Opinion
JONES, P. J.
In 2012, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) seeking approval of an agreement by which PG&E would acquire a new gas-fired powerplant in Oakley, California (the Oakley Project). A principal issue in the application proceedings was whether there was a need for the Oakley Project. The need was said to arise in part from California’s efforts to obtain a greater percentage of its energy from renewable sources, thus requiring additional conventional electrical generating capacity to cope with fluctuations in supply due to the intermittent nature of wind and solar power.
As evidence of this claimed need, PG&E presented a declaration from an executive of the California Independent System Operator (the CAISO) and a petition the CAISO had filed with a federal agency. Neither the CAISO executive nor the authors of the petition testified in the Commission’s proceedings. Because of their hearsay nature, the administrative law judge (ALJ) presiding over the application case ruled these materials could not be used as evidence of the need for the Oakley Project. She later issued a proposed decision recommending denial of PG&E’s application.
The Commission did not adopt the ALJ’s decision, and its decision approving PG&E’s application expressly relied on these hearsay materials in finding the Oakley Project is needed. The Utility Reform Network (TURN), Western Power Trading Forum (WPTF), and Independent Energy Producers Association (IEP), which had participated in the application proceedings, sought rehearing before the Commission. Among other arguments, they claimed the Commission had violated their substantial rights by relying on hearsay evidence the ALJ had ruled could not be used as proof of need for the Oakley Project and that the Commission’s decision was unsupported by substantial evidence. After the Commission denied their applications for rehearing, they filed petitions for writs of review under Public Utilities Code section 1756, subdivision (a).
In the published portion of our opinion, we conclude the Commission’s finding of need is unsupported by substantial evidence, because it relies on uncorroborated hearsay materials the truth of which is disputed and which do not come within any exception to the hearsay rule. Under established California law, such uncorroborated hearsay evidence does not constitute substantial evidence to support an administrative agency’s finding of fact. Because the remaining evidence in the record fails to support the Commission’s finding of need, the decisions must be annulled.
Factual and Procedural Background
The Oakley Project approval process has been the subject of at least three Commission proceedings extending over several years. We will explain those proceedings in summary fashion and limit our factual statement to matters relevant to the issues presented in the petitions before us.
The Initial Application for the Oakley Project
Under the Commission’s biennial procurement review process, investor-owned electric utilities such as PG&E must submit long-term procurement plans (LTPPs) that serve as the basis for utility procurement activities. (See § 454.5, subd. (a);
Order Instituting Rulemaking to Establish Policies and Cost Recovery Mechanisms for Generation Procurement and Renewable Resource Development
(Jan. 22, 2004) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 04-01-050 [2004 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 28, pp. *11—*12].) In a 2007 decision, the Commission approved PG&E’s 2006 LTPP, and among other things, directed PG&E to issue a request for offers (RFO) “to obtain contracts for 800 to 1,200 MW [(megawatts)] of new operationally flexible and dispatchable capacity by 2015.”
PG&E issued the RFO in 2008. It later submitted an application to the Commission for approval of a proposed purchase and sale agreement (PSA) for the Oakley plant. In 2010, the Commission issued a decision denying approval for the Oakley Project.
(Decision on Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s 2008 Long-term Request for Offer Results and Adopting Cost Recovery and Ratemaking Mechanisms
(July 29, 2010) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 10-07-045 [2010 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 289, p. *1] (hereafter Decision 10-07-045).) In that decision, the Commission chose to “deny the Oakley Project at this time” and made a factual finding that the project was not needed.
{Id.,
2010 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 289 at pp. *60, *79.) Nevertheless, the Commission believed the Oakley Project had “numerous beneficial attributes,” so it allowed PG&E to resubmit the application subject to various conditions.
{Id.
at p. *60.) Among other conditions, the Commission stated PG&E could resubmit the application “[i]f the final results from the CAISO Renewable Integration Study demonstrate[] that, even with the projects approved by the Commission, there are significant negative reliability risks from integrating a 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard.”
{Id.
at p. *61.)
The Commission’s Approval of the Oakley Project Is Annulled
PG&E modified the Oakley PSA to address D. 10-07-045, and then submitted a petition for modification of that decision. Acting sua sponte, the
Commission treated the petition for modification as an application for approval of the project.
(Decision Authorizing Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Enter Into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Contra Costa Generating Station LLC
(Dec. 16, 2010) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 10-12-050 [2010 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 457, p. *2] (hereafter Decision 10-12-050).) A number of parties, including TURN and WPTF, filed comments opposing PG&E’s petition for modification, arguing that a new application, not a petition for modification, was the correct procedural vehicle for bringing the Oakley Project back for Commission consideration.
(Id.,
2010 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 457 at p. *7.) Although the Commission agreed with this procedural objection, it went on to consider PG&E’s filing as an application.
