III. Procedural History
In accordance with the August ACR, SCE filed its application for approval of the LBG PPA on November 15, 2006, asking for a Commission decision no later than January 2007 so the units can be on-line by summer 2007. In order to meet that schedule, an early prehearing conference (PHC) was scheduled for November 27, 2006, and parties received notice that responses to SCE's application would be made orally, on the record, at the PHC.
SCE submitted testimony in support of the application, as well as a report by the Independent Evaluator (IE). Responsive testimony was submitted by Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Californians for Renewable Energy (CARE). Evidentiary hearings took place on December 11, 2006.
Post-hearing concurrent briefs were received on December 18, 2006 from the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and the California Large Energy Consumers Association (CMTA/CLECA); CARE; SCE; TURN; DRA; and LBG.2 All the active parties to the proceeding stipulated to a shortening of the comment period to no less than 11 days, allowing the proposed decision to mail no later than January 5, 2007, for the January 25, 2007 Commission agenda.
Comments were received from CMTA/CLECA, CARE, DRA, TURN, LBG, SCE and Merced Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District (collectively MID Districts).
Reply Comments were received from CARE, LBG, SCE, and DRA.
Based on a review of the comments numerous changes and corrections were made to the proposed decision at the request of participating parties to ensure that the final decision accurately reflected the record.
2 Concurrently with the brief, LBG LLC filed a Motion to Become a Party.
