EX-99 3 exh99.htm SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SCE AND CPUC Settlement Agreement
                                               SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS SETTLEMENT  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  is entered into by and among the undersigned  Parties hereto on
this 2nd day of October 2001, with reference to the following:

                                              RECITALS OF THE PARTIES

         A.       The  Parties  hereto  are  currently  engaged  in  litigation  in the case  styled  as  Southern
California  Edison  Company,  Plaintiff,  vs.  Loretta M. Lynch et.  al.,  presently  pending in the United  States
District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 00-12056-RSWL(Mcx) (the "Litigation").

         B.       In the  Litigation,  SCE has contended,  inter alia,  that  Defendants  have not permitted SCE to
recover in retail rates the full amount of SCE's costs,  including its wholesale  electric  procurement  costs,  as
required  by federal  law. In the absence of this  Agreement,  SCE would have sought to recover  these costs over a
shorter time period than provided for in this  Agreement.  Such a recovery could have resulted in  substantial  and
immediate  retail rate  increases  materially in excess of electric  retail rates  currently in effect.  Defendants
have denied that they have acted  unlawfully,  and have  denied that the Court in which the  Litigation  is pending
has jurisdiction over the dispute or to grant the relief sought by SCE.  The Court has overruled Defendants' Mo-

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tion to Dismiss on jurisdictional grounds and then stayed the Litigation at the parties' request.

         C.       SCE and the CPUC agree that  certain  wholesale  electric  procurement  costs  reflect  wholesale
prices  that may be  unlawful.  SCE and the CPUC,  along with  agencies  of the State of  California,  are  seeking
recovery and refunds of such unlawful costs through  proceedings  before the Federal Energy  Regulatory  Commission
("FERC") and may seek recovery and refunds through the courts (the "Refunds").

         D.       As a result of SCE's past  inability  to recover its  wholesale  electricity  procurement  costs,
SCE's ability to procure all of the  electricity  needed to serve its customers has been  threatened,  the State of
California and its taxpayers have assumed SCE's traditional  function of procuring  electric power for SCE's retail
customers,  and SCE is in the midst of a severe liquidity crisis,  having incurred  procurement related liabilities
and  indebtedness  totaling   approximately  $6.355  billion.  SCE  cannot  access  credit  in  financial  markets.
Continued  uncertainty and instability  threaten the reliability of SCE's electric  service and create a likelihood
that the temporary role of state government in electricity  procurement will be extended  indefinitely.  Before the
Litigation and the Refunds could be resolved through trial and appeal, SCE would likely be forced into bankruptcy.



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         E.       As a result of decisions of the CPUC adding a surcharge to retail  rates,  reductions  in natural
gas prices,  the  imposition  of  wholesale  price  mitigation  measures  by FERC,  and the  current  stability  of
California's  wholesale  electricity markets resulting from the procurement activity of the State of California and
conservation  by  California  consumers,  SCE has been  recently  collecting,  and may continue to collect,  retail
revenues in excess of current costs.  The  continuation of current retail rates that produce  revenues in excess of
SCE's  current costs creates an  opportunity  for  resolution  of the  Litigation  and recovery of SCE's  financial
capability  and ability to procure all of the  electricity  needed by its  customers  without  further  retail rate
increases.  The Parties wish to use this  opportunity to settle the  Litigation for the benefit of ratepayers,  the
State of California and SCE and to enable SCE to procure all of the electricity needed by its customers.

         F.       The purposes of this Agreement are to (i) avoid  instability and uncertainty for ratepayers,  the
State  of  California  and SCE,  (ii)  protect  consumers  from the  potential  impact  of  further  volatility  in
electricity  prices,  (iii) avoid further costly and wasteful  litigation,  and (iv) restore the  investment  grade
creditworthiness  of SCE as rapidly as reasonably  practical so that it will be able to provide  reliable  electric
service as a state regulated entity as it has in the past.


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         G.       In the exercise of its police and  regulatory  power,  the CPUC is entering  into this  Agreement
and shall adopt such  decisions and orders as it deems  necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this
Agreement.

         H.       The  CPUC  and SCE  acknowledge  that a  reasonable  and  predictable  regulatory  framework  for
procurement  activities  of, and recovery of procurement  costs by, SCE is important to SCE's  procuring all of the
electricity needed to serve its customers and the payment of its Procurement Related Liabilities.

         I.       This  Agreement  is a  compromise  believed  by  the  Parties  to be in  the  best  interests  of
ratepayers,  the State of  California  and SCE.  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall be  construed or deemed to be an
admission of any  liability or any material  facts by any of the Parties  hereto,  it being agreed that any and all
obligations  of the  Parties  related  to the  Litigation  shall be solely as set forth in this  Agreement  and the
Stipulated   Judgment.   This  Agreement  is  intended  to  be  non-precedential   in  all  particulars,   and  the
enforceability  of this  Agreement  and the  Stipulated  Judgment  herein  will be of such  limited  duration as is
necessary to accomplish their purposes.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the agreements set forth herein, and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to
be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

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                                                     ARTICLE 1
                                                    DEFINITIONS


Section 1.1       Certain  Defined  Terms.  When  used in this  Agreement,  the  following  terms  shall  have  the
following meanings:


(a)      "AB 1890" means  California  Assembly  Bill 1890  enacted  into law in 1996,  Chapter  854, as  thereafter
amended.


(b)      "Agreement" shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.


(c)      "CDWR" means the California Department of Water Resources.


