Chapter PSC 113

PSC 113.0925 PSC 113.0925 Billings for grounds. Subject to the utility’s rules setting forth the method of determining a reduced rate herein authorized, if an accidental ground is found on a customer’s wiring or equipment, the utility may estimate the kilowatt-hours lost and bill for them at a reduced rate not less than the generated or purchase cost of the energy, but no such adjustment shall be made for energy supplied after the customer has been notified and has had an opportunity to correct the condition. Any demand (kilowatt) caused by an accidental ground may be billed at a rate lower than that filed for the class of service involved. The utility shall notify the customer of the ground whenever it is found or suspected.

PSC 113.0925 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.0926 PSC 113.0926 Metering with one meter for net energy billing.

PSC 113.0926(1) (1) A single watthour meter may be used for net energy billing where reverse meter registration is intended to occur during reverse power flow through the meter and where the service is rendered under an authorized net-energy billing tariff.

PSC 113.0926(2) (2) When the meter is operating in the reverse registration mode it shall be accurate within plus or minus 2.0% at 2 unity power factor loads, one equal to 10% and the other 100% of the test ampere rating of the meter. A test to determine compliance with this accuracy requirement shall be made by the utility either before or at the time the customer-owned generator is placed in operation in accordance with utility rules. Subsequent tests for accuracy in the reverse registration mode are required only when requested by the customer and shall be at customer cost.

PSC 113.0926(3) (3) Each utility shall maintain a record of the reverse-registration tests required in sub. (2) but for such tests the utility is not required to comply with ss. PSC 113.0901, 113.0911 and 113.0919 with respect to meter testing or meter records.

PSC 113.0926 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

subch. X of ch. PSC 113 Subchapter X — Electric Service Extension

PSC 113.1001 PSC 113.1001 Purpose. The purpose of subch. X is to establish standards for electric utility service extension rules. These standards shall not apply to the inter-connection of customer-owned generation facilities. The primary objective of these standards shall be to provide for an equitable cost relationship between new customers and existing customers. The determination of an equitable relationship shall consider the effect of the extension rule on the environment, the utility’s revenue requirement and the efficient use of electricity.

PSC 113.1001 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1002 PSC 113.1002 Principles of facilities development. The utility shall provide safe, reliable service with extensions that conform, to the extent possible, to each of the following standards:

PSC 113.1002(1) (1) Route. The utility shall make the extension over the most direct route which is the least expensive and least environmentally degrading. The customer shall provide or shall be responsible for the cost of all right-of-way easements and permits necessary for the utility to install, maintain, or replace distribution facilities. The customer shall either clear and grade such property or pay the utility to clear and grade such property. The customer is responsible for the cost of restoration of the property after the utility has completed installation and backfilling where applicable.

PSC 113.1002(2) (2) Design. The utility shall design and install facilities to deliver service to the customer and the area at the lowest reasonable cost. The facilities shall comply with accepted engineering and planning practices. The design shall consider reasonable needs for probable growth in the area and local land use planning. Unwarranted excess capacity which would result in unnecessary cost increases to the utility and its customers shall be avoided. The utility shall be responsible for the incremental cost of distribution facilities which are in excess of standard design for the customer and normal area growth.

PSC 113.1002(3) (3) Efficient use. The utility’s extension rules shall discouraged the inefficient use of electricity by appropriately relating costs to the charges made for extensions.

PSC 113.1002(4) (4) Cost estimates. The utility shall engineer and estimate the cost of each extension based on reasonable current costs. Current costs may be estimated using job specific costs, average costs per foot or unit, or other costing method as appropriate.

PSC 113.1002 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1003 PSC 113.1003 Definitions. In. ss. PSC 113.1004 to 113.1010:

PSC 113.1003(1) (1) “Contributed extension” means an extension toward which a customer has made a contribution in aid of construction.

PSC 113.1003(2) (2) “Distribution facilities: includes all primary and secondary voltage wire or cable and its supports, trenches, connection equipment and enclosures and control equipment which are used to extend the distribution system from existing facilities to a point of connection with the service facilities. The cost of right-of-way preparation and restoration to the original condition where appropriate shall be included in the cost of distribution facilities.

PSC 113.1003(3) (3) “Embedded cost” means the original cost of the installed utility plant less both the accumulated depreciation of the plant and associated contributions in aid of construction as recorded in the utility’s books.

PSC 113.1003(4) (4) “Embedded cost allowance” means a construction credit given a customer requesting an extension which reflects the average embedded cost of existing facilities.

PSC 113.1003(5) (5) “Excess facilities” means an extension costing more than five times the average embedded cost allowance for a given customer classification.

PSC 113.1003(6) (6) “Extension” means the addition of transmission, distribution, or service facilities to the existing electric service facilities.

PSC 113.1003(7) (7) “Full cost” of an extension includes the cost of removal of existing facilities if present.

PSC 113.1003(8) (8) “Noncontributed extension” means an extension which costs less than the embedded cost allowance: the customer requesting the extension makes no contribution in aid of construction.

PSC 113.1003(9) (9) “Nonstandard route or design” means facilities which meet one or more of the following criteria:

PSC 113.1003(9)(a) (a) are different from the standard design developed pursuant to s. PSC 113.1002 (2).

PSC 113.1003(9)(b) (b) follow a route different from the route determined in s. PSC 113.1002 (1), or

PSC 113.1003(9)(c) (c) are not in accordance with the general principles of s. PSC 113.1002.

PSC 113.1003(10) (10) “Service drop” means the overhead secondary voltage conductors from the transformer or closest pole or support on the distribution system to the customer’s electric service entrance equipment.

PSC 113.1003(11) (11) “Service facilities” means the transformer, service drop or service lateral and meter.

PSC 113.1003(12) (12) “Service lateral” means the underground secondary voltage conductors from the transformer or closest underground pedestal on the distribution system to the customer’s electric service entrance equipment.

PSC 113.1003(13) (13) “Transmission facilities” means a line providing electric service at 40 kilovolts or more as defined in s. PSC 112.02 (8) and the associated supports, connection equipment and enclosures and control equipment. Transmission facilities also includes the preparation cost of right-of-way and restoration of the property to its original condition where appropriate.

PSC 113.1003(14) (14) “Upgrade” means a modification of existing electric facilities.

PSC 113.1003 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00; correction in (13) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2002 No. 564.

PSC 113.1004 PSC 113.1004 Customer contribution for service facilities.

PSC 113.1004(1) (1) Metering facilities. The utility shall provide the necessary standard metering facilities at no charge to the customer.

PSC 113.1004(2) (2) Service drops and laterals. The utility shall provide standard overhead service drops and standard underground service laterals at not charge to the customer.

PSC 113.1004(3) (3) Transformers. The utility shall provide standard design transformers necessary to service the customer’s load at no charge.

PSC 113.1004(4) (4) Nonstandard service facilities. If the facilities design developed pursuant to s. PSC 113.1002 require nonstandard service facilities or if the customer requests nonstandard facilities, the utility may require the customer to pay a contribution in advance of construction for the portion of the facilities in excess of the standard design.

PSC 113.1004 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1005 PSC 113.1005 Customer contributions for distribution extensions.

PSC 113.1005(1) (1) Standard designs. The customer shall pay, as a minimum and refundable contribution, the estimated cost of distribution facilities to be installed which is greater than the appropriate average embedded cost allowance for existing distribution facilities.

PSC 113.1005(2) (2) Subdivisions. Developers and subdividers shall pay, as a minimum and refundable contribution, the estimated cost of distribution facilities, to be installed for the area being developed. The contribution is refundable as structures are built and connected to the electric utility facilities.

PSC 113.1005(3) (3) Nonstandard route or design. If a customer requests a route or design which is different from the design proposed by the utility in compliance with the requirements of s. PSC 113.1002, the utility shall require that the customer pay any additional costs as a refundable contribution.

