Procedural History

By Resolution ALJ 176-3038, dated May 4, 2000, the Commission preliminarily determined this to be a ratesetting proceeding expected to go to hearing. A prehearing conference was held on July 10, 2000 at which only Applicant and RRB appeared. Assigned Commissioner Henry M. Duque's July 24, 2000, scoping ruling confirmed the category and need for hearing, defined the issues, established a schedule, and designated Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Jeffrey P. O'Donnell as the principal hearing officer.

Commissioner Duque and the ALJ conducted public participation hearings on October 3, 2000, in the cities of San Marino and Inglewood.

At the first evidentiary hearing on October 10, 2000, counsel for Applicant and RRB announced that they had reached agreement on all issues and were in the process of drafting a settlement. By agreement of the parties, the application and RRB's pre-served direct testimony were admitted into evidence. On October 16, 2000, the parties filed a motion for approval of a settlement. On October 19, 2000, the ALJ issued a ruling denying the motion because the settlement contained numerous errors and the motion did not comply with the requirements of the Assigned Commissioner's scoping ruling. On October 26, 2000, the parties again filed a motion for approval of a settlement. An evidentiary hearing was held on November 1, 2000, at which the ALJ questioned witnesses about the settlement. On November 14, 2000, the parties filed a motion for adoption of an amended settlement. The amended settlement corrected errors revealed in the evidentiary hearings. On November 27, 2000, the parties filed a motion for approval of a revised amended settlement (settlement). The revisions corrected an error in the November 14, 2000 filing and contained additional language to explain how the authorized rate increases for 2002 and 2003 would be implemented. The matter was submitted on November 28, 2000.