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↪ Title 34. Public Utilities.
↪ Chapter 13A. Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing.
↪ Subchapter III. Commission Authorizations.
↪ Part B. Selection and Construction of Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects.
Part A. Financing Orders.
Part C. Expedition; Reconsideration; Judicial Review; Review and Analysis.
Part B. Selection and Construction of Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects.
§ 34–1313.07. Underground infrastructure improvement projects plan.
§ 34–1313.08. Content of application and plan.
§ 34–1313.09. Consideration of triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan.
§ 34–1313.10. Commission order.
§ 34–1313.11. Use of DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements.
§ 34–1313.12. Content of an application to amend an Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan and financing order.
§ 34–1313.13. Application to amend order authorizing Underground Project Charges, financing order.
§ 34–1313.14. Approval of schedule provisions applying the true-up mechanism to the Underground Rider.
§ 34–1313.15. Application for approval of annual adjustment of Underground Project Charges.
(a) Within 45 days after July 11, 2017, and, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, every 2 years thereafter, the electric company and DDOT shall jointly file with the Commission and concurrently serve upon OPC an application for approval of their biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan.
(b) No later than September 30 of each year in which an application for approval of a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvements Project Plan is not filed, the electric company and DDOT shall file a status report on the completion during the previous year and the scheduled completion during the next year of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity contained in the current biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, or an amendment to an Underground Infrastructure Improvements Project Plan as approved by the Commission pursuant to § 34-1313.10.
(c) As part of the initial application for approval of the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the electric company shall request authority to impose and collect specified Underground Project Charges from its electric distribution service customers to recover the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs associated with the Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan; provided, that no such charges shall be assessed against customers served under the electric company's residential aid discount or a succeeding discount program.
(d) The Commission, on its own motion or upon motion of the electric company, the District, OPC, or DDOT, or other person made a party pursuant to § 34-1313.03(a)(3), may hold in abeyance or waive the obligation to file an application for approval of a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan and an application for a financing order for the corresponding period upon a finding of good cause as necessary or desirable:
(1) To protect public safety;
(2) To avoid or minimize unreasonable project costs;
(3) Because additional DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity or Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity is unnecessary to meet the purposes of this chapter;
(4) Because the electric company's liability with respect to the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges can reasonably be demonstrated to contribute materially to an adverse credit action by a rating agency, including a down grade or placement on credit watch; or
(5) To otherwise promote the public interest.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 307, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(h), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(h) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) An application to the Commission by the electric company and DDOT for approval of the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan shall include:
(1) The ranking reliability performance of individual feeders as follows:
(A) A measurement and ranking of the reliability performance of each of the electric company's overhead and combined overhead-underground mainline primary and lateral feeders in the District since January 1, 2010 through the most recently completed calendar year, using the primary selection criteria set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(B) On the basis of the foregoing rankings, an identification of the electric company's recommended selection of mainline primary and lateral feeders that will utilize DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements identified in the plan;
(2) Primary selection criteria as follows: With respect to all sustained interruptions that affect the public welfare (inclusive of major service outages and District major event days) occurring on each overhead and combined overhead-underground mainline primary and lateral feeder circuits in the District since January 1, 2010 through the most recently completed calendar year, averaged using the following data, weighted equally:
(A) Number of outages per feeder;
(B) Duration of the outages occurring on the feeder; and
(C) Customer minutes of interruption per cost of undergrounding on the feeder; and
(3) Additional content to be included in the plan by the electric company or DDOT, as applicable, as follows:
(A) In addition to the measurements, rankings, and selections required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the Underground Infrastructure Improvements Projects Plan shall include for each mainline primary and lateral feeder recommended by the electric company to be placed underground an identification and description of the feeder number and the feeder location (by street address, ward, and neighborhood);
(B) Overhead electrical cables, fuses, switches, transformers, and ancillary equipment, including poles, to be relocated underground or removed;
(C) Overhead primary and lateral feeders that are currently located parallel to the selected primary and lateral feeders that the electric company recommends to be placed underground;
(D) Overhead secondary feeder circuits and ancillary facilities, and telecommunications and cable television cables and ancillary aboveground equipment, including poles, that will not be relocated underground or removed;
(E) Proposed Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements and DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements funded by the Underground Project Charge and DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges;
(F) New distribution automation devices and segmentation capability to be obtained thereby;
(G) Interties that will enable the feeder to receive power from multiple directions or sources;
(H) The capability to meet current load and future load projections; and
(I) A status report and an explanation of the reasons why DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity or Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity associated with projects contained in a biennial Underground Infrastructure Projects Plan previously approved by the Commission have not been completed and the dates upon which the projects are expected to be completed.
(b) Within 90 days after the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvements Projects Plan is approved by the Commission, the electric company and DDOT shall identify the estimated start date and projected end date for each project approved in the plan. In determining the construction start date and projected end date, the electric company and DDOT shall consider the following secondary criteria:
(1) The ability to coordinate the DDOT Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activities with DDOT roadwork and other projects that involve disruption to and subsequent restoration of road surface or that otherwise impede the flow of traffic along the roadway where the undergrounding work is to occur;
(2) The estimated economic value or other benefits to be gained by the electric company's customers from the projected reductions in outage frequencies and durations when the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements are completed;
(3) For Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity involving a cross-jurisdictional feeder circuit, a showing of the means by which the electric company has storm-hardened its distribution system or has otherwise improved the resilience of service to its District customers on the cross-jurisdictional feeder with respect to major service outage events occurring outside the District's boundaries on the portion of the cross-jurisdictional feeder located outside of the District; and
(4) The ability to complete and place in service the feeder circuits to be undergrounded pursuant to the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan from funding generated by the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges and the Underground Project Charge for the corresponding plan period.
(c) The electric company and DDOT shall include the following information for the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvements Project Plan in the application:
(1) An itemized estimate of the project plan's Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs and the proposed Underground Project Charges for the costs that correspond with an itemized list of the Electric Company Infrastructure Investment Activity shown;
(2) An itemized estimate of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs that correspond with an itemized list of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity;
(3) An assessment of potential obstacles to the timely completion of a project, including, but not limited to, the need to obtain environmental or other permits or private easements, the existence of historically sensitive sites, required tree removal, and significant traffic disruptions;
(4) A description of the efforts taken to identify District residents to be employed by the electric company and DDOT contractors during the construction of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements and the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements contained in the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan;
(5) An explanation of the availability of alternate funding sources, if any, for relocation of the overhead equipment and ancillary facilities that will utilize DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements, such as contributions in aid of construction, the grant of federal highway or economic development funds, and other sources;
(6)(A) An exhibit setting forth the proposed Underground Project Charges, work papers calculating the derivation of these charges, the proposed allocation of billing responsibility among the electric company's distribution service customer classes for the Underground Project Charges, and a worksheet depicting the:
(i) Projected total expenses;
(ii) Capital costs;
(iii) Depreciation expenses;
(iv) Annual revenue requirement, including the rate of return on equity, as set by the Commission in the most recently decided base rate case; and
(v) Allocation of billing responsibility utilized in these calculations.
(B) This exhibit shall include the proposed accounting treatment for the costs to be recovered through these charges, which shall provide that no costs recovered through Underground Project Charges shall also be afforded rate base or other treatment that would incorporate recovery of Underground Project Charges into the design of the electric company's base tariff rates until such time as the electric company shall request the transfer of these costs into rate base and the discontinuance of the costs being recovered in the Underground Project Charge;
(7) Other information the electric company or DDOT considers material to the Commission's consideration of the application;
(8) Identification and contact information of one or more individuals who may be contacted by the Commission with formal or informal requests for clarification of any material set forth in the application or requests for additional information;
(9) A proposed form of public notice of the application suitable for publication by the Commission; and
(10) A protocol to be followed by the electric company and DDOT to provide notice and to coordinate engineering, design, and construction work performed pursuant to this chapter with the gas company, water utility, and other utilities that own or plan to construct, as approved by the Commission where applicable, facilities that may be affected by DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity or Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity.
