II. Background

A prehearing conference (PHC) in the above-captioned proceedings was held on January 10, 2001. One of the items discussed at the PHC was CCUE's motion. Parties were given until 9:00 a.m., on January 12, 2001, to file a response to CCUE's motion. SCE was directed to provide information about the time line and process of these layoffs, the number of people, the process that is to be undertaken, the impact of the layoffs on the safety, reliability, and the quality of service, and a copy of their collective bargaining agreements. After PG&E announced their cost-cutting proposal, PG&E was also directed to file a response containing the same type of information SCE was directed to provide. Responses were filed by PG&E, SCE, William P. Adams, and The Utility Reform Network (TURN). CCUE was permitted to file a reply to the utilities' responses on January 12, 2001.

Following the receipt of the responses, President Loretta M. Lynch, issued an assigned Commissioner's ruling (ACR) on January 23, 2001, in which she directed SCE and PG&E to provide additional information about the impact of the proposed layoffs. The ruling expressed concern about how the proposed layoffs would affect the obligation to serve of these two utilities. The ruling also announced that hearings on CCUE's motion would be held on February 2 and 5, 2001. SCE and PG&E filed their response to the ACR on January 25, 2001. CCUE and other interested parties were allowed to file a reply to the utilities' response on January 30, 2001. PG&E supplemented its response on January 26 and 30, 2001.

Hearings were held in San Francisco on February 2 and 5, 2001. Witnesses for PG&E and SCE testified at the hearings. In lieu of oral argument on CCUE's motion, interested parties were permitted to file briefs in support or in opposition to the motion on February 6, 2001. Briefs were filed by CCUE, PG&E, SCE, and TURN.

On the first day of hearing, counsel for SCE represented that SCE was planning to issue layoff notices for part-time or full-time employees on February 5 and 6th, and that the layoffs would be effective two weeks later. (1 R.T. 3.)

The Commission was planning to take action on CCUE's motion at the Commission's meeting of February 8, 2001. Notice of this contemplated action was provided to the public on January 29, 2001 in the Commission's agenda. Action on CCUE's motion was subsequently postponed to the Commission's continuation meeting of March 7, 2001.