SoCal Gas to hold gas rate hearings

The Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will be. Holding public hearings to address SoCal Gas’ 2024 General Rate Case application.

At the public forum, people can make comments and raise concerns with the CPUC’s administrative law judge who is overseeing this rate increase request.

As part of the CPUC’s ongoing efforts to protect customers and community members, and provide the greatest access, these hearings will be held virtually.
You can also provide written public comments at any time during the proceeding at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2205015.

The virtual public forums will be held on March 6 at 2 p.m. and March 15 at 6 p.m. People may participate via Internet or phone using these access details: Phone, (800) 857-1917. Passcode 1767567#. Webcast: admjinmonitor.com/ca/cpuc.

Anyone wishing to make a public comment must participate by phone using the phone number above. After calling in and entering the passcode above, press *1, unmute your phone and record your name when prompted. You will be put into a queue in the order you dialed in.

Why is SoCal Gas requesting this increase?
On May 16, 2022, SoCal Gas filed its 2024 General Rate Case (GRC) application (A.22-05-015) with the CPUC. The application, as updated in November 2022, requests authority to increase revenues for 2024-2027. SoCal Gas is requesting to increase revenues by $738 million (20.2-percent increase over 2023 expected revenues) in 2024. This application also includes requested increases of $295 million (6.7 percent) in 2025, $261 million (5.6 percent) in 2026 and $379 million (7.7 percent) in 2027. The cumulative requested revenue increase is $4,740 million.

Every four years, SoCal Gas is required to file a GRC application with the CPUC to set annual revenues. Annual revenues are the total amount of money a utility is allowed to collect through rates in a given year. The revenues requested in this application pay for the costs of owning and operating gas infrastructure. This application does not include the cost to purchase natural gas for SoCal Gas customers and does not determine how revenues are assigned to customer groups. Those are evaluated and authorized in separate proceedings.

SoCal Gas is requesting this increase to:

• Continue to invest in its gas delivery system to enhance safety and reliability, and to manage risks that could impact its employees, customers, and/or system.
• Invest in the gas system and technologies that advance clean energy for customers and the environment.
• Continue to invest in the needs of customers by enabling diverse customer service capabilities, and to empower customers with information and tools to better manage their gas use.
• Meet regulatory and compliance requirements driven by system safety and reliability and environmental compliance.
• Invest in efforts and programs to maintain a highly trained, qualified and diverse workforce.

If the CPUC approves this application, SoCal Gas will implement new revenues in gas rates beginning on January 1, 2024. This will impact customers’ monthly bills.

If SoCal Gas’ rate request is approved by the CPUC, the typical residential monthly bill using 36 therms per month would increase by approximately $8.28 or 13.2 percent per month in 2024, compared to estimated 2023. Individual customer bills may vary.

The assigned judge will consider proposals and evidence presented during the formal hearing process. The judge will issue a proposed decision that may adopt SoCal Gas’s application, modify it or deny it. Any CPUC commissioner may sponsor an alternate decision with a different outcome. The proposed decision, and any alternate decision(s), will be discussed and voted upon by the CPUC commissioners at a public CPUC voting meeting.

Parties to the proceeding are currently reviewing SoCal Gas’ application, including the Public Advocates Office. The Public Advocates Office is an independent consumer advocate within the CPUC that represents customers to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. For more information, call (415) 703-1584, email [email protected] or visit PublicAdvocates.cpuc.ca.gov.

For more information, contact SoCal Gas by email at [email protected] or by mail: Jamie York, 8330 Century Park Court, CP31E, San Diego, CA 92123.

A copy of the application and any related documents may also be reviewed at https://www.socalgas.com/regulatory/2024-general-rate-case.