(a) In any rate case initiated on or after June 4, 2007, and for which a final decision has not been issued prior to July 8, 2013, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall order the state's gas and electric distribution companies to decouple distribution revenues from the volume of natural gas or electricity sales through any of the following strategies, singly or in combination: (1) A mechanism that adjusts actual distribution revenues to allowed distribution revenues, (2) rate design changes that increase the amount of revenue recovered through fixed distribution charges, or (3) a sales adjustment clause, rate design changes that increase the amount of revenue recovered through fixed distribution charges, or both. In making its determination on this matter, the authority shall consider the impact of decoupling on the gas or electric distribution company's return on equity and make necessary adjustments thereto.

(b) In any rate case initiated on or after July 8, 2013, or in a pending rate case for which a final decision has not been issued prior to July 8, 2013, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall order the state's gas and electric distribution companies to decouple distribution revenues from the volume of natural gas and electricity sales. For electric distribution companies, the decoupling mechanism shall be the adjustment of actual distribution revenues to allowed distribution revenues. For gas distribution companies, the decoupling mechanism shall be a mechanism that does not remove the incentive to support the expansion of natural gas use pursuant to the 2013 Comprehensive Energy Strategy, such as a mechanism that decouples distribution revenue based on a use-per-customer basis. In making its determination on this matter, the authority shall consider the impact of decoupling on the gas or electric distribution company's return on equity and make any necessary adjustments thereto.

(P.A. 07-242, S. 107; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-298, S. 11.)

History: P.A. 07-242 effective June 4, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-298 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by making a technical change and adding “and for which a final decision has not been issued prior to July 8, 2013,” and added Subsec. (b) re decoupling mechanisms for any rate case initiated on or after July 8, 2013, or in a pending rate case for which a final decision has not been issued prior to July 8, 2013, effective July 8, 2013.