DOCKET UW-990206  Page 1


 BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND )
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, )
   )
  Complainant, ) DOCKET UW-990206
   )
 vs.  )
   ) COMPLAINT AND ORDER
Roche Harbor Water Systems, Inc., ) SUSPENDING TARIFF
   ) REVISIONS, INSTITUTING
  Respondent. ) INVESTIGATION, AND 
 ) ORDERING REFUND


  On February 22, 1999, Roche Harbor Water Systems, Inc., (Roche Harbor or 
Company) filed tariff revisions with the Commission designated as:

   Third Revised Sheet No. W-1
   Canceling
   Second Substitute Revised Sheet No. W-1 and

   Second Revised Sheet No. W-2
   Canceling
   First Revised Sheet No. W-2.

  Roche Harbor has filed for general rates in the amount of approximately 
$5,212 or 3 percent of additional revenue per year.  The company serves 
approximately 370 residential customers on San Juan Island.

  The Commission received no comments on this request.

  The company’s last general rate increase was September 1994.  The company has 
received a Facilities Construction Charge which increased rates to all 
customers.  The surcharge is as follows:


Facilities Construction Charge  Start Date Stop Date Amount
Unmetered Rate Service   5/97  6/02  $ 14.75
Metered Rate Service   per 1,000 gallons   $   2.86




The current and proposed rates are provided below:
      Current per  Proposed per
Monthly Rate    1,000 Gallon  1,000 Gallons
Metered Rate Schedule
Up to 5,000 gallons (668 cuft)  $ 25.00  $ 25.75
Between 5,000 and 10,000 gallons     3.00       3.10
Over 10,000 gallons  (1,337 cuft)      5.50       5.70

Unmetered Rate Service   $ 25.00  $ 25.75

  Regulatory services staff has requested financial records and information to 
support the filing.  Roche Harbor's manager has found this request to be overly 
burdensome.  The data request ask for proposed rule minimum tariff filing 
requirements.  The company has agreed to supply an income statement, balance 
sheet, usage statistics and revenue impact statement for the test period.

  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 
enter upon public hearing or hearings concerning such charges and the 
reasonableness and justness thereof and 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 a valuation 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 22, 1998, is hereby suspended.

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

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

  4. An investigation is hereby instituted by the Commission.

  5. Respondent shall 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 31st day of March, 
1999.

   WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION




      MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman




      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner




      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner