DOCKET UT-970068 Page 1

 


BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND  )
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, )
      ) DOCKET UT-970068
   Complainant, )
      )
  vs.    ) ORDER LIFTING SUSPENSION,
      ) ALLOWING TARIFF REVISIONS
WHIDBEY TELEPHONE COMPANY ) TO GO INTO EFFECT UPON
      )  APROVAL OF DOCKET UT-980495  
   Respondent. ) AND UPON PAYMENT OF REFUNDS
      ) BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE OF THE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) PAL RATES FILED IN EACH DOCKET 


   On January 15, 1997, Whidbey Telephone Company (Whidbey or the company) 
filed with the Commission revisions to its Tariff WN U-5 designated as Seventh 
Revision of Sheet No. 4.1 and Original Sheet Nos. 430 through 444, inclusive.  
The stated effective dates are April 15, 1997.  This filing was suspended by 
the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on 
April 9, 1997.  The filed tariff took effect on April 15, 1997, with the 
proposed rates taking effect on a temporary basis subject to refund.  

  Additionally, the effective date of this tariff was extended to August 15, 
1998, allowing time for negotiations. On March 30, 1998, Whidbey filed with the 
Commission a revision to its Tariff WN U-5 designated as First Revision of 
Sheet No. 430. At this time the company has agreed to conform to the Commission 
order in the Toledo Telephone Company Case in Docket UT-970066, which requires 
the payphone access line (PAL) rate to be set at parity with the Company’s 
business rates.   

  As this filing was suspended by Commission order and cannot be changed 
without approval of the Commission, Whidbey submitted a new filing, Docket 
UT-980495 which is a First Revision of Sheet No. 430 cancelling Original Sheet 
No. 430 in Docket UT-970068.

  Since the tariff revision filed in UT-980495 is fair, just and reasonable, it 
is deemed appropriate that the Commission lift the suspension in Docket 
UT-970068 allowing the tariff revision in Docket UT-980495 to go into effect 
upon payment of refunds with interest and upon approval of UT-980495, which is 
on the no action agenda today.  The refund amount should be equal to the PAL 
rate in UT-970068 less the PAL rate in UT-980495 plus interest.


O R D E R


  IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

  1. Lift the suspension in Docket UT-970068 allowing tariff revisions to go 
into effect upon approval of Docket 
UT-980495.

  2. Refunds to be issued based on the difference in payphone access line rate 
filed in Docket UT-970068 vs. Docket UT-980495 plus interest on the refund.


  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 29th day of April, 1998.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION




      ANNE LEVINSON, Chairwoman




      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner




      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner