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Consumer group urges Questar Investigation - Deseret Morning News 4/1/08
Questar Billing Mistake to be Investigated
(Docket No. 08-057-11)
March 28, 2008 - the Committee of Consumer Services called for a complete investigation into Questar Gas Company's request to back bill customers for transponder error.
April 1, 2008 - the PSC opened a formal investigation to resolve the under-billing claims of Questar against approximately 500 Utah customers resulting from transponder errors.

Questar seeking 7% hike - Deseret Morning News 12/20/2007
Questar Gas Company asks for an increase in its general rates
(Docket No. 07-057-13)
On December 19, 2007, Questar Gas Company submitted its application to the Public Service Commission of Utah requesting approval of an increase in its general rates. If approved, the $27 million increase would raise the monthly bill for the typical residential customer in Utah by about 7 percent, or $3.92 per month. Questar Gas has asked that the new rates become effective by August 2008.

Power company wants a rate hike - Salt Lake Tribune 12/18/07
Rocky Mountain Power Requests an Overall Price Increase
(Docket No. 07-035-93)
On December 17, 2007, Rocky Mountain Power submitted its application to the Public Service Commission of Utah requesting approval of an increase in its retail electric utility service rates in Utah, consisting of an annual general rate increase of $161,229,086 or 11.3 percent. The Committee has assembled a team of experts to examine thoroughly each component of the filing to ensure the prudency of all costs underlying the proposed increase.

385 area code coming to Utah in 2009 - Deseret Morning News
Utah Public Service Commission Orders Areas Code Overlay
(Docket No. 07-999-01)
The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) has projected that Utah area code 801 numbers will be totally exhausted by spring 2009.
April 2007 - The Utah Public Service Commission sent a Notice of Request for Comments on Use of Area Code Overlay or Area Code Split. The Committee recommended that the Commission pursue the Overlay approach as the preferred method when implementing a new area code.
July 11, 2007 - The Utah Public Service Commission issued an order prescribing an overlay option to relieve the exhausting 801 area code prefix for Utah. Current phone numbers will not change. The new area code 385 will affect newly assigned numbers, starting spring time next year.

Increase in urban gas rates rejected Salt Lake Tribune 04/25/07
Questar seeks to recoup costs Salt Lake Tribune 01/10/07
Questar's Application to Remove GSS and EAC Rates From Company's Tariff
(Docket No. 06-057-T04)
October 6, 2006 - Questar Gas Company filed with the Utah Public Service Commission an application to remove GSS and Extended Area Charge (EAC) rates from Questar Gas Company's tariff and roll those rates into the standard GS-1 customer rate schedule. The impact of implementing the proposed GS-1 rates will be an increase of $0.19 per month to the typical Utah GS-1 customer's bill, or an annual increase of $2.24.
January 9, 2007 - The Committee determined that these extension rates in rural areas do not now appear to be just and reasonable. Furthermore, the Committee has determined that any revenue impacts stemming from changing those rates should be fully considered in a general rate case before the Utah Public Service Commission.
February 13, 2007 - The Committee authorized the Committee Director to execute the settlement Stipulation in Docket No. 06-057-T04 that eliminates GSS rates and EAC charges and to include GSS-EAC revenue into a separate account under the terms and conditions of the settlement stipulation.
February 15, 2007 - The Division of Public Utilities, the Committee and interested parties submitted a Stipulation to agree to a settlement of the issues raised in Docket No. 06-057-T04.
April 24, 2007 - The Utah Public Service Commission denied the settlement Stipulation which would excuse some of Questar Gas company's customers from payment of General Service Southern rates and Expansion Area Charges (GSS and EAC rates).

Questar wants to charge even less Salt Lake Tribune 10/06/06
Questar Pass-Through (Docket No. 06-057-09)
November 1, 2006 - The Utah Public Service Commission approved, on an interim basis, the pass-through Application filed by Questar Gas Company requesting a rate decrease. On October 5, Questar Gas Company submitted a pass-through Application requesting a decrease of $104,329,000, which includes a decrease of $118,421,000 in the commodity rates, and an increase of $14,092,000 in the supplier non-gas portion of rates, to become effective November 1, 2006. The decrease will lower the typical homeowner's annual bill by $118.

PSC approves Questar's request to reduce gas rates Deseret Morning News
Questar Pass-Through (Docket No. 06-057-T03)
March 28, 2006 - Questar Gas Company asked the Public Service Commission of Utah (Commission) to reduce natural gas rates by $38.6 million because of recent decreases in the price of natural gas. The Committee supported the proposed rate reduction. Based upon information and evidence presented at a April 7, 2006 hearing, the Commission approved the proposed rate reduction. The rate cut will lower the typical homeowner's annual natural gas bill by $43.83 for a 3.7% decrease.

