2. Position of the Parties
Complainant notes that the baseline allowance for all-electric residential customers during the summer season (May 1- October 31) for Territory X, which includes the city of Livermore where she resides, was adjusted from 11.3 kilowatt per hour (kWh) per day to 11.4 kWh per day. Also, the baseline allowance for basic-electric residential customers was adjusted from 10.8 kWh to 12.2 kWh per day. Because the adjusted summer baseline allowance for basic-electric residential customers is higher than the summer baseline allowance for all-electric customers, Complainant contends that PG&E's average consumption data cannot be correct and requests a Commission review of PG&E's baseline allowance calculations.
According to PG&E, the calculation of new target baseline quantities based on updated consumption data (as required by D.02-04-026, ord. para. 4, and Pub. Util. Code § 379) resulted in a unique situation for Territory X. PG&E's customer use data show that in Territory X, the average all-electric residential consumption during the summer season was less than the average basic-electric residential consumption during the summer season of May 1 - October 31 over the four years, 1997-2000. This resulted in a lower summer baseline allotment for all-electric residential energy customers than for basic-electric residential customers.
PG&E is not surprised by Complainant's disbelief that all-electric customers in Territory X can use less energy in the summer season than basic-electric customers. According to PG&E, Territory X has seen construction in recent years of many large homes with basic-electric service including central air conditioning, and this change in electric consumption by housing stock within the basic-electric service category could have contributed significantly to bringing the summer energy usage levels slightly higher than for all-electric residences.
Further, PG&E says that Complainant's individual usage is in the top one percentile of electric usage within her city limits, and on the high end of the range for Territory X. Complainant's connected load includes a home and an RV, both with central air conditioning and heating, and a well with two pumps. While PG&E agrees that Complainant has taken significant measures to conserve energy, and has in fact reduced current usage by more than 30% over her usage levels from 2000, PG&E believes that the Complainant's connected load will keep her in the 5th tier of surcharges each month. PG&E suggests that some of the specific proposals under consideration in Phase 2 of the Baseline OIR (e.g., provision of additional baseline allowances for well pumping) may result in additional baseline allowances or rate relief for Complainant.
