Consumer Protection
Greenlining Turns the Heat up, Utilities Leave the Heat on!
Dec 22, 2009 — PG&E has been shutting off power for low income customers at a near record pace. During an emergency meeting at t... [ More ]
PUC Member's Bid for Second Term Rejected
Dec 09, 2009 — The California Senate chief refuses to hold a hearing for Rachelle Chong, who had the backing of AT & T a... [ More ]
Greenlining thank you letter to Steinberg
Dec 09, 2009 — [ More ]
These individuals are experts regarding this initiative, and can be contacted if you have any questions.
Stephanie Chen
Legal Counsel
Tel: 510.898.0506
Email Stephanie
Samuel S. Kang
Managing Attorney
Tel: 510.926.4004
Email Samuel S.
California Public Utilities Commission Proceedings
Greenlining Testifies at CPUC Annual Hearing on Supplier Diversity |
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This week the California Public Utilities Commission held its annual en banc hearing on diversity in Los Angeles, entitled “Achieving Diversity in Going Green: California’s New Gold Rush.” CPUC President Michael Peevey unequivocally stated, "This is a changing nation . . . diversity must take priority with these entities." As Managing Attorney Sam Kang noted in his remarks to the panel, both of the industries predicted to drive economic recovery in California and nationwide fall under CPUC jurisdiction – energy and telecommunications. Greenlining issues two critical challenges as California ramps up its economic recovery. First, we challenge the energy and telecom industries to deepen their commitment to diversity by laying out comprehensive action plans for diversity in their new initiatives. Actions speak louder than words, and California’s communities of color demand more than just words. Second, we challenge the CPUC and the legislature to broaden their commitment to diversity by expanding the reach of General Order 156 to encompass these recovery industries. These sectors stand to make huge profits from California’s communities of color. Robust diversity initiatives will help to reinvest these profits back into our communities through career, business ownership, and educational opportunities. Greenlining will continue to work with state, industry and community stakeholders to ensure that California’s investments in green and digital technologies are also investments in our communities and their economic future. |
Tri Caucus Utilitites Diversity Forum Video |
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On August 23rd Sam Kang, Managing Attorney for The Greenlining Institute testified at the Legislative Tri Caucus Utilities Diversity Forum in Sacramento. This hearing brought together utility companies, legislators, advocacy groups and community members to figure out how to continue past successes while working to increase opportunities for minority owned small businesses in the emerging green economy. |
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San Diego Gas & Electric Commits to Diversity in $125 Million Solar Project |
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On September 21, 2009, Greenlining and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) signed a Settlement Agreement that incorporates the utility’s pioneering commitments to social responsibility into all facets of their planned solar energy project. SDG&E applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to spend $125 million to build 26 megawatts of utility owned solar photovoltaic energy plants. As a result of their agreement with Greenlining, SDG&E will apply their commitments to management, workforce, and supplier diversity in the construction and operation of the solar project, thus promising the transformation of green jobs for underserved communities from rhetoric into reality. |
Southern California Edison General Rate Application |
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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. |
San Diego Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company General Rate Application |
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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. |
Implementing the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA) |
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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. |
Telecommunications Public Policy Programs |
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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. |
Low Income Energy Efficiency |
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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. |
Energy Efficiency |
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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. |
California Solar Initiative |
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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. |
Natural Gas Procurement |
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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. |
Telecommunications Fraud Protection for Consumers with Limited English Proficiency |
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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. |
Southern California Edison Fraud Investigation |
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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. |