reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part I - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 480-90-018 - Severability

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any
				  person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the
				  application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
				  affected.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-018, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part I - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 480-90-028 - Tariffs and special contracts

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
A gas utility must publish its rate schedules and rules and
				  regulations governing service, and file special contracts, in accordance with
				  chapter 480-80 WAC, Utilities general -- Tariffs, price lists, and
				  contracts.
Statutory Authority: RCW 80.10.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-028, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part I - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 480-90-033 - Distribution line extension tariff

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Each gas utility must file, as a part of its tariff, a
				  distribution line extension rule setting forth the conditions under which it
				  will extend its facilities to make service available to an
				  applicant.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-033, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-103 - Information to consumers

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each gas
				utility must make available at each of its listed business offices information
				regarding rates, rules, and regulations needed for its customers and applicants
				to obtain adequate and efficient service.
(2) The utility must maintain a toll-free
				telephone number available for its applicants and customers during business
				hours to receive information relating to services and rates, to accept and
				process orders for service, to explain charges on customer bills, to adjust
				charges made in error, to respond to customer inquiries and complaints, and to
				generally act as representatives of the utility.
(3) The utility must provide to each
				applicant relevant rate information and a brochure that explains the rights and
				responsibilities of a utility customer. The brochure must include, at a
				minimum, information about the utility's regular business hours, the utility's
				mailing address, the utility's toll-free number, the twenty-four hour emergency
				number(s), and an explanation of the utility's processes to establish credit,
				deposits, billing, delinquent accounts, disconnection of service initiated by
				the utility, cancellation of service by the customer, the dispute resolution
				process, and the commission's informal complaint procedures to be followed if
				the customer remains dissatisfied with the utility's dispute process. The
				utility may provide this information in an electronic format consistent with
				provisions in this chapter governing the use of electronic
				information.
(4) At least once each
				year, the utility must directly advise each of its customers how to obtain:
(a) A copy of the consumer brochure described
				in subsection (3) of this section;
(b) A copy of the customer's applicable rate
				information;
(c) A copy of the gas
				rules, chapter 480-90 WAC; and
(d)
				A copy of the utility's current rates and regulations.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-108 - Application for service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) When an
				applicant orders service from a gas utility, the applicant will be responsible
				for conforming to the rules and regulations that are in effect and on file with
				the commission.
(2) The utility may
				require the following information when an applicant applies for service:
(a) The applicant's name, address, and
				telephone number, and an alternative contact telephone number, if applicable,
				of the responsible party at the service premises;
(b) The date the service is requested to be
				effective;
(c) The type of service
				requested, such as residential or commercial service, and the type of equipment
				to be served at the service premises;
(d) Proof of identification. The utility must
				allow the applicant to chose from a list, provided by the utility, of at least
				five sources of identification. The list must include a current driver's
				license or other picture identification; and
(e) Any additional information the utility
				may reasonably require for billing and service.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-113 - Residential service deposit requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Deposit criteria for residential
				customers.
A gas utility may collect a deposit from its own customers
				for residential service only if:
(a) At any
				time during the prior twelve months, the utility has sent the customer three or
				more delinquency notices;
(b) The
				utility has disconnected the customer's residential service for nonpayment;
				or
(c) There is a prior customer
				living at the residence who owes a past-due bill to the utility for service at
				that address.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-118 - Nonresidential services deposit requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Deposit criteria for nonresidential
				customers.
A utility may require an applicant for nonresidential service
				to demonstrate that the applicant is a satisfactory credit risk by reasonable
				means appropriate under the circumstances.
(2)
Deposit amount.
Deposits
				required for a customer or location must not exceed:
(a) Two-twelfths of the estimated annual
				billings for utilities billing monthly; or
(b) Three-twelfths of estimated annual
				billings for utilities billing bimonthly.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-123 - Refusal of service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A gas utility
				may refuse to provide new or additional service if:
(a) Providing service does not comply with
				government regulations or accepted natural gas industry standards;
(b) In the utility's reasonable judgment, the
				applicant's or customer's installation of piping or gas burning equipment is
				considered hazardous or of such a nature that safe and satisfactory service
				cannot be provided;
(c) The
				applicant or customer does not comply with the utility's request that the
				applicant or customer provide and install protective devices, when the utility,
				in its reasonable judgment deems such protective devices are necessary to
				protect the utility's or other customers' properties from theft or
				damage;
(d) After reasonable
				efforts by the responsible party, all necessary rights of way, easements,
				approvals, and permits have not been secured; or
(e) The customer is known by the utility to
				have tampered with or stolen the utility's property, used service through an
				illegal connection, or fraudulently obtained service and the utility has
				complied with WAC
				480-90-128(2),
				disconnection of service.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-128 - Disconnection of service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Customer-directed.
The utility may require customers to give at
				least three days' advance notice of customer-directed disconnection prior to
				the date the utility must disconnect service . The customer is not responsible
				for usage after the requested date for disconnection of service, provided the
				customer gave the utility the notice required in this rule and the utility's
				tariff. If the customer moves from the service address and fails to request
				that service be disconnected, the customer will be responsible for paying for
				service taken at that service address until the utility can confirm the date
				that the customer vacated the premises and the utility can access the meter, if
				necessary, or that a new responsible party is taking service at that
				address.
(2)
Utility-directed
				with notice.
After notifying the customer as required in subsection (4)
				of this section, the utility may disconnect service for any one of the
				following conditions:
(a) The customer has
				delinquent charges associated with regulated gas service , including any
				required deposit; however, the utility may not disconnect service when the
				customer has met the requirements of subsection (8) of this section for medical
				conditions or emergencies or has agreed to and maintains agreed-upon payment
				arrangements with the utility, as described in WAC
				480-90-143
				Winter low-income payment program;
(b) Gas service the utility provides is being
				used for purposes or properties other than those specified in the customer's
				service application;
(c) Flat-rate
				service for nonmetered load has increased natural gas use without the utility's
				approval;
(d) The customer refuses
				to allow, or utility representatives are otherwise unable to obtain, access to
				the customer's premises as required in WAC
				480-90-168,
				Access to premises; identification;
(e) Violation of utility rules, service
				agreements, or filed tariff(s); or
(f) Equipment is being used that
				detrimentally affects the utility's service to its other customers or may
				result in detrimental impacts to the safety of those customers or other
				persons, customers' equipment or property, or utility service.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-133 - Reconnecting service after disconnection

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A utility must make every reasonable
				effort to restore a disconnected service within twenty-four hours, or other
				time mutually agreeable between the customer and the utility, after the
				customer has paid, or at the time the utility has agreed to bill, any
				applicable reconnection charge, and:
(a) The
				causes for disconnection not related to a delinquent account are removed and
				the customer pays any delinquent tariffed charges, plus any required deposit;
				or
(b) The customer has entered
				into an agreed-upon payment arrangement for a delinquent account, and pays any
				required deposit as defined in WAC
				480-90-113,
				Residential service deposit requirement, or WAC
				480-90-118,
				Nonresi-dential service deposit requirements; or
(c) The customer has paid all tariffed
				amounts due on the account that is not a prior obligation and the customer has
				paid any required deposit as defined in WAC
				480-90-113,
				Residential service deposit requirements, or WAC
				480-90-118,
				Nonresidential service deposit requirements.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-138 - Payment arrangements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) If a gas
				utility is delayed in billing a residential customer, the utility must offer
				payment arrangements that are equal to the length of time the bill was delayed,
				unless the utility determines that the customer used service prior to applying
				for service as outlined in WAC
				480-90-128(2)(f),
				Disconnection of service.
(2) The
				utility must offer all residential customers the option of an equal-payments
				plan.
(a) An equal-payments plan allows the
				customer to pay the same amount each month based on historical usage. If
				historical information is not available, the utility must base the amount on
				projected usage;
(b) The utility
				may refuse to offer an equal-payments plan to customers who have been removed
				from the equal-payments plan for nonpayment within the past six months or have
				more than a two-month past-due balance on their current account. However, the
				utility may offer an equal-payments plan to any customer when the utility
				believes this would be in the best interest of all parties concerned.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-148 - Service responsibility

