970904.docx

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSIONER NELSON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
MYRNA WALTERS
TONYA CLARK
DON HOWELL
STEPHANIE MILLER
DAVE SCHUNKE
TERRI CARLOCK
BOB SMITH
DAVID SCOTT
WORKING FILE
FROM:SCOTT WOODBURY
DATE:September 4, 1997
RE:CASE NO. 31-1201-9701
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING
SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTS FOR CLASS A AND B WATER UTILITIES
On June 24, 1997 the Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in Case No. 1-1201-9701 proposing to amend the Commission’s Systems of Accounts Rule 104 (IDAPA 31.12.01.104) by adopting the 1996 updated version of the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A and B Water Utilities published by the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC).  The Commission’s Systems of Accounts Rules were last updated in 1993.  Idaho Code § 61-524 authorizes the Commission to promulgate system of accounts rules for public utilities.
Pursuant to Notice the Commission indicated it’s intention to adopt by reference the following systems of accounts regulations:
The 1996 version of the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) for Class A and B Water Utilities published by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) available from NARUC at 1201 Constitution Avenue N.W., Suite 1102, PO Box 684, Washington, DC 20044-0684.
Pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, the Commission’s Notice was published in the Administrative Bulletin on August 6, 1997.  See Vol. No. 97-8 at p 187.  The comment deadline for the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was August 27, 1997.  Timely comments were filed by Legislative Services and Commission Staff.  Legislative Services indicates that the Senate and House Subcommittees for review of administrative rules examined the proposed changes to the Commission’s Systems of Accounts rules and reported that “no objections will be filed.”  Commission Staff recommends adoption of the 1996 version of the Uniform System of Accounts.
A pending Rule becomes final and effective on July 1st following the conclusion of the legislative session at which the Rule was submitted for review, in this instance July 1, 1998.
Commission Decision:
No objection has been filed.  No request for a hearing has been received.  Does the Commission wish to adopt the proposed Rules as its final Rules pending legislative review by the 1998 legislature?  How does the Commission wish to proceed?

Scott Woodbury
cm\rules.sw