2. Background

D.00-10-066 suspended until March 31, 2001 the portion of SCE's interruptible tariffs that allow some interruptible customers to either opt out of the interruptible program, or change their firm service level. The suspension applied to customers who first signed up for interruptible service prior to April 1, 1998.

As stated in D.00-10-066, our goal was to have programs in place prior to Summer 2001 that attract and retain customers willing to be interrupted, while allowing those not willing to be interrupted to opt out, although perhaps subject to conditions. Our plan was to issue a decision prior to Summer 2001 that addressed the opt-out provisions of the interruptible program in time for parties to be aware of their options prior to the start of the summer season. D.00-10-066 concluded that temporarily suspending the opt-out provisions until March 31, 2001 allowed sufficient time for the Commission to examine its existing and proposed programs in greater detail.