(Id.
at pp. *11-* 12.) It concluded that the benefits of the amended Oakley Project justified approval of the amended PSA.
(Id.
at pp. *19-*20, *23.) After the Commission denied various parties’ applications for rehearing, TURN sought writ review of Decision 10-12-050 and the Commission’s decision denying rehearing,
Order Modifying Decision 10-12-050, and Denying Rehearing of Decision as Modified
(May 26, 2011) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 11-05-049 [2011 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 303] (hereafter Decision 11-05-049).
In
The Utility Reform Network v. Public Utilities Commission
(Mar. 16, 2012, A132439) (nonpub. opn.)
(TURN I),
we annulled Decision 10-12-050 and Decision 11-05-049.
We held the Commission could not treat PG&E’s petition for modification as a new application because the Commission had failed to follow its own rules of practice and procedure.
(TURN I, supra,
A132439.) We concluded the Commission’s failure to proceed in the manner required by law had prejudiced the parties to the proceeding, and we therefore set aside the Commission’s decisions.
(Ibid.)
Proceedings on PG&E’s Renewed Application
Shortly after issuance of our decision in
TURN I,
PG&E filed with the Commission a new application for approval of the amended Oakley PSA. On May 21, 2012, PG&E submitted prepared testimony in support of its application. The testimony addressed the need for and benefits of the Oakley Project, and it referred to a petition the CAISO had filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking a waiver to prevent the retirement of the Sutter Energy Center (the Sutter Waiver Petition). PG&E asserted that the CAISO had supported the Sutter Waiver Petition with testimony describing CAISO studies that had “identified a need for new flexible generation capacity resources in 2017-2018 in order to integrate intermittent renewable
resources.”
PG&E relied in particular upon the declaration of CAISO executive director of market analysis and development, Mark Rothleder (the Rothleder Declaration). In his declaration, Rothleder stated that using certain assumptions, the CAISO’s analysis had concluded “there will be a shortage or gap of 3,570 MW for meeting system-wide capacity needs in California by the end of 2017. This shortage would pose significant challenges to the reliable operation of the [CAISO] grid.” According to Rothleder, CAISO was concerned about the problem caused by integration of renewable energy resources, “especially given the retirement of thousands of MWs of once-through cooling (OTC) units.”
On May 25, 2012, the commissioner assigned to PG&E’s application, Michael R. Peevey, issued his “Scoping Memo and Ruling” for the proceedings (the Scoping Memo). (See § 1701.1, subd. (b).) Among the issues identified in the Scoping Memo was the need for the Oakley Project. The Scoping Memo asked: “Is the Oakley PSA barred or authorized pursuant to D. 07-12-052, which requires all UOG [utility-owned generation] to be selected through a competitive process unless it is needed to meet a specific, unique reliability issue?
This issue includes consideration of whether the Oakley project will meet a specific, unique reliability issue.'1'’
(Italics added & fn. omitted.) A separate issue laid out in the Scoping Memo was whether the CAISO had “issued its final report on its renewable resource integration study demonstrating significant negative reliability risks from integrating a 33% [RPS.]” (Fn. omitted.) The Scoping Memo stated that the first issue—the need for the Oakley Project—was one of fact and was contested by the parties. Commissioner Peevey therefore determined evidence was required and scheduled evidentiary hearings.
In addition to its prepared testimony, PG&E asked the Commission to take official notice of decisions of the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (the District) regarding each agency’s review of elements of the Oakley Project. After submission of PG&E’s prepared testimony, the parties conducted discovery and responded with their own prepared testimony. PG&E, in turn, submitted rebuttal testimony that included a copy of the entire Sutter Waiver Petition.
On August 14, 2012, the Commission’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) filed a motion to strike portions of PG&E’s prepared and rebuttal testimony on the grounds that the identified portions consisted of “hearsay or
double hearsay statements by representatives of the . . . CAISO, which have been submitted to prove the truth of the matter asserted therein: namely, that new system resources are needed to support system-wide operational flexibility needs beginning in 2017-2018.” The documents subject to DRA’s motion to strike included both the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition.
Evidentiary Rulings
On the first day of the evidentiary hearings, the presiding ALJ granted PG&E’s motion for official notice of the documents from the CEC and the District, but only “for the limited purpose of supporting the testimony that’s already been given.” With respect to the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition, the ALJ granted DRA’s motion to strike in part, stating, “Regarding all the other attachments which refer to the . . . CAISO . . . , at issue in this case is whether the [CAISO] has issued a final determination, a final report, a final result, . . . and PG&E may offer evidence toward this issue. [][] And these documents ... on the issue of whether these very documents alone or in total satisfy the requirement, that requirement of [Decision] 10-07-045, this evidence goes to that and is not—for that purpose it’s appropriate. [][] I will not allow . . . this evidence ... to be used for the purpose of proving on this record the truth of the matter asserted; that is, for proving that there is a system reliability need or . . . for the purpose of proving that what [the CAISO] says is true, or that the Commission should find on the basis of what the [CAISO] says that. . . what the [CAISO] says is true. M] The [CAISO’s] statements are not binding on the Commission, and in that way they are not judicially noticeable authority. And they are subject to dispute. They are being challenged before the [Commission], [f] And so again, I will not strike the attachments, but I will strike the testimony that does cite to those attachments for purposes of the truth.”
During the course of the evidentiary hearings, the ALJ explained she would allow consideration of the CAISO materials for the purpose of showing whether the CAISO had reached a final determination on the issue of significant negative reliability risks, but not for the purpose of showing that the Oakley Project would meet a specific, unique reliability issue, i.e., whether there was a need for the Oakley Project. At one point, when DRA’s counsel told the ALJ that her proposed cross-examination was seeking information about PG&E’s claim that there was a residual need for flexible energy resources that could only be met by the Oakley Project, the ALJ stated, “I don’t want this. I don’t want hearsay evidence used for that
issue, . . . because we can’t litigate that because we don’t have the [CAISO] here. [][] [T]hat’s why I struck a lot of testimony from PG&E because it was using the third party statements for the truth of the matter asserted, [f] We cannot use the third party documentation for that. The third party documentation is for whether there’s a final [CAISO] report.”
The Proposed Decisions
After briefing from the parties, the ALJ filed a proposed decision recommending denial of PG&E’s application. She found there was insufficient evidence of a specific, unique reliability need for the Oakley Project. The ALJ rejected PG&E’s reliance on various CAISO statements, including the Sutter Waiver Petition. She concluded PG&E’s use of the evidence violated her rulings and noted that because the CAISO was not a party to the proceedings, “there ha[d] been no opportunity to probe its out-of-record statements in the context of the specific issues presented here.”
The ALJ’s proposed decision also relied on the fact that both the CAISO and PG&E were parties to a settlement in a separate Commission proceeding in which they had stipulated that “ ‘[t]he resource planning analyses presented ... do not conclusively demonstrate whether or not there is need to add capacity for renewable integration purposes through the year 2020, the period to be addressed during the current LTPP cycle ....’” In its decision approving the settlement in- that proceeding, the Commission explained the parties had agreed to defer determination of the utilities’ future need for additional generation.
(Decision on System Track I and Rules Track III of the Long-term Procurement Plan Proceeding and Approving Settlement
(Apr. 19, 2012) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 12-04-046 [2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 192, p. *8]
(Decision Approving Settlement).)
The Commission quoted the parties’ settlement agreement, which expressed the settling parties’ “ ‘general agreement that further analysis is needed before any renewable integration resource need determination is made.’ ” (2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 192 at p. *8.) In determining the reasonableness of the settlement, the Commission looked at the whole record and found “clear evidence . . . that additional generation is not needed by 2020, so there is record support for deferral of procurement.”
{Id.
at p. *11.)
Assigned Commissioner Peevey issued a proposed alternate decision recommending approval of the Oakley PSA. The proposed alternate decision relied on the Sutter Waiver Petition and statements from CAISO’s chief executive officer as evidence that “retirement of OTC plants and integration of the 33% RPS by 2020 creates the potential for a significant reliability risk.”
The Commission’s Decision
In
Alternate Decision of President Peevey Approving Application for Amended Purchase and Sale Agreement
(Dec. 20, 2012) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 12-12-035 [2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 594]
(Oakley
Decision), the full Commission adopted the proposed alternate decision and approved the amended Oakley PSA. The Commission referred to the ALJ’s ruling allowing the CAISO materials into the record only for limited purposes but noted that hearsay evidence is admissible in Commission proceedings.
(Oakley Decision,
2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis at pp. *32-*33.) It therefore chose to accord the CAISO studies and statements PG&E had introduced “less weight than we would for a CAISO study that was subject to cross examination in a Commission proceeding.”
{Id.
at p. *33.) The Commission did not accept as true the CAISO’s conclusion that there would be a shortfall of 3,750 megawatts by 2018, but following the alternate decision, it concluded the CAISO’s findings were persuasive evidence demonstrating significant negative reliability risks from integrating a 33% RPS.
{Id.
at pp. *33, *61.)
The Rehearing Decision
IEP sought rehearing of the
Oakley Decision,
as did TURN and WPTE In their applications, the parties contended the Commission had improperly relied on hearsay evidence for its finding of significant reliability risk. The applicants also argued the Commission had failed to preserve the substantial rights of the parties and had not proceeded in the manner required by law when it relied on hearsay evidence despite the ALJ’s ruling precluding use of the CAISO materials as evidence of need. (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 20, § 13.6(a) (Rule 13.6(a)) [“Although technical rules of evidence ordinarily need not be applied in hearings before the Commission, substantial rights of the parties shall be preserved.”].) Furthermore, the applicants claimed the Commission’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence.
