reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-110 - Conservation advisory group

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Scope of issues.
A utility must maintain and use an external
			 conservation advisory group of stakeholders to advise the utility on
			 conservation issues including, but not limited to:
(a) Conservation programs and
			 measures.
(b) Updates to the
			 utility's evaluation, measurement, and verification framework.
(c) Modification of existing, or development
			 of new evaluation, measurement, and verification methods.
(d) Independent third-party evaluation of
			 portfolio-level biennial conservation achievement.
(e) Development of conservation potential
			 assessments, as required by
			 RCW
			 19.285.040(1)(a) and WAC
			 480-109-100(2).
(f) The methodology, inputs, and calculations
			 for cost-effectiveness.
(g) The
			 data sources and values used to develop and update supply curves.
(h) The need for tariff modifications or
			 mid-biennium program corrections.
(i) The appropriate level of and planning
			 for:
(i) Marketing conservation
			 programs;
(ii) Incentives to
			 customers for measures and services; and
(iii) Impact, market, and process
			 evaluations.
(j)
			 Programs for low-income residential customers.
(k) Establishment of the biennial
			 conservation target and program achievement results compared to the
			 target.
(l) Conservation program
			 budgets and actual expenditures compared to budgets.
(m) Development and implementation of new and
			 pilot programs.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-120 - Conservation planning and reporting

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Biennial conservation plan.
(a)
			 On or before November 1st of every odd-numbered year, a utility must file with
			 the commission a biennial conservation plan.
(b) The plan must include, but is not limited
			 to:
(i) A request that the commission approve
			 its ten-year conservation potential and biennial conservation target.
(ii) The extent of public participation in
			 the development of the ten-year conservation potential and the biennial
			 conservation target.
(iii) The
			 ten-year conservation potential, the biennial conservation target, biennial
			 program details, biennial program budgets, and cost-effectiveness
			 calculations.
(iv) A description of
			 the technologies, data collection, processes, procedures and assumptions the
			 utility used to develop the figures in (b)(iii) of this subsection.
(v) A description of and support for any
			 changes from the assumptions or methodologies used in the utility's most recent
			 conservation potential assessment.
(vi) An evaluation, measurement, and
			 verification plan for the biennium including, but not limited to:
(A) The evaluation, measurement, and
			 verification framework;
(B) The
			 evaluation, measurement, and verification budget; and
(C) Identification of programs that will be
			 evaluated during the biennium.
(c) For the purposes of this section,
			 ten-year conservation potential is derived pursuant to WAC
			 480-109-100(2).
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-130 - Conservation cost recovery adjustment

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Utilities must file with the commission
			 for recovery of all expected conservation cost changes and amortization of
			 deferred balances. A utility must include its conservation cost recovery
			 procedures in its tariff.
(2) A
			 utility must make a conservation cost recovery filing no later than June 1st of
			 each year, with a requested effective date at least sixty days after the
			 filing. If the utility believes that a filing is unnecessary, then it must file
			 a request for exception and supporting documents no later than May 1st of each
			 year demonstrating why a rate change is not necessary.
(3) A utility may not accrue interest or
			 incur carrying charges on deferred conservation cost balances. Utilities must
			 base conservation recovery rates on forward-looking budgeted conservation
			 program costs for the future year with revisions to recover only actual program
			 costs of the prior year. Utilities must also include the effects of variations
			 in actual sales on the recovery of conservation costs in the prior
			 year.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-200 - Renewable portfolio standard

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Renewable resource target.
Each utility must meet the following
			 annual targets.
(a) By January 1st of each
			 year beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2015, each utility must use
			 sufficient eligible renewable resources, acquire equivalent renewable energy
			 credits, or a combination of both, to supply at least three percent of its
			 two-year average load for the remainder of each target year.
(b) By January 1st of each year beginning in
			 2016 and continuing through 2019, each utility must use sufficient eligible
			 renewable resources, acquire equivalent renewable energy credits, or a
			 combination of both, to supply at least nine percent of its two-year average
			 load for the remainder of each target year.
(c) By January 1st of each year beginning in
			 2020 and continuing each year thereafter, each utility must use sufficient
			 eligible renewable resources, acquire equivalent renewable energy credits, or a
			 combination of both, to supply at least fifteen percent of its two-year average
			 load for the remainder of each target year.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-220 - Alternatives to the renewable resource requirement

