ALJ/MEG/tcg DRAFT Agenda ID #3129

Quasi-legislative

1/8/04 Item 51

Decision

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies and Programs Governing Post-2003 Low-Income Assistance Programs.

Rulemaking__________

ORDER INSTITUTING RULEMAKING

In Rulemaking (R.) 01-08-027, we have been addressing policy and implementation issues related to low-income assistance programs, i.e., the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Low-Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) programs. Today, we close R.01-08-027 and Application (A.) 02-07-001 et al. and initiate a new proceeding to address policy and implementation issues governing post-2003 CARE and LIEE program activities. These issues include monitoring program accomplishments and refining policies, program designs and budgets for future program years, including those programs administered by the small and multi-jurisdictional utilities under our jurisdiction.

After today, any items we have directed to be filed in Rulemaking (R.) 01-08-027 and Application (A.) 02-07-001 et al. shall instead be filed in this docket. These include filings that address the standardization of procedures and policies for LIEE, CARE Needs Assessment, Energy Division audits and other reports and evaluations. We also transfer outstanding issues related to CARE automatic enrollment from those proceedings to this rulemaking. Our prior determinations concerning the use of the Advice Letter process or other procedural vehicles (e.g., Assigned Commissioner Ruling) will continue to apply unless the Commission or the Assigned Commissioner direct otherwise.