SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5022

BYSenators Benitz and Williams; by request of Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Modifying utilities and transportation commission reporting requirements.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 17, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Paul Ahern (786-7449)

                  February 16, 1989

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Public service companies in Washington are required to report detailed financial, operational and contractual information to the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) annually within three months of year's end.  Because this falls before the tax deadlines, most firms routinely miss the filing deadline.  The commission wishes to specify the filing deadline by rule so that a realistic deadline may be established.

Public service companies are also required to submit an annual budget to the commission for review.  The current exemption level (less than $25,000 gross revenues) was set in 1961 and because of inflation has been rendered meaningless.  In addition, some utilities, such as competitive telecommunications, may not require the same level of budget scrutiny as other utilities.  The commission is seeking rulemaking authority to set guidelines for exempting utilities in whole or in part from budget filing requirements.

SUMMARY:

RCW 80.04.080 and RCW 81.04.080 are each amended to allow the commission to specify annual report filing deadlines by rule.  RCW 80.04.320 is amended to allow the commission to prescribe, by rule, criteria to exempt utilities from budget filing requirements.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Steve McLellan, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (pro)