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CPUC disconnection proceeding draws SDCP engagement; agency seeks data and expanded heat protections, staff says
Summary
San Diego Community Power staff updated the CAC on a CPUC proceeding about disconnection and reconnection policies, emphasizing IOU authority for disconnections, CalCCA filing recommendations, and possible changes to how extreme heat is defined for cold/heat protections.
San Diego Community Power staff delivered an update on a California Public Utilities Commission proceeding addressing utility disconnection and reconnection policies and told the Community Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 that the agency is engaged through CalCCA.
“A key focus of the disconnections proceeding at present is determining implementation details associated with the new law,” said Aisha (surname not provided), who presented the item. Staff emphasized CCAs do not have the authority to disconnect customers — that authority resides with investor‑owned utilities such as SDG&E — but that policies governing disconnections affect CCA customers and therefore merit CCA engagement.
Staff said the new law requires IOUs to restore service to a residential customer whose service had been terminated for nonpayment once the customer enters a payment plan or agreement. The CPUC has posed implementation questions to parties including: when IOUs may again disconnect a customer after reconnection; whether an IOU should consider a customer’s ability to pay before terminating service; whether there should be limits on the number of reconnections; and whether the CPUC should limit what IOUs may collect from customers who cannot pay their bills.
A central issue staff highlighted is how to account for extreme‑heat protections. “Right now, extreme heat is considered 100 degrees or more,” Aisha said. Comments in the proceeding have suggested adopting a relative definition of extreme heat that accounts for local climate variation so that lower absolute temperatures could trigger protections for coastal customers more vulnerable to heat impacts.
CalCCA’s filings, staff said, recommend balancing customer protections with arrears mitigation to avoid shifting excessive arrearages into rates; hiring a third party for a holistic review of protection and payment programs; and expanding disconnection protections tied to both high‑ and low‑temperature risks. The CPUC will continue to consider these implementation questions in coming months, staff said.
Committee members asked staff to return with a regional analysis of disconnection reasons and related data. Aisha said such data is being tracked and that staff could coordinate with customer operations for a follow‑up briefing. The item was presented as receive and file; no action was required of the committee.
