Notice of Utility Tariff Filings
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that Golden Heart Utilities, Inc. (GHU) and College Utilities Company (CUC) filed tariff revisions for their water (TA73-118 and TA115-97, respectively) and wastewater utilities (TA68-290 and TA121-37, respectively). With these filings, GHU and CUC propose an across the board interim rate increase of 15.95 percent for water rates and 15.75 percent for wastewater rates, effective July 1, 2015. GHU and CUC further request a permanent rate increase of 18.77 percent for water rates and 18.53 percent for wastewater rates, to be effective upon completion of the rate case. A sample of proposed interim and permanent rates is provided below.
| Current Rate | Interim Rate | Permanent Rate |
Water | | | |
Single Residential Metered | | | |
Usage Rate per 1,000 gal. | $6.45 | $7.48 | $7.66 |
Fixed Fee | $7.33 | $8.50 | $8.71 |
1” Meter Charge | $15.60 | $18.09 | $18.53 |
Residential Unmetered Total Monthly Fee | $63.04 | $73.10 | $74.87 |
Commercial Metered | | | |
Usage Rate per 1,000 gal. | $8.60 | $9.97 | $10.21 |
Fixed Fee | $10.50 | $12.18 | $12.47 |
2” Meter Charge | $68.22 | $79.10 | $81.02 |
Water Hauler | | | |
Usage rate per 1,000 gal. (0 – 100,000 gal.) | $6.45 | $7.48 | $7.66 |
Fixed Fee | $16.05 | $18.61 | $19.06 |
2” Meter Charge | $31.14 | $36.11 | $36.98 |
Wastewater | | | |
Single Residential Metered | | | |
Fixed Fee | $12.47 | $14.43 | $14.78 |
1” Meter Charge | $15.60 | $18.06 | $18.49 |
Residential Unmetered Total Monthly Fee | $80.69 | $93.40 | $95.64 |
Commercial Metered* | | | |
Usage Rate per 1,000 gal. | $10.39 | $12.03 | $12.32 |
Fixed Fee | $52.79 | $61.11 | $62.57 |
2” Meter Charge | - | $78.97 | $80.86 |
GHU Septage Hauler | | | |
Usage Rate per 1,000 gal. | $85.67 | $99.17 | $101.55 |
Fixed Fee | $328.33 | $380.05 | $389.18 |
*CUC current commercial rates include a CUC Base Rate of $5.32 per 1,000 gallons and Infiltration and Inflow rate of $1.81 per 1,000 gallons.
In addition to the proposed rate increases, GHU and CUC propose an increase to the Cost of Energy base rate included in the Cost of Energy Adjustment (COEA) clause from $1.56046 to $1.97378, for water, and $1.08933 to $1.20973, for wastewater. All other factors being equal, the effect of an increase in the Cost of Energy base rate is a decrease in the COEA, as the base rate is subtracted from the average cost of energy to determine the total amount of the adjustment.
Finally, GHU and CUC propose introducing Plant Replacement and Improvement Surcharge Mechanisms (PRISM) for both water and wastewater operations. If approved, the PRISM will allow GHU and CUC to establish a surcharge to recover capital costs associated with eligible plant placed in service between general rate cases.
This notice does not contain every requested revision and the Commission may approve a rate or classification which varies from those proposed. You may obtain more information about these filings by contacting Kristen Winters, Director of Regulatory Affairs, at 3691 Cameron St., Suite 201, Fairbanks, AK 99709; phone: (907) 479-3118. The complete filings are also available for inspection at the Commission's office, at 701 West Eighth Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 276-6222 or may be viewed at the Commission’s website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing the appropriate tariff revision number in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on these filings, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., June 12, 2015, at the Commission address given above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx
Please reference TA73-118, TA115-97, TA68-290 and/or TA121-37 and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with GHU at its address given above or by email at kristen@akwater.com.
Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, or TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by June 5, 2015.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 22nd day of May, 2015.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
Tyler Clark
Finance Section Manager