Power rate hike approved for Rocky Mtn. customers Deseret Morning News 12/02/06
Power rate hike coming Salt Lake Tribune 07/26/06
Utah Power seeks record hike Deseret Morning News 03/08/06
PacifiCorp 2006 General Rate Case (Docket No. 06-035-21)
March 7, 2006 - PacifiCorp (doing business as Utah Power & Light Company) filed an application for a rate increase of $197.2 million over current levels, averaging 17 percent, to be effective in December 2006. This is a significant increase over previous rate case requests. This request will be the last under the ownership of ScottishPower. MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. expects to complete its purchase of Utah Power by the end of March. Under the terms of acquisition, MidAmerican agreed, at the demand of the Committee, to hold off implementing its next rate increase for 45 days. The 45-day delay will be worth $24 million to Utah consumers if the Public Service Commission gives Utah Power the entire $197 million rate increase. The Committee will do its due diligence in reviewing each component of the filing to ensure electric costs passed on to customers are reasonable. (Click "Electricity" on left side menu for Committee's filed testimonies.)
Stipulation Regarding Revenue Requirement and Rate Spread
July 26, 2006 - The Committee reached a settlement with Rocky Mountain Power (formerly Utah Power) and other parties which would grant the utility a $115 million rate increase. If approved by the Public Service Commission of Utah, the increase amounts to 60% of the $197 million rate increase the utility originally requested and would occur in two phases: $85 million, effective December 11, 2006, and an additional $30 million, effective June 1, 2007 when additional generation and distribution facilities are scheduled to go into service.
December 1, 2006, - The Commission approved the Stipulation regarding revenue requirement and rate spread increasing PacifiCorp's annual revenue requirement by $115 million, or 9.95 percent.

8 percent gas rate cut is planned by Questar Salt Lake Tribune 01/28/06
Questar Pass-Through (Docket No. 06-057-01)
January 25, 2006 - Questar Gas Company filed an application with the Utah Public Service Commission for an adjustment on its current commodity and supplier non-gas cost portions of its Utah natural gas rates.
February 1, 2006 - The Commission approved Questar's application on an interim basis. The typical residential customer using 115 decatherms per year will see a decrease in their average monthly bill of $8.67 (or 8%). The Committee supports the proposed pass-through rate reduction and is currently examining all of the pass-through rate changes since May 2005 to ensure gas costs passed on to customers are reasonable.

Questar pricing method is given initial approval Deseret Morning News 09/14/2006
Consumer watchdog wary of pitch by Questar The Salt Lake Tribune 06/23/06
State OKs $9.7M gas rate cut The Daily Herald, 05/27/06
Questar seeks to lower rates The Daily Herald 05/12/06
Questar Gas wants to change its billing system The Salt Lake Tribune 12/13/05
Questar Conservation Enabling Tariff (Docket No. 05-057-T01)
December 16, 2005 - Questar Gas Company, the Division of Public Utilities, and Utah Clean Energy (collectively, Joint Applicants) have filed an application before the Public Service Commission requesting approval of tariff changes that would implement a Conservation Enabling Tariff (or CET) Pilot Program. The CET would result in a voluntary rate decrease in the non-gas portion of customers' rates. The Joint Applicants believe that this rate reduction, if implemented on a timely basis, could help reduce customers' bills this heating season. The Committee has concerns with a CET that encompasses a full sales and revenue decoupling mechanism and withheld its support. The Committee has retained an expert consultant to examine all the ramifications. (To access Direct Testimony of CCS Consultant David E. Dismukes, click "Natural Gas" on left side.)
May 10, 2006 - The Committee of Consumer Services, Utah Division of Public Utilties, Questar Gas Company and five other interested parties who represent Questar Gas customers have reached a settlement that, if approved by the Public Service Commission of Utah, will reduce natural gas rates by $9.7 million, effective June 1, 2006. This reduction, in addition to the $38.6 million reduction announced in April and the $93.7 million reduction announced in February of this year, means the typical residential customer's natural gas bill will be reduced by approximately $150 annually (click Press Releases below). It was agreed that the Commission should hear the CET Pilot Program--separate from the rate reduction--at hearings scheduled to begin June 26.
May 26, 2006 - The Utah Public Service Commission issued an order approving the Rate Reduction Stipulation.
September 12, 2006 - Having put safeguards in place, the Committee approved terms of settlement in the Questar Gas Conservation Enabling Tariff (CET) Adjustment proceeding before the Utah Public Service Commission. If approved by the Commission, the settlement would give residential customers the benefit of conservation measures this season and for the next three years. The Committee secured an annual cap on the amount residential customers would be saddled with because of the decoupling mechanism. In addition, parties agreed that in one year there would be a comprehensive review of the CET mechanism to determine if it or some other method should be used to address the Utility's disincentives.
October 5, 2006 - The Settlement Stipulation was approved by the Commission.
May 4, 2007 - (Docket No. 07-057-03) Questar submitted its application to amortize the 191.9 Account balance, ending Marych 2007, arising under the Conservation Enabling Tariff (CET).
June 29, 2007 - The Public Service Commission approved an increase in rates, on an interim basis, for the amortization of the Conservation Enabling Tariff (CET) balance identified in Questar's May 4, 2007 Application. The rate change may be effective July 1, 2007, and represents an annual increase of $1.92 for the average GS-1 customer using 80 decatherms a year.

