7. Compliance with Notice Requirements

DRA contends PG&E's application should be dismissed because it was not properly noticed, as required by Rule 3.2. According to DRA, while Rule 3.2 requires notice of the application to be published within 10 days of the filing of the application, PG&E's notice was not published within the 10-day timeframe. In addition, DRA claims the notice did not include the statement that the application and related exhibits could be examined at any Commission or PG&E office, the notice did not provide the address of the Commission's Los Angeles office or PG&E offices, and it failed to give a Commission e-mail address and the mailing address for PG&E where customers could obtain further information on the application. Finally, DRA maintains PG&E's filing lacks all pertinent information needed to verify proper notice was given.

In response, PG&E contends the notices were given consistent with long-standing Commission practice and were approved by the Commission's Public Advisor. PG&E asserts the notice adequately informed customers that the proposed facilities would increase electric revenue by $44.5 million over 10 years and would result in an increase that is less than one percent of PG&E's revenues. According to PG&E, DRA quibbles with details of the notice, such as mailing and e-mail addresses, or a delay of one or two days in the notices' publication, and such details are not grounds for the Commission to dismiss the application.

We agree with PG&E that any defects with the notice are not material. We will not dismiss the application solely because of the minor defects in PG&E's notice and there was ample time in this proceeding for interested customers to comment on the applications after notice appeared. PG&E should correct these defects in future applications, ensuring that notice is timely given and that the notice provides all required information, including e-mail and mailing addresses and locations where the application may be viewed by the public. We appreciate DRA's diligence in ensuring that notice under Rule 3.2 is fulfilled, and its attention to this matter should improve the timeliness and completeness of future notices by PG&E.