Community Legal Services
Our Work
For years, CommLegal has worked to ensure that essential utility services remain affordable, that efforts to maintain and improve services are timely, and that funds collected from customers are reasonable and used for the proper purposes.
Utility monopolies like PG&E, Comcast, and AT&T are primarily motivated to earn profits for their shareholders. But before making decisions that impact customers, such as raising rates or merging, these companies must request approval from the CPUC.
CommLegal advocates to protect the interests of utility customers, pushing the CPUC to address their concerns in all final decisions. Our efforts on both large and small matters before the CPUC have contributed to:
- Billions of dollars in direct savings for all customers
- Policy and implementation reforms that increase the effectiveness of utility programs
- Greater accountability for utility performance
Community Legal Services
Our Impact
Southern California Edison
2021 General Rate Case (A1908013)
- Customer saved over $2 Billion from avoided unreasonable bill increases for 2021-2023.
- Identified errors in cost forecast calculations and assumptions, saving customers $1.3 million.
- Improved reporting metrics and evaluation on the effectiveness of customer outreach programs.
Pacific Gas & Electric
2020 General Rate Case (A1812009)
- Customers saved over $1.9 Billion from avoided unreasonable bill increases for 2020-2022.
- Forced the utility to refund $1.1 million to customers for over-collected funds not spent on authorized programs.
- Doubled the $400K annual commitment for technical assistance programs to grow small businesses that contract with the utility.
Southern California Edison
EV Charging Station Program (A1806015)
- Customers saved $300 million from bloated costs.
- Increased deployments by 267% in the most underserved multi-unit dwelling market segment.
- Increased deployments by 167% in the most polluted and impoverished areas.
- Expanded job opportunities to all licensed and qualified contractors and electricians.
San Diego Gas & Electric
EV Charging Station Program (A1910012)
- Identified a legal error that held customers liable for $25 million of utility overspending.
- Increased deployment targets by 500% in the most impoverished and polluted areas.
- Revised cost estimates to increase deployments and benefits without increasing costs.
Southern California Gas Company
Flex Alerts Marketing Campaign (A1911018)
- Customers saved $3.3 million.
- Successfully opposed the utility’s request to continue the ineffective and inefficient program.
Currently, CommLegal is intervening to address critical issues including:
- Affordable utility bills;
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
- Accessible broadband internet service;
- Clean energy;
- and many other topics.
Support us through financial donations of any amount. All proceeds will further CommLegal’s mission to represent and promote the interests of underserved utility customers.