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Public hearing to be held in Yakima on Pacific Power rate-increase request
Oct. 5, 2009
Docket Number: UE-090205
MEDIA ADVISORY
OLYMPIA, Wash. – State regulators invite the public to comment on a proposed settlement to Pacific Power’s electric rate case at a hearing next week.
The proposed settlement agreement must be approved by the three-member Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) before taking effect. If the UTC approves the proposal, new rates would take effect Jan. 1.
What
Public hearing on Pacific Power’s rate-increase request
Who
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
When
5:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12
Where
Parker Room
Yakima Valley Community College
1015 S. 16th Ave., Yakima
BACKGROUND
Under a settlement proposal filed with the UTC, the company would be allowed to collect about a third of its original request -- $13.5 million, or 5.3 percent, more a year in revenues. In February, Pacific Power asked the commission for $38.5 million or a 15.1 percent increase in additional revenues annually.
If the UTC approves the proposal, a Pacific Power average residential electric customer using 1,300 kilowatt hours-a-month would see an increase of $4.79, for a proposed $93.96 total bill. Customers could also see a 2 cent-a-month increase in their contribution to the low-income bill assistance program, from 44 to 46 cents monthly.
All parties in the case, including the UTC regulatory staff, the Public Counsel of the Attorney General’s Office, the Energy Project and the Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities signed the settlement agreement.
The commission has received 66 public comments with 63 opposed, 2 in favor and one undecided to the proposed rate hike. Customers who are unable to attend the public meeting but wish to comment on the proposed rate hike can mail their correspondence to: P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, Wash., 98504; e-mail comments to comments@utc.wa.gov, or call toll-free 1-888-333-9882. The commission’s deadline for accepting comments is Oct. 30.
Portland, Ore.-based PacifiCorp, owned by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, operates in six western states. It does business in Oregon, Washington and California as Pacific Power. The company provides electric service to about 130,000 customers in five Eastern Washington counties: Kittitas, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla and Yakima. The company serves cities including Yakima, Toppenish, Sunnyside, Selah, Toppenish, Pomeroy, Walla Walla and Dayton.
The UTC is the state agency in charge of regulating the private, investor-owned electric companies in Washington. It is the commission’s responsibility to ensure regulated companies provide safe and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while allowing them the opportunity to earn a fair profit.
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Editor’s note: A copy of the settlement agreement is available at the UTC’s Web site: www.utc.wa.gov/090205.
Staff contact: Marilyn Meehan
Posted/updated: 12/21/2009
