5. Parties and Service List

This Order Instituting Rulemaking is served on the parties to R.06-03-004, which we close today. It will also be served on the service list of R.04-03-017 because issues in that docket, namely, cost-benefit methodology issues and a petition to modify D.04-12-045 will be handled in this new proceeding. Within 20 days from the mailing date of this order, any person or representative of an entity interested in monitoring or participating in this proceeding should send a letter to the Commission's Process Office (process_office@cpuc.ca.gov), with a copy to ALJ Dorothy Duda (dot@cpuc.ca.gov) and ALJ Maryam Ebke (meb@cpuc.ca.gov), all of whom are located at 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102. The letter should specify the docket number of this rulemaking in the subject line, and must include the name, address, phone number, organization and e-mail address of those who wish to be added to the service list.

When individuals write to the Process Office, their letter should specify whether they wish to be a "Party" (i.e., actively participate in the proceeding by filing comments or appearing at workshops or hearings) or "Information Only" (i.e., not participate, but simply receive electronic service of all documents in this rulemaking). Those who seek to be a "party" should indicate how they intend to participate in the proceeding. Individuals who intend to maintain party status must appear at the prehearing conference to confirm this. Letters may be sent either by electronic mail or regular mail, but must be received by the Commission within 20 days of the mailing of this order.

The Process Office will thereafter create a new service list and the new service list will be posted on the Commission's web site, www.cpuc.ca.gov soon thereafter. Parties who do not contact the Commission for inclusion on the service list will not receive future documents in this proceeding. Parties currently on the service list for R.06-03-004 and R.04-03-017 will NOT automatically be placed on the new service list and must follow the procedure described above to be added to the new service list.

In accordance with Commission practice, by entering an appearance at a hearing or by other appropriate means, an interested party or protestant gains "party" status, as set forth in Commission Rule 1.4. A party to a Commission proceeding has certain rights that non-parties (those in "state service" and "information only" service categories) do not have. For example, a party has the right to participate in evidentiary hearings, file comments on a proposed decision, and appeal a final decision. A party also has the ability to consent to waive or reduce a comment period. Non-parties do not have these rights, even though they are included on the service list for the proceeding and receive copies of some or all documents.

Any party interested in participating in this rulemaking who is unfamiliar with the Commission's procedures should contact the Public Advisor's Office in Los Angeles at (866) 849-8391, or in San Francisco at (415) 703-2074, or toll free at (866) 849-8390.

Parties are encouraged to serve documents electronically, in accordance with Rule 1.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.