Section 407-120-3 - FORM AND CONTENT OF SCHEDULESA.Generally. 1. All schedules of rates and terms and conditions submitted to the Commission pursuant to this Rule must be in typewritten form on 8 1/2" by 11" paper.2. All filings must consist of an original and six (6) copies, except that major utilities, as defined in section 2(F), must file thirteen (13) copies of filings made in a general rate case.B.Cover letter required. Each filing with the Commission must be accompanied by a cover letter which contains: 1. A statement describing the purpose and effect of the filing;2. The anticipated revenue effects, if any, of the schedules;3. Any significant change in rate design which is anticipated to result from the filing; and4. A reference to the statutory section, rule, or Commission order under which the filing is made. A cover letter accompanying any schedules filed in compliance with a Commission order must comply with the provisions of Section 4(B) of this Rule.
C.Form of Schedules.1.Generally. Any set of schedules filed by a public utility with the Commission must contain the following:a.Table of Contents or Index. A table of contents or index describing each section of the schedules in sufficient detail that a particular rate, policy, type of equipment, or other good or service can be readily located. This requirement does not apply to any set of schedules consisting of five (5) pages or less. A separate table of contents or index may be filed for schedule of rates and for terms and conditions sections. The table of contents or index should be updated and filed along with any proposed rate schedule or term and condition that affects the table or index.b.Change Symbols. A system of symbols or markings showing all changes or revisions which are made to the schedule by the current filing. Change symbols must appear in the margin of the schedule opposite any proposed change or revision. A public utility must mark changes to its schedule with one or more of the following standard change symbols: C Change in rate schedule or term or condition
D Discontinued rate or term or condition
I Increased rate
M Moved text (give page moved from); no change in rate or term or condition
N New rate or term or condition
R Reduced rate
T Change in text; no change in rate or term or condition
Additional symbols may be used as long as an explanation of the symbol is provided. The Administrative Director or Assistant Administrative Director may return or suspend any filing which lacks appropriate change symbols.
2.Each page. Each page must contain at a minimum: a.Identification of utility. At the upper left-hand corner of the page, the utility's name.b.Signature. At the lower right-hand corner of the page, the signature, or a facsimile thereof, of an officer or other representative of the public utility authorized to act on the utility's behalf.c.Effective date. At the lower left-hand corner of the page, the proposed effective date of the schedule, followed below by a blank line for the actual effective date which will be filled in by the Commission. For revisions, the proposed effective date of the changes must be at least 30 days from the date on which the filing is received by the Commission, unless the filing is accompanied by a request that the schedule be given effect on less than 30 days statutory notice. Where a schedule is proposed to take effect on less than 30 days notice, the utility must show good cause for the request.d.Page number. At the upper right-hand corner of the page, a page number which fits the page in sequence with other pages already on file. For instance, new pages between existing pages 34 and 35 would be numbered 34.1, 34.2 etc.e.Revision number. At the upper right-hand corner of the page, below the page number, a revision number listing the most current version of the page. The first filing of a page must be listed as "Original," and each subsequent filing of the page must be labeled with the next higher revision number, replacing the existing effective page. (i)Amendments to Schedules Being Considered. If a utility files an amendment or new or corrected draft of a pending schedule revision before the revision takes effect, the new draft must be labeled with the same revision number as the pending schedule. The designation "Draft" and a draft number must be added to the revision number, e.g., "Second Draft of Third Revision." The amendment or new or corrected draft must be accompanied by a cover letter which describes the purpose of the filing and identifies the docket number of the case in which the revision is being considered. Upon approval of a particular draft, the Commission will remove the draft designation from the schedule sheet. An amendment or new or corrected draft of a pending revision is not considered a new filing for purposes of the effective date provisions of this Rule, unless the Commission determines that the amendment or new or corrected draft should be considered a separate revision.(ii)Compliance Filings. If the Commission disallows a revision and orders the filing of a revised schedule, the compliance filing must bear a new revision number, replacing the page which is currently in effect. For example, if the Commission disallows the Fifth Revision, Replacing Fourth Revision, the compliance schedule shall be designated Sixth Revision, Replacing Fourth Revision. D.Content of Schedules. All schedules must contain, where applicable, the following information:1.Rates. The rates charged by the public utility to its customers for any utility services, including:a. Any minimum charges to customers for a utility service, and any additional charges for particular services;b. Any rates associated with any special program, including a description of the program;c. Any joint rates with other utilities pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. §306;d. Any other charge to customers for which the utility is required to file schedules; ande. Any further information necessary to identify the utility's rates.2.Terms and Conditions. The terms and conditions upon which utility services will be provided to customers, including:a. The availability of service to different customer classes;b. The character of the utility service to be provided, including any technical information necessary to differentiate such service from other utility services;c. Any standards or conditions which must be met by customers in order to receive utility service, including copies of any specifications furnished to customers;d. Where applicable, the utility's various service and rate areas;e. The utility's terms and conditions for each of its demand side energy management programs as defined in Chapter 380 of the Commission's Rules (65-407 C.M.R. 380).f. The utility's terms and conditions relating to line or service extensions, including contributions in aid of construction; andg. Any further information necessary to identify the terms and conditions of utility service.E.Effective Date. Unless the Commission orders otherwise, schedules become effective thirty (30) days after the date the Commission receives the schedules, pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. §307, or on the proposed effective date, whichever is later. Any request by the utility that a schedule take effect on less than statutory notice must be included in the cover letter accompanying the schedule, and must state the reason why the Commission should find that good cause exists to allow the schedule to take effect on less than statutory notice. If the Commission does not allow the schedule to take effect on less that statutory notice, or if a schedule incorrectly bears no effective date or schedule, the Commission, its Administrative Director, or its Assistant Administrative Director may assign the schedule an effective date 30 days from the date the schedule was received by the Commission, or may return the schedule to the utility. If a schedule is suspended, and later allowed to take effect, its effective date is the date specified in the Commission order lifting the suspension, or, if the order does not specify a date, the date the order is issued.F.Refiling of Existing Schedules. The Commission or its Administrative Director or Assistant Administrative Director may require a utility to revise and refile its schedules to comply with this Rule.G.Copy of Schedule to Utilities. When a schedule takes effect, the Commission, its Administrative Director, or its Assistant Administrative Director will provide the utility with a copy of each sheet which contains the actual effective date of the schedule and the pertinent docket number.H.Conflict with Commission Order. Any Commission order that prescribes a different content or method for filing a rate schedule or terms and conditions supersedes the provisions of this rule.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 120, § 3