PG&E seeks rate increase for clean energy initiative

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NOTICE OF PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY’S REQUEST TO INCREASE RATES FOR THE OAKLAND CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE (A.20-04-013)

Acronyms you need to know

PG&E: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

CPUC: California Public Utilities Commission

CAISO: California Independent System Operator

Summary

On April 15, 2020, PG&E filed its application for the Oakland Clean Energy Initiative with the CPUC. The initiative is a series of projects to improve the reliability of the electric grid in the north Oakland area.

PG&E is requesting a total of approximately $21 million for this initiative to be collected in rates beginning in 2022.

Background

Every year the CAISO does an assessment to ensure reliability of the electric system. The 2017–2018 assessment of the PG&E Greater Bay Area identified areas in north Oakland that will require transmission improvements. In response, PG&E is proposing an innovative portfolio of projects to ensure reliability in this area, including energy storage projects.

The CAISO’s evaluation found PG&E’s proposal to be the most cost-effective way of improving electric reliability in the north Oakland area.

How will the application affect electric rates?

Most customers receive bundled electric service from PG&E, meaning they receive electric generation, transmission and distribution services. Based on rates currently in effect, the bill for a typical residential customer using 500 kWh per month would increase from $122.74 to $123.39, or 0.5%.

Direct Access and Community Choice Aggregation are unbundled electric service customers who only receive electric transmission and distribution services from PG&E. On average, these customers would see an increase of 0.001%.

Departing Load customers do not receive electric generation, transmission or distribution services from PG&E. However, these customers are required to pay certain charges by law or CPUC decision. These customers will not be impacted by this application.

Actual impacts will vary depending on usage.

CPUC process

This application will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge who will determine how to receive evidence and other related information necessary for the CPUC to establish a record upon which to base its decision.

Evidentiary hearings may be held where parties present their testimony and may be subject to cross-examination by other parties. These hearings are open to the public, but only those who are formal parties in the case can participate.

After considering all proposals and evidence presented during the hearings, the assigned Judge will issue a proposed decision which may adopt PG&E’s proposal, modify it or deny it. Any of the five CPUC Commissioners may sponsor an alternate decision. The proposed decision, and any alternate decisions, will be discussed and voted on at a scheduled CPUC Voting Meeting that is open to the public.

The Public Advocates Office (Cal Advocates) is currently reviewing this application. Cal Advocates is the independent consumer advocate within the CPUC with a statutory mandate to represent customers of investor-owned utilities to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with safe and reliable service and the state’s environmental policy goals. Cal Advocates has a multidisciplinary staff with expertise in economics, finance, accounting and engineering. For more information about Cal Advocates, please call
415-703-1584, email [email protected], or visit Cal Advocates’ website at PublicAdvocates.cpuc.ca.gov.

Where can I get more information?

CONTACT PG&E

If you have questions about PG&E’s filing, please contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. For TTY, call 1-800-652-4712.

If you would like a copy of the filing and exhibits, please write to the address below:

Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Oakland Clean Energy Initiative (A.20-04-013)
P.O. Box 7442
San Francisco, CA 94120

CONTACT CPUC

You may also get information about this proceeding by contacting the CPUC.

• If you would like to make a comment, please visit cpuc.ca.gov/A2004013Comment to submit a comment on the CPUC Docket Card. You can also review other public comments related to this rate request.
• If you have questions about CPUC processes, you may contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at:

Email:             [email protected]
Mail:             CPUC

Public Advisor’s Office
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Call:             1-866-849-8390 (toll-free). For TTY, call 1-866-836-7825

Please reference Oakland Clean Energy Initiative (A.20-04-013) in any communications you have with the CPUC regarding this matter.