2. Statement of Facts

2.1. The Applicant

SCWC is a California public utility under the jurisdiction of this Commission providing public utility water services to over 240,000 customers in the state through 41 separate systems in ten counties. SCWC obtains its water from (1) the Colorado River and the State Water Project, and (2) local groundwater from the Santa Ana River Groundwater Basin obtained through 27 wells. The SCWC West Orange County System has 36,241 gallons per minute (gpm) of water flow available from all sources to meet maximum day demand. At present, this system has an approximate available surplus of 5,979 gpm. The Mesa project's total flow requirement for domestic and fire flow protection is estimated to be 4,040 gpm.

Apart from its public utility water services, SCWC also operates two wastewater treatment plants in California. One is at the Naval Air Facility Station in El Centro and the second is at the City of Calipatria. In those latter two activities, SCWC employs 12 persons.

2.2. The Applications

2.2.1. A.99-11-003

Pursuant to provisions of Public Utilities Code Section 1001, SCWC seeks from the Commission a CPCN authorizing SCWC to extend the service territory of its West Orange County District to include a noncontiguous residential community to be located on the Mesa segment of the Bolsa Chica in an unincorporated area of Orange County; authorization to construct a 6.75-mile water transmission pipeline to interconnect the District to the Mesa community development; authorization to file a new tariff map to reflect this noncontiguous extension of its service territory; authorization to charge such rates and tariffs in the Mesa project as are in effect in SCWC's West Orange County District; and authorization to treat the water facilities as contributed plant not in rate base.

2.2.2. A.99-11-015

Pursuant to provisions of Public Utilities Code Section 1001, SCWC seeks from the Commission a CPCN authorizing SCWC to provide wastewater service to the Mesa community development; authorization to file a tariff map reflecting the provision of wastewater service to the development; and authorization to apply certain rates and tariffs in the development as set forth in the application.

2.3. The Protests

Timely protests were filed by the City of Huntington Beach (the City), the Bolsa Chica Land Trust (Land Trust), and the Ratepayer Representation Branch of the Water Division (RRB).