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Instead of fully meeting its annual renewable resource target
				in WAC 480-109-200, a utility may make
				one of three demonstrations.
(1)
Cost cap.
A utility may invest at least four percent of its total
			 annual retail revenue requirement on the incremental costs of eligible
			 renewable resources, renewable energy credits, or a combination of
			 both.
(2)
Force
			 majeure.
A utility may demonstrate that events beyond its reasonable
			 control that could not have been reasonably anticipated or ameliorated,
			 prevented it from meeting the renewable energy target. Such events may include
			 weather-related damage, mechanical failure, strikes, lockouts, or actions of a
			 governmental authority that adversely affect the generation, transmission, or
			 distribution of an eligible renewable resource owned by or under contract to a
			 qualifying utility.
(3)
No
			 load growth.
A utility may demonstrate all of the following:
(a) Its weather-adjusted load for the
			 previous three years prior to the target year on average did not
			 increase.
(b) After December 7,
			 2006, all new or renewed ownership or purchases of electricity from
			 nonrenewable resources other than coal transition power and daily spot
			 purchases were offset by equivalent renewable energy credits.
(c) It invested at least one percent of its
			 total annual retail revenue requirement that year on eligible renewable
			 resources, renewable energy credits, or a combination of both.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-300 - Greenhouse gas content calculation and energy and emissions intensity metrics

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A utility must
			 report its greenhouse gas content calculation and metrics of energy and
			 emissions intensity to the commission on or before June 1st of each year. The
			 report must include annual values for each metric for the preceding ten
			 calendar years. Each value reported must be based on the annual energy or
			 emissions from all generating resources providing service to customers of that
			 utility in Washington state, regardless of the location of the generating
			 resources. When the metrics are calculated from generators that serve
			 out-of-state and in-state customers, the annual energy and emissions outputs
			 must be prorated to represent the proportion of the resource used by Washington
			 customers.
(2) Each utility must
			 perform its greenhouse gas content calculation in accordance with the rules
			 enacted by the department of ecology, consistent with
			 RCW
			 19.405.020(22).
(3) In addition to the greenhouse gas content
			 calculation, the report shall include the following metrics:
(a) Average megawatt-hours per residential
			 customer;
(b) Average
			 megawatt-hours per commercial customer;
(c) Megawatt-hours per capita;
(d) Million metric tons of
			 CO2e emissions; and
(e) Comparison of annual million metric tons
			 of CO2e emissions to 1990 emissions.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-109 - Electric companies-Acquisition of minimum quantities of conservation and renewable energy as required by the Energy Independence Act (chapter 19.285 RCW) › Section 480-109-999 - Adoption by reference

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
In this chapter, the commission adopts by reference all, or
				portions of, the publications identified below. They are available for
				inspection at the commission library. The publications, publication dates,
				references within this chapter, and availability of the resources are as
				follows:
(1)
Northwest
			 Conservation and Electric Power Plan
as published by the Northwest
			 Power and Conservation Council.
(a) The
			 commission adopts the 2021 Northwest Power Plan.
(b) This publication is referenced in WAC
			 480-109-100
			 Energy efficiency resource standard.
(c) Copies of
Northwest Conservation
			 and Electric Power Plan
are available from the Northwest Power and
			 Conservation Council at
https://www.nwcouncil.org/2021-northwest-power-plan
.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-205 - Application of rules