(d)      "CDWR Charges" means retail charges for  electricity  that CDWR sells and has sold to retail  customers in
SCE's service territory, including financing costs in connection therewith.


(e)      "CPUC" means the California Public Utilities  Commission and the  Commissioners  thereof in their official
capacities and their respective successors.


(f)      "FERC" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.




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(g)      "Litigation" shall have the meaning given to such term in the Recitals to this Agreement.


(h)      "Net Short  Procurement  Costs" means all costs,  including  imbalance  energy costs,  incurred by SCE for
energy,  capacity and ancillary  services and all other costs reasonably  related thereto that are determined to be
reasonable,  or otherwise meet standards of  reasonableness as established,  by the CPUC,  excluding SCE's costs of
energy,  capacity and ancillary  services  provided by (i)  generating  facilities  that are owned by SCE as of the
date of this  Agreement  and  (ii)  bilateral  and QF  contracts  to  which  SCE is a party  as of the date of this
Agreement.  For the sake of  clarity,  the  Parties  agree  that  CDWR  Charges  are not part of  SCE's  Net  Short
Procurement  Costs.  Nothing in this  Agreement  is intended to prevent SCE from  incurring  Net Short  Procurement
Costs.


(i)      "Parties" means the CPUC and SCE.


(j)      "Person" means an individual,  partnership, joint venture, corporation,  limited liability company, trust,
association or unincorporated organization, any governmental authority, or any other entity.




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(k)      "Procurement   Related   Liabilities"  shall  mean  the  procurement   related   liabilities  and
indebtedness listed on Schedule 1.1 attached hereto, totaling approximately $6.354 billion.


(l)      "Procurement  Related  Obligations" shall mean the costs recorded in the Procurement  Related  Obligations
Account together with interest thereon as calculated in Section 2.1(c).


(m)      "Procurement  Related  Obligations  Account" or "PROACT"  means the  Account for  Recovery of  Procurement
Related Obligations established pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.


(n)      "PX  Billing  Claim"  means  any  claim,  liability,  demand,  cause of  action,  chose in  action,  levy,
attachment, lien, encumbrance, or right of setoff, reimbursement,  relief, injunction,  contribution,  indemnity or
similar  right,  whether in law or in equity or otherwise,  that any Person has against SCE for SCE's  failure,  or
alleged failure,  to pay timely any amounts due or claimed to be due to the California Power Exchange  Corporation,
a  not-for-profit  public benefit  corporation,  or the  California  Independent  System  Operator  Corporation,  a
California  not-for-profit  public  benefit  corporation,  to the extent such  amounts due or claimed to be due are
reflected in the opening balance of the PROACT.




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(o)       "QF" means a  "qualifying  facility" as defined in the Public  Utility  Regulatory  Policy Act of
1978.


(p)      "Rate  Repayment  Period" means the period  commencing  September 1, 2001 and ending on the earlier of the
date that SCE recovers all Procurement Related Obligations recorded in the PROACT or December 31, 2003.


(q)      "Recovery  Period"  means the period  commencing  September  1, 2001 and ending on the earlier of the date
that SCE recovers all  Procurement  Related  Obligations  recorded in the PROACT or December 31, 2005. The Recovery
Period includes the Rate Repayment Period.


(r)      "Recoverable  Costs" means the amounts SCE is authorized by the CPUC to recover in retail  electric rates,
but not including Procurement Related Obligations.


(s)      "Refunds" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.


(t)      "SCE" means Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation, and its successors.




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(u)      "Securitization"  or  "Securitize"  means a financing  or to engage in a  financing,  as the case
may be, like the Rate  Reduction  Bonds  issued  pursuant to AB 1890,  which may be  authorized  by the  California
legislature.


(v)      "Seller  Claims"  means any claim,  cause of action,  right of  setoff,  right of refund or similar  right
under  state or federal  law in favor of SCE that is related to or arises  from the  charging,  either  directly or
indirectly,  of prices for electric  energy,  capacity or ancillary  services or for natural gas that are reflected
in the opening balance of the PROACT, or conduct related thereto.


(w)      "Settlement  Rates" means gross  electric  retail rates  (including  surcharges)  in effect on the date of
this  Agreement  as the same shall be  hereafter  increased  or  decreased  to reflect (i) the  combined  effect on
Surplus,  if any, of both SCE's Net Short  Procurement  Costs and CDWR Charges,  as the same may exist from time to
time during the Rate  Repayment  Period,  when compared to the impact on Surplus of Stabilized  CDWR Charges,  (ii)
Recoverable  Costs directed to be incurred by the CPUC that are in excess of the  Recoverable  Costs referred to in
Section  2.1(d),  and (iii)  uninsured  costs,  if any, of recognized  force majeure  events,  such as  earthquake,
calamity, war and the like.


(x)      "Shareholder  Distribution"  shall mean a distribution by SCE to its  shareholders,  as defined in Section
166 of the California Corporations Code, with




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respect to their  holdings of Common  Stock in SCE,  that is subject to the  provisions  of Section 500 et. seq. of
the  California  Corporations  Code.  For example  payments from SCE to Edison  International  or its affiliates in
consideration of goods, services or contractual obligations are not "Shareholder Distributions."


(y)      "Stabilized  CDWR  Charges"  means CDWR  Charges  for  electrical  power sold to retail  customers  in the
service territory of SCE that are first implemented by the CPUC after the date hereof.


(z)      "Stipulated Judgment" means the Stipulated Judgment referred to in Section 4.1.


(aa)     "Surplus"  means the  difference,  positive or negative,  if any, of SCE's  revenues from retail  electric
rates (including surcharges) during the Recovery Period over SCE's Recoverable Costs for the same period.


(bb)     "TCBA"  means that  balancing  account of SCE  commonly  referred  to as the  "transition  cost  balancing
account" established by the CPUC.


(cc)     "Utility  Retained  Generation"  means  generating  plants owned by SCE as of the date of this  Agreement,
including but not limited to all  hydroelectric  generation  facilities,  and SCE's ownership  shares of the Mohave
Generating Station,




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the Four Corners  Powerplant,  the Palo Verde Nuclear  Generating  Station,  and the San Onofre Nuclear  Generating
Station.


Section 1.2       Certain  Interpretive  Matters.  In this Agreement,  unless the context otherwise  requires,  the
singular  shall  include the plural and vice versa.  The terms  "includes"  or  "including"  shall mean  "including
without limitation";  the terms "hereunder,"  "hereof," "hereto" and words of similar import are references to this
Agreement  as a whole.  References  to a Section,  Article,  Exhibit  or  Schedule  shall mean a Section,  Article,
Exhibit or Schedule of this  Agreement,  and reference to a given  agreement or instrument  shall be a reference to
that  agreement or instrument as modified,  amended,  supplemented  and restated  through the date as of which such
reference is made.


                                                     ARTICLE 2
                                       RATE STABILIZATION AND COST RECOVERY


Section 2.1       Procurement Related Obligations Account (PROACT).


(a)      The CPUC will  establish  the  Procurement  Related  Obligations  Account  (PROACT) by order.  The opening
balance thereof will be the excess of SCE's Procurement  Related  Liabilities as of August 31, 2001 over SCE's cash
and cash  equivalents  on hand as of such  date,  less  the sum of $300  million.  Such  opening  balance  shall be
subject to equitable adjustment in the event that pending proceedings




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related to SCE's  Utility  Retained  Generation  result in  amortization  periods of less than ten (10) years (from
January 1, 2001) for the  regulatory  assets that  represent  SCE's  ownership in nuclear  power  plants.  The CPUC
shall verify the recorded balance as of August 31, 2001 of the Procurement  Related  Liabilities listed in Schedule
1.1 and the amount of cash and cash  equivalents  that SCE had on hand on such date  within  thirty  (30) days from
the date of this  Agreement.  The  Parties  estimate  that the  balance  of the  PROACT  as of the date  hereof  is
approximately $3.3 billion.


(b)      SCE will apply all accrued  Surplus to the PROACT on a monthly basis or such other  periodic  basis as may
be  established  by the CPUC,  except as  provided  in  Section  2.1(d).  SCE may also  apply the  proceeds  of any
Securitization related to the receipt of Surplus to the PROACT as provided by Section 2.2(c).


(c)      Unrecovered  Procurement  Related  Obligations  in the PROACT shall accrue  interest equal to the interest
from September 1, 2001 on SCE's outstanding  Procurement  Related  Liabilities and any refinancings  thereof net of
interest earned on SCE's cash position.


(d)      During the Recovery  Period from and after  September 1, 2001, all Surplus shall be applied to the PROACT,
except that during each  calendar  year of the Rate  Repayment  Period  commencing  calendar  year 2002,  the CPUC,
without adjusting Settlement Rates under Section 1.1(w), shall have discretion to direct that up to




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$150 million of Surplus be applied to recover Recoverable Costs for any utility purpose,  including  investments in
infrastructure  or increases in energy  efficiency  program  funding.  It is the intent of the foregoing to provide
flexibility  needed by the CPUC to direct the  utilization of utility  revenues in the interest of ratepayers  and,
at the same time,  to limit the amounts that would  otherwise be Surplus that are made  available for other utility
purposes  unless  Settlement  Rates are adjusted as  contemplated  by Section  1.1(w).  It is  understood  that the
utilization  of Surplus  provided by this  paragraph  shall only affect the timing of SCE's recovery of Procurement
Related  Obligations,  the Parties  agreeing  that SCE shall  recover the full  amount of its  Procurement  Related
Obligations during the Recovery Period, as provided in Section 2.2.


Section 2.2       Recovery of Procurement  Related  Obligations.  The Parties hereby agree that during the Recovery
Period SCE shall recover in retail  electric  rates its  Procurement  Related  Obligations  recorded in the PROACT.
The Parties  acknowledge  that they each currently  project that the  maintenance  of Settlement  Rates will likely
result  in  sufficient  Surplus  for  SCE to  recover  substantially  all of its  unrecovered  Procurement  Related
Obligations  prior to the end of 2003.  SCE's  recovery  of its  Procurement  Related  Obligations  shall  occur as
follows:


(a)      The CPUC hereby agrees to maintain retail electric rates for retail customers in SCE's service territory
at no less than Settlement Rates during the Rate Repayment Period.




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(b)      In the event that any Procurement Related Obligations remain unrecovered in the PROACT at the
conclusion of the Rate Repayment Period, then such amount will be amortized in retail rates ratably during all or
a portion of the remainder of the Recovery Period.


