Submission Requirements for Electric Utility Depreciation Studies

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the requirements regarding the submission of depreciation studies by electric utilities. (1) Each electric utility subject to the commission’s jurisdiction shall submit a depreciation study, database and property unit catalog to the manager of the commission’s energy department and to the Office of the Public Counsel, as required by the terms of subsection (1)(B). (A) The depreciation study, database and property unit catalog shall be compiled as follows: 1. The study shall reflect the average life and remaining life of each primary plant account or subaccount; 2. The database shall consist of dollar amounts, by plant account or subaccount, representing— A. Annual dollar additions and dollar retirements by vintage year and year retired, beginning with the earliest year of available data; B. Reserve for depreciation; C. Surviving plant balance as of the study date; and D. Estimated date of final retirement and surviving dollar investment for each warehouse, electric generating facility, combustion turbine, general office building or other large structure; and 3. The property unit catalog shall contain a description of each retirement unit used by the company. (B) An electric utility shall submit its depreciation study, database and property unit catalog on the following occasions: 1. On or before the date adjoining the first letter of the name under which the corporation does business, excluding the word the, as indicated by the tariffs on file with the commission. A. The alphabetical categories and submission due dates are as follows: (I) A, B, C, D: January 1, 1994; (II) E, F, G, H: July 1, 1994; (III) I, J, K, L: January 1, 1995; (IV) M, N, O, P: July 1, 1995; (V) Q, R, S, T: January 1, 1996; and (VI) U, V, W, X, Y, Z: July 1, 1996. B. However— (I) An electric utility need not submit a depreciation study, database or property unit catalog to the extent that the commission’s staff received these items from the utility during the three (3) years prior to the due dates listed in subparagraph (1)(B)1.A.; and (II) A utility with simultaneous due dates under subparagraph (1)(B)1.A. above and 4 CSR 240-3.275(1)(B)1. may postpone its due date with respect to one (1) of these rules by six (6) months. To exercise this option, the utility must give written notice of its intent to postpone compliance to the manager of the commission’s energy department, and to the Office of the Public Counsel, before the utility’s first due date; 2. Before five (5) years have elapsed since the last time the commission’s staff received a depreciation study, database and property unit catalog from the utility. (2) The commission may waive or grant a variance from the provisions of this rule, in whole or in part, for good cause shown, upon a utility’s written application. AUTHORITY: section 386.250, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-3.175. Original rule filed Aug. 16, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-3.175, effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996.