Lately I'm reading up on the new Telecommunications Act. Last week I printed a copy from the Internet and stuffed it in my briefcase. Each night on the train I give it a go and skim a few sections...
Public Utilities Reports
PUR Guide 2012 Fully Updated Version
Available NOW!
This comprehensive self-study certification course is designed to teach the novice or pro everything they need to understand and succeed in every phase of the public utilities business.
California Chooses Transition Charge for Recovery
The California Public Utilities Commission has established guidelines for the recovery of stranded costs over four years through a competition transition charge collected from existing and future customers, including those who depart the system.
The June 11 order allows recovery from 1998 through 2002 for costs associated with generation plants, nuclear settlements and QF contracts (Docket No. R.94-04-031/I.94-04-032). Costs associated with purchased power contracts, including QF contracts in place on Dec. 21, 1995, can be collected for the duration of the contract. Utilities also can recover costs associated with the Biennial Resource Proceeding Update settlement, capital additions to utility generation facilities existing as of December 1995, employee-related transition costs and Southern California Edison's fixed-fuel contracts. They may recover employee costs through Dec. 31, 2006.
Utilities remain at risk for generation-related transitions costs not recovered by the end of 2001. But if costs to implement direct access reduce the ability of utilities to collect generation-related transition costs, then those costs may be collected any time after Dec. 31, 2001. If renewable program funding affects utilities' abilities to recover generation-related transition costs by Dec. 31, 2001, those generation costs may be deferred and recovered during an extension to the transition period from Jan. 1, 2002 to March 31, 2002.
To calculate the value of generation assets eligible for recovery, utilities must add their above-market costs and below-market costs. Utilities must amortize their uneconomic costs so that their recorded rate of return does not exceed the authorized rate of return on rate base.
To estimate transition costs for 1998, a market rate of 2.4 cents/kilowatt-hour will be used. That is not a precedent, but may be useful for utilities in developing a rate-reduction bond (securitization) proposals. The competition transition charge billed to customers will be based on metered consumption.
The PUC this summer will issue another decision addressing other stranded cost recovery issues. Such recovery will depend on power exchange prices during the rate freeze and market valuation. (em LB
Articles found on this page are available to Internet subscribers only. For more information about obtaining a username and password, please call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-368-5001.
