PERMANENT RULES
COMMISSION
STATUTORY OR OTHER AUTHORITY: The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission takes this action under Notice No. WSR 99-12-112, filed with the code reviser of June 2, 1998. The commission brings this proceeding pursuant to RCW 80.01.040.
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE: This proceeding complies with the Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW), the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW), the State Register Act (chapter 34.08 RCW), the State Environmental Policy Act of 1971 (chapter 34.21C [43.21C] RCW), and the Regulatory Fairness Act (chapter 19.85 RCW).
DATE OF ADOPTION: The commission adopted this rule on August 11, 1999.
CONCISE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE RULE: The rule revisions implement the requirements of Executive Order 97-02, requiring agencies to review rules for clarity, intent and statutory authority, need, effectiveness and efficiency, coordination, cost and fairness. The new rules also incorporate and formalize policies, add requirements for customer notice for rate increase filings, and eliminate rules that are obsolete.
This rule making repeals the existing chapter, revises and reorganizes the existing provisions for clarity, and complies with other requirements of the executive order by making changes from prior provisions. In the following discussion, descriptions use the number of the new section. Amendments discussed are not changes in the language of that section, but are revisions of prior provisions in sections numbered differently.
WAC 480-110-245 updates the glossary of terms by removing words or terms that are not needed or no longer used and adding words or terms to provide clarification of their usage in the revised chapter.
New section WAC 480-110-255 increases the threshold for regulatory jurisdiction over water companies to reflect the effects of inflation pursuant to specific statutory authority in RCW 80.04.010. It also codifies commission interpretive statement UW-930006 regarding the calculation of revenue for jurisdictional purposes.
New section WAC 480-110-275 increases the revenue thresholds that are used to classify water companies. The change follows the classifications used by National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
WAC 480-110-285 clarifies language regarding transfers of property, affiliated interest arrangements, and securities issuances by regulated water companies, and conforms the language to recent changes in law.
New section WAC 480-110-295 addresses adopted and initial tariffs. The proposed rule clarifies commission requirements when adopting the tariff of an acquired company and when filing an initial tariff of a newly regulated company.
WAC 480-110-305 Access to premises, modifies the prior
WAC 480-110-091 only to clarify the language.
WAC 480-110-315 Availability of information, modifies prior requirements to allow regulated companies to maintain an "electronic office" rather than a physical office. The section is also revised for clarity.
WAC 480-110-325 Applications for service, is a revision of the prior rule to create greater clarity. It also adds to the information that water companies must provide to applicants for service when they apply and when the company denies an application for service.
WAC 480-110-335 Establishment of credit and deposits, this section is revised for clarity and also eliminates an alternative to deposit that was available under the prior rule.
WAC 480-110-345 carries forward the topic of prior WAC 480-110-056 Refusal of service. It is revised for clarity and to allow a company to refuse to serve a location that it is outside the company's service area.
WAC 480-110-355 the rule governing discontinuance of service, removes telephone calls as options for advising a customer of pending disconnection and adds a process by which a customer may ask to postpone disconnection if a medical emergency exists.
WAC 480-110-365 Service responsibilities, is amended to coordinate water company responsibilities to the commission with statutes and regulations governing the Department of Health.
WAC 480-110-375 Form of bills, is amended to require companies to provide additional information to consumers on water bills to insure consumer awareness and understanding of their water charges. The rule also mandates proration for metered service.
WAC 480-110-385 provides revisions to clarify water company responsibility for complaints and disputes.
WAC 480-110-395 Water quality refunds, follows RCW 80.04.110(5) and defines when the commission may order refunds when a company delivers substandard water.
WAC 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure, combines four prior sections WAC 480-110-111 Accuracy of meters; 480-110-141 Refund for inaccurate metering, 480-110-146 Dispute as to accuracy of meters and WAC 480-110-151 Complaint meter test; into one section and revises provisions for clarity. An amendment also adds water pressure testing requirements.
WAC 480-110-415 Meters, clarifies the prior WAC 480-110-121, defining water company rights and responsibilities and customer rights and responsibilities relative to water meters.
WAC 480-110-425 Customer notice requirements, codifies requirements for notifying customers of proposed rate increases, new charges, changes in terms or conditions of service, and changes in ownership or company control.
WAC 480-110-435 Extension contracts, imposes applicable contract provisions of WAC 480-80-335 on extension contracts in addition to revising the section for clarity.
WAC 480-110-445 Service connections, clarifies what a service connection is, when a company may impose a service connection charge and when it may not.
WAC 480-110-455 Water company funding mechanisms, clearly identifies nontraditional methods of financing, specifies when they may be used, and directs the related regulatory methodologies.
WAC 480-110-465 Political information and political education activities, clarifies that expenses of funding political information and education are not allowable for ratemaking purposes.
WAC 480-110-475 Reports of accidents, revises the prior WAC 480-110-171 for clarity.
WAC 480-110-485 Retention and preservation of records and reports, updates and clarifies the former WAC 480-110-176.
WAC 480-110-495 Maps, removes the requirement that a company must include a map of its current service area in its filed tariff. The company now must maintain a current map of each of its water systems, and provide it to the commission within five days of a commission request.
New WAC 480-09-337 lists information that a company must file when it seeks a general rate increase.
REFERENCE TO AFFECTED RULES: The commission repeals and
adopts the following sections of the Washington Administrative
Code:
| Prior Section (repealed) |
Subject | Now codified in (new section) | And in |
| 480-110-011 | Application of rules | 480-110-205 | ---- |
| 480-110-016 | Savings clause | 480-110-225 | ---- |
| 480-110-018 | Definition of control | 480-110-235 | ---- |
| 480-110-021 | Glossary | 480-110-245 | ---- |
| 480-110-023 | Average customer revenue jurisdictional threshold | 480-110-255 Jurisdiction |
---- |
| 480-110-026 | Tariffs | 480-110-265 Tariffs |
480-110-495 Maps |
| 480-110-028 | Fire flow requirements | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-031 | Accounting | 480-110-275 Accounting and reporting requirements, and regulatory fees |
---- |
| 480-110-032 | Accounting -Political information and political education activities | 480-110-465 | ---- |
| 480-110-036 | Finance -Securities, affiliated interests, transfer of property | 480-110-285 Securities, affiliated interests, transfer of property |
---- |
| 480-110-041 | Availability of information | 480-110-315 | ---- |
| 480-110-046 | Application for service | 480-110-325 | ---- |
| 480-110-051 | Deposits | 480-110-335 Establishment of credit and deposits |
---- |
| 480-110-056 | Refusal of service | 480-110-345 | ---- |
| 480-110-061 | Contract for service | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-066 | Distribution extensions -service installations -service connections | 480-110-435 Extension contracts |
480-110-445 Service connections and customer service lines |
| 480-110-071 | Discontinuance of service | 480-110-355 | ---- |
| 480-110-076 | Service responsibilities | 480-110-365 | ---- |
| 480-110-081 | Service connections | 480-110-445 Service connections and customer service lines |
|
| 480-110-086 | Meter Location | 480-110-445 Service connections and customer service lines |
---- |
| 480-110-091 | Access to premises | 480-110-305 | ---- |
| 480-110-096 | Complaints and disputes | 480-110-385 Water company responsibility for complaints and disputes |
---- |
| 480-110-101 | Form of bills | 480-110-375 | ---- |
| 480-110-111 | Refund for inaccurate metering | 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure complaints |
---- |
| 480-110-116 | Responsibility for delinquent accounts | 480-110-345 Refusal of service |
---- |
| 480-110-121 | Meter charges and installation | 480-110-415 Meters |
---- |
| 480-110-126 | Meter readings | 480-110-415 Meters |
---- |
| 480-110-131 | Identification of meters | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-136 | Initial accuracy of meters | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-141 | Accuracy of meters | 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure complaints |
---- |
| 480-110-146 | Dispute as to accuracy of meters | 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure complaints |
---- |
| 480-110-151 | Complaint meter test | 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure complaints |
---- |
| 480-110-156 | Statement of test procedures | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-161 | Frequency of periodic tests | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-166 | Meter history records | Repealed | ---- |
| 480-110-171 | Reports of accidents | 480-110-475 | ---- |
| 480-110-176 | Filing of records and reports and the preservation of records | 480-110-485 | ---- |
| New Section (adopted) | Subject |
| 480-110-215 | Exemption from rules |
| 480-110-295 | Adopted and initial tariffs |
| 480-110-395 | Water quality refunds |
| 480-110-425 | Water company customer notice |
| 480-110-455 | Water company funding mechanisms |
| 480-09-337 | Filing requirements – General rate increases water companies |
ADDITIONAL NOTICE AND ACTIVITY PURSUANT TO PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT: The statement advised interested persons that the commission was considering entering a rule making to review all provisions required for water regulation, especially (but not limited to) the provisions of chapter 480-110 WAC. The commission also informed persons of the inquiry into this matter by providing notice of the subject and the CR-101 to all persons on the commission's list of persons requesting such information pursuant to RCW 34.05.320(3) and by providing notice to all commission regulated water utilities, public utility attorneys, state granges, legislators, and consumers who had previously shown interest in water matters.
The commission held stakeholder meetings on April 16 and June 30, 1998. It convened stakeholder meetings on September 15 and October 6, 1998, and on April 21, 1999, to address discussion drafts of proposed rules. The commission also convened meetings to address the definition of service area, water quality refunds, and service connections.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING: The commission filed a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) on December 11, 1998, at WSR 98-24-123. The commission scheduled this matter for oral comment and adoption on Wednesday, January 27, 1999.