In
Order Modifying Decision 12-12-035, and Denying Rehearing of Decision as Modified
(Apr. 18, 2013) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 13-04-032 [2013
Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134]
(Rehearing Decision),
the Commission addressed the parties’ applications. It explained that in the
Oakley Decision,
it had intended to overrule the ALJ’s evidentiary ruling and could thus rely on the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition to demonstrate the need for the Oakley Project.
(Rehearing Decision,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134 at p. *9.) Because it had not expressly overruled the ALJ, however, the Commission acknowledged it had “generated some confusion.”
(Ibid.)
The Commission explained it had “reviewed the ALJ’s ruling, and decided not to follow it.”
(Id.
at p. *10.) It therefore modified its earlier decision to make it expressly clear it was overruling the ALJ’s ruling regarding the use of the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition.
(Id.
at p. *40.) It further ruled that the substantial rights of the parties had been preserved, because the parties had been given the opportunity to challenge the substance of the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition through their own testimony and through data requests to PG&E.
(Id.
at p. *13.)
The Commission also reasoned that its rules of practice and procedure permitted it to rely on hearsay evidence for the truth of the matter asserted.
(Rehearing Decision, supra,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134 at p. *10.) Under Rule 13.6(a), “ ‘the Commission allows admissions of hearsay although it is given less weight than other evidence. In general, hearsay in administrative proceedings is admissible if a responsible person would rely upon it in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of its possible inadmissibility in civil actions.’ ”
(Rehearing Decision,
at p. *11.) Moreover, the Commission asserted, hearsay evidence is accepted in Commission proceedings when supported by other evidence, and administrative agencies are permitted to rely upon it.
(Id.
at pp. *11-* 12.) Since the Rothleder Declaration and Sutter Waiver Petition had been submitted to FERC under penalty of perjury, the Commission found the Sutter Waiver Petition was “an analysis upon which [it] could reasonably rely in conducting [its] affairs.”
(Ibid.)
In addition to the Sutter Waiver Petition, the Commission cited statements from reports issued by the CEC and the District on the Oakley Project as the basis for its finding of a “significant negative reliability risk from integrating a 33% [RPS] by 2020.”
(Id.
at p. *25.)
After considering and rejecting all of the parties’ other arguments, the Commission denied the applications for rehearing.
(Rehearing Decision, supra,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 1342 at pp. *40-*41.)
The Petitions for Review
On May 20, 2013, TURN filed a petition for writ of review of the Commission’s decisions in this court. (§ 1756, subd. (a).) That same day, IEP and WPTF filed a combined petition for writ of review in the Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District. On June 18, 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the latter proceeding transferred to this court. We consolidated the petitions on our own motion.
Discussion
Petitioners raise a number of challenges to the Commission’s decisions. They devote the greater part of their briefing to their claim that the Commission failed to preserve the substantial rights of the parties because it relied on the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition to support the finding of need for the Oakley Project despite the ALJ’s ruling that this evidence could not be used for that purpose. (See Rule 13.6(a).) They argue this prejudiced them because they were unable to challenge the claims made in these materials through cross-examination. In addition, they assert that if they had known the Commission would rely on these materials for the purpose of demonstrating the need for the Oakley Project, they would have presented their own evidence on that issue during the hearings.
As we explain, we conclude we need not resolve petitioners’ procedural challenges. Even if we assume the Commission’s procedures sufficiently preserved the substantial rights of the parties, we do not find substantial evidence to support its finding that the Oakley Project is needed to meet a specific, unique reliability risk. Before addressing the issue of substantial evidence, we explain why writ review is appropriate and outline the scope of our review of the Commission’s decisions.
I.
Propriety of Writ Review
Any party aggrieved by an order or decision of the Commission may petition for a writ of review from the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. (§ 1756, subd. (a).) “Where, as here, ‘writ review is the exclusive means of appellate review of a final order or judgment, an appellate court may not deny an apparently meritorious writ petition, timely presented in a formally and procedurally sufficient manner, merely because, for example, the petition presents no important issue of law or because the court considers the case
less worthy of its attention than other matters.’ [Citation.] We are not, however, ‘compelled to issue the writ if the [Commission] did not err ... .’
(Pacific Bell v. Public Utilities Com.
(2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 269, 282 [93 Cal.Rptr.2d 910], fn. omitted.)”
(PG&E Corp. v. Public Utilities Com.
(2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1174, 1193 [13 Cal.Rptr.3d 630].) We need not issue the writ “if the petitioning party fails to present a convincing argument for annulment of the [Commission’s] decision.”
