COM/MP1/hl2 Date of Issuance 4/14/2008

Decision 08-04-010` April 10, 2008

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Set Hourly Rates for Purposes of Calculating Intervenor Compensation Awards Pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 1801 and Following, for Work Performed in Calendar Year 2006.

Rulemaking 06-08-019
(Filed August 24, 2006)

FINAL OPINION SETTING HOURLY INTERVENOR RATES FOR 2008 AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

FINAL OPINION SETTING HOURLY INTERVENOR RATES FOR
2008 AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS 2 2

1. Summary 2 2

2. Background 2 2

3. Procedural History and Revised Scoping Memo 2 2

4. Discussion 4 4

4.1. COLA Adjustments for 2008 4 4

4.2. Market Analysis of Hourly Rates 6 6

4.3. Justifying Increases Beyond Those Generally Adopted 7 7

4.3.1. Rates for New Representatives 7 7

4.3.2. Rates for Representatives with No Recent Rate 8 8

4.3.3. Rates for Representatives with a Recently Adopted Rate 8 8

4.3.4. Increases Greater Than Those Generally Adopted 9 9

4.4. Clarifying Step Increases for 2008 and Beyond 11 11

4.5. Discontinuance of the Utilities' Annual Data Reports 13 13

4.6. Procedural Linkage to Future Proceedings 15 15

4.6.1. COLAs for 2009 and Beyond 15 15

4.6.2. Rates Based on a Comprehensive Compensation Market Analysis 16 16

5. Categorization of Proceeding and Need for Hearing 19 19

6. Comments on Proposed Decision 19 19

7. Assignment of Proceeding 21 21

Findings of Fact 22 22

Conclusions of Law 24 24

FINAL ORDER 21

APPENDIX A - Comparison of Inflation Indexes

FINAL OPINION SETTING HOURLY INTERVENOR RATES FOR 2008 AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS

1. Summary

In today's final decision, we adopt a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for work performed by intervenor representatives in calendar year 2008, discontinue the requirement that utilities submit annual data reports, address other related matters, and close this proceeding.