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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Consumer Protection and Safety Division Fresno, California

Electric Safety and Reliability Branch Date: May 10, 2012

R E S O L U T I O N

RESOLUTION ESRB-1, ORDER GRANTING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY'S REQUEST TO PERMIT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY TO PERMANENTLY ATTACH ADVANCED METERING PROJECT DATA COLLECTION UNITS TO SCE-OWNED STREETLIGHTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ORDER 95, RULE 34

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

Currently, authorized third-party attachments to Southern California Edison Company's (SCE) electric distribution underground fed concrete streetlights are limited in scope to electrical supply and communication systems. SCE has received a request from Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) to permanently attach advanced metering project data collection units (Collection Units) to SCE-owned underground fed concrete streetlights (streetlights). SCE proposes to authorize such third-party use of its streetlights as permanent attachments in accordance with all applicable rules of General Order (GO) 95 and SCE's construction standards. This resolution will allow SCE to offer SoCalGas the ability to maintain such attachments on SCE streetlights for periods in excess of one year.

Under GO 95 Rule 34, an attachment is considered permanent where the duration of the attachment is estimated to be one year or more. Rule 34 requires that all permanent attachments be approved by the Commission and the pole owner(s) involved. In contrast, GO 95 Rule 34 provides that temporary attachments may be authorized by a utility, provided that the installation is restricted to a period of one year or less.

SCE expects that the attachment of SoCalGas' Collection Units will exceed one year. For this reason, SCE requested Commission approval to treat such installations as permanent attachments. Approval of this request will allow SCE to enter into license agreements with SoCalGas authorizing such attachments to SCE's streetlights in accordance with the provisions of GO 69-C. GO 69-C governs easements on utility property. As a condition to any such license, SCE will require that the attachments be installed in accordance with all applicable construction rules in GO 95.

DISCUSSION

The Consumer Protection and Safety Division's Electric Safety and Reliability Branch (ESRB) evaluated this variance request taking into consideration its impact on public and worker safety. Factors influencing the ESRB's evaluation included the Collection Units effect on working space as well as maintenance of the collection units. SCE stated that to minimize the impact on public and worker safety, SCE will affirm the structural integrity of the streetlights supporting the Collection Units. In addition, SCE will require that Collection Units be installed in accordance with any applicable construction rules in GO 95.

The ESRB recommends that SCE's request be approved, contingent on the safety measures proposed by SCE as described previously. In addition, if and when SCE becomes aware of any GO 95 violations of a Collection Unit, SCE shall be required to document the violations and notify SoCalGas to correct the violations immediately.

COMMENTS ON DRAFT RESOLUTION

The Draft Resolution was mailed to the parties of interest on March 21, 2012, in accordance with Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 311(g). No comments were received.

FINDINGS

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission at its regular meeting on May 10, 2012. The following Commissioners approved it:

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