20030106_351.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:CO MMISSI 0 NER KJELLAND ER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RANDY LOBB
DON HOWELL
LYNN ANDERSON
JOE CUSICK
BIRDELLE BROWN
DOUG COOLEY
WAYNE HART
BEVERLY BARKER
RON LAW
GENE FADNESS
TONY A CLARK
WORKING FILE
FROM:CAROLEE HALL
DATE:DECEMBER 31,2002
RE:TETON TELECOM AND SILVER STAR WITHDRAWING TARIFF
ADVICE SEEKING COMMISSION APPROVAL TO INCREASE RATES
FOR PREMISES VISIT CHARGES, ENGINEERING SERVICES AND
OTHER TARIFFED RATES.
BACKGROUND
On December 2 2002, Staff received two tariff advice filings. One was from Silver Star
Telecommunications and the other from Teton Telecom. Both companies were seeking
Commission approval to increase certain rates by 30%.
After reviewing the initial filings, Staff contacted the companies and requested a cost
analysis to justify the requested rate increases. Staff noted that neither Silver Star nor Teton has
had an audit since the EAS cases that were held five years ago in 1997 when new EAS rates
were implemented. Those rates are $24.10 and $42.00 for residential and business services
respectively.
Staff believed that the rate increases requested by Silver Star and Teton needed a closer
review of the earnings and costs associated with the requested increases. Staff discussed this
DECISION MEMORANDUM DECEMBER 31 2002
extension of time with the companies and both Silver Star and Teton were amicable to a sixty-
day suspension while a cost analysis was prepared for Staffs analysis.
On December 30 2002 the companies presented a letter to the Commission s Secretary
requesting that both tariff advices be withdrawn.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends withdrawing Silver Star and Teton Telecom s tariff advice filings as
requested by the companies.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission agree that Silver Star and Teton s tariff advices be withdrawn?
ee Hall
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i:udmemos/Silver Star and Teton WITHDRAWAL
DECISION MEMORANDUM DECEMBER 31 , 2002