PERMANENT RULES
COMMISSION
1 STATUTORY OR OTHER AUTHORITY: The Washington utilities and transportation commission takes this action under Notice No. WSR 06-03-129, filed with the code reviser on January 18, 2006. The commission brings this proceeding pursuant to RCW 80.01.040(4), 81.04.160, and 34.05.353.
2 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE: This proceeding complies with the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW), the State Register Act (chapter 34.08 RCW), the State Environmental Policy Act of 1971 (chapter 43.21C RCW), and the Regulatory Fairness Act (chapter 19.85 RCW).
3 DATE OF ADOPTION: The commission adopts this rule on the date that this order is entered.
4 CONCISE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE RULE: RCW 34.05.325(6) requires that the commission prepare and provide to commenters a concise explanatory statement about an adopted rule. The statement must include the identification of the commission's reasons for adopting the rule, a description of the differences between the version of the proposed rules published in the register and the rules as adopted (other than editing changes), a summary of the comments received regarding the proposed rule changes, and the commission's responses to the comments reflecting the commission's consideration of them.
5 In this docket, to avoid unnecessary duplication, the commission designates the discussion in this order as its concise explanatory statement, supplemented where not inconsistent by the staff memoranda preceding the filing of the CR-105 proposal and the adoption hearing. Together, the documents provide a complete but concise explanation of the agency actions and its reasons for taking those actions.
6 REFERENCE TO AFFECTED RULES: This order amends the following sections of the Washington Administrative Code: Amending WAC 480-90-252 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Form No. 2, 480-100-252 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Form No. 1, 480-110-505 Accounting and reporting requirements and regulatory fees, 480-120-382 Annual report for competitively classified companies, and 480-120-385 Annual report and quarterly results of operations reports for companies not classified as competitive.
7 NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING: The commission filed an expedited rule making, CR-105, on January 18, 2006, at WSR 06-03-129. The statement advised interested persons that the rule making would correct a production error in a prior rule making in 2005 to include a subsection that sets regulatory fee provisions in five sections of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). During the reorganization, the subsection that set the regulatory fee provisions was inadvertently omitted. The commission also informed persons of the matter by providing notice of the subject and the CR-105 to all persons on the commission's list of persons requesting such information pursuant to RCW 34.05.320(3), the commission's lists of all registered electric, gas, water, and telecommunications companies, persons interested in issues related to these companies, as well as attorneys representing these companies, and by posting all information on the commission's web site.
8 COMMENTERS (WRITTEN COMMENTS): The commission received no written comments
9 COMMISSION ACTION: After considering all of the information regarding this proposal, the commission finds and concludes that it should amend the rules as proposed in the CR-105 at WSR 06-03-129.
10 STATEMENT OF ACTION; STATEMENT OF EFFECTIVE DATE: After reviewing the entire record, the commission determines that WAC 480-90-252, 480-100-252, 480-110-505, 480-120-382, and 480-120-385 should be amended to read as set forth in Appendix A, as rules of the Washington utilities and transportation commission, to take effect pursuant to RCW 34.05.380(2) on the thirty-first day after filing with the code reviser.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
12 (1) The commission amends and adopts WAC 480-90-252, 480-100-252, 480-110-505, 480-120-382, and 480-120-385 to read as set forth in Appendix A, as rules of the Washington utilities and transportation commission, to take effect on the thirty-first day after the date of filing with the code reviser pursuant to RCW 34.05.380(2).
13 (2) This order and the rules set out below, after being recorded in the register of the Washington utilities and transportation commission, shall be forwarded to the code reviser for filing pursuant to chapters 80.01 and 34.05 RCW and chapter 1-21 WAC.
DATED at Olympia, Washington, March 31, 2006.
Washington state utilities and transportation commission
Mark H. Sidran, Chairman
Patrick J. Oshie, Commissioner
Philip B. Jones, Commissioner
OTS-8697.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. A-050271, General
Order No. R-521, filed 10/10/05, effective 11/10/05)
WAC 480-90-252
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) Form No. 2.
(1) Each gas utility must use the annual
report form (FERC Form No. 2) promulgated by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission in Title 18 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Part 260, for purposes of this report to
the commission. Data required by RCW 80.04.080 (Annual
reports), but not included in the FERC Form No. 2, must also
be submitted with the annual report. The utility must submit
the annual report for the preceding calendar year, along with
the regulatory fee, by May 1st of each year. If not presented
in the prescribed FERC Form No. 2, the annual report must
include the following data per customer class for the calendar
year: Revenues, average customer count, and total unit sales.
Information about the FERC Form No. 2 regarding the version
adopted and where to obtain it is set out in WAC 480-90-999
(Adoption by reference).
(2) Each utility must also submit to this commission, in essentially the same format and content as the FERC Form No. 2, a report that documents the costs incurred and the property necessary to furnish utility service to its customers and the revenues obtained in the state of Washington. The report must include the following data per customer class for the calendar year: Revenues, average customer count, and total unit sales.
(3) Combination and multistate utilities must submit with the annual report their cost allocation methods necessary to develop results of operations for the state of Washington. Approval of cost allocation methods for rate-making purposes is accomplished only by commission order.
(4) The total utility results of operations reported by each utility in its annual report to the commission must agree with the results of operations shown on the utility's books and records.
(5) Regulatory fees. The gas utility annual regulatory fee is set by statute at one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross intrastate operating revenue plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross intrastate operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars.
(a) The maximum regulatory fee is assessed each year, unless the commission issues an order establishing the regulatory fee at an amount less than the statutory maximum.
(b) The minimum regulatory fee that a gas utility must pay is twenty dollars.
(c) The twenty-dollar minimum regulatory fee is waived for any gas utility with less than twenty thousand dollars in gross intrastate operating revenue.
(d) The commission does not grant extensions for payment of regulatory fees.
(e) If a company does not pay its regulatory fee by May 1, the commission will assess an automatic late fee of two percent of the amount due, plus one percent interest for each month the fee remains unpaid.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-21-022 (Docket No. A-050271, General Order No. R-521), § 480-90-252, filed 10/10/05, effective 11/10/05; 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-90-252, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.]
OTS-8698.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. A-021178 and
TO-030288, General Order No. R-518, filed 2/28/05, effective
3/31/05)
WAC 480-100-252
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) Form No. 1.
(1) Each electric utility must use the
annual report form (FERC Form No. 1) promulgated by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Title 18 of the Code
of Federal Regulations, Part 141, for purposes of this report
to the commission. Data required by RCW 80.04.080 (Annual
reports), but not included in the FERC Form No. 1, must also
be submitted with the annual report. The utility must submit
the annual report for the preceding calendar year, along with
the regulatory fee, by May 1st of each year. If not presented
in the prescribed FERC Form No. 1, the annual report must
include the following data per customer class for the calendar
year: Revenues, average customer count, and total unit sales.
Information about the FERC Form No. 1 regarding the version
adopted and where to obtain it is set out in WAC 480-100-999
(Adoption by reference).
(2) Each utility must also submit to this commission, in essentially the same format and content as the FERC Form No. 1, a report that documents the costs incurred and the property necessary to furnish utility service to its customers and the revenues obtained in the state of Washington. The report must include the following data per customer class for the calendar year: Revenues, average customer count, and total unit sales.
(3) Combination and multistate utilities must submit with the annual report their cost allocation methods necessary to develop results of operations for the state of Washington. Approval of cost allocation methods for rate-making purposes is accomplished only by commission order.
(4) The total utility results of operations reported by each utility in its annual report to the commission must agree with the results of operations shown on the utility's books and records.
(5) Regulatory fees. The electric utility annual regulatory fee is set by statute at one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross intrastate operating revenue plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross intrastate operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars.
(a) The maximum regulatory fee is assessed each year, unless the commission issues an order establishing the regulatory fee at an amount less than the statutory maximum.
(b) The minimum regulatory fee that an electric utility must pay is twenty dollars.
(c) The twenty-dollar minimum regulatory fee is waived for any electric utility with less than twenty thousand dollars in gross intrastate operating revenue.
(d) The commission does not grant extensions for payment of regulatory fees.
(e) If a company does not pay its regulatory fee by May 1, the commission will assess an automatic late fee of two percent of the amount due, plus one percent interest for each month the fee remains unpaid.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-100-252, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.]
OTS-8699.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. A-021178 and
TO-030288, General Order No. R-518, filed 2/28/05, effective
3/31/05)
WAC 480-110-505
Accounting and reporting requirements
and regulatory fees.
(1) Water companies must use the uniform
system of accounts (USOA) published by the National
Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
Information about the USOA regarding the version adopted and
where to obtain it is set out in WAC 480-110-999 (Adoption by
reference). The USOA sets out the accounting requirements for
Class A, B, and C water companies.
