Z-0235.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1529

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Poulsen, Crouse, H. Sommers and Delvin; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission

Read first time 01/29/2001.  Referred to Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy.

Classifying public service companies for the purpose of payment of regulatory fees.

    AN ACT Relating to public service companies; amending RCW 80.24.010 and 80.24.020; and adding a new section to chapter 80.24 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 80.24.010 and 1994 c 83 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every public service company subject to regulation by the commission shall, on or before the date specified by the commission for filing annual reports under RCW 80.04.080, file with the commission a statement on oath showing its gross operating revenue from intrastate operations for the preceding calendar year or portion thereof and pay to the commission a regulatory fee ((equal to one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross operating revenue, plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars:  PROVIDED, That the fee shall in no case be less than one dollar.

    The percentage rates of gross operating revenue to be paid in any year may be decreased by the commission for any class of companies subject to the payment of such fees, by general order entered before March 1st of such year, and for such purpose such companies shall be classified as follows:)) at the rate established by the commission under subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Regulatory fees to be paid in any year shall be established by general order of the commission before March 1st of the year.  Regulatory fees shall be levied as a percentage of gross operating revenue and shall not exceed the following rates:

(a) Electrical, gas, water, ((telecommunications,)) and irrigation companies, which shall constitute class one((.)):  One-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross operating revenue, plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars, but in any event not less than one hundred dollars;

(b) Telecommunications companies, which shall constitute class two:  Three-tenths of one percent of gross operating revenue, but in any event not less than one hundred dollars;

(c) Every other company subject to regulation by the commission, for which regulatory fees are not otherwise fixed by law ((shall pay fees as herein provided and)), which shall constitute additional classes according to kinds of businesses engaged in:  One-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross operating revenue, plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars, but in any event not less than one hundred dollars.

(3) Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made after its due date shall include a late fee of ((two)) ten percent of the amount due.  Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate of one percent per month.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 80.24 RCW to read as follows:

    The commission may establish by rule fees for specific transactions or filings.  The commission shall maintain a record of the revenues collected from the fees from each class of public service companies and shall consider such revenues in fixing the regulatory fees for each class under RCW 80.24.010.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 80.24.020 and 1961 c 14 s 80.24.020 are each amended to read as follows:

    In fixing the percentage rates of gross operating revenue to be paid in any year, the commission shall consider all moneys then in the public service revolving fund and the fees currently to be paid into such fund, including any fees collected under section 2 of this act, to the end that the fees collected from the several classes of companies shall be approximately the same as the reasonable cost of supervising and regulating such classes of companies.

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