2. Background

The complaint asks that the Commission order a service territory adjustment so that residents of the area can be served by Valley Electric instead of by SCE. Complainant alleges that Valley Electric can provide better and more reliable service to the area because its personnel and service center are closer than those of SCE.

The area in question has been part of SCE's certificated service territory since 1963. (See Decision (D.) 65532 (June 11, 1963) and Advice Letter 285-E, filed on July 19, 1963.) It lies near the California-Nevada border. Power is brought to the state line by Valley Electric and, for much of the area here in question, is distributed and metered by SCE. The two utilities operate under a Contract for Exchange of Electric Service that has been on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) since 1988.