IV. Preparation of the Transmission Ranking Cost Reports

The May 27, 2005 ALJ ruling required that the utilities request information from potential bidders regarding their proposed projects' interconnection requirements and that the utilities undertake conceptual transmission studies, if needed, based on developers' responses. We expect that the utilities have complied with this ruling and have commenced their conceptual studies. We require that PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E prepare and file their 2005 Transmission Ranking Cost Reports no later than August 22, 2005.

We adopt the same procedures for review of the 2005 Transmission Ranking Cost Reports that were used in 2004 pursuant to D.04-06-013. Initial comments on the 2005 Transmission Ranking Cost Reports may be filed within seven days of the due date for the reports and reply comments may be filed within seven days thereafter.

Parties should serve paper format copies, in addition to electronic copies, if served as allowed by Rule 2.3.1 of the Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, of the 2005 Transmission Ranking Cost Reports, initial comments, and reply comments on the Assigned Commissioner and the assigned ALJ.

The Commission will assess the adequacy of the reports on the basis of the filed comments and reply comments, and will determine whether additional steps are warranted before the utilities' results are used in ranking bids for the 2005 RPS procurement. As in 2004, we delegate this responsibility to the Assigned Commissioner in this proceeding, so that the bid ranking process is not delayed by the time that would be necessary to bring disputes to the full Commission for formal action on its public agenda.