Today's decision addresses the program deployment issues raised in the workshops and comments on the workshop report. We also address fund-shifting flexibility as it relates to the low-income energy efficiency program in today's decision.
By subsequent order, we will address other PY2001 compliance issues, including the PY2001 shareholder incentive mechanism, ratemaking treatment for CARE administrative expenses, and other issues raised in the compliance applications and March 22, 2001 workshops.
By D.01-03-082 issued on March 27, 2001 in Application 00-11-038, the Commission increased the CARE eligibility levels from 150% of federal poverty guidelines to 175% for electric customers of PG&E and SCE. The Commission stated that it would "move quickly to address the applicability of the changes we make here to all jurisdictional utilities" in this proceeding. (D.01-03-082, mimeo, p. 3, footnote 2.) The Commission also determined that the issue of an increased CARE discount for both electric and gas customers "should be addressed expeditiously" in this proceeding. (D.01-03-082, Conclusion of Law 29.) These issues are being addressed in a separate, concurrent process, consistent with the Administrative Law Judge's April 3, 2001 ruling. They are not addressed in today's decision.