Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 430 - COST OF GAS ADJUSTMENT FOR GAS UTILITIES › Section 407-430-2 - APPLICATIONS FOR COST OF GAS ADJUSTMENT

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Each gas
				utility, as defined in this chapter, shall adjust its charges to customers to
				recover increases and to credit decreases in the cost of gas as approved by the
				Commission.
B. No gas utility shall
				implement a cost of gas adjustment which has not been approved and ordered into
				effect by the Commission.
C. A gas
				utility must file an application for a cost of gas adjustments on or before
				February 15 of each year, designed to recover the projected cost of gas for the
				summer period. It must also file a cost of gas adjustment on or before August
				15 of each year, designed to recover the projected cost of gas for the winter
				period. The gas utility may amend its application to update it based upon more
				current information, to the extent that the Commission determines that such
				amendment will not unduly delay the Commission's determination. For good cause
				shown, in unusual circumstances and upon timely application by a gas utility,
				the Commission may allow the gas utility to vary either the filing dates or the
				periods during which a cost of gas adjustment is to be in effect. For the first
				filing which a gas utility makes pursuant to these regulations, section
				2(F) of this chapter
				shall control.
D. In addition to
				the applications which must be filed pursuant to the previous subsection of
				this chapter, a gas utility may file an application seeking an alteration in
				its cost of gas adjustment in the event that its then-effective cost of gas
				adjustment is likely to result in a material over-recovery or under-recovery of
				gas costs, and upon a showing satisfactory to the Commission that any delay in
				making an adjustment will unreasonably burden either the gas company or its
				customers. Except by leave of the Commission, no such application shall be
				filed less than 90 days following the date upon which the last application for
				a cost of gas adjustment was filed. Additionally, after summary investigation
				the Commission may direct any gas company to file a new cost of gas
				adjustment.
E. After receipt of an
				application for a cost of gas adjustment, the Commission shall order notice of
				the application to be published within seven (7) days of receipt and shall set
				a time and place for a public hearing, which shall be held, unless otherwise
				ordered by the Commission, within fourteen (14) days after publication of the
				notice. The Commission shall render its decision on the application within
				forty-five (45) days of the close of the hearing or within forty-five (45) days
				of receipt of the application, if no hearing is held. Except in unusual
				circumstances, the Commission shall act upon a cost of gas adjustment
				application prior to the start of the applicable summer or winter
				period.
F. With respect to the
				first cost of gas adjustment application filed by a gas utility following the
				effective date of this chapter, the period during which the adjustment is to be
				in effect may be different than the periods defined in Sections
				1(G) and
				(H) of this chapter. All gas utilities
				providing service on the effective date of this chapter shall file a cost of
				gas adjustment application within thirty (30) days thereof. All other gas
				utilities shall file a cost of gas adjustment application not less than
				seventy-five (75) days prior to the commencement of service.