Stop the Unfair San Onofre Settlement

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STOP THE UNFAIR SETTLEMENT

Background information (so you can catch up)

• (M1252) 2012-01 Improving Like-for-like RSGs -- Boguslaw Olech, SCE, Nuclear Engineering International, This damning paper was published just weeks prior to the emergency shutdown, and exposed the fact that SCE had mandated that no NRC approval would be sought as a major premise of the project.
• (M1455) 2013-05-28 Barbara Boxer wants U.S. probe on San Onofre -- , Associated Press, Features Senator Barbara Boxer -- She had obtained information showing that Mitsubishi had raised concerns about the design but SCE scuttled any changes to avoid NRC review.
• (M1420) 2014-04-03 CPUC I.12-10-013 - Motion for approval of settlement agreement -- , Southern California Edison, Edison and SDG&E propose that ratepayers pay $3.3 billion to cover their losses in the project; claimed to be a $1.4 billion 'savings' by proponents.
• (M1444) 2014-05-14 Key Clips from Evidentiary Hearing of 2014-05-14 on San Onofre Settlement -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Gist of Mike Aguirre's cross examination of SCE President Ron Litzinger results in the admission that there is nothing in the record to allow the Commission to properly evaluate the settlement. Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1430) 2014-05-07 I.12-10-013 CDSO Opening Comment on Proposed Settlement of April 3, 2014 -- Ray Lutz, Coalition To Decommission San Onofre, Includes full details of our proposed alternative settlement which allows the utilities to nearly break even in 'hands off' approach.
• (M1458) 2014-06-26 Stop the Unfair Settlement -- Presentation by Ray Lutz -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, To be provided to the CPUC as an ex parte Communication; Video moved to new version when views were at 138 due to asynchronous audio
• (M1470) 2014-08-04 CDSO-509 Motion to Reopen Record on SONGS OII to allow Dr. Budnitz to complete his investigation -- Ray Lutz Aguirre Severson LLP, Citizens Oversight Aguirre Severson LLP Coalition To Decommission San Onofre,
• ASSIGNED COMMISSIONER AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES’ RULING REQUESTING SETTLING PARTIES TO ADOPT MODIFICATIONS TO PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (9-5-2014)
• (M1516) 2014-10-09 Revised Proposed Decision on $3.3 Billion San Onofre Settlement -- Melanie Darling and Kevin Dudney, California Public Utilities Commission,
• (M1511) 2014-10-23 Coalition Moves to Stay San Onofre Settlement to “clean house” of corruption at the CPUC -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight Coalition To Decommission San Onofre,
  • Unfortunately, this motion was quickly denied. As it turns out, it would have been best for everyone if this was granted and a slight delay allowed as the Peevey meeting came out in early 2015
• Comments on the proposed decision 2014-10-29
  • Settling parties Comments on the proposed decision
  • CDSO Comments on Proposed Decision
  • Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Comments on Proposed Decision
  • California Large Energy Consumers Association
  • Women's Energy Matters
  • Ruth Henricks Comments on the proposed decision represented by Aguirre & Severson LLP
• See Key Documents (below) for recent documents on this issue

Your next steps:

• Please send an email to the CPUC stating your opposition to this settlement by emailing to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
• Please Contact Your State Representative <-- click to get more information
• Please contribute: Donate To Citizens Oversight -- No amount is too small!
• Please let us know you want to be kept in the loop. Send an email to raylutz@citizensoversight.org to subscribe.

NO WALLSTREET INVESTOR BAILOUTS!

• San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) has not generated any power since 1/31/2012 after an emergency shutdown and radiation leak, the failure due to design mistakes made by Edison and their subcontractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
• Ratepayers continue to pay for SONGS just like an operating plant.
• Plus we have been paying for power not produced by the plant.
• The CPUC started an investigation into the failure in 2012.
• The utilities want to abort the investigation into their failure and then have ratepayers pay $3.3B to bail them out.
• Instead, ratepayers should see about a 10% REDUCTION in rates, since power from the plant averages 167% market price, and it comprised 10% to 20% of power used.
• The proposed settlement was negotiated in secret and without all official parties to the proceeding allowed to participate, to bail out wall street investors on the backs of ratepayers.

Related Projects

• See Shut San Onofre for information on our fight to close the plant. We won, but now we have to deal with this ridiculous settlement.