(Pacific Bell v. Public Utilities Com., supra,
79 Cal.App.4th at p. 272.)
In accordance with this standard, after considering the briefing and exhibits submitted by the parties, we concluded the petitions appeared meritorious. We therefore granted the writ petitions and gave notice of our intent to decide the matter on the record provided, unless a party promptly filed an objection or a request for oral argument. Having received no such objection or request, we deem the matter submitted.
II.
Standard of Review
Section 1757 delimits the scope of our review of Commission decisions. (§ 1757, subd. (a).) In this case, the petitioners’ challenges require us to determine whether (1) the Commission has proceeded in the manner required by law and (2) the findings in its decision are supported by substantial evidence in light of the whole record. (§ 1757, subd. (a)(2), (4).)
In assessing whether the Commission proceeded in the manner required by law (§ 1757, subd. (a)(2)), “we are mindful that ‘[t]here is a strong presumption of validity of the [Commission’s decisions . . . .’ [Citation.]”
(Utility Consumers’ Action Network v. Public Utilities Com.
(2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 688, 697 [114 Cal.Rptr.3d 475].) The Commission’s interpretation of its own rules and regulations “is entitled to consideration and respect by the courts.”
(Southern Cal. Edison Co. v. Public Utilities Com.
(2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 1086, 1096 [102 Cal.Rptr.2d 684].) We will not interfere with the Commission’s choice of procedures “absent a manifest abuse of discretion or an unreasonable interpretation of the statutes governing its procedures.”
(Pacific Bell v. Public Utilities Com., supra,
79 Cal.App.4th at p. 283.) In addition, if we conclude the Commission has failed to proceed in the manner required by law, we will annul its decision only if that failure was prejudicial. (See
Southern California Edison Co. v. Public Utilities Com.
(2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 1085, 1106 [45 Cal.Rptr.3d 485].)
Under section 1757, subdivision (a)(4), we apply “familiar principles to review for substantial evidence.”
(SFPP, L.P.
v.
Public Utilities Commission
(2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 784, 794 [159 Cal.Rptr.3d 10].) We must consider all relevant evidence in the record, but it is for the Commission to weigh the preponderance of conflicting evidence.
(Ibid.)
“The ‘in light of the whole record’ language means that the court reviewing the agency’s decision cannot just isolate the evidence supporting the findings and call it a day, thereby disregarding other relevant evidence in the record. [Citation.] Rather, the court must consider all relevant evidence, including evidence detracting from the decision, a task which involves some weighing to fairly estimate the worth of the evidence.”
(Lucas Valley Homeowners Assn. v. County of Marin
(1991) 233 Cal.App.3d 130, 141-142 [284 Cal.Rptr. 427]
(Lucas Valley).)
We may reverse the Commission’s decision only if, based on the evidence before the Commission, no reasonable person could reach the conclusion it did.
(SFPP, L.P. v. Public Utilities Commission,
supra, 217 Cal.App.4th at p. 794.)
III.
Hearsay Evidence Is Admissible in Commission Proceedings but Cannot Be the Sole Support for a Finding of Disputed Fact.
The parties agree that the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition are hearsay evidence.
(Evid. Code, § 1200, subd. (a) [defining hearsay evidence];
Re Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
(1986) 23 Cal.P.U.C.2d 352, 354 [“Documentary evidence that is introduced for the purpose of proving the matter stated in the writing is hearsay
per se
because the document is not a statement by a person testifying at the hearing.”].) The parties also agree that, as a general matter, hearsay evidence is admissible in Commission proceedings. In addition, although they disagree about the significance of petitioners’ lack of opportunity to cross-examine Rothleder or other CAISO officials, there is no dispute that the statements contained in the CAISO materials were not tested by cross-examination in this proceeding.
Consequently, the issue before us is a narrow one. May the Commission base a finding of fact solely upon hearsay evidence where the truth of the extrarecord statements is disputed? The answer is no.
A.
Standards Governing the Admission and Weight of Hearsay Evidence in Commission Proceedings
The Commission’s proceedings are governed by its rules of practice and procedure, “and in the conduct thereof the technical rules of evidence need not be applied.” (§ 1701, subd. (a); see Rule 13.6(a).) The Commission’s own
precedent establishes that hearsay evidence is admissible in its proceedings. (See, e.g.,
Investigation on the Commission’s Own Motion Into the Fitness of the Officers, Directors, Owners and Affiliates of Clear World Communications Corporation
(June 16, 2005) Cal.P.U.C. Dec. No. 05-06-033 [2005 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 221, p. *81]
(Clear World Communications)', Re Landmark Communications, Inc.