At the time and place set in the notice, the commission convened the rule adoption hearing and continued it on the record until March 10, 1999. During the March 10, 1999, hearing session, the commission determined not to adopt the proposed rules but to sponsor further discussion and to prepare a small business economic impact statement before proceeding further.
The commission filed a supplemental notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) on June 2, 1999, at WSR 99-12-112. The commission scheduled the rule making for hearing on Wednesday, July 28, 1999. The notice provided interested persons the opportunity to submit written comments to the commission by July 14, 1999.
MEETINGS OR WORKSHOPS; COMMENTS: The commission received oral and written comments after the issuances of the original and supplemental CR-102 from the following:
| • | Five individual consumers |
| • | Washington Department of Health |
| • | American Water Resources |
| • | Harbor Water Co. |
| • | H&R Waterworks, Inc. |
| • | Meadows Water System |
| • | Oak Park Water Company |
| • | Rainier View Water Company |
| • | South Sound Water Co. |
| • | Sunshine Acres Water System |
| • | Washington Water Supply |
| • | Investor Owned Water Utilities Association of Washington |
| • | Sunshine Acres Property Owners Association |
| • | George Andre Fields, Esq., for Conrad Hunt and Kum Ho et al. |
| • | Richard A. Finnigan, Esq., for Rainier View Water Company |
The staff prepared two charts summarizing all comments submitted to the original and supplemental CR-102, and staff's response to those comments. Many of the comments received after the original CR-102 but before the supplemental CR-102 were more general in nature and allowed the staff and commenters the opportunity to resolve many of the issues discussed. The commission adopts the staff summaries as its own and deems them to be elements of its concise explanatory statement.
RULE-MAKING HEARING: The rule proposal was considered for adoption, pursuant to the notice, at a rule-making hearing scheduled during the commission's regularly scheduled open public meeting on July 28, 1999, before Chairwoman Marilyn Showalter, Commissioner Richard Hemstad, and Commissioner William R. Gillis. The commission heard oral comments from Danny Kermode and Gene Eckhardt representing commission staff; Richard A. Finnigan representing Rainer Water Company; and Drew Noble representing Oak Park Water Co.
Industry commenters indicated general support for the proposed rules, however Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Noble stated concerns regarding draft WAC 480-110-445 Service connections and customer service lines. In addition, Mr. Finnigan restated concerns that were provided in his written comments. The commission continued the hearing on the record until August 11, 1999, to allow industry and staff time to discuss the language of the service connections rule.
The commission reconvened the continued rule-making hearing
on August 11, 1999. Commissioner Richard Hemstad, and
Commissioner William R. Gillis heard oral comments from Danny
Kermode and Gene Eckhardt representing commission staff. Mr.
John R. Poppe representing Washington Water Supply, Inc. offered
comments regarding his concerns about the rule-making process but
in general supported the proposed rules. Mr. Noble again
addressed the commission only to clarify the need for WAC 480-110-445. No other persons testified.
•
WAC 480-110-295 Adopted and Initial Tariffs - Statutory
Authority Issues
Rainer View Water Co. commented that the rule's application
of tariff requirements to the acquisition of nonregulated systems
is inconsistent with statute. The commission disagrees. The
commission has held that it is within the commission's power to
direct an acquiring company to file a tariff that reflects rates
charged by the acquired company prior to acquisition. See the
Fifth Supplemental Order dated November 24, 1998, in Docket
UW-980076, WUTC vs. American Water Resources, Inc., at pages
39-41.
•
WAC 480-110-295 Adopted and Initial Tariffs - Other Issues
Mr. Finnigan discussed the wording in WAC 480-110-295 (3)(a)
that states that an initial tariff must be filed in a standard
format that the commission will provide upon request. He
acknowledges that there may be a standard tariff format, but is
concerned that companies should not be told that they must use
only the sample tariff. The commission has no intention of
prescribing tariff language. The rule mandates only format,
companies may use any language they deem appropriate subject to
commission review at the time of filing.
Mr. Finnigan discussed the requirement of WAC 480-110-295 (3)(d), which requires companies filing new or revised tariffs to supply supporting financial data justifying the proposed rates. Mr. Finnigan contended that the burden imposed by this rule on very small water companies is unduly onerous, and he suggested that WAC 480-110-295 (3)(d) be deleted. The commission rejects the suggestion. The rule merely requires the company to support proposed rates that they wish to charge their customers. Basic financial information is essential to determining the propriety of proposed rates and it is uniquely and exclusively in the possession of the company. Requiring its production is not "unduly onerous."
Mr. Finnigan also asserts that this section is contrary to the statutory scheme of the state of Washington by requiring cost support to be filed with any initial tariff. The commission rejects this position. The statute does not define initial tariff nor does the statute prohibit the requirement for financial data to be filed with any initial tariff. The filing of financial data is necessary to insure rates being charged are fair, just, and reasonable.
•
WAC 480-110-365 Service Responsibilities - New Facilities
Costs
Mr. Finnigan voiced concern that WAC 480-110-365(1) would
allow customers to force the company to bear an unreasonable
share of the costs of upgrades that are required to serve new
customers. The commission believes that the provisions of WAC 480-110-365 (1)(b) protect the company since any sharing of costs
must be provided in tariff or approved contract.
•
WAC 480-110-365 Service Responsibilities - Interruptions of
Service
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) had three
comments regarding WAC 480-110-365(8). First, DOH asked that the
rules clarify the meanings of the term "all reasonable efforts"
and "minimum of delay." The commission feels that no further
clarification is needed, and that the terms are to be understood
as they are in common usage. The DOH also recommended that the
rule "specifically indicate what steps a company might take in
advance to avoid interruptions." The commission feels that it
would be beyond the purpose of this rule to cite steps to avoid
interruptions. Finally, DOH recommended that the rule include
provisions for standby power. The question of standby power
relates to the company's requirement to provide "adequate
service" and in general should be addressed at the company level
and not by rule.
•
WAC 480-110-365 Service Responsibilities - Litigation
Disclaimer
Mr. Finnigan suggested that WAC 480-110-365 be amended to
include the following paragraph:
(10) Limitation - The standards and obligations for water companies established in this rule are not intended to establish a standard of care or duty for purposes of tort or other litigation.
The courts establish a duty of care based on evidence and arguments presented to them. The determination of judicial standards is beyond the commission's jurisdiction. It would be no more proper to disavow setting a judicial standard than it would to purport to establish such a standard. Any rule attempting to set a judicial standard would likely be held noncontrolling. In addition, the commission believes that the suggested wording would weaken the rule as a whole. The commission therefore rejects the suggestion.
•
WAC 480-110-405 Meter accuracy and water pressure
complaints.
American Water Resources voiced the concern that WAC 480-110-690's requirement that meter tests be performed within
ten days of the complaint may at certain times be "impossible."
The company suggests that the commission include a variance
provision to allow for "permissible variances from [the] 10 day
requirement." The commission believes the requirement is
reasonable and also notes that WAC 480-110-215(2) provides for
waivers. Therefore, a provision for variance of this rule is not
needed.
•
WAC 480-110-415 Meters - Installation of Consumer Requested
Meters
WAC 480-110-415 (2)(c) allows water customers who pay a flat
rate to obtain the installation of a meter, if the company has
tariffed metered rates. Mr. Finnigan commented that there may be
instances in which a customer's request for a meter would be
prohibitively expensive. He suggested that the wording in the
rule be modified so that the company must only honor a customer's
request "Where it is reasonable to install such a meter."
The rule WAC 480-110-215 already provides that the company may be excused from the obligation to install a meter when it demonstrates that the installation is not consistent with the public interest -- that is, if the financing and resources needed to comply with the request would be detrimental to the normal operations of the company. The suggested language would have the effect of shifting the burden of demonstrating reasonableness to the customer. Economic hardship is a possible means to demonstrate eligibility for an exemption. The company, however, possesses nearly all of the information essential to demonstrating that a particular installation is inconsistent with the rule's purpose. Shifting the burden of demonstration to others is not consistent with the public interest. The commission therefore declines to adopt the suggested language.
•
WAC 480-110-425 Customer Notice Requirements - Potential
Customers
Some commenters felt that the requirement to inform all
customers, as defined in WAC 480-110-245, of proposed tariff
changes is burdensome and would cause "a nightmare of record
keeping." Under the current rules, companies must only notify
current customers of proposed rate changes. The commission
believes that notification of all customers is essential to
consumer protection. All customers includes both current
customers and consumers who have been given a letter from the
water company agreeing to provide service. The rule requires no
record keeping of the water company beyond keeping a list of
consumers to whom it has committed to provide service. Such
consumers have nearly the same interest as current customers in
proposed tariffs. The benefits of notice thus outweigh the small
associated costs.
•
WAC 480-110-435 Extension Contracts
The Department of Health (DOH) suggested adding the
requirement that extension contracts be consistent with the
company's water system plan (WSP). The commission's focus in
this rule is the economic aspect of a proposed extension. To
expand it to include a company's WSP would expand the rule
outside of its intended scope. The DOH already has the power to
deny approval of any extension not in compliance with the
company's WSP through the DOH normal review process. The rule is
not intended to affect DOH regulation at all.