(c)      If the CPUC concludes that it is desirable to Securitize  any portion of unrecovered  Procurement  Related
Obligations  at any time  during  the  Recovery  Period  (together  with the  financing  and  transaction  costs of
Securitization)  in order to  reduce  the  retail  rate  impact  of their  recovery,  then the  Parties  will  work
cooperatively together to achieve such Securitization,  including obtaining appropriate  legislation therefore.  In
the event that such Securitization  results in amortization of SCE's remaining Procurement Related Obligations,  if
any,  beyond the Recovery  Period,  then SCE's rates after the Recovery  Period will  reflect  continuation  of the
pertinent  amortization  schedule.  Any such  Securitization  shall modify the recovery that is otherwise  provided
for in this Section 2.2 of the Procurement  Related  Obligations that are included in such Securitization only from
and after the date that SCE actually  receives  the proceeds of such  Securitization,  and such  proceeds  shall be
credited to the PROACT only when they are actually received.


Section 2.3       Capital  Structure.  During the  Recovery  Period,  no penalty  shall be imposed upon SCE for its
noncompliance, if any, with CPUC mandated capital

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structure  requirements,  and changes in authorized capital  structure,  if any, shall be implemented in a
manner so as not to affect the extent of SCE's receipt of Surplus.


Section 2.4       Hedging.  In order to facilitate  SCE's  restoration  to  investment  grade  creditworthiness  by
making the rate at which Procurement  Related  Obligations are recovered more predictable,  SCE intends to apply to
the CPUC for its  approval of SCE  incurring  up to $250 million in  Recoverable  Costs  during the Rate  Repayment
Period to  acquire  financial  instruments  and  engage in other  transactions  intended  to hedge  fuel cost risks
associated with SCE's Utility Retained  Generation and QF and interutility  contracts.  The CPUC has indicated that
it will reasonably  promptly  schedule  proceedings and consider such request on an expedited  basis.  Pending such
determination by the CPUC, SCE shall record such costs in a tracking account.


Section 2.5       Dividend  Suspension.  In order to  expedite  payment of its  creditors,  SCE will not declare or
pay a Shareholder  Distribution  on its Common Stock prior to (a) the end of the Rate Repayment  Period,  or (b) if
SCE does not recover all of its  Procurement  Related  Obligations  as of or prior to the end of the Rate Repayment
Period,  prior to the  earlier  of  January  1, 2005 or the end of the  Recovery  Period.  It is the  intent of the
foregoing that cash  generated from Surplus be used to reduce  Procurement  Related  Liabilities.  SCE and the CPUC
recognize that  resumption of Common Stock dividend  payments will improve the ability of SCE to attract capital on
reasonable terms for investment in safe and reliable utility service.  Accordingly,




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in the event the dividend  restriction in this Section  continues after the end of the Rate Repayment  Period,  SCE
may apply to the CPUC for consent to a resumption of its Common Stock  dividend  after the Rate  Repayment  Period,
and the CPUC's consent will not be unreasonably withheld.


Section 2.6       Capital  Additions.  In order to assure  the  ability  of SCE to  continue  to  provide  adequate
service prior to the  effectiveness  of new retail rates  established by SCE's next General Rate Case, SCE shall be
entitled to make capital  expenditures  above the level contained in current rates. To the extent such expenditures
do not exceed $900 million in a calendar  year,  then the revenue  requirement  until the  effectiveness  of retail
rates  established  by SCE's next General Rate Case that is associated  with capital  expenditures  above the level
contained in current rates shall be Recoverable Costs.


Section 2.7       Representation  and  Warranty  Regarding  Financial  Condition of Edison  International  and SCE
Affiliates.  SCE  represents  and  warrants  that,  to the  best of its  knowledge  and  belief,  the  consolidated
financial  statements of Edison  International  and Edison Mission  Energy for the quarterly  period ended June 30,
2001 do not contain  misrepresentations  of material  facts and do not omit  material  facts  necessary to make the
statements  made in such financial  statements,  under the  circumstances  in which they were made, not misleading.
SCE further  represents  and warrants  that Edison  International  and its  affiliates  Edison  Capital and Mission
Energy Holding Com-




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pany do not have investment  grade ratings for their senior  unsecured debt, and that its affiliate  Edison Mission
Energy has an investment grade rating below BBB for its senior unsecured debt.


Section 2.8       Disposition  of TCBA.  Balances in SCE's TCBA as of August 31, 2001 shall have no further  impact
on SCE's  retail  electric  rates,  Surplus or  Recoverable  Costs,  except to the extent the CPUC  authorizes  the
recovery  after  such date of costs  previously  recorded  in the TCBA  (e.g.,  accelerated  amortization  of SCE's
investment in nuclear  plants).  Recoverable  Costs incurred after August 31, 2001, which would otherwise have been
recorded in the TCBA,  shall be recovered in rates in accordance  with further  orders of the CPUC,  whether or not
the CPUC chooses to continue to have such costs recorded in the TCBA.


Section 2.9       Intended  Effects.  The CPUC  shall  adopt  such  decisions  or orders as it deems  necessary  to
implement  and carry out the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  it being  understood  that  this  Agreement  and the
Stipulated  Judgment  contemplated hereby shall be binding and irrevocable upon the Parties,  notwithstanding  such
future  decisions  and orders of the CPUC.  It is the intent of the Parties that SCE actually  recover  Procurement
Related  Obligations  recorded in the PROACT,  without  offset,  as rapidly as possible  during the Rate  Repayment
Period consistent with the terms hereof, and in any event during the Recovery Period.




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                                                       ARTICLE 3
                       COMPROMISE OF PROCUREMENT RELATED OBLIGATIONS AND RELATED ADJUSTMENTS


Section 3.1       Pursuit of Seller  Claims and  Defense of PX Billing  Claims.  Subject to its not being  required
to waive any applicable  privileges,  SCE will  cooperate in good faith with the CPUC and the  California  Attorney
General in order to  coordinate  the pursuit and  resolution  of SCE's Seller  Claims and its  defenses  against PX
Billing  Claims along with claims  involving the same adverse  parties that the State of California or its agencies
may have or assert  directly or in their  representative  capacity or in  coordination  with third parties and that
arise from power purchases. In this regard, SCE will:

(a)      Regularly  consult with the General Counsel of the CPUC and the California  Attorney General regarding the
coordination  of  litigation  strategies  and  consider in good faith their views with  respect to  litigation  and
potential litigation in respect of Seller Claims and PX Billing Claims;

(b)      Execute  reasonable and customary joint defense,  common interest or similar  agreements to facilitate the
coordination of claims and defenses without waiver of privileges; and


(c)      Seek and  consider  in good faith the  General  Counsel of the CPUC's and the  Attorney  General's  input,
advice and proposed modifications with




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respect to any material brief, memorandum, pleading and argument prior to the filing or making thereof.


Section 3.2       Resolution of Claims; Compromises.


(a)      Subject to the further  provisions  of this Section 3.2,  nothing  herein or  otherwise  shall  prevent or
limit SCE's right to litigate any Seller Claim,  PX Billing  Claim or  Procurement  Related  Liability or to appeal
any order, judgment or other disposition thereof.


(b)      Subject to Section 3.2(c) below,  nothing  herein or otherwise  shall prevent or limit SCE's right to pay,
restructure,  settle,  compromise,  waive,  resolve,  dismiss or otherwise  dispose of any Seller Claim, PX Billing
Claim or Procurement  Related Liability in any manner and whenever SCE determines,  in the exercise of its business
judgment.  SCE shall promptly  notify the CPUC of any such payment,  settlement,  compromise,  waiver,  resolution,
dismissal or other  disposition in a manner that  preserves the  confidentiality  thereof  insofar as is reasonably
necessary to further SCE's flexibility to pay, settle,  compromise,  waive,  resolve,  dismiss or otherwise dispose
of any other SCE Seller Claim, PX Billing Claim or Procurement Related Liability.




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(c)      Notwithstanding  Section  3.2(b),  in the event that SCE wishes to compromise,  waive or settle any Seller
Claim or PX Billing  Claim on or after March 1, 2002  (subject to  extension by mutual  agreement),  it shall first
obtain the CPUC's  permission  to do so. In the event the CPUC  grants  such  permission,  then SCE may effect such
compromise,  waiver or settlement.  In the event the CPUC does not grant such  permission,  then SCE shall continue
to pursue the claim or defense in question,  and any compromise,  waiver or settlement thereof shall continue to be
subject to CPUC review.


Section 3.3       Credits To PROACT.

(a)      One  hundred  percent  (100%) of the  liquidated  value of any and all  Refunds  actually  realized by SCE
during the Recovery  Period in respect of Procurement  Related  Liabilities,  including PX Billing claims and SCE's
Seller Claims,  shall be applied to the PROACT.  Ninety  percent (90%) of the  liquidated  value of any and all net
Refunds  actually  realized  by SCE after the  Recovery  Period in  respect  of  Procurement  Related  Liabilities,
including PX Billing Claims and Seller Claims, shall be refunded to ratepayers as directed by the CPUC.

(b)      All such Refunds  shall be calculated  net of (i) any and all refunds,  recoveries or payments that SCE is
required  to make or  provide  in  connection  with its  sales of  power  through,  or its  participation  in,  the
California Power Exchange

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Corporation,  a  not-for-profit  public  benefit  corporation,   and  (ii)  associated  costs  of
recovery,  including  any related  litigation,  professional  and other similar  costs.  Any portion of Refunds not
applied to the PROACT or refunded to ratepayers,  as the case may be,  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions may be
retained by SCE without offset.


                                                      ARTICLE 4
                                                     LITIGATION


Section 4.1       Stipulated  Judgment.  As soon as reasonably possible after the execution of this Agreement,  and
in no event later than four (4) business days  following  such  execution,  the Parties shall submit to the Court a
proposed  Stipulated  Judgment in the  Litigation  (substantially  in the form  attached as Exhibit A hereto)  that
shall  incorporate  this Agreement by reference and order the terms of this Agreement to be entered as the Judgment
of the  Court.  The  Parties  shall  undertake  their best  efforts  to seek  entry by the Court of the  Stipulated
Judgment  within thirty (30) days after the date hereof.  If such  Stipulated  Judgment is not entered by the Court
within such period,  then either Party may  terminate  this  Agreement  upon written  notice to the other given any
time prior to entry of a Stipulated Judgment.


Section 4.2       Enforcement of Stipulated  Judgment.  The Parties agree that the Court shall retain  jurisdiction
over the Litigation  for the purpose of enforcing the  Stipulated  Judgment and ensuring that the Parties carry out
the terms of this Agreement.




Page 21


Section 4.3       Validity and Binding Effect.  The Parties and their  respective  successors and assigns agree not
to contest the  validity  and  enforceability  of this  Agreement  or the  Stipulated  Judgment as agreed to by the
Parties and entered by the Court.  This  Agreement  and the  Stipulated  Judgment  are  intended to be  enforceable
under federal law, notwithstanding any contrary state law.


Section 4.4       Releases of Specified Claims.  Promptly upon entry of the Stipulated Judgment,  SCE shall deliver
to the CPUC executed  releases  substantially  in the form of Exhibit B hereto  specifically  releasing any and all
claims  and  causes of action  that SCE has or may have  against  the State of  California  and the CPUC that arise
from:


(a)      The facts  alleged by SCE in the  Litigation,  including  without  limitation  claims and causes of action
based upon the filed rate doctrine,  takings,  due process and commerce  clause  violations,  except for claims and
causes of action based upon this Agreement or as provided in the Stipulated Judgment;


(b)      The CPUC's implementation prior to the date of this Agreement of Assembly Bill 1 of the 2001-02 First
Extraordinary Session (Ch. 4, Stats. 2001-02 1st Ex. Sess.) and Assembly Bill 6 of the 2001-02 First
Extraordinary Session (Ch. 2, Stats. 2001-02 1st Ex. Sess.), including CPUC Decision Nos. 01-03-081 and
01-04-005; and

Page 22


(c)      CPUC Decision No. 01-03-082 (the TURN Accounting Decision).


Section 4.5       Termination.  This  Agreement  and the  Stipulated  Judgment  shall  terminate  at the end of the
Recovery  Period but in no event later than  December 31, 2005,  provided that all rights of the Parties under this
Agreement and the  Stipulated  Judgment  that vest on or prior to such  termination,  including any rights  arising
from default under this Agreement or the terms of the Stipulated  Judgment,  shall survive any such termination for
the purpose of enforcing such vested rights.

Article 5
                                                GENERAL PROVISIONS


Section 5.1       Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 5.2       Captions  and  Paragraph   Headings.   Captions  and  paragraph  headings  used  herein  are  for
convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in construing it.

Section 5.3       Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement  contains the entire  understanding of the Parties  concerning
the  subject  matter  of this  Agreement  and,  except as  expressly  provided  for  herein,  supersedes  all prior
understandings and agreements,

Page 23


whether oral or written,  among them with respect to the subject  matter hereof and thereof.  There are no
representations,  warranties,  agreements,  arrangements or  understandings,  oral or written,  between the Parties
hereto  relating to the subject matter of this  Agreement and such other  documents and  instruments  which are not
fully  expressed  herein or therein.  This  Agreement  may be amended or modified  only by an  agreement in writing
signed by each of the Parties hereto which is filed with the Court in which the Stipulated Judgment is filed.


Section 5.4       Time Of Essence.  Time is hereby  expressly  made of the essence  with  respect to each and every
term and  provision  of this  Agreement.  The  Parties  acknowledge  that  each  will be  relying  upon the  timely
performance by the other of its obligations  hereunder as a material  inducement to each Party's  execution of this
Agreement.


Section 5.5       No Third  Party  Beneficiaries.  Except  as may be  specifically  set  forth  in this  Agreement,
nothing in this  Agreement,  whether  express or implied,  is intended to confer any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this  Agreement  on any Persons  other than the Parties and their  respective  permitted  successors  and
assigns,  nor is anything in this  Agreement  intended to relieve or discharge  the  obligation or liability of any
third Persons to any Party, nor give any third Persons any right of subrogation or action against any Party.




Page 24


Section 5.6       Authority;  Enforceability.  Each Party  represents and warrants to the other that this Agreement
and the  Stipulated  Judgment have been duly  authorized by all action  required of such Party to be bound thereby,
and that this Agreement and the Stipulated Judgment are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Party.


Section 5.7       Waiver of  Compliance.  To the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  any failure of any of the
Parties to comply with any  obligation,  covenant,  agreement  or  condition  set forth herein may be waived by the
Party  entitled to the  benefit  thereof  only by a written  instrument  signed by such Party,  but any such waiver
shall not  operate  as a waiver  of, or  estoppel  with  respect  to,  any prior or  subsequent  failure  to comply
therewith.  The  failure  of a Party to this  Agreement  to  assert  any of its  rights  under  this  Agreement  or
otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.




Page 25


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY


                                    By: Stephen E. Frank
                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Stephen E. Frank
                                    Title: Chairman, President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer


                                    CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION


                                    By: Wesley M. Franklin
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Wesley M. Franklin

                                    Title: Executive Director


                                    COMMISSIONERS IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY

                                    Loretta M. Lynch
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Loretta M. Lynch

                                    Richard A. Bilas
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Richard A. Bilas

                                    Henry M. Duque
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Henry M. Duque

                                    Carl W. Wood
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Carl W. Wood

                                    Geoffrey F. Brown
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Geoffrey F. Brown


Page 26


                                                   Schedule 1.1


                                          Procurement Related Liabilities




Amount            Description                                          Date Due
$1.179                     QFs (1)                                     Now
$0.920                     PX/ISO                                      Now
$0.243                     ESPs                                        Now
$0.347                     CDWR Imbalance Energy                       Now
$0.030                     Other -                                     Now
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2.720                     Total Past Due Bills



$0.208                     Bank Loan -- 364-Day Line                   10/19/2001
$0.415                     Bank Loan -- Bilateral Lines                10/19/2001
$1.090                     Bank Loan -- 5-Year Line                    10/19/2001
$0.010                     Extendable Commercial Notes (ECN)           10/22/2001
$0.313                     Floating Rate Notes                         05/01/2002
$1.047                     Variable Rate Notes                         11/03/2003
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$3.083                     Total Non-defaulted Indebtedness


$0.552                     Defaulted Commercial Paper                  Now
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$6.355                     Total


(1) Net of offsets of $44.5 million due SCE from QFs.






                                                     Exhibit A


                                            Form of Stipulated Judgment


                                           UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                                          CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
                                                 WESTERN DIVISION

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY,                 )        CASE NO. 00-12056-RSWL(Mcx)
                                                    )
                      Plaintiff,                    )

         vs.

