Notice of Utility Tariff Filing
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that Waste Connections of Alaska, Inc. d/b/a Alaska Waste (WCA) has filed TA127-692, a revenue requirement, cost of service, and rate design study, for its residential service, based on a 2018 test year. With this filing, WCA is proposing permanent rate changes, based on the outcome of the included cost of service/rate design study. If the Commission suspends the filing, WCA proposes an interim and refundable across-the-board rate increase of 3 percent, effective February 28, 2020. In addition, WCA proposes the following changes to its tariff:
- Remove Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, and the day after Thanksgiving Day as holidays observed by the utility;
- Add a new definition for secure trash regulation zone;
- Add a new definition for a wildlife surcharge and introduce a wildlife surcharge;
- To limit the amount of time that credit will be given for the suspension of service due to vacation to not exceed 2 months;
- Remove the rates for standard can service, which has been phased out;
- Introduce a 64 gallon bear cart;
- Introduce a new zone (Zone 4) for the secure trash regulation zone and a wildlife secure trash credit for Zone 4;
- To reduce a disposal surcharge to $0.00 when a permanent rate increase is approved;
- To increase some of its non-recurring charges; and,
- Add monthly charges for additional bear carts.
The sample of the current and proposed rates and non-recurring charges are shown in the table below:
| Service | Current Rate | Proposed Interim Rate | Proposed Permanent Rate |
| Zone 1 – Roll Cart Service |
| 32 Gallon Roll Cart | $12.62/month | $13.00/month | $13.85/month |
| 64 Gallon Roll Cart | $15.08/month | $15.53/month | $15.71/month |
| 96 Gallon Roll Cart | $17.19/month | $17.71/month | $18.14/month |
| 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $23.86/month | $23.86/month |
| 96 Gallon Bear Cart | $17.75/month | $18.28/month | $27.90/month |
| Additional 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $18.62/month | $18.62/month |
| Additional 96 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $18.28/month | $22.65/month |
| Wildlife Surcharge | N/A | N/A | $0.27/month |
| Zone 2 – Roll Cart Service |
| 32 Gallon Roll Cart | $17.38/month | $17.90/month | $16.42/month |
| 64 Gallon Roll Cart | $19.85/month | $20.42/month | $18.28/month |
| 96 Gallon Roll Cart | $21.96/month | $22.62/month | $20.72/month |
| 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $29.01/month | $29.01/month |
| 96 Gallon Bear Cart | $22.52/month | $23.20/month | $33.05/month |
| Additional 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $23.77/month | $23.77/month |
| Additional 96 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | $18.56/month | $27.80/month |
| Wildlife Surcharge | N/A | N/A | $0.27/month |
| Zone 4 – Roll Cart Service |
| 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | N/A | $29.01/month |
| 96 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | N/A | $33.05/month |
| Additional 64 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | N/A | $23.77/month |
| Additional 96 Gallon Bear Cart | N/A | N/A | $27.80/month |
| Wildlife Secure Trash Credit 64 Gal | N/A | N/A | $(10.46)/month |
| Wildlife Secure Trash Credit 96 Gal | N/A | N/A | $(12.06)/month |
| Non-Recurring Fees |
| Extra Bags of Refuse (Zone 1) | $3.05 | $3.14 | $6.27 |
| Extra Bags of Refuse (Zone 2) | $3.59 | $3.70 | $8.31 |
| Extra Bags of Refuse (Zone 4) | N/A | N/A | $8.31 |
| Extra Large Item (Zone 1) | $30.33 | $31.24 | $34.73 |
| Extra Large Item (Zone 2) | $30.33 | $31.24 | $44.93 |
| Extra Large Item (Zone 4) | N/A | N/A | $44.93 |
| Occasional/Unscheduled Pickup | $134.32 | $138.35 | $146.82 |
| Drive In/Pack Out (60 feet or less) | $5.36 | $5.52 | $15.62 |
| Drive In/Pack Out (Each additional 30 feet) | $2.68 | $2.76 | $7.81 |
| Cart Delivery/Exchange Fee | $25.00 | $25.75 | $26.81 |
| Reinstatement Fee | $24.69 | $25.43 | $23.74 |
WCA filed a request for waiver of the requirements of 3 AAC 48.275(a)(8), 3 AAC 48.275(a)(9), 3 AAC 48.275(a)(11), 3 AAC 48.275(a)(12), and 3 AAC 48.275(a)(13), requiring pro forma schedules of provision for income taxes, computation of rate base using a 13-month average, cash working capital, computation of weighted cost of capital, and a schedule of long-term debt, respectively. Finally, WCA proposes to subsidize Alaska Waste’s Interior and Kenai service areas from WCA and Alaska Waste Mat-Su to slightly lower rates in Interior and keep rates at current levels in Kenai.
This notice does not contain all requested revisions and the Commission may approve a rate or classification which varies from that proposed. You may obtain more information about this filing by contacting Heather Garland, Pricing Manager for WCA at 501 SE Columbia Shores Blvd, Suite 350, Vancouver, WA 98661; phone: (360) 695-4923. The filing is 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 also view the filing via our website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing TA127-692 in the Find the Matter search box.
To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., January 23, 2020, at the Commission address given above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx
Please reference TA127-692 and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with WCA at its address given above. Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Valerie Fletcher-Mitchell at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, or TTY/Alaska Relay: 7-1-1 or 1-800-770-8937, or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by January 16, 2020.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 30th day of December, 2019.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
Julie C. Vogler
Finance Section Manager