PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Telecommunications Division |
RESOLUTION T-16247 |
Carrier Branch |
Date: December 17, 1998 |
R E S O L U T I O N
RESOLUTION T-16247. PACIFIC BELL (U-1001-C). REQUEST TO CLOSE PUBLIC OFFICES LOCATED IN SANTA ANA, VAN NUYS, EAST VERNON (LOS ANGELES), SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, AND HUNTINGTON PARK. PACIFIC BELL PROPOSES TO ACCEPT BILL PAYMENTS FROM CUSTOMERS AT AUTHORIZED PAYMENT LOCATIONS.
BY ADVICE LETTER NOS. 19672, 19673, 19674, AND 19675, FILED ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1998; ADVICE LETTER NO. 19684 FILED ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1998; AND ADVICE LETTER NO. 19696 FILED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1998.
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SUMMARY
This resolution grants Pacific Bell's (Pacific's) requests in Advice Letter Nos. (ALs) 19672, 19673, 19674, 19675, 19684, and 19696 to permanently close public offices located in Santa Ana, Van Nuys, East Vernon (Los Angeles), San Diego, Riverside, and Huntington Park, respectively; and to replace them with authorized payment locations (APLs).
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of 1998, Pacific had 25 public offices and 375 authorized payment locations (APLs) located in various cities throughout the state. On September 3, 1998, by Resolution T-16193, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) authorized Pacific to close 13 of its existing 25 public offices and replace them with APLs in approximately the same serving areas. Resolution T-16193 established a Public Office Closure Checklist and other conditions that Pacific must follow before it may be authorized to close remaining public offices.
On September 4, 1998, Pacific filed ALs 19672 through 19675 requesting authorization to permanently close four of its public offices located in Santa Ana, Van Nuys, East Vernon (Los Angeles), and San Diego, respectively. Pacific filed AL 19684 on September 10, 1998 and AL 19696 on September 18, 1998 to permanently close public offices located in Riverside and Huntington Park, respectively. Pacific plans to add 7 to 12 new APLs as a replacement for each closing public office in approximately the same serving areas as the public offices being closed. The advice letter numbers, addresses of the public offices to be closed and the addresses of the corresponding APL replacements for the public offices to be closed are shown in Appendix A attached to this resolution.
Pacific did not include copies of the posted, mailed and published notices in its original advice letter filings. Pacific filed supplements to ALs 19672, 19673, 19674, and 19675 on October 15, 1998, and supplements to ALs 19684 and 19696 on October 16, 1998, to include copies of the posted, mailed and published notices. On November 17, 1998, Pacific filed another supplement to AL 19684 to update the list of APLs where bill payments will be accepted after closure of the Riverside public office.
NOTICE/PROTESTS
Pacific states that a copy of the ALs and related tariff sheets were mailed to competing and adjacent utilities and/or other utilities, interested parties, as requested. Notice of ALs 19672 through 19675 appeared in the Commission's Daily Calendar of September 11, 1998. Notice of AL 19684 appeared in the Commission's Daily Calendar of September 14, 1998; and notice of AL 19696 appeared in the Commission's Daily Calendar of September 25, 1998. No protests to these Advice Letters have been received.
Telecommunications Division (TD) received calls from customers in Huntington Park and San Diego who were concerned about the public offices in their neighborhoods being closed. Pacific also received many letters from customers concerned with the proposed closing of public offices in their neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION
Ordering Paragraphs (O.P.) 2 through 6 of Commission Resolution T-16193, dated September 3, 1998, state the terms and conditions that Pacific must meet in closing its public offices. O.P. 2 , Resolution T-16193, states as follows:
"2. Pacific shall comply with the Final Public Office Closure Checklist shown in Appendix B for closing its public offices."
Appendix B of Resolution T-16193 has a Public Office Closure Checklist containing 10 requirements that Pacific must meet when it proposes closure of its public offices. Pacific claims that it has met the requirements cited in Appendix B of Resolution T-16193 as identified below:
1. All office closure notices contain the following wording: "CPUC approval of Advice Letter is Required". Pacific provided a copy of the notices used for each closing public office to TD in its supplements filings.