LORETTA M. LYNCH, HENRY M. DUQUE,  RICHARD A. BILAS,)
CARL W.  WOOD,  and  GEOFFREY  F.  BROWN,  in  their)
official   capacities   as   Commissioners   of  the)
California Public Utilities Commission,             )

                      Defendants.
----------------------------------------------------)



                                                         STIPULATED JUDGMENT

Page 1

I.       GENERAL PROVISIONS

A.       Basis for resolution

1.       Plaintiff, Southern California Edison Company ("SCE"), and Defendants, the Commissioners of the
California Public Utilities Commission ("Commission", referred to collectively with the Defendants as "CPUC"),
agree to the terms of this stipulated judgment to resolve this action.  This stipulated judgment reflects a
compromise of disputed issues in pending litigation, and is not to be taken as an admission of liability or
material facts beyond the terms of the judgment.  The purpose of this stipulated judgment is to stabilize the
costs and enhance the reliability of producing and distributing electricity for the benefit of SCE's ratepayers
and the State of California within the context of a Settlement Agreement ("Agreement").  The terms of the
Agreement are set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

2.       SCE and the CPUC share a common interest in implementing the provisions of this judgment, to enable SCE
to recover its past costs as defined in the Agreement, to restore SCE to creditworthiness, to protect consumers
from the potential impact of further volatility in electricity prices and unreliable service, and to avoid the
risks and costs of further litigation.  Implementation of the Agreement is intended to enable SCE to fulfill its
historic obligation to provide reliable electric service at just and reasonable rates to its retail customers,
and is therefore in the public interest.

B.       Jurisdiction of the Court

1.       SCE's Complaint alleges that defendants' past decisions are unlawful because they prevent SCE from
recovering fully its costs, in particular, its costs of procuring electricity and its costs of interstate
transmission.  SCE's Complaint states causes of action based upon (a) preemption, including preemption under the
filed rate doctrine, (b) facial takings, (c) due process, (d) as-applied takings, and (e) commerce clause.

2.       The Court has previously determined that it has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.ss.ss.
1331, 1337 and 1343.  Venue is proper in the Central District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C.ss.1391.
Defendants agree not to take any appeal from the Court's determination that it has jurisdiction and to waive any
defense they may have to the Court's jurisdiction based upon the Eleventh Amendment for purposes of this case
only.

3.       As a Party to the Agreement, the Commission (as distinct from the individual Defendants) joins in and
agrees to be bound by all of the terms of this stipulated judgment.  The CPUC agrees to waive any defense it may
have to the Court's jurisdiction based upon the Eleventh Amendment, or other defense, for purposes of this case
only.

C.       Issues Previously Determined By The Court

1.       The Court has denied defendants' motion to dismiss.


Page 2


2.       SCE alleges that federal law preempts California from preventing SCE from fully recovering in retail
rates its wholesale procurement costs, which are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission ("FERC").

3.       SCE has paid wholesale procurement costs established pursuant to tariffs filed by the Independent System
Operator and the Power Exchange with FERC, and has been charged additional amounts pursuant to such tariffs that
it has not yet paid.  SCE has made the following assertions: The filed rate doctrine "holds that interstate power
rates filed with FERC or fixed by FERC must be given binding effect by state utility commissions determining
intrastate rates."  Nantahala Power & Light Co. v. Thornburg, 476 U.S. 953, 962, 106 S. Ct. 2349, 90 L. Ed. 2d
943 (1986).  Accordingly, "a State may not conclude in setting retail rates that the FERC-approved wholesale
rates are unreasonable.  A State must rather give effect to Congress' desire to give FERC plenary authority over
interstate wholesale rates, and to ensure that the States do not interfere with this authority."  Id. at 966.
"When FERC sets a rate between a seller of power and a wholesaler-as-buyer, a State may not exercise its undoubted
jurisdiction over retail sales to prevent the wholesaler-as-seller from recovering the costs of paying the
FERC-approved rate."  Id. at 970.  As the Supreme Court stated in a subsequent case, States "may not bar
regulated utilities from passing through to retail consumers FERC-mandated wholesale rates."  Mississippi Power &
Light Co. v. Mississippi ex rel. Moore, 487 U.S. 354, 372, 108 S. Ct. 2428, 101 L. Ed. 2d 322 (1988).

4.       The Court has rejected defendants' claim that SCE is equitably estopped from invoking the filed rate
doctrine.  The Court has ruled that SCE may challenge defendants' implementation of state law, even though SCE
lobbied for the passage of Assembly Bill 1890.

D.       Issues Not Resolved

1.        A number of issues are unresolved in this case and remain in dispute.  This stipulated judgment
reflects a compromise of those issues.

2.       The Court has stated that the filed rate doctrine is subject to an exception under Pike County Light &
Power Co. v. Pennsylvania Pub. Util. Comm'n, 465 A.2d 735 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1983), if the state regulatory
commission finds that the utility acted imprudently in failing to purchase power at wholesale from available,
less costly sources.  SCE contends that the Pike County exception does not apply to SCE, because the CPUC deemed
all of SCE's purchases from the Power Exchange and Independent System Operator per se prudent.  The CPUC has
disputed SCE's contention.



