Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota each have similar rules requiring commission approval of territorial agreements and/or service provision in cases involving annexation or multiple utilities proving service to a municipality.

The rule contains many of the same requirements for what must be included in a construction application that adjacent states do, for example: maps showing routes, operating pressures, cost and financing information, alternatives, identification of utilities and municipalities affected, environmental information and conservation efforts. The proposed rule adds a requirement for identification of landowners from whom property or easements must be obtained and a statement as to which of these landowners have been notified of the project.

A copy of this entire notice and text of proposed rule may be accessed from the electronic regulatory filing portion of the Commission's Website (psc.wi.gov).

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

This rulemaking will affect three small gas utilities. Each of these has revenues in excess of $5 million but has 25 or fewer employees. The impact on these businesses will be minimal as this rulemaking clarifies and codifies existing practice. It also decreases the number of circumstances when certain reports must be filed.

Fiscal Estimate

No fiscal effect is anticipated. Further, no substantial fiscal effect on the private sector is anticipated.

NOTICE IS GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.16 (2) (b), Stats., the commission will hold a public hearing on these proposed rule changes in the Amnicon Falls Hearing Room at the Public Service Commission Building, 610 North Whitney Way, Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, March 26, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. This building is accessible to people in wheelchairs through the Whitney Way (lobby) entrance. Handicapped parking is available on the south side of the building.

Written Comments

Any person may submit written comments on these proposed rules. The hearing record will be open for written comments from the public, effective immediately, and until Monday, April 2, 2007, at noon (March, April 30, 2007, at noon, if filed by fax). All written comments must include a reference on the filing to docket 1-AC-209. File by one mode only.

Industry: File comments using the Electronic Regulatory Filing system. This may be accessed from the commission's website (psc.wi.gov).

Members of the Public:

If filing electronically: Use the Public Comments system or the Electronic Regulatory Filing system. Both of these may be accessed from the commission's website (psc.wi.gov).

If filing by mail, courier, or hand delivery: Address as shown at beginning of this Notice.

If filing by fax: Send fax comments to [phone]. Fax filing cover sheet MUST state “Official Filing," the docket number 1-AC-209, and the number of pages (limited to 25 pages for fax comments).

Contact Person

Media questions should be directed to Linda Barth, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs at [phone]. Small business questions should be directed to Anne Vandervort at [phone] or [e-mail]. Other questions regarding this matter should be directed to docket coordinator Jeffrey P. Murley at [phone] or [e-mail]. Hearing or speech-impaired individuals may also use the commission's TTY number, if calling from Wisconsin [phone], if calling from outside Wisconsin [phone].

The commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the provision of programs, services, or employment. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations to participate in this proceeding or who needs to get this document in a different format should contact the docket coordinator, as indicated in the previous paragraph, as soon as possible.

Notice of Hearing

Public Service Commission

[CR 07-021]

The Commission proposes to repeal and recreation ch. PSC 114, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to rules concerning electric safety-Revision of Volume 1 of the Wisconsin State Electrical Code.

NOTICE IS GIVEN that a hearing will be held beginning on Friday, April 13, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in the Amnicon Falls Room (1300) at the Public Service Commission Building, 610 North Whitney Way, Madison, Wisconsin, and continuing at times to be set by the presiding Administrative Law Judge. This building is accessible to people in wheelchairs through the Whitney Way first floor (lobby) entrance. Parking for people with disabilities is available on the south side of the building. Any person with a disability who needs additional accommodations should contact the docket coordinator listed below.

Hearing Date: Friday, April 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

Hearing Location: Amnicon Falls Hearing Room (1300), Public Service Commission, 610 North Whitney Way, Madison, WI

Analysis Prepared by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Statutory authority: ss. 196.74 and 227.11 (2)

Statute interpreted: s. 196.74

By letter dated August 17, 2006, the Commission appointed an advisory committee pursuant to s. 227.13, Stats., to review and submit recommendations for updating Volume 1 of the Wisconsin State Electrical Code. This part of the Code is administered by the Commission.

Volume 1 has been and is based on the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), which is also known as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C2. In 1979, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2003, the Commission adopted the 1977, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2002 editions of the NESC, respectively, with certain changes, deletions and additions.

The 2007 edition of the NESC was recently issued, and a corresponding revision of Volume 1 is now desired to reflect the latest national code, correct existing deficiencies, and make other changes, as necessary, to update and improve the state code. The rules in ch. PSC 114, Wis. Adm. Code deal with safety requirements for the installation, operation, and maintenance of primarily outdoor electric supply and communications lines and facilities used by utilities, including electric and telephone suppliers, railroads, and cable television providers.

A statement of scope on this rule was approved by the Commission on June 1, 2006, and was published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register on Mid-June 2006. Meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee were held on September 28, 2006, November 10, 2006, and December 8, 2006.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Utilities and others subject to the proposed rules, including municipally-owned electric utilities that serve in rural areas, may experience modest increases in the cost of new rural distribution construction due to the proposed increased requirements for grounding rural lines. The proposed rules will have no effect on small business.

Fiscal Estimate

This rule has no fiscal impact.

The Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the provision of programs, services, or employment. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations to participate in this proceeding or who needs to obtain this document in a different format should contact the docket coordinator listed below.

Questions regarding this matter may be directed to docket coordinator Mohammed Monawer at [phone]. Hearing or speech-impaired individuals may also use the Commission's TTY number: [phone].