(d) Notwithstanding the primary selection criteria set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may, on its own motion or upon request by the electric company, OPC, or any other party, waive the application of these criteria as to the selection of a particular mainline primary and lateral feeder when to do so is required to relieve an emergency or to correct or forestall a gross inequity or disparity in the impacts associated with past, current, or anticipated electric distribution service outages or when actual field conditions or coordination with other projects or such other considerations as the Commission may find reasonably justifies modification of the selection criteria.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section shall require the electric company to obtain Commission authorization to construct and operate a new underground electric plant or impair the Commission's authority to determine just and reasonable rates with respect to the electric company's recovery of costs associated with the construction and operation of the underground electric plant, including capital costs, when such costs are to be recovered through rates, as approved by the Commission pursuant to § 34-901 and not through the DDOT Underground Electric Utility Infrastructure Improvement Charges or Underground Project Charges.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 308, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(i), 64 DCR 4943.)
This section is referenced in § 34-1313.10, § 34-1313.12, § 34-1313.13, and § 34-1313.19.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(i) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a)(1) Before deciding upon an application for an order approving the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, the Commission shall first publish notice to the public of the application and provide for a period of no less than 60 days after publication of the notice for public comment and 14 days after publication of the notice for filing of motions to intervene. The electric company shall provide notice of the application as provided in § 34-909, as this section reads as of May 3, 2014, or as amended or superseded.
(2) The District, OPC, and DDOT shall be a party to the Commission proceeding on the application as a matter of right.
(3) Any other person desiring to be heard on the application shall file a motion to intervene with the Commission requesting to be made a party to the proceeding. The applicant and any party to the proceeding may file an answer to support or oppose the granting of the motion. The Commission shall, by order, approve or deny the motion at its reasonable discretion.
(b)(1) Within 30 days of May 3, 2014, the Commission shall issue an order establishing an expedited discovery schedule that shall be used in all proceedings commenced following the filing of an application for approval of a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan pursuant to § 34-1313.07. The period for discovery shall commence on the date that the application is filed with the Commission and shall continue for 60 days; provided, that the Commission, in its discretion, may toll the time for periods if it determines that a party has not complied with the discovery rules established pursuant to this section. Any Commission order extending the 60-day discovery period shall also provide for an extension of equal length to the deadline for public comments on the application. The discovery process established by the Commission pursuant to this section shall provide for submission of information requests and reasonable periods for responses on shortened timelines consistent with the 60-day discovery period and the use of all reasonable procedures for expediting the discovery process, such as discovery conferences.
(2) The discovery process shall:
(A) Permit parties to such proceedings to inspect all the relevant data, documents, studies, analyses, and work papers that form the basis of the biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan and any revenue requirements or charges provided therein; and
(B) Afford the parties the rights provided under Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
(c)(1) The Commission shall decide upon an application for an order approving a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan based upon the pleadings in the matter and, if no protest or objection is filed in response to the Commission's public notice of the application, at its discretion, without a hearing.
(2) A formal evidentiary hearing shall be required if contested issues of material fact are present and those issues cannot be resolved by the Commission on the basis of the pleadings and discovery responses filed, if any, in the record of the matter.
(3) The Commission shall, in addition to any other hearing or procedures, convene a public community hearing to receive the testimony and comments of the public. In its decision, the Commission may approve, approve with conditions, or reject the application, in whole or in part, as it considers necessary and appropriate.
(d) The Commission shall expedite its consideration of an application seeking an order approving a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan. The Commission shall issue its decision on the application no later than 45 days following the deadline for public comment on the application; provided, that if a protest or objection to the application is timely filed with the Commission and can be resolved without an evidentiary hearing, this period for the Commission's decision is extended by an additional 15 days. The computation of this time may be tolled, at the Commission's discretion, for periods in which it determines the electric company and DDOT's joint application is deficient. If an evidentiary hearing is required, the hearing shall, in the Commission's discretion and based upon the Commission's evaluation of all relevant factors, commence on the date set by the Commission and be concluded within 45 days of the close of discovery and the Commission shall issue a decision no more than 60 days of the close of the hearing record.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 309, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(j), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(j) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) Upon making the findings described in subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall issue an order approving or denying the application and biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan to authorize the proposed DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity, Electric Company Infrastructure Activity, and the subsequent imposition of Underground Project Charges. The Commission shall have the authority to impose in its order and to condition the electric company's exercise of the rights granted therein on such reasonable terms and conditions as it determines necessary to further the purposes of this chapter. If the Commission denies all or part of a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Project Plan or related cost recovery, the electric company shall be allowed to recover all prudent and reasonable expenses and costs associated with the development of the Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, including preliminary engineering design work required to fulfill the requirements of the application in its Underground Project Charge.
(b) For the electric company to recover expenses and costs pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Commission shall find that:
(1) The electric company's application satisfies the applicable requirements of § 34-1313.08;
(2) The proposed Electric Company Underground Infrastructure Improvements are appropriately designed and located;
(3) The intended reliability improvements will accrue to the benefit of the electric company's customers;
(4) The projected costs associated with the proposed Electric Company Underground Infrastructure Improvement Activity are prudent;
(5) The projected DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs funded by DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges are prudent;
(6) The electric company's proposed Underground Project Charges will be just and reasonable; and
(7) The grant of the authorizations and approvals sought by the electric company and DDOT in their joint application is otherwise in the public interest.
(c) In addition to other terms and conditions considered necessary and appropriate by the Commission, the Commission's order shall include:
(1) Authorization for the electric company to impose and collect the Underground Project Charges from its distribution service customers in the District in accordance with the distribution service customer class cost allocations approved by the Commission for the electric company and in the electric company's most recent base rate case; provided, that no such charges shall be assessed against customers served under the electric company's residential aid discount or a succeeding discount program;
(2) Authorization for the electric company to bill the Underground Project Charges to distribution service customers as a volumetric surcharge; provided, that no such charges shall be assessed against customers served under the electric company's residential aid discount or a succeeding discount program;
(3) Approval of the annual revenue requirement, which shall include the rate of return on equity as set by the Commission in the most recently decided base rate case used in calculating the Underground Project Charges; and
(4) A description of the frequency of project construction update reports for the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements funded by DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges and the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements as set forth in the triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, as approved by the Commission, to be filed by DDOT and the electric company with the Commission and with a copy concurrently served upon OPC.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commission shall have no authority to issue any order that would cause the total amount of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements Costs recovered through Underground Project Charges to exceed $250 million; provided, that this limit shall not apply to the recovery of the electric company's rate of return, as approved by the Commission in the most recently decided base rate case, included in the calculation of the Underground Project Charges. The electric company shall have no obligation to incur Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs in excess of the aggregate amount approved for current recovery through the Underground Project Charge pursuant to one or more final orders of the Commission.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 310, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(k), 64 DCR 4943.)
This section is referenced in § 34-1313.07, § 34-1313.12, and § 34-1313.15.
As to the applicability of the charges authorized by §§ 34-1313.01 and § 34-1313.10, see § 34-1315.01.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(k) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) Upon completion of construction by DDOT and acceptance by the electric company, the District shall transfer legal title to the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements to the electric company for the sum of one dollar.
