Definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Commission" means the Washington utilities and transportation commission.

(2) "Effective rate" means the highest permissible rate, calculated as the lowest contract rate plus an administrative fee, if applicable, determined pursuant to RCW 81.108.040.

(3) "Extraordinary volume" means volumes of low-level radioactive waste delivered to a site caused by nonrecurring events, outside normal operations of a generator, that are in excess of twenty thousand cubic feet or twenty percent of the preceding year's total volume at such site, whichever is less.

(4) "Extraordinary volume adjustment" means a mechanism that allocates the potential rate reduction benefits of an extraordinary volume between all generators and the generator responsible for such extraordinary volume as described in RCW 81.108.070.

(5) "Generator" means a person, partnership, association, corporation, or any other entity whatsoever that, as a part of its activities, produces low-level radioactive waste.

(6) "Inflation adjustment" means a mechanism that adjusts the maximum disposal rate by a percentage equal to the change in price levels in the preceding period, as measured by a common, verifiable price index as determined in RCW 81.108.040.

(7) "Initial rate proceeding" means the proceeding described in RCW 81.108.040.

(8) "Maximum disposal rate" means the rate described in RCW 81.108.050.

(9) "Site" means a location, structure, or property used or to be used for the storage, treatment, or disposal of low-level radioactive waste for compensation within the state of Washington.

(10) "Site operator" means a low-level radioactive waste site operating company as defined in RCW 81.04.010.

(11) "Volume adjustment" means a mechanism that adjusts the maximum disposal rate in response to material changes in volumes of waste deposited at the site during the preceding period so as to provide a level of total revenues sufficient to recover the costs to operate and maintain the site.