V. Procedural History

Prehearing conferences (PHCs) were held on February 19, 2003, March 7, 2003, and September 26, 2003.

Public participation hearings were held in August and September 2003, in SoCalGas' service territory in Van Nuys, El Monte, Carson, and San Bernardino, and in SDG&E's service territory in San Diego and San Clemente. The number of these hearings was necessarily curtailed because of budget constraints.

Evidentiary hearings on Phase One distribution service revenue requirements were held beginning October 7, 2003, and a total of 20 days were used for hearings. Settling parties filed opening briefs on January 20, 2004 (discussed further with the partial settlements). On February 4, 2004, non-settling parties filed opening briefs, and all parties filed reply briefs on February 19, 2004.

Testimony was received in evidentiary hearings from numerous witnesses, and over 300 exhibits were received in evidence.¹⁴ All issues are ready for consideration with the exception of the issues involving SoCalGas and SDG&E's requests for incentive ratemaking mechanisms and the methodology for future attrition adjustments. These questions were deferred to Phase Two by the May 22, 2003 Ruling Clarifying the Scoping Memo and Modifying the Schedule.

The April 2, 2003 Assigned Commissioner's Ruling Establishing Scope, Schedule and Procedures for Proceeding (Scoping ACR) designated the assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) as the principal hearing officer as defined in Rule 5(l) of the Rules. It also determined that these proceedings are ratesetting proceeding. Pursuant to Rule 5(k)(2), the principal hearing officer is the presiding officer for this proceeding. Accordingly, the proposed decision of the ALJ was issued pursuant to Rule 8.1(b), which requires issuance of a proposed decision by the presiding officer.

D.03-12-057 granted interim rate relief to SoCalGas and SDG&E¹⁵ by establishing memorandum accounts to track any eventual difference in current rates and any increase or decrease adopted by this decision for Test Year 2004.

¹⁴ Without separately counting errata, SoCalGas and SDG&E sponsored 150 exhibits of direct and rebuttal testimony; ORA, 33 direct and cross-examination exhibits; TURN, 60 direct and cross-examination exhibits and UCAN, 47 direct and cross-examination exhibits.

¹⁵ April 18, 2003, SoCalGas and SDG&E filed a Motion seeking reconsideration of the April 2, 2003 Scoping Memo. The May 22, 2003 Ruling clarified the Scoping memo as appropriate and D.03-12-057 was necessary to grant the interim relief request.