To: alice.reynolds@cpuc.ca.gov, water_division@cpuc.ca.gov, ora@cpuc.ca.gov
Cc: regulatoryaffairs@sjwater.com, jb5@cpuc.ca.gov, rishi@Rishikumar.com, PublicAdvocatesOffice_Press@cpuc.ca.gov, PublicAdvocatesOffice@cpuc.ca.gov, john.baker@cpuc.ca.gov, Anand.Durvasula@cpuc.ca.gov

Subject: Application 24-01-001 - I vehemently oppose this

Tariff Unit, Water Division, 3rd floor
Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102

Dear PUC Administrative Law Judge, President Reynolds and commissioners,

Thank you for your continued dedication and efforts in thoroughly assessing the rate filings from San Jose Water and taking decisive action by rejecting or suspending numerous requests in recent years. Your vigilance is greatly appreciated.

Today, I kindly ask for your support once more in completely rejecting the latest filing:
I am against Application 24-01-001
Please hold a public hearing and allow us to speak!

San Jose Water Company’s income was $74 million in 2022. An all time high!
Total Operating Revenue was $620 million. An all time high!

The requested GRC increase is unfair, unreasonable, and discriminatory. Granting this rate increase would impose unjust treatment on San Jose Water (SJW) customers, as other water customers in the state are not facing these repetitive and punitive rate hikes.

Please take a moment to review the petition advocating for the replacement of SJWC (San Jose Water Company) with a municipal utility company. You can find the petition at http://www.tinyurl.com/noMoreSJWC. It's worth noting that over 6500 individuals, including myself, have already signed in support of this initiative.

Over the course of 12 years, San Jose Water Company (SJWC) has amassed an astounding net after-tax income of $540 million. Meanwhile, residents of San Jose, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga continue to face frustration and financial strain.

I strongly urge the PUC to refrain from approving any further rate increases until San Jose Water Company establishes a more equitable process and develops a consumption model that is realistic and accommodating to the varying water allotments and rationing scenarios faced by the aforementioned communities.

It is worth noting that San Jose Water's net income last year reached an all-time high of $72 million, the highest in a century.

Despite being the 3rd largest water utility company in the nation, San Jose Water Company (SJW) has failed to upgrade its infrastructure to incorporate smart meters, which could enable efficient management of water usage through telemetric means. Surprisingly, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has overlooked this oversight.

It raises a pertinent question: Why does the CPUC grant rate increases to SJW, boosting their profits, without providing any tangible benefits to the ratepayers?

It is crucial for us to address the larger issue of California droughts strategically, considering the interconnectedness of various factors such as agriculture, almond farmers, urban economies, and marine life. We must prioritize implementing efficiencies across all aspects affected by dynamic changes induced by climate change, population density shifts, water demand fluctuations, and more. Additionally, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive plan for expanding water reservoirs in California.

It is worth noting that California's century-old water system was designed for a population of 10 million people. Today, our local population has increased by almost 400%, and the depletion of the Sierra snowpack is a direct consequence of significant climate change. Despite the push for super high-density housing in our community, there is a glaring absence of a water expansion plan to accommodate this influx of residents.

These are legitimate questions being raised within our community, and they demand serious consideration and action.

I urge the CPUC to conduct a thorough forensic audit of SJWC's operations and finances, comparing them to those of other water utilities under CPUC's jurisdiction.

Over the past 11 years, SJWC has accumulated a net after-tax income of $469 million. It is crucial to scrutinize how these funds have been allocated, specifically in three key areas:

• Infrastructure improvement
• Fulfilling water quality requirements
• Addressing cybersecurity and data privacy projects

Analyze San Jose Water's financial records to determine the investments made in these areas over the past decade. We need CPUC's assistance in unveiling the true operating costs and financial projections. It is imperative for SJWC to prioritize service focus and regain operational efficiency while striving for market-rate competitiveness.

Please consider employing comparison metrics encompassing all public and private utilities in the Bay Area to determine appropriate cost of capital adjustments and future rate increases. This comprehensive evaluation will ensure fairness and transparency in the decision-making process. Halt any rate increases until this is completed.

I strongly encourage you to visit https://tinyurl.com/SJWCAppendix for a comprehensive overview of summary financial data, historical rate increases, and relevant case studies A through J. It is essential to consider the magnitude of the rate hikes that have already been implemented.

The truth is, our water rates experienced a dramatic surge during the years of drought and never returned to a state of "normalcy." These increases far exceeded the rate of inflation at that time. Moreover, when compared to other municipal water districts, those unfortunate enough to reside within SJWC's jurisdiction have faced unprecedented escalations in rates.

The claim made by SJWC that "a typical customer with a ¾-inch meter using 11 Ccf of water per month would see a bill increase of approximately $xyz per month" offers little solace and raises doubts about its validity.

In the midst of the 2016 drought, our local community took voluntary measures to reduce our water consumption. However, instead of recognizing and appreciating our efforts, SJWC shockingly demanded an increase in our water rates, citing the decrease in consumption as the reason. It is truly absurd for a monopolistic utility to urge conservation, only to respond with price hikes when consumption drops. This cycle of deceit keeps repeating itself, leaving the customers of San Jose Water at the receiving end. It is imperative to put an end to this destructive pattern!

***A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE TO CPUC COMMISSIONERS, STAFF, AND ORA: We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your diligent efforts in taking a strong and calculated stance against San Jose Water Company in recent years.

As consumers, we may lack choice, but we refuse to be voiceless. It is essential to recognize that San Jose Water Company holds a monopoly position. SJWC has adopted a simplistic approach of manipulating the system, presenting Advice Letters and Rate Case filings to the CPUC, seeking and often receiving approvals. We thank you for thoroughly scrutinizing these submissions from San Jose Water Company and for already rejecting a few of their proposals. It is crucial for SJWC to prioritize customer satisfaction and foster a more service-oriented approach.

I firmly appeal to the CPUC to refrain from granting approval to any further rate increase requests unless San Jose Water Company (SJWC) can demonstrate equitable benchmarking in line with other water utilities.

I implore you to end the cycle of automatic approvals. Let us put an end to these incessant rate hikes.

With utmost respect, I kindly request that the PUC take necessary measures to safeguard the interests of California citizens from the unjustifiable rate increases imposed by San Jose Water Company.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,