BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND )
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, )
   )
  Complainant, ) DOCKET UW-000253
   )
 vs.  )
   ) COMPLAINT AND ORDER
Tall Timber Water Systems, LLC, ) SUSPENDING TARIFF
   ) REVISIONS,  ORDERING 
   ) TEMPORARY RATES
   ) AND INSTITUTING 
  Respondent. ) INVESTIGATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . ) 

BACKGROUND

  On February 16, 2000, Tall Timber Water Systems, LLC, (Company) filed tariff 
revisions with the Commission designated as:

   First Revision Sheet No. 1 Canceling
   Original Sheet No. 1, 
   First Revision Sheet No.  3 Canceling
   Original Sheet No.  3,
   First Revision Sheet No.  21 Canceling
   Original Sheet No.  21 and 
   First Revision Sheet No.  22 Canceling
   Original Sheet No.  22.

  The filing is to revise its tariff to reflect the purchase of new water 
systems over the past several years.  This filing proposes to add approximately 
19 water systems to the tariff. The company serves approximately 783 
residential customers in Mason, Thurston, Lewis and Kitsap counties.  The new 
systems being added to the current tariff are listed below.

Apricot Park 1, 2  Bordeaux Farms A, B, C, D  Country Homes
Fairhaven I, II   Foron Waterworks   Grant Waterworks
Guava Waterworks  Hosch Estates I, II, III, IV  James Road A, B, C, D
Mallory C #1   Margaret Meadows   Mound Water System
Rolling Hills   Sandra Avenue Water System Scatter Creek Waterworks
Silver Fox   Singh Water    Tahoma Meadows
Violet Meadows A, B, C, D

  The tariff revision reflects added service areas due to the company’s 
acquisition of nineteen (19) water systems (previously not subject to 
Commission jurisdiction) and sets tariff rates for those systems at the same 
level as other Tall Timber systems. 

  Tall Timber has not yet demonstrated that the proposed charges (at company’s 
existing tariff rate) are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient.  Although a 
tariff revision to add these water systems to the tariff is appropriate, the 
proposed tariff charges for these systems have not been justified given the 
current number of customers being served by them.  

  To allow the company to operate and establish tariffed rates, staff 
recommended the Commission allow the proposed filing to become effective on a 
temporary basis and allow the company's tariff rates to apply to customers on 
the acquired water systems on a temporary basis, subject to refund should lower 
rates be found appropriate.

  It appearing that the filing herein would provide charges and rates for water 
service rendered by respondent and that the rights and interests of the public 
might be injuriously affected thereby, it is the decision of the Commission to 
suspend the operation of the above filing pending such hearing or hearings and 
decision thereon.

    The Commission deems it necessary in order to carry out the duties imposed 
upon it by law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and activities of 
respondent, to make an evaluation or appraisal of the property of respondent 
and to investigate and appraise various phases of the operation of respondent. 

O R D E R

  IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

  1. The operation of the above tariff filing, filed herein February 16, 2000, 
is hereby suspended.

  2. A hearing or hearings, on the Commission's own motion, will be held at 
such times and places as may be required.

  3. No change or alteration will be made in the tariff filing filed herein, 
during the period of suspension, unless authorized by the Commission.

  4. During the pendency of this proceeding, temporary rates are allowed, 
subject to refund or credit to be effective March 18, 2000, as set forth in the 
company's tariff on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2.  The rates will apply to the 
water systems listed in the background section of this order.  Additional 
refunds or credits may be ordered for customers served by those water systems 
since their acquisition dates. 

  5. An investigation is hereby instituted by the Commission.


  6. Respondent may be required to pay the expenses reasonably attributable and 
allocable to such investigation to the extent the requirement for such payment 
may be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 80.20 RCW.           

            DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 10th day of March, 
2000.

  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION




      MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman




      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner




      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner