5. Assignment of Proceeding

Dian M. Grueneich is the assigned Commissioner and Angela Minkin is the assigned Administrative Law Judge in this proceeding.

Findings of Fact

1. D.08-09-041 authorized SCE to sign four PPAs for up to 1,350.30 megawatts selected in the standard track of its New Generation Request for Offers, and approved the allocation of the benefits and costs of the four PPAs to all benefitting customers in accordance with D.06-07-029 and D.07-09-044.

2. The PPA with Sentinel was specifically approved in D.08-09-041. The proposed tie-line must be constructed in order to deliver the needed power from the Project to the transmission grid.

3. SCE and Sentinel have entered into agreements whereby Sentinel will pay the total costs associated with the tie-line, with no impact on ratepayers.

4. Pursuant to those agreements, the total costs associated with the tie-line are anticipated to equal $10.15 million in nominal dollars and consist of all construction, operation, maintenance, and administrative charges associated with the Project, including engineering and design costs of the Project.

5. SCE's shareholders will assume all risk and liability of the tie-line and will not pass on, directly or indirectly, any costs, risks, or liability to ratepayers.

6. The CEC is the lead agency under CEQA for the Project and the associated tie-line. The Commission is a Responsible Agency under CEQA.

7. The CEC conducted an environmental analysis of the Project and associated tie-line. The CEC found in Order No. 10-1201-24 that the proposed tie-line, with the CEC's Conditions of Certification, would not result in, nor contribute substantially to, any significant, direct, indirect, or cumulatively adverse environmental impacts. The CEC is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with its Conditions of Certification.

Conclusions of Law

1. The proposed tie-line is (i) necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of the public, and (ii) required by the public convenience and necessity.

2. There is no need to consider the cost-effectiveness of the proposed tie-line because SCE's ratepayers will not bear any of the costs for the tie-line pursuant to the following order.

3. SCE should be granted a CPCN pursuant to Pub. Util. Code §§ 1001 et seq. and GO 131-D to construct, own, operate, and maintain the tie-line as described in A.08-12-011, subject to the conditions set forth below.

4. Pursuant to Public Resources Code § 25519(c), CEC Order No. 10-1201-24 is functionally equivalent to an environmental impact report under CEQA. These documents are adequate for the Commission's decision-making purposes, and the Commission has considered these documents in its decision-making process in accordance with CEQA Guidelines, Section 15096(f).

5. The CEC reasonably concluded that its adopted Conditions of Certification will ensure that that the tie-line will not result in, or contribute substantially to, any significant, direct, indirect, or cumulatively adverse environmental impacts.

6. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15096(g)(1), and to ensure there are no adverse environmental impacts from the tie-line, the granting of a CPCN for the tie-line should be subject to the Conditions of Certification and Compliance Verifications applicable to the tie-line that are contained in CEC Order No. 10-1201-24.

7. Possible exposure to EMF has been reduced by the no-cost measures SCE will include in the Project, as specified in Appendix G of the Application, pursuant to D.93-11-013, and D.06-01-042.

8. SCE's Field Management Plan contained in Appendix G of A.08-12-011 complies with GO 131-D and the low-cost, no-cost EMF policy adopted by the Commission in D.06-01-042.

9. No hearings are required in this proceeding.

10. The following order should be effective immediately so that construction of the tie-line for the Project may begin expeditiously.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. A certificate of public convenience and necessity is granted to Southern California Edison Company pursuant to Pub. Util. Code §§ 1001 et seq. and General Order 131-D to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 230 kilovolt transmission line from the CPV Sentinel Energy Project to Southern California Edison Company's Devers Substation, subject to the following conditions:

a. Southern California Edison Company shall not recover from its ratepayers, either directly or indirectly, any costs for the transmission line, including any costs to construct, own, operate, or maintain the line. Southern California Edison Company shall not pass on to its ratepayers, either directly or indirectly, any risks or liabilities associated with the transmission line.

b. Southern California Edison Company shall comply with all Conditions of Certification and Compliance Verifications applicable to the transmission line that are contained in Order No. 10-1201-24 issued by the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission in Docket No. 07-AFC-03.

2. Application 08-12-011 is closed.

This order is effective today.

Dated December 16, 2010, at San Francisco, California.

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