COMMISSION ACTION: After considering all of the information regarding this proposal, the commission adopts and repeals the attached provisions in chapter 480-110 WAC governing investor owned water companies, and adopts WAC 480-09-337 governing procedure for seeking a general increase in water rates.
CHANGES FROM PROPOSAL: The commission adopted the proposal with the following changes (other than minor, nonsubstantive changes) from the text noticed at WSR 99-12-112.
•
WAC 480-110-245 Glossary.
In the definition of "Standby charge," the commission added
the further explanation, not changing the substance of the
definition, that the term is equivalent to a "system-readiness
fee" charged by unregulated companies and that such a charge is
not authorized for regulated water companies.
| • | WAC 480-110-255 Jurisdiction. In response to comments received from consumers, the commission removed subsection (1)(c)(vii) from the rules to be adopted. The provision would have excluded mobile-home parks, apartments, and office complexes that provide master meters and rebill tenants for water use under certain conditions. The comments STET the commission that additional study is required to show that such a provision would operate in the public interest. |
| • | WAC 480-110-285 Securities, affiliated interests, transfer of property. In subsection (3), language is added to make the section's meaning very clear. |
| • | WAC 480-110-325 Application for service. In subsection (1), language is added to make it very clear that a company must receive a written application before it may provide initial service to a location. |
| • | WAC 480-110-365(9) Notice of service interruptions. Adds a new subsection (e) requiring a company to notify the Washington Department of Health of service interruptions, to assure sufficient monitoring of health conditions. |
| • | WAC 480-110-425(4) Water company customer notice requirements. Deletes the proposed requirement that a company notice disclose the percentage of a proposed increase, since percentage figures may, at times, be misleading depending on the base number used. For example, sometimes large dollar increases will show only a small percentage increase because the charge is already high. Modifies the language in the required company notification, for ease in customer understanding and to help assure that consumer responses are properly identified. |
| • | WAC 480-110-445 Service connections and customer service lines. In subsection (1), revises the language of provisions relating to service connections for increased clarity and public understanding. |
| • | WAC 480-110-455 Water company funding mechanisms. Revised language clarifies the uses to which surcharge funding may be put and adds the Department of Ecology as an agency whose directives may be met through surcharges. |
STATEMENT OF ACTION; STATEMENT OF EFFECTIVE DATE: In reviewing the entire record, the commission determines that WAC 480-110-011 through 480-110-176 are repealed and WAC 480-110-205 through 480-110-495 and WAC 480-09-337 are adopted to read as set forth in Appendix A, as rules of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, to take effect pursuant to RCW 34.05.380(2) on the thirty-first day after filing with the code reviser.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 30, Amended 0, Repealed 37.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 8, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
1. WAC 480-110-205 through 480-110-495 and 480-09-337 are adopted to read as set forth in Appendix A, as rules of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, to take effect on the thirty-first day after the date of filing with the code reviser pursuant to RCW 34.05.380(2).
2. This order and the rule set out below, after being recorded in the register of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, shall be forwarded to the code reviser for filing pursuant to chapters 80.01 and 34.05 RCW and chapter 1-21 WAC.
3. The commission adopts the commission staff memoranda, presented when the commission considered filing a preproposal statement of inquiry, when it considered filing the formal notice of proposed rule making, and when it considered adoption of this proposal, in conjunction with the text of this order, as its concise explanatory statement of the reasons for adoption and for rejection of proposed changes, as required by RCW 34.05.025.
DATED at Olympia, Washington, this 30th day of November, 1999.
WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Marilyn Showalter, Chair
William R. Gillis, Commissioner
OTS-3145.2
NEW SECTION
WAC 480-09-337
Filing requirements -- General rate increases
water companies.
A rate increase filing for a water company must include at least the following information:
(1) Cover letter - each filing must include a cover letter. The letter must:
(a) Provide a description of the filing, and the requested action, in understandable terms;
(i) Technical terms are acceptable, but descriptions must use common terms so the public can easily understand the impact of the filing;
(ii) Acronyms, if used, must be defined before they are used in the text of the letter;
(b) State why the filing is being made, e.g.; increased costs for water testing;
(i) Compliance filings required by prior commission action must include the docket number of the commission action and the name of that proceeding;
(ii) Rate change filings must describe each service that is impacted and the dollar and percentage change for each service as well as the net impact of all changes on the company's total regulated revenue;
(iii) Filings that only address changes to the text of the tariff must describe the general effect, and reasons for the changes;
(c) Requests for permission to change tariffs on less than statutory notice will be granted by the commission only when it deems the circumstances or conditions justify the lack of notice. The request must include a complete explanation of the reasons that support less than statutory notice treatment;
(d) Failure to include required information in the cover letter could result in the filing being rejected.
(2) The proposed tariff with explanatory markings.
(3) Supporting work papers for the test period. The supporting work papers must include:
(a) A calculation of the revenue impact of proposed rates by each class affected;
(b) Balance sheet and statement of revenues and expenses;
(c) Depreciation schedule;
(d) If adjustments are proposed, the company must file:
(i) Schedule showing adjustments to the statement of revenues and expenses, including any restating adjustments and/or proforma adjustments including effect of proposed rates;
(ii) Work papers explaining both restating and proforma adjustments;
(e) Usage statistics verifying test year revenues and proposed revenues;
(f) Public water system identification number assigned by Washington department of health for each system that the new rates will affect; and
(g) Schedule showing separation of revenues and expenses between regulated and nonregulated operations.
(4) A copy of the notice mailed to customers.
[]
OTS-2665.4
NEW SECTION
WAC 480-110-205
Application of rules.
The rules in this chapter apply to any water company that distributes, sells, or supplies water, and that meets requirements for commission regulation or jurisdiction under RCW 80.04.010 and WAC 480-110-255. This includes investor-owned water companies that meet the jurisdictional threshold of serving one hundred or more customers or receive average revenue of four hundred twenty-nine dollars or more per customer per year.
[]
(1) The commission may grant an exemption of any rule in this chapter, if consistent with the public interest, the purposes underlying regulation, and applicable statutes.
(2) To request a rule exemption, a person must file with the commission a written request identifying the rule for which an exemption is sought and giving a full explanation of the reason the exemption is requested.
(3) The commission will assign the request a docket number, if needed, and schedule the request for consideration at one of its regularly scheduled open meetings or, if appropriate under chapter 34.05 RCW, in an adjudication. The commission will notify the person requesting the exemption, and other interested persons, of the date the commission will consider the request.
(4) The commission will enter an order granting or denying the request or setting it for hearing, pursuant to chapter 480-09 WAC.
[]
The commission may impose additional or different requirements on any water company in response to a complaint or on its own motion. These rules do not relieve any water company from any of its duties and obligations under the laws of the state of Washington.
[]
(1) For purposes of determining commission jurisdiction over a water company as defined in RCW 80.04.010, "control" means the water system operator or manager has discretion over the property or finances or operations of a water company which is normally exercised by an owner. Factors indicating control include, but are not limited to, whether the operator or manager:
(a) May authorize the purchase or sale of all or part of the water system or its water rights;
(b) May authorize capital additions or improvements to the system;
(c) May accept contributed plant;
(d) May authorize the expenditure or acquisition of funds which encumber any asset of the company;
(e) May authorize the expenditure of funds for nonwater company purposes;
(f) Receives compensation of a type or amount having no reasonable relationship to the work performed or to be performed.
(2) Control does not include management by a satellite agency as defined in chapter 70.116 RCW if the satellite agency is not an owner of the water company.
[]
"Applicant" means any person, partnership, firm, corporation, municipality, cooperative organization, governmental agency, etc., that has completed a water company's application for water service.
"Commission" means the Washington utilities and transportation commission.
"Contributions in aid of construction" means any money, services or property received by a water company to fund capital investments at no cost to the company with no obligation to repay.
"Customer" means:
• Anyone who has paid water company fees and/or has an accepted application for service; or
• Anyone whose service connection is installed and is currently paying a ready-to-serve charge; or
• Anyone who is actually receiving water service from the company with the knowledge of the company.
"Extension" means the water mains and equipment necessary to extend the company's transmission and distribution infrastructure. An extension may also be called a distribution extension, a main extension, or a line extension.
"Facilities charge" means a one-time fee that a new customer must pay, consistent with WAC 480-110-455, before the company will connect the customer's property to the water system.
"Initial tariff" means:
• The tariff filed by a water company when it first becomes subject to the jurisdiction of the commission; or
• The tariff filed by a water company that was formerly subject to commission jurisdiction, and has once again become jurisdictional. It does not mean a tariff filed to add a newly acquired system or company to the tariff of a currently jurisdictional company.
"Jurisdictional customer" means anyone who is actually receiving water service.
"Potential customer" means anyone to whom the water company has given a letter agreeing to provide service; and
• The letter is currently enforceable and has not expired by its own terms; and
• The property is not yet receiving any type of service.
"Primary contaminants" means substances that, when present in drinking water at levels exceeding designated maximum contaminant levels (MCL), may adversely affect the health of consumers. These MCLs are established as water quality "primary standards" and are based on chronic, nonacute, or acute human health effects.
"Rate increase filing" means any filing by the company that would:
• Increase gross annual revenues of the company from activities regulated by the commission; or
• Restructure tariffs so that one class of customer would provide more gross revenue than under the prior tariff structure. The term does not mean filings designed only to recover governmentally imposed taxes or periodic rate adjustments that have been authorized by commission order.
