Welcome to my local utility resources webpage. Below is a collection of resources meant to support constituents through some of the most common utility-related issues we hear about in the district.
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AT&T’s Applications to the CPUC regarding their Carrier of Last Resort and Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation
Recently, AT&T announced their intention to request that the CPUC remove their obligation to be the provider of last resort for copper landline service to Californians.
I have heard from many constituents expressing frustration regarding these proposals.
I share this frustration, and have sent the below letter to the Chair of the California Public Utilities Commission, requesting that the Commission seriously consider the far-reaching effects the discontinuation of copper landline service will have on my constituents in all areas of my Assembly District, but most particularly in rural areas where cell service is spotty or nonexistent.
While copper landline adoption has been on the decline for decades, its importance during emergency and power outages provides a critical lifeline for many.
Read my full letter to the CPUC here:
Opportunities for Public Comment and Participation
The CPUC will hold in-person and virtual public forums for AT&T customers to provide input on the company’s two proposals to remove its obligation to provide landline service in its service territories. Here is the current list of hearings:
Remote Access Options for the March 19th Virtual Public Forums:
- Live video broadcast with English or Spanish captions via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
- Participants who choose to view via webcast will have audio and video but will not be able to make verbal comments. If you would like to make comment during the forums, refer to the phone-in information below.
- For captions, after clicking on the name of the meeting, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
- The public forums will be recorded and archived for future viewing.
- Phone: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 6032788#
- Participants will have audio and will be able to make comments. (To make a comment, after entering the passcode, when prompted press *1, unmute your phone, and record your name.)
- Wait times depend on the number of speakers in the public comment queue. During times of high call volumes, wait times will be longer. The operator will call on you when it is your turn to speak.
If you are unable to attend a public forum, you may share your thoughts on AT&T’s proposal by leaving Public comment on the CPUC website.
Additional information on AT&T’s two proposals may be found at this link: AT&T Applications Regarding Carrier of Last Resort and Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation
AT&T customers can share their comments, and read the comments of others, on the proceeding’s Docket Card comment sections at these links:
AT&T's Proposal to Relinquish its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation
AT&T's Proposal for Targeted Relief from its Carrier of Last Resort Obligation
Rate Increases/income-based fee proposal
Earlier this year I signed on as a joint author of AB 1999 to repeal the income-based fixed charge for utility customers.
Thank you to the hundreds of constituents who reached out through my website or came to one of my community events to share their concerns about the California Public Utility Commission's (CPUC) implementation of AB 205.
I channeled your anger when I said at a press conference that my constituents were fed up with ever-increasing utility bills from PG&E and ever-diminishing accountability from the CPUC.
The outrageous proposals from PG&E and the other investor-owned utilities (IOUs) disproportionately burden Californians living in high-cost areas like my district. We must double down on policies that incentivize energy conservation and rooftop solar, and stand up to the CPUC that continues to rubber stamp rate increases pushed by the IOUs. This proposed income-based charge would disincentivize energy conservation and cut a break to some of the biggest energy users while penalizing smaller, energy-efficient homes and working-class Californians.
Click here to watch my brief comments on this issue.
Click here to learn more about AB 1999.
Last year I joined my colleagues to create a working group of Assemblymembers who shared my concerns about the merits of the proposed fixed, income-graduated rate. Over the fall and early winter, we met with key stakeholders in the Governor's office, the CPUC, utilities, and with the solar industry, culminating in today's bill to repeal the charge. Click here to read the joint letter I sent to the CPUC in October 2023 raising concerns about this proposal.
This is a top priority for me, and you can be sure that I will continue to advocate for my constituents on this issue.
Outages
These last few weekends, our district has experienced storms that have caused wide scaled power outages. My office has received multiple calls and emails about the power outages and in response I communicated to PGE the urgency of the situation. Unfortunately, due to PGE’s lack of resources, the restoration of power took longer than it should have. I found it completely unacceptable that parts of our district were left without power for multiple days and I have communicated my frustrations with PGE about the situation.
I have left below resources in case another power outage should happen and if you feel strongly about PGE’s response in this last power outage I have linked below a complaint form from the California’s Public Utilities Commission website. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any further inquiries or comments.
Link to CPUC complaint form: File a Complaint (ca.gov)
Link to PG&E outage map: PGE Emergency Site - View Outage Map