Questar gains OK to hike natural gas rates 20.3% Deseret Morning News 10/29/05
Questar Gas wants another rate increase Standard-Examiner 05/11/05
Questar Pass-Through (Docket No. 05-057-06) (Docket No. 05-057-11)
Questar Gas has requested increases in rates totaling 34.7% (14.4% in June and 20.3% in October, 2005). The Committee has retained an outside expert to perform an in-depth audit of the Company’s information presented in its filings, including an investigation of the reasonableness of the costs associated with all natural gas purchase contracts, pipeline charges, gathering and processing charges, Wexpro production, Intercompany agreements, etc. The results of this audit will be used in filing the Committee’s response and recommendation to the Utah Public Service Commission regarding the appropriateness of the rate increases requested by Questar Gas Company. The Commission approved the requested 14.4% rate increase on an interim basis, effective June 1, 2005 and the requested 20.3% rate increase on an interim basis, effective November 1, 2005.

Questar to pass costs on Deseret Morning News 10/21/05
Questar Gas Company Recovery of Gas Management Costs (Docket No. 05-057-01)
October 7, 2005 - The Committee has accepted terms of settlement with Questar Gas Company regarding the utility’s efforts to recover CO2 processing costs in customer rates. In 2004, the Committee filed an appeal with the Utah Supreme Court that resulted in a Public Service Commission (PSC) order requiring the utility to refund $29 million to its customers. Since that time, Questar has again petitioned the PSC to recover in customer rates the costs to remove CO2 from coal seam gas entering its distribution system. The present settlement terms allow the utility to recover future CO2 processing costs, with certain minor limitations or contingency offsets. In exchange, Questar has agreed to waive recovery of any past costs, including the costs involved in the $29 million refund and additional costs incurred since that time. Instead of recovering $57 million in CO2 costs, the Utility will recover in rates approximately $17 million over the next three years – a $40 million savings to Utahns.
January 6, 2006 - The Utah Public Service Commission approved the Gas Management Cost Stipulation, negotiated by Questar Gas Company, the Utah Division of Public Utilities and the Utah Committee of Consumer Services, authorizing recovery in rates of a portion of the costs incurred by Questar Gas Company in managing the heat content of the gas supplies delivered to its system commencing February 1, 2005.
February 27, 2007 - Arguments regarding intervention were presented before the Utah Supreme Court.
October 12, 2007 - Utah Supreme Court affirmed the Commission's Intervention Order denying intervention and dismissed the petition for review of the Approval Order for lack of appellate standing.

 

PacifiCorp and utility watchdog settle suit Deseret Morning News 03/25/06
Utah residents may get $50M electric bill credit from PacifiCorp Std-Examiner 10/08/05
PacifiCorp Excess Income Tax Cost Monies Collected in Rates (Docket No. 05-035-98)
October 6, 2005 - The Committee filed a request with the Utah Public Service Commission alleging that a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) audit revealed that PacifiCorp had been over-collecting income tax costs in Utah rates since its 1999 merger with ScottishPower. PacifiCorp denied the Committee's allegations and asserted the income tax costs it collected in rates were calculated in accordance with long-standing Public Service Commission practice.
March 24, 2006 - The Committee, Utah Industrial Energy Consumers and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, who recently acquired PacifiCorp from ScottishPower, settled a pending lawsuit on terms that offer future cost savings of approximately $32 million to Utah ratepayers. On April 3, 2006, a hearing was held in which the Settlement Agreement was presented to the Commission. Witnesses for MEHC, PacifiCorp and the Committee presented testimony supporting the Settlement Agreement. No party presented testimony opposing the Settlement Agreement.
April 10, 2006 - The Public Service Commission of Utah approved the Settlement Agreement.

Iowa firm wraps up PacifiCorp purchase Deseret Morning News 03/22/06
MidAmerican to acquire PacifiCorp from ScottishPower Deseret News 05/24/05
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company Acquisition of PacifiCorp from Scottish Power (Docket No. 05-035-54)
May 24, 2005 - MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (MEHC) announced its deal to acquire PacifiCorp for $9.4 billion. The Committee hired a consultant to do a thorough review of the regulatory transaction. On November 18, the Committee accepted terms of agreement with MEHC. On January 27, 2006, the Public Service Commission of Utah approved the Stipulation by Parties supporting the acquisition of PacifiCorp from ScottishPower by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. MEHC announced that it had completed the purchase of PacifiCorp from ScottishPower on March 21.