PSC 113.1005(4) (4) Construction charges. The utility shall require that the customer make a contribution in aid of construction if construction requires trenching in rocky soil, frozen ground, or other similar conditions.

PSC 113.1005(5) (5) Request for excess facilities. The utility may require a contract from a customer requesting the installation of excess facilities, as defined in s. PSC 113.1003 (5), requiring the customer to pay recurring operation and maintenance expenses on the portion of the extension which is greater than 5 times the embedded cost allowance. The utility shall provide the commission with the reasons and supporting analysis for each such contract.

PSC 113.1005(6) (6) Payment plans. The utility may require that the contribution in aid of construction be paid in advance of construction or may, at the utility’s option, offer customers an installment payment plan.

PSC 113.1005 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1006 PSC 113.1006 Embedded cost allowances. The average embedded cost of existing facilities shall be determined annually on a customer classification basis as follows:

PSC 113.1006(1) (1) Energy only customers. For customer classifications billed on an energy usage only basis, the embedded cost of the distribution facilities allocated to those classifications shall be divided by the number of customers in the classification to specify an average embedded cost allowance per customer. The utility may create subclassifications of energy-only commercial classification based on customer service entrance capacity or other electrical loan criteria to specify average embedded cost allowances.

PSC 113.1006(2) (2) Demand and energy customers. For customer classifications billed on a demand and energy usage basis, the embedded cost for distribution facilities allocated to those classifications shall be divided by the total billed demand of those customers to specify an average embedded cost allowance per kilowatt of demand.

PSC 113.1006(3) (3) Street lighting. For street lighting facilities, the embedded cost of distribution facilities allocated to those classifications shall be divided by the number of lighting fixtures to specify an average embedded cost allowance either by type of lighting fixture or by type and size of lighting fixture.

PSC 113.1006(4) (4) Seasonal customers. Seasonal customers shall receive one-half the average embedded cost allowance of a year-round customer for the same customer classification.

PSC 113.1006 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1007 PSC 113.1007 Refunds.

PSC 113.1007(1) (1) Individual customers.

PSC 113.1007(1)(a) (a) Procedure. The utility shall make refunds to a customer who made a contribution for an extension (a contributed extension) when the utility makes an extension from the contributed extension to a second customer which does not require a contribution from the second customer (a noncontributed extension). The refund shall be equal to the greater of the embedded cost allowance in effect at the time the contributed extension was installed or the current embedded cost allowance. This refund, in either case, shall be reduced by the costs incurred by the utility to design and install the distribution facilities for the second customer. The utility shall not refund more than the total contribution made by any customer. The utility shall make the refund to the customer who made the original contribution or the current property owner of record unless it has a written record from that customer assigning the refund rights to another customer.

PSC 113.1007(1)(b) (b) Period. The utility shall make refunds for the first 5 years after the installation of a contributed extension.

PSC 113.1007(2) (2) Subdivisions.

PSC 113.1007(2)(a) (a) Procedure. As structures are built and connected to the electric utility facilities, the utility shall refund to the developer or subdivider an amount equal to the greater of the embedded cost allowance in effect at the time the contributed extension was installed or the current embedded cost allowance for each customer. This refund shall be reduced by the cost of any additional distribution facilities, if necessary, to serve the new customer.

PSC 113.1007(2)(b) (b) Period. The utility shall make refunds for structures which are built and connected to the utility system within 5 years from the installation of the contributed extension.

PSC 113.1007(3) (3) Extended refund period. A 5-year refund period is required for extensions made after July 1, 1982, if the extension rules in effect at that time provided for a refund and a refund period of less than 5 years.

PSC 113.1007 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1008 PSC 113.1008 Modifications to existing distribution and service facilities.

