III. Procedural Summary

A prehearing conference was held on April 13, 2000. On July 10, 2000, Assigned Commissioner Henry M. Duque issued a Scoping Memo and Ruling categorizing this proceeding as a ratesetting proceeding and designating Administrative Law Judge Bertram Patrick as the principal hearing officer.

A public participation hearing was held in San Jose on June 6, 2000. The hearing was sparsely attended. Customers generally complained about SJWC's need for a rate increase at a time of low inflation and voiced their objections to the utility's Service Charge.

One day of evidentiary hearing was held on July 11, 2000, on rate of return. Opening briefs were filed on August 7 and reply briefs were filed on August 21, 2000, by RRB and SJWC, and this matter was submitted for decision.