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Customer responsibility.
The customer must notify the gas utility,
				in writing, prior to all changes to the customer's equipment or usage that will
				materially affect the service to be rendered. The customer must give such
				notice within a reasonable time so the utility can provide the necessary
				facilities and acquire additional gas supplies, if needed. The charge for such
				necessary facilities, if any, must be in accordance with the utility's filed
				tariff.
(2)
Gas utility
				responsibilities.
(a) Each gas utility
				must install and maintain monitoring equipment at appropriate locations within
				its system in order to determine the operating characteristics of the system.
				The commission may require the utility to provide additional equipment in
				connection with performing special investigations, if economically
				feasible;
(b) Each gas utility must
				promptly notify all affected customers of any substantial change to the system
				that would affect the efficiency of operation or the adjustment of the customer
				equipment. If an adjustment to the customer's equipment is necessary, the cost
				may be recovered in accordance with the utility's tariff, except that, when the
				customer has been notified of a change in service prior to receiving service,
				or when the change is required by law, the customer must bear all costs in
				connection with making such changes;
(c) Each gas utility must adopt and maintain
				as constant as practical a standard pressure of gas measured at the outlet of
				any customer's meter, and/or regulator in cases of a high pressure system. The
				standard pressure adopted must be filed with the commission as part of the gas
				utility's schedule of rates, rules, and regulations. Pressures other than
				standard may be furnished to a customer upon mutual agreement between the
				utility and customer, and provided that such pressure can be maintained without
				adversely affecting the service being provided to other customers on the
				system; and
(d) Each gas utility
				must maintain its gas system in a condition that enables it to furnish safe,
				adequate, and efficient service.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-158 - Service connections

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The gas
				utility must furnish, install, and maintain piping and other fittings to the
				customer's piping up to the point of delivery. The point of delivery is at the
				outlet of the meter or at the connection to a customer's piping, whichever is
				farther downstream.
(2) The
				customer may be required to pay for or install any service connection such as
				pipes and fittings in compliance with the gas utility's standards and filed
				tariff(s). The service piping and fittings up to the point of delivery will
				become the property of the utility, which must accept all responsibility for
				future maintenance and operations in accordance with its filed
				tariffs.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-158, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-163 - Service entrance facilities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
A gas utility may require customers to:
(1) Provide service entrance facilities at
				the easiest access point to the utility's distribution system; and
(2) To comply with reasonable requirements to
				keep those facilities free from tampering or interference.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-163, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-168 - Access to premises; identification

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				Authorized representatives of a gas utility have the right to enter a
				customer's property during reasonable hours to perform necessary functions such
				as meter reading, maintenance, repairs, testing, installation, or removal of
				the utility's property. Utilities must provide photo identification to utility
				representatives who are authorized to enter customers' premises. Customers have
				the right to see the utility-provided identification of gas utility
				representatives before allowing entry to the customer's property.
(2) When performing maintenance, repairs,
				testing, installation, or removal of the utility's property, the utility must
				restore the customer's property as close as reasonably practicable to the
				condition prior to the utility's action, unless otherwise defined in the
				utility's tariff or through a separate agreement with the customer.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-168, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-173 - Gas utility's responsibility for complaints and disputes

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) When a gas
				utility receives a complaint from a customer or an applicant for service, the
				utility must acknowledge receipt of the complaint and:
(a) Upon request, identify the utility's
				contact to the complainant;
(b)
				Investigate the complaint promptly as required by the particular
				case;
(c) Report the results of the
				investigation to the complainant;
(d) Take corrective action, if warranted, as
				soon as possible under the circumstances;
(e) If the complainant is dissatisfied with
				the results or decision, inform the complainant that the decision may be
				appealed to a supervisor at the utility; and
(f) If the complainant is dissatisfied after
				speaking with the utility's supervisor, the supervisor must inform the
				complainant of the complainant's right to file a complaint with the commission
				and provide the commission's address and toll-free telephone number.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-178 - Billing requirements and payment date

