Substantive Policy Statements

In this Decision, the Commission provided guidelines for voluntary participation by electric utilities in a Statewide Community Solar and Storage Program.

In this Decision, the Commission approved various changes to the Short Form Rate Application used by small water and wastewater companies. This Decision therefore amends the previous Short Form Rate Application policies set forth in Decision Nos. 75626 and 75743.

In this Decision, the Commission corrects clerical errors found in Decision No. 77104, with the correct version of Decision No. 77104 found in Exhibit A. The Commission also clarifies that Decision No. 77104 supersedes Decision Nos. 77084 and 76974, rendering them wholly inapplicable.

PDF

In this Decision, the Commission sets out an implementation plan for the Policy Statement on Electric Vehicles, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, and Electrification of the Transportation Sector in Arizona issued in Decision No. 77044.

In this Decision, the Commission modifies policies set forth in Decision Nos. 55774 and 76631. The policy modifications further refine regulatory treatment of income taxes related to Advances in Aid of Construction, and Contributions in Aid of Construction. The policy includes a directive for utilities to choose from enumerated methods for collection of said income taxes and required specific regulatory treatment and tracking of the “pre-payment” of certain taxes.

In this Decision, the Commission encourages public service corporations to invest in infrastructure and develop programs supporting electric vehicle charging. The Commission further suggests specific actions for public service corporations to undertake, including providing tariffs which promote off-peak hours charging, deploying charging stations, and engaging in public outreach and research.

In this Decision, the Commission directs Arizona Public Service Company, Tucson Electric Power Company, and UNS Electric, Inc. to develop programs for wholesale power purchasing on behalf of medium and large commercial customers, pursuant to agreements reached between those customers and Generation Service Providers. The utilities are further directed to file program proposals within their next rate case for Commission approval.

In this Decision, the Commission reversed policies established by Decision No. 73739 to disallow income tax expenses consideration in rate cases for tax pass-through entities, except for case-by-case considerations for Class D and Class E utilities.

In this Decision, the Commission amends Decision No. 76595 to provide not-for-profit utilities additional time to meet Decision No. 76595 filing requirements.

In this Decision, the Commission addresses the anticipated need to account for impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on ratemaking by ordering all utilities to take certain actions to address the TCJA impacts.

In this Decision, the Commission established policies and action directives related to addressing water loss issues. A core component of the policy is establishing collaborative efforts between the Commission, utilities, and other state agencies.

In this Decision, the Commission discusses the rate-making treatment of loan surcharge payments. The Commission adopts the policy of not treating loan surcharge payments of CIAC, requires a rate case be filed as a follow up using defined criteria, and additional regulatory mechanisms are created to assure fair collection and treatment of loan surcharges from customers.

In this Decision, the Commission further implements its policies set out in Decision No. 75626 by adopting several of Staff’s recommendations following engagement with the Commission’s directives issued in Decision No. 75626. Policies adopted include online posting of the Emergency Rate Case Application, materiality guidelines related to information expected and requested from small water utilities, defines, and approves the emergency rate case process, and standards pertinent to allowing acquisition of water systems.

In this Decision, the Commission addresses several issues facing Arizona water utilities. The Commission adopts policies aimed at easing regulatory burdens on small water companies through specific recommendations and directives. The Commission also defines specific water rate design policies, including those aimed at encouraging water conservation and implementation of tiered rate design. Cost of capital issues are addressed through directives to examine other states’ small water company approaches. Policies supporting appropriate acquisition and consolidation of small water companies are established. For small water utility emergencies, the Commission directs Staff to participate in the collaborative Water Emergency Team. Finally, the commission creates the Small Water Ombudsman Office with the purpose of assisting small water utilities in their interactions with the Commission.

In this Decision, the Commission revised policies established in Decision No. 55839 regarding the treatment of income taxes in rate cases. The Decision established permissibility of imputed income tax expense in the cost of service for LLCs, S Corporations, and partnerships.

In this statement, the Commission highlights the importance of electric energy efficiency in Arizona and methods for encouraging utilities to implement rate programs which incentivize energy efficiency.

In light of growing demand for natural gas in Arizona and the Commission’s mandate to balance the interests of utilities and consumers, the Commission set out policies regarding the development of additional natural gas infrastructure.

In this Decision, the Commission asserted that it would consider possible costs of conservation measures in rate proceedings, to encourage water-providing public service corporations to comply with the water management plans adopted by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 45-564 and 45-565. Recoverability of these costs would depend on specified factors and would be evaluated on a company-specific basis.

In this Decision, The Commission created a policy prohibiting allowance of income tax expense considerations for tax pass-through entities in rate cases.

In this Decision, the Commission resolved issues regarding the Tax Reform Act of 1986 effect on a utility’s accounting treatments of contributions and advances received through line extension agreements. The Commission permits utilities to collect such funds subject to certain accounting procedures. The Decision states how the Utilities Division will treat such funds in the ratemaking process as well as how such agreements will be monitored.

In this Decision, the Commission determined that the evaluation of applications from companies who wished to be adjudicated as “not a public service corporation” needed clarification. The Commission therefore directed the Utilities Division to investigate and review all such applications (following guideline given in the Decision) and to report to the Commission on its findings.

In this Decision, the Commission declared the subject of Decision No. 53032 moot, because no state alternative to the Federal Energy Conservation Plan had been adopted by January 1, 1983. Therefore, Decision No. 55450 closed Decision No. 53032.

In this Decision, the Commission ordered that for purposes of the Residential Utility Consumer Assessment, a covered public service corporation shall consider the term “residential consumer” to be synonymous with the term “residential customers” as presently used by said public service corporations in the filing of their 1982 Annual Reports to the Commission. The Commission further ordered that this definition of “residential consumer” shall be subject to further modification by the Commission with regard to subsequent calendar years.

In this Decision, the Commission Directed the Utilities Division to assert the state’s jurisdiction over master meter operators, recommend rules to govern master meter operators regarding gas pipeline safety, and establish a program for master meter operators to comply with applicable state and federal requirements.

In this Decision, the Commission resolved to use certain elements of PURPA’s innovative rates cost of service information as standard practice in rate cases whenever possible.

In this Decision, the Commission adopted a resolution regarding the procedures for acceptance and docketing of an application by public service corporations. The resolution details procedures that will be implemented if incomplete applications are received by the Commission.