Mission | California Public Utilities Commission Proceedings | Corporate Community Investments | Small Business Development | Environmental Justice | Diversity in the Legal Profession | Pro Bono and Community Investment | Bridging the Digital Divide | Increasing Transparency in Corporate America

Southern California Edison General Rate Application

In 2007, Southern California Edison put forth a request to increase its electricity revenues by $2.89 billion dollars from 2009 – 2011 and to pass 7.7% of this increase onto 12 million California ratepayers in a 50,000-square-mile area within central, coastal and Southern California. 

In light of the flagging economy, growing statewide unemployment numbers, and ongoing mortgage crisis, Greenlining believes the amount of this increase is unreasonable on its face.  Further, when you consider that Southern California Edison pays its top 25 employees over $1 million annually and were recently punished with fines and forced refunds of close to $200 million for corporate fraud and deceit, Greenlining believes it is highly likely that Southern California Edison will be using the income from the rate increase to fund its corporate largesse and to make-up for the loss in fines.

As an intervenor in the rate appliation, Greenlining has asked Southern California Edison to justify the amount of requested rate increase and to detail where the funds will be spend, and has also asked Southern California Edison to increase the company's investments in their local communities and to improve their record on hiring and contracting with low income and minority persons across California.

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San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company General Rate Application

In December 2006, Sempra Utilities (San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company) filed applications with the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) to raise their rates. Greenlining intervened in the proceeding and raised issues related to workforce philanthropy, diversity, management diversity, board of director's diversity, executive compensation and supplier diversity. In October 2007, Greenlining and Sempra reached a leadership agreement on many of these issues. Greenlining believes that with this agreement Sempra will be a leader among utility companies in such areas, as supplier diversity, workforce and management diversity, and philanthropic contributions to low-income and minority communities.

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Implementing the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA)

DIVCA creates a statewide franchise system governing video and broadband providers. To increase both competition in the video and broadband market and access by underserved communities to video and broadband services, Greenlining has successfully advocated for bringing these services to underserved California communities and increasing oversight by California citizens over video and broadband providers.

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The CPUC has undertaken a thorough review of the programs that make telephone service available to all Californians: California LifeLine, Public Policy Payphones, Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications, and the California Teleconnect Fund. In this proceeding, Greenlining is advocating that the Commission move the California LifeLine program into the 21 st century, by allowing the subsidies for telephone service to be applied to cell phones. Access by low-income communities to cell phones and current technology has far-reaching implications, including access to education, health and communications.

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The CPUC has committed to expanding Low Income Energy Efficiency Programs by making them available to more customers, improving their cost effectiveness, and designing them in ways to make them a reliable energy resource. To ensure follow through on this commitment, Greenlining is working to increase the effectiveness and impact of the program by exploring creative strategies for increasing the budget and simplifying enrollment in energy efficiency programs designed for low income Californians.

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Energy Efficiency

The Energy Efficiency proceeding represents the CPUC's attempt to institute a comprehensive, long-term energy efficiency strategy aimed at making energy efficiency a way of life in California. Through both legal advocacy and our role as key member of the Marketing, Education, and Outreach Taskforce and the Workforce Development Taskforce , Greenlining is advancing the common sense notion that California will not reach its energy efficiency goals unless energy efficiency measures are as affordable and accessible as possible for low income and minority Californians.

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California Solar Initiative

The CPUC has proposed establishing a $108 million solar incentive program to provide full and partial subsidies for one kilowatt (kW) solar energy systems to existing owner-occupied single-family households. Next, the CPUC will explore providing similar subsidies for multi-family households. To guarantee that the incentive programs actually foster economic development and environmental sustainability, Greenlining is pushing the Commission to 1) make solar panels as affordable and accessible for as many Californians as possible; 2) increase transparency and set measurable goals for the incentive programs; and 3) invest in education and workforce training programs to ensure that low income and minority Californians have a equal opportunities to participate in the burgeoning green economy.

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Natural Gas Procurement

This proceeding will examine issues relating to whether and how the largest California utilities should enter into procurement contracts for natural gas to help ensure that there will be adequate supplies of natural gas at reasonable prices to meet California's long-term needs. Greenlining will focus its advocacy efforts on guaranteeing that low income and minority communities have an equal opportunity to win natural gas contracts in California.

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Telecommunications Fraud Protection for Consumers with Limited English Proficiency

Phase I of this proceeding required all telecommunications carriers that market in languages other than English to provide certain fraud protections to their limited English proficient (LEP) consumers, including a summary of their service agreement's key terms and conditions, and live telephone customer service in-language. Phase II, which is ongoing, will impose fraud reporting and notification requirements on carriers marketing in-language. Greenlining has worked to increase oversight by all Californians over the telecommunication providers. Importantly, Greenlining has successfully advocated for significant increases in consumer protection measures for limited English proficient telecommunications customers.

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Southern California Edison Fraud Investigation

This proceeding is a CPUC investigation to determine the extent to which Edison falsified or other manipulated customer satisfaction data and survey results, the extent Edison administered, supervised, monitored and reported its customer satisfaction PBR program accurately and diligently, and the level of penalties the Commission should impose on Edison. Greenlining has focused its advocacy on the amount of the penalty Edison should be assessed within the context of corporate social responsibility.

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