(b) DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements shall be for exclusive use by the electric company. The electric company shall not earn a return on or of investment with respect to the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements transferred to the electric company as provided in this section. Taxes and fees, if any, on the transfer shall be recoverable by the electric company in rates as approved by the Commission.
(c) The transfer of real and personal property between the electric company and the District, including DDOT or any other District agency or instrumentality, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or which is included in, or forms a part of, the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvements shall be exempt from all taxes imposed by the District that relate to the transfer of real or personal property, including, as any may be amended from time to time, the:
(1) Transfer tax imposed under § 47-903;
(2) Recordation tax imposed under § 42-1103;
(3) Sales tax imposed under § 47-2002; and
(4) Use tax imposed under § 47-2202.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 311, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(l), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(l) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) An application to the Commission by the electric company or DDOT to amend an existing Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, approved by the Commission pursuant to § 34-1313.10, shall describe the purpose to be accomplished by the proposed amendment, the financial impacts, if any, to the electric company's customers that are likely to result from the amendment, if approved, and include each item set forth in § 34-1313.08; provided, that for good cause shown in its application, the electric company may omit the material required in one more of the items listed in § 34-1313.08.
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, an application to amend an existing Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan shall request any amendment to the Commission's financing order for the corresponding period such that the work, surcharges and riders, and other contents of the financing order, as amended, are coordinated with the Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan, as amended.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 312, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(m), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(m) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
An application to amend an existing Commission order authorizing the electric company to impose and collect Underground Project Charges shall describe the purpose to be accomplished by the proposed amendment, the financial impacts, if any, to the electric company's customers that are likely to result from the amendment, if approved, and shall include each item set forth in § 34-1313.08(c) and, with respect to the financing order for the corresponding period, shall include the information required pursuant to § 34-1313.02. The application to amend shall apply only to future Underground Project Charges and the future Underground Rider. Any approval of an application to amend shall allow for recovery by the electric company through: (1) Underground Project Charges of any prudent and reasonable expenses or costs for any project previously approved by the Commission; and (2) The Underground Rider, any amounts paid with respect to DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 313, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(n), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(n) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) The electric company shall not file a request for approval of a schedule applying the true-up mechanism to the Underground Rider with the Commission more frequently than twice per year.
(b) A request for approval of a schedule filed pursuant to this section shall include, at a minimum, a narrative description of the proposed adjustments, a proposed form of public notice of the request suitable for publication by the Commission and the following exhibits, as applicable:
(1) A showing that the allocation of the Underground Rider among the electric company's distribution service customer classes conforms to the distribution service customer class cost allocations approved by the Commission in the electric company's most recent base rate case; provided, that no such charges shall be assessed against customers served under the electric company's residential aid discount or a succeeding discount program;
(2) Billing and collection data that show the proposed adjustment is expected to generate payments that will permit the electric company to recover an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges adjusted for any over-collection or under-collection through the prior year under the Underground Rider;
(3) A showing that the proposed adjustment is expected to result in neither a net over-collection nor under-collection by the electric company of an amount equal to the aggregate of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges through the Underground Rider; and
(4) Accounting work papers showing the electric company's prior year's receipts of the Underground Rider and payment of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges.
(c) The Commission's review of a request for approval of a schedule filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be limited to a determination of whether there is any mathematical error in the application of the true-up mechanism to the Underground Rider.
(d) Any interested party may file comments with the Commission with respect to the mathematical accuracy of the electric company's calculations in the application of the true-up mechanism within 10 days of the filing of the electric company's request for approval of a schedule applying the true-up mechanism to the Underground Rider. The Commission shall act upon a request for approval of a schedule filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section within 20 days of the end of the comment period. If the Commission does not act within this 20-day period to correct any mathematical error, the request for approval of a schedule filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed approved. The Underground Rider set forth in the schedule shall take effect, subject to refund and adjustment, on the date the schedule is filed with the Commission.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the electric company has not recovered the full amount of the aggregate DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges that it has paid, the Underground Rider shall continue to be collected until the electric company has recovered the full amount even if there is no current biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan in effect.
(f)(1) In conducting the true-up, the recovery for the under-collection of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges through the Underground Rider shall be allocated to each customer class in the proportion to which the customer class contributed to the under-collection of the DDOT Underground Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Charges.
(2) Nothing in the operation of the true-up shall be deemed to violate the requirement of this chapter that the Underground Rider be non-bypassable.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 314, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(o), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(o) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).
(a) No later than April 1 of each year following issuance of an order authorizing the imposition and collection of Underground Project Charges and for as long as such order remains in effect, the electric company shall file with the Commission an application for approval of the electric company's proposed adjustment to set the Underground Project Charges until the next proposed adjustment is approved by the Commission; except, that the Commission may approve any such adjustment sooner in an order approving a biennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan.
(b) Concurrent with filing an application for approval of an annual adjustment that would adjust the level and, if applicable, the allocation between distribution service customer classes of the Underground Project Charges, the electric company shall provide notice of the application, in the manner provided in § 34-909.
(c) An application filed pursuant to this section shall include, at a minimum, a narrative description of the proposed adjustments, a proposed form of public notice of the application suitable for publication by the Commission and, as applicable:
(1) A description of the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity initiated or completed during the previous calendar year, the costs of which are to be recovered through the Underground Project Charges as approved by a Commission order issued pursuant to § 34-1313.10;
(2) The estimated cost of the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity;
(3) A calculation or re-calculation of the electric company's annual revenue requirement to take into account the effects of accumulated depreciation and changes as to any cost component due to the adoption of new base tariff rates in the prior calendar year as well as any actual or estimated under-collection or over-collection;
(4) A demonstration that the Underground Project Charges, authorized pursuant to § 34-1313.10, are calculated to meet the electric company's annual revenue requirement for Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Costs;
(5) A demonstration that the allocation of Underground Project Charges among the electric company's distribution service customer classes conforms to the distribution service customer class cost allocations approved by the Commission for the electric company and in the electric company's most recent base rate case; provided, that no such charges shall be assessed against customers served under the electric company's residential aid discount or a succeeding discount program;
(6) The period of time over which the Underground Project Charges are to be collected; and
(7) Accounting work papers showing the electric company's prior year's receipts and disbursements of Underground Project Charges.
(d)(1) Protests may be filed in opposition to the electric company's application to adjust the Underground Project Charges within 10 days of the publication of the public notice; provided, that protests shall be limited to the proposed adjusted Underground Project Charge and materials submitted in support thereof, and whether the proposed adjustment is consistent with the underlying order authorizing the imposition and collection of the Underground Project Charge, as most recently approved by the Commission. Protests shall not challenge the scope and composition of the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity unless, and only to the extent that, changes in the scope and composition of the Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Activity are proposed in the application to adjust the Underground Project Charges submitted pursuant to this section.
(2) If a timely protest is filed objecting to the proposed adjustment of the Underground Project Charges, the Commission shall rule upon the protest no later than 20 days from the date of the publication of the public notice.
(e) The proposed adjusted Underground Project Charges shall take effect, subject to refund and adjustment, on the date of filing with the Commission. If no objection is timely filed, or having been timely filed, is denied by the Commission, the proposed charges shall become final and no longer subject to refund or adjustment on the date of a final decision as set forth in subsection (f) of this section, unless the Commission rules otherwise before such date.
(f)(1) The Commission shall decide an uncontested annual adjustment application within 45 days from the date filed. If a protest is filed, the time for the Commission's decision is extended by 30 days.
(2) The Commission's decision in an annual adjustment proceeding shall not re-open or amend, modify, or otherwise alter a previously issued order authorizing the imposition and collection of Underground Project Charges or amendments thereto.
