Comments on Draft Decision
The draft decision of the ALJ in this matter was mailed to the parties in accordance with Section 311(g)(1) of the Public Utilities Code and Rule 77.7 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure. Comments were filed by _________________.
1. The 39-day delay in filing the formal application was not a CalWater-caused source of delay in issuing a final decision.
2. CalWater and DRA's late filing of a proposed settlement that addressed most of the summary of earnings and related issues and provided the Rate Case Plan-mandated comparison exhibit did not significantly delay the proceeding.
3. The earliest date the Commission could have acted to grant CalWater's motion for interim rate relief was July 20, 2006.
4. CalWater's showing does not support rate increases that are at least equal to the rate of inflation for four of the eight districts in this proceeding.
5. The interim rate level we set affects the timing of CalWater's revenues but not their overall amount.
6. An interim rate increase based on the rate of inflation would be inappropriate in some districts, and confusing to ratepayers in all districts to the extent that interim and final rate adjustments would follow in rapid succession.
1. CalWater is eligible to seek interim rate relief under Public Utilities Code Section 455.2 for the eight districts in this general rate case proceeding.
2. CalWater should not be held responsible for any delay related to the late-filed and incomplete WRAM stipulation or our subsequent deliberations pertaining to it.
3. It is in the public interest to adopt CalWater's current rates as interim rates, subject to refund, and to adjust them upward or downward back to their effective date consistent with the final rates adopted by the Commission in this proceeding.
4. CalWater's interim rates should be made effective July 20, 2006.
5. To establish interim rates as promptly as possible, this decision should be made effective today.
6. This proceeding should remain open pending resolution of CalWater's general rate case applications.
IT IS ORDERED that:
1. California Water Service Company's (CalWater) current rates for the eight districts subject to this general rate case proceeding are designated as interim rates pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 455.2. The interim rates shall be effective as of July 20, 2006, shall be subject to refund, and shall be adjusted upward or downward, back to their effective date, consistent with the final rates adopted by the Commission in this proceeding.
2. When final rates for test year 2006/2007 have been approved in these eight general rate case districts, CalWater is authorized to file an advice letter to recover or refund in each district the difference between the interim rates authorized in this order and the test year 2006/2007 rates adopted in the general rate case proceeding order. The period over which those differences are recovered or refunded shall be one year, or such shorter period(s) as CalWater and the Commission's Water Division may jointly agree is appropriate in any district. If a Rate Support Fund is approved, any related retroactive adjustments to interim rates shall be as described in the discussion section of this order. CalWater shall include with its advice letter(s) all supporting data and calculations. The Water Division shall inform the Commission if it finds the proposed rate changes do not comply with this order or other Commission requirements.
3. CalWater shall include in its initial bills implementing the Ordering Paragraph 2 retroactive rate adjustments a one-time explanation of those adjustments.
4. This proceeding remains open pending resolution of CalWater's general rate case applications.
This order is effective today.
Dated _________________, at San Francisco, California.
INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE
I have provided notification of filing to the electronic mail addresses on the attached service list.
Upon confirmation of this document's acceptance for filing, I will cause a copy of the filed document to be served upon the service list to this proceeding by U.S. mail. The service list I will use to serve the copy of the filed document is current as of today's date.
Dated July 25, 2006, at San Francisco, California.
/s/ ELIZABETH LEWIS |
Elizabeth Lewis |
************ APPEARANCES ************ Jack Miller
|
Marcos Pareas James C. McVicar ********* INFORMATION ONLY ********** |
Sharon Atteberry |
David Morse |
