BACKGROUND

PG&E filed Advice Letter 2166-G/1890-E on July 12, 1999, requesting Commission approval to offer a new category of nontariffed service entitled "Third Party Meter Reading Services." Under this service, PG&E employees, while reading the meters of the utility's customers, would read the on-site meters of third parties such as cities, water service districts, utility districts, and other third parties who desire the service. The service would also include incidental on-site meter maintenance (such as trimming vegetation and removing dirt), and recommending more extensive work or repairs when needed. The utility also plans to offer consulting services related to meter reading and improvements in information collection. The company expects to be able to accommodate 10 customers and up to 200,000 third-party meters in the next two years using their present work force, 410 full-time and 360 part-time meter readers. These workers currently read 8 million gas and electric meters each month. PG&E will not use this service to provide meter reading for its tariffed products, direct access customers, or to Electric Service Providers.