"Ready-to-serve charge" means the charge assessed by the water company when:
• The water company has the ability to provide water service;
• The water company has committed to provide water service; and
• There is an installed service connection at the customer's property.
"Reconnect charge" means the charge specified in the company's tariff for restoring water service that has been disconnected:
• At the customer's request; or
• For nonpayment; or
• For failure to comply with the company's rules.
"Service area" means the geographic area to which the company intends to provide water service using current plant.
"Service connection" means the pipes, valves, and fittings between the water company's distribution system and the customer's service line.
"Standby charge" means a charge imposed by some unregulated companies for having transmission and distribution infrastructure installed but without the current ability to provide water. It is also sometimes referred to as a system-readiness fee. The commission does not authorize this type of charge for regulated water companies.
"Surcharge" means a monthly charge or fee paid to the water company for plant or expenses. The surcharge is in addition to regular monthly service fees and typically has an expiration date or dollar limit and is subject to specific accounting requirements.
"Water company" or "company" means any corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership or person, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatever, owning, controlling, operating or managing any water plant within the state of Washington for the purpose of furnishing water service to the public for hire and subject to the jurisdiction of the commission. It does not include management by a satellite management agency as defined in chapter 70.116 RCW if the satellite agency is not an owner of the water company.
"Water system" means all plant, equipment, and other assets used to provide water service for a specific location.
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(1) The commission only regulates investor-owned water companies that:
(a) Own, operate, control, or manage one or more water systems; except that control or management does not include management by a satellite management agency as defined in chapter 70.116 RCW if the satellite management agency is not an owner of the water company.
(b) Meet jurisdictional thresholds of one hundred or more customers, or receive average revenue of four hundred twenty-nine dollars per customer per year.
| If a water company serves customers | and receives average annual revenue per customer | commission regulation |
| 99 or less | less than $429 | No |
| 99 or less | $429 or more | Yes |
| 100 or more | less than $429 | Yes |
| 100 or more | $429 or more | Yes |
(2) The commission does not regulate the following providers
of water service:
(a) Cities, towns, or counties.
(b) Public utility districts.
(c) Water districts.
(d) Local improvement districts.
(e) Homeowner associations, cooperatives and mutual corporations, or similar entities that provide service only to their owners or members.
(f) Homeowner associations, cooperatives and mutual corporations, or similar entities that provide service to nonmembers unless they serve one hundred or more nonmembers, or charge nonmembers more than four hundred twenty-nine dollars average annual revenue per nonmember.
(3) To determine jurisdiction, the commission considers only those customers receiving water. The commission does not consider customers who do not receive water, such as customers who have paid:
(a) Water-availability letter fees.
(b) Standby charges.
(c) System-readiness fees.
(d) Ready-to-serve charges.
(4) To calculate the average annual revenue per customer, the commission considers only the charges that water-receiving customers pay on a monthly basis, other than contributions in aid of construction. For example, this includes money paid for flat-rate service or the metered base-charge and all usage charges.
(a) The commission does not include charges paid by customers who do not receive water, such as:
(i) Water availability letter fees.
(ii) Standby charges.
(iii) System-readiness fees.
(iv) Ready-to-serve charges.
(b) The commission does not consider contributions in aid of construction in determining jurisdiction. These contributions can be money, services or property. Payments can be made in a lump sum or financed over time. Examples of contributions in aid of construction include payments for:
(i) Connection to system.
(ii) Meter installation.
(iii) System buy-in.
(iv) Facilities charges.
(v) Assessments for capital plant and equipment.
(5) The following example shows how to calculate the average annual revenue per customer for two hypothetical customers. The data for each customer are provided at the end of the example:
(a) Select the most recent twelve consecutive months.
| Example: | February 1999 through January 2000. |
| Example: | Customer A paid $340. |
| Customer B paid $283. |
| Example: | Customer A received water service for twelve months. |
| Customer B received water service for nine months. |
| Example: | ||||
| Paid to Water Company During the Twelve-Month Period | ||||
| Customer A | $340 | |||
| Customer B | + | $283 | ||
| Total Paid During Twelve- Month Period |
$623 | |||
| Example: | ||||
| Number of Months
Received Water Service During the Twelve-Month Period |
||||
| Customer A | 12 | |||
| Customer B | + | 9 | ||
| Total Months Received Water Service During the Twelve-Month Period | 21 | |||
| Example: | |||||
| Total Paid During the Twelve-Month Period | $623 | ||||
| Total Months Received Water Service During the Twelve-Month Period | ÷ | 21 | |||
| Average Monthly Revenue Per Customer | $29.67 | ||||
| (A) | Average Monthly Revenue Per Customer | $29.67 | |
| Months in a Year | x | 12 | |
| (B) | Average Annual Revenue Per Customer | $356.04 |
| DATA USED IN THE EXAMPLE TO CALCULATE AVERAGE ANNUAL REVENUE PER CUSTOMER |
|||||||||
| Example -- Customer A |
|||||||||
Standby Charge |
Ready-to- Serve Charge |
Connection Charge |
Facilities Charge |
Meter Base Charge |
Meter Usage Charge |
||||
| Receive Water Service | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Contribution in Aid of Construction | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
| Total | |||||||||
| Year | Month | Paid | |||||||
| 1997 | February | $20 | $4 | $24 | |||||
| 1997 | March | $20 | $5 | $25 | |||||
| 1997 | April | $20 | $2 | $22 | |||||
| 1997 | May | $25 | $5 | $30 | |||||
| 1997 | June | $25 | $6 | $31 | |||||
| 1997 | July | $25 | $12 | $37 | |||||
| 1997 | August | $25 | $6 | $31 | |||||
| 1997 | September | $25 | $4 | $29 | |||||
| 1997 | October | $25 | $4 | $29 | |||||
| 1997 | November | $25 | $3 | $28 | |||||
| 1997 | December | $25 | $2 | $27 | |||||
| 1998 | January | $25 |
$2 |
$27 |
|||||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $285 | $55 | $340 | |||
| Number of months service | 12 | ||||||||
| Not Receiving Water | $0 | ||||||||
| Receiving Water - Contribution in Aid of Construction | $0 | ||||||||
| Receiving Water - Other than Contribution in Aid of Construction | $340 |
||||||||
| Total customer paid during period | $340 | ||||||||
| DATA USED IN THE EXAMPLE TO CALCULATE AVERAGE ANNUAL REVENUE PER CUSTOMER |
|||||||||
| Example -- Customer B |
|||||||||
Standby Charge |
Ready-to- Serve Charge |
Connection Charge |
Facilities Charge |
Meter Base Charge |
Meter Usage Charge |
||||
| Receive Water Service | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Contribution in Aid of Construction | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | |||
| Total | |||||||||
| Year | Month | Paid | |||||||
| 1997 | February | $7 | $7 | ||||||
| 1997 | March | $7 | $7 | ||||||
| 1997 | April | $12 | $12 | ||||||
| 1997 | May | $300 | $4,500 | $25 | $5 | $4,830 | |||
| 1997 | June | $25 | $4 | $29 | |||||
| 1997 | July | $25 | $3 | $28 | |||||
| 1997 | August | $25 | $12 | $37 | |||||
| 1997 | September | $25 | $10 | $35 | |||||
| 1997 | October | $25 | $15 | $40 | |||||
| 1997 | November | $25 | $5 | $30 | |||||
| 1997 | December | $25 | $2 | $27 | |||||
| 1998 | January | $25 |
$2 |
$27 |
|||||
| $14 | $12 | $300 | $4,500 | $225 | $58 | $5,109 | |||
| Number of months service | 9 | ||||||||
| Not Receiving Water | $26 | ||||||||
| Receiving Water - Contributions in Aid of Construction | $4,800 | ||||||||
| Receiving Water - Other than Contribution in Aid of Construction | $283 |
||||||||
| Total customer paid during period | $5,109 | ||||||||
(h) To ensure that all customers are treated equitably, the
commission will impute the same rates to any customers receiving
free or reduced service that apply to other customers receiving
comparable service on the same system.
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Tariffs filed by a water company must conform to the rules of this section and chapter 480-80 WAC Utilities General -- Tariffs, unless the commission has authorized deviation from the rules in writing.
[]
(1) Water companies must use the uniform system of accounts (USOA) published by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). The USOA sets out the accounting requirements for class A, B, and C water companies.
Water companies are classified by revenues.
| Class | Annual Gross Operating Revenue |
| A | $1,000,000 or more |
| B | $200,000 to $999,999 |
| C | Less than $200,000 |
(2) A water company may use the accounting requirements for a higher class if it chooses.
(3) The commission will distribute an annual report form that each water company must complete and file with the commission for the prior calendar year. The annual report must be filed, and the company's regulatory fee paid, no later than May 1 of each year.
(4) A written request for the extension of the time for filing the annual report can be made prior to May 1. The commission does not grant an extension of time for payment of regulatory fees.
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(1) Prior to a water company issuing stock, evidence of indebtedness, or any other securities, the company must comply with the requirements of chapter 80.08 RCW and chapter 480-146 WAC.
(2) Prior to a water company entering into a contract or arrangement with an affiliated interest, the company must file a copy, or summary if unwritten, of the contract or arrangement with the commission in accordance with chapter 80.16 RCW and chapter 480-146 WAC.
