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Agency 215
Washington Utilities
and Transportation Commission
RCW 80, 81
| Request | $24,954,988 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net change from current biennium | $586,540 | Increase | |||||||||||||||||
| Percent change from current biennium | 2.4% | Increase | |||||||||||||||||
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission regulates
investor-owned utilities and motor carriers in the state of Washington.
The Commission balances the public interest in obtaining adequate,
low cost, reliable, and safe products and services with the need
for investors to obtain a return on their investment.
The goals of the Commission are to promote competition where it
will benefit customers through lower rates and improved service
and to protect customers where companies continue to possess the
majority share of the market. To fulfill its responsibility, the
Commission uses a number of regulatory tools including: setting
rates and service levels for utilities; enforcing quality and
safety standards for utilities and transportation companies; mediating
consumer disputes; and conducting public education activities.
Links to Program Level Detail
| Operating Budget: Summary
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995-97 Appropriations | Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | Estimated Balance | 1993-95 Actual | 1995-97 Estimated | 1997-99 Proposed | |||||||||||||||||
| 222,000 | 121,000 | Grade Crossing Protective Account - State | 68,351 | 101,000 | 222,320 | ||||||||||||||||
| 24,576,427 | 523,062 | Public Service Revolving Account - State | 24,063,398 | 24,053,365 | 24,440,668 | ||||||||||||||||
| 200,917 | (13,166) | Public Service Revolving Account - Federal | 214,083 | 292,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Public Service Revolving Account - Federal Unanticipated | 96,910 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
24,999,344 |
630,896 | Total Appropriated Funds |
24,228,659 |
24,368,448 |
24,954,988 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating Budget: Summary by Object
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries And Wages | 5,751,382 | 6,380,669 | 5,961,697 | 6,123,357 | 6,123,357 | |||||||||||||
| Employee Benefits | 1,567,929 | 1,685,781 | 1,611,504 | 1,610,986 | 1,611,722 | |||||||||||||
| Personal Service Contracts | 175,668 | 185,773 | 312,039 | 247,720 | 247,720 | |||||||||||||
| Goods And Services | 3,633,317 | 3,358,993 | 3,600,188 | 3,933,664 | 3,932,652 | |||||||||||||
| Travel | 160,284 | 191,439 | 159,088 | 153,950 | 155,284 | |||||||||||||
| Capital Outlays | 587,708 | 319,870 | 504,309 | 389,033 | 389,033 | |||||||||||||
| Grants, Benefits & Client Services | 185 | 9,400 | 54,950 | 46,000 | 46,000 | |||||||||||||
| Debt Service | 18,085 | 18,778 | 18,782 | 18,780 | 18,780 | |||||||||||||
| Interagency Reimbursements | (50,944) | (4,812) | (46,525) | (46,525) | ||||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
11,843,614 |
12,145,891 |
12,222,557 |
12,476,965 |
12,478,023 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Budget: Program Summary
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||
| Regulatory Services | 5,327,213 | 5,600,993 | 5,647,185 | 5,447,323 | 5,447,643 | |||||||||||||
| Advisory Services | 2,331,920 | 2,393,536 | 2,344,159 | 2,443,243 | 2,443,247 | |||||||||||||
| Administrative Services | 4,184,481 | 4,151,362 | 4,231,213 | 4,586,399 | 4,587,133 | |||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
11,843,614 |
12,145,891 |
12,222,557 |
12,476,965 |
12,478,023 | |||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year 1993-94 | 12,385,045 | |||||||||||||||||
| Biennium Total |
24,228,659 |
24,368,448 |
24,954,988 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993-95 Actual | 1995-97 Estimated | 1997-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Regulatory Services | (3,046,503) | (21.2)% | (90,086) | (0.8)% | (353,212) | (3.1)% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Advisory Services | 1,911,027 | 75.2% | 285,150 | 6.4% | 148,795 | 3.1% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Administrative Services | (1,175,049) | (12.2)% | (55,275) | (0.7)% | 790,957 | 9.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Belated Claims | (36,095) | (100.0)% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total |
(2,346,620) |
(8.8)% |
139,789 |
0.6% |
586,540 |
2.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment Summary
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||||
| FTE Staff Years | 157.4 | 158.1 | 151.1 | 156.1 | 156.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Average FTE Staff Year Costs | 36,540 | 40,358 | 39,455 | 39,227 | 39,227 | |||||||||||||||
Program Level Detail
The purpose of the Regulatory Services program is to support the
Commissioners by providing regulatory analysis and recommendations
relating to regulated companies. The Commission provides economic
regulation for privately-owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications,
water, and solid waste companies; household goods movers; intercity
buses; commercial ferries; and excursion boats. The Commission
also administers safety regulations for natural gas and hazardous
liquid pipelines, charter and excursion buses, and railroads.
Utility activities include reviewing all utility filings, including
new entrant registrations, rate revisions, contracts, least cost
planning documents, petitions for waiver from rules, budgets,
and other periodic reports.
Transportation activities include ensuring safety fitness and
adequate liability and property insurance for trucks; regulating
entry, rates, routes, and services of busses, commercial ferries
and excursion vessels, moving companies, and garbage haulers;
and performing safety checks of drivers and equipment.
Railroad activities include safety oversight for rail crossings
which intersect public roads; railroad facilities such as tracks,
freight cars, and locomotives; transportation of hazardous materials;
and operational practices such as train speed and employee safety
compliance. As part of the safety effort, railroad staff also
investigate accidents and administer a railroad safety education
program.
The objectives of the Regulatory Services program are to: establish a regulatory process which promotes optimal market structures, including appropriate levels of competition; protect the public interest in widely-available and affordably-priced services; and promote the safe operation of utility and transportation companies.
| Program Employment
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||||
| FTE Staff Years | 99.7 | 93.4 | 87.0 | 92.2 | 92.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Average FTE Staff Year Costs | 35,907 | 39,950 | 40,929 | 38,375 | 38,417 | |||||||||||||||
| Expenditure Detail
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries and Benefits | 4,578,693 | 4,745,281 | 4,538,977 | 4,484,161 | 4,484,161 | |||||||||||||
| Grants and Subsidies | 150 | 9,400 | 54,950 | 46,000 | 46,000 | |||||||||||||
| Other Operating Costs | 748,370 | 846,312 | 1,053,258 | 917,162 | 917,482 | |||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
5,327,213 |
5,600,993 |
5,647,185 |
5,447,323 |
5,447,643 | |||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year 1993-94 | 6,011,051 | |||||||||||||||||
| Biennium Total |
11,338,264 |
11,248,178 |
10,894,966 | |||||||||||||||
| Source of Funds
| |||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | |||||||||||||||
| Grade Crossing Protective Account - State | 25,975 | 12,664 | 88,336 | 111,000 | 111,320 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Service Revolving Account - State | 5,204,328 | 5,588,329 | 5,344,766 | 5,190,323 | 5,190,323 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Service Revolving Account - Federal | 214,083 | 146,000 | 146,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Public Service Revolving Account - Federal Unanticipated | 96,910 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
5,327,213 |
5,600,993 |
5,647,185 |
5,447,323 |
5,447,643 | ||||||||||||||
The purpose of the Advisory Services program is to support the
Commissioners and staff by providing legal and policy research,
counsel, and advice on issues facing the Commission. The program
also provides administrative law judges, policy support, and