11262001.doc

DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RON LAW
GENE FADNESS
TONYA CLARK
DAVE SCHUNKE
RANDY LOBB
BEV BARKER
ED HOWELL
PENNY FENTON
ANGIE VELASQUEZ
WORKING FILE
FROM:
DATE:
NOVEMBER 16, 2001 RE: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ELECTRONIC FILING PROCEDURES FOR TARIFFS AND PRICE LISTS, CASE NO. GNR-U-01-02

In October 1999, the Commission implemented procedures for the electronic filing of tariffs and price lists on a voluntary basis. In its Order, the Commission found that utilities participating in the voluntary program need only file one original paper copy of the tariff or price lists when they file electronically. Order No. 28173 at 8.
Since its inception, 15 utilities have utilized the electronic system, filing more than 260 documents. The Staff is recommending that the Commission amend its electronic filing procedures to simplify the process and to eliminate the need for the one paper copy of the tariff/price list.
Electronic Filing Procedures
Currently, utilities filing tariffs and price lists electronically do so by transmitting these documents directly to the Commission’s web site. The tariffs/price lists are prepared in Adobe Acrobat in portable document format (PDF). In addition, participating utilities must file a paper copy of the tariff/price list with the Commission Secretary. Based upon the Staff’s experience to date, it is recommending two changes.
First, rather than file electronic documents directly to the Commission’s web page, Staff recommends that electronic filings be submitted as PDF attachments to e-mails or submitted as PDF documents via mail/overnight delivery on a 3.5 inch disk, a zip drive disk, or CD-ROM. The contents and format for PDF filings would remain the same. E-mails containing tariffs and price lists would be sent to the Commission Secretary. The Commission Secretary would then return a date-stamped copy of the tariff/price list by e-mail to verify that the document was received.
Second, Staff believes that it is no longer necessary for utilities to file a paper copy of the tariff/price list with the Commission Secretary. Consequently, Staff recommends that the Commission amend that portion of its prior Order No. 28173 to eliminate the requirement that a utility also file one paper copy of the electronically transmitted tariff/price list.
The Staff contacted all of the 15 utilities currently filing electronic tariffs/price lists and advised them of the proposed changes. None of the utilities objected to the changes. Consequently, the Staff recommends that it is appropriate to begin the new electronic filing procedures on December 1, 2001. In addition, the Staff would update the “Users Manual” to reflect the changes in the electronic filing procedures.
Commission Decision
Does the Commission wish to adopt the two changes to its electronic filing procedures?

vld/M:GNR-U-01-02_dh

DECISION MEMORANDUM 2