2. Purpose of Proceeding

The resource adequacy (RA) program was first implemented with the 2006 compliance year for "system" RA requirements. "Local" RA procurement obligations were first implemented the following year. Even though several decisions over the past several years have largely defined the RA program, it remains necessary and appropriate to have a procedural mechanism in place to address the ongoing needs of the program. As the Commission stated in a June 2007 RA decision:

While the nature of the future RA program and the associated procedural requirements cannot be fixed at this time, it is clear that there is an ongoing need for a procedural vehicle to address both modifications and improvements to the RA program as well as routine administrative (but not ministerial) matters that are not delegable to staff. Among other things, the Local RA program component requires annual approval of [local capacity requirements (LCRs)] based on the [California Independent System Operator's (CAISO's)] LCR studies. For the near and intermediate term, we see a need for annual proceedings for these purposes." (Decision (D.) 07-06-029 at 52.)

Rulemaking (R.) 09-10-032 served as the forum for RA decisions in 2010 (for the 2011 RA year) and 2011 (for the 2012 RA year). The most recent decision, D.11-10-003, closed R.09-10-032. Therefore, there is a need for a successor rulemaking proceeding both to oversee the RA program and to establish local procurement obligations for 2013 and, possibly, future years.