(May 3, 2014, D.C. Law 20-102, § 315, 61 DCR 1882; July 11, 2017, D.C. Law 22-5, § 2(p), 64 DCR 4943.)
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(p) of Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-56, May 17, 2017, 64 DCR 4909).


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You are here: Home / Observations / Future City?
A ridiculous amount of information crosses my desk – even more so since I starting writing this blog. Magazines, emails, letters … paper, digital, phone calls, vendors – it never stops. I actually like it, it's like a non-stop carnival for my imagination. One thing that I see more and more these days are designs for future cities. Maybe it's because the economy is so bad that people are trying to find some sort of creative outlet. I stumbled across this design 'The Ark' by Russian architect Alexander Remizov.
The rising sea waters caused by global warming have inspired a Russian architect to design a hotel that could be built on water as well as land. The eco-friendly "Ark" could be constructed in just a few months anywhere in the world, the designer says.
It's called "The Ark", but looks more like a ship sitting upside down on the water. A new design by Russian architect Alexander Remizov challenges the tradition of land-based hotel living and would provide a refuge in the future — should the world face a modern-day flood of Biblical proportions.
Remizov designed the hotel as part of a program on architecture and disaster relief through the International Union of Architects (UIA). He collaborated with a German design and engineering firm and the Moscow-based scientist Lev Britvin, who, according to Remizov, has developed energy-saving solutions for space stations. They are now searching for investors to make the design a reality.
The building of the hotel could be fast and simple, Remizov told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "Prefabricated sections could be put together in three to four months," he said. The versatile structure could be constructed in most corners of the earth, even in earthquake-prone areas. Constructing "The Ark" — which would include 14,000 square meters (151,000 square feet) of living space — would cost roughly the same as building an energy-efficient house.
The self-sustaining structure would be built around a central pillar, connecting wind generators and heat pumps on its roof with the basement, where solar, wind, and thermal energy could be stored and turned into electricity.
Remizov has designed the building without glass, choosing instead a durable and self-cleaning foil that could withstand harsher weather conditions. That foil would be fastened to metal profiles, which would also collect rainwater. The building would also feature an indoor jungle, creating its own micro-climate.
We will no longer eat prepared food on a plate – instead we will ingest capsules because they are more efficient and don't require land to actually grow.
If you have some ideas on how the future will be, put them in the comment section.


Last week PML's Chief Executive, Professor Stephen de Mora, welcomed Met Office Chief Scientist, Professor Julia Slingo OBE, for a tour of the laboratory and presentations from individual scientists.
The visit assisted Professor Slingo in gaining a deeper understanding of the world-class, relevant research undertaken at PML. The programme included an overview of scientific areas of study ranging from biogeochemical modelling, remote sensing and the Western Channel Observatory.
Also included in the programme was a tour of PML's Seawater Hall and discussions with scientists summarising the direction and importance of PML's cutting edge modelling; particularly how these efforts are being applied to the challenges of a changing ocean.
Today PML scientists were delighted to host a visit from Dr Sam Burgess: Chief Scientific Advisor at the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
Plymouth Marine Laboratory scientist spends a week in Westminster.
A prominent delegation from India visited PML to celebrate and promote collaboration between UK and India on marine science.


text:
Home news Barclays sets aside extra £700m for PPI
Barclays sets aside extra £700m for PPI
Barclays has set aside an extra £700m to meet compensation claims for mis-selling payment protection insurance.The news came as the bank said costs related to the sale of part of its Africa unit had pushed it into a £1.2bn loss in the first half of the year.The sale of the Africa business was part of Barclays' plan to focus on the UK and US.Stripping out the losses from the Africa sale, Barclays posted a 13% rise in group pre-tax profits to £2.34bn.Barclays chief executive Jes Staley said: "Our business is now radically simplified, the restructuring is complete, our capital ratio is within our end-state target range, and, while we are also working to put conduct issues behind us, we can now focus on what matters most to our shareholders: improving group returns."The money the bank has set aside to deal with PPI complaints was still open to review, it said. On Thursday, Lloyds also set aside a further £700m.
Analysis: Kevin Peachey, personal finance reporterThe PPI scandal is not only big – banks have set aside a total of nearly £40bn to pay compensation – it is also long-running.Over the next few months the pace of it is likely to keep accelerating. The City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, will run a campaign to encourage those mis-sold PPI to make claims before the deadline of August 2019.You can expect more activity too from the claims management companies touting for business through calls and texts. They take a cut of any payouts made to claimants who use their services.Banks wanted a earlier deadline. They want to draw a line under this saga. It is almost impossible to judge how much PPI was mis-sold – so they will also hope these latest provisions have over-estimated the final bill.Earlier this year, Barclays sold a near 34% stake in Barclays Africa Group, leaving it with just 15% of the business.The company said the sale of the stake had led to a loss of £1.4bn, and it had also taken a £1.1bn charge on the sale.Barclay's Africa Group said on Friday its half-year profit rose 7% driven by earnings growth in its local market and the rest of Africa and a strong performance in corporate banking.In addition to Barclays' exit from Africa, the bank said it had run-down assets in its non-core division to below £25bn, enabling it to close the unit six months early.Mr Staley said Barclays had completed "two critically important planks" of its strategy to get out of unwanted businesses.
Santander, also a giant in the UK banking market, reported results on Friday.For the first six months of the year pre-tax profits in the UK were £1bn, little changed on the same period last year.The firm said that it sees "greater uncertainty" and has concerns about the rest of this year and the start of 2018.The lender said: "The labour market remains strong, but higher inflation, largely from the lower value of sterling, is now reducing households' real earnings."This is likely to result in lower consumer spending growth which, when combined with a potentially more challenging macro environment, adds a degree of caution to our outlook."
It took a £69m charge to cover claims for payment protection insurance compensation in the first six months of the year.Santander also said net mortgage lending fell by £200m after it withdrew some of its most competitive rates at the end of last year.The Banco Santander group as a whole saw second quarter net profit jump by 37% to £1.75bn euros (£1.5bn) helped by strong growth in South America.
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(FILES) The Twitter logo is displayed at the entrance of Twitter headquarters in San Francisco in this March 11, 2011 file photo in California.
Decrying three weeks of blocked Twitter accounts at the request of a Pakistani bureaucrat, opponents have organized a protest Tuesday against the social media service to combat the censorship.
Ex-Muslims of North America, or EMNA, announced a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #TwitterTheocracy to "speak up about how Twitter has chosen to side with theocratic regimes instead of those who are trying to resist those regimes."
The group is also asking supporters to sign an online petition calling on Twitter to "uphold human-rights based standards of conduct, particularly when it comes to freedom of expression."
The 7-year-old San Francisco-based social media giant has 255 million monthly active users around the world, its website reports. Twitter says 500 million messages of 140-characters or less, known as "tweets," are sent daily.
Some of those messages, however, are not well received in some corners of the globe. Since May 14, Abdul Batin of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in Karachi has filed five requests with Twitter to block certain sites that violate the "Pakistan Penal Code," most notably Pakistan's blasphemy laws, according to chillingeffects.org, an anti-censorship website.
Among the Twitter accounts blocked are @365Muhammad and @MuhammadIsaMusa.
It's an open question as to whether or not the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has the authority to make determinations of blasphemy and to request the Twitter takedown. Bolo Bhi, an advocacy group whose name in the Urdu language of Pakistan means "Speak Up," notes the law creating the telecom authority "does not in any form give PTA the authority to arbitrarily restrict content on the Internet."
"The blocking of these tweets in Pakistan — in line with the country-specific censorship policy Twitter unveiled in 2012 — is the first time the social network has agreed to withhold content there," The New York Times reported after the blockages were discovered. "A number of the accounts seemed to have been blocked in anticipation of the fourth annual 'Everybody Draw Muhammad Day' on May 20."
Twitter, through a spokesman, said it would not comment. Others have pointed out that Twitter users in Pakistan need only adjust their "country setting" in the Twitter mobile app to see the supposedly blocked content.
EMNA blasted Twitter for departing from its previous "pro-human rights stance" and giving into Pakistan's requests. "There was a time when Twitter was rightly lauded for the role it played during the Arab Spring, facilitating communication between those resisting oppressive governments," the group stated. "In fact, Egypt's dictators tried to disable Twitter, and then internet access completely, before being overwhelmed by the protests that began at Tahrir Square. Governments in Tunisia and Iran tried similar tactics to suppress protests against those oppressive regimes."
And according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Twitter's retreat from the digital liberty front lines is disappointing: "Supporters of Twitter's position may point out that Twitter is still the least-bad actor in this space. Facebook regularly complies with government demands for censorship, as does Google. But being the least-bad actor is not good enough. By setting a high standard in defense of free expression, Twitter was once the leader in a race to the top. There's no pride in sinking to the bottom along with everyone else."
Twitter is not the only social media network facing censorship demands from Pakistan. On Friday, June 6, Facebook reversed its agreement to a PTA request to block its page for "Laal," or "Red," an alternative rock band in the country, according to the Delhi Daily News: "The band added that it would continue its fight against the ban on other progressive pages that are suffering from censorship imposed by the government. The group announced that it will celebrate the victory," the newspaper reported.


It is common for patients who, after experiencing major weight loss, desire skin tightening and body shaping to seek body lift surgery, as a body lift can help skin return to a smoother, firmer appearance when it does not contract on its own after fat reduction. Body lift surgery is appropriate for men and women who are at a stable weight, are in good physical and mental health and do not smoke.
The body lift procedure is typically extensive because it is designed to address excess skin on multiple body areas and may include any combination of arm lift, thigh lift, buttocks lift and abdominal skin removal procedures. Depending on your problem areas and cosmetic goals, Dr. Wittpenn will recommend the combination of body lift procedures that will best meet your needs and fully explain what each will entail. The initial body lift recovery period is about 2-3 weeks, but you may need several weeks to completely recover after a body lift, especially if multiple surgeries are required to address several body areas or areas of severe skin laxity.
Dr. Gregory Wittpenn is an expert Nacogdoches body lift surgeon who sees patients from all over eastern Texas and western Louisiana for body lift surgery, including residents of Longview, Lufkin, Huntsville, Tyler and Shreveport. Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery at (936) 564-3744 to schedule a consultation or learn more about body lift surgery.


text:
Petka est un toponyme qui peut désigner :
Petka, une localité de Serbie située dans la municipalité de Lazarevac et sur le territoire de la Ville de Belgrade ;
Petka, une localité de Serbie située sur le territoire de la Ville de Požarevac, district de Braničevo.

Voir aussi
, page d'homonymie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Common Sense Government: Works Better and Costs Less
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The National Performance Review is about change---historic change---in the way the government works. As the title makes clear, the National Performance Review is about moving from red tape to results to create a government that works better and costs less. This third report of the National Performance Review describes the impact of reinvention on the American people and their government and presents more than 300 new recommendations. The National Performance Review focused primarily on how government should work, not on what it should do. On September 7, 1995, Vice President Al Gore and the National Performance Review released their third ... continued below
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The National Performance Review is about change---historic change---in the way the government works. As the title makes clear, the National Performance Review is about moving from red tape to results to create a government that works better and costs less. This third report of the National Performance Review describes the impact of reinvention on the American people and their government and presents more than 300 new recommendations. The National Performance Review focused primarily on how government should work, not on what it should do. On September 7, 1995, Vice President Al Gore and the National Performance Review released their third report, two years after the first report, From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government That Works Better and Costs Less.
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Third Report of the National Performance Review.
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Analysis & Opinions - Harvard Kennedy School
A History of 'Super-Delegates' in the Democratic Party
Elaine Kamarck
(The following is adapted from "Structure as Strategy: Presidential Nominating Politics Since Reform," a doctoral dissertation submitted to the political science department of the University of California, Berkeley in 1986.)
Lessons of the 1980 Democratic convention and nomination race were not lost on the member of the Hunt Commission (named for its Chair Governor Jim Hunt of North Carolina) as they met to write delegate selection rules for the 1984 nomination season. The 1980 race had concluded in an especially bitter and contentious convention fight between President Jimmy Carter and Senator Edward Kennedy. The convention fight had centered upon Rule 11 (H) that bound delegates to support the candidate in whose name they were elected. Senator Kennedy's campaign, in an effort to convince Carter delegates that they should abandon Carter and support him, waged a series of platform and rules challenges culminating in the fight over Rule 11 (H).
In short order the Commission agreed to get rid of the controversial Rule 11(H) and replace it with a less intrusive rule, but one that, nevertheless, urged delegates to vote for the presidential candidate they had been elected to support. The new 11 (H) read:
"Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them."
(This rule exists today, in 2008, as Rule 12 (J) of the delegate selection rules and has not changed since.)
Yet the exorcism of Rule 11 (H) was not sufficient to solve the deep doubts about the nominating system that had arisen as the result of the bitter rules and platform fights at the 1980 Convention. Congressmen, stung by the lack of impact they had been able to have on the 1980 process, and fearing that 1984 would be a repeat, banded together to ask that 2/3 of the Democratic Members of the House be elected by the House Caucus as uncommitted voting delegates to the 1984 Convention. Led by Congressman Gillis Long, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Members asserted that they had a special role to play in the nomination process and in the platform process. In his testimony before the Hunt Commission, Long put the views of the Democratic Caucus as follows:
"We in the House, as the last vestige of Democratic Control at the national level, believe we have a special responsibility to develop new innovative approaches that respond to our Party's constituencies." (Testimony before the Hunt Commission, November 6, 1981)
Governor Hunt, Chair of the Commission, also made the inclusion of more elected officials a top priority. In a statement that reflects the sense of helplessness with which many elected officials had watched the events of the 1980 nomination season, Hunt said,
"We must also give our convention more flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and, in cases where the voters' mandate is less than clear, to make a reasoned choice. One step in this direction would be to loosen the much-disputed "binding" Rule 11 (H) as it applies to all delegates. An equally important step would be to permit a substantial number of party leader and elected official delegates to be selected without requiring a prior declaration of preference. We would then return a measure of decision-making power and discretion to the organized party and increase the incentive it has to offer elected officials for serious involvement." (Remarks of Governor Jim Hunt, Institute of Politics, JFK School of Government, December 15, 1981)
Hunt was joined by the AFL-CIO and the Democratic State Chairs' Association in calling for a plan whereby 30% of the 1984 convention would be composed of uncommitted delegates drawn from the ranks of party leaders and elected officials. Ironically, this number is close to the number of delegates (38%) who had gone into conventions "unaffiliated" in the pre-reform years. Only a large number of unbound delegates — who had not been required, by virtue of filing deadlines and fair reflection rules, to declare a presidential preference early — could return a modicum of flexibility or deliberativeness to the post-reform conventions.
Opposition to this proposal came from supporters of Senator Edward Kennedy (who, at the time was expected to make another run for the presidency) and from organized feminists. Kennedy supporters on the Commission feared that a large number of Senators and Congressmen at the convention could stop him. On the other hand, former Vice President Walter Mondale, felt certain that a large number of these delegates would favor him and his operatives, therefore, embraced the 30% number.
