PSC 184.01(2) (2) Individual situations. Nothing in this chapter precludes the commission from giving individual consideration to exceptional or unusual situations or, upon investigation, from establishing requirements for a utility or service that are different from those provided in this chapter.

PSC 184.01 History History: CR 11-039: cr. Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.

PSC 184.02 PSC 184.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

PSC 184.02(1) (1) “Acquire” means the acquisition of plant in place and ready for operation, but does not include the purchase of materials or equipment for later installation.

PSC 184.02(2) (2) “Certificate” means a certificate issued by the commission under ss. 196.49 or 196.50, Stats.

PSC 184.02(3) (3) “Commission” means the public service commission.

PSC 184.02(4) (4) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

PSC 184.02(5) (5) “Municipality” means a city, village or town.

PSC 184.02(6) (6) “Plant” means all equipment, property, or facilities included in the utility plant accounts under the uniform system of accounts prescribed by the commission.

PSC 184.02(7) (7) “Project cost” means the total estimated costs of a proposed project including land acquisition, construction, pilot testing, test wells, inspection, and fees for professional services.

PSC 184.02(8) (8) “Service area” means the geographic area within which a utility has an obligation to provide service.

PSC 184.02(9) (9) “Utility” means a water public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5) (a), Stats., a combined water and sewer public utility under s. 66.0819, Stats., or any person, except a governmental unit, who furnishes service to or for the public by means of a sewerage system, as defined in s. 281.01 (14), Stats.

PSC 184.02 History History: CR 11-039: cr. Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.

PSC 184.03 PSC 184.03 Activities requiring commission authorization.

PSC 184.03(1) (1) New utility. A person intending to operate as a utility may not begin construction of, install, or place in operation any facilities for furnishing water or sewer service in a municipality in which the person is not currently furnishing water or sewer service as a utility without the commission’s prior approval.

PSC 184.03(2) (2) Expansion, acquisition, and interconnection. A utility shall obtain a certificate from the commission before undertaking any of the following:

PSC 184.03(2)(a) (a) Constructing facilities or initiating service in a municipality not currently served by the utility.

PSC 184.03(2)(b) (b) Constructing facilities or initiating service in a service area of another utility.

PSC 184.03(2)(c) (c) Acquiring or placing in operation existing facilities for furnishing water or sewer service obtained from another person or utility.

PSC 184.03(2)(d) (d) Establishing an interconnection with another utility with which it has no existing interconnection.

PSC 184.03(2)(e) (e) Combining or consolidating with another utility.

PSC 184.03(3) (3) Construction of facilities.

PSC 184.03(3)(a) (a) A utility shall obtain a certificate from the commission before constructing, purchasing, installing, modifying, replacing, or placing in operation any plant not exempt under sub. (4) if the project cost exceeds the cost threshold specified in s. 196.49 (5g) (ar), Stats., as revised under par. (b).

PSC 184.03 Note Note: Examples of projects that typically require a certificate include all of the following:

PSC 184.03 Note 1. Groundwater wells, surface water intakes, and other sources of water supply.

PSC 184.03 Note 2. Water treatment, purification, and disinfection facilities.

PSC 184.03 Note 3. Elevated tanks, reservoirs, and other storage facilities.

PSC 184.03 Note 4. Pumping stations, pressure-reducing stations, and associated facilities.

PSC 184.03 Note 5. Utility buildings.