6. Overall Benefits of Participation

In D.98-04-059, the Commission adopted a requirement that a customer demonstrates its participation was "productive," as that term is used in § 1801.3, where the Legislature gave the Commission guidance on program administration. (See D.98-04-059, mimeo. at pp. 31-33, and Finding of Fact 42.) In that decision we discuss the requirement that participation must be productive in the sense that the costs of participation should bear a reasonable relationship to the benefits realized through such participation.

The intervention of Sierra Club and Ventura in this proceeding resulted in an exhaustive review by the Commission of the adequacy of water supplies available to meet Valencia's current requirements, including the proposed service area expansions covered by ALs 88 and 90. Allegations regarding the inadequacy of water supplies to meet these needs have been dispelled, thereby boosting customer confidence and reinforcing property values, to the benefit of all Valencia's customers. We, therefore, conclude that Sierra Club's participation, although not subject to precise quantification, was productive and meets the requirements of § 1801.3.