further deliver value to customers. Moreover, SCE contends that such a restriction would be counter to the Commission’s policy for the EPIC program, which encourages leveraging money whenever possible. SCE states that all four Administrators agree that the most appropriate, effective and efficient process to initiate new projects for Commission review and approval is to offer an informal briefing with Commission staff, including Energy Division and ORA, coupled with a Tier 1 advice letter filing (or an equivalent business letter advice filing for the CEC). SCE articulated this regulatory mechanism proposal in its opening comments filed on September 17, 2014: SCE recognizes the need to transparently inform the Commission and stakeholders of modifications to its EPIC portfolio on a timelier basis than the Annual Report filing currently provides. To ensure an appropriate and transparent review of new projects, SCE recommends the Commission require the Program Administrators to offer an informal briefing regarding the project to Energy Division, ORA and other interested Commission staff. Additionally, the Commission should require the Utilities to file a Tier 1 advice letter and the CEC to file a business letter advice filing. SCE contends the Tier 1 advice letter filings will provide a means for the Commission and stakeholders to be timely notified of the Administrators’ intended modifications to its EPIC portfolio. SCE claims this process will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to submit protests, if any, regarding the furtherance of a new project on the grounds that the new project does not meet the Commission’s requirements for EPIC. Furthermore, SCE claims the Tier 1
further deliver value to customers. Moreover, SCE contends that such a restriction would be counter to the Commission’s policy for the EPIC program, which encourages leveraging money whenever possible. SCE states that all four Administrators agree that the most appropriate, effective and efficient process to initiate new projects for Commission review and approval is to offer an informal briefing with Commission staff, including Energy Division and ORA, coupled with a Tier 1 advice letter filing (or an equivalent business letter advice filing for the CEC). SCE articulated this regulatory mechanism proposal in its opening comments filed on September 17, 2014: SCE recognizes the need to transparently inform the Commission and stakeholders of modifications to its EPIC portfolio on a timelier basis than the Annual Report filing currently provides. To ensure an appropriate and transparent review of new projects, SCE recommends the Commission require the Program Administrators to offer an informal briefing regarding the project to Energy Division, ORA and other interested Commission staff. Additionally, the Commission should require the Utilities to file a Tier 1 advice letter and the CEC to file a business letter advice filing. SCE contends the Tier 1 advice letter filings will provide a means for the Commission and stakeholders to be timely notified of the Administrators’ intended modifications to its EPIC portfolio. SCE claims this process will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to submit protests, if any, regarding the furtherance of a new project on the grounds that the new project does not meet the Commission’s requirements for EPIC. Furthermore, SCE claims the Tier 1