Investigation of ENSTAR's Fees Associated with
Customer's Delinquent Accounts
Anchorage, AK - The Regulatory Commission of Alaska
(Commission) has suspended the non-recurring fees proposed
by ENSTAR Natural Gas Company (ENSTAR) for further
investigation. On May 18, 2007, ENSTAR filed a tariff revision
(TA152-4) requesting to implement new and revised non-recurring fees. In its filing, ENSTAR asserted that the revisions
are necessary to recover costs associated with service
reconnections, declined payments, late payments, meter tests
and field contacts to inform customers of a pending disconnect.
On May 30, 2007, the Commission issued a public notice of the
filing; and by the end of the comment period, the Commission
received 45 comments in opposition to the proposed fees and
provisions contained in ENSTAR’s filing.
According to Order U-07-084(1), the Commission’s concerns,
in part, are that the costs ENSTAR seeks to recover through
the tariff revisions are not adequately supported and may
already recovered through rates currently in effect. The
Commission is also concerned that ENSTAR’s filing may result
in piecemeal ratemaking. As such, the Commission determined
that ENSTAR has not met its burden to prove the
reasonableness of the proposed fees; and therefore suspended
ENSTAR’s filing for further investigation.
A hearing has been scheduled for December 11 through 13,
2007 and the Commission will reach a final decision on this
matter no later than February 12, 2008.
For further information, a copy of U-07-084(1) can be
downloaded in its entirety at
[www.state.ak.us/rca
].
Press Release: Regulatory Commission of Alaska Investigates Enstar's Fees Associated with Customers' Delinquent Accounts
Date Issued: 7/23/2007