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Customer bills must:
(a) Be issued at intervals not to exceed two
				one-month billing cycles, unless the utility can show good cause for delaying
				the issuance of the bill. The utility must be able to show good cause if
				requested by the commission;
(b)
				Show the total amount due and payable;
(c) Show the date the bill becomes delinquent
				if not paid;
(d) Show the utility's
				business address, business hours, and toll-free telephone number and emergency
				telephone number by which a customer may contact the utility;
(e) Show the beginning and ending meter
				readings for the current billing period, the current monthly or bimonthly read
				date, as applicable, and the total amount of therms used for the billing cycle,
				provided that the customer bill must provide the meter readings and read date
				for the final reading for the applicable monthly or bimonthly billing cycle;
				the bill need not include interval readings, although customers must be
				provided access to their usage data in accordance with WAC
				480-90-153;
(f) Show the amount of therms used for each
				billing rate, the applicable billing rates per therm, the basic charge or
				minimum bill;
(g) Show the amount
				of any municipal tax surcharges or their respective percentage rates, if
				applicable;
(h) Clearly identify
				when a bill has been prorated. A prorated bill must be issued when service is
				provided for a fraction of the billing period. Unless otherwise specified in
				the utility's tariff, the charge must be prorated in the following manner:
(i) Flat-rate service must be prorated on the
				basis of the proportionate part of the period that service was
				rendered;
(ii) Metered service must
				be billed for the amount metered. The basic or minimum charge must be billed in
				full;
(i) Clearly
				identify when a bill is based on an estimation.
(i) A utility must detail its method(s) for
				estimating customer bills in its tariff;
(ii) The utility may not estimate for more
				than four consecutive months unless the cause of the estimation is inclement
				weather, terrain, or a previous arrangement with the customer; and
(j) Clearly identify determination
				of maximum demand. A utility providing service to any customer on a demand
				basis must detail in its filed tariff the method of applying charges and of
				ascertaining the demand.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-179 - Electronic information

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
With the prior consent (as defined in subsection (2) of this
				  section) of the customer or applicant, a utility may provide the following by
				  electronic means, instead of in paper copy sent to the customer's mailing
				  address:
Bills;
Notices of tariff revisions; and
Bill inserts containing information required to be provided
				  to customers or applicants by statute, rule, or commission order.
The provision of this electronic information to a customer
				  will be considered compliant with any statute, rule, commission order, or
				  tariff provision that refers to the mailing of bills, notices of tariff
				  revisions or bill inserts when a customer has consented to receive the
				  information in electronic form as agreed to by the customer. The electronic
				  form must provide a link to the electronic information, or otherwise advise the
				  customer of the electronic location of such information.
(1)
Format of electronic
				communications.
All information provided in electronic form must meet
				the requirements for format, due dates, calculation of due dates, minimum time
				frames, and any other requirements specified in this chapter. Electronic
				information will be treated the same as documents that are mailed from a
				location within the state of Washington for the purposes of calculating due
				dates and minimum time frames.
(2)
Obtaining and documenting customer consent.
The utility must
				obtain prior written or electronic consent to provide bills, notices of tariff
				revisions and bill inserts in electronic form (customer consent). The customer
				consent must be obtained directly from the customer of record and comply with
				the following:
(a) The consent section on the
				document, screen, or web page may also offer the customer separate, individual
				opportunities to consent to:
(i) Paperless
				billing offered by the utility.
(ii) Automatic payment services offered by
				the utility, including one-time payment services or other automatic payment
				services.
(iii) Equal payment plan.
For electronic consent, the customer consent section must be
				  prominent on the web page and clearly distinguishable from any other consent on
				  the screen or page. No information other than as provided in this section, may
				  be combined in the same customer consent section except utility contact
				  information. The consent section must not have consent boxes or spaces already
				  filled in. The customer must personally check each box or space giving his or
				  her consent to one or more services. Each service requires a separate,
				  affirmative consent.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-188 - Payment locations

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The gas
				utility must provide payment agencies in locally accessible locations where
				applicants and customers can make payments at no charge to the applicants and
				customers. Payment agencies must clearly post and maintain regular business
				hours.
(2) The utility and its
				payment agencies must provide receipts for any cash payments made by the
				applicants or customers.
(3) The
				utility must provide written or electronic notice to the commission's consumer
				affairs section at least thirty days prior to the closing of any business
				office, customer service center, or payment agency. In the event a payment
				agency is closed on less than thirty days' notice, written or electronic
				notification is required as soon as the utility becomes aware of the closure.
				At a minimum, the following information is required:
(a) The communities affected by the
				closing;
(b) The date of the
				closing;
(c) A listing of other
				methods and facility locations available for payment of cash or urgent
				payments; and
(d) A listing of
				other methods and locations for obtaining business office and customer service
				center services.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-193 - Posting of tariffs for public inspection and review

