Notice of Participation Hearings Southern California Gas Company’s Request to Increase Gas Rates Application A.22-05-015
Para más información sobre esta reunión pública, y cómo este cambio impactará su factura, llame al 1-800-342-4545.
Why am I receiving this notice?
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) 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 SoCalGas’ 2024 General Rate Case (GRC) application. At the public forum, you can make comments and raise concerns with the CPUC’s Administrative Law Judge (Judge) who is overseeing this rate increase request.
How will the public forums be held?
As part of the CPUC’s ongoing efforts to protect customers and community members, and provide the greatest access, these hearings will be held virtually. Your participation by providing your thoughts on SoCalGas’ request can help the CPUC make an informed decision.
You can also provide written public comments at any time during the proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2205015.
Where and when will this/these Public Forum(s) be held?
March 6, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Virtual PPH
Phone Number: 800-857-1917
Passcode: 1767567#
Webcast: adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
March 15, 2023
6:00 p.m.
Virtual PPH
Phone Number: 800-857-1917
Passcode: 1767567#
Webcast: adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
SoCalGas’ March 6 and March 15, 2023, PPHs will be held virtually, meaning you can participate via internet or via phone using the access details above. Please note: If you need a language interpreter for these virtual hearings, 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. If you wish to make a public comment, you must participate by phone using the phone number above. After calling in and entering the passcode above, press *1, unmute your phone and record your name when prompted. You will be put into a queue in the order you dialed in.
Why is SoCalGas requesting this increase?
On May 16, 2022, SoCalGas filed its 2024 General Rate Case application (A.22-05-015) with the CPUC. The application, as updated in November 2022, requests authority to increase revenues for 2024-2027. SoCalGas is requesting to increase revenues by $738 million (20.2% increase over 2023 expected revenues) in 2024. This application also includes requested increases of $295 million (6.7%) in 2025, $261 million (5.6%) in 2026, and $379 million (7.7%) in 2027. The cumulative requested revenue increase is $4,740 million.
Every four years, SoCalGas is required to file a GRC application with the CPUC to set annual revenues. Annual revenues are the total amount of money a utility is allowed to collect through rates in a given year. The revenues requested in this application pay for the costs of owning and operating gas infrastructure. This application does not include the cost to purchase natural gas for SoCalGas customers and does not determine how revenues are assigned to customer groups. Those are evaluated and authorized in separate proceedings.
SoCalGas is requesting this increase to:
Continue to invest in its gas delivery system to enhance safety and reliability, and to manage risks that could impact its employees, customers, and/or system;
Invest in the gas system and technologies that advance clean energy for customers and the environment;
Continue to invest in the needs of customers by enabling diverse customer service capabilities, and to empower customers with information and tools to better manage their gas use;
Meet regulatory and compliance requirements driven by system safety and reliability and environmental compliance; and
Invest in efforts and programs to maintain a highly-trained, qualified, and diverse workforce.
If the CPUC approves this application, SoCalGas will implement new revenues in gas rates beginning on January 1, 2024. This will impact your monthly bill.
How could this affect my monthly gas bill?
If SoCalGas’ rate request is approved by the CPUC, the typical residential monthly bill using 36 therms per month would increase by approximately $8.28 or 13.2% per month in 2024, compared to estimated 2023. Individual customer bills may vary.
How does the rest of this process work?
The assigned Judge will consider proposals and evidence presented during the formal hearing process. The Judge will issue a proposed decision that may adopt SoCalGas’s application, modify it, or deny it. Any CPUC Commissioner may sponsor an alternate decision with a different outcome. The proposed decision, and any alternate decision(s), will be discussed and voted upon by the CPUC Commissioners at a public CPUC Voting Meeting.
Parties to the proceeding are currently reviewing SoCalGas’ application, including the Public Advocates Office. The Public Advocates Office is an independent consumer advocate within the CPUC that represents customers to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. For more information, please call 1-415-703-1584, email PublicAdvocatesOffice@cpuc.ca.gov, or visit PublicAdvocates.cpuc.ca.gov.
Your participation by providing your thoughts on SoCalGas’ request can help the CPUC make an informed decision.
Where can I get more information?
Contact SoCalGas
Email: centralfiles@semprautilities.com
Mail: Jamie York, 8330 Century Park Court, CP31E, San Diego, CA 92123
A copy of the Application and any related documents may also be reviewed at https://www.socalgas.com/regulatory/2024-general-rate-case.
Contact CPUC
Please visit apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2205015 to submit a comment about this proceeding on the CPUC Docket Card. Here you can also view documents and other public comments related to this proceeding.
If you have questions about CPUC processes, you may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at:
Phone: 1-866-849-8390 (toll-free) or 1-415-703-2074
Email: Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
Mail: CPUC Public Advisor’s Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
Please reference SoCalGas GRC Application A.22-05-015, in any communications you have with the CPUC regarding this matter.