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The rules in this chapter apply to any water company that
				  distributes, sells, or supplies water, and that meets requirements for
				  commission regulation or jurisdiction under
				  RCW
				  80.04.010 and WAC
				  480-110-255 (Jurisdiction). This
				  includes investor-owned water companies that meet the jurisdictional threshold
				  of serving one hundred or more customers or have average revenue of more than
				  five hundred fifty-seven dollars per customer per year.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040,
					 80.04.160, and
					 80.04.010(30)(b).
					 12-17-047 (Docket UW-120246, General Order R-566), § 480-110-205, filed
					 8/9/12, effective 9/9/12. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040,
					 80.04.160 and
					 80.04.010. 05-08-099 (Docket No.
					 UW-040375, General Order No. R-519), § 480-110-205, filed 4/4/05,
					 effective 5/5/05. 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), § 480-110-205, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
					 UW-980082), § 480-110-205, filed 11/30/99, effective
					 12/31/99.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-215 - Exemptions from rules in chapter 480-110 WAC

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The commission may grant an exemption from the provisions of
				  any rule in this chapter in the same manner and consistent with the standards
				  and according to the procedures set forth in WAC
				  480-07-110 (Exceptions from and
				  modifications to the rules in this chapter; special rules).
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), § 480-110-215, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040 and
					 80.04.160. 03-24-028 (General
					 Order R-510, Docket No. A-010648), § 480-110-215, filed 11/24/03,
					 effective 1/1/04. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
					 UW-980082), § 480-110-215, filed 11/30/99, effective
					 12/31/99.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-225 - Additional requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) These rules
				do not relieve any company from any of its duties and obligations under the
				laws of the state of Washington.
(2) The commission retains the authority to
				impose additional or different requirements on any company in appropriate
				circumstances, consistent with the requirements of law.
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), § 480-110-225, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
					 UW-980082), § 480-110-225, filed 11/30/99, effective
					 12/31/99.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-227 - 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,
					 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), § 480-110-227, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-235 - Definition of control

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) For
				purposes of determining commission jurisdiction over a water company as defined
				in RCW
				80.04.010, "control" means the water system
				operator or manager has discretion over the property or finances or operations
				of a water company which is normally exercised by an owner. Factors indicating
				control include, but are not limited to, whether the operator or manager:
(a) May authorize the purchase or sale of all
				or part of the water system or its water rights;
(b) May authorize capital additions or
				improvements to the system;
(c) May
				accept contributed plant;
(d) May
				authorize the expenditure or acquisition of funds that encumber any asset of
				the company;
(e) May authorize the
				expenditure of funds for nonwater company purposes;
(f) Receives compensation of a type or amount
				having no reasonable relationship to the work performed or to be
				performed.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-255 - Jurisdiction

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The commission
				only regulates investor-owned water companies that:
(a) Own, operate, control, or manage one or
				more water systems; except that control or management does not include
				management by a satellite management agency as defined in chapter 70.116 RCW if
				the satellite management agency is not an owner of the water company.
(b) Meet jurisdictional thresholds
				of one hundred or more customers, or have average revenue of more than five
				hundred fifty-seven dollars per customer per year.
If a water company serves
							 customers
and has average annual revenue per
							 customer
commission regulation
99 or less
$557 or less
No
99 or less
more than $557
Yes
100or more
$557 or less
Yes
100 or more
more than $557
Yes
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-261 - Maps

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Each water company shall maintain a current map of each of
				  its water systems showing the current service area. The company must provide
				  the current maps to the commission for review within five business days of a
				  request. The maps must contain enough detail to answer questions related to
				  rates and charges and obligations to serve.
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), § 480-110-261, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-305 - Access to premises

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Authorized personnel of a water company have the right to
				  enter a customer's property during reasonable hours to perform meter reading,
				  maintenance, testing, installation or removal of the company's property.
				  Customers may ask to see the identification of the water company personnel
				  before allowing entry to the customer's property.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
					 UW-980082), § 480-110-305, filed 11/30/99, effective
					 12/31/99.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-315 - Availability of information