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Each gas utility offering service under tariff must make
				  available for public inspection and review all tariffs governing its provision
				  of service, as required by
				  RCW
				  80.28.050. To comply with this requirement, a
				  utility must fulfill the provisions of either subsection (1) or (2) of this
				  section.
(1)
Web, telephone, and
				mail access.
The utility must:
(a)
				Maintain a complete copy of its tariff or tariffs and all proposed tariff
				changes on an internet web site accessible to the public using generally
				available browser software;
(b)
				Provide a toll-free telephone number by which customers and applicants can
				obtain assistance during normal business hours from a company agent qualified
				to assist the customer in locating, interpreting, and applying tariff
				provisions;
(c) Upon written or
				oral request by any customer or applicant, deliver at no charge a copy of any
				current, proposed or most recently canceled tariff page that relates to the
				customer's or applicant's service; and
(d) Include on each customer bill and notice
				the address of the tariff web site and the toll-free telephone
				number.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-195 - Notice of tariff changes other than increases in recurring charges and restrictions in access to services

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				This section applies to tariff changes for other than those that are subject to
				WAC 480-90-194.
(2) A utility that files a tariff change to
				increase any charge that a customer may incur without being quoted a rate or
				price (e.g., late payment fees, insufficient fund charges, or a one-time
				charge) must provide notice to each affected customer on or with the first bill
				after the change becomes effective.
(a) At a
				minimum, the notice must include the effective date, a clear description of
				changes to rates or services and a utility contact number where customers may
				seek additional information.
(b)
				Methods of notice permitted include a bill insert, bill message, printing on
				the billing envelope, a separate mailing to all affected customers or, if the
				utility has the capability and the customer has authorized, by
				e-mail.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-197 - Adjudicative proceedings where public testimony will be taken

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) For adjudicated
				proceedings, when scheduling a hearing to take testimony from the public, the
				timing, location, and amount of notice to the public or to customers will be
				addressed in the prehearing conference order.
(2) The notice must include all information
				contained in WAC
				480-90-194(4),
				except the public involvement information in WAC
				480-90-194(4)(j).
				A utility must include either of the following public involvement language:
(a) Commission-suggested language that is
				available from the commission's designated public affairs officer; or
(b) Utility-developed language that must
				include the commission's mailing address, toll-free number, docket number, and
				a brief explanation:
(i) How to participate
				in the commission's process by mailing or faxing a letter, or submitting an
				e-mail;
(ii) How to contact the
				commission for process questions; and
(iii) The date, time and location of the
				public hearing.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-198 - Notice verification and assistance

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Within ten days of making a filing
				requiring posting, publication, or customer notice under WAC
				480-90-194,
				480-90-195, or
				480-90-197, but no sooner than
				when the tariff is filed with the commission, a utility must file a statement
				with the commission's records center that the required notice has been posted,
				published, and/or mailed. The declaration must include:
(a) The methods used to post, publish, and/or
				give notice to customers;
(b) When
				and how the notice was posted, published, and/or issued to customers;
(c) How many customers are affected;
				and
(d) A copy of the
				notice.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-90-199 - Other customer notice

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The commission may require notice to customers of tariff
				  changes other than those described in these rules when the commission
				  determines that additional customer education is needed.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.180. 02-11-081 (Docket No.
					 U-991301, General Order No. R-498), § 480-90-199, filed 5/14/02, effective
					 6/17/02.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Section 480-90-203 - Accounting system requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				Gas utilities in the state of Washington must use the uniform system of
				accounts applicable to major and nonmajor gas utilities as published by the
				Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in
				Title
				18 of the Code of Federal
				Regulations, Part 201. Information about the Code of Federal Regulations
				regarding the version adopted and where to obtain it is set out in WAC
				480-90-999, Adoption by
				reference.
(2) Gas utilities having
				multistate operations must maintain records in such detail that the costs of
				property located and business done in Washington can be readily ascertained in
				accordance with geographic boundaries.
(3) Any deviation from the uniform system of
				accounts, as prescribed by the FERC, will be accomplished only after due notice
				and order of this commission.
(4)
				This rule does not supersede any commission order regarding accounting
				treatments.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040,
					 80.04.160,
					 81.04.160 and
					 34.05.353. 02-18-033 (Docket No.
					 A-020379, General Order No. R-501), § 480-90-203, filed 8/26/02, effective
					 9/26/02. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
					 UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-203, filed 5/3/01, effective
					 6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-207 - Filing information