(3) Prior to transferring, selling, leasing, or assigning any of its property or facilities, or before acquiring property, facilities, stock, or bonds of another public utility, a water company must apply for and obtain commission approval in accordance with chapter 80.12 RCW and 480-143 WAC.
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A water company must file revisions to its filed tariff within thirty days of its acquisition of new service area, whether by acquisition of another regulated water company or by acquiring one or more previously unregulated water systems.
(1) Adopted tariffs - when a regulated company acquires another regulated company. Any regulated water company acquiring a regulated water company must adopt the latter's tariff. An adoption form must be completed and filed with the commission by the acquiring water company within thirty days of the acquisition. The commission will supply an adoption form upon request.
(2) Incorporate into existing tariff - when a regulated water company acquires a nonregulated company.
(a) When a regulated water company acquires a nonregulated water company or water system, the acquiring water company must file a separate tariff page indicating the name of the newly acquired company or system with the rates and charges that were in existence before the acquisition.
(b) If the acquired nonregulated company or water system was previously subject to commission jurisdiction, the acquiring water company must file a separate tariff page indicating the name of the newly acquired company or system with the rates and charges in effect for the acquired company at the time the acquired company was removed from regulation.
(c) No other rates and charges may apply to the customers on the newly acquired system except those specifically shown on the new tariff page unless the company obtains the commission's approval to charge a different rate.
(3) Initial tariffs - when a company becomes jurisdictional.
(a) An initial tariff must be filed in a standard tariff format. The commission will provide illustrations of the standard format upon request.
(b) The tariff must be accompanied by a cover letter describing the filing as an initial tariff.
(c) Customers must be notified before the commission receives the filing.
(d) The filing must be accompanied by supporting financial data justifying the proposed rates. See WAC 480-09-337, Filing requirements -- General rate increases water companies.
(4) Initial tariffs - a company that was previously subject to commission jurisdiction. If a company or water system was previously subject to commission jurisdiction and once again becomes jurisdictional, the company must file a tariff with the rates and charges in effect at the time the company was last removed from regulation.
[]
Authorized personnel of a water company have the right to enter a customer's property during reasonable hours to perform meter reading, maintenance, testing, installation or removal of the company's property. Customers may ask to see the identification of the water company personnel before allowing entry to the customer's property.
[]
(1) A water company must notify its customers of its regular business hours, telephone number, mailing address and a twenty-four hour emergency telephone, pager, voice messaging, fax machine or mobile phone number, at least once a year.
(2) A water company must advise its customers and the commission of any change in address or telephone number(s) at least ten days prior to the effective date.
(3) The water company must develop procedures for prompt response to reported failures or emergencies. A company representative must respond to the customer who reported the service failure or emergency within twenty-four hours of the report.
(4) When a nonemergency customer call is received, a water company must return the customer's call within two business days.
(5) A water company must acknowledge and respond to a customer's written inquiry within two weeks of receiving the letter.
(6) The water company must provide a copy of the commission's consumer brochure to each new applicant for service, and once a year notify its current customers of the availability of the brochure and how to obtain a copy.
(7) The water company must make the following information available for review by customers:
(a) A copy of the water rules, chapter 480-110 WAC.
(b) A copy of the company's current rates and regulations (tariff).
(c) A copy of the consumer brochure published by the commission.
[]
(1) When establishing initial service to a location the water company must obtain applications for service in writing, on company-supplied forms. The completed application form must:
(a) Include both the company's and the applicant's name, address and telephone number;
(b) Show the date the person applied for service;
(c) Comply with the water company's filed tariffs;
(d) Clearly state the type of service requested. (Examples: Residential or commercial, flat-rated or metered service, a letter to provide service, ready-to-serve, etc.);
(e) Include a property lot description, street number, or other sufficient description of location for service;
(f) Include a complete list and description of all applicable charges. (Examples: Account set-up, service connection, facilities charge, line extension, etc.);
(g) Include the date by which a customer can expect service;
(h) Include the application expiration date, if any;
(i) Include signatures of the potential customer and a company representative.
(2) After completing the application, the water company must:
(a) Provide the applicant with a copy of the completed form;
(b) Keep a copy of the completed application in the company's business office for no less than three years after the expiration date or the denial-of-service date;
(c) Inform the applicant within ten days of the company's intention to provide service or deny service. If service is denied, the company must tell the applicant the reason service is being denied and advise the applicant of the commission's toll-free number (1-800-562-6150) for appealing the decision.
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(1) Establishment of credit - residential. A company must not collect a security deposit if an applicant for residential water service can establish satisfactory credit by any one of the following factors:
(a) Prior service with the water company within the prior twelve months and:
(i) At least twelve consecutive months with no more than one delinquency notice; and
(ii) The service was not disconnected for nonpayment.
(b) Prior residential water service with another water company, as demonstrated in (a) of this subsection, for which references may be quickly and easily checked. The water company may request that the reference be in writing from the previous water company;
(c) Full-time consecutive employment during the prior twelve months with no more than two employers, and the applicant is currently employed or has a regular source of income;
(d) Ownership of a legal interest in the premises being served;
(e) Furnishing a satisfactory guarantor responsible for payment of water service bills in the event of disconnection or default by the customer, in a specified amount, not to exceed the amount of the cash deposit required;
(f) Producing, in person at the water company's business office, two major credit cards, or other credit references, that the company can quickly and easily check that demonstrate a satisfactory payment history.
(2) Establishment of credit - nonresidential. An applicant for nonresidential water service may be required to demonstrate that it is a satisfactory credit risk by reasonable means appropriate under the circumstances.
(3) Deposit requirements. A deposit may be required when:
(a) The applicant has failed to establish a satisfactory credit history as outlined in subsections (1) or (2) of this section;
(b) During the prior twelve months, the applicant's service from another water company has been disconnected for failure to pay amounts owing when due;
(c) There is an unpaid, overdue balance owing for similar service from the water company to which application is being made or from any other water company;
(d) Two or more delinquency notices have been served upon the applicant by any water company during the prior twelve months;
(e) The application is for the initiation or continuation of service to a residence where a prior customer still lives and owes a past due bill to the water company.
(4) Amount of deposit. Required deposits for a customer or location must not exceed:
(a) Two-twelfths of the estimated annual billings for that customer or location for companies billing monthly;
(b) Three-twelfths of estimated annual billings for companies billing bimonthly;
(c) Four-twelfths of estimated annual billings for companies billing trimonthly.
(5) Transfer of deposit. When a customer moves to a new address within the water company's service territory, the deposit must be transferable, less any outstanding past-due balance owing from the old address.
(6) Interest on deposits. Interest on deposits collected from applicants or customers must:
(a) Accrue at the rate calculated as a simple average of the effective interest rate for new issues of one-year treasury bills, computed from December 1 of each year, continuing through November 30 of the following year. The commission will advise the water company each year of the specific rate by mail.
(b) Earn the calculated interest rate during January 1 through December 31 of the subsequent year.
(c) Be computed from the time of deposit to the time of refund or total application of the deposit and must be compounded annually.
(7) Extended payment arrangement of deposits. When an applicant or customer is required to pay a deposit but is unable to pay the entire deposit in advance of connection or continuation of service, the applicant or customer must be allowed to pay fifty percent of the deposit prior to service, with the remaining balance payable in equal amounts over the next two months.
(8) Cash payments. When payment is made in person and in cash, a receipt must be furnished to each applicant or customer for the amount paid.
(9) Refund of deposits when required. Deposits plus accrued interest must be refunded when there has been satisfactory payment or upon termination of service.
(a) Satisfactory payment - when a customer has paid for service for twelve consecutive months in a prompt and satisfactory manner as evidenced by the following:
(i) The water company has not initiated disconnection proceedings against the customer; and
(ii) No more than two notices of delinquency have been made to the customer by the water company.
(b) Termination of service - upon termination of service, the utility must return to the customer the amount then on deposit plus accrued interest, less any amounts due the utility by the customer.
(10) Refund of deposits method. Any deposit, plus accrued interest, must be refunded to the customer in accordance with the preference indicated by the customer at the time of deposit, or as modified on a later date, using one of the following methods:
(a) In the form of a check issued and mailed to the customer no later than fifteen days following completion of twelve months of satisfactory payment as described above; or
(b) Applied to the customer's account for service beginning in the 13th month.
(11) Additional deposit. Nothing in this rule prevents the requirement of a larger deposit or a new deposit when conditions warrant. Should a larger or new deposit be required, the reasons must be specified in writing to the customer. Any requirement for a new or larger deposit must comply with the standards set forth in this rule.
[]
(1) A water company must not refuse or discontinue service to an applicant or customer when there are unpaid bills from a prior customer at the same premises unless the company believes, based on objective evidence, that the applicant is acting on behalf of the prior customer with the intent to avoid payment.
(2) A water company cannot permanently deny service to an applicant or customer because of a prior obligation to the company. A prior obligation is the dollar amount that has been billed to a customer but left unpaid at the time of disconnection of service for nonpayment.
(3) The water company may refuse to connect an applicant for service, or refuse to increase service to a customer, when one or more of the following conditions exist:
(a) The service will adversely affect service being provided to other customers;
(b) The applicant or customer has not complied with state, county, or municipal codes or regulations concerning the approved design or use of the facilities;
(c) In the company's judgment, the applicant's or customer's installation of piping or equipment is hazardous, or of such design that satisfactory service cannot be provided;
(d) The applicant or customer has not installed on its premises required protective devices necessary to protect the company's property or that of its other customers;
(e) The company is unable to secure all necessary rights of way, easements, approvals, and permits;
(f) Furnishing the water is contrary to the provisions of the company's approved water system plan; or
(g) The location to be served is located outside of the company's service area.
