State utility regulators continue to award money to some groups that sought compensation for participating in the investigation of the San Onofre nuclear plant failure, while denying payments to others.

The latest proposed recipient of so-called “intervenor” funds is Friends of the Earth, one of the groups that signed on to a deal that charged ratepayers 70 percent of the $4.7 billion in costs related to the premature plant closure in 2012.

Under a proposed decision from the California Public Utilities Commission earlier this month, Friends of the Earth would receive more than $72,000 for its contribution to the proceeding.

The award, if approved by commissioners, would be significantly less than the $483,503 sought by Friends of the Earth. Organization officials did not return calls seeking comment about the proposed award.


The commission has granted more than $600,000 to other participants in the San Onofre case, which remains the subject of a criminal probe into improper contacts between regulators and utility executives.

The Utility Reform Network, which negotiated the settlement deal, received $289,794, or $27 below the group’s requested amount; Women’s Energy Matters applied for $247,566 and collected $241,878. The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility was awarded $83,346 of the $121,305 it requested.

The World Business Academy sought more than $425,000 and received no compensation, and the National Asian American Coalition has yet to receive a response to its request for $172,000.

The state’s intervenor compensation program awards money to groups that contribute meaningfully to commission decisions. The payments are made by utility companies, which pass the cost on to customers.


Regulators say the program helps level the playing field so utility opponents can be compensated for challenging rate hikes and other applications.

No charges have been filed in the criminal case.

The $4.7 billion San Onofre settlement approved in 2014 was reopened earlier this year amid complaints that it was unfair to consumers. The matter remains unresolved.

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald