A. 7502 2
§ 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 65-c to
read as follows:
§ 65-C. SETTING A RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY AND COMMON EQUITY RATIO. 1.
DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "REGULATED UTILITY" MEANS AN "ELECTRIC CORPORATION", "GAS CORPO-
RATION", "STEAM CORPORATION", OR "WATER-WORKS CORPORATION" AS DEFINED IN
SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
(B) "GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY" MEANS A STANDARDIZED PROCEDURE FOR
DETERMINING THE AUTHORIZED RATES OF RETURN ON EQUITY AND COMMON EQUITY
RATIOS OF UTILITIES REGULATED BY THE COMMISSION.
(C) "AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO" MEANS THE AUTHORIZED PERCENTAGE
OF A UTILITY'S TOTAL CAPITALIZATION, SUCH AS COMMON EQUITY, PREFERRED
STOCK, AND LONG-TERM DEBT, THAT CONSISTS OF COMMON EQUITY, RETAINED
EARNINGS, AND CAPITAL SURPLUS.
(D) "ACTUAL COMMON EQUITY RATIO" MEANS THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE OF A
UTILITY'S TOTAL CAPITALIZATION, SUCH AS COMMON EQUITY, PREFERRED STOCK,
AND LONG-TERM DEBT, THAT CONSISTS OF COMMON EQUITY, RETAINED EARNINGS,
AND CAPITAL SURPLUS.
(E) "AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY" ALSO KNOWN AS RETURN ON
EQUITY ("ROE") OR THE COST OF EQUITY CAPITAL, MEANS THE RETURN ON THE
EQUITY PORTION OF THE RATE BASE THAT REGULATED UTILITIES ARE AUTHORIZED
TO COLLECT IN RATES.
(F) "ACTUAL RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY" MEANS A MEASURE OF FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE CALCULATED BY DIVIDING NET INCOME BY SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY.
(G) "RATE PERIOD" MEANS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH A REGULATED UTILITY
COLLECTS RATES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
(H) "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA" MEANS PUBLISHED DATA THAT IS OPENLY
ACCESSIBLE VIA THE INTERNET, OR INDIRECTLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A PUBLIC
LIBRARY OR SIMILAR INSTITUTION.
2. SETTING THE GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY; COMMON EQUITY RATIO;
RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY. (A) ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE COMMISSION SHALL
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT:
(I) UPDATE THE GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY SUCH THAT, TO THE GREAT-
EST EXTENT POSSIBLE, ALL OF ITS CALCULATIONS ARE BASED UPON PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE DATA;
(II) SET A FAIR AND REASONABLE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO FOR EACH
REGULATED UTILITY AND A SINGLE AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY FOR
ALL REGULATED UTILITIES, BASED ON THE GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY; AND
(III) RECONCILE THE PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON
EQUITY TO A CALCULATION OF THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY
PRODUCED BY THE GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY FOR THAT RATE PERIOD, SUCH
AS A "TRUE-UP MECHANISM". IN MAKING THIS DETERMINATION, THE COMMISSION
SHALL REQUIRE THAT: (A) ANY REVENUES DERIVED FROM AN AUTHORIZED RATE OF
RETURN ON EQUITY EXCEEDING THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY
BE RETURNED TO RATEPAYERS IN THE FORM OF A SURCREDIT TO THEIR BILLS FOR
THE FOLLOWING RATE PERIOD; AND (B) ANY REVENUES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
DERIVED FROM AN AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY EXCEEDING THE
AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY SHALL BE RECOVERED FROM RATEPAYERS
IN THE FORM OF A SURCHARGE TO THEIR BILLS FOR THE FOLLOWING RATE PERIOD.
(B) THE PROMULGATED GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY, AUTHORIZED COMMON
EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AND THE PRIOR YEAR'S
AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY SHALL CLEARLY STATE THE METHODS
USED TO JUSTIFY AND EXPLAIN ITS PROPOSED GUIDANCE.
(C) THE PROMULGATED GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY, AUTHORIZED COMMON
EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AND PRIOR RATE PERI-
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OD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TRADI-
TIONAL NOTICE AND COMMENT PROCEDURES, AS OUTLINED IN THE STATE ADMINIS-
TRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE INPUT FROM PUBLIC INTEREST
ORGANIZATIONS, UTILITY ACCOUNTING EXPERTS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM REGU-
LATED UTILITIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERESTED PARTIES, INCLUD-
ING RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE, AS NECESSARY.
(D) THE FINAL GENERIC FINANCING METHODOLOGY, AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY
RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AND PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S
AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION,
FOLLOWING THE NOTICE AND COMMENT PERIOD, SHALL GIVE PREFERENCE TO THE
BEST INTEREST OF THE RATEPAYERS.
3. ADOPTING THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF
RETURN ON EQUITY AND/OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF
RETURN ON EQUITY. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS
SECTION, EVERY REGULATED UTILITY SHALL:
(A) ADOPT THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO BASED ON THE GENERIC
FINANCING METHODOLOGY FOR THE FOLLOWING RATE PERIOD AS SET SPECIFICALLY
FOR EACH REGULATED UTILITY BY THE COMMISSION;
(B) ADOPT THE AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY BASED ON THE GENERIC
FINANCING METHODOLOGY FOR THE FOLLOWING RATE PERIOD; AND
(C) ADOPT THE SURCREDIT/SURCHARGE BASED ON THE PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S
AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AS OUTLINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO
OF THIS SECTION, FOR THE FOLLOWING RATE PERIOD.
4. REBUTTING THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO, RATE OF RETURN ON
EQUITY, AND PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUI-
TY. (A) THE BURDEN OF REBUTTING THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO,
AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AND/OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE
MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY SHALL REST EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE REGU-
LATED UTILITY DURING A PUBLIC HEARING FACILITATED BY THE COMMISSION. IN
ORDER TO REBUT THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO AND/OR AUTHORIZED RATE
OF RETURN ON EQUITY, THE REGULATED UTILITY SHALL FIRST INITIATE A
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING THROUGH PROCEDURES OUTLINED BY THE COMMIS-
SION. SHOULD THE COMMISSION FIND A SUBSTANTIAL BASIS FOR THE CLAIMS
OUTLINED BY THE REGULATED UTILITY IN ITS REQUEST, IT SHALL PUBLISH A SET
OF DATES FROM WHICH A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL TAKE PLACE.
(B) DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING THE REGULATED UTILITY SHALL:
(I) PRESENT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXHIB-
ITS, WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY, AND DATA, DESCRIBING WHY THE AUTHORIZED
COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, OR PRIOR RATE
PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY IS INSUFFICIENT TO
MEET ITS CURRENT OR FUTURE OPERATING AND CAPITAL NEEDS;
(II) PRESENT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXHIB-
ITS, WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY, AND DATA, DESCRIBING WHY THE AUTHORIZED
COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, OR PRIOR RATE
PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY DOES NOT PROVIDE A
FAIR AND REASONABLE RETURN;
(III) DESCRIBE WITH SUFFICIENT DETAIL WHY THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY
RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVER-
AGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION IS INSUF-
FICIENT FOR THE REGULATED UTILITY TO ATTRACT CAPITAL AT REASONABLE
TERMS; AND
(IV) DESCRIBE WITH SUFFICIENT DETAIL WHY THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY
RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVER-
AGE MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE REGULATED
UTILITY TO MAINTAIN ITS FINANCIAL INTEGRITY DURING THE RATE YEAR.
A. 7502 4
(C) IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES, BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE,
AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, THAT THE REGULATED UTILITY
HAS SUFFICIENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO,
AUTHORIZED RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE
MONTHLY RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY IS INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE REGULATED
UTILITIES' OPERATING NEEDS, CAPITAL NEEDS, OR BOTH, THEN THE COMMISSION
AND THE REGULATED UTILITY SHALL THEN ENTER INTO SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
THROUGH ADJUDICATION PURSUANT TO THE PROCEDURES SET OUT UNDER THIS ARTI-
CLE.
5. SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL REBUTTAL. ALL SETTLE-
MENT NEGOTIATIONS SHALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FOLLOWING FACTORS
PRIOR TO REACHING A FINAL AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED
RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY, OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF
RETURN ON EQUITY:
(A) TESTIMONIES AND EXHIBITS FROM EXPERT WITNESSES, INCLUDING THOSE
FROM OUTSIDE PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS;
(B) HOW THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT REDUCES DELIVERY RATES FOR CONSUM-
ERS;
(C) HOW THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT IMPROVES EQUITY FOR, MINIMIZES
IMPACTS ON, AND PRIORITIZES BENEFITS TO UTILITY RATES FOR DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 75-0101 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVA-
TION LAW;
(D) WHETHER THE TESTIMONY AND EXHIBITS OF THE REGULATED UTILITY
REFLECT POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND
PROMOTE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES;
(E) WHETHER THE PROPOSALS OF THE REGULATED UTILITY WOULD RESULT IN THE
LOWEST POSSIBLE DELIVERY COST TO THE BENEFIT OF THE RATE PAYER; AND
(F) WHETHER THE NEW SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PROVIDES A JUST AND REASON-
ABLE RETURN FOR THE REGULATED UTILITY.
6. REPORTS AND LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON FINDINGS BETWEEN THE COMMISSION
AND REGULATED UTILITIES. (A) ANNUALLY, THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT TO
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, A REPORT OUTLINING THE FINDINGS AND
DETERMINATIONS OF THE FINAL AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED
RATE OF RETURN ON EQUITY AND/OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE
OF RETURN ON EQUITY, WHETHER SET THROUGH THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN
SUBDIVISIONS THREE AND FOUR OF THIS SECTION OR THROUGH NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENTS OUTLINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, BETWEEN A
REGULATED UTILITY AND THE COMMISSION DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
(B) SUCH REPORT SHALL ANALYZE AND DESCRIBE IN CLEAR, ACCESSIBLE
LANGUAGE HOW THE FINAL AUTHORIZED COMMON EQUITY RATIO, AUTHORIZED RATE
OF RETURN ON EQUITY, AND/OR PRIOR RATE PERIOD'S AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE OF
RETURN ON EQUITY HAS CHANGED, REFLECTS NEW CIRCUMSTANCES, OR REMAINED
THE SAME DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
(C) SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE ALL MONTHLY DATA USED FOR GENERIC
FINANCING METHODOLOGY CALCULATIONS THAT IS NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA,
TOGETHER WITH AN EXPLANATION OF WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO USE SUCH NON-
PUBLIC DATA INSTEAD OF A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SOURCE.
(D) THE ANNUAL REPORT SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE ON THE COMMISSION'S
WEBSITE AND BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
§ 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law.