Wood Ruling - Assigned Commissioner's Ruling seeking Comments on the Attached Report entitled "Energy Division Evaluates & Recommends improvements to the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs"

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In the Matter of the Application of Southern California Gas Company (U 904 G) for Approval of Program Year 2003 Low-Income Assistance Programs and Funding.

Application 02-07-001

(Filed July 1, 2002)

Application of San Diego Gas & Electric Company (U 902 E) for Approval of Program Year 2003 Low-Income Assistance Programs and Funding.

Application 02-07-002

(Filed July 1, 2002)

Application Of Pacific Gas And Electric Company (U 39 M) For Approval Of The 2003 California Alternate Rates For Energy and Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs and Budget.

Application 02-07-003

(Filed July 1, 2002)

Southern California Edison Company's (U 338-E) Application Regarding Low-Income Assistance Programs for Program Year 2003.

Application 02-07-004

(Filed July 1, 2002)

Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies and Programs Governing Low-Income Assistance Programs.

Rulemaking 01-08-027

(Filed August 23, 2001)

ASSIGNED COMMISSIONER'S RULING SEEKING COMMENTS

ON THE ATTACHED REPORT ENTITLED "ENERGY DIVISION

EVALUATES & RECOMMENDS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE

LOW-INCOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS"

During the months of September through November 2002, Energy Division staff inspected both Low Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) and Natural Gas Appliance Testing (NGAT) sites of the four major Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs); Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (So Cal Gas). Over the last several years, the Commission adopted many major changes to the LIEE program and ordered the joint utilities to conduct a NGAT Study. For the study, homes were selected throughout the service territories of all the above named utility companies.¹

The purpose of the site visits by the Energy Division was to determine if the weatherization measures installed were in compliance with the new procedures described in the statewide Installation Standards Manual and the statewide Policy and Procedures Manual.² In addition, Energy Division verified that NGAT testers followed the NGAT study data template and recorded the data properly. The purpose of these site visits was not so much as to change the method of operation of these utilities in the application of their respective LIEE programs, but to see if there were some areas where improvements could be made to make the LIEE program more effective. Based on its observations of a limited number of its site visits, the Energy Division developed recommendations for improvements to the LIEE program.

Attached to this ruling is the Energy Division's report, entitled "Energy Division Evaluates & Recommends Improvements To The Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs," dated September 2, 2003. I have considered Energy Division's concerns and request that the utilities should work with the Energy Division and submit comments within 20 days from the date of this ruling. Comments from other parties are also due within 20 days from the date of this ruling. Reply comments are due within 10 days after the end of initial comments date.

All comments required by this ruling shall be filed at the Commission's Docket Office and served electronically on all appearances and the state service list in the above Applications and Proceedings. Service by U.S. mail is optional, except that one hard copy shall be mailed to Judge Meg Gottstein at P.O.Box 210, Volcano, CA 95689. In addition, if there is no electronic mail address available, the electronic mail is returned to the sender, or the recipient informs the sender of an inability to open the document, the sender shall immediately arrange for alternate service (regular U.S. mail shall be the default, unless another means--such as overnight delivery-is mutually agreed upon). The current service list for this proceeding is available on the Commission's web page, www.cpuc.ca.gov.

IT IS SO RULED.

Dated October 2, 2003, at San Francisco, California.

/s/ CARL WOOD

Carl Wood

Assigned Commissioner

¹ D.01-03-028, ACR November 13, 2001, and ACR February 19, 2002.

² WIS Manual June 1, 2001 and P&P Manual December 27, 2001

In the Matter of the Application of Southern California Gas Company (U 904 G) for Approval of Program Year 2003 Low-Income Assistance Programs and Funding.	Application 02-07-001 (Filed July 1, 2002)
Application of San Diego Gas & Electric Company (U 902 E) for Approval of Program Year 2003 Low-Income Assistance Programs and Funding.	Application 02-07-002 (Filed July 1, 2002)
Application Of Pacific Gas And Electric Company (U 39 M) For Approval Of The 2003 California Alternate Rates For Energy and Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs and Budget.	Application 02-07-003 (Filed July 1, 2002)
Southern California Edison Company's (U 338-E) Application Regarding Low-Income Assistance Programs for Program Year 2003.	Application 02-07-004 (Filed July 1, 2002)
Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies and Programs Governing Low-Income Assistance Programs.	Rulemaking 01-08-027 (Filed August 23, 2001)