2. Pacific states that the notices were posted between 63 and 97 days prior to filing the advice letter, depending on the public office. Pacific provided to TD copies of the notices used at each closing public office. All notices were posted at least 60 days prior to the advice letter filing and all used the format recommended by the CPUC in Resolution T-16193. Posted notices contain listing of APL locations at all public offices, and copies of the posted, mailed and published notices are included in supplement advice letter filings.
3. The public office closure notices were posted in both English and Spanish at all six public offices. All notices include the language: "Please call Pacific Bell on 1-800-310-BELL if you have comments or questions. For information regarding a protest to this advice letter or, if you have any concerns that have not been resolved by Pacific Bell, you can contact the CPUC at 1-800-649-7570". Pacific provided copies of the notices for each office in Spanish and in English to TD.
4. Each of the six advice letters gave more than a 40 day notice of the proposed pending public office closure.
5. On October 13, 1998, Pacific provided to TD, via e-mail, information regarding all compiled responses/comments to the notices sent. Pacific states that there were no responses/comments for Van Nuys or Santa Ana. The responses/comments for the other four remaining offices were compiled prior to Pacific filing the advice letters.
Pacific received many letters from customers expressing concerns about the public office closures. In addition, Pacific was copied on a letter to the CPUC signed "members of the community" in Huntington Park. Concerns expressed in the customer letters were: a) losing the ability to discuss a dispute of their bill, b) the inconvenience of getting transportation to different APL locations, c) many customers having no checking account and having to make their bill payments in cash, d) many customers have language problems, and e) inadequate notification of public office closures.
Pacific responded that existing public offices are staffed with cashiers who are not trained to provide services beyond payment collection. All of the APLs are accessible by at least one bus line, some are accessible by as many as 5 or 6. APLs have the ability to accept cash, provide receipts, post payments on-line, and automatically restore suspended service. Because these APLs are doing business in the community, many APL employees speak the language of the community. Public office closures signs have been posted since June 12, 1998, over 60 days prior to the advice letter filings. Many of the these issues were also discussed in community meetings held in various locations.
6. Pacific held community meetings for 5 of the 6 Public Offices. Community meetings were held for public office closures located in East Vernon, San Diego, Van Nuys, Riverside, and Huntington Park. Three people attended the meeting to discuss the closure of North Park public office. One customer attended the meeting in East Vernon. Sixteen people attended the Huntington Park meeting. The mayor of Huntington Park also attended the meeting. In Santa Ana, Pacific Bell External Affairs discussed the proposed closure with the Mayor of Santa Ana, members of the City Council, the City Manager, and the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. No customers attended either the Van Nuys or Riverside meetings.
Pacific answered the questions and concerns raised by the attendees at these community meetings. Most the concerns raised were the same or similar to the ones identified in item 5, above. Most of the customers were satisfied with Pacific's explanations.
7. The addresses of the APLs replacing each closing public office are shown in Appendix "A". There are 7 APLs replacing each of the public offices located at East Vernon, Huntington Park and Riverside; 8 APLs replacing the public offices located at Santa Ana; 9 APLs replacing a public office located in San Diego; and 12 APLs will replace a public office located in Van Nuys.
8. Each APL is located on public transit routes and is served by one or more buses. The APLs are located in existing business facilities such as check cashing places, mail box services, food markets, drug stores, etc., in the local communities and are accessible by public transportation.
9. The data provided by Pacific shows that the APLs replacing each closing public office can handle the projected volume of customers for that closing public office who make in-person bill payments.
10. Pacific solicited to have courtesy telephones in all the APLs. Courtesy telephones are directly connected to Pacific's business offices. Customers visiting an APL can use the courtesy telephone to talk to a Pacific service representative to make bill inquiries or to order new services. Pacific states that out of 52 APLs, 48 have courtesy telephones, 3 APLs have orders pending and will have courtesy telephones. One APL cannot have a courtesy telephone due to lack of space and security concerns.
TD concludes that Pacific has met the requirements of the Public Office Closure Checklist required in Appendix B of Resolution T-16193.
