evaluated the operational and financial viability of small natural gas utilities within the met with small gas utilities operating in Pennsylvania to Commission’s jurisdiction, discuss gas safety issues, provided an overview of the standard rate case process as well as the and created a package of documents and a webpage on the “short form” process, website to help meet the gas The webpage is Commission’s utilities’ anticipated needs. meant to provide a one-stop location for small gas utilities to access the forms and information needed for regulatory compliance. On October 2, 2009, the North East Heat and Light Company (NEH&L) submitted its 2009/2010 annual gas cost rate (GCR) filing, pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 53.66 (related to filing requirements), to become effective November 1, 2009. NEH&L sought relief from interest charges, pursuant to section 53.66(d) (related to overcollections), for the twelve-month GCR reconciliation period that ended August 31, 2009. NEH&L’s overcollections were the result of its purchasing strategy which allowed the company to take advantage of rapidly falling natural gas prices and to pass those savings on to its customers. NEH&L filed an interim GCR when it realized that there would be significant overcollections, thereby seeking to minimize their accrual. The Commission granted equitable relief to NEH&L in the form of reduced interest rates on its overcollections, but emphasized that situation was unique in that it NEH&L’s was a one-time partial waiver of the interest rate. Commission Docket No. See M-2009-2134358, (Order entered December 17, 2009). The following year, on November 24, 2010, NEH&L similarly requested relief and exemption from interest charges on overcollections that accrued during the 2009/2010 GCR year. However, this time the Commission entered a Final Order denying request for relief. Commission Docket No. P-2010-2214432 (Final Order See NEH&L’s entered October 28, 2011). The Commission reasoned that (1) the amount of interest was markedly different from the previous GCR year in which relief was granted; (2) the
evaluated the operational and financial viability of small natural gas utilities within the Commission’s jurisdiction, met with small gas utilities operating in Pennsylvania to discuss gas safety issues, provided an overview of the standard rate case process as well as the “short form” process, and created a package of documents and a webpage on the Commission’s website to help meet the gas utilities’ anticipated needs. The webpage is meant to provide a one-stop location for small gas utilities to access the forms and information needed for regulatory compliance. On October 2, 2009, the North East Heat and Light Company (NEH&L) submitted its 2009/2010 annual gas cost rate (GCR) filing, pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 53.66 (related to filing requirements), to become effective November 1, 2009. NEH&L sought relief from interest charges, pursuant to section 53.66(d) (related to overcollections), for the twelve-month GCR reconciliation period that ended August 31, 2009. NEH&L’s overcollections were the result of its purchasing strategy which allowed the company to take advantage of rapidly falling natural gas prices and to pass those savings on to its customers. NEH&L filed an interim GCR when it realized that there would be significant overcollections, thereby seeking to minimize their accrual. The Commission granted equitable relief to NEH&L in the form of reduced interest rates on its overcollections, but emphasized that NEH&L’s situation was unique in that it was a one-time partial waiver of the interest rate. See Commission Docket No. M-2009-2134358, (Order entered December 17, 2009). The following year, on November 24, 2010, NEH&L similarly requested relief and exemption from interest charges on overcollections that accrued during the 2009/2010 GCR year. However, this time the Commission entered a Final Order denying NEH&L’s request for relief. See Commission Docket No. P-2010-2214432 (Final Order entered October 28, 2011). The Commission reasoned that (1) the amount of interest was markedly different from the previous GCR year in which relief was granted; (2) the
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