Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-194 - Publication of proposed tariff changes to increase charges or restrict access to services

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Each gas utility offering service under tariff must publish
				  or provide electronically all proposed changes to its tariff for at least
				  thirty days, as required by
				  RCW
				  80.28.060. For any proposed tariff change
				  that would increase recurring charges, except purchased gas adjustment (PGA)
				  filings as provided in subsection (5) of this section, or restrict access to
				  services (e.g., discontinue a service, or limit access to service by imposing a
				  new usage level on existing services), a utility must fulfill the requirements
				  of subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section. For any other proposed tariffs,
				  the utility must fulfill the requirements of WAC
				  480-90-195. The utility may
				  provide this information in an electronic format consistent with provisions in
				  this chapter governing the use of electronic information.
The utility will not be required to accomplish publication
				  under this section if it has agreed to suspend its tariff filing and to provide
				  notice as provided under WAC
				  480-90-197.
(1)
Thirty-day notice to individual
				customers.
To comply under this method, the utility must, at least
				thirty days before the stated effective date of the proposed change, mail or
				provide electronically the posting to each customer that would be affected by
				the proposed change. The posting must include the information listed in
				subsection (4) of this section. The utility may provide this information in an
				electronic format consistent with provisions in this chapter governing the use
				of electronic information.
(2)
Published notice.
To comply under this method, the utility must,
				at least thirty days before the stated effective date of the proposed change,
				publish notice of the proposed change within the geographical areas where it
				offers service. To meet minimum publication requirements, a utility must:
(a) Distribute copies of the published notice
				to community agencies and organizations in the geographic area where the
				utility offers service for posting and publication by the agency or
				organization. The utility must include in its distribution list any agency or
				organization that requests these notices;
(b) Cause to be printed in large print, as a
				paid advertisement, a complete copy of the published notice in the daily
				newspaper of general circulation with the greatest number of subscribers in
				each geographic area or each of the areas affected by the proposed
				tariff;
(c) Provide to the news
				editor of every newspaper, television station, and radio station, in the
				geographic area within which it offers service a news release or public service
				announcement summarizing the published notice. The release or announcement must
				include a toll-free number that customers can use to obtain more information
				from the utility. The commission will maintain a list of area newspapers,
				television, and radio stations and will provide it on request to any utility;
				and
(d) Post a complete copy of the
				published notice on an Internet web site accessible to the public using
				generally available browser software.