STATE OF MAINE                                                   

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION                         July 18, 2001

 

                                                                                    ORDER APPROVING

MODIFICATIONS TO STANDARD

FORM CONTRACT EXHIBITS AND

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

                                   

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION                         Docket No. 2001-399

Standard Offer Bidding Process                            

BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY           Docket No. 2001-444

Request for Approval of Standard Form

Contracts (Changes to Standard Form

Contracts – Exhibits A and B)

 

I.          SUMMARY

 

            Through this Order, we approve modifications to the Central Maine Power Company (CMP) and Bangor Hydro-Electric Company (BHE) standard offer standard form contract exhibits, including changes to BHE’s uncollectible percentages.  We also approve modifications to the BHE competitive electricity provider (CEP) standard form contract exhibits and to BHE’s terms and conditions applicable to CEPs and standard offer providers.

 

II.         BACKGROUND

 

            On June 28, 2001, July 3, 2001 and July 9, 2001, BHE filed changes to the exhibits to its standard offer and CEP standard form contracts.  BHE indicated that the language changes are not substantive, but are clarifying in nature.  BHE also proposed changes to the uncollectible percentages applicable to standard offer service.  These percentages are included in the exhibit to the standard offer standard contract.  The BHE filings also included modifications to its terms and conditions that contain charges applicable to CEPs and standard offer providers.  Following discussions with Staff, BHE made minor revisions to its filing on July 16, 2001.

 

            On July 3, 2001, CMP filed proposed changes to the exhibits to its standard form standard offer contract.  These changes updated the documents, clarified the net billing provision, and revised the uncollectible percentages.  After discussions with staff, CMP revised its filing on July 12, 2001 to maintain its current collectible percentages.

 

III.        DISCUSSION

 

            We approve the utility filings as revised.  The changes to the language of the BHE and CMP contract exhibits are not substantive and provide useful clarifications.  The modification to BHE’s terms and conditions does not alter any charges, but clarifies the off-cycle drop requirements.

 

            The only substantive change involved in the utility filings is BHE’s modifications to the uncollectible percentages.  BHE’s revisions are based on a 3-year average and are as follows:

 

                                                                                    Current                       Proposed

 

Residential/small non-residential                            1.20%                         1.51%

Medium non-residential                                            0.26%                         0.20%

Large non-residential                                               0.03%                         0.02%

 

We have reviewed the data supporting the changes to the uncollectible percentages.  The revisions are based on more recent data and are consistent with section 4(D) of Chapter 301. We, therefore, approve the revised percentages.

 

            Accordingly, we

 

O R D E R

 

            That the revised exhibits to the standard contracts and terms and conditions attached to this Order are hereby approved.

 

Dated at Augusta, Maine, this 18th day of July, 2001.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

 

_______________________________

Dennis L. Keschl

Administrative Director

 

 

 

 

COMMISSIONERS VOTING FOR: Welch

                                                                        Nugent

                                                                        Diamond

 

NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO REVIEW OR APPEAL

 

            5 M.R.S.A. § 9061 requires the Public Utilities Commission to give each party to an adjudicatory proceeding written notice of the party's rights to review or appeal of its decision made at the conclusion of the adjudicatory proceeding.  The methods of review or appeal of PUC decisions at the conclusion of an adjudicatory proceeding are as follows:

 

            1.         Reconsideration of the Commission's Order may be requested under Section 1004 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (65-407 C.M.R.110) within 20 days of the date of the Order by filing a petition with the Commission stating the grounds upon which reconsideration is sought.

 

            2.         Appeal of a final decision of the Commission may be taken to the Law Court by filing, within 30 days of the date of the Order, a Notice of Appeal with the Administrative Director of the Commission, pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1320(1)-(4) and the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure.

 

            3.         Additional court review of constitutional issues or issues involving the justness or reasonableness of rates may be had by the filing of an appeal with the Law Court, pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1320(5).

 

Note:   The attachment of this Notice to a document does not indicate the Commission's view that the particular document may be subject to review or appeal.  Similarly, the failure of the Commission to attach a copy of this Notice to a document does not indicate the Commission's view that the document is not subject to review or appeal.