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A
				water company must notify its customers of its regular business hours,
				telephone number, mailing address and a twenty-four hour emergency telephone,
				pager, voice messaging, fax machine or mobile phone number, at least once a
				year.
(2) A water company must
				advise its customers and the commission of any change in address or telephone
				number(s) at least ten days prior to the effective date.
(3) The water company must develop procedures
				for prompt response to reported failures or emergencies. A company
				representative must respond to the customer who reported the service failure or
				emergency within twenty-four hours of the report.
(4) When a nonemergency customer call is
				received, a water company must return the customer's call within two business
				days.
(5) A water company must
				acknowledge and respond to a customer's written inquiry within two weeks of
				receiving the letter.
(6) The water
				company must provide a copy of the commission's consumer brochure to each new
				applicant for service, and once a year notify its current customers of the
				availability of the brochure and how to obtain a copy.
(7) The water company must make the following
				information available for review by customers:
(a) A copy of the water rules, chapter
				480-110 WAC.
(b) A copy of the
				company's current rates and regulations (tariff).
(c) A copy of the consumer brochure published
				by the commission.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part I - GENERAL RULES › Section 480-110-325 - Application for service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) When
				establishing initial service to a location the water company must obtain
				applications for service in writing, on company-supplied forms. The completed
				application form must:
(a) Include both the
				company's and the applicant's name, address and telephone number;
(b) Show the date the person applied for
				service;
(c) Comply with the water
				company's filed tariffs;
(d)
				Clearly state the type of service requested. (Examples: Residential or
				commercial, flat-rated or metered service, a letter to provide service,
				ready-to-serve, etc.);
(e) Include
				a property lot description, street number, or other sufficient description of
				location for service;
(f) Include a
				complete list and description of all applicable charges. (Examples: Account
				set-up, service connection, facilities charge, line extension, etc.);
(g) Include the date by which a customer can
				expect service;
(h) Include the
				application expiration date, if any;
(i) Include signatures of the potential
				customer and a company representative.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-335 - Establishing credit and deposits

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Establishing credit - residential.
A company may not collect a
				security deposit if an applicant for residential service can establish
				satisfactory credit by any one of the following:
(a) The applicant had prior service with the
				company or another water company for twelve months before the application date
				and:
(i) Service was not disconnected for
				nonpayment;
(ii) The customer
				received no more than one delinquency notice; and
(iii) References with the other company (if
				applicable) can quickly and easily be checked. The company may request that the
				references from the previous company be in writing.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-345 - Refusal of service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A water company
				must not refuse or discontinue service to an applicant or customer when there
				are unpaid bills from a prior customer at the same premises unless the company
				believes, based on objective evidence, that the applicant is acting on behalf
				of the prior customer with the intent to avoid payment.
(2) A water company cannot permanently deny
				service to an applicant or customer because of a prior obligation to the
				company. A prior obligation is the dollar amount that has been billed to a
				customer but left unpaid at the time of disconnection of service for
				nonpayment.
(3) The water company
				may refuse to connect an applicant for service, or refuse to increase service
				to a customer, when one or more of the following conditions exist:
(a) The service will adversely affect service
				being provided to other customers;
(b) The applicant or customer has not
				complied with state, county, or municipal codes or regulations concerning the
				approved design or use of the facilities;
(c) In the company's judgment, the
				applicant's or customer's installation of piping or equipment is hazardous, or
				of such design that satisfactory service cannot be provided;
(d) The applicant or customer has not
				installed on its premises required protective devices necessary to protect the
				company's property or that of its other customers;
(e) The company is unable to secure all
				necessary rights of way, easements, approvals, and permits;
(f) Furnishing the water is contrary to the
				provisions of the company's approved water system plan; or
(g) The location to be served is located
				outside of the company's service area.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-365 - Service responsibilities

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Customer responsibility -
Customers must notify the water company
				in writing prior to making a change in equipment or usage that will materially
				affect the service being provided by the company. The customer must:
(a) Provide the company adequate time to
				install necessary additional facilities or supply; and
(b) Pay an equitable share of the cost of
				necessary additional facilities, if any, as provided in the company's tariff or
				through a contract submitted to the commission for approval.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-375 - Form of bills

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Customer bills
				must:
(a) Be issued at intervals not to
				exceed three months and identify if the water company is billing in arrears or
				advance;
(b) Show a reference to
				the applicable rate schedule;
(c)
				Identify and show each separate charge as a line item;
(d) Show the total amount of the
				bill;
(e) Include enough
				information that, together with tariff rates, the customer can calculate his or
				her bill (a copy of the tariff is available for review at company or from the
				commission upon request);
(f) Show
				the date the bill becomes delinquent if not paid. The minimum specified time
				must be fifteen days after the bill's mailing date, if mailed from within the
				state of Washington, or eighteen days if mailed from outside the state of
				Washington, after the bill's mailing date.
A customer may request to pay by a certain date that is not
				  the normally designated payment date when showing good cause. Good cause may
				  include, but is not limited to, adjustment of a billing cycle to parallel
				  receipt of income. The preferred payment date must be prior to the next invoice
				  date.
(g) Include the water
				company's name, business address, and telephone number and/or emergency
				telephone number by which a customer may contact the company;
(h) If the customer is metered, include the
				current and previous meter readings, the current read date, and the number and
				kind of units consumed;
(i) Show
				taxes and any tax percentage rate that the taxes are computed from. Taxes must
				be totaled to show a total taxed amount. Upon request, the company must provide
				a detail of the computation of the tax amount. Taxes, as used here, represent
				municipal occupation, business and excise taxes that have been levied by a
				municipality against the company, and are being passed on to the customer as a
				part of the charge for water service; and
(j) Clearly identify when a bill has been
				estimated.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-385 - Water company responsibility for complaints and disputes

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) If a water
				company receives a complaint or dispute from a customer or an applicant for
				service it must:
(a) Acknowledge the
				complaint;
(b) Investigate
				promptly;
(c) Report the results of
				the investigation to the complainant;
(d) Take corrective action, if warranted, as
				soon as appropriate under the circumstances;
(e) Inform the complainant that the decision
				may be appealed to a higher level representative at the company, if
				any;
(f) Inform the complainant, if
				still dissatisfied after speaking with the higher level representative, of the
				commission's availability for review of the complaint; and
(g) Provide the complainant with the
				commission's address and toll-free telephone number.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-395 - Water quality refunds

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each
				water company may be required to refund water charges due to poor water quality
				only:
(a) Upon commission order resulting
				from a formal proceeding before the commission; and
(b) When there are violations of the
				Washington department of health water quality standards in WAC
				246-290-310 (Maximum contaminant
				levels (MCLs) and maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs)); and
(c) If the company does not take follow up
				steps outlined in WAC
				246-290-320 (Follow-up
				action).
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-405 - Meter accuracy and water pressure complaints

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) When the water company receives a meter
				accuracy or water pressure complaint, it must perform a test and share the
				results with the customer. The test must be at no charge to the customer,
				except the water company may charge for any additional meter tests requested by
				the customer within a twelve-month period as provided in its tariff.
(2) The test must be performed within ten
				days of the complaint.
(3) The
				customer has the option to witness the test. Should the customer choose to
				witness the test, a mutually agreed time will be established. A continuously
				recording pressure gauge may be required for a period of up to one week based
				on customer complaints of low pressure.
(4) The meter or pressure test must be taken
				using industry standard methods and equipment.
(5) If a meter test reveals a meter error in
				excess of two percent water flow to the detriment of the customer, the company
				must repair or replace the meter at no cost to the customer. A refund for any
				over billing must be made to the customer.
(6) If the water company and customer cannot
				resolve a complaint, it may be appealed to the commission for
				resolution.
(7) The water company
				must keep a record of meter and pressure tests and have them available for
				inspection. The record must list the customer's name and address, type of
				complaint, resolution, and what test method was used.
(8) The water company must provide, at the
				commission's request, a description of the test procedures and equipment used
				to perform meter and pressure complaint tests.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
					 UW-980082), § 480-110-405, filed 11/30/99, effective
					 12/31/99.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-415 - Meters

