2. Procedural Background

By Chief Administrative Law Judge's Ruling dated October 19, 2009, the applications for rate adjustments pursuant to SB 695 filed by PG&E, Southern California Edison Company (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), respectively, were consolidated. Protests were filed by the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), The Utility Reform Network (TURN), and by Utility Consumer Action Network (UCAN). A joint reply to the protests was filed by applicants on November 13, 2009.

Applicants each published notice of their proposed rate changes in newspapers of general circulation, included notice in customers' bills, and mailed notices of the applications to state and county officials pursuant to Rule 3.2 and Pub. Util. Code § 454. The Commission has also received letters from customers of the applicant utilities. These letters generally express opposition to granting the requested rate changes, and in particular, express the belief that increasing Tiers 1 and 2 rates would be contradictory to the Commission's goal of encouraging conservation, and would penalize customers for saving energy. The customers' letters were circulated for review by the Assigned Commissioner, the Assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and the other Commissioners.

The Assigned Commissioner issued a scoping memo and ruling on November 20, 2009, setting the schedule, designating the scope of the proceeding, and receiving into evidence the written testimony offered by applicants. This matter can be decided based upon the written pleadings, and thus no evidentiary hearings were conducted.