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Filing.
The commission record center will accept any filing under
				  WAC 480-90-242 (Issuing securities)
				  delivered in person, by mail, telefacsimile, or electronic mail message. The
				  commission records center will accept all other reports required in Part III in
				  person, by mail, or when procedures are in place, electronic mail
				  message.
(2)
Commission may
				  require additional information.
The commission may require pertinent
				  information in addition to that specified by statute or in this chapter.
(3)
Information by
				  reference.
When any information required to support a filing is on file
				  with the commission, it is sufficient to make specific reference to the
				  information indicating the proceeding, report, or other filing that contains
				  the referenced information.
(4)
When information is unavailable.
If any required information is
				  unavailable at the time of the filing, the filing must include the reason why
				  the information is not available and state when it will be available.
Statutory Authority:
						RCW
						80.01.040,
						80.04.160, and
						81.04.160. 05-17-026 (Docket No.
						A-021178 and TO-030288, General Order No. R-522), § 480-90-207, filed
						8/5/05, effective 9/5/05. 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), § 480-90-207, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-209 - Additional reports

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Part III does not supersede any reporting requirement
					 specified in a commission order or limit the commission's ability to request
					 additional information.
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), § 480-90-209, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-213 - Expenditures for political or legislative activities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The commission will not allow either
				  direct or indirect expenditures for political or legislative activities for
				  rate-making purposes.
(2) For
				  purposes of this rule, political or legislative activities include, but are not
				  limited to:
(a) Encouraging support or
				  opposition to ballot measures, legislation, candidates for a public office, or
				  current public office holders;
(b)
				  Soliciting support for or contributing to political action
				  committees;
(c) Gathering data for
				  mailing lists that are generated for the purposes of encouraging support for or
				  opposition to ballot measures, legislation, candidates for public office, or
				  current office holders, or encouraging support for or contributions to
				  political action committees;
(d)
				  Soliciting contributions or recruiting volunteers to assist in the activities
				  set forth in (a) through (c) of this subsection.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-223 - Advertising

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The commission
				  will not allow expenses for promotional or political advertising for
				  rate-making purposes. The term "promotional advertising" means advertising to
				  encourage any person or business to select or use the service or additional
				  services of a gas utility, to select or install any appliance or equipment
				  designed to use the gas utility's service, or to influence consumers' opinions
				  of the gas utility.
The term "political advertising" means any advertising for
					 the purpose of influencing public opinion with respect to legislative,
					 administrative, or electoral matters, or with respect to any controversial
					 issue of public importance.
(2) As used in this section the terms
				  "promotional advertising" and "political advertising" do not include:
(a) Advertising which informs customers how
				  to conserve energy or how to reduce peak demand for energy;
(b) Advertising required by law or by
				  regulation, including advertising under Part 1 of Title II, of the National
				  Energy Conservation Policy Act;
(c)
				  Advertising regarding service interruptions, safety measures, or emergency
				  conditions;
(d) Advertising
				  concerning employment opportunities with the gas utility;
(e) Advertising which promotes the use of
				  energy efficient appliances, equipment, or services;
(f) Announcements or explanations of existing
				  or proposed tariffs or rate schedules; and
(g) Notices of meetings or commission
				  hearings concerning gas utility rates and tariffs.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-228 - Retention and preservation of records and reports

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each gas utility must retain all records
				  and reports for three years unless otherwise specified by the publication
				  referenced in subsection (2) of this section. No records may be destroyed prior
				  to the expiration of the time specified by the publication referenced in
				  subsection (2) of this section.
(2)
				  The commission adopts the publication,
Regulations to Govern the
				  Preservation of Records of Electric, Gas, and Water Companies
,
				  published by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners as
				  the standards for utility records retention. Information about the
Regulations to Govern the Preservation of Records of Electric, Gas, and
				  Water Companies
regarding the version adopted and where to obtain it
				  is set out in WAC
				  480-90-999, Adoption by
				  reference.
Statutory Authority:
						RCW
						80.01.040 and
						80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
						UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-228, filed 5/3/01, effective
						6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-233 - Purchased gas adjustment

