SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1611

                     As of March 12, 1997

Title:  An act relating to reducing the time required for public notice of telecommunications rate reductions.

Brief Description:  Allowing a telecommunications company to reduce a rate or charge in a more streamlined manner.

Sponsors:  Representatives DeBolt, Poulsen, Mastin, Hankins and Kessler; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy & Utilities:  3/20/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786-7445)

Background:  Every telecommunications company providing service in Washington must file a schedule of rates and charges with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).  A telecommunications company proposing to change a rate or charge must file the proposed change with the WUTC and comply with a 30-day notice requirement.  WUTC may approve or suspend the proposed change.

Upon a showing of good cause, WUTC may allow changes without requiring the 30-day notice, by issuing an order specifying the change to be made, when the change will take effect, and the manner in which the change is to be filed and published.

Summary of Bill:  A telecommunications company may file a tariff that decreases a rate or charge, with ten days notice and without receiving a special order from WUTC, if the filing does not contain an offsetting increase to another rate or charge, and the company agrees not to file during the following 12 months for an increase to any rate or charge to recover the revenue deficit that results from the decrease.

Technical corrections are made to an existing statute.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.