WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

80.04.250 - Valuation of public service property.

Valuation of public service property.

The commission shall have power upon complaint or upon its own motion to ascertain and determine the fair value for rate making purposes of the property of any public service company used and useful for service in this state and shall exercise such power whenever it shall deem such valuation or determination necessary or proper under any of the provisions of this title. In determining what property is used and useful for providing electric, gas, or water service, the commission may include the reasonable costs of construction work in progress to the extent that the commission finds that inclusion is in the public interest.

The commission shall have the power to make revaluations of the property of any public service company from time to time.

The commission shall, before any hearing is had, notify the complainants and the public service company concerned of the time and place of such hearing by giving at least thirty days' written notice thereof, specifying that at the time and place designated a hearing will be held for the purpose of ascertaining the value of the company's property, used and useful as aforesaid, which notice shall be sufficient to authorize the commission to inquire into and pass upon the matters designated in this section.

[1991 c 122 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.250. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 4; 1913 c 182 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 92; RRS § 10441.]

Notes: Findings -- 1991 c 122: "The legislature finds that the state is facing an energy shortage as growth occurs and that inadequate supplies of energy will cause harmful impacts on the entire range of state citizens. The legislature further finds that energy efficiency improvement is the single most effective near term measure to lessen the risk of energy shortage. In the area of electricity, the legislature additionally finds that the Northwest power planning council has made several recommendations, including an update of the commercial building energy code and granting flexible ratemaking alternatives for utility commissions to encourage prudent acquisition of new electric resources." [1991 c 122 § 1.]

Severability -- 1991 c 122: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1991 c 122 § 4.]