IV. Financial Hardship

An intervenor seeking compensation must show that, without undue hardship, it cannot pay the reasonable costs of effective participation. In the case of groups or organizations, significant financial hardship is demonstrated by showing that the economic interest of individual members is small compared to the overall costs of participation. (Pub. Util. Code § 1802(g).) Such a finding is normally made in a preliminary ruling by the assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) as to whether the customer will be eligible for compensation (§ 1804(b)).

No preliminary ruling was issued in this proceeding. However, a finding of significant financial hardship creates a rebuttable presumption of eligibility for compensation in other Commission proceedings commencing within one year of the date of that finding (§1804(b)(1)). In D.04-10-033, TURN was found eligible for intervenor compensation, two months prior to this request, and was awarded compensation. We therefore find TURN meets the significant financial hardship condition here.