West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 150 - Public Service Commission › Title 150 - EXEMPT LEGISLATIVE RULE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Series 150-02 - Rules For The Construction and Filing of Tariffs › Section 150-2-14 - Accelerated Rate Procedure for Gas, Water, Sewer, Electric Utilities, and Transfer Stations

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
14.1.
				(Historical Rule 30-B). The following accelerated procedure may be used by a
				natural gas, water, or electric utility for changing rates because of changes
				in die cost of natural gas, water, or electricity, purchased and/or transported
				for resale (hereinafter referred to as qualified costs). The following
				procedure is likewise available to a sewer utility for changing rates because
				of changes in costs of transportation and/or treatment of sewage (qualified
				costs). The following procedure is also available to a transfer station for
				increased tipping fees at a landfill.
14.1.1.
				Tariff Rule 14.1 et seq. does not apply to Exempt Muni Power Systems, municipal
				and cooperative utilities and LRR Public Service Districts.
14.1.2. If any natural gas, water, electric
				or sewer utility or transfer station incurs increased qualified costs because
				of a rate change subject to die rate making jurisdiction of this commission, a
				federal regulatory commission, a municipality, or a county commission, such
				utility or transfer station may file amended tariff sheets, or, in the
				alternative, file a request for Commission Staff to recommend amended tariffs,
				to recover these increased costs. The effective date of any amended tariff
				sheets filed may not be prior to the date that die filing utility incurs such
				increased costs.
14.1.3.
				(Reserved)
14.1.4. As soon as
				possible after the filing of amended tariff sheets by the utility or transfer
				station pursuant to Tariff Rule 14.1.2., die Commission may issue an order
				allowing die amended tariff sheets to go into effect immediately, on an interim
				basis, subject to refund, on the condition that die utility or transfer station
				publish the notice attached to the Commission's Order in die form of Tariff
				Form No. 8-Bl, as a Class I legal advertisement, in a qualified newspaper of
				general circulation in each of the counties where it provides service. If
				substantial protests are received in response to die publication and the
				Commission finds, upon further review, that the interim rates are not
				justified, refunds will be ordered.
14.1.5. Following expiration of the notice
				period, the Commission will issue a further order adopting final
				rates
14.1.6. The Commission's
				investigation of the reasonableness of die rate increase shall be limited to
				the increased qualified costs, and the level of rates necessary to recover such
				increased costs.
14.1.7. Any
				utility or transfer station invoking this procedure shall agree that any future
				reductions in qualified costs shall require a comparable reduction in rates
				effective with the date of the reduced costs. Any such reduction in qualified
				costs and/or any refunds received related to such costs shall be promptly
				reported to the Commission along with a proposed rate reduction and/or schedule
				of refunds to customers. The Commission shall investigate the reasonableness of
				the proposed rate reduction and/or schedule of refunds. Such investigation will
				be limited to the changes in qualified costs, die effective date of those
				changes, the level of rates necessary to reflect the changes in qualified costs
				and the amount and schedule for refunds to die utility's or transfer station's
				customers.