Procedural History

On August 4, 2000, the Commission issued I.00-08-003 launching an investigation into the methodology for allocating the costs of gas transport between core and non-core customers.

On August 17, 2000, SDG&E filed its response (SDG&E Response) to the information requested in the OII. ORA filed its comments (ORA Comments) on SDG&E's response on September 7, 2000. The ORA Comments set forth two options for correcting the methodology for allocating costs between the two customer groups. These options are discussed in detail below.

On September 26, 2000, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Maribeth Bushey conducted a prehearing conference (PHC). At the PHC, SDG&E stated that it had conferred with ORA and had reached an agreement on changes to the cost allocation methodology.

On October 13, 2000, SDG&E and ORA filed a statement of stipulated facts (Stipulation). No party disputed any of the facts contained in this filing. On October 27, 2000, SDG&E and ORA filed separate opening briefs (SDG&E Opening Brief; ORA Opening Brief) supporting the prospective use of the second option contained in ORA's September 7, 2000 comments.

On November 8, 2000, the Latino Issues Forum and the Greenlining Institute (LIF) filed a reply brief (LIF Reply Brief). The LIF Reply Brief stated that it did not disagree with using ORA's second option for changing the methodology for pricing gas, but contended that the revised methodology should be implemented effective with ORA's first protest of SDG&E's use of the discredited methodology - not on a prospective only basis.

On February 6, 2001, I.00-08-003 was reassigned from ALJ Maribeth Bushey to ALJ Timothy J. Sullivan.

SDG&E and ORA filed a stipulation of facts (Stipulation) and no party disputed any of the facts contained in the Stipulation. Thus, there are no disputed issues of material fact, and, consequently, no need for a hearing in this proceeding. Pursuant to Rule 6.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (Rules), the rules and procedures in Article 2.5 of the Rules cease to apply to this proceeding with the exception of the ex parte rule.