Wisconsin Administrative Code Public Service Commission
The Wisconsin Administrative Code for the Public Service Commission (PSC) is a comprehensive set of rules that govern the regulation of public utilities in the state. The PSC is an independent regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that utility customers receive adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced service.
The PSC's administrative code typically covers a wide range of topics, often organized into various chapters (e.g., PSC 1, PSC 2, PSC 100, etc.). Here's a general overview of what these rules entail:
General Procedures and Practice (e.g., PSC 1, PSC 2):
Agents of the Commission: Rules defining the roles and authority of commission members and staff.
Procedure and Practice: Detailed rules for how formal proceedings before the PSC are conducted, including filing applications, public hearings, evidence, intervention by interested parties, and decision-making processes. This ensures transparency and due process.
Intervenor Compensation: Rules regarding the compensation of individuals or groups who participate in PSC proceedings and represent the public interest.
Environmental Analysis: Requirements for environmental review of proposed utility projects.
Assessment of Costs: Rules for how the costs of regulating utilities are assessed to the utilities themselves.
Utility Operations and Financials (e.g., PSC 100 series):
Affiliations: Rules governing relationships and transactions between public utilities and their affiliated companies or holding companies to prevent self-dealing or anti-competitive practices.
Accounting and Reporting: Detailed accounting standards and reporting requirements for utilities to ensure financial transparency and accurate record-keeping.
Accident Reporting: Rules for utilities to report accidents to the PSC, helping to ensure safety standards.
Competitive Bidding for Securities: Regulations for how utilities issue stocks or bonds.
Tax Equivalent for Municipal Utilities: Rules related to how municipal utilities handle tax equivalents.
Fuel Costs: Regulations on how utilities track and recover fuel costs.
Service Standards and Construction (e.g., PSC 110 series for electric, PSC 130 series for gas, PSC 180 series for water):
Rate Setting: The most critical aspect, detailing the process utilities must follow to propose new rates, and the criteria the PSC uses to approve or deny them. The goal is to ensure rates are "just and reasonable."
Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN): Requirements for utilities to obtain PSC approval before undertaking major construction projects, such as power plants, transmission lines, or water wells. This involves assessing the need for the project, its environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness.
Service Rules: Standards for the quality, reliability, and adequacy of utility service provided to customers (e.g., rules on disconnections, meter accuracy, customer complaints, low-income assistance programs).
Safety Standards: Regulations related to the safe construction, operation, and maintenance of utility infrastructure (e.g., gas pipelines, electrical lines, water systems).
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Resources (e.g., PSC 137): Rules related to utility programs promoting energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources.
Interconnection: Rules for interconnecting distributed generation facilities (like rooftop solar) to the utility grid.
Telecommunications (e.g., PSC 160 series):
While the PSC's jurisdiction over telecommunications has become more limited with federal deregulation, they still regulate certain aspects like universal service support funding, emergency telecommunications (911), and provider-to-provider issues.
In essence, the Wisconsin Administrative Code for the Public Service Commission serves as the rulebook for how utilities operate and interact with their customers, ensuring regulatory oversight in areas where competition is limited, and safeguarding the public interest in essential services like electricity, natural gas, and water.
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