Minimum Filing Requirements for Utility Company General Rate Increase Requests

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes the information which must be filed by all electric utilities, all large local exchange telecommunications companies, all large gas, water and sewer utilities, and all steam heating utilities when filing for a general company-wide increase in rates. Additional requirements regarding this subject matter are also found in 4 CSR 240-3.160 for electric utilities and 4 CSR 240-3.235 for gas utilities. (1) This rule applies to all electric utilities; to all gas utilities with more than ten thousand (10,000) customers; to all water utilities with more than eight thousand (8,000) customers; to all sewer utilities with more than eight thousand (8,000) customers; and to all steam heating utilities with more than one hundred (100) customers. (2) A general rate increase request is one where the company or utility files for an overall increase in revenues through a company-wide increase in rates for the utility service it provides, but shall not include requests for changes in rates made pursuant to an adjustment clause or other similar provisions contained in a utility’s tariffs. (A) With regard to any telecommunications company subject to this rule, any increase in revenues as a result of an increase in rates within a previously approved rate band for a transitionally competitive or competitive service pursuant to sections 392.500 and 392.510, RSMo will not be considered a general rate increase and thereby not be subject to these minimum filing requirements. (3) At the time a tariff(s) is filed by any company or utility subject to this rule which contains a general rate increase request, an original or electronic copy of the following information shall be filed with the secretary of the commission and one (1) copy or electronic copy shall be provided to the Office of the Public Counsel: (A) A letter transmitting the proposed tariff changes to the secretary of the commission of the Missouri Public Service Commission; (B) General information concerning the filing which will be of interest to the public and suitable for publication, including: 1. The amount of dollars of the aggregate annual increase and the percentage of increase over current revenues which the tariff(s) proposes; 2. Names of the counties and communities affected; 3. The number of the customers to be affected in each general category of service and in all rate classifications within each general category of service; 4. The average change requested in dollars and percentage change from current rates for each general category of service and for all rate classifications within each general category of service; 5. The proposed annual aggregate change by general categories of service and by rate classification within each general category of service including dollar amounts and percentage of change in revenues from current rates; 6. Copies of any press releases relative to the filing issued by the company or utility prior to or at the time of the filing; and 7. A summary of the reasons for the proposed changes or a summary explanation of the reasons the additional rate is needed. (4) For good cause shown, the commission may grant a waiver of any of the provisions of this rule. AUTHORITY: section 386.250, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-3.030. Original rule filed Aug. 16, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Amended: Filed Nov. 7, 2018, effective July 30, 2019. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-3.030, effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996.