled to issue a Proposed Decision in the case for CPUC Commissioner consideration within a year.

While a quorum of Commissioners and/or their staff may attend the remote public forums, no official action will be taken on this matter.

If specialized accommodations are needed to attend, such as non-English or sign language interpreters, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll-free at 866-849-8390 at least three business days in advance of the public forum.

Further information on public forums is available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph.

The Ruling setting the public forum is available at https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M479/K337/479337864.PDF.

Documents related to this proceeding are available at https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56:0::NO:RP,57,RIR:P5_PROCEEDING_SELECT:A2201003.

To receive electronic updates on CPUC proceedings, sign-up for the CPUC’s free subscription service at http://subscribecpuc.cpuc.ca.gov.