ALJ/SRT/avs Mailed 7/23/2002

Decision 02-07-040 July 17, 2002

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Examine the Commission's Future Energy Efficiency Policies, Administration and Programs.

Rulemaking 01-08-028 (Filed August 23, 2001)

INTERIM OPINION REALLOCATING FUNDING PREVIOUSLY
AWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS'
FLEX YOUR POWER ENERGY EFFICIENCY CAMPAIGN

I. Introduction

In this decision, we reallocate remaining Commission-awarded funding previously awarded to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for its Flex Your Power energy efficiency campaign to Southern California Edison (Edison) with the expectation and understanding that Edison use of the Flex Your Power trademarks is subject to per use approval and authorization by DCA in order to carry out an uninterrupted and consistent campaign.

The Commission chose Edison to oversee DCA in its performance of the CPUC-funded aspects of the Flex Your Power campaign. As such, Edison has been involved in the day-to-day program details. Edison also applied to work collaboratively with the Flex Your Power campaign as part of a statewide competitive bidding process culminating in Decision (D.) 02-03-056. We opted at that time to award the funding directly to DCA, rather than to give it to Edison or any other applicant. It appears we no longer have that option.

The Flex Your Power campaign is an important and useful aspect of the Commission's statewide energy efficiency program. To minimize interruption and make every effort to have the portion of the Flex Your Power campaign we funded go forward as scheduled, we approve the transfer of statewide energy efficiency funding to Edison to carry out the program under the Flex Your Power name and to make such uses of that name as are authorized by DCA. We approve no substantive modification in program details, and anticipate that the look and feel of the campaign will continue unchanged.