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Water
				company rights and responsibilities:
(a) Each water company must:
(i) Bear the cost of the meter and meter
				installation.
(ii) Install water
				meters that are in working order and accurately measure water flow.
(iii) Record meter serial numbers and
				identify location of installation.
(iv) Repair or replace a malfunctioning meter
				at its expense unless a customer causes the malfunction.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-425 - Water company customer notice requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each water company must submit a draft
				customer notice to the commission for review at least one week before the
				company's planned printing date for distribution.
(2) At a minimum, the water company must
				notify:
(a) Customers and potential customers
				who may be affected by the water company's proposal; and
(b) The public affairs section of the
				commission.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part III - RATES AND CHARGES RULES › Section 480-110-431 - Tariffs

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Tariffs filed by a water company must conform to the rules of
				  this section and chapter 480-80 WAC Utilities general -- Tariffs, unless the
				  commission has authorized deviation from the rules in
				  writing.
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), § 480-110-431, filed
					 2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part III - RATES AND CHARGES RULES › Section 480-110-433 - Adopted and initial tariffs

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
A water company must file revisions to its filed tariff
				  within thirty days of its acquisition of new service area, whether by
				  acquisition of another regulated water company or by acquiring one or more
				  previously unregulated water systems.
(1)
Adopted tariffs - When a regulated
				company acquires another regulated company.
Any regulated water company
				acquiring a regulated water company must adopt the latter's tariff. An adoption
				form must be completed and filed with the commission by the acquiring water
				company within thirty days of the acquisition. The commission will supply an
				adoption form upon request.
(2)
Incorporate into existing tariff - When a regulated water company
				acquires a nonregulated company.
(a)
				When a regulated water company acquires a nonregulated water company or water
				system, the acquiring water company must file a separate tariff page indicating
				the name of the newly acquired company or system with the rates and charges
				that were in existence before the acquisition.
(b) If the acquired nonregulated company or
				water system was previously subject to commission jurisdiction, the acquiring
				water company must file a separate tariff page indicating the name of the newly
				acquired company or system with the rates and charges in effect for the
				acquired company at the time the acquired company was removed from
				regulation.
(c) No other rates and
				charges may apply to the customers on the newly acquired system except those
				specifically shown on the new tariff page unless the company obtains the
				commission's approval to charge a different rate.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part III - RATES AND CHARGES RULES › Section 480-110-435 - Extension contracts

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each water
				company must file, as a part of its tariff, an extension rule that states the
				conditions required by the company before it will extend its transmission and
				distribution infrastructure to provide water service to an applicant.
(2) Companies entering into any extension
				contract must:
(a) File the contract with the
				commission not less than thirty days before the proposed effective date of the
				contract.
(b) Conform the proposed
				contract to the applicable provisions of WAC
				480-80-143 (Special contracts for
				gas, electric, and water companies).
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part III - RATES AND CHARGES RULES › Section 480-110-445 - Service connections and customer service lines

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
A service connection is the pipes, valves, and fittings
				  between the water company's distribution system and the customer's service
				  line. The customer's service line is the water line from the customer's points
				  of usage to the water company's service connection.
(1)
Service connection charge and
				service connection length.
The length of a service connection can vary
				depending on where the customer's service line is or will be located. A
				tariffed service connection charge may be assessed for the cost of a new
				service connection. However, if the service connection is longer than the
				distance from the water distribution main to the outside edge of the right of
				way or easement that runs along or parallel to the water distribution main and
				closest to the customer's property line, the cost of such an extension may be
				financed as line extension, at the option of the company. The related line
				extension contract is subject to approval by the commission under WAC
				480-110-435 (Extension
				contracts).
Click to view
								image
(2)
				Service connections may be installed when the system is built or at a later
				date, after the system is operational. A service connection charge may be based
				on the average installation cost for new service connections in subsection
				(3)(a) and (b) of this section. The service connection must be owned and
				maintained by the water company.
(3) A water company may assess a service
				connection charge, if named in its tariff, to recover the cost of the service
				connection:
(a) Installed by the water company
				during construction of the water system; or
(b) Installed after the distribution system
				had been buried and in service; or
(c) When the service connection has been
				previously removed for good cause and must be reinstalled to provide water
				service.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part III - RATES AND CHARGES RULES › Section 480-110-455 - Water company funding mechanisms

