HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 526

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen and Barnes; by request of Utilities and Transportation Commission

Extending period during which the utilities and transportation commission may object to public service companies budgets.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (10)

     Signed by Representatives Todd, Vice Chair; Barnes, Brooks, Gallagher, Hankins, Jacobsen, Jesernig, Madsen, Miller and Unsoeld.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113) and Ted Hunter (786-7114)

AS OF HOUSE SECOND READING MARCH 12, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Utilities and Transportation Commission is required to review regulated utility budgets.  The commission may reject any item of the budget.  If the commission does not object to any item of the budget within 60 days, the utility may proceed with planned expenditures.

Utility budgets have become more extensive and complex over the years, making the 60 day review period too short for an adequate budget review or, alternatively, the commission must temporarily increase staff in an uneconomical manner.

SUMMARY:

The Utilities and Transportation Commission's review period for an original budget submitted by a regulated utility is extended from 60 to 90 days.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Steve McLellan, Utilities and Transportation Commission.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Increasing complexity and total number of budgets to review means the Utilities and Transportation Commission must either perform inadequate budget review or make a temporary and uneconomical increase in staff to complete the task in 60 days.  A 90 day period would enable an adequate review without uneconomical staffing adjustments.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.