PSC 113.1008(1) (1) Relocation and rebuilding of existing distribution facilities. Where responsibility can be determined by the utility, the customer responsible for relocation, rebuilding, or other modifications of existing distribution facilities shall pay a contribution equal to the full estimated cost of construction including the cost of removal of existing distribution facilities and less the accumulated depreciation and the salvage value of facilities removed. The costs and credits shall be determined from the available records of the utility. The utility shall endeavor to maintain records that permit a reasonable calculation of these costs and credits. The contribution shall be refundable as additional customers attach to the facilities for which the customer made a contribution unless the additional customers require a new extension under s. PSC 113.1003 (1). (See s. PSC 113.1007 (1).)

PSC 113.1008(2) (2) Replacement of overhead distribution facilities with underground distribution facilities. A customer requesting the utility to replace existing overhead distribution facilities with underground distribution facilities shall pay the full estimated cost of construction including the cost of removal of existing distribution facilities less the accumulated depreciation and the salvage value of the existing overhead facilities which are removed. This contribution shall be refundable as additional customers attach to facilities for which the customer made a contribution if the cost of the required distribution facilities to serve the new customer is less than the appropriate embedded cost allowance.

PSC 113.1008(3) (3) Upgrade of distribution facilities.

PSC 113.1008(3)(a) (a) Due to change in load. Customers who request an upgrading of the utility distribution facilities due to a change in the character of their load shall pay for the construction costs incurred by the utility to provide the requested additional facilities.

PSC 113.1008(3)(b) (b) Demand schedule. Customers who are served under a demand rate schedule shall receive an embedded cost allowance. The kilowatts of demand to be used in determining the allowance shall be the customer’s average billed demand after the upgrade less the customer’s average billed demand before the upgrade.

PSC 113.1008(3)(c) (c) Customers transferring to a different energy-only classification. If a customer served under an energy-only subclassification prior to the upgrade qualifies for a different energy-only subclassification after the upgrade, the customer shall receive a cost allowance equal to the difference between the embedded cost allowances.

PSC 113.1008(3)(d) (d) Customers transferring to a demand classification. If a customer is served under an energy-only classification prior tot he upgrade, the customer shall receive an embedded cost allowance. The kilowatts of demand to be used in determining the allowance shall be the customer’s average billed demand after the upgrade less an estimate of the customer’s prior average demand.

PSC 113.1008(4) (4) Upgrade of service facilities.

PSC 113.1008(4)(a) (a) Overhead service drop. The utility shall not charge the customer to upgrade an overhead service drop with a larger size overhead service drop.

PSC 113.1008(4)(b) (b) Underground service lateral. The utility shall not charge the customer to upgrade an underground service lateral with a larger size underground service lateral.

PSC 113.1008(4)(c) (c) Overhead service drop to underground service lateral. The utility shall require a contribution from a customer requesting to have an overhead service drop upgraded to an underground service lateral. The contribution shall be equal to the cost of the underground service lateral less the cost of an equivalent overhead service drop.

PSC 113.1008(5) (5) Payment plans. The utility may require that the required contribution in aid of construction be paid in advance of construction or may, at the utility’s option, offer customers an installment payment plan.

PSC 113.1008 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1009 PSC 113.1009 Revision of estimates to reflect actual cost. The utility shall adjust its estimate of construction costs to reflect the costs that are actually incurred. Upon completion of an installation which differs from the utility’s original cost estimate, a recalculation of the customer contribution shall be made using the same method as was used to determine the original contribution. If said recalculation differs by more than $20 from original estimate, a refund or additional billing shall be rendered to the customer.

PSC 113.1009 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

PSC 113.1010 PSC 113.1010 Extension or modification of transmission facilities to retail customers. Before a utility extends or modifies its transmission facilities to a retail customer, the utility shall require a contract between the utility and the customer which describes the facilities to be constructed, lists the cost of construction, apportions the responsibility for the construction costs between the utility and the customer and provides a supporting analysis for the construction and the cost apportionment. The utility shall submit the contract to the commission for approval. The commission shall review the contract to assess whether existing ratepayers would be adversely affected by the proposed extension or modification. If the commission does not respond to the utility within 20 working days from the date of receipt, the contract is approved.

PSC 113.1010 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.