ALJ/MFG/lil Date of Issuance 11/24/2009

Decision 09-11-030 November 20, 2009

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Joint Application of San Diego Gas & Electric Company (U902G), Southern California Gas Company (U904G), and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (U39G) to Reallocate the Costs of Natural Gas Public Purpose Programs and Other Mandated Social Programs Among Customer Classes.

Application 07-12-006
(Filed December 11, 2007)

DECISION GRANTING INTERVENOR COMPENSATION TO
CONSUMER FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA FOR
SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DECISION 09-03-024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

DECISION GRANTING INTERVENOR COMPENSATION TO CONSUMER FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA FOR SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DECISION 09-03-024 1 1

1. Background 2 2

2. Requirements for Awards of Compensation 3 3

2.1. Preliminary Procedural Issues 4 4

3. Substantial Contribution 5 5

3.1. Categorization of the application and the need for hearings 6 6

3.2. Allocation Method 6 6

3.3. Impact of Allocation Method on California Business Climate 7 7

4. Contributions of Other Parties 8 8

5. Reasonableness of Requested Compensation 9 9

5.1. Hours and Costs Related to and Necessary for Substantial Contribution 10 10

5.2. Intervenor Hourly Rates 12 12

5.3. Direct Expenses 13 13

6. Productivity 13 13

7. Award 14 14

8. Waiver of Comment Period 15 15

9. Assignment of Proceeding 15 15

Findings of Fact 15 15

Conclusions of Law 16 16

ORDER 16 16

APPENDIX

DECISION GRANTING INTERVENOR COMPENSATION TO
CONSUMER FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA FOR
SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DECISION 09-03-024

This decision awards Consumer Federation of California $87,358.70 for its substantial contributions to Decision 09-03-024. This represents a decrease of $37,502.80 or approximately 30% from the amount requested due to the excessive hours claimed; inconsistencies between the requested time claimed and supporting documents; and elimination of reimbursement for travel expenses. Today's award will be allocated to the affected utilities. This proceeding is closed.

1. Background

This proceeding was initiated to change the cost allocation methods currently being used by the utilities to recover their costs of public purpose programs (PPPs) with a single, unified equal percent of base revenue cost allocation method. The utilities currently have six PPPs being funded through surcharges on their gas rates. During the pendency of this proceeding, the establishment of two new PPPs was being considered in other proceedings.

A majority of the utilities recover the costs of their PPPs through an Equal Cents Per Therm cost allocation method.¹ In Decision (D.) 09-03-024, the Commission denied the application filed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for authority to change the cost allocation methods by which their natural gas customers are charged for the costs of their PPPs to a single Equal Percent of Base Revenue cost allocation method.

The Utility Reform Network, A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity, Aglet Consumer Alliance, Disability Rights Advocates, and Consumer Federation of California (CFC) opposed the application.

¹ The other cost allocation methods used by the utilities to recover the PPP costs are the direct benefit method and equal percent margin contribution method.