Organized feminists, on and off the Commission, however, make a new argument. Speaking on their behalf, Technical Advisory Committee Member Susan Estrich of Massachusetts argued that creating a new category of delegates who were not subject to the fair reflection and candidate right of approval rules would create a new status of delegate which she referred to as "super-delegates." These delegates, argued Estrich, would be overwhelmingly white and male. Even were they balanced by an equal number of women in the total delegation — there would still be the problem of "equal power." The "super-delegates" because of their greater flexibility in the choice of a nominee, would have greater power than the female delegates committed to presidential candidates. ("Unintended Consequences," by Susan Estrich, Memorandum to the Hunt Commission, September 9, 1981.)
The issue was finally resolved through a compromise created by Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. The Ferraro Proposal reduced the total number of un-pledged delegates to 566 or 14% of the Convention, but it left selection of the Congressional delegates in the hands of the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses. (See, Bringing Back the Parties, by David Price, Congressional Quarterly Press, 1984) The 14% number was far short of the original proposal that 30% of the convention be unpledged. However, if the number had been much larger, it would have been practically impossible to meet the equal division between men and women requirements in the rules.
Super-delegates today, in 2008, are no longer elected by congressional caucus. There have been some additions over the years and thus the total number of super delegates as a proportion of the convention has increased by about 5%.
Elaine Kamarck is a lecturer at the Kennedy School of Government, and will serve as a super-delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
For Academic Citation: Kamarck, Elaine."A History of 'Super-Delegates' in the Democratic Party." Harvard Kennedy School, February 14, 2008.
Former Lecturer in Public Policy
Innovation systems
AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Congrats, You're a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Audio - Harvard Environmental Economics Program
COP-27 and the Future of Climate Policy: A Conversation with Dan Bodansky
Robert N. Stavins
Daniel Bodansky
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Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Affairs
Guardians of the Republic
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Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.
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| 1/05/2023
U.S. domestic politics


text:
Maryland State Police trooper indicted on sex charges
Officials: Brian Tucker charged
Updated: 4:33 PM EDT Sep 1, 2015
Saliqa Khan
WBALTV.com writer
Maryland State Police Trooper Brian Tucker is accused of forcing a woman to perform a sex act at gunpoint, Prince George's County police said.
SOURCE: Prince George's County Police Department
A Maryland State Police trooper has been indicted for a first-degree sex offense and related charges after an incident in which he forced anal intercourse on a woman while holding her at gun point, officials said.Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said Tuesday that Brian Tucker, who was not on duty at the time, picked up the victim on Walker Mill Road in Capitol Heights on July 6. After a brief exchange, they agreed to have sex, and Tucker drove the victim into an industrial area in his personal vehicle, where they engaged in consensual sex.During the act, Tucker told the victim that he wanted anal intercourse, and she refused. Tucker then put his service weapon to her head and forced anal intercourse.During the encounter, a Prince George's County Police Officer on regular patrol in the area came upon Tucker and the victim. The victim immediately told the officer that Tucker had a gun and had forced anal intercourse at gunpoint. Tucker, who identified himself as a Maryland State Trooper, was taken into custody and later charged.Tucker was also charged with a second-degree sex offense, first- and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.Tucker is free on $500,000 bond. According to MSP, he remains suspended without pay.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. —
A Maryland State Police trooper has been indicted for a first-degree sex offense and related charges after an incident in which he forced anal intercourse on a woman while holding her at gun point, officials said.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said Tuesday that Brian Tucker, who was not on duty at the time, picked up the victim on Walker Mill Road in Capitol Heights on July 6. After a brief exchange, they agreed to have sex, and Tucker drove the victim into an industrial area in his personal vehicle, where they engaged in consensual sex.
Maryland State Police trooper faces sex charges
During the act, Tucker told the victim that he wanted anal intercourse, and she refused. Tucker then put his service weapon to her head and forced anal intercourse.
During the encounter, a Prince George's County Police Officer on regular patrol in the area came upon Tucker and the victim. The victim immediately told the officer that Tucker had a gun and had forced anal intercourse at gunpoint. Tucker, who identified himself as a Maryland State Trooper, was taken into custody and later charged.
Tucker was also charged with a second-degree sex offense, first- and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.
Tucker is free on $500,000 bond. According to MSP, he remains suspended without pay.


The John Lewis remnant bin, is literally one of the most exciting places on earth. Fact.
You never know what you might find! Yesterday, I stumbled across two ex-display childrens curtains, in bright and beautiful stripes. At £10 each – absolute bargain. It would be more than that for the original fabric alone!
I have now spent my Sunday afternoon turning some of the fabric into a new cushion for our lounge. The 'How To Make a Cushion' guide from IKEA – is really easy to follow, and it really didn't take long at all to go from cutting out the fabric, to et voila, a brand-spankily-delightful-and-new cushion.
The inspiration for today comes from a little craft project I have been eyeing up for a while now…it started via Pinterest and a wonderful blog post by Bettina Holst. I have spent a pleasant hour on this cold and crisp Saturday evening making some fantastically bright (and oh-'sew' easy!) heart bunting! I can utilise my new pom-poms and decorate The Crafty Lass office too – hooray!
I have visions of making some more of these for Christmas in some sparkly and sumptuous gold and silvers… Watch this space for some future Christmas craft (much) later in the year!
Tags: Craft, Handmade, Inspiration of the Day!
I LOVE a good greeting card (and shoes!) who doesn't?
When the post lands on the doormat and you realise that amongst the dreary white bills is a brightly coloured envelope, specially addressed to you in handwriting you may recognise. It lifts your spirits and you realise that for whatever reason, someone, somewhere is thinking of you.
I think this one with a quirky&fun slogan, bright colours – you can't help but not have a smile put on your face! This one is for my amazing-Jimmy-Choo-shoe-loving mother-in-law (I know, amazing mother-in-laws – they do exist… they're not all dragons!) Happy Birthday!
Tags: Caroline Gardner, Cinderella, Graphic Design, Greeting Cards, Inspiration of the Day!
Well, what a treat I was in for yesterday.
There were lots of stalls that I spent a considerable amount of time perusing (I had to top up the car parking meter, twice) however, there were two stalls that really had my attention. The first was Grace Face Boutique – a wonderful mix of inspirational quotes, ditsy fabrics, fab and fun vintage inspired clothing and cute-as-a-button homemade jewellery. To top that off – they were a fun, friendly mum and daughter combo who I discovered (happily for me!) live locally to me in Northampton – and I hope to visit their studio soon!
The second, was the most amazing jewellery stand – Stapleford Silver. She put up with me for an hour (yes, a whole HOUR) trying on thumb rings. These aren't just any old silver rings – they are upcycled. The particular one I bought in the end, was an upcycled cake fork. Just how perfect is that. I can now happily go around with a cake fork as a ring – which to me symbolises pretty much everything I stand for. It's beautiful, it's vintage, it's baking related, it's classic and stylish, and do you know what? It's now mine.


text:
"Imraatuna fi al-Syariah wa al-Mujtama'" by Thahir al-Haddad
April 19, 2018 /0 Comments/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
Thahir al-Haddad was born in 1899 AD and his education originally studied the traditional sciences in Madrasah Zaetunah for seven years (1913-1920 AD).
After graduating from Zaitunah, Al-Haddad became a labor activist and leftist, as a journalist and writer. With his book, "Imraatuna fi al-Shariah wa al-Mujtama", Thahir al-Haddad became a controversial person, called infidel and until finally exiled and imprisoned. He was banished and imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, and died there, December 7, 1935, at a young age, 36 years old.
