ORDER NO. 97-028

ENTERED JAN 17 1997

This is an electronic copy.

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

UW 51

DISPOSITION: STIPULATION ADOPTED; RATE INCREASE APPROVED

On July 5, 1996, Roats Water System, Inc., filed rate schedules to be effective August 5, 1996. At its July 30, 1996, public meeting, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon found that good and sufficient cause exists to investigate the propriety and reasonableness of the rates pursuant to ORS 757.210 and 757.215. The Commission ordered suspension of the rate schedules pending that investigation.

On August 22, 1996, a prehearing conference and public comment hearing was held in this matter in Bend, Oregon. No member of the public appeared to comment. The parties adopted a schedule for the remainder of the docket. On December 2, 1996, Staff filed testimony in support of a stipulation between the parties that resolved all issues between them.

On December 6, 1996, an evidentiary hearing was held in Salem, Oregon, before Ruth Crowley, an Administrative Law Judge for the Commission. Kimberly Cobrain, Assistant Attorney General, appeared for Staff. William Roats, President, Roats Water System, Inc., appeared by telephone for the company. At the hearing, the stipulation, supporting testimony, and attachments were entered into evidence.

We have reviewed the stipulation and supporting testimony and find it a reasonable resolution of all issues in this docket. The revenue requirement and rates agreed to in the stipulation were conditioned on Commission approval of an affiliated interest financing application for $77,472.07 from the estate of W.E. Roats to the Company. At its January 7, 1997, Public Meeting, the Commission approved the affiliated interest filing application. The condition in the stipulation has been met.

The stipulation and its attachments, attached to this order as Appendix A, is incorporated into this order by reference and adopted.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Roats Water System, Inc. may increase rates by $66,879 or 17.52 percent, resulting in total revenues of $448,661. Attachment "A" to the stipulation shows the stipulated revenue requirement.

2. Roats Water System, Inc., shall charge rates according to the rate schedules set forth in tariff sheets designated PUC Oregon No. 2, Ninth Revised Tariff Sheet No. 4, as shown in Attachment "B" to the stipulation.

3. The following changes to Miscellaneous Fees and Rules and Regulations set forth in tariff sheets designated PUC Oregon No. 2, Revised Tariff Sheets No. 1 through 17 shown in Attachment "B," are approved:

a. A $100 increase to the connection charge, from $200 to $300.

b. An $18 increase on the returned check charge, from $2 to $20.

c. A $15 increase to trouble call charge, from $10/hour to $25/hour.

d. An increase in the reconnection charge, from $5 to $20 during business hours and $30 after business hours.

e. The inclusion of a $10 "shut off trip" charge to be applied when service personnel visit the customer’s premise for the purpose of disconnection and the customer pays the overdue amount and avoids disconnection.

f. The inclusion of Rule 35, Cross Connection Control.

Made, entered, and effective ________________________. 

A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A request for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of service of this order. The request must comply with the requirements in OAR 860-014-0095. A copy of any such request must also be served on each party to the proceeding as provided by OAR 860-013-0070(2). A party may appeal this order to a court pursuant to ORS 756.580.