For purposes of this section:

(1) “Eligible projects” means those water company plant projects not previously included in the water company's rate base in its most recent general rate case and that are intended to improve or protect the quality and reliability of service to customers, including (A) renewal or replacement of existing infrastructure, including mains, valves, services, meters and hydrants that have either reached the end of their useful life, are worn out, are in deteriorated condition, are or will be contributing to unacceptable levels of unaccounted for water, or are negatively impacting water quality or reliability of service if not replaced; (B) main cleaning and relining projects; (C) relocation of facilities as a result of government actions, the capital costs of which are not otherwise eligible for reimbursement; (D) purchase of leak detection equipment or installation of production meters, and pressure reducing valves; (E) purchase of energy efficient equipment for water company operations; (F) capital improvements necessary to comply with flow regulations adopted pursuant to section 26-141b; and (G) reasonable and necessary system improvements required for a water system acquisition approved by the authority.

(2) “Authority” means the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

(3) “Infrastructure assessment report” means a report filed by a water company with the authority that identifies water system infrastructure needs and the company's criteria for determining the priority for eligible projects related to infrastructure.

(4) “Pretax return” means the revenue necessary, after deduction of depreciation and property taxes, to produce net operating income equal to the water company's weighted cost of capital as approved by the authority in the company's most recent general rate case multiplied by the new original cost of eligible projects.

(5) “Reconciliation adjustment” means the difference between revenues actually collected through the water infrastructure and conservation adjustment and the amount allowed under the WICA for that period for the eligible projects. The amount of revenues overcollected or undercollected through the adjustment will be recovered or refunded, as appropriate, as a reconciliation adjustment over a one-year period commencing on April first.

(6) “Water company” means a water company, as defined in section 16-1, that has filed for approval an individual infrastructure assessment report to support a request for a WICA adjustment.

(7) “Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment (WICA)” means an adjustment applied as a charge or credit to a water company customers' rates to recover the WICA costs of eligible projects.

(8) “WICA costs” means the depreciation and property tax expenses and associated return on completed eligible projects.

(9) “WICA revenues” means the revenues provided through a water infrastructure and conservation adjustment for eligible projects.

(P.A. 07-139, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-78, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 07-139 effective June 19, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” and “department” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” and “authority”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-78 amended Subdiv. (1) to redefine “eligible projects” by adding Subparas. (E), (F) and (G) re additional projects, effective June 5, 2013.