[]
(1) Service may be disconnected either by customer direction or by company action:
(a) Customer-directed - Customers wanting to discontinue service must notify the water company. The company must disconnect the service as requested by the customer. If the customer fails to request disconnection of service the customer will be responsible to continue paying for water service at the company's tariff rate until the company becomes aware that the customer vacated the property.
(b) Company-directed: Notice requirements - After properly notifying the customer, as explained in subsection (3) of this section, the water company may discontinue service to its customers for:
(i) Unpaid bills, as provided for in WAC 480-110-375;
(ii) Water use for purposes or properties other than those specified in the customer's application for service;
(iii) Willful waste of water through improper or defective piping, equipment, or otherwise;
(iv) Piping or equipment that does not meet the company's standards or fails to comply with other applicable codes and regulations;
(v) Tampering with the company's property;
(vi) Vacating the premises;
(vii) Nonpayment of any proper charges, including deposit, as provided in the company's tariff;
(viii) Refusing to allow access as required in WAC 480-110-305;
(ix) Violating rules, service agreements, or effective tariffs, including violation of outdoor watering instructions given to customers in order to curtail water use during time of shortage;
(x) Use of equipment that detrimentally affects the company's service to its other customers.
(c) Service obtained by fraud: No notice required before termination - A water company may terminate service without notice when it discovers that a customer has obtained service fraudulently. Examples of fraud include: When service is connected without the company's knowledge, when service is obtained by fraudulent means or representations, or when service is used to provide service to other persons who are required to obtain their own service.
(i) First offense: The company may disconnect service immediately and without prior notice when it discovers fraud, unless the customer immediately pays:
(A) The tariff rate for service that the company estimates was taken fraudulently; plus
(B) All company costs resulting from the fraudulent use and all applicable fees; plus
(C) Any applicable required deposit.
(ii) Second offense: The company may disconnect service immediately and without prior notice when it discovers further fraud. The company may refuse to reconnect service to a customer who has been disconnected for further fraud.
(iii) Commission review: A customer may ask the commission to review any company determination of fraud through an informal or formal complaint. The company has the burden of proving that fraud occurred. However, this rule does not relieve any person who has committed fraud from civil or criminal responsibility.
(2) Medical emergencies - When a water company has cause to disconnect or has disconnected a residential service, it must postpone disconnection of service or must reinstate service for a grace period of five business days after receiving either verbal or written notification of the existence of a medical emergency. In cases of actual emergencies when service is reinstated, payment of a reconnection charge and/or deposit shall not be required prior to reinstatement of service.
(a) The company may require that the customer, within five business days, submit written certification from a qualified medical professional stating that the disconnection of water service would significantly endanger the physical health of a resident of the household. "Qualified medical professional" means a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant authorized to diagnose and treat the medical condition without supervision of a physician. Nothing in this section precludes a company from accepting other forms of certification, but the maximum the company can require is written certification. If the company requires written certification, it may require that the certification include some or all of the following information:
(i) Residence location;
(ii) An explanation of how the physical health of the person will be endangered by disconnection of local service;
(iii) A statement of how long the condition is expected to last; and
(iv) The title, signature and telephone number of the person certifying the condition.
(b) A medical emergency does not excuse a customer from paying delinquent and ongoing charges. The company may require that the customer do the following within the five business day grace period: Pay a minimum of twenty-five percent of the delinquent balance and enter into an agreement to pay the remaining delinquent balance within ninety days and to pay subsequent bills when due. Nothing in this section precludes the company from agreeing to an alternate payment plan, but the company may not require the customer to pay more than this subsection prescribes. The company must send a notice to the customer confirming the payment arrangements within two business days.
(c) If within the five-day grace period the customer fails to provide an acceptable payment arrangement, the company may disconnect service without further notice.
(d) If the customer fails to abide by the terms of the payment agreement the company may disconnect service without further notice.
(e) The medical certification is valid only for the length of time the health endangerment is certified to exist but no longer than six months unless renewed.
(3) Required notice prior to disconnecting service - Water companies must notify customers before disconnecting their service except in case of danger to life or property, fraudulent use, impairment of service, or violation of law. In all other cases, the company must not disconnect service until it has met the following requirements:
(a) The company must serve a written disconnection notice on the customer, either by mail, or, at the company's option, by personal delivery of the notice to the customer's address, attached to the primary door. Each disconnection notice must include:
(i) A delinquent date that is no less than eight business days after the date of personal delivery or mailing if mailed from inside the state of Washington or a delinquent date that is no less than eleven days if mailed from outside of the state of Washington; and
(ii) All pertinent information about the reason for the disconnection notice and how to correct the problem; and
(iii) The company's name, address, and telephone number by which a customer may contact the company to discuss the pending disconnection of service.
(b) In addition to (a) of this subsection, a second notice must be provided by one of the two options listed below:
(i) Delivered notice - The company must deliver a second notice to the customer and attach it to the customer's primary door. The notice must contain a deadline for compliance that is no less than twenty-four hours after the time of delivery that allows the customer until 5:00 p.m. of the following day to comply; or
(ii) Mailed notice - The company must mail a second notice, which must include a deadline for compliance that is no less than three business days after the date of mailing if mailed from within the state of Washington or six days if mailed outside the state of Washington.
(c) Disconnection notices must:
(i) Include detailed information pertinent to the situation; and
(ii) Include the company's name, address and telephone number by which the customer may contact the company to discuss the pending disconnection of service; and
(iii) Expire after ten business days from the first day that the company may disconnect service, unless other mutually agreed upon arrangements have been made and confirmed in writing by the company. If mutually accepted arrangements are not kept, the company may disconnect service without further notice.
(d) Except in case of danger to life or property, companies may not disconnect service on Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, or on any other day on which the company cannot reestablish service on the same or following day.
(e) A company employee dispatched to disconnect service must accept payment of a delinquent account at the service address if tendered in cash, but is not required to give change for cash tendered in excess of the amount due and owing. The company must credit any excess payment to the customer's account. When disconnection does not take place due to payment made by the customer, the company may assess a fee for the disconnection visit to the service address as provided in the company's tariff. The disconnection notice must describe the disconnection visit charge, the amount, and the circumstances under which the charge will be made.
(f) When service is provided through a master meter, or when the utility has reasonable grounds to believe service is to other than the customer of record, the company must undertake reasonable efforts to inform occupants of the service address of the impending disconnection. Upon request of one or more service users, where service is to other than the customer of record, a minimum period of five days must be allowed to permit the service users to arrange for continued service.
(g) When service is provided to a hospital, medical clinic with resident patients, or nursing home, notice of pending disconnection must be provided to the director of the Washington department of health, and to the customer. Upon request to the company from the Washington department of health director or designee, an additional five business days must be allowed before disconnecting service to allow the department to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the interests of resident patients who are responsibilities of the Washington department of health.
(h) Service may not be disconnected while the customer is pursuing any remedy or appeal provided by these rules or while engaged in discussions with the company's representatives or with the commission. However, any amounts not in dispute must be paid when due and any conditions posing a danger to health, safety, or property must be corrected.
(4) Payments at a payment agency - Payment of any past due amounts to a designated payment agency of the water company constitutes payment when the customer informs the company of the payment and the company has verified the payment with the payment agency.
(5) Reconnecting water service after disconnection - The water company must restore disconnected service when the customer has paid, or the company has agreed to bill, any reconnection charge and:
(a) The causes of disconnection are removed; or
(b) The customer pays all proper charges; or
(c) The customer pays any applicable deposit as provided for in the company tariff in accordance with WAC 480-110-335.
The commission may order reconnection pending resolution of any bona fide dispute between the company and the customer over the propriety of disconnection.
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(1) Customer responsibility - Customers must notify the water company in writing prior to making a change in equipment or usage that will materially affect the service being provided by the company. The customer must:
(a) Provide the company adequate time to install necessary additional facilities or supply; and
(b) Pay an equitable share of the cost of necessary additional facilities, if any, as provided in the company's tariff or through a contract submitted to the commission for approval.
(2) Water company responsibility - Water companies must:
(a) Install and maintain all equipment at appropriate locations necessary to operate the system;
(b) Install additional equipment as required by the commission in connection with performing special investigations; and
(c) Notify all affected customers when changes to the service will require customers to adjust their equipment.
(i) If the customer has been advised of the needed change prior to taking service, the company has no obligation to pay for any costs in connection with making required changes to the customer's equipment.
(ii) If the change in service is required by law, the company has no obligation to pay for any costs in connection with making required changes to the customer's equipment.
(iii) Otherwise when equipment must be adjusted to permit use under the changed conditions, the cost of any necessary adjustments must be equitably shared by the company and customer.
(3) Maintenance - Each water company must maintain its plant and system in a condition that enables it to furnish adequate service and meet its obligation under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC, as applicable.
(4) Quality of water - Each water company must meet Washington department of health requirements under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC, as applicable.
(5) Protection of water supply - Each water company must protect its sources of supply, as required by Washington department of health under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC, as applicable.
(6) Operations and maintenance - Each water company must comply with Washington department of health rules regarding operation and maintenance, as required under chapter 246-290 or 246-291 WAC as applicable, and by good engineering practices.