The book "Imraatuna fi al-Shariah wa al-Mujtama" "contains various issues of women and family law. It contains women's issues like hijab or veil. It also contains family law issues. Thahir al-Haddad rejected polygamy, proposed a new divorce lawful before the court, and others.
http://i2.wp.com/rumahkitab.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/imroatuna-fi-syariati-wal-mujtama-1.jpg?fit=1334%2C2178 2178 1334 rumahkitab http://rumahkitab.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Yayasan-Rumah-Kita-Bersama_.png rumahkitab2018-04-19 10:43:122018-04-19 10:43:12"Imraatuna fi al-Syariah wa al-Mujtama'" by Thahir al-Haddad
al-Mursyid al-Amin lil-Banat wa al-Banin" by Sheikh Rifaah Rafi 'al-Tahthawi
Rifaah (1801-1873 AD) was born in Egypt, six years studying religion in Al-Azhar al-Sharif Egypt. After finished his study, Rifaah was appointed a teacher at her alma mater for two years. By his teacher, Sheikh Hasan al-'Atthar, was sent as a prayer imam and religious advisor to Egyptian military units.
Soon later, Muhammad Ali Basya, the Egyptian government, sent a number of Egyptian youth to Persia. Shaykh Hasan al-'Aththar proposed that Rifaah be with them to Paris as a prayer imam and religious advisor. Finally Rifaah with entourage sent to Paris for five years. And back to Egypt.
The book "al-Mursyid al-Amin lil-Banat wa al-Banin" by Sheikh Rifaah Rafi 'al-Tahthawi explains the importance of education for women, good housekeeping, women's leadership, and independence (hurriyah). This book is a guide for scholars, teachers, staff, and government pro-policy stakeholders to the first female school pioneered by Rifaah.
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Al-Munqidl Min Ad-Dzalal, al-Ghazali
October 3, 2017 /1 Comment/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
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al-Misykat al-Anwar, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
October 3, 2016 /0 Comments/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
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al-Futuhat al-Makiyyah, Ibnu 'Arabi
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Wa 'Allam-a Ãdam-a al-Asmâ
March 3, 2016 /0 Comments/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
Ahmad Yasin bin Asymuni al-Jaruni, Wa 'Allam-a Ãdam-a al-Asmâ`, 40 pages, published and interpreted to pesantren version by al-Ma'had al-Islami as-Salafi Hidayatuth Thullab of Petuk Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Petuk), Semen Sub-district, Kediri District, no year of publication; obtained from Pondok Pesantren Petuk. [Koran Interpretation]
This book thoroughly explains the meanings contained in the verse "Wa 'Allam-a Ãdam-a al-Asmâ` Kullahâ" (And God taught Adam all the names) and focuses in one aspect; education and knowledge. Knowledge is the only thing which raised mankind's rank in the eye of God. There is no limit and dicothomy of knowledge itself. The verse explains that Adam was granted knowledge of all names by God, without exception. This indicates that all types of knowledge can be learned and acquired by man, because from the very beginning, God had given all kinds of knowledge to Adam as the father of mankind and the first man created based on science. The author describes the importance of knowledge, learning, scholars, and teaching what has been extracted from the Koran, hadith, the guidance of the Prophet's friends, and the Islamic scholars' descriptions. [Mukti Ali el-Qum]
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Al-Basmalah min Jihah Funûn al'Ilm
February 3, 2016 /1 Comment/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
This book explains Basmalah from the standpoint of classical Islamic tradition.
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Tafsîr al¬-Fâtihah
December 3, 2015 /0 Comments/in Book Study /by rumahkitab
Ahmad Yasin bin Asymuni al¬-Jaruni, Tafsîr al-¬Fâtihah, 81 pages, published and interpreted to pesantren version by al-Ma'had al-Islami as-Salafi Hidayatuth Thullab of Petuk Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Petuk), Semen Sub-district, Kediri District, no year of publication; obtained from Pondok Pesantren Petuk. [Koran Interpretation]
This book discusses the interpretation, wisdom, benefits, and the numbers contained in surat al-¬Fatihah. According to the author, the verses in holds a number of benefits: (1). Al-hamdulillâh contains 17 benefits (faidah); (2). Rabb al-'âlamîn contains 6 benefits; (3). Al-¬Rahmân al-¬Rahîm contains 6 benefits; (4). Mâliki yawm al-dîn contains 4 benefits; (5).Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyâka nasta'în contains 7 benefits; (6). Ihdinâ al¬-shirâth al-mustaqîm contains 3 benefits; (7). Shirâth al¬-ladzîna an'amta 'alayhim contains 3 benefits; (8). Ghayr al-maghdhûbi 'alayhim wa lâ al-dhâllîn contains 10 benefits.
In general, the author divides the book into three parts. First, the part explaining the reasoning and rationale behind the al-Fatiha interpretation. Second, the part explaining about 'doors' in man that can be entered by evil. There are at least three doors, through which evil can enter from: (1). Lust, the sexuality drive in human beings which asks to be chanelled to someone other than one's husband/wife, also known as adultery. And the devil always encourages man to commit adultery. Lust should not be killed and removed, but chanelled through husband/wife relationship, in accordance with Islamic law; (2). Ghadhab (anger). Self-control is essential for humans. Because if one is unable to control it, then lust and anger will take over and bring harm to oneself and for others; (3). Carnality. These three doors must always be vigilantly guarded so as not to give a chance for evil to get through it.
Third, The author emphasizes that al-Fatihah is a surah that contains all guidance in understanding the beginning of creation, the process of consciousness, and the final resting place man. [Mukti Ali el¬-Qum]
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Tafsîr Bismillâh-i al-Rahmân al-Rahîm
Ahmad Yasin bin Asymuni al-Jaruni, Tafsîr Bismillâh-i al-Rahmân al-Rahîm, 65 pages, published and interpreted to pesantren version by al-Ma'had al-Islami as-Salafi Hidayatuth Thullab of Petuk Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Petuk), Semen Sub-district, Kediri District, no year of publication; obtained from Pondok Pesantren Petuk. [Koran Interpretation]
This book explains the interpretation of Basmalah. Basmalah is so important because some scholars believe that all previous divine scriptures sent by God to His messengers (the Torah, the Psalms, and the Bible) was summarized and recorded in the Koran. Surely what is recorded is the universal values and the values of monotheism (tauhid) which confirms the existence and oneness of God—eventhough there are different ways and patterns in the aspect of worship and servitude to God, the one purpose is to worship and serve God.
While the Koran is summarized in Surat al-Fâtihah, surat al-Fâtihah is summarized in the Basmalah. And the Basmalah is summarized in one dot over the letter "Ba" located in the very beginning of the word Basmalah. The Basmallah is so significant that all Muslims' activities should be started with the word. The author does not only interpret Basmalah only in itself (literally), but also discuss a number of issues related to the Basmalah, different ways of pronouncing it, and disclosing its privileges. [Mukti Ali el-Qum]
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Discover some of Ubud secrets and learn about the many beautiful adventures you will have staying at Jendela di Bali and exploring one of the world's most amazing hideaway regions.
With his customary enthusiasm, Youtuber Mark Weins shares some of the flavour sensations you can expect when you visit Bali.
Olivia Dejeu checks out Ubud's Monkey Forest Road fashion shops and the Ubud traditional art market.
Food travel vlogger Mark Weins has a mega following on Youtube with over 700 million views and his enthusiasm for local Ubud Balinese food shines in this vlog.
Youtube Vloggers Jen and Rafael share three of their faves near Ubud, Bali - all within easy reach of villa Jendela di Bali.
From 26–28 April, 2019, foodies will converge in Bali for the Ubud Food Festival.
The Pyramids of Chi is Ubud's latest - and most striking - sound healing and mediation experience. It is a beautiful concept in both architecture and therapy.
