Fortnightly Magazine - May 15 1995

Louisiana Nixes PriceCap for Local Telecom

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) has turned down a request from South Central Bell, a telephone local exchange carrier (LEC), to switch its form of regulation from the existing incentive-based rate plan to a pure price-cap plan. Under its proposed plan, the LEC would freeze rates for basic residential services for a three-year period, and then cap rate changes based on the rate of inflation. Rates for interconnection and nonbasic services would be market-based.

Detroit Edison Sole Supplier for "big Three"

Detroit Edison Co. (DE) has received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission for

10-year sole-supplier contracts for electric power and related services with Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. (Case No.

U-10646). DE is believed to be the first utility in the nation to secure such agreements for an entire industry in its service territory

The almost identical contracts involve a

1,000-megawatt combination of firm and interruptible power, giving rate discounts to the automakers.

West Va. Reduces Rate Recovery for Emissions Control

The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC), on rehearing of an earlier rate order, has reduced the level of emissions control investment in rates for two electric operating subsidiaries of Allegheny Power System, Inc., Potomac Edison Co. and Monongahela Power Co. The PSC excluded one-half of the difference between amounts actually spent and those budgeted for emissions plant needed to comply with the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA), finding that the budget was nearly a year old and did not qualify as a "known and measurable" change in rate base.

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