(7) Test records - Each water company must:
(a) Keep a complete record of each test made for quality and service conditions as required under these rules. The records must contain complete information concerning the test, including such items as the commission may require;
(b) Provide the records to the commission staff upon request.
(8) Interruption of service and service outages:
(a) Water companies must make all reasonable efforts to avoid outage of service but are not insurers in the event of emergency, acts of God, or similar event. When outages do occur, the company must make reasonable efforts to reestablish service with a minimum of delay.
(b) When making necessary repairs or changes to its facilities, a water company:
(i) May interrupt service for a period of time as reasonably necessary and in a manner that minimizes the inconvenience to the customers; and
(ii) Must attempt to do the work during working hours regularly maintained by the company.
(c) A water company may interrupt service without incurring any liability.
(9) Notice of service interruptions - Water companies must:
(a) Notify its customers of a scheduled interruption twenty-four hours in advance through newspapers, radio announcements, or other means;
(b) Notify police and fire departments affected by the interruption individually;
(c) Keep a record of all interruptions of service affecting a substantial number of customers, including in such records:
(i) The location;
(ii) The date and time;
(iii) The duration; and
(iv) The cause of each interruption, if known.
(d) Provide copies of records to the commission staff, upon request;
(e) Notify the Washington department of health.
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(1) Customer bills must:
(a) Be issued at intervals not to exceed three months and identify if the water company is billing in arrears or advance;
(b) Show a reference to the applicable rate schedule;
(c) Identify and show each separate charge as a line item;
(d) Show the total amount of the bill;
(e) Include enough information that, together with tariff rates, the customer can calculate his or her bill (a copy of the tariff is available for review at company or from the commission upon request);
(f) Show the date the bill becomes delinquent if not paid. The minimum specified time must be fifteen days after the bill's mailing date, if mailed from within the state of Washington, or eighteen days if mailed from outside the state of Washington, after the bill's mailing date.
A customer may request to pay by a certain date that is not the normally designated payment date when showing good cause. Good cause may include, but is not limited to, adjustment of a billing cycle to parallel receipt of income. The preferred payment date must be prior to the next invoice date.
(g) Include the water company's business address and telephone number and/or emergency telephone number by which a customer may contact the company;
(h) If the customer is metered, include the current and previous meter readings, the current read date, and the number and kind of units consumed;
(i) Show taxes and any tax percentage rate that the taxes are computed from. Taxes must be totaled to show a total taxed amount. Upon request, the company must provide a detail of the computation of the tax amount. Taxes, as used here, represent municipal occupation, business and excise taxes that have been levied by a municipality against the company, and are being passed on to the customer as a part of the charge for water service; and
(j) Clearly identify when a bill has been estimated.
(2) Water companies may prorate bills for customers who have taken service for a fraction of the billing period. If the company does not have its method of prorating bills in its tariff, the company must prorate bills in the following manner:
(a) For flat rate service, the charge must be prorated on the basis of the proportionate part of the period during which service was rendered.
(b) For metered service the charge will be equal to:
(i) The applicable minimum charge as shown in the company's tariff must be prorated on the basis of the proportionate part of the period during which service was rendered; plus
(ii) Any water usage charge computed using rates and allowances shown in the company's tariff.
(3) The water company must include its method for estimating bills in its tariff. Estimating of bills is allowed for no more than two consecutive billing cycles.
(4) When a company has cause to back-bill a customer, the company must allow the customer payment arrangements, if requested, for the same number of months to pay equal to the cumulative total of months being back-billed. (Example: If the company is back-billing for a one-year period, the company must allow the customer twelve months of equal payments to pay the total amount of the back billing.) These payments will be in addition to current billings.
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(1) If a water company receives a complaint or dispute from a customer or an applicant for service it must:
(a) Acknowledge the complaint;
(b) Investigate promptly;
(c) Report the results of the investigation to the complainant;
(d) Take corrective action, if warranted, as soon as appropriate under the circumstances;
(e) Inform the complainant that the decision may be appealed to a higher level representative at the company, if any;
(f) Inform the complainant, if still dissatisfied after speaking with the higher level representative, of the commission's availability for review of the complaint; and
(g) Provide the complainant with the commission's address and toll-free telephone number.
(2) Applicants, customers, or their representatives, may file with the commission:
(a) An informal complaint against the company as set forth in WAC 480-09-150; and/or
(b) A formal complaint against the company as set forth in WAC 480-09-500.
(3) When commission consumer affairs staff refers an informal complaint to the company, the company must:
(a) Investigate and report the results to the commission consumer affairs staff within two business days. The commission consumer affairs staff may grant an extension of time for responding to the complaint, if requested and warranted;
(b) Keep the commission consumer affairs staff informed of progress toward the solution and the final result.
(4) Each water company must keep a record of all complaints concerning service or rates for at least one year and, on request, make them readily available for commission review. The record must contain:
(a) Complainant's name and address;
(b) Date and nature of the complaint;
(c) Action taken; and
(d) Final result.
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(1) Water companies may be required to refund water charges due to poor water quality only:
(a) Upon commission order resulting from a formal proceeding before the commission; and
(b) When there are violations of the Washington department of health water quality standards in WAC 246-290-310 (primary contaminants); and
(c) If the company does not take follow up steps outlined in WAC 246-290-320.
(2) The amount of the refund will be determined in a formal proceeding before the commission and is not recoverable through rates or charges.
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(1) When the water company receives a meter accuracy or water pressure complaint, it must perform a test and share the results with the customer. The test must be at no charge to the customer, except the water company may charge for any additional meter tests requested by the customer within a twelve-month period as provided in its tariff.
(2) The test must be performed within ten days of the complaint.
(3) The customer has the option to witness the test. Should the customer choose to witness the test, a mutually agreed time will be established. A continuously recording pressure gauge may be required for a period of up to one week based on customer complaints of low pressure.
(4) The meter or pressure test must be taken using industry standard methods and equipment.
(5) If a meter test reveals a meter error in excess of two percent water flow to the detriment of the customer, the company must repair or replace the meter at no cost to the customer. A refund for any over billing must be made to the customer.
(6) If the water company and customer cannot resolve a complaint, it may be appealed to the commission for resolution.
(7) The water company must keep a record of meter and pressure tests and have them available for inspection. The record must list the customer's name and address, type of complaint, resolution, and what test method was used.
(8) The water company must provide, at the commission's request, a description of the test procedures and equipment used to perform meter and pressure complaint tests.
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(1) Water company rights and responsibilities:
(a) The water company must:
(i) Bear the cost of the meter and meter installation.
(ii) Install water meters that are in working order and accurately measure water flow.
(iii) Record meter serial numbers and identify location of installation.
(iv) Repair or replace a malfunctioning meter at its expense unless a customer causes the malfunction.
(b) The water company may:
(i) Install meters and charge the tariff meter rate after thirty days notice to affected customers.
(ii) Install any apparatus to detect fraud or waste without notifying the customer.
(2) Water customer rights and responsibilities:
(a) A customer may request that a standard residential meter as defined in the company's tariff be installed, provided that metered rates are in effect.
(b) When a customer requests a meter installation, the water company may charge the customer in advance for the meter cost and meter installation, if such charge is included in the company's tariff. The company must reimburse the customer, by bill credit, at least ten percent of the meter and installation charge each month until fully paid.
(c) The water company has thirty days from the date of request to install the meter.
(d) If the water company fails to install the meter within the time limit in (c) of this subsection, the customer must be charged only the meter minimum charge until the meter is installed.
(e) If a customer tampers with a meter, the customer will be liable to the company for any repair or replacement costs.
(f) If the customer requests assistance in reading a meter, the water company must provide information on how to read the meter.
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(1) Draft customer notices must be submitted to the commission for review at least one week prior to the company's planned printing date for distribution.
(2) At a minimum, the water company must notify:
(a) Customers and potential customers who may be affected by the water company's proposal; and
(b) The public affairs section of the commission.
(3) Customers must receive notice thirty days prior to the requested effective date when a water company proposes to:
(a) Increase rates;
(b) Change terms and/or conditions of an existing service;
(c) Change the ownership or control of the operating company (see WAC 480-143-210 for content of notice);
(d) Institute a charge for a service that was formerly provided without charge; or
(e) Eliminate or grandfather any service.
(4) Content of notice for rate change - The notice to customers must contain, at a minimum, the following:
(5) Notice after commission action is permitted only when
the commission approves an increase in federal, state, county or
city-imposed taxes, fees or surcharges, and when credits are
issued.
(a) At a minimum, notice after commission action must include the effective date, a clear description of changes to rates or services resulting from the commission's decision, and a company contact number where customers may seek additional information.
(b) Any notice after commission action may be accomplished by a bill message, bill insert, printed in a company newsletter, or mailed separately to customers.
(c) The commission may require other notification to the public as it determines necessary.
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(1) Each water company must file, as a part of its tariff, an extension rule that states the conditions required by the company before it will extend its transmission and distribution infrastructure to provide water service to an applicant.
(2) Companies entering into any extension contract must:
(a) File the contract with the commission not less than thirty days before the proposed effective date of the contract.
(b) Conform the proposed contract to the applicable provisions of WAC 480-80-335.
(3) Extension contracts must include the documentation necessary to show that the proposed charges are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient.
(4) An extension may also be referred to as a distribution extension, a main extension, or a line extension.
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A service connection is the pipes, valves, and fittings between the water company's distribution system and the customer's service line. The customer's service line is the water line from the customer's points of usage to the water company's service connection.
(1) Service connection charge and service connection length. The length of a service connection can vary depending on where the customer's service line is or will be located. A tariffed service connection charge may be assessed for the cost of a new service connection. However, if the service connection is longer than the distance from the water distribution main to the outside edge of the right of way or easement that runs along or parallel to the water distribution main and closest to the customer's property line, the cost of such an extension may be financed as line extension, at the option of the company. The related line extension contract is subject to approval by the commission under WAC 480-110-435.
| Place illustration here. |
(3) A water company may assess a service connection charge, if named in its tariff, to recover the cost of the service connection:
(a) Installed by the water company during construction of the water system; or
(b) Installed after the distribution system had been buried and in service; or
(c) When the service connection has been previously removed for good cause and must be reinstalled to provide water service.
(4) A service connection charge must not be assessed if:
(a) The water company did not incur any cost to install the service connection (e.g., the service connection is a contribution in aid of construction);
(b) The water company is just installing a meter; or
(c) The water company is merely opening a valve to connect the company's distribution system to the customer's service line.
(5) The company may install the service connection to the property line, property corner, or to a location on the property mutually agreed upon. The company may install a meter or valve at any point along the service connection line or at a different mutually agreed location provided that in such event the property line will nevertheless be deemed the point of delivery.
(6) The customer's service line must be installed to provide easy access to the water company's distribution system. If there is doubt as to where the proper location should be, the customer must consult with the water company and agree on a location.
(7) The water company may request that the trench be left open and customer's service line exposed in order to inspect the connection for potential problems. The water company must complete the inspection within two business days after notification that the trench is open.
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(1) Some water companies have insufficient funds to respond to emergencies, replace or upgrade failing infrastructure, or add plant to accommodate growth. Frequently, water companies cannot obtain financing through traditional capital markets. The purpose of a surcharge or a facilities charge is to provide the water company with a source of capital, provided by customers, to fund capital needs. No company may collect a surcharge or facilities charge except by commission order or approval.
(2) Surcharges.
(a) Surcharges are designed to fund three types of financing needs:
(i) Future water utility plant. This surcharge allows the company to collect money from current customers to fund a reserve in order to pay for future capital projects that are part of a long-range plan. The project must be approved by the department of health as a part of a long-range plan, or required by the department of health to assure compliance with federal or state drinking water regulations, or to perform construction or maintenance required by the department of ecology to secure safety to life and property under RCW 43.21A.064(2).
(ii) Current water utility plant. This surcharge is tied to the servicing and repayment of the debt used for the financing of the water utility plant required by:
(A) Washington department of health order or letter to adequately serve current customers; or
(B) Department of ecology.
(iii) Special expenses. This surcharge is used to pay for operating expenses that are independent and unique from normal operating expenses or that may be subject to large variations. This type of operating expense may need periodic reevaluation without the need of a general rate case. Examples of the use of this type of surcharge are: New or highly variable safe drinking water act testing and treatment expenses, extraordinary maintenance expenses, or temporary taxes.
(b) A surcharge may fund up to one hundred percent of the total cost of a project or expense.
(c) Funds received by surcharge, including any interest earned on the funds while being held in reserve, are contributions in aid of construction.
(d) When seeking approval of a surcharge the company must file:
(i) A cover letter explaining the request;
(ii) A tariff page, stating the amount of the surcharge and who must pay;
(iii) Supporting justification for the charge; and
(iv) If applicable, requests for capital surcharges must refer to the appropriate sections of the company's submitted comprehensive water system plan, or include a copy of the Washington department of health order or letter requiring plant improvements to adequately serve current customers.
(3) Facilities charges.
(a) Facilities charges are designed to fund two types of capital needs:
(i) Future water utility plant. This type of facilities charge allows the company to collect money from new customers to fund a reserve in order to pay a portion of future capital projects that are part of a long-range plan. The project must be in accordance with the company's submitted comprehensive water system plan or Washington department of health order or letter requiring plant improvements to adequately serve current customers, or utility plant that is required by department of ecology.
(ii) Current water utility plant. This type of facilities charge allows the company to collect money from new customers to be used to fund a reserve to partially finance current plant improvements required by Washington department of health order or letter to adequately serve current customers or required by department of ecology.
(b) A facilities charge may not fund one hundred percent of the total cost of qualifying projects. The water company must maintain an appropriate ratio of rate base to total plant.
(c) Funds received through a facilities charge, including any interest earned on the funds while being held in reserve, are contributions in aid of construction.
(d) A water company may impose a facilities charge by tariff or contract.
(e) When seeking approval of a facilities charge the company must file:
(i) A cover letter explaining the request;
(ii) A tariff page or signed contract, stating the amount of the charge and who must pay;
(iii) Supporting justification for the charge;
(iv) Requests for a facilities charge must refer to the appropriate sections of the company's submitted comprehensive water system plan, or include a copy of the Washington department of health order or letter requiring plant improvements to serve current or potential customers.
(4) Accounting and reporting requirements.
(a) Surcharge funds and facilities charge funds collected pursuant to this rule, and interest earned upon such funds must be held in a separate account by the company for the benefit of customers. Such funds do not become the property of company owners and may not (except as authorized in (b) of this subsection), be disbursed, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered by the company or its owners. In the event of a sale or transfer of the company, the trust obligations established in this rule regarding any unspent surcharge or facilities charge funds are transferred to the new owner of the company.
(b) Funds may be used from the account only to the extent and for the purposes approved by the commission.
(i) At the discretion of the commission, disbursements from the account may become subject to prior approval by the commission either by order by the commission or by letter from the executive secretary.
(ii) The company may be required to file requests for disbursements.
Requests must provide sufficient detail to allow the determination that the requested disbursement is in compliance with the commission's order.
(c) The water company must report for each tariffed surcharge or facilities charge the following information to the commission within sixty days of the end of the calendar quarter:
(i) Beginning balance;
(ii) Amounts received, detailed by source;
(iii) Amounts spent, detailed by project or expense;
(iv) Ending balance;
(v) Reconciliation of bank balance to general ledger.
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(1) The commission will not allow expenses for political information or political education activities for ratemaking purposes.
(2) Political information and political education activities include, but are not limited to:
(a) Encouraging support or opposition to ballot measures, legislation, candidates for an office, or current public office holders.
(b) Soliciting support for political action committees.
(c) Gathering data for political mailing lists.
(d) Soliciting political contributions or recruiting political volunteers.
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Each water company must notify the commission within seventy-two hours after every accident resulting in death or serious injury to any person occurring in its plant or through contact with its facilities. At a minimum, the report must include the name of the injured person, time and place of the accident, and an explanation of the accident. The water company may notify the commission by phone, but must provide a written report within five business days.
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(1) The water company must retain all records and reports for three years unless otherwise specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The Regulations to Govern the Preservation of Records of Electric, Gas and Water Companies, published by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is prescribed as the requirement for the state of Washington. This document is available at the commission branch of the Washington state library. The commission secretary will provide a copy of the document on request, subject to any charge, or it may be ordered directly from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
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Each water company shall maintain a current map of each of its water systems showing the current service area. The company must provide the current maps to the commission for review within five business days of a request. The maps must contain enough detail to answer questions related to rates and charges and obligations to serve.
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The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
| WAC 480-110-011 | Application of rules. |
| WAC 480-110-016 | Saving clause. |
| WAC 480-110-018 | Definition of control. |
| WAC 480-110-021 | Glossary. |
| WAC 480-110-023 | Average customer revenue jurisdictional threshold. |
| WAC 480-110-026 | Tariffs. |
| WAC 480-110-028 | Fire flow requirements. |
| WAC 480-110-031 | Accounting. |
| WAC 480-110-032 | Accounting -- Political information and political education activities. |
| WAC 480-110-036 | Finance -- Securities, affiliated interests, transfer of property. |
| WAC 480-110-041 | Availability of information. |
| WAC 480-110-046 | Application for service. |
| WAC 480-110-051 | Deposits. |
| WAC 480-110-056 | Refusal of service. |
| WAC 480-110-061 | Contract for service. |
| WAC 480-110-066 | Distribution extensions -- Service installations -- Service connections. |
| WAC 480-110-071 | Discontinuance of service. |
| WAC 480-110-076 | Service responsibilities. |
| WAC 480-110-081 | Service connections. |
| WAC 480-110-086 | Meter location. |
| WAC 480-110-091 | Access to premises. |
| WAC 480-110-096 | Complaints and disputes. |
| WAC 480-110-101 | Form of bills. |
| WAC 480-110-111 | Refund for inaccurate metering. |
| WAC 480-110-116 | Responsibility for delinquent accounts. |
| WAC 480-110-121 | Meter charges and installation. |
| WAC 480-110-126 | Meter readings. |
| WAC 480-110-131 | Identification of meters. |
| WAC 480-110-136 | Initial accuracy of meters. |
| WAC 480-110-141 | Accuracy of meters. |
| WAC 480-110-146 | Dispute as to accuracy of meters. |
| WAC 480-110-151 | Complaint meter test. |
| WAC 480-110-156 | Statement of test procedures. |
| WAC 480-110-161 | Frequency of periodic tests. |
| WAC 480-110-166 | Meter history records. |
| WAC 480-110-171 | Reports of accidents. |
| WAC 480-110-176 | Filing of records and reports and the preservation of records. |