I. QUALIFICATIONS OF WITNESS RAFFY STEPANIAN

My name is Raffy Stepanian. I am a Supervising Engineer in the Consumer Services Division of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). My business address is 320 West 4th Street, Los Angeles.

I graduated from the California State University, Los Angeles, in 1989, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical engineering. I received my Professional Engineering license in 1992, from the State of California, Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

From August 1989 through July 1997, I was employed by the CPUC as a Utilities Engineer. In this position, my responsibilities included conducting inspections of electric and gas utility company facilities to determine compliance with CPUC's safety related general orders, investigating electric and gas accidents involving fatalities, injuries and property damage, and responding to utility customer inquiries and complaints related to electric and gas safety.

In July 1997, I was promoted to a Senior Utilities Engineer. During the period of July 1997, through August 2000, I supervised the Southern California unit of the Utilities Safety Branch, which consisted of six Utilities Engineers. In addition to overseeing accident investigations and compliance inspections conducted by my staff, I was involved in safety-related enforcement and rulemaking proceedings.

In August 2000, I was promoted to a Supervising Engineer in the CPUC's Rail Safety and Carriers Division. In September 2000, my position was moved to the Consumer Services Division. I have previously testified before the California Public Utilities Commission.

I supervised the compliance reviews and other investigative activity that reached the conclusions described below.