Chapter 196

196.191(7) (7) Except as provided in sub. (6), no telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility may charge, demand, collect, or receive more or less compensation for any service for which a tariff is filed under this section than is specified in the tariff, as may at the time be in force, or demand, collect, or receive any rate, toll, or charge for such service not specified in the tariff.

196.191(8) (8) A copy of the tariffs filed under this section shall be made available to consumers in a form and place readily accessible to the public.

196.191 History History: 2011 a. 22; 2021 a. 24.

196.192 196.192 Market-based compensation, rates and contracts.

196.192(1) (1) In this section:

196.192(1)(a) (a) “Electric public utility” means a public utility whose purpose is the generation, distribution and sale of electric energy.

196.192(1)(b) (b) “Electronics and information technology manufacturing zone” means a zone designated under s. 238.396 (1m).

196.192(2) (2) 

196.192(2)(bm) (bm) Except as provided in par. (br), the commission shall approve market-based rates for each investor-owned electric public utility that satisfy all of the following:

196.192(2)(bm)1. 1. The rates result in customers receiving market-based compensation for voluntary interruptions of firm load during peak periods of electric use.

196.192(2)(bm)2. 2. The rates include market-based pricing options and options for individual contracts that allow a retail customer, through service from its existing public utility, to receive market benefits and take market risks for the customer’s purchases of capacity or energy.

196.192(2)(br) (br) The commission may not approve a market-based rate under par. (bm) unless the commission determines that the rate will not harm shareholders of the investor-owned electric public utility or customers who are not subject to the rate.

196.192(2)(c) (c) Subject to any approval of the commission that is necessary, an electric public utility that is not an investor-owned electric public utility may implement market-based rates approved under par. (bm).

196.192(2m) (2m) 

196.192(2m)(a) (a) No later than January 1, 2020, an electric public utility providing service to an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone shall file with the commission tariffs that include market-based pricing and options that allow a new retail customer that is within the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone and that the commission determines is eligible for a credit under s. 71.07 (3wm) to receive market benefits and take market risks for some or all of the customer’s purchases of capacity or energy, subject to the maximum capacity or energy purchase limits that shall be established by the commission. The electric public utility shall include the following requirements in the tariffs:

196.192(2m)(a)1. 1. The customer shall annually nominate the amount of capacity and energy subject to the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)2. 2. The customer shall provide not less than 12 months’ notice to terminate service under the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)3. 3. The term of the market-based tariff may not be less than 10 years.

196.192(2m)(a)4. 4. The customer shall pay the difference, if any, between the otherwise applicable retail rate and the market-based tariff rate if the customer does any of the following:

196.192(2m)(a)4.a. a. Supplies false or misleading information regarding its applicability for the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)4.b. b. Leaves the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone to conduct substantially the same business outside the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone.

196.192(2m)(a)4.c. c. Ceases operations in the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business within the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone within 12 months.

196.192(2m)(b) (b) The commission shall approve market-based rates that are consistent with par. (a).

196.192(3m) (3m) Nothing in s. 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60 or 196.604 prohibits the commission from approving a filing under sub. (2m) (a) or approving market-based rates under sub. (2) (bm) or (2m) (b).

196.192 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2013 a. 125; 2017 a. 58, 136.

196.193 196.193 Water and sewer rate increases without hearings.

196.193(1) (1) When permitted. The commission may grant a rate increase to a municipally owned water or a municipally owned combined water and sewer public utility without a hearing if all of the following conditions are met:

196.193(1)(a) (a) The revenue increase is calculated by multiplying the utility’s prior year’s revenues from sales of utility service by the rate increase factor under sub. (2).

196.193(1)(b) (b) The revenue increase under par. (a), combined with the prior year’s net operating income, either results in an overall rate of return that does not exceed the rate of return determined by the commission under sub. (3) or results in an amount that does not exceed 6 percent of the utility’s prior year’s total operation and maintenance expenses.

196.193(1)(c) (c) The utility will increase its rates for general service, wholesale service and public fire protection uniformly for all utility customers by the rate increase factor determined by the commission under sub. (2), unless the commission determines that the utility has good cause for not meeting the condition under this paragraph.

196.193(1)(d) (d) The effective date of the rate increase is not less than 12 months from the effective date of an increase previously filed under this section nor less than 45 days from the date on which the application was filed.

196.193(1)(e) (e) If the utility’s rates in effect prior to the rate increase under this section were authorized pursuant to a hearing under s. 196.20, the rates have been in effect for a calendar year.

196.193(1)(f) (f) The commission has not rejected the application for good cause.

196.193(1)(g) (g) If the utility has 4,000 or more customers, the effective date of the rate increase is not more than 5 years from the effective date of an increase authorized pursuant to a hearing under s. 196.20.

196.193(1)(h) (h) If the utility has less than 4,000 customers, the total of all prior rate increases granted since the last hearing under s. 196.20 does not result in rates that are more than 40 percent higher than the base rates previously authorized by a hearing under s. 196.20.