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A
				  purchased gas adjustment (PGA) clause is an accounting and rate adjustment
				  procedure that gas utilities use to recover actual gas costs. Gas utilities
				  must file with the commission for recovery of expected gas cost changes and
				  amortization of accumulated book balances.
(2) A gas utility must include its PGA
				  procedures in its tariff.
(3) A gas
				  utility must make a PGA filing within a maximum of fifteen months since the
				  effective date of the utility's last PGA. If the utility believes that a PGA
				  filing is unnecessary within this time frame, then it must file supporting
				  documents within thirteen months after the effective date of its last PGA
				  demonstrating why a rate change is not necessary.
(4) A gas utility must accrue interest,
				  compounded monthly, on deferred gas cost balances which accrue subsequent to
				  the effective date of this rule at the previous quarter's average prime
				  interest rate calculated as follows: The arithmetic mean of the prime rate
				  values published in the Federal Reserve Bulletin for the fourth, third, and
				  second months preceding the first month of the calendar quarter (also known as
				  the "FERC interest rate").
(5) A
				  gas utility must file a monthly report of the activity in account 191,
				  Unrecovered purchased gas costs, for Washington within thirty days after the
				  end of each month. The report must show the beginning balance, monthly entry
				  and ending balances for each Washington subaccount included in account 191,
				  Unrecovered purchased gas costs. PGA incentive amounts must be shown
				  separately.
Statutory Authority:
						RCW
						80.01.040 and
						80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No.
						UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-233, filed 5/3/01, effective
						6/3/01.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-90-238 - Integrated resource planning

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				  Purpose. Each natural gas utility regulated by the commission has the
				  responsibility to meet system demand with the least cost mix of natural gas
				  supply and conservation. In furtherance of that responsibility, each natural
				  gas utility must develop an "integrated resource plan."
(2) Definitions.
(a) "Integrated resource plan" or "plan"
				  means a plan describing the mix of natural gas supply and conservation
				  designated to meet current and future needs at the lowest reasonable cost to
				  the utility and its ratepayers.
(b)
				  "Lowest reasonable cost" means the lowest cost mix of resources determined
				  through a detailed and consistent analysis of a wide range of commercially
				  available sources. At a minimum, this analysis must consider resource costs,
				  market-volatility risks, demand-side resource uncertainties, the risks imposed
				  on ratepayers, resource effect on system operations, public policies regarding
				  resource preference adopted by Washington state or the federal government, the
				  cost of risks associated with environmental effects including emissions of
				  carbon dioxide, and the need for security of supply.
(c) "Conservation" means any reduction in
				  natural gas consumption that results from increases in the efficiency of energy
				  use or distribution.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart B - Financial Transaction Reporting Requirements › Section 480-90-242 - Issuing securities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
For the purpose of this section:
"Securities" means stocks, stock certificates, other
					 evidence of interest or ownership, bonds, notes other than those notes exempted
					 from reporting under
					 RCW
					 80.08.043, or other evidence of indebtedness,
					 or any obligation or liability as guarantor subject to reporting under
					 RCW
					 80.08.130.
(1) Before a gas utility issues a security,
				  it must file with the commission:
(a) A
				  description of the purposes for which the issuance will be made, including a
				  certification by an officer authorized to do so, that the proceeds from any
				  such financing is for one or more of the purposes allowed by
				  RCW
				  80.08.030;
(b) A description of the proposed issuance,
				  including the terms of financing; and
(c) A statement as to why the transaction is
				  in the public interest.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-90 - Gas companies-Operations › Part III - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart B - Financial Transaction Reporting Requirements › Section 480-90-244 - Transferring cash or assuming obligations

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) At least five business days before a gas
				  utility whose corporate/issuer rating is not in one of the four highest rating
				  categories of either Standard & Poor's L.L.C. or Moody's Investors Service,
				  Inc., or its subsidiary transfers cash to any of its affiliated interests or
				  subsidiaries or assumes an obligation or liability of any of its affiliated
				  interests or any of its subsidiaries, the utility must report to the commission
				  an estimate of the amount to be transferred and the terms of the transaction
				  when the transaction will exceed thresholds described in (a) or (b) of this
				  subsection.
(a) The utility must report if
				  the cumulative transactions to a subsidiary or affiliated interest for the
				  prior twelve months exceed a threshold of two percent, which is based on the
				  utility's common shareholders equity.
(b) When the threshold in (a) of this
				  subsection has been reached, the utility must report each subsequent
				  transaction exceeding a threshold of one percent for the prior twelve-month
				  period, which is based on the utility's common shareholders equity.
A utility's common shareholder equity is determined
					 according to the latest annual report filed pursuant to WAC
					 480-90-252 (Federal Energy
					 Regulatory Commission (FERC) Form No. 2). 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).