O.P. 3 of Resolution T-16193 provides the criteria that Pacific shall use in the selection of APLs. Pacific seeks out local businesses which have easy access to public transportation and are close to senior citizen populations. All of these businesses have access for the disabled, have language capabilities of those in the immediate community, have parking availability, and have facilities which offer a safe and professional environment. Additionally, these businesses offer customers other desirable services such as having an established reputation in the community and having a sound financial record.
APLs have employees that speak the language of the community. There are more than 400 APLs in California where the customers pay their bills in-person. Since there are 7 to 12 APLs replacing each closing public office, an APL is more likely to be in a convenient location. With regard to safety, Pacific's agreement with APLs states, "Contractor shall assume complete responsibility for the safe, orderly and efficient performance of all aspects of the organization, management, supervision and operation of the Authorized Payment Location."
O.P. 4 of Resolution T-16193 states that Pacific's APLs should not charge customers any fees for in-person bill payments.
Pacific's agreement with APLs does not authorize fees for in-person bill payments. An APL would be in violation of the agreement if they charged customers a fee. Pacific would take appropriate action which would likely mean termination of the agreement.
O.P. 5 of Resolution T-16193 states that Pacific shall keep copies of its tariffs available for public inspection at its headquarters in San Francisco, public locations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego, as well as other convenient public locations in cities in which it currently keeps its tariff schedules. In addition, Pacific shall update its tariffs at these locations, as needed to keep them current.
Pacific currently has tariffs available for public inspection in the following locations:
1. San Francisco: 140 New Montgomery St., San Francisco
2. Sacramento: 3707 Kings Way, Room A2, Sacramento
3. San Diego:* 3055 University Avenue, San Diego
4. Pasadena:** 177 E. Colorado, Pasadena
5. Los Angeles: 4716 Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles
*This is the address of the current San Diego Public Office. After the office closes, tariff schedules will remain on the premises.
**Tariffs have arrived and are in the process of being set up for viewing.
O.P. 6 of Resolution T-16193 states that Pacific shall have written contracts with APLs to maintain the existing service levels, provide receipts for bill payments and to post bill payments in an efficient manner.
Pacific has each APL sign an agreement where the scope of the agreement states that Contractor shall be required to perform services, including but not limited to the following:
Accept customer payments from Pacific's customers and give accurate receipts for same. Additionally, Pacific provides the APL all equipment necessary to process customer payments. Payments received by an APL are posted to customer accounts almost immediately.
For these six public office closures, TD concludes that Pacific has met all the requirements for closing public offices established by the Commission in Resolution T-16193.
TD concludes that Pacific Advice Letter requests meet the requirements set forth in Commission Orders and G.O. 96-A and recommends that the Commission approve these filings. Commission approval is based on the specifics of the Advice Letter filings and the associated contracts, and does not establish a precedent for the contents of future filings or for Commission approval of similar requests.
FINDINGS
1. Pacific has met the requirements of the Public Office Closure Checklist identified in Appendix B of the Resolution T-16193.
2. Pacific has met the requirements of Ordering Paragraphs 3 through 6 in Resolution T-16193.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that:
1. Pacific is granted an authority to close its public offices located in Santa Ana, Van Nuys, East Vernon (Los Angeles), San Diego, Riverside and Huntington Park and replace them with the authorized payments location shown in Appendix A, respectively.
This Resolution is effective today.
I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the Public Utilities Commission at its regular meeting on December 17, 1998. The following Commissioners approved it:
/s/ WESLEY M. FRANKLIN |
WESLEY M. FRANKLINExecutive Director |
RICHARD A. BILAS President |
||
P. GREGORY CONLON | ||
JESSIE J. KNIGHT, JR. | ||
HENRY M. DUQUE | ||
JOSIAH L. NEEPER | ||
Commissioners | ||
APPENDIX A
Advice Letter # |
Public Office To Be Closed |
Authorized Payment Location |
19672 |
Santa Ana 1230 E. 17th Street Santa Ana |
Big Saver Foods 420 W. 17th Street Santa Ana |
Bristol Mail N' More 1601 W. 17th St, Suite F2 Santa Ana | ||
Cash Plus 1219 E. 17th St. Santa Ana | ||
Money Express 901 S. Bristol St. Santa Ana | ||
Private Postal Center 14241 Euclid St., Suite C110 Garden Grove | ||
Reliable Drug Center 14541 Red Hill Ave. Tustin | ||
TCS Check Cashing (aka transpacific Currency Services) 1701 E. McFadden Ave., Suite E Santa Ana | ||
USA Cash Plus 13911 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove |
19673 |
Van Nuys 6930 Van Nuys Blvd Van Nuys |
B&E Postal Center 5632 Van Nuys Blvd Van Nuys |
The Block Grinder 13321 Burbank Blvd., Suite C Van Nuys | ||
Bush Stationers 6440 Bellingham Ave. North Hollywood | ||
Cash It Quick 18503 Victory Blvd. Reseda | ||
Continental Currency 12100 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood | ||
Dale's Van Nuys 14055 Burbank Blvd. Van Nuys | ||
Lankershim Check Cashing Service 7355 Lankershim Blvd., Unit Sp 88 North Hollywood | ||
Laurel Canyon Check Cashing (aka L. A. Check Cashers) 7945 Laurel Canyon Blvd. North Hollywood | ||
Pep's Customer Service 7433 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys | ||
Perfect Gift and Card 14418 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks |
Reseda Quick Check 7160 Reseda Blvd. Reseda Van Nuys Check Cashing & Coin Laundry 7137 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys | ||
19674 |
East Vernon 467 East Vernon Ave. Los Angeles |
Ace Check Cashing 2538 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles |
Alameda Check Cashing 4501 S. Alameda St., Suite 117 Los Angeles | ||
Farm Fresh Market (aka Farm Fresh Ranch Market) 4373 S. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles | ||
Guadalajara Check Cashing 2525 Central Avenue Los Angeles | ||
Mexico Check Cashing 4007 S. San Pedro St. Los Angeles | ||
Quick Connect Check Cashing 7120 Compton Avenue Los Angeles | ||
Triangle Market 2625 S. Western avenue Los Angeles |
19675 |
San Diego 3055 University Avenue San Diego |
Checks Cashed (aka Western Check Cashers) 6114 University Avenue San Diego |
Normal Heights Copy Center (aka Normal Heights Mailboxes Plus) 3305 Adams Avenue San Diego | ||
Postal Annex + 2907 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 105 San Diego | ||
The Check Cashing Place 4121 University Avenue San Diego | ||
The Check Cashing Place 3001 University Avenue San Diego | ||
The Check Cashing Place 4884 Newport Avenue Ocean Beach | ||
The Check Cashing Place 6913 Linda Vista Blvd. San Diego | ||
The Check Cashing Place 945 5th Avenue San Diego | ||
The Postal Place 1010 University Avenue San Diego |
19684 |
Riverside 3580 Orange Street Riverside |
Corona Ranch Market 611 E. Grand Blvd. Corona |
Larson & Hub City Drugs 142 W. H St. Colton | ||
Mail N More 3848 McKinley, Suite O Corona | ||
Money Control 7891 Mission Grove Parkway South Riverside | ||
Post Box Plus 7900 Limonite Blvd., Suite G Riverside | ||
The Mail Outpost 750 S. Lincoln Ave., Suite 104 Corona | ||
USA Checks Cashed 2535 University Avenue Riverside |
19696 |
Huntington Park 2675 Zoe Avenue Huntington Park |
Alpha Grocery Warehouse 6135 Atlantic Blvd. Maywood |
Big A Drug Store 12030 Garfield Avenue South Gate | ||
El Tapatio Foods 3208 E. Florence Avenue Huntington Park | ||
Golden Express Check Cashing 3100 E. Imperial Hwy., Unit G7 Lynwood | ||
Money Express 2602 E. Florence avenue Huntington Park | ||
Park Mail Centers of America 6245 S. Atlantic Avenue Bell | ||
Santa Fe Check Cashing 2701 Firestone Blvd., Suite V South Gate |