Key Documents and media coverage of this important issue (reverse date order)

• (CitizensOversightStatusUpdate2019) 2020-04-13 Citizens Oversight Status Update 2019 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1905) 2019-08-05 Earth Summit Series presents "Emergency at San Onofre: From Shutdown to Nuclear Waste on the Beach" -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (CitizensOversightStatusUpdate2018) 2019-02-09 Citizens Oversight Status Update 2018 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1866) 2018-07-26 CPUC Commission Meeting on 2018 San Onofre Settlement -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1867) 2018-07-26 State regulators approve San Onofre nuclear settlement, trimming $750M from original deal -- Jeff Mc Donald, Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union Tribune,
• (M1838) 2018-05-02 2018-05-02 SONGS OII Status Conference (LA) -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Absolutely nothing happened in this meeting. Of note, Public Watchdogs was not there.
• (M1839) 2018-05-02 2018-05-02 SONGS OII Public Participation Hearing on 2018 Settlement -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1836) 2018-04-04 CPUC Hearing 2018-04-04 on San Onofre Closure -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1820) 2018-01-30 CITIZENS OVERSIGHT SIGNS $873 MILLION SAN ONOFRE SHUTDOWN SETTLEMENT WITH SCE, SDG&E AND OTHER PARTIES -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (SanOnofreClosureSettlement2018) 2018-01-30 San Onofre Closure Settlement 2018 -- , Citizens Oversight, Settlement and related docs
• (M1811) 2018-01-12 San Onofre Shutdown Settlement FAQS -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1810) 2018-01-10 New San Onofre deal reached between utilities, consumer groups -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (CitizensOversightStatusUpdate2017) 2017-12-20 Citizens Oversight Status Update 2017 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1808) 2017-11-21 CPUC Privilege Log -- , California Public Utilities Commission, Documents withheld from production by CPUC in response to Attorney General's June 5, 2015/ March 9, 2016 document production
• (M1783) 2017-08-18 Group Asks 9th Circuit to say who pays for San Onofre -- Malcolm Maclachlan, San Francisco Daily Journal,
• (M1771) 2017-06-07 Award Document in San Onofre dispute between SCE and MHI regarding Replacement Steam Generators -- , Southern California Edison,
• (M1644) 2016-02-09 Judge Rules that Superior Court can hear case on Public Records withheld. -- Judge Goldsmith, Citizens Oversight, This means the CPUC can no longer refuse to provide public records without any judicial review.
• (M1636) 2016-01-31 It’s not just the steam generators that failed -- Four years after San Onofre shutdown, questions remain about flawed project -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune, Four year anniversary article sums up the actions leading up to the failure.
• (M1643) 2016-01-31 Ace Hoffman on four-year anniversary of San Onofre shutdown. -- Ace Hoffman, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1634) 2016-01-27 San Onofre Power Plant closure sparks lawsuit -- Dan Plante, KUSI,
• (M1630) 2016-01-06 Calif. Judge Retires Amid Controversy Over SoCal Edison Case -- Carmen Germaine, Law 360,
• (M1628) 2015-11-23 Anatomy of a Failure -- San Onofre Nuclear Plant presentation by Ray Lutz to IEEE -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1621) 2015-10-21 Motion for Reassignment of ALJ Darling of 2015-10-21 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1624) 2015-09-25 Citizens group appeals San Onofre ruling -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (M1622) 2015-09-23 Appeal Opening Brief -- Citizens Oversight, Inc. vs. CPUC re Settlement -- Aguirre Severson LLP, Citizens Oversight Aguirre Severson LLP, Gist: Fed. Court must decide if fair hearing conducted
• (M1611) 2015-08-10 Ratepayer Group Citizens' Oversight Sends Open Letter to San Onofre Settlement Endorsers -- "It's time to pull your support" -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1607) 2015-06-24 TURN Joins Petition for Modification of Settlement -- Freedman Matthew, The Utility Reform Network,
• (M1608) 2015-06-22 Report to the California Public Utilities Commission Regarding Ex Parte Communications and Related Practices -- Strumwasser & Woocher LLP, California Public Utilities Commission,
• (M1597) 2015-05-22 CPUC ALJ Darling / SCE Russell Worden Emails of 2012-12-05 -- , California Public Utilities Commission, Ex parte communications on San Onofre Investigation
• (M1584) 2015-04-29 Southern California Edison Review of Documents Affirms Independent San Onofre Settlement Process -- , Southern California Edison,
