6. Productivity

D.98-04-059 directed customers to demonstrate productivity by assigning a reasonable dollar value to the benefits of their participation to ratepayers. (D.98-04-059, pp. 34-35.) The costs of a customer's participation should bear a reasonable relationship to the benefits realized through its participation. This showing assists us in determining the overall reasonableness of the request.

Aglet claims that it contributed to the proceeding in a manner that was productive and will result in benefits to ratepayers that exceed the costs of participation. Aglet did not identify precise monetary benefits to ratepayers. However, Aglet claims, its substantial contribution on the bid evaluation issue will likely result in lower winning bids in the energy auction which results in lower energy costs for ratepayers. We agree that to the extent Aglet's contribution results in energy auctions with lower winning bids, ratepayers benefit monetarily by having lower energy costs. Thus, we find that Aglet's efforts have been productive.