4. Public Comment on the Application

Afternoon and evening public participation hearings (PPHs) were held in Bell Gardens on February 23 and in Carson on February 24, approximately two months before evidentiary hearings. Attendance was light, with three or four speakers at each session. All the speakers opposed rate increases, at least in the amount proposed by SCWC.

Among those speakers who identified themselves as residential customers, several also raised billing or service concerns. The ALJ directed SCWC to follow up with these customers and to provide her with a status report at evidentiary hearing. Reference Ex. B contains this report, in the form of SCWC's letter to each of these residential customers, detailing the specific issues of concern, the results of the utility's investigation, and any corrective action taken.

Mark Tettemer (Tettemer), Manager of Customer Development for West Basin and Central Basin Municipal Water Districts, spoke on behalf of those entities against SCWC's proposed increase in recycled water rates. The ALJ advised Tettemer of the municipal districts' opportunity to intervene in this proceeding. SCWC subsequently revised its recycled water tariff proposal, as we discuss below, and the municipal districts did not intervene.

In addition, the Commission has received more than one hundred letters opposing the rate increases proposed in the application, as noticed. Most are from residential customers but a number are from recycled water users, including a hospital in Region II. The letters, whether addressed to the Commission's Public Advisor, the ALJ or to Commissioners, have been placed in the formal file for this proceeding.