Transmission

DRA Position on Transmission Policy

DRA is mandated by state law to represent the ratepayers of investor-owned utilities to obtain the lowest possible rates consistent with reliable and safe service levels.   DRA’s interest in transmission proceedings is to determine if the electrical corporation satisfies the fundamental requirement for all certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) applications, and that it make a “showing that the present or future public convenience and necessity requires or will require such construction.” 

In CPCN proceedings for major transmission lines, DRA traditionally focuses on issues relating to the determination of “need” for a proposed project, including cost-effectiveness, long-term planning, reliability requirements, and compliance with state policy and related Commission directives.

SDG&E Proposed Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project

DRA is an active participant in this proceeding and has assessed the potential value of the Proposed Project and certain alternatives identified by the Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS).

• DRA Direct Testimony on Sunrise Powerlink - Phase 2

  • DRA’s Direct Testimony (Volume 1), submitted March 12, 2008 - corrected on April 30, 2008
  • DRA’s Direct Testimony (Volume 2), submitted on March 12, 2008

• DRA Rebuttal Testimony on Sunrise Powerlink - Phase 2

  • DRA’s Rebuttal Testimony (Volume 1), submitted March 28, 2008 - corrected on April 30, 2008
  • DRA’s Rebuttal Testimony (Volume 2), submitted March 28, 2008
  • DRA’s Rebuttal Testimony (Volume 3), submitted March 28, 2008
  • DRA’s Rebuttal Testimony (Appendix A - Public Version), submitted March 28, 2008

Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI)

RETI is a California statewide initiative designed to identify and quantify the renewable resources that can provide cost-effective energy to meet the state's RPS requirements, and also to identify the transmission investments necessary to ensure delivery of that energy to California consumers.

DRA is a member of the RETI stakeholder steering committee representing the interests of the consumer.  DRA strongly supports RETI as a proactive measure to accelerate the development of transmission infrastructure to renewable resource areas.  DRA's objective in the RETI process is ensure the process stays on-track with regards to the original RETI mission statement and on-track with the RETI schedule.  DRA is most interested in the RETI goal which will identify a ranked list of the cost-effective CREZs (Cost-Effective Energy Zones) to focus future transmission development efforts. 

The RETI Phase 1A Final Report was submitted May 17, 2008 

Additional RETI Information

• RETI Website
• RETI Informational Presentation