5. LIEE Standardization Project Report (Phase 1)

The LIEE Standardization Project Report (Phase 1) presents recommendations for a common set of installation standards to be used in all four utility programs. It also presents recommendations for a common set of selection criteria to be used to select measures for inclusion in utility programs. In addition, the report presents recommendations for achieving consistency in the utilities' policies and procedures relating to specific program measures, i.e., nonfeasibility criteria for the Big Six and other weatherization measures, and other policies and procedures related to specific measures. Finally, the report identifies the major areas of differences in general policies and procedures among the utilities that will be addressed in Phase 2.

In the course of developing the recommendations contained in the report, the project team took the following steps:²⁶

· In early February, 2000, the project consultants met with the utilities to clarify policies and procedures and installation standards, and to request additional materials relating to the programs.

· On February 22, the project consultants met with LIAB's Technical Committee to discuss the objectives of the project and to solicit input.

· On March 3, the project consultants met with staff from the Energy Division and the Division of Ratepayer Advocates to discuss project objectives and to establish administrative procedures.

· On March 24, the project team distributed an initial summary of differences in eligible measures, eligible minor home repairs, and installation standards to a list of interested parties including the members LIAB, its Technical Committee and other parties that had attended the February 22 meeting.

· On March 28, the project consultants attended a joint meeting of LIAB and its Technical Committee to discuss the summaries of differences. On March 29, the Technical Committee (including the utilities) further considered these summaries and developed a set of comments and suggestions that was forwarded to the project team.

· On April 7 and April 10, the project consultants met with the utilities, CSD and Commission staff to develop recommendations relating to both installation standards and a limited set of policies and procedures.

· The project team attended two additional LIAB Technical Committee meetings to solicit public input. These meetings were held on April 18-19 in Downey and April 25-26 in San Francisco.

· The project team presented its draft final report to the LIAB in San Francisco on May 2, 2000.

LIAB supports the recommendations in the report, with two qualifications. First, LIAB requests that the Commission clarify that inclusion or absence of measures in the statewide weatherization installation manual does not restrict the Commission, in the future, from implementing new measures or deleting measures contained that manual. We note that the utilities concur with this request on page 3-7 of the Phase 1 Standardization Project Report. In our discussion of LIAB's Specific Program Recommendation 6, we also state our concurrence.

Second, LIAB requests that the Commission direct utilities to carefully consider comfort, reduction of hardship and safety when deciding measure eligibility. Again, this request appears consistent with the utilities' plans to explicitly consider these factors when considering measure eligibility, as discussed on page 3-6 of the report. We also note that the Working Group will be considering some of the implementation aspects of this issue for our consideration.

In sum, it appears that there is general consensus in support of the recommendations presented in the Phase 1 Standardization Project Report. We have carefully reviewed the Phase 1 recommendations and find them to be reasonable. By creating a standardized weatherization installation standards (WIS) manual and a consistent set of installation procedures, measure eligibility criteria and other procedures, we believe that the recommendations contained in the Phase 1 Standardization Report will improve the implementation of LIEE programs. Within 15 days of the effective date of this decision, the utilities should jointly file the new WIS manual in this proceeding which incorporates the follow-up recommendations submitted on July 5, 2000. The utilities should serve a notice of its availability to all appearances and the state service list in this proceeding. This new manual should be used by the utilities in designing their PY 2001 programs, and will be the standard used for all installations in the utility programs beginning January 1, 2001.

It is evident from the comprehensiveness and clarity of the report that members of the project team conducted a thoughtful and well-organized effort during this phase of the project. We commend their efforts. We also wish to commend our Energy Division coordinator, Donna Wagoner, for her time and commitment to keeping the project on track and responsive to our needs. We look forward to a Phase 2 report of equal caliber and comprehensiveness.