Agenda Date: February 11, 1998
Item Number:

Docket:   UW-980082
   
Company Names: Utilities - Water

  Review of the Commission's water rules in Chapter 480-110,   Water Companies 
- Operations of the Washington              Administrative Code and Commission 
Interpretive Statement   UW-930006.

Staff:   Sondra Walsh, Policy Research Specialist
   Layne Demas, Revenue Requirement Specialist
   Danny Kermode, Revenue Requirement Specialist
   Diana Otto, Consumer Program Specialist
   Penny Hansen, Public Involvement Coordinator
   Gene Eckhardt, Assistant Director Water and Transportation
   Mary Tennyson, Assistant Attorney General
   Bob Wallis, Review Judge
Docket UW-980082
February 11, 1998
Page 2

   Mary Sprouffske, Rules Coordinator


Recommendation:

Direct the Secretary to file a preproposal statement of inquiry in Docket 
UW-980082 to initiate review of the Commission’s water rules in Chapters 
480-110 (Water-Operations) of the Washington Administrative Code and the 
Commission’s Interpretive Statement
UW-930006.

Discussion:

This review is undertaken to comply with Executive Order 97-02 requiring 
agencies to review significant rules against specified standards.  The review 
will include asking

 • Do current rules provide the results that they were originally intended to 
achieve?

 • Are the rules written and organized in a clear and concise manner, so they 
are readily understood by those to whom they apply? 

 • Are the current rules obsolete, duplicative, or in need of repeal?



 
The rulemaking process will also review and determine whether there is need to 
add rules that:

 • Require companies to comply with minimum filing requirements in Chapter 
480-09 WAC,

 • Address the possibility that some companies may use one-time assessment fees 
to avoid Commission jurisdiction, and if so whether assessments should be 
included in the Commission’s calculation of average annual revenue per customer 
to determine whether a company meets the revenue jurisdictional threshold, and

 • Define how companies file initial tariffs and rates.
 
Staff will schedule public meetings and workshops with broad notice to 
interested persons, inviting regulated water companies and other interested 
parties to participate in the rulemaking process.