Okla. Admin. Code § 165:45-21-9

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 165:45-21-9 - Cost recovery

(a) Each utility seeking cost recovery of expenditures outside of a general rate review related to securing its critical infrastructure shall prepare and make available for inspection, its Security Plan and any subsequent Security Plan Update Reports prepared in accordance with this Subchapter.

(b) A utility shall file an application with the Commission for cost recovery as provided for within this Subchapter. Cost recovery shall be subject to established rate-making principles. Such cost recovery shall only occur to the extent the utility has incurred all or a portion of its actual security-related costs.

(c) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, the utility shall have the burden of proving compliance with all of the provisions of this Subchapter prior to obtaining any cost recovery for security related measures.

(d) Upon approval and Order of the Commission, a utility shall be allowed to recover a return based on its weighted cost of long-term debt and equity on all capital expenditures made for security measures. The utility shall also be allowed to recover related depreciation expense and ad valorem taxes. Such recoveries shall be based upon similar ratemaking treatment for corresponding cost elements from the utility's most recent general rate case.

(e) Upon approval and Order of the Commission, a utility shall be allowed to recover expenses typically classified as operations and maintenance expenses for ratemaking purposes. The utility may request inclusion of any such similar costs incurred as long as these costs are directly associated with the security measures taken.

(f) The total costs incurred under this Subchapter shall be combined for recovery purposes, for consideration by the Commission.

(g) All costs approved by the Commission for recovery, shall be recovered from the utility's customers through a "Security Cost Rider" based on the projected annual billing units for the utility and shall be subject to annual true-up.

(h) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, a utility shall immediately discontinue recovery of the "Security Cost Rider" when the earlier of the following occurs: natural expiration due to the full recovery provided for in a Rider granted under this Subchapter or forced expiration required pursuant to OAC 165:45-21-9(i) and/or OAC 165:45-21-9(j). Under no circumstances, shall the utility be permitted to double recover Homeland Security and Critical Infrastructure related costs.

(i) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, any utility with a "Security Cost Rider" currently in effect, that files for a general rate change, shall include in the rate case, all security-related costs and those costs shall be accorded standard ratemaking treatment. A utility shall discontinue its "Security Cost Rider" when the change in rates becomes effective upon Final Order in the rate case.

(j) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, all "Security Cost Riders" approved by the Commission, shall expire five years from the initial date of the "Security Cost Rider's" implementation.

(k) Upon the filing of a cost recovery request by a utility, Commission Staff, the state Attorney General's office (based upon that entity's statutory authority) and all other Authorized Participants shall review the cost recovery proposal submitted by the utility and file testimony in accordance with:

(1) Any applicable protective orders issued by the Commission in the security-related cost recovery cause;

(2) OAC 165:45-21-11 (below);

(3) The Commission's Rules of Practice (OAC 165:5); and

(4) Any other protective measures or requirements prescribed by law or the Commission.

(l) Testimony of Commission Staff, the state Attorney General and all other Authorized Participants, shall detail each of the parties' respective recommendations and any objections to the utility's Security Plan and the utility's request for cost recovery related to the Security Plan. Also in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice, Commission Staff, the state Attorney General and all other Authorized Participants shall provide copies of their respective individual testimonies to one another, with redacted versions of each individual testimony filed with the Commission's Court Clerk.

(m) Upon notice and hearing, the Commission shall issue an Order regarding any requests for security-related cost recovery.

Okla. Admin. Code § 165:45-21-9

Added at 22 Ok Reg 708, eff 7-1-05

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 36, Issue 21, July 15, 2019, eff. 7/25/2019

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 23, August 15, 2024, eff. 10/1/2024