VIII. Conclusion

We find that the Settlement Agreement between PG&E and the settling IEP QFs meets the requirements of Rule 51.1(e) and we approve the Agreement and the Associated Amendments. The Settlement Agreement is reasonable in light of the substantial record that exists on the long, on-going disputes between the utilities and the QFs, is consistent with federal and state law and Commission decisions, and is in the public interest.

As mentioned earlier in the Decision, this Decision does not foretell what the Commission will decide when it issues subsequent Decisions in the three Rulemakings, on topics including, but not limited to: (1) heat rates; (2) prices; (3) length of contracts; (4) mandatory purchase obligations; or (5) cost-calculation methodologies for short-run and long-run avoided costs, (6) true-up of payments to QF switchers;⁸ and (7) refund payments from QFs for payments made between December 2000 and March 2001. This Decision does not prejudice the Commission's ability to make findings in subsequent Decisions that differ from those in this Decision adopting the Settlement Agreement.

⁸ Those QFs that switched to the California Power Exchange (PX) market clearing price beginning in June 2000.