Subject of Possible Rule Making: The utilities and transportation commission (commission) commences this inquiry to consider possible corrections and changes to certain sections in chapter 480-07 WAC, the commission's procedural rules, governing the conduct of business before the commission, including rules governing formal proceedings. This rule making has been assigned Docket A-130355.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, and 81.04.160.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission's last review of chapter 480-07 WAC was in 2006. Since these new rules became effective in August 2006, commission staff and interested persons who conduct business before the commission have identified a number of suggestions to improve and clarify the commission's procedural rules in chapter 480-07 WAC. Based on the number of suggestions received and the length of time since the last revision in 2006, the commission finds it appropriate to initiate this rule making to review its procedural rules.

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, schedule one or more workshops, and will provide the opportunity to provide additional written comments on draft rules and proposed CR-102 prior to adoption.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested persons may file comments with the Executive Director and Secretary, Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504-7250, phone (360) 664-1174, fax (360) 586-1150, e-mail records@utc.wa.gov, or through the commission's web portal www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2013.

     WRITTEN COMMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2013, for consideration at the May 15, 2013, stakeholder workshop.

     Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted via the commission's web portal at www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing or by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@utc.wa.gov. Please include:

•	The docket number of this proceeding (A-130355).
•	The commenting party's name.
•	The title and date of the comment or comments.

     An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on the commission's web site all comments that are provided in electronic format. The web site is located at http://www.utc.wa.gov/130355. If you are unable to file your comments electronically or to submit them on a disk, the commission will always accept a paper document.

     Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's web site as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may (1) call the commission's records center at (360) 664-1234, (2) e-mail the commission at <records@utc.wa.gov>, or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Steven V. King, acting executive director and secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket A-130355 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Gregory J. Kopta, (360) 664-1355 or e-mail gkopta@utc.wa.gov.

March 20, 2013

Steven V. King

Acting Director

and Secretary