SECTION 165:70-9-2. Notice of intent to change rates  


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  • (a)   The applicant utility shall provide thirty (30) days advance notice of its intent to file an application for a general rate change under the Commission's streamlined rate processing procedure. The notification shall be in writing, filed with the OCC Court Clerk, and contain the following information:
    (1)   That an application for a general rate change is planned.
    (2)   The anticipated date of filing.
    (3)   The proposed effective date of the general rate change.
    (4)   Identification of the utility's classification as prescribed at 165:70-1-4.
    (b)   All notices of intent shall be provided to the Director of the Public Utility Division and the Attorney General contemporaneously with the filing of the notice.
    (c)   A qualifying applicant utility shall give notice of its proposed rate change by mail, or hand delivery, to all affected utility customers prior to filing its application. Notice shall be provided using the notice form included in the Commission's rate application package and shall contain the following information:
    (1)   The utility name and address, current rates, the proposed rates, the proposed effective date of the proposed rate change, and the increase requested over test year revenues as annualized for customer growth during the test year. The increase requested is to be stated as a dollar amount, as an overall percentage increase, and in terms of the impact on the classes of utility customers affected.
    (2)   Information on procedures to protest the rate change, the address of the Commission, and the time frame for protests.
    (d)   Notices may be mailed separately, or may accompany customer billings. Notice of a proposed rate change by a utility must be mailed, or hand delivered, to the customers prior to the filing date of the application.
    (e)   Proof of notice in the form of an affidavit stating that proper notice was mailed or hand delivered to customers, and stating the dates of such mailing or delivery, shall be filed with the Commission by the applicant utility as part of the rate change application package. Notice to customers is sufficient if properly stamped and addressed to the customer, at the current billing address, and deposited in the U.S. Mail.
    (f)   Between the date of the filing of the notice of intent and the actual filing date, the applicant shall conduct one or more public meetings in a location central to the utility's service area. The purpose of the public meeting is to inform ratepayers of the impacts and details of the utility's filing, and the procedures for protesting the proposed filing. Notice of the time and place of each public meeting shall be provided to the ratepayers, the Director of the Public Utility Division and the Attorney General no less than five (5) business days prior to each meeting.
[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 3143, eff 7-15-98]