The hillside village of Ubud on the island of Bali is regarded as one of the world's great destinations for yoga practice. Here are a few of our favorites.
A private villa estate in the foothills near Ubud, Bali Indonesia, for your exclusive enjoyment.


text:
Piper, J.R. et al.
Syntheses and antifolate activity of 5-methyl-5-deaza analogues of aminopterin, methotrexate, folic acid, and N10-methylfolic acid.
Evidence indicating that modifications at the 5- and 10-positions of classical folic acid antimetabolites lead to compounds with favorable differential membrane transport in tumor vs. normal proliferative tissue prompted an investigation of 5-alkyl-5-deaza analogues. 2-Amino-4-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarbonitrile, prepared by hydrogenolysis of its known 6-chloro precursor, was treated with guanidine to give 2,4-diamino-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile which was converted via the corresponding aldehyde and hydroxymethyl compound to 6-(bromomethyl)-2,4-diamino-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine. Reductive condensation of the nitrile 8 with diethyl N-(4-amino-benzoyl)-L-glutamate followed by ester hydrolysis gave 5-methyl-5-deazaaminopterin. Treatment of 12 with formaldehyde and Na(CN)BH3 afforded 5-methyl-5-deazamethotrexate, which was also prepared from 15 and dimethyl N-[(4-methylamino)benzoyl]-L-glutamate followed by ester hydrolysis. 5-Methyl-10-ethyl-5-deazaaminopterin was similarly prepared from 15. Biological evaluation of the 5-methyl-5-deaza analogues together with previously reported 5-deazaaminopterin and 5-deazamethotrexate for inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) isolated from L1210 cells and for their effect on cell growth inhibition, transport characteristics, and net accumulation of polyglutamate forms in L1210 cells revealed the analogues to have essentially the same properties as the appropriate parent compound, aminopterin or methotrexate (MTX), except that 20 and 21 were approximately 10 times more growth inhibitory than MTX. In in vivo tests against P388/0 and P388/MTX leukemia in mice, the analogues showed activity comparable to that of MTX, with the more potent 20 producing the same response in the P388/0 test as MTX but at one-fourth the dose; none showed activity against P388/MTX. Hydrolytic deamination of 12 and 20 produced 5-methyl-5-deazafolic acid and 5,10-dimethyl-5-deazafolic acid, respectively. In bacterial studies on the 2-amino-4-oxo analogues, 5-deazafolic acid proved to be a potent inhibitor of Lactobacillus casei DHFR and also the growth of both L. casei ATCC 7469 and Streptococcus faecium ATCC 8043. Its 5-methyl congener 22 is also inhibitory toward L. casei, but its IC50 for growth inhibition is much lower than its IC50 values for inhibition of DHFR or thymidylate synthase from L. casei, suggesting an alternate site of action.[1]
Syntheses and antifolate activity of 5-methyl-5-deaza analogues of aminopterin, methotrexate, folic acid, and N10-methylfolic acid. Piper, J.R., McCaleb, G.S., Montgomery, J.A., Kisliuk, R.L., Gaumont, Y., Sirotnak, F.M. J. Med. Chem. (1986) [Pubmed]


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Philip Morris increases stake in Swedish Match to 93 percent
Philip Morris aims to delist Swedish Match after increasing its ownership to 93%.
Philip Morris International (PMI) disclosed that it had increased its investment in Swedish Match to above 93 percent, which was sufficient to trigger a required share recall. The tobacco giant also intends to have the Swedish rival's securities removed from the stock exchange's register.
In May, the company that makes Marlboro made a $16 billion offer to purchase Swedish Match.
"Our acquisition of more than 90% of Swedish Match makes us happy. This will enable us to start the process of the company's mandatory buyback from minority shareholders and to submit an application for delisting," said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak.
Thursday, February 9th 2023 - 02:29 Intel asks Germany for €10 billion in aid
Wednesday, February 8th 2023 - 06:59 BP ends year with record profits
Microsoft reports drop in net profit
Volkswagen to expand offering in Chinese electric car market


More and more research on Generation Z provides proof this generation is unique.Do digital natives respond to learning in the same environment as their grandparents did? Across the world, colleges are exploring what they can do to make learning more engaging to Generation Z students. Lynn University has been a leader in innovative learning techniques and student engagement. In an interview with Stefano Papaleo, Lynn University, we learn what approaches have worked, and what the future might hold.
Hi there, You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Jul 17, 2019 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: The Future is Here: Using Technology to Meet Generation Z Needs Please register for the date and time that works best for you: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5aXmEbLRSaSqg_vSG5_41g After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.


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Delhi govt rapped for opposing technology to fight pollution
Monday - August 19, 2019 5:20 pm , Category : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) "Don't you want our children to live in good quality air?" the Supreme Court asked on Monday, pulling up the Delhi government for its opposition to the use of remote sensing technology to help identify polluting vehicles.
In the last hearing on the matter in July, a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta had asked the Centre and the Delhi Transport Department to respond to the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) report.
An EPCA report filed in the apex court said it held a meeting on July 16 with all stakeholders or government agencies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Delhi Transport Department.
The meeting focussed on the implementation of remote sensing devices to monitor pollution emitted by vehicles, which is referred as on-road emissions monitoring. This technology would also capture the images of the number plates of the vehicles breaching the emission norms.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the apex court as amicus curiae in the matter, informed the court that the implementation of this technology was very crucial to monitor polluting vehicles.
"The remote sensing technology would help in checking the emission of particulate matter (PM) along with other hazardous gases like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx)...
"The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has already agreed on this matter", Singh told IANS.
The court asked the Delhi government counsel to identify the ground for opposing the implementation of the technology but could not get a convincing reply.
The top court on Monday has given the green signal to this technology and asked the Delhi government to implement it, said Singh.
The apex court also alerted the Delhi government to stick to its responsibility for the people in the city, and should offer full cooperation on the matter. The matter has been fixed for further hearing in two months.
The Delhi government, citing the shortcoming of this technology, said: "Out of the 1,76,667 vehicles of whose emission data was validly captured and studied using Remote Sensing Device, only 1,262 were 2/3 wheelers, even though the 2/3 wheelers comprise about 68 per cent of the registered vehicular population in Delhi."
The government also informed the court it was considering purchase of only one or two machines and not five machines as suggested by the EPCA, citing insufficient experience in the implementation of the technology.
This response from the government did not go down well with the court.
The amicus had earlier informed the apex court that the technology was already implemented successfully in Kolkata.
She told the court that an agency which was tasked by the top court to test the technology had scanned 1.76 lakh vehicles and concluded that this technology was useful.
The amicus had requested the top court to ask the Delhi Transport Department and MoRTH to respond to its report on the implementation of the technology.
In contrast to the Delhi government, MoRTH submitted an affidavit indicating its response on EPCA's report.
According to the report, MoRTH shall be required to frame rules under the Central Motor Vehicle Act. These rules will define the scope of the remote sensing programme to enforce and monitor on-road emissions.
According to the EPCA report, this technology will co-exist with the ongoing pollution under control (PUC) programme, which adopts physical verification of emissions of the vehicles.
Moreover, this remote sensing technology can scan thousands of vehicle every day.
The report had pinned the implementation of the programme in the city by the Delhi government and recommended the Transport Department to publish a global tender for the procurement of this technology.
Detailing on the role of MoRTH, the report said it can frame rules regarding the usage of this technology for PUC, which includes penalties to enforce strict pollution norms.
The apex court was apprised on this technology during the hearing of matter connected with rising levels of air pollution in the city.
(Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in)
--IANS ss/mr/vd
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