(1999) 84 Cal.P.U.C.2d 698, 701
(Landmark
Communications).) Administrative agencies like the Commission are given more latitude to consider hearsay testimony than are courts
(Landmark Communications,
at p. 701.), in part because “factfinders in administrative proceedings are more sophisticated than a lay jury”
(Re Pacific Gas and Electric Co., supra,
23 Cal.PU.C.2d at p. 354).
“The Commission generally allows hearsay evidence if a responsible person would rely upon it in the conduct of serious affairs.”
(Landmark Communications, supra,
84 Cal.P.U.C.2d at p. 701.) The Commission may rely to some extent even on unverified prepared testimony, at least when it is submitted in anticipation of sworn oral testimony, and when due consideration is given to the fact that the sponsor of the testimony has not been subjected to cross-examination.
(Re American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
(1994) 54 Cal.P.U.C.2d 43, 49.) Hearsay evidence is given less weight, however, and if evidence is objectionable on hearsay grounds, “the Commission weighs it accordingly when all of the evidence in the case is reviewed.”
(Landmark Communications, supra,
84 Cal.P.U.C.2d at p. 701.)
B.
Uncorroborated Hearsay Evidence Is Insufficient to Support a Finding of Fact.
“The admissibility and substantiality of hearsay evidence are different issues.”
(Gregory v. State Bd. of Control
(1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 584, 597 [86 Cal.Rptr.2d 575].) As the California Supreme Court has explained, “mere admissibility of evidence does not necessarily confer the status of ‘sufficiency’ to support a finding
absent other competent evidence.” (Daniels v. Department of Motor Vehicles
(1983) 33 Cal.3d 532, 538, fn. 3 [189 Cal.Rptr. 512, 658 P.2d 1313], italics added
{Daniels).)
“There must be substantial evidence to support ... a board’s ruling, and hearsay, unless specially permitted by statute, is not competent evidence to that end.”
(Walker v. City of San Gabriel
(1942) 20 Cal.2d 879, 881 [129 P.2d 349]
{Walker),
overruled on another ground in
Strumsky
v.
San Diego County Employees Retirement Assn.
(1974) 11 Cal.3d 28, 37, 44 [112 Cal.Rptr. 805, 520 P.2d 29].)
California decisions adhere to the so-called “residuum rule,” under which the substantial evidence supporting an agency’s decision must consist
of at least “a residuum of legally admissible evidence.”
(1 Witkin, Cal. Evidence,
supra,
§ 60, p. 72.) A version of the rule has been codified in this state’s Administrative Procedure Act (Gov. Code, § 11340 et seq.), which provides: “Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining other evidence but over timely objection
shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding
unless it would be admissible over objection in civil actions.” (Gov. Code, § 11513, subd. (d), italics added.)
This provision of the Administrative Procedure Act (Gov. Code, § 11340 et seq.) does not apply to hearings before the Commission, and the agency has never expressly adopted the rules embodied in that statute. (§ 1701, subd. (b);
Re Pacific Gas and Electric Co., supra,
23 Cal.P.U.C.2d at p. 354.) The Commission’s decisions nevertheless follow the general rule stated in Government Code section 11513, subdivision (d) and articulated by the California Supreme Court in cases such as
Walker, supra,
20 Cal.2d 879. For example, in
Clear World Communications, supra,
2005 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 221 at page *81, the Commission noted that “[w]hile hearsay is admissible in our administrative hearings, it cannot be the basis for an evidentiary finding without corroboration where the truth of the out-of-court statements is at issue. (Gov. Code § 11513(d).)” Consequently, hearsay is admissible in Commission proceedings, but it “may not be solely relied upon to support a finding.”
(Re Communication TeleSystems Intemat.
(1996) 66 Cal.P.U.C.2d 286, 292, fn. 8.) Thus, like the California courts, the Commission has followed the residuum rule.
The residuum rule, and the California cases applying it, have been the subject of forceful criticism. (Collins,
Hearsay and the Administrative Process: A Review and Reconsideration of the State of the Law of Certain Evidentiary Procedures Applicable in California Administrative Proceedings
(1976) 8 Sw.U. L.Rev. 579, 591-598, 607-615.) The rule was abandoned in the federal courts after the United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Richardson
v.
Perales
(1971) 402 U.S. 389 [28 L.Ed.2d 842, 91 S.Ct. 1420]. (See, e.g.,
Johnson v. U.S.
(D.C. Cir. 1980) 202 U.S.App. D.C. 187 [628 F.2d 187, 190] [“We have rejected a per se approach that brands evidence as
insubstantial solely because it bears the hearsay label.”].) Thus, in a case upon which the Commission relies, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected as unsupported the claim “that uncorroborated and untested testimony and hearsay testimony cannot constitute substantial evidence.”
(EchoStar Communications Corp. v. FC.C.
(D.C. Cir. 2002) 292 F.3d 749, 753
(EchoStar).)
