PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
COMMISSION
Subject of Possible Rule Making: This rule making would consider establishing a new standard for calculating the interest rate on customer deposits in chapter 480-70 WAC, Solid waste; chapter 480-90 WAC, Gas operations; chapter 480-100 WAC, Electric operations; and chapter 480-110 WAC, Water companies. In addition, this rule making would consider amendment of WAC 480-100-148 Service responsibility, to clarify current language that may unintentionally prevent electric utilities from suspending services for reasonable periods in order to repair meters.
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: In 1994, the commission began using the fifty-two week treasury bill rate to compute the interest rate payable on customer deposits. After February 2001, the fifty-two week treasury bill auctions were eliminated. The interest on deposit rules in the four chapters listed above should be reviewed to consider establishing a new standard for calculating the interest rate on customer deposits.
WAC 480-100-148 (2)(d), service responsibility should be reviewed to consider amending current language that may unintentionally prevent electric utilities from suspending services for reasonable periods in order to repair meters.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, and will provide the opportunity for additional comments.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Secretary, Washington 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. For specific information regarding opportunities for written comment and to ensure receipt of further information concerning this rule making, please see below.
WRITTEN COMMENTS may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than May 22, 2002.
Electronic copies. The commission also requests, but does not require, that comments be provided in electronic format to facilitate quotations from the comments, to enhance public access, and to reduce the need for additional paper copies. Please help us by sending an electronic copy with your paper filing on a 3-1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format, reflecting the pagination of your original. Also send us the text in your choice of .doc (Word 97 or later) or .wpd (WordPerfect 6.0 or later) and include all of the following information on the label of the diskette:
| • | The docket number of this proceeding (A-020405) |
| • | The commenting party's name |
| • | The title and date of the comment or comments; and |
| • | The type of software used |
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@wutc.wa.gov; or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Carole J. Washburn, Secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket No. A-020405 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Sharyn Bate, (360) 664-1295 or e-mail at sbate@wutc.wa.gov.
April 25, 2002
Carole J. Washburn
Secretary