When a document is filed and marked as confidential, the Public Utilities Commission ensures that the document is not available to anyone who has not been authorized to access it. The PUC's E-Filings system provides the following mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of proprietary filings:

1. All filings are made over a secure network connection. The secure connection encrypts all information with a 128-bit cipher key, the strongest public encryption available. This security measure p rotects the document while it is uploaded to, and stored on, the secure server.
2. All documents received by the PUC are stored on a secure server which is not directly accessible by the public. The secure server is connected to an internal network which is protected by multiple layers of sophisticated firewall hardware and software. This security measure ensures that the documents are secure where they are stored.
3. Documents on the secure server are protected by authorized password access. Except the person who made the confidential filing, members of the public cannot access confidential documents. The filer may only access the confidential document previously filed after supplying the correct user logon id and password. No other public user can access confidential documents through E-Filings.
4. Those authorized to view confidential information must obtain it directly from the owner of the confidential information. The E-Filings system does not provide this access.
5. The E-Filings system never exposes documents to the vulnerabilities of e-mail. Notice of an electronic filing is sent, but not the document itself.

The PUC has stored all of its filed documents on the secure server for many years, including confidential documents. The E-Filings system accesses the secure server only when the correct and appropriate credentials have been provided.