As the foregoing discussion of California law makes clear, however, the Commission’s reliance on
EchoStar
is necessarily misplaced. Unlike federal law, under California statutory and decisional law, as well as the Commission’s own decisions, uncorroborated hearsay cannot constitute substantial evidence to support an agency’s decision absent specific statutory authorization.
(Daniels, supra,
33 Cal.3d at pp. 536-537; accord,
In re Lucero L.
(2000) 22 Cal.4th 1227, 1244 [96 Cal.Rptr.2d 56, 998 P.2d 1019] [citing
Walker
with approval].) This means that even if it was proper for the Commission to consider and rely upon the Rothleder Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition over the petitioners’ procedural objections, its finding that the Oakley Project is needed cannot rest on those materials alone. Having clarified that this hearsay evidence may not serve as the sole factual basis for the Commission’s finding, we now consider whether there is other competent, substantial evidence to support the Commission’s decision.
IV.
The Commission’s Finding of Need Is Unsupported by Substantial Evidence.
Petitioners contend the Commission’s finding of need for the Oakley Project is unsupported by substantial evidence. They concede hearsay evidence is admissible before the Commission, but they argue that the Rothleder
Declaration and the Sutter Waiver Petition lack the “ ‘satisfactory indicia of reliability’ ” that make reliance on hearsay evidence appropriate.
(Rehearing Decision, supra,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134 atp. *12, quoting
EchoStar, supra,
292 F.3d at p. 753.) In addition, they assert there is no corroborating evidence to support the Commission’s finding that “the integration of the 33% RPS and phase-out of [OTC] plants creates the potential for a significant reliability risk before 2020.”
In response, both the Commission and PG&E set forth lists of evidence they contend supports the Commission’s finding of need. In accordance with our standard of review, we will examine the cited evidence in light of all relevant evidence in the record.
(Lucas Valley, supra,
233 Cal.App.3d at p. 142.)
A.
The Evidence Cited by the Commission
We begin with the evidence upon which the Commission expressly relied.
To support the finding of need, the
Oakley Decision
cited only the Sutter Waiver Petition and a statement by the CAISO’s chief executive officer, Steve Berberich.
(Oakley Decision, supra,
2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 594 at pp. *31-*34.) Acknowledging their hearsay nature, the Commission gave these materials “reduced weight,” but it adjudged them to be “persuasive evidence” of the existence of a significant reliability risk.
(Ibid.;
see
SEPE, L.P. v. Public Utilities Commission, supra,
217 Cal.App.4th at p. 794 [Commission may weigh value of conflicting evidence].)
Petitioners argue these hearsay materials are particularly unreliable based on a number of factors. Since the Commission has already recognized the materials are hearsay and has accorded them reduced weight, we need not determine whether they should be given
even less
weight because of the factors petitioners raise.
As explained in part III.B.,
ante,
unless the CAISO materials are corroborated by other competent evidence, they do not constitute substantial evidence to support the Commission’s decision. Thus, whatever evidentiary weight is due the CAISO materials, they cannot alone support the Commission’s finding of need for the Oakley Project.
(Daniels, supra,
33 Cal.3d at p. 538, fn. 3;
Clear World Communications, supra,
2005 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 221 at p. *81.)
As further support for the Commission’s finding of need, the
Rehearing Decision
cited a passage from the District’s final determination of compliance for the Oakley Project.
(Rehearing Decision, supra,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134 at p. *25.) The District stated: “The proposed facility will . . . provide energy-efficient electric generation capacity using new conventional generation technology, with operational flexibility to efficiently address grid fluctuations due to the intermittent nature of renewable generation such as wind and solar.” This statement, however, says only that the Oakley facility would provide generation capacity to address
general
grid fluctuations due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. It does not address the actual question posed in the Scoping Memo, which was “whether the Oakley project will meet a
specific, unique
reliability issue.” (Italics added.) Moreover, the District’s passing statement was made in the context of its analysis of “how the facility will comply with applicable air quality regulatory requirements.” The District was
not
analyzing the issue of need for the Oakley Project,
and its statement therefore does not support the Commission’s finding on that issue. (See
City of Los Angeles
v.
Public Utilities Commission
(1972) 7 Cal.3d 331, 349 & fn. 11 [102 Cal.Rptr. 313, 497 P.2d 785]
(City of Los Angeles)
[evidence did not support increase in cost of service where it addressed only cost of establishing new service in one city but not costs in cities where service was already established].)
The
Rehearing Decision
also quoted from the CEC’s final permit decision on the Oakley Project.
