BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND   ) DOCKET NO.  UE-981238
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION,  )
       ) SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL
   Complainant,   ) ORDER
v.       )
       ) ORDER GRANTING 
PUGET SOUND ENERGY,    ) CONTINUANCE
       )
   Respondent.   )
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  )


  PROCEEDINGS: This proceeding concerns Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) filing to 
establish a rate under the company’s rate Schedule 48 (Optional Large Power 
Sales Rate) for the period November 1, 1998, through October 31, 1999. 
Administrative Law Judge Dennis J. Moss conducted prehearing conferences at the 
Commission’s offices in Olympia, Washington on December 15, 1998, and January 
8, 1999.  The January 8, 1999, conference was a joint conference with Air 
Liquide America Corporation, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., The Boeing 
Company, Equilon Enterprises LLC, and Tesoro Northwest Co. v. Puget Sound 
Energy, Docket No. UE-981410, a related complaint proceeding.  One result of 
the January 8, 1999, conference was an agreement by the parties, endorsed by 
the presiding officer, to hold Docket No. UE-981238 in abeyance pending the 
conclusion of Docket No. UE-981410.  Docket No. UE-981410 was concluded before 
the Commission by entry of a final order on August 3, 1999.  ALJ Moss conducted 
a third prehearing conference on September 2, 1999, and established, among 
other things, a procedural schedule that included dates for prefiled testimony, 
hearing proceedings, and briefs.   

  PARTIES:  Matthew Harris, attorney, Seattle, Washington, represents Puget 
Sound Energy (PSE).  James M. Van Nostrand and Andree Gagnon, attorneys, 
Bellevue, Washington, are on PSE’s Petition.  Bradley Van Cleve and Melinda J. 
Horgan, attorneys, Portland, Oregon, represent the Industrial Customers of 
Northwest Utilities, Air Liquide America Corporation, Air Products and 
Chemicals, Inc., The Boeing Company, Equilon Enterprises LLC, and Tesoro 
Northwest Company (collectively ICNU).  Simon ffitch, Assistant Attorney 
General, Seattle, Washington, represents public counsel.  Robert Cedarbaum, 
Assistant Attorney General, Olympia, Washington represents Commission Staff 
(Staff).

  AGREED REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE: On October 8, 1999, counsel for Staff filed a 
letter including an agreed request for continuance pursuant to WAC 480-09-440 
(6).  The letter states that there are “ongoing settlement discussions” and 
that a continuance is needed because “more time is required free of constraints 
of litigation” to optimize the opportunity for settlement.  All active parties 
support the request for continuance.  It is neither inconsistent with the 
public interest, nor contrary to the Commission’s administrative needs to grant 
the request.  The revised procedural dates proposed by the parties should be 
adopted.

ORDER

  IT IS ORDERED That a continuance is granted and the following revised 
procedural schedule is established:

  Staff and Intervenor testimony   November 3, 1999

  PSE rebuttal testimony    November 12, 1999

  Evidentiary Hearings    December 3, 1999

  Simultaneous Briefs     To be determined


  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 25th day of 
October, 1999.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

      
      DENNIS J. MOSS,
      Administrative Law Judge