Water companies are classified by revenues.
| Class | Annual Gross Operating Revenue |
| A | $1,000,000 or more |
| B | $200,000 to $999,999 |
| C | Less than $200,000 |
(3) The commission will distribute an annual report form that each water company must complete and file with the commission for the prior calendar year. The annual report must be filed, and the company's regulatory fee paid, no later than May 1 of each year.
(4) A written request for the extension of the time for filing the annual report can be made prior to May 1. The commission does not grant an extension of time for payment of regulatory fees.
(5) The maximum water company regulatory fee is set by statute at one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross intrastate operating revenue plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars.
(a) The maximum regulatory fee is assessed each year, unless the commission issues an order establishing the regulatory fee at an amount less than the statutory maximum.
(b) The minimum regulatory fee that a water company must pay is twenty dollars.
(c) The twenty-dollar minimum regulatory fee is waived for any water company with less than twenty thousand dollars in gross intrastate operating revenue.
(d) The commission does not grant extensions for payment of regulatory fees.
(e) If a company does not pay its regulatory fee by May 1, the commission will assess an automatic late fee of two percent of the amount due, plus one percent interest for each month the fee remains unpaid.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-110-505, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.]
OTS-8700.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. A-021178 and
TO-030288, General Order No. R-518, filed 2/28/05, effective
3/31/05)
WAC 480-120-382
Annual report for competitively
classified companies.
The commission will distribute an
annual report form including a regulatory fee form. A
competitively classified company must:
(1) Complete both forms, file them with the commission, and pay its regulatory fee, no later than May 1 of each year;
(2) Provide total number of access lines as required on the annual report form;
(3) Provide income statement and balance sheet for total
company; ((and))
(4) Provide revenues for Washington and Washington
intrastate operations subject to commission jurisdiction((.));
and
(5) Regulatory fees. The telecommunications annual regulatory fee is set by statute at one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross intrastate operating revenue plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross intrastate operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars.
(a) The maximum regulatory fee is assessed each year, unless the commission issues an order establishing the regulatory fee at an amount less than the statutory maximum.
(b) The minimum regulatory fee that a company must pay is twenty dollars.
(c) The twenty-dollar minimum regulatory fee is waived for any company with less than twenty thousand dollars in gross intrastate operating revenue.
(d) The commission does not grant extensions for payment of regulatory fees.
(e) If a company does not pay its regulatory fee by May 1, the commission will assess an automatic late fee of two percent of the amount due, plus one percent interest for each month the fee remains unpaid.
(f) The commission may take action to revoke a company's registration certificate if it fails to pay its regulatory fee.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-120-382, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.]
(a) Complete both forms, file them with the commission, and pay its regulatory fee, no later than May 1 of each year;
(b) Provide total number of access lines as required on the annual report form; and
(c) Provide income statement and balance sheet for total company and results of operations for Washington and Washington intrastate.
(i) Class A companies that the FCC classified as Tier 1 telecommunications companies in Docket No. 86-182 must file annual report forms adopted by the FCC.
(ii) All other Class A companies must file annual reports on the form prescribed by the commission.
(iii) Class B companies must file annual reports as prescribed by RCW 80.04.530(2).
(2) Quarterly reports for companies not classified as competitive:
(a) All Class A companies must file results of operations quarterly.
(b) Each report will show monthly and twelve-months-ended data for each month of the quarter reported.
(c) The reports are due ninety days after the close of the period being reported, except for the fourth-quarter report which is due no later than May 1 of the following year.
(3) Methods used to determine Washington intrastate results of operations must be acceptable to the commission.
(4) This rule does not supersede any reporting requirements specified in a commission rule or order, or limit the commission's authority to request additional information.
(5) Regulatory fees. The telecommunications annual regulatory fee is set by statute at one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross intrastate operating revenue plus two-tenths of one percent of any gross intrastate operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars.
(a) The maximum regulatory fee is assessed each year, unless the commission issues an order establishing the regulatory fee at an amount less than the statutory maximum.
(b) The minimum regulatory fee that a company must pay is twenty dollars.
(c) The twenty-dollar minimum regulatory fee is waived for any company with less than twenty thousand dollars in gross intrastate operating revenue.
(d) The commission does not grant extensions for payment of regulatory fees.
(e) If a company does not pay its regulatory fee by May 1, the commission will assess an automatic late fee of two percent of the amount due, plus one percent interest for each month the fee remains unpaid.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 34.05.353. 05-06-051 (Docket No. A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-518), § 480-120-385, filed 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.]