II. Procedural Summary

SDG&E filed its Application for a PTC on January 29, 2001. By letter dated February 27, the Commission's Energy Division informed SDG&E that its Proponent's Environment Assessment (PEA) for the proposed Pala Substation expansion was incomplete and directed SDG&E to submit additional information. Save Southwest Riverside County (SSRC) filed a protest to SDG&E's application on March 1. SDG&E filed a reply to SSRC's protest on March 12. In response to the Energy Division's February deficiency letter, SDG&E filed a supplement to its application on March 29. SSRC submitted a response to SDG&E's supplement and reply on April 23. SDG&E then filed another reply on May 4, 2001. At the prehearing conference held on June 21, the parties agreed that an evidentiary hearing would not be necessary. SDG&E and SSRC filed concurrent opening and reply briefs on July 3 and 9, 2001, respectively, and this matter was submitted for decision.

In Resolution ALJ 176-3057, dated February 8, 2001, the Commission preliminarily categorized this proceeding as ratesetting, and preliminarily determined that hearings were necessary. It is not necessary to alter the preliminary categorization in Resolution ALJ 176-3057.