In this week's meeting, from Nov. 16 - 20, the state's insurance department will be hearing a dispute over a rate increase by State Farm that Consumer Watchdog believes is unfair and overcharging customers by more than $200 million. In addition, the Public Utilities Commission was expected to decide if the Southern California Edison should be financially penalized over alleged improper communications tied to the San Onofre Nuclear power plant decommissioning.
Monday
The California Department of Insurance will be hearing a dispute all this week over a proposal by State Farm that would allow the company to overcharge its customers by $210 million for homeowners insurance. Consumer Watchdog is challenging the rate increase and will be discussing the case and its impact on Bay Area consumers at a news conference outside the California Department of Insurance.
Under Proposition 103, the insurance reform voter initiative, insurance companies must apply for and justify all rate changes before they take effect. Consumers may request a hearing when an insurer seeks an excessive rate, a system that has saved Californians over $100 billion since they approved the measure. Consumer Watchdog says that State Farm’s latest request for a 6.9% rate increase is excessive, and that the company’s rates should be reduced. State Farm is the largest homeowners insurance company in the state and insures more than 1 million Californians.
12:45 pm Pacific Time
California Department of Insurance
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
*Press conference in courtyard*
Who:
Daniel Zohar and Todd Foreman
Zohar Law Firm, LLC, outside counsel representing Consumer Watchdog
Jonathan Phenix
Consumer Watchdog Staff Attorney
Wednesday
The Independent Review Panel for the Department of Toxic Substances Control, established by SB 83, is scheduled to meet for the first time. Its mandate is to advise DTSC on issues related to its reporting obligations, make recommendations for improving DTSC's programs, advise DTSC on increasing the levels of environmental protection by its programs, and report to the Governor and the Legislature.
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Byron Sher Hearing Room
CalEPA Headquarters Building
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Thursday
Covered California will be having its last board meeting of the year. The board will be discussing the 2017 Qualified Health Plans: Recertification, New Entrant and Standard Benefit, and Individual Eligibility and Enrollment Regulations Emergency Readoption.
11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Covered California Tahoe Auditorium
1601 Exposition Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
California Air Resources Board will provide an update on the 2030 Scoping Plan that is writing the future of energy policy in California. The board will also hear updates regarding cap and trade, the EPA’s clean power plan rules, and energy efficient cars in the state. The meeting is a continuation of Jerry Brown's plan to tackle petroleum use without the legislative mandate he hoped to receive from SB 350.
9 a.m.
California Environmental Protection Agency
Air Resources Board
Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95812
The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to discuss a SouthernCalifornia Edison's (SCE) capacity planning proposal that has attracted opposition from some renewables and efficiency advocates for another resource it plans to procure — natural gas generation. It was also slated to debate the extent to which the SCE should be fined for improper communications with regulators in relation to the San Onofre Nuclear power plant and its decommision. But, according to the agenda, that deadline is being pushed back to January.
9:30 a.m.
Public Utilities Commission of the State of California
505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
The California Fair Political Practices Commission has a meeting dealing with fines and campaign contributions.
10 a.m.
428 J Street, Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95814
