II. Edison's Motion
On May 4, 2001, Edison filed an expedited petition for Modification of D.96-09-092, seeking modification and extension of Edison's PBR mechanism
until superseded by Edison's 2003 GRC. 1 As justification, Edison states that recent legislation, ABX1-6, requires Edison to retain the generation facilities it still owns, and that a Test Year 2003 GRC would include the rate base for Edison's generation assets and operating and maintenance expenses associated with these assets. However, the Notice of Intent (NOI) that Edison has tendered to the Commission for its currently scheduled test year 2003 GRC was limited to Edison's distribution costs. 2 Deferral of Edison's GRC necessitates extension of its PBR mechanism, which would otherwise terminate on December 31, 2001, pursuant to D.96-09-092. In support of its request, Edison also cites its April 9, 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), which aims to expedite the creditworthy status of Edison.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Office of Ratepayer Advocates (ORA) and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) filed responses. NDRC supports Edison's petition for extension and modification on the grounds that the current PBR is out of step with California law and the energy efficiency policies established by the Commission. Both ORA and TURN agree that the PBR mechanism be extended to coincide with the decision to defer the GRC.
1 Edison originally filed its motion in NOI 00-09-008, but served it on the parties to Edison's last GRC Application (A.) 93-12-025/Investigation 94-02-002. The Commission transferred the motion to the GRC docket. 2 Prior to filing its GRC application, a utility submits a NOI to file such an application. Edison has filed this NOI for a test year 2002 GRC, but states that intervening events makes its NOI filing outdated.
