2. Background
SCE filed this application to increase its authorized test year 2003 base rate revenues on May 3, 2002. In the application, SCE seeks authorization for revenues of approximately $3.1 billion dollars, to become effective as soon as possible in 2003. The requested amount represents an increase of $286 million (10.3%) above the currently authorized base rate revenues.
Under the 384-day processing timeline included in the Rate Case Plan adopted in Decision (D.) 89-01-040, a final Commission decision on SCE's requested base rate revenue requirement would be expected by May 22, 2003.1 However, in this proceeding the Office of Ratepayer Advocates (ORA) requested an extension of time to submit its testimony. On August 8, 2002, Assigned Commissioner Wood issued a ruling (ACR) that, among other things, granted ORA a three-month extension.2 The ACR correspondingly moved other procedural milestones by three months, including the expected date for a final Commission decision.
In response to this extension of the Rate Case Plan schedule, SCE filed a motion requesting authorization to establish a memorandum account to track the revenue requirement requested in this application during the period between May 22, 2003, the date that a final decision would be expected under the Rate Case Plan, and the date a final decision is adopted in this proceeding. Aglet Consumer Alliance (Aglet) filed a timely response to SCE's motion. Aglet does not object to the establishment of a memorandum account for the purpose of tracking the requested revenue requirements. However Aglet does object to what it describes as SCE's request for guaranteed rate recovery.
1 D.89-01-040 provides that the final revenue requirement decision is expected 384 days after the application is filed, and that any revenue increase or decrease will become effective by January 1 of the test year. 30 CPUC 2d 576, 598, and 605. As applicable to SCE, D.93-07-030 modified the Rate Case Plan in certain respects but did not change the 384-day expected date for the final revenue requirement decision. 50 CPUC 2d 354. 2 Assigned Commissioner's Ruling Establishing Scope, Schedule, And Procedures For Proceeding, dated August 8, 2002.
