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UCAN asks $535 an hour compensation for Shames

No mention that he was fired and UCAN and Shames are suing each other

Troubled Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) has asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to pay it $535 an hour for the work that its former executive director, Michael Shames, did on the general rate case of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The CPUC rewards intervenors who enter into discussions of a case with monetary compensation, called "intervenor compensation." Previously, Shames had asked for and received $330 a hour. But at those times, Shames was not a member of the bar and the CPUC pays more to attorneys. He later rejoined the bar at the insistence of UCAN's then-chairman. UCAN doesn't mention any of this in its application for remuneration for Shames's SDG&E work. Nor does it mention that Shames was let go, and is now suing UCAN, which is countersuing him. UCAN is also asking for $390 an hour for the work of Donald Kelly, who was brought in to be executive director after two others had departed after brief stays. Kelly was formerly a University of San Diego law student of Robert Fellmeth, who had come back to the UCAN board, although he has since left, leaving the door open for a later reappointment. Fellmeth had founded UCAN with Shames.

The state auditor is expected to release a report on intervenor compensation on July 23.

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Troubled Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) has asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to pay it $535 an hour for the work that its former executive director, Michael Shames, did on the general rate case of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The CPUC rewards intervenors who enter into discussions of a case with monetary compensation, called "intervenor compensation." Previously, Shames had asked for and received $330 a hour. But at those times, Shames was not a member of the bar and the CPUC pays more to attorneys. He later rejoined the bar at the insistence of UCAN's then-chairman. UCAN doesn't mention any of this in its application for remuneration for Shames's SDG&E work. Nor does it mention that Shames was let go, and is now suing UCAN, which is countersuing him. UCAN is also asking for $390 an hour for the work of Donald Kelly, who was brought in to be executive director after two others had departed after brief stays. Kelly was formerly a University of San Diego law student of Robert Fellmeth, who had come back to the UCAN board, although he has since left, leaving the door open for a later reappointment. Fellmeth had founded UCAN with Shames.

The state auditor is expected to release a report on intervenor compensation on July 23.

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