Preliminary Scoping Memo

Pursuant to Rule 7.1(d) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, this rulemaking is preliminarily classified as a quasi-legislative proceeding and may require hearings. In the preceding sections, we have listed the issues to be considered in this rulemaking. This is a preliminary list of issues. The scope of this rulemaking may be expanded once we take comments from parties and conduct the initial Prehearing Conference (PHC). Comments are due 60 days after the effective date of this order. They must be filed with the Presiding Officer and copies served on all parties on the initial service list, and on such other parties as may be added at the PHC.

The Presiding Officer will convene a PHC, inform respondents and other interested parties when to file PHC statements, develop a revised 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 Presiding Officer.

The initial service list is attached to this order and shall be used for service until a revised 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 compile the service list based on the appearances at the first PHC, and shall publish it on the Commission's website, http://www.cpuc.ca.gov, as soon as practicable.

Any party interested in participating in this rulemaking who is unfamiliar with the Commission's procedures may contact the Commission's Public Advisor Office in Los Angeles (866) 849-8391, or in San Francisco (866) 849-8390 for assistance.

Consistent with Rule 6.2, we expect this proceeding to be concluded within 18 months.