A public hearing is required, and hearings are scheduled for June 15, 2000 and for July 10 and 12, 2000.
Contact Information
If you have questions regarding this rule, please contact:
Theresa Evanson
Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment
Telephone (608) 266-0941
Transportation
Rule Submittal Date
On May 12, 2000, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation submitted a proposed rule affecting ch. Trans 134, Wis. Adm. Code, to the Wisconsin Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse.
Analysis
The proposed rule affects s. Trans 134.06 (1) (d), relating to license plates for authorized special groups.
Agency Procedure for Promulgation
A public hearing is not required. The organizational unit primarily responsible for promulgation of this proposed rule is the Division of Motor Vehicles/Bureau of Vehicle Services.
Contact Information
If you have questions regarding this rule, please contact:
Julie A. Johnson, Paralegal
Dept. of Transportation
Telephone (608) 266-8810
FAX: (608) 267-6734
N o t i c e S e c t i o n
Notice of Hearing
Administration
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 16.004(1), 16.957(4)(b) and 227.11(2)(a), Stats., and interpreting ss. 16.957, et seq., the Department of Administration will hold a public hearing to consider the creation of ch. Adm 43, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to non-municipal electric utility public benefits fees.
Hearing Information
June 16, 2000 Dept. of Administration
Friday State Office Bldg.
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. St. Croix Room (1st Floor)
101 East Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53702
The hearing site is accessible to people with disabilities. Interested persons are invited to present information at the hearing. People appearing may make an oral presentation but are also urged to submit facts, opinions and arguments in writing as well. Written comments from persons unable to attend the public hearing, or who wish to supplement testimony offered at the hearings, should be directed to: Donna Sorenson, Department of Administration, P.O. Box 7864, Madison, WI 53707-7864. Written comments must be received by June 30, 2000, to be included in the record of rule-making proceedings.
Fiscal Estimate
A total of $44 million annually is expected to be collected which will be distributed among non-municipal electric utilities, municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives according to computations provided in s. 16.975, Stats. The Department will then review plans by the utilities to collect such fees from residential and non-residential customers. The department is reviewing staffing requirements and what costs may be associated with those requirements.
Contact Person
Donna Sorenson
Department of Administration
101 E. Wilson St., 10th Floor
P.O. Box 7864
Madison, WI 53707-7864
Telephone (608) 266-2887
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Administration
Statutory Authority: ss. 16.004 (1) and 16.957(4)(b)
Statute Interpreted: s. 16.957, et seq.
Under s. 16.957(4)(b), Stats., the Department of Administration is required to promulgate rules establishing the amount of public benefits fees to be collected by certain electric utilities from their customers. These fees are to be paid to the Department in order to fund low-income assistance energy conservation and efficiency, and renewable resource programs statewide. The proposed rule establishes fees that may vary by class of customer, but will be uniform within each class.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rule:
Small businesses that receive metered electric service from one of the twelve listed electric providers will be obligated to pay a public benefits fee. The public benefits fee will be included in each electric bill, and shall not exceed the lesser of three percent of the charges for electric service or $750 per meter per month.
• Consolidated Water Power Company
• Dahlberg Light & Power Company
• Madison Gas & Electric Company
• North Central Power Company, Inc.
• Northern States Power Company
• Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Co.
• Pioneer Power & Light Company
• Superior Water Light & Power Co.
• Wisconsin Electric Power Company
• Wisconsin Power & Light Company
• Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
• Westfield Milling & Electric Light Co.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) estimate in 1998 that about 98 percent of the 120,000 businesses with employees in Wisconsin were small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) and about 220,000 self-employed persons. Accounting for some overlap, the SBA estimated that there were 337,600 small businesses in Wisconsin in 1998. The twelve electric providers served about 85 percent of all Wisconsin businesses in 1998 according to the Energy Information Administration. Therefore, nearly 287,000 small businesses will be affected by this rule.
2. Reporting, bookkeeping, and other procedures required for compliance with the rule.
None. The fee will show as a fixed charge on the electric bill.
3. Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rule:
None.
Text of Rule
SECTION 1. Adm 43 is created to read:
Chapter Adm 43
Non-municipal Electric Utility Public Benefits Fee
Adm 43.01 Authority. Sections 16.004(1) and 16.957(4)(b), Stats., authorize the department to promulgate rules for non-municipal electric utility public benefits fees.
Adm 43.02 Purpose. The purposes of this chapter are to establish the public benefits fee to be collected by each non-municipal electric utility from its customers, and to provide procedures for collecting that fee.
Adm 43.03 Definitions. In this chapter:
(1) “Aggregate public benefits fee" means the total annual fee to be collected under s. 16.957(4) and (5), Stats., from all electric providers.
(2) “Commission" means the public service commission.
(3) “Customer" means the party billed for electric services.
(4) “Customer class" means any grouping of electric customers in the state that is billed for electric service under the same tariff that has been approved by the Commission.
