Utah Public Service Commission

Utah Approves Sharing of Capacity-release Revenues

The Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) has authorized Mountain Fuel Supply Co., an LDC, to increase rates by $3.7 million. The LDC will collect the revenue deficiency by assessing a fee of $12.00 per month for 12 months on new residential premises. The charge is designed to recover increased capital and operating costs due to new customer growth in the LDC's service territory. The new rule permits the LDC to record 20 percent of the credits as distribution nongas revenues, while passing the remaining 80 percent back to ratepayers through its fuel-cost adjustment clause.

Utah Approves DSM Lost Revenue Recovery Rejects Statistical Recoupling

The Utah Public Service Commission has approved an agreement to continue allowing PacifiCorp to recover lost revenues associated with

demand-side management programs. A study of the functioning of interim policies on DSM cost-recovery methods indicated that the lost revenue recovery encouraged the utility to meet its conservation resource goals, according to the PSC.

Utah Approves Sale of Telephone Exchange, Allocates Gain

The Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved the sale of several local telephone exchanges by

U S WEST to South Central Utah Telephone Association, and also approved an agreement governing the rate treatment for the associated gain to U S WEST. The rate agreement allows U S WEST to retain for shareholders a portion of the gain on the sale in return for an obligation to pay for certain system upgrades and reduce the sales price for other transfers currently under consideration by the PSC.

Rate Base Adjustments Not Needed in Stable Economy

Citing a "relatively stable economy," the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) has reaffirmed its preference for a historical test period in setting utility rates. It rejected a proposal by Mountain Fuel Supply Co., a natural gas local distribution company (LDC), to employ a projected test year in its current rate case. The LDC argued that the adjusted expense and revenue figures would better reflect customer growth as well as the effects of a newly established early retirement program.