COM/MP1/avs Date of Issuance 10/13/2011

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's own motion to determine the impact on public benefits associated with the expiration of ratepayer charges pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 399.8.

FILED
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OCTOBER 6, 2011
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
RULEMAKING 11-10-003

ORDER INSTITUTING RULEMAKING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

ORDER INSTITUTING RULEMAKING 2 2

1. Summary 2 2

2. System Benefits (Public Goods) Charge Purpose and History 2 2

3. Preliminary Scoping Memo - Issues 6 6

3.1. General Questions 6 6

3.2. Renewable Energy 8 8

3.3. Research, Development, and Demonstration 11 11

4. Proceeding Category and Need for Hearings 14 14

5. Proposed Schedule 15 15

6. Coordination with Other State Agencies, Entities, and Local Agencies 16 16

7. Respondents 17 17

8. Parties and Creation of Official Service List 17 17

9. Service of the Rulemaking 19 19

10. Service of Documents 20 20

11. Commission's Public Advisor's Office 21 21

12. Intervenor Compensation 21 21

13. Ex Parte Communications 21 21

Attachment A - Respondents

Attachment B - Various Service Lists for Commission Proceedings

ORDER INSTITUTING RULEMAKING

1. Summary

Funding authorized in Public Utilities Code § 399.8, which currently governs the system benefits charge (also known as the public goods charge), expires as of January 1, 2012. Public benefits provided by the expiring funding are in the areas of energy efficiency, renewables, and research development, and demonstration (RD&D).

This rulemaking will address funding and program issues related to the renewables and RD&D portions of the expiring system benefits or public goods charge funding. Issues related to the expiration of the energy efficiency funding will be handled in the Commission's ongoing proceedings related to energy efficiency, currently Rulemaking 09-11-014.