Subject of Possible Rule Making: This rule making would consider expanding payment options and allowing solid waste/refuse companies to issue electronic billing to customers on request by amending WAC 480-70-401 Payment option and 480-70-396 Billing.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040, 81.04.160.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Since the March 2001 effective date for the rules in chapter 480-70 WAC, Solid waste and/or refuse collection companies, five companies have requested exemptions to the payment rule, WAC 480-70-401, to allow customers the option to pay bills by using electronic fund transfer, which provides for electronic payments over the internet. In addition, WAC 480-70-396 could be modified to allow companies, with the customer's consent, to send bills to customers in electronic form.

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial comments, and provide an opportunity for additional comments.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication.

     Interested persons may contact the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250, (360) 664-1174, fax (360) 586-1150.

     WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than August 25, 2004.

     Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to the Commission's Records Center at records@wutc.wa.gov. Please include:

•	The docket number of this proceeding (TG-041349),
•	The commenting party's name,
•	The title and date of the comment or comments.

     An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on the commission's website all comments that are provided in electronic format. The website is located at http://www.wutc.wa.gov/041349. If you are unable to file your comments electronically or to submit them on a disk, the commission will always accept a paper document.

     Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's website as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may (1) call the Commission's Records Center at 360-664-1234, (2) e-mail the commission at <records@wutc.wa.gov>, or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Carole J. Washburn, Secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket No. TG-041349 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Penny Hansen (360) 664-1242 or e-mail at phansen@wutc.wa.gov.

August 4, 2004

D. Wilhelmi

for Carole J. Washburn

Executive Secretary

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