20. Adopted PY2000 CARE and LIEE Budgets

Attachment 4 presents the utilities' PY2000 budget proposals, which are unopposed. These budgets are consistent with current authorized amounts, per the Assigned Commissioner's scoping memo. However, they also include LIAB's proposed PY2000 budget levels for LIAB activities, which are currently being considered by the Commission in R.98-07-037. In the meantime, LIAB has been authorized to expend funds at a monthly prorated amount of the levels authorized for 1999. (See Assigned Commissioner's ruling in R.98-07-037, dated December 13, 1999.) Therefore, in adopting the utility's proposed PY2000 budgets today, we leave the amounts contained in those budgets for LIAB activities as placeholders, subject to the outcome of our determinations in R.98-07-037.

In D.99-03-056, we stated:

"...we will authorize the continuation of programs and funding adopted for 1999 energy efficiency and low-income assistance activities through December 31, 2000, unless and until subsequent program and budget changes are approved by the Commission. We delegate to the assigned Commissioner the task of considering options for future budget and program change proposals, and issuing a ruling setting forth procedures and schedules that accommodate the availability of resources to address these, as well as other, public purpose priorities." (D.99-03-056, mimeo., p. 20.)

Accordingly, the utility's low-income assistance programs and funding adopted today will continue through December 31, 2001, unless and until subsequent program and budget changes are approved.