SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6611

BYSenators Benitz, Conner, Metcalf and Hansen

Requiring notice of fee and charge increases by disposal facilities.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 30, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6611 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators Benitz, Chairman; Metcalf, Owen, Patrick, Stratton, Sutherland, Williams.

Senate Staff:David Monthie (786-7198)

                February 6, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

State law requires that owners and/or operators of solid waste disposal facilities meet certain functional standards.  Meeting these standards may require the raising of the fees or charges imposed upon collection companies that use the disposal site.  In order to pass the increased fees to their customers, which is permitted by law, the collection companies must go through a public rate-setting process with the Utilities and Transportation Commission that requires a minimum of 45 days.  Frequently the collection companies have less than 45 days notice of increased fees, and as a result have to use the UTC's emergency rate process in order to be able to recover the higher fees from their customers.

SUMMARY:

Local governments that set disposal fees or charges, or the owner/operator of a solid waste disposal site, must provide notice of proposed increases or decreases in fees or charges to the UTC, collection companies operating in the area, and any city or town that operates solid waste collection services in the area.  Such increases or decreases shall take effect 180 days after the notice has been sent, unless the site owner/operator and the collection companies agree to an earlier date and the UTC has approved the affected collection company rates.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The notice requirement is reduced from 180 to 90 days.  Clarifying language is added as to the purpose of the notice period.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested January 29, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   John Paul Jones, Washington Waste Management Association (pro); Raymond Day, WUTC (pro)