Procedural Matters

This complaint was categorized as adjudicatory in the instructions to answer that was issued on April 23, 2002, and evidentiary hearings were originally expected. However, in the scoping memo and ruling, the assigned Commissioner and ALJ recognized that no evidentiary hearings would be needed if the Commission decides that the complainants' challenges to the decisions and tariffs implementing the rate reduction were not timely. Since today's decision concludes that the complainants' challenges to the decisions and tariffs are untimely, and there are no compelling reasons for us to reexamine these decisions, no evidentiary hearings are needed to resolve this complaint proceeding.