From Wikisource

←Wikisource:Miscellaneous material

California Public Utilities Commission formal complaint forms

The [CPUC] is supposed to, and claims to, make available forms for those who which to file formal complaints. E.g., "The Public Advisor's Office can provide you with a document that explains how to file a formal complaint," states the "CPUC Guide to Public Participation." However, actually receiving these forms is almost impossible, even for those who have already been through the informal complaint process.

[edit] Preface

The author believes, and comments by one of the CPUC Commissioners support, the claim that that much of the CPUC staff serves interests that are aligned against consumers. Stalling by CPUC staff appears to extend to refusal to provide the information below. Hence its placement here. As the product of the CPUC, it is in the public domain. This commentary is copyright the author, and of course, released under the GFDL.

(A) If you can't answer yes to the first two questions, you shouldn't file yet. Get the phone # of your case manager from the letter you receive after you file an informal complaint, and bother them 'till you do, and they research and close the case. Contact The Public Advisor's Office. Speak to their manager if needed. Call a Commissioner's office if that doesn't help. I had to take this final step, in order to get the document below; it took me over a year to get the forms; a couple months would have been reasonable. When performing these steps, a list of the commissioners from their website comes in handy, as does the CPUC phone list. The appeal process is optional. I suggest you skip it.

(E)Use the company name and address on your bill.

(F)I intend to just include copies of my complaint letters to the CPUC, with a few modifications. I filed my informal complaints on the CPUC's website and they emailed me back copies of the complaints, so I have 'em on file.

(G)If it's not adjudicatory, it's ratesetting - a challenge to the reasonableness of a rate the CPUC approved, or quasi-legislative. I don't know upon what basis to answer (b), so I'll say yes; it seems the safe bet; the CPUC form provides no guidance on this.

(H)The form instructions say that you must state the exact relief requested, e.g. The utility should refund a specific monetary amount, and/or take a specific action.

Having gone through all the trouble to obtain this form, I suspect that reading the law would have ben a quicker and bettter way to determine how to file a formal complaint. Oh well.

(I)I suggest modifying this to state that email is acceptable if and only if the Defandants agree to provide ALL filings, including discovery items, via email.

(K/L) I wonder if this section is legally required. AFAIK, the defendants don't have to sign any such statement, so I doubt it. Apparently, the CPUC has its own "Rules of Practice and Procedure" but they're probably (hopefully?) not binding.

(M/N) Copy and mail.

[edit] THE FORM

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

(B) KRISTEN DYE

vs.

(C) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON

CASE________________________(for Commission use only)

(A) Have you tried to resolve this matter informally with the Commission's Consumer Affairs staff? YES.

Has staff responded to your complaint? YES.

Did you appeal to the Consimer Affairs Manager? NO

Do you have money on deposit with the Commission? NO. $ _____

Is your service now disconnected NO .

COMPLAINT

---

(D) The complaint of [exact legal name, mailing addres and daytime phone number of each complainant (you))] respectfully shows that:

(E) 1. KRISTEN MARY DYE 41832 60TH STREET WEST QUARTZ HILL, CA. 93536

(F) 2. EDISON TOLD ME THEY MADE 2 INCORRECT READINGS, GOING BACK 5 YEARS AT RESIDENCE BILL HAS NEVER BEEN THIS HIGH. EDISON SAID THAT METER IS RUNNING TO SLOW AND AGENT WOULD BE OUT TO DO ANOTHER READING. SENSE THEN MY BILL HAS TRIPLED, I MADE PMT ON THE 18TH OF JUNE OF $125.00 FOR PMT ON PAST ACCT, WHICH WAS SET UP BY THEM, AM TO MAKE ANOTHER PMT, ON CURRENT BILL WHICH WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AS OF TODAYS DATE.

(G) 3. Scoping memo information

(a) the proposed category if the complaint is adjudicatory.

(b) Are hearings needed? YES .

(c) The issues to be considered are: RESOLVING MATTER

(d) The proposed schedule for resolving the comlaint within 12 months (if adjudicatory) or 18 months (if ratesetting) is as follows:

Prehearing Conference: 30 to 40 days from the date of filing of the Complaint.

Hearing: 50 to 70 days from the date of filing of the Complaint.

Explain here if you propose a schedule different from the above guidelines.

(H)Wherefore, complainant(s) request(s) an order: [State clearly the exact relief desired.]

(I) OPTIONAL: I/we would like to receive the answer and other filings of the defendant(s) and information and notices from teh Commission by electronic mail (e-mail). My/our email address(es) is/are:___yamifickle@yahoo.com___________________

(J) LANCASTER, California, this 21 day of JUNE, 2009.

KRISTEN MARY DYE

[exact legal name, mailing addres and phone number of defendant(s) legal representation, if any.]

VERIFICATION

(for Individual or Partnerships)

I am the complainant(s) in the above-entitled matter; the statements in the foregoing document are true of my knowledge, except as to matters which are therein stated on information and belief, and as to those matters, I believe them to be true.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

(K) Executed on 6-21-2009, at LANCASTER, California.

[Signature of one complainant]

I am an officer of the complaining corporation herein, and am authorized to make this verification on its behalf. The statements in the foregoing document are true of my knowledge, except as to matters which are therein stated on information and belief, and as to thos matters, I believe them to be true.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

(L) Executed on [date], at [city], California.

[Signature and title of Corporate Officer]

(M) FILE the original complaint plus seven copies, plus 1 copy for each named defendant, with the Commission.

(N) MAIL TO:

CPUC

Attn: Docket Office

505 Van Ness Av, Rm. 2001

SF, CA, 94102

This work is in the public domain in the U.S. because it is an edict of a government, local or foreign. See § 206.01 of the Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices. Such documents include "judicial opinions, administrative rulings, legislative enactments, public ordinances, and similar official legal documents." These do not include works of the Organization of American States, United Nations, or any of the UN specialized agencies. See Compendium II § 206.03 and 17 U.S.C. 104(b)(5). A non-American governmental edict may still be copyrighted outside the U.S.