4. Category of Proceeding

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require that an order instituting rulemaking preliminarily determine the category of the proceeding and the need for hearing.⁴ As a preliminary matter, we determine that this proceeding is ratesetting because our consideration and approval of the refinements to and further development of the RAR program will impact respondent IOUs' rates.⁵ As with earlier RAR proceedings, it appears that the issues may be resolved through a combination of workshops and formal comments. As provided in Rule 6(c)(2), any person who objects to the preliminary categorization of this rulemaking as "ratesetting" or to the preliminary hearing determination, shall state its objections in its PHC Statement. After the PHC in this matter, the Assigned Commissioner will issue a scoping ruling making a final category determination; this final determination is subject to appeal as specified in Rule 6.4.

⁴ Rule 6(c)(2).

⁵ Rule 5(c).