8. Comments on Proposed Decision

On February 11, 2011, the proposed decision of ALJ Mattson in this matter was mailed to the parties in accordance with Section 311 of the Public Utilities Code and Rule 14.3 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (Rules). On March 3, 2011, 2011, comments were filed by PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, IEP, CalWEA/LSA, and CAlifornians for Renewable Energy, Inc. On March 8, 2011, reply comments were filed by PG&E, SCE, IEP, and CalWEA/LSA. As required by our rules, comments must focus on factual, legal or technical errors and, in citing such errors, must make specific references to the record. Comments which merely reargue positions taken in the proceeding are given no weight. (Rule 14.3.)

Based on comments and reply comments we make several modifications. These include changes to the treatment of economic curtailment, congestion costs, NDAs and confidentiality provisions, 2011 solicitation schedule, and the schedule for 2012 plans. We clarify that reimbursable consultant costs may be entered into RPSCMAs, and are not subject to separate later application for recovery in rates (i.e., are treated in the normal course of processing RPSCMAs for rate recovery). We decline to adopt SCE's recommendation to permit SCE to include new shortlisting requirements (relative to interconnection studies).