Page 3



3.       The CPUC argues that SCE has recovered all of its wholesale procurement costs, because under AB 1890 it
was required to recover those costs ahead of any so-called stranded costs.  The CPUC argues, therefore, that
there is no preemption claim in this case, and that therefore the Johnson Act does bar this case.  On March 27,
2001, the CPUC issued Decision No. 01-03-082, which modified certain CPUC accounting rules.  The CPUC contends
that, as a result of this change, the CPUC has provided for the recovery of wholesale procurement costs.  SCE
disputes the CPUC's contention, and claims that the accounting change does not provide an adequate and
independent state ground for avoidance of the application of the federal filed rate doctrine.

4.       SCE contends that the CPUC's actions constitute a taking of property without just compensation and a
violation of due process, insofar as the net effect of the State's regulatory program has been and continues to
be to impair SCE's financial integrity and to prevent SCE from attracting capital and paying a return to
investors.  The CPUC has disputed SCE's contention, and claims that SCE has been provided with a reasonable
opportunity to recover its stranded costs, and its inability to do so was caused by economic circumstances not
within the control of the CPUC.

5.       SCE contends that the CPUC's actions violate the Commerce Clause.  The CPUC has disputed SCE's
contention.

6.       SCE and the CPUC recognize that SCE has presented substantial federal claims and that the ultimate
judicial resolution of these issues is uncertain.  SCE and the CPUC agree that the resolution of the case in
accordance with this stipulated judgment is desirable to eliminate this uncertainty and to provide an outcome
that is in the public interest.

E.       Future Effect

1.       The Agreement that is incorporated herein provides for SCE to recover certain costs in retail rates over
time.  An essential element of this stipulated judgment is to provide certainty that SCE will be able to recover
such costs in accordance with the Agreement.  SCE and the CPUC contemplate that third parties will rely on such
certainty in extending credit to SCE.  Accordingly, enforcement of this stipulated judgment and the Agreement are
essential in order to restore SCE's creditworthiness, which is in the interests both of SCE and of the CPUC.

2.       The parties and their respective successors and assigns agree to be bound by the terms of this
stipulated judgment and agree not to contest its validity in any subsequent proceeding.  Defendants recognize
that market prices may fluctuate, that state or federal law may be modified, and that other circumstances may
change, and nevertheless intend that this stipulated judgment be binding and enforceable in the future in
accordance with its terms.

3.       The Court enters this stipulated judgment and Agreement as its judgment, and retains jurisdiction to
enforce the judgment in the future, as may be necessary.

Page 4


                                                     Exhibit B


                                                  Form of Release


                                                      Release

         This Release is being  delivered as of October 2, 2001 by Southern  California  Edison Company  ("SCE") to
the California Public Utilities  Commission  ("CPUC"),  pursuant to section 4.4 of the Settlement  Agreement by and
among SCE, the CPUC and the  Commissioners of the CPUC, dated October 2, 2001  ("Agreement")  and is subject to the
provisions  thereof.  All capitalized  terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meaning as is given to them
in the Agreement.

         A.       Except as provided in the  Agreement  and in the  Stipulated  Judgment,  SCE hereby does  forever
release and discharge the CPUC, the State of California,  and their respective agencies,  departments,  successors,
officials,  agents,  representatives,  and employees, and each of them from any and all claims, debts, liabilities,
demands,  obligations,  promises, acts, agreements, costs, expenses (including but not limited to attorneys' fees),
damages,  actions,  causes of action and claims for relief of whatever  kind or nature,  under any theory,  whether
legal, equitable or other, under the law, either common,  constitutional,  statutory,  regulatory, or other, of any
jurisdiction, foreign or domestic ("Claims"), that arise from:

                  1.       The facts pled, or that could have been pled, in Southern  California  Edison Company,
Plaintiff,  vs.  Loretta M. Lynch et. al.,  presently  pending in the United States  District Court for the Central
District of California,  Case No.  00-12056-RSWL(Mcx),  including  without  limitation  claims and causes of action
based upon the filed rate doctrine, takings, due process and commerce clause violations;

                  2.       The CPUC's  implementation,  prior to the date of the  Agreement,  of Assembly Bill 1 of
the 2001-02 First  Extraordinary  Session (Ch. 4, Stats.  2001-02 1st Ex. Sess.) and Assembly Bill 6 of the 2001-02
First  Extraordinary  Session (Ch. 2, Stats.  2001-02 1st Ex. Sess.),  including  CPUC Decision Nos.  01-03-081 and
01-04-005; and

                  3.       CPUC Decision No. 01-03-082 (the TURN Accounting Decision).




Page 1



         B.       With respect to the Claims that are the subject of release  hereunder,  SCE  specifically  waives
all  rights  and  benefits  afforded  by  California  Civil  Code  Section  1542  and  does  so  understanding  and
acknowledging the significance of such specific waiver of such statutory protection, which provides as follows:

                                    "A  GENERAL  RELEASE  DOES NOT  EXTEND  TO  CLAIMS  WHICH THE
                  CREDITOR  DOES  NOT  KNOW OR  SUSPECT  TO  EXIST  IN HIS  FAVOR  AT THE TIME OF
                  EXECUTING THE RELEASE,  WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
                  SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."

         C.       Except as may be  specifically  set  forth in this  Release,  nothing  in this  Release,  whether
express  or  implied,  is  intended  to confer  any rights or  remedies  under or by reason of this  release on any
Persons  other than the Parties and their  respective  permitted  successors  and assigns,  nor is anything in this
Release  intended to relieve or discharge the  obligation or liability of any third Persons to any Party,  nor give
any third Persons any right of subrogation or action against any Party.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  SCE has  executed  and  delivered  this  Release as of the day and year first  above
written.




--------------------------------------