196.193(2) (2) Determination of the rate increase factor. Not later than March 1 annually, the commission shall set an increase factor to apply to rates of municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water and sewer public utilities. The factor shall be equal to the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the previous year; however, the factor may not be less than 3 percent nor more than 10 percent. The rate increase factor need not be defined by rule.

196.193(3) (3) Determination of an overall rate of return. Not later than March 1 annually, the commission shall set the overall rate of return to be applicable to municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water and sewer public utilities for rate increases under this section. The commission shall consider the interest rates for state and local bonds in setting the overall rate of return. The overall rate of return need not be defined by rule.

196.193(4) (4) Notice requirements. A utility seeking an increase in rates under this section shall notify all customers, upon a form approved by the commission, by newspaper publication or by mail. The utility shall include a copy of the issued notice in its filing of an application under this section. The notice shall include all of the following:

196.193(4)(a) (a) The anticipated date of filing of the rate increase application and the anticipated effective date of the rate increase.

196.193(4)(b) (b) The impact on customer bills resulting from the rate increase calculated for at least 5 different usage levels, including an average residential usage level.

196.193(4)(c) (c) A statement that the increase is being proposed under this section and that no hearing is required.

196.193(4)(d) (d) Other information required by the commission to be included in a notice under this subsection.

196.193 History History: 1995 a. 363; 2017 a. 136.

196.194 196.194 Gas utility individual contracts. Nothing in ss. 196.03, 196.19, 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60, 196.604 and 196.625 prohibits the commission from approving the filing of a tariff which permits a gas utility to enter into an individual contract with an individual customer if the term of the contract is no more than 5 years, or a longer period approved by the commission, and if the commission determines that substitute gas services are available to customers or potential customers of the gas utility and the absence of such a tariff will cause the gas utility to be disadvantaged in competing for business. A tariff filed under this section shall include the condition that any such contract shall be compensatory. The tariff shall include any other condition and procedure required by the commission in the public interest. Within 20 days after a contract authorized under this section or an amendment to such a contract has been executed, the gas utility shall submit the contract to the commission. The commission shall give notice to any person, upon request, that a contract authorized under this section has been received by the commission. The notice shall identify the gas utility that has entered into the contract. Within 6 months after receiving substantial evidence that a contract may be noncompensatory, or upon its own motion, the commission shall investigate and determine whether the contract is compensatory. If the commission determines that the contract is noncompensatory, the commission may make appropriate adjustments in the rates or tariffs of the gas utility that has entered into the contract, in addition to other remedies under this chapter. The dollar amount of the adjustment may not be less than the amount by which the contract was found to be noncompensatory.

196.194 History History: 1985 a. 297; 1993 a. 211, 496; 1995 a. 317; 1997 a. 90; 2011 a. 22; 2013 a. 125.

196.195 196.195 Alternative telecommunications regulation plans. Any telecommunications utility that as of June 9, 2011, is subject to an alternative regulation plan approved by the commission under s. 196.195, 2009 stats., shall remain regulated pursuant to such alternative regulation plan to the extent that the alternative regulation plan is not inconsistent with ss. 196.191 and 196.212, unless the telecommunications utility terminates the alternative regulation plan pursuant to the terms and conditions of the plan. If such an inconsistency exists, the requirements of ss. 196.191 and 196.212 shall apply to the intrastate switched access rates and intrastate switched access service tariff filings of such a telecommunications utility.

196.195 History History: 2011 a. 22.

196.197 196.197 Unbundled network elements.

196.197(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to a petition to determine rates and costs of unbundled network elements or unbundled service elements under federal or state law, but does not apply to a petition for arbitration.

196.197(2) (2) Petitions.

196.197(2)(a) (a) A telecommunications provider may file a petition with the commission in the form and containing the information required by the commission. The commission shall determine that a petition is complete if the petition includes all of the following:

196.197(2)(a)1. 1. A request that the commission determine rates and costs of unbundled network elements or unbundled service elements, an identification of the particular rates and costs that are the subject of the petition, and an identification of the relief sought by the petitioner.

196.197(2)(a)2. 2. One or more cost studies upon which the petitioner relies to support the rates and costs sought by the petitioner.

196.197(2)(a)3. 3. Prefiled written direct testimony upon which the petitioner relies to support the petition and relief sought.

196.197(2)(a)4. 4. Any other information required by the commission.

196.197(2)(b) (b)

196.197(2)(b)1. 1. No later than 30 days after the date on which a petition is filed under par. (a), the commission shall determine whether a petition is complete under par. (a) and notify the petitioner about the determination. If the commission fails to make a determination within the 30-day period, the petition is considered to be complete. If the commission determines that a petition filed under par. (a) is incomplete, the commission shall state the reason for the determination and identify the information that is needed to determine that the petition is complete.

196.197(2)(b)2. 2. A petitioner may supplement a petition that the commission has determined to be incomplete. No later than 15 days after a petitioner files a supplemented petition under this subdivision, the commission shall determine whether the supplemented petition is complete and notify the petitioner about the determination. The commission shall determine that a supplemented petition is complete if it contains the information identified in the determination under subd. 1. that is needed to determine that the petition is complete. If the commission fails to make a determination under this subdivision within the 15-day period, the petition is considered to be complete. If the commission determines that a petition supplemented under this subdivision is not complete pursuant to this subdivision, the commission shall state the reason for the determination under this subdivision and identify the information that is needed to determine that the petition is complete under this subdivision. There is no limit on the number of times that a petitioner may supplement a petition under this subdivision.

196.197(2)(c) (c) A petitioner shall provide a copy of a petition filed under par. (a) or supplemented under par. (b) 2. to any other telecommunications provider that may be affected by the petition at the same time that the petition is filed or supplemented. A telecommunications provider that may be affected by the petition may respond to the petition and provide the commission any additional information.

196.197(3) (3) Time frame for final decisions.

196.197(3)(a) (a)

196.197(3)(a)1. 1. This paragraph applies to petitions to determine 100 or less rates.

196.197(3)(a)2. 2. The commission shall enter a final decision under sub. (4) on a petition within 180 days after the date on which the petition is determined or considered to be complete under sub. (2) (b), unless an extension is agreed to under subd. 3. or granted under subd. 4.

196.197(3)(a)3. 3. With the approval of the commission, the petitioner may, within the 180-day period specified in subd. 2., agree to extend the time for a final decision.

196.197(3)(a)4. 4. The commission may, within the 180-day period specified in subd. 2. or within any extension approved under subd. 3., petition the circuit court for Dane County for an extension of time for entering a final decision on the petition. Within the 180-day period specified in subd. 2. or within any extension approved under subd. 3., the court may, upon a showing of good cause, grant an extension of not more than an additional 60 days. No more than one extension may be granted under this subdivision.

196.197(3)(b) (b)

196.197(3)(b)1. 1. This paragraph applies to petitions to determine more than 100 rates.

196.197(3)(b)2. 2. The commission shall enter a final decision under sub. (4) on a petition within 270 days after the date on which the petition is determined or considered to be complete under sub. (2) (b), unless an extension is agreed to under subd. 3. or granted under subd. 4.

196.197(3)(b)3. 3. With the approval of the commission, the petitioner may, within the 270-day period specified in subd. 2., agree to extend the time for a final decision.

196.197(3)(b)4. 4. The commission may, within the 270-day period specified in subd. 2. or within any extension approved under subd. 3., petition the circuit court for Dane County for an extension of time for entering a final decision on the petition. Within the 270-day period specified in subd. 2. or within any extension approved under subd. 3., the court may, upon a showing of good cause, grant an extension of not more than an additional 90 days. No more than one extension may be granted under this subdivision.

196.197(4) (4) Final decision. The commission may reject a petition, grant a petition, or approve a petition with modifications or conditions. The commission shall issue a final decision that determines rates for the unbundled network elements and unbundled service elements specified in the petition, except to the extent that the evidence in the record is not sufficient for making such a determination with respect to a particular rate, unbundled network element, or unbundled service element.

196.197 History History: 2003 a. 125; 2011 a. 260 s. 81.

196.198 196.198 Local measured telecommunications service.

196.198(1) (1) In this section, “extended community telephone service” means a telecommunications service by which a customer in one exchange may call a customer in another exchange or combination of exchanges under a discounted toll charge plan.

196.198(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a telecommunications utility that has more than 150,000 access lines in use in this state or a telecommunications provider that has more than 150,000 access lines in use in this state may not charge a residential customer for basic local exchange service based on the duration of a call or on the time of day that a call is made. This subsection does not apply to an extended community telephone service.

196.198(3) (3) The commission may suspend the application of sub. (2) in a particular geographical area for a telecommunications utility or a telecommunications provider if, after a contested case hearing, the commission determines that all of the following apply:

196.198(3)(a) (a) Failure to suspend the application of sub. (2) makes competition in that geographical area impractical.

196.198(3)(b) (b) Suspending the application of sub. (2) is beneficial to all of the following groups:

196.198(3)(b)1. 1. Residential customers in general.

196.198(3)(b)2. 2. Disabled customers.

196.198(3)(b)3. 3. Elderly customers.

196.198 History History: 1993 a. 496; 2011 a. 22.

196.199 196.199 Interconnection agreements.

196.199(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “interconnection agreement” does not include an interconnection agreement to which a commercial mobile radio service provider is a party.

196.199(2) (2) Commission powers.

196.199(2)(a) (a) The commission has jurisdiction to approve and enforce interconnection agreements and may do all things necessary and convenient to its jurisdiction.

196.199(2)(b) (b) The commission may promulgate rules that require an interconnection agreement to include alternate dispute resolution provisions.

196.199(2)(c) (c) The commission shall promulgate rules that specify the requirements for determining under sub. (3) (a) 1m. a. whether a party’s alleged failure to comply with an interconnection agreement has a significant adverse effect on the ability of another party to the agreement to provide telecommunications service to its customers or potential customers.

196.199(3) (3) Enforcement.