860-037-0425 Announcement of Tariff Changes (1) Within 15 days of filing with the Commission new or revised wastewater tariff schedules that constitute a general rate revision, a wastewater utility shall inform its customers of the filing. A "general rate revision" is a filing by a wastewater utility that affects all or most of a wastewater utility’s wastewater rate schedules. "General rate revision" does not include changes in an automatic adjustment clause under ORS 757.210(1) or similar changes in one rate schedule, such as for an amortization, that affect other rate schedules. (2) A wastewater utility shall inform its customers by: (a) Insertion of a display announcement, not less than a three column standard advertising unit (SAU) by 10 inch advertisement, at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the communities served by the wastewater utility; (b) An announcement inserted in the wastewater utility’s regular billing to its wastewater customers; or (c) An announcement mailed to each wastewater customer. (3) At a minimum, the announcement shall include the following information: (a) The approximate current and proposed average monthly wastewater service rate for each customer class, expressed in dollar terms; (b) A brief statement of the reasons why the change is sought; (c) Notification that copies of the wastewater utility’s application, testimony, and exhibits are available for inspection at its main and district offices; (d) The mailing address and telephone number of the wastewater utility’s office that customers may contact for additional information about the filing; (e) The Commission's Consumer Services Section toll-free telephone number: 1-800-522-2404 or TTY 711; and mailing address: Public Utility Commission of Oregon, Administrative Hearings Division, PO Box 1088, Salem OR, 97308, that interested persons may contact to receive notice of the time and place of any hearing on the matter; and (f) A statement that the purpose of the announcement is to provide customers of the wastewater utility with general information as to the proposed tariffs and their effect on customers, and that the calculations and statements contained in the announcement are not binding on the Commission. (4) With no less notice than seven business days prior to sending the written announcement to its customers, the wastewater utility must provide the Commission with a draft copy of the written announcement for staff review. (5) Within 20 days of issuance of the announcement, the wastewater utility shall file an affidavit with the Commission that notice has been given and include a copy of the announcement. (6) The Commission may waive the requirements of this rule upon a showing by the wastewater utility that the notice required by this rule has been given with respect to a particular general rate revision, and upon a further showing that additional notice with respect to that rate revision would be duplicative, confusing to customers, and burdensome to the wastewater utility. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 756 & 757 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 756.040, 757.005 & 757.061 History: PUC 5-2004, f. & cert. ef. 1-29-04 PUC 6-2000, f. 4-18-00, cert. ef. 4-20-00 PUC 9-1999(Temp), f. 10-22-99, cert. ef. 10-23-99 thru 4-19-00