Preliminary Scoping Memo

The rules and procedures implementing many of the reforms contained in Senate Bill (SB) 960 are found in Article 2.5 of Practice and Procedure (Rules), which are posted on the Commission's web site. Pursuant to Rule 4(a), the rules in Article 2.5 shall apply to this proceeding. As per the provisions of SB 960, the present rulemaking is classified as a quasi-legislative proceeding and is expected to require hearings. In the preceding sections, we have listed the issues to be considered in this investigation. This is a preliminary list of issues. The scope of this investigation may be expanded once we take comments from parties and conduct the initial Prehearing Conference (PHC) and formal hearings.

President Loretta M. Lynch shall be the Assigned Commissioner and shall designate an assigned ALJ. The assigned Commissioner and ALJ shall convene a PHC, inform respondents and other interested parties when to file PHC statements, develop a service list for this proceeding, and further delineate issues related to scope and schedule for this proceeding. The date of the PHC will be set by the assigned Commissioner and the ALJ. Any person who objects to the categorization of this investigation must file an appeal 10 days after the date of this OIR, pursuant to Rule 6.4(a).

The temporary service list is attached to this order and shall be used for service until a service list for this proceeding is established at the PHC. Persons who want to become a "party" to this proceeding shall appear at the PHC, or subsequent hearings, and fill out the "Notice of Party/Non-Party Status" form (appearance form).

Those persons who do not want to be parties, and only want notice of the hearings, rulings, proposed decisions, and decisions may either fill out an appearance form at hearing, or they may mail a written request to the Process Office requesting that they be added to the service list for information only.

Those persons employed by the State of California who are interested in this proceeding may request that they be added to the "state service" section of the service list either by appearing at the PHC or at the formal hearing and filling out an appearance form, or by mailing a written request for "state service" status to the Process Office. Parties are obligated to serve all documents they may submit or file in this proceeding on all names appearing on the state service list.

The Process Office shall develop an initial service list based on the appearances at the first PHC. This initial service list shall be posted on the Commission's web site, http://www.cpuc.ca.gov, as soon as is practicable.

Any party interested in participating in this investigation who is unfamiliar with the Commission's procedures should contact the Commission's Public Advisor Office in Los Angeles (213) 576-7055, or in San Francisco (415) 703-2074 for assistance.

Consistent with Rule 6(e), we expect this proceeding to be concluded within 18 months.