(Rehearing Decision, supra,
2013 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 134 at pp. *24-*25.) After acknowledging the intermittent nature of wind and solar power, the CEC noted, “in order to rely on such intermittent sources . . . , utilities must have available other, nonrenewable generating resources . . . that can fill the gap when renewable generation decreases. ... [1] [The Oakley Project] is likely to serve as an important firming source for intermittent renewable resources in support of California’s RPS and [greenhouse gas] goals.” The CEC explained, however, that its “siting process is not intended to determine market need for power plants. That determination is made by the [Commission], which, in December 2010 approved the [PSA] between the Applicant and PG&E for the [Oakley] Project.” The CEC thus disclaimed any intention to determine whether the Oakley Project was needed, referring instead to the Commission’s approval of the Oakley PSA in Decision 10-12-050, the decision we annulled in
TURN I.
In light of these limitations, the CEC’s statement does not constitute substantial evidence to support the Commission’s determination of need. (Cf.
City of Los Angeles, supra,
7 Cal.3d at p. 340 [where sole support for
Commission decision was earlier decision annulled by Supreme Court, decision under review could not be sustained].)
B.
Other Evidence
In its answer, the Commission points to the testimony of a PG&E witness as support for the claim that “the Oakley Project can provide a significant contribution to the integration of the 33% RPS.” First, although the Commission has provided us with some excerpts of the reporter’s transcript, the cited testimony does not appear to be among them. Second, testimony about whether the Oakley Project can contribute to meeting a possible need does not support the claim that the need itself exists. The remaining evidence cited in the Commission’s answer addresses issues other than the Scoping Memo’s question about whether the Oakley Project is needed to address a specific, unique reliability issue. We find no support for the finding of need in this evidence.
PG&E’s answer lists other items of evidence to support the Commission’s finding of need, evidence not cited in the Commission’s own answer. Much of the evidence simply refers to or relies on the CAISO’s assessment of need. For example, the rebuttal testimony submitted by the Coalition of California Utility Employees and California Unions for Reliable Energy states, “The period during which there are
fears
that reliability needs
may occur
that a 2020 power plant cannot meet,
according to the
[CAISO], is every year from 2013 through 2019 . . . .” (Italics added.) The testimony makes no definitive statement that there will be reliability needs, but makes projections about “post-2016 Sutter costs”
“if
there are reliability needs in 2020 or before.” (Italics added.)
PG&E also cites its own testimony concerning the possible effect of the retirement of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
and nonrenewal of the licenses for its Diablo Canyon nuclear powerplant. But this testimony is based in significant part on the
possibility
that licenses for the latter plant will not be renewed in 2024 and 2025. PG&E claimed only that
if
its Diablo Canyon plant is not relicensed, there will be a greater need for new generation sources in Northern California.
PG&E also directs us to various attachments to DRA’s testimony. Some of these are simply slides from a CAISO presentation showing how electrical generating capacity varies over the course of a day. They are thus both hearsay and unresponsive to the question of need. Another is a data response from PG&E concerning the Oakley Project’s effect on the retirement of OTC facilities. It also fails to address the issue of need for the Oakley Project. Yet another is testimony PG&E and other utilities provided in the Commission’s 2010 LTPP proceeding, but as explained earlier, in that proceeding PG&E joined a settlement in which it agreed that further analysis would be needed “ ‘before any renewable integration resource need determination is made.’ ”
(Decision Approving Settlement, supra,
2012 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 192 at p. *8.) Finally, PG&E also cites a DRA cross-examination exhibit that consists of Rothleder’s testimony in a separate Commission proceeding. This testimony does not appear to be sworn and is hearsay in any event. Furthermore, Rothleder states that the CAISO “recommends that the Commission’s assessment of the need for new system resources to meet renewable integration needs should take place
in this docket during calendar year 2013
with a decision on system needs by December 2013.” (Italics added.) Given that recommendation, this testimony would hardly seem to support a finding of need in
this
proceeding.
In sum, the materials identified by PG&E are either themselves based on CAISO’s hearsay analysis or do not address the issue of need for the Oakley Project. They therefore cannot serve to corroborate the hearsay materials upon which the Commission relied to support its finding of need. Because the Commission’s finding is based upon uncorroborated hearsay evidence, and the truth of the CAISO’s extrarecord statements is disputed, the finding cannot be sustained.
(Clear World Communications, supra,
2005 Cal.P.U.C. Lexis 221 atp. *81;
Cleancraft, Inc.
v.
San Diego Gas and Electric Co.
(1983) 11 Cal.P.U.C.2d 975, 984 [party’s claim could not rest on “the hearsay opinions of unavailable experts”].)
V.
TURN Has Not Demonstrated the Commission Failed to Proceed in the Manner Required by Law in Refusing to Apply the Requirements of Decision 12-04-046 Retroactively.
Disposition
Commission decision No. 12-12-035, as modified by decision No. 3-04-032, is annulled.
Needham, J., and Bruiniers, J., concurred.