• (M1571) 2015-04-14 San Onofre Deal in Federal Court -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1569) 2015-04-10 Hotel notes show San Onofre deal hatched early -- Framework was set in Poland, before public process began -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (M1563) 2015-03-26 UC struggled with Peevey party funds -- Dean of public policy school felt loyalty to utilities boss -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune, Peevey Party Protest
• (M1557) 2015-03-16 Assy Cte on Utilities and Commerce Hearing on CPUC -- , California State Assembly,
• (M1554) 2015-03-03 REGULATOR, EDISON HAD ‘REGULAR’ CHATS -- Emails reveal calls with PUC member Florio, whose contacts with PG&E prompted recusal -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (M1552) 2015-02-25 Citizens Oversight's Federal Case Against Edison, CPUC Ignited by Warsaw Meetings & Felony Searches -- Aguirre Severson LLP, Citizens Oversight, 2/25/2015 Filings -- Southern California Edison
• (M1547) 2015-02-22 Anatomy of the San Onofre Secret Settlement -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Interactive timeline of major events of San Onofre Nuclear Plant
• (M1543) 2015-02-11 Peevey Toasters Face Public Scrutiny -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1544) 2015-02-11 Furor over $250-a-head party honoring former CPUC head -- Jaxon Van Derbeken, San Francisco Chronicle, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1539) 2015-02-10 Meeting links CPUC probe to San Onofre -- Edison discloses it met at luxury hotel in Poland with former regulator -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1540) 2015-02-10 SCE reports private contact in 2013 with PUC head Peevey -- Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1538) 2015-02-09 SCE Admits Secret Meeting with CPUC Pres. Peevey in 2013 to Concoct Settlement -- , Southern California Edison, This secret meeting will likely kill the settlement deal. Related to Peevey Party Protest.
• (M1542) 2015-02-09 Shut up! Shut up! -- Edison admits secret huddle with Michael Peevey on San Onofre -- Don Bauder, San Diego Reader, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1541) 2015-02-02 INDUSTRY TO TOAST EX-PUC CHIEF PEEVEY -- Celebration for former utilities chief comes amid state corruption investigation -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1812) 2014-12-18 Application for Rehearing San Onofre Settlement Decision D.14-11-040 -- , Citizens Oversight, Ruth Henricks,
• (M1813) 2014-11-25 SONGS Settlement Decision D.14-11-040 -- , California Public Utilities Commission,
• (M1519) 2014-11-14 Lawsuit alleges phantom power billings -- Advocates say customers pay for nonexistent San Onofre energy -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1518) 2014-11-13 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF - San Onofre -- Aguirre Severson LLP, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1517) 2014-10-31 San Onofre Outage CPUC Investigation -- Oral Arguments, Oct 31, 2014 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1512) 2014-10-24 CPRA Response in San Bruno Explosion Case -- CPUC and PG&E -- , California Public Utilities Commission, Thousands of emails provided in CPRA response from CPUC illustrates a culture of corruption -- San Bruno Explosion Peevey Party Protest
• (M1515) 2014-10-24 Utility scandal may impact nuke settlement -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1511) 2014-10-23 Coalition Moves to Stay San Onofre Settlement to “clean house” of corruption at the CPUC -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight Coalition To Decommission San Onofre,
• (M1516) 2014-10-09 Revised Proposed Decision on $3.3 Billion San Onofre Settlement -- Melanie Darling and Kevin Dudney, California Public Utilities Commission,
• (M1509) 2014-10-08 SAN ONOFRE REPORT FAULTS OVERSIGHT BY REGULATORS -- ’09 inspection cited as ‘missed opportunity’ to identify weaknesses in generator project -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune,
• (M1480) 2014-08-15 CONSUMER GROUPS WANT NUKE PLANT PROBE COMPLETED -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1470) 2014-08-04 CDSO-509 Motion to Reopen Record on SONGS OII to allow Dr. Budnitz to complete his investigation -- Ray Lutz Aguirre Severson LLP, Citizens Oversight Aguirre Severson LLP Coalition To Decommission San Onofre,
• (M1462) 2014-07-11 Timing of UCAN payment questioned -- Consumer group and CPUC deny any connection to San Onofre matter -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (M1458) 2014-06-26 Stop the Unfair Settlement -- Presentation by Ray Lutz -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, To be provided to the CPUC as an ex parte Communication; Video moved to new version when views were at 138 due to asynchronous audio
