There is a newer version
of
this Section
2017 Utah Code
Title 54 - Public Utilities
Chapter 7 - Hearings, Practice, and Procedure
Section 13.5 - Energy balancing accounts.
Universal Citation: UT Code § 54-7-13.5 (2017)
Effective 5/10/2016
54-7-13.5. Energy balancing accounts.
Amended by Chapter 393, 2016 General Session
54-7-13.5. Energy balancing accounts.
- (1) As used in this section:
- (a) "Base rates" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection 54-7-12(1).
- (b) "Energy balancing account" means an electrical corporation account for some or all components of the electrical corporation's incurred actual power costs, including:
- (i)
- (A) fuel;
- (B) purchased power; and
- (C) wheeling expenses; and
- (ii) the sum of the power costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) less wholesale revenues.
- (i)
- (c) "Gas balancing account" means a gas corporation account to recover on a dollar-for-dollar basis, purchased gas costs, and gas cost-related expenses.
- (2)
- (a) The commission may authorize an electrical corporation to establish an energy balancing account.
- (b) An energy balancing account shall become effective upon a commission finding that the energy balancing account is:
- (i) in the public interest;
- (ii) for prudently-incurred costs; and
- (iii) implemented at the conclusion of a general rate case.
- (c) An electrical corporation:
- (i) may, with approval from the commission, recover costs under this section through:
- (A) base rates;
- (B) contract rates;
- (C) surcredits; or
- (D) surcharges; and
- (ii) shall file a reconciliation of the energy balancing account with the commission at least annually with actual costs and revenues incurred by the electrical corporation.
- (i) may, with approval from the commission, recover costs under this section through:
- (d) Beginning June 1, 2016, for an electrical corporation with an energy balancing account established before January 1, 2016, the commission shall allow an electrical corporation to recover 100% of the electrical corporation's prudently incurred costs as determined and approved by the commission under this section.
- (e) An energy balancing account may not alter:
- (i) the standard for cost recovery; or
- (ii) the electrical corporation's burden of proof.
- (f) The collection method described in Subsection (2)(c)(i) shall:
- (i) apply to the appropriate billing components in base rates; and
- (ii) be incorporated into base rates in an appropriate commission proceeding.
- (g) The collection of costs related to an energy balancing account from customers paying contract rates shall be governed by the terms of the contract.
- (h) Revenues collected in excess of prudently incurred actual costs shall:
- (i) be refunded as a bill surcredit to an electrical corporation's customers over a period specified by the commission; and
- (ii) include a carrying charge.
- (i) Prudently incurred actual costs in excess of revenues collected shall:
- (i) be recovered as a bill surcharge over a period to be specified by the commission; and
- (ii) include a carrying charge.
- (j) The carrying charge applied to the balance in an energy balancing account shall be:
- (i) determined by the commission; and
- (ii) symmetrical for over or under collections.
- (3)
- (a) The commission may:
- (i) establish a gas balancing account for a gas corporation; and
- (ii) set forth procedures for a gas corporation's gas balancing account in the gas corporation's commission-approved tariff.
- (b) A gas balancing account may not alter:
- (i) the standard of cost recovery; or
- (ii) the gas corporation's burden of proof.
- (a) The commission may:
- (4)
- (a) All allowed costs and revenues associated with an energy balancing account or gas balancing account shall remain in the respective balancing account until charged or refunded to customers.
- (b) The balance of an energy balancing account or gas balancing account may not be:
- (i) transferred by the electrical corporation or gas corporation; or
- (ii) used by the commission to impute earnings or losses to the electrical corporation or gas corporation.
- (c) An energy balancing account or gas balancing account that is formed and maintained in accordance with this section does not constitute impermissible retroactive ratemaking or single-issue ratemaking.
- (5) This section does not create a presumption for or against approval of an energy balancing account.
- (6) The commission shall report to the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee before December 1 in 2017 and 2018 regarding whether allowing an electrical corporation to continue to recover costs under Subsection (2)(d) is reasonable and in the public interest.
Amended by Chapter 393, 2016 General Session
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Utah may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
