Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024
Section 407-120-2 - DEFINITIONSA.Commission. "Commission" means the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Where appropriate delegation authority exists, "Commission" includes the member of the Staff of the Commission to whom the authority is delegated.B.Defective filing. A "defective filing" is a filing which does not meet the formal or procedural requirements of this Rule or of another applicable rule.C.Effective date. An "effective date" is the date on which a schedule actually takes legal effect.D.Filing. A "filing" consists of the schedules and other materials accompanying a schedule submitted to the Commission. For example, a proposed schedule of rates, cover letter and revised table of contents would together be referred to as a "filing".E.General rate case. A "general rate case" is any rate filing by a public utility, not specifically exempted in section 1(D)(3), which, upon taking effect, would increase the annual gross intrastate operating revenues of the public utility by more than two percent (2%), exclusive of sales for resale, fuel cost revenues, energy conservation adjustment revenues, or cost of gas adjustment revenues.F.Major utility. A "major utility" is any public utility having annual intrastate operating revenues of over $5,000,000 in the twelve months immediately preceding a general rate case.G.Rate filing. A "rate filing" is the act of filing by a public utility with the Commission pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. §307 any schedule which directly affects the rates charged by the utility.H.Rates. "Rates" are a public utility's charges to its customers for the provision of utility services.I.Schedule. A "schedule" is one of the written sheets filed by a public utility with the Commission which show the utility's rates for different customer classes or categories of service, or the terms and conditions upon which utility service will be provided. For purposes of this Rule, the term "schedule" is equivalent to the word "tariff".J.Significant changes in rate design. A "significant change in rate design" is any change in rate design that allocates the change in general rates among rate classes in substantially different percentages.K.Terms and conditions. "Terms and conditions" are the provisions filed by a public utility with the Commission which show the basis on which various utility services will be provided to customers, or which in any manner affect the rates charged for any service. 35-A M.R.S.A. §304 requires that public utility schedules which were formerly designated as "rules" shall be designated as "terms and conditions".L.Test year. A "test year" is a 12-month period used by a utility to serve as a basis for comparison of revenues, expenses, and investment in order to determine revenue requirements in a general rate case. A test year may be a calendar year or any other period of twelve (12) consecutive months.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 120, § 2