• (M1457) 2014-06-17 Armed with papers -- Public Utilities Commission advisor calls cops on Michael Aguirre -- Don Bauder, San Diego Reader, Features Michael Aguirre
• (M1450) 2014-05-26 Peeved Commissioner Peevey hints at CPUC's disarray -- The regulators' fixed deal is naked -- Don Bauder, San Diego Reader, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1448) 2014-05-22 Mike Aguirre gets cussed out at CPUC -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1445) 2014-05-20 Is the Public Utilities Commission Complicit in a Cover-up? -- Roy L Hales, The Eco Report, Original Story includes embedded videos; Related to Peevey Party Protest
• (M1440) 2014-05-14 Settling The Bill For Closing The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station -- Erik Anderson, Kpbs Radio,
• (M1441) 2014-05-14 Excerpts of Settlement Evidentiary Hearing of 2014-05-14 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Features Michael Aguirre
• (M1444) 2014-05-14 Key Clips from Evidentiary Hearing of 2014-05-14 on San Onofre Settlement -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Gist of Mike Aguirre's cross examination of SCE President Ron Litzinger results in the admission that there is nothing in the record to allow the Commission to properly evaluate the settlement. Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1447) 2014-05-14 Commissioner Peevey Loses it when asked about meeting with SCE -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Related to: Peevey Party Protest
• (M1438) 2014-05-13 RATEPAYER ADVOCATES TO SPEAK ON $3.3 BILLION SAN ONOFRE BAILOUT OF GIDDY UTILITY INVESTORS -- Ray Lutz, Coalition To Decommission San Onofre,
• (M1439) 2014-05-13 Ratepayer rep’s role questioned -- Jeff Mc Donald, Union Tribune,
• (M1435) 2014-05-11 Who pays for a worthless power plant? -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune, This story explains how billions of ratepayer dollars are at stake as opposed to the phony claims of $1.4 Billion in refunds.
• (M1434) 2014-05-10 Nuclear deal slams consumers, as usual -- Dan Mc Swain, Union Tribune, Features Senator Barbara Boxer
• (M1437) 2014-05-10 Battles over San Onofre nuclear plant costs gaining steam -- Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, Mentions Michael Aguirre
• (M1431) 2014-05-08 I.12-10-013 CDSO-504 CDSO Joins HENRICKS Objection, Motion to Strike -- Ray Lutz, Ruth Henricks, Coalition To Decommission San Onofre Citizens Oversight,
• (M1433) 2014-05-08 Labor, Customer Groups and Community-Based Organizations File Comments Supporting State Regulatory Settlement Regarding San Onofre Nuclear Plant -- Maureen Brown, Southern California Edison,
• (M1430) 2014-05-07 I.12-10-013 CDSO Opening Comment on Proposed Settlement of April 3, 2014 -- Ray Lutz, Coalition To Decommission San Onofre, Includes full details of our proposed alternative settlement which allows the utilities to nearly break even in 'hands off' approach.
• (M1432) 2014-05-07 Electricity refund? Not in California -- California utility regulators want to screw you, boost company profits. -- Don Bauder, San Diego Reader, Mentions Michael Aguirre
• (M1429) 2014-05-05 PUC’s Kabuki dance extends to San Onofre, San Bruno: Thomas Elias -- Thomas Elias, LADaily News,
• (M1427) 2014-05-01 Settlement Press Conference on 2014-05-06 -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1428) 2014-04-25 Ruling by ALJs on Settlement Schedule -- , California Public Utilities Commission,
• (M1423) 2014-04-20 $3.3B Fair or Foul? -- Morgan Lee, Union Tribune, Mentions Michael Aguirre
• (M1421) 2014-04-11 CDSO-501 CDSO Objection to Motion to Adopt San Onofre Settlement -- , Coalition To Decommission San Onofre Citizens Oversight,
• (M1420) 2014-04-03 CPUC I.12-10-013 - Motion for approval of settlement agreement -- , Southern California Edison, Edison and SDG&E propose that ratepayers pay $3.3 billion to cover their losses in the project; claimed to be a $1.4 billion 'savings' by proponents.
• (M1419) 2014-03-27 Proposed Settlement Agreement for San Onofre Outage -- Raymond Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1446) 2014-03-20 Letter from SCE to Parties of SONGS OII (I12-10-013) announcing Settlement Conference -- Russell Worden, Southern California Edison,
• (M1436) 2013-11-05 Closing of nuke helps Edison to higher earnings -- Eric Wolff, SNL Generation Markets Week,
• (M1442) 2013-05-13 Go Down Swinging! -- Michael Turko, Kusi News, Features Michael Aguirre
• (M1568) 2013-03-26 RSG Notes on Hotel Bristol Stationery -- Michael Peevey, Stephen Pickett, Citizens Oversight, Received on 2015-04-10
• (M1625) 2006-06-07 Initial NRC Briefing by SCE on RSG Project, June 7, 2006 -- , Southern California Edison,
• (M1623) 1934-05-08 Johnson Act -- U.S. House of Representatives, Federal Register,

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