Chapter 277. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Office of Consumer Counsel. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section
16-1Definitions.16-1aReference to Public Utilities Commission deemed to mean Public Utilities Control Authority.16-1bDepartment of Public Utility Control. Department head.16-2Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Utility commissioners. Staff.16-2aOffice of Consumer Counsel. Office of State Broadband. Consumer Counsel. Staff.16-2bTerm “Office of Consumer Counsel” deemed to mean Division of Consumer Counsel within the Department of Business Regulation.16-2cDivision of Adjudication.16-2dOffice of energy efficient businesses.16-3Vacancy.16-3aAppointment of initial members. Transfer of business between commission and authority.16-4Employees of public service companies, certified telecommunications providers and electric suppliers ineligible to serve on authority or in department.16-5Removal.16-6Office and records.16-6aParticipation in proceedings before federal agencies and federal courts. Expenses.16-6bRegulations.16-6cPower to delay implementation of electric suppliers' generation portfolio standards.16-7Right of entry. Penalty.16-7aPower to stop work.16-8Examination of witnesses and documents. Hearing officers. Management audits.16-8aProtection of employee of public service company, person involved in the transportation of gas, contractor or Nuclear Regulatory Commission from retaliation. Procedures. Regulations.16-8bLabor disputes at public service companies. Determination of unreasonable profits during dispute. Refunds.16-8cExamination of witnesses and documents. Audits. Relationship between public service companies and subsidiaries.16-8dRecovery of costs, expenses, judgments or attorney's fees for an action brought under section 16-8a.16-9Orders.16-9aParty status in proceedings before authority.16-9bCommissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to be party to proceedings before authority.16-9cParticipation by stakeholder groups in proceedings pertaining to a gas, water, pipeline, electric distribution company or electric supplier. Compensation program. Independent evaluation of program.16-10Enforcement of statutes and orders.16-10aRevocation of franchises. Procedure. Reassignment.16-11Safety of public and employees. Powers.16-11aNuclear Energy Advisory Council; composition; duties.16-12Complaints as to dangerous conditions.16-13Procedure upon complaint.16-14Powers concerning electrolysis or escape of electricity.16-15Compliance with orders. Penalty.16-16Report of accidents. Penalties.16-17Duties as to accidents.16-18Powers concerning poles and wires.16-18aConsultants: Retention, expenses, findings and recommendations.16-19Amendment of rate schedule; investigations and findings by authority; hearings; deferral of municipal rate increases; refunds; notice of application for rate amendment, interim rate amendment and reopening of rate proceeding.16-19aPeriodic review re gas, electric distribution and water companies' rates, services and performance. Approval of performance-based incentives and penalties.16-19bPurchased gas adjustment clauses, energy adjustment clauses and transmission rate adjustment clauses.16-19cInvestigation of fuel cost adjustment and purchased gas adjustment charges.16-19dAdvertising not to be deemed an operating expense for purposes of rate-making. Disclosure of source of payment for advertising.16-19eGuidelines for transfer of assets and franchises, plant expansion, internal utility management and rate structures. Public hearing. Policy coordination among state agencies. Parties to rate proceeding.16-19fRate design standards for electric public service companies and municipal electric companies. Determination of appropriateness. Implementation. Electric vehicle charging stations.16-19gPenalty for failure to report nuclear incident not an operating expense.16-19hReopening of water company rate proceedings.16-19iElectric company residential customer service charge indicated on bill.16-19jPortion of authority staff to be made party to certain rate proceedings.16-19kCosts of educational materials or information on water conservation included as operating costs.16-19lAuthorization of rates that promote water conservation.16-19m to 16-19qDecommissioning of nuclear power generating facilities; definitions. Decommissioning financing plan; contents. Decommissioning finance plans; updates; hearing approval. Review of plan; changes. Decommissioning costs; liability.16-19r to 16-19tThree Mile Island nuclear power generating facility damage costs prohibited from being placed in rate base or included as operating expenses. Revenues associated with construction of electric company facilities and Millstone 3 and Seabrook 1 nuclear power generating facilities; rate treatment; proceedings on economic viability of Seabrook 1; low power startup decontamination costs of Seabrook 1 not included in rates. Excess construction costs of Millstone 3 nuclear power generating facility not included in rates.16-19u to 16-19wMonthly reports from nuclear power generating facility licensees re construction costs and progress. Excess construction costs of Seabrook 1 nuclear power generating facility not included in rates. Prohibition on inclusion of certain costs associated with construction of Seabrook 2 nuclear power generating facility in rates.16-19xPhase-in of costs of certain large electric generating facilities.16-19yRate treatment of enhanced 9-1-1 service costs.16-19zRate treatment of land purchased, owned or retained by water companies for water supply protection or future water supply use.16-19aaExcess generating capacity. Exclusion of costs associated with. Return on and depreciation of unrecovered investment in generating facilities.16-19bbApplication or refund of electric distribution company rate moderation funds.16-19ccSemiannual reports from nuclear generating facility licensees re maintenance, refueling and shutdown schedules. Penalty for shutdown for a significant period of time.16-19ddConservation and load management programs for agricultural customers.16-19eeReports from electric distribution companies concerning electrical outages affecting at least two hundred fifty customers.16-19ffSubmetering. Regulations. Application process.16-19ggFactors to be considered during a rate proceeding.16-19hhImplementation of flexible pricing and rates. Special contracts for electric service. Exemption from competitive transition assessment. Regulations. Gas rates for certain manufacturers.16-19iiUse of electric resistance space heating. Differential rates.16-19jjAlternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Settlements.16-19kkFinding re conservation and load management programs. Rates of return for conservation and load management programs and programs promoting the state's economic development. Considerations in establishing company's authorized return. Performance-based incentives. Consumer Counsel authorized to retain experts. Regulations.16-19llSubmittal of legislation re encouraging conservation and load management programs, etc.16-19mmConsideration of external costs and benefits.16-19nnEncouragement of specific end uses of electricity and gas.16-19ooApproval of rate amendments for conservation and load management programs or programs promoting the state's economic development in proceedings other than rate proceedings. Approval of rate mechanisms to recover costs of natural gas infrastructure expansion plan in contested proceedings.16-19ppUncontested proceedings before the authority. Participating parties.16-19qqOutages of nuclear power generating facilities; rate proceedings; rebuttable presumption of imprudent management.16-19rrRates charged by electric distribution companies and electric utilities to veterans' organizations.16-19ssSolicitations for the provision of temporary electric generation facilities.16-19ttGas and electric distribution companies' distribution revenue decoupling.16-19uuAdjustments to competitive transition assessment with respect to economic recovery revenue bonds.16-19vvPublic service companies' customer deposits.16-19wwNatural gas infrastructure expansion plan. Hurdle rate; rate for new customers added pursuant to the plan; rate mechanism for gas companies to recover prudent investments made pursuant to the plan outside a rate proceeding; assignment of nonfirm margin credit.16-19xxDeferral of public service company tax expense increase.16-19yyCompensation rate recovery for electric distribution companies, gas companies or water companies.16-19zzInterim rate decreases, low-income rates and economic development rates for customers of electric distribution companies.16-19aaa to 16-19ddd16-19aaa to 16-19ddd16-19eeeDefinitions.16-19fffElectric vehicle charging load projections.16-19gggPublic electric vehicle charging stations. Parking restrictions.16-20Inadequate service or unreasonable rates; petition to authority. Small community water system rates and service.16-21Change of rates fixed pursuant to charter or contract.16-22Rates; transfer of assets or franchise; burden of proof.16-23Regulations and service prescribed by authority deemed reasonable.16-24Classification of service.16-24aLow-income discounted rates for electric and gas service.16-24bLow-income rates for gas and water companies with more than seventy-five thousand customers.16-25Time and place of hearings. Notice.16-25aHearings on Office of Consumer Counsel petitions.16-26Public hearing to be held in locality affected.16-27Returns from public service companies. Reports from community antenna television companies. Penalty. Form 8-K reports.16-28Correction of returns and reports.16-29Reports from municipalities.16-30Returns from motor bus companies. Penalty.16-31Remission of forfeitures by the Attorney General.16-32Annual audit report.16-32aFiling re procurement practices. Public hearing. Regulations re competitive bidding.16-32bRegional water authority or water district to submit annual report.16-32cWater company rate adjustments. Application. Notice to customers.16-32d16-32d16-32eEmergency plans to be filed by public service companies, telecommunications companies, voice over Internet protocol service providers and municipal utilities. Hearings. Revisions. Staffing of electric distribution companies' emergency operations centers.16-32fGas company supply and demand forecast reports.16-32gElectric wire maintenance plans. Regulations.16-32hPerformance standards for electric distribution companies and gas companies in emergencies. Emergency response report.16-32iPerformance review of electric distribution companies and gas companies after emergencies. Hearing. Penalty.16-32jProcedures for expedited road clearing after emergencies.16-32kVegetation management practices review. Report.16-32lResidential customer credits for distribution-system service outage. Recovery of costs. Waiver of requirements.16-32mResidential customer compensation for expiration of medicine and food due to distribution-system service outage. Recovery of costs. Waiver of requirements.16-32nCost-benefit analysis concerning resources expended and existing staffing levels during storm events. Minimum staffing levels and acceptable performance standards for electric distribution companies. Penalties.16-33Obstructing authority; false entries and returns to; penalty.16-34Annual reports to Governor.16-34aAnnual report re lost and unaccounted for gas. Docket to investigate.16-35Appeals to Superior Court. Uncontested proceedings re acquiring electricity products or services. Stays of orders of authority.16-36 to 16-39Venue. Procedure on appeal. Notice when parties are numerous. Supersedeas.16-40Rights and duties of trustees and receivers.16-41Imposition of civil penalties by authority.16-42Not to affect labor contracts.16-43Merger or sale of public service companies. Issuance and approval of securities. Net proceeds from sale of water company land. Allocation of economic benefits of sale of water company land.16-43aValidity of securities issued pursuant to order of authority.16-43bDefinitions applicable to apportionment of land sales benefits.16-43cSale of water company land to certain municipal corporations for construction of a school.16-43dSale of existing electric generation plants.16-44Notice of formation, consolidation or discontinuance of public service companies; change of name. Penalty.16-44aDisclosure of salaries of directors and officers of public service companies.16-45Increase or reduction of capital stock by public service companies.16-46Dissolution or termination of public service company. Cessation of public service operations.16-47Holding companies. Approval of authority re exercise of control. Investigation and hearing. Annual reports. Injunctive relief. Exemption.16-47aCode of conduct for gas company transactions with affiliates.16-48Electricity and gas; transmission between this state and other states.16-48aConsumer Counsel and Public Utility Control Fund established.16-49Expenses of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Bureau of Energy and Technology, the Office of Consumer Counsel, the Office of Policy and Management and the operations of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Assessment of regulated companies.16-49a to 16-49cAppropriation. Council on water company lands established. Moratorium on sale of water company lands; duties of council.16-49dApplications for sales of water company lands submitted prior to June 25, 1975.16-49ePublic service company may request identification from person opening an account. Telecommunications company may request identification prior to providing service.16-49fVerification of Social Security number prior to opening new account. Minor not liable for services fraudulently obtained using minor's Social Security number.16-50Employees. Consultants.16-50aLocal filing of maps on acquisition of property.16-50bDeclaration of policy.16-50cNotification of intent to dispose of unimproved real property. Approval or disapproval by authority. Hearing.16-50dAction to acquire property.16-50eNotices to town clerk.16-50fSolicitation of insurance applications from employees of public service companies. Payroll deductions.