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Some water companies have insufficient
				funds to respond to emergencies, replace or upgrade failing infrastructure, or
				add plant to accommodate growth. Frequently, water companies cannot obtain
				financing through traditional capital markets. The purpose of a surcharge or a
				facilities charge is to provide the water company with a source of capital,
				provided by customers, to fund capital needs. No company may collect a
				surcharge or facilities charge except by commission order or
				approval.
(2) Surcharges.
(a) Surcharges are designed to fund three
				types of financing needs:
(i) Future water
				utility plant. This surcharge allows the company to collect money from current
				customers to fund a reserve in order to pay for future capital projects that
				are part of a long-range plan. The project must be approved by the department
				of health as a part of a long-range plan, or required by the department of
				health to assure compliance with federal or state drinking water regulations,
				or to perform construction or maintenance required by the department of ecology
				to secure safety to life and property under
				RCW
				43.21A.064(2).
(ii) Current water utility plant. This
				surcharge is tied to the servicing and repayment of the debt used for the
				financing of the water utility plant required by:
(A) Washington department of health order or
				letter to adequately serve current customers; or
(B) Department of ecology.
(iii) Special expenses. This
				surcharge is used to pay for operating expenses that are independent and unique
				from normal operating expenses or that may be subject to large variations. This
				type of operating expense may need periodic reevaluation without the need of a
				general rate case. Examples of the use of this type of surcharge are: New or
				highly variable safe drinking water act testing and treatment expenses,
				extraordinary maintenance expenses, or temporary taxes.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part IV - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-110-456 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The definitions in this section apply to Part IV of this
					 chapter.
"Affiliated interest"
means a person or
					 corporation as defined in
					 RCW
					 80.16.010.
"Business day"
means the same as defined in
					 WAC 480-07-120 (Office hours).
"Control"
means the possession, direct or
					 indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
					 policies of a company, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by
					 contract, or otherwise.
"Investment grade"
means a water company whose
					 corporate credit/issuer rating is in one of the four highest rating categories
					 of either Standard & Poor's L.L.C. or Moody's Investors Service,
					 Inc.
"Subsidiary"
means any company in which the
					 water company owns directly or indirectly five percent or more of the voting
					 securities, unless the water company demonstrates it does not have
					 control.
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), § 480-110-456, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part IV - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-110-457 - Filing information

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Filing.
The commission records center will accept any filing under
				  WAC 480-110-525 (Issuing securities)
				  delivered in person, by mail, telefacsimile, or electronic mail message. The
				  commission records center will accept all other reports required in Part IV 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), § 480-110-457, 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), § 480-110-457, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part IV - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-110-459 - Additional reports

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Part IV 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), § 480-110-459, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05.
Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part IV - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-110-465 - 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
				  ratemaking 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 480-110 - Water companies › Part IV - FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING RULES › Subpart A - General Rules › Section 480-110-485 - Retaining and preserving records and reports

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The water company must retain all records
				  and reports for three years unless otherwise specified in subsection (2) of
				  this section.
(2) The
Regulations to Govern the Preservation of Records of Electric, Gas and
				  Water Companies
, published by the National Association of Regulatory
				  Utility Commissioners is prescribed as the requirement for the state of
				  Washington. 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
				  480-110-999, Adoption by
				  reference.
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), § 480-110-485, filed
						2/28/05, effective 3/31/05; 02-18-033 (Docket No. A-020379, General Order No.
						R-501), § 480-110-485, filed 8/26/02, effective 9/26/02. Statutory
						Authority:
						RCW
						80.01.040. 99-24-100 (Order R-467, Docket No.
						UW-980082), § 480-110-485, filed 11/30/99, effective
						12/31/99.