2. Procedural History

The December 9, 2003 Assigned Commissioner's Scoping Memo granted SCE's request to process this application in two phases - a forecast phase to consider SCE's requested revenue requirement, load forecasts and financing costs for calendar year 2004, and a reasonableness phase to review SCE's procurement related expenses, contract administration and least-cost dispatch operations for the record period. On April 22, 2004, the Commission issued Decision (D.) 04-04-066, which resolved forecast phase matters.

ORA issued its Report on Reasonableness Review on March 19, 2004. No other party filed testimony or otherwise participated in the reasonableness phase. In response to ORA's report, SCE submitted rebuttal testimony on April 2, 2004. Evidentiary hearings were held on April 13 and 14, 2004. Opening briefs were filed on April 30, 2004. Reply briefs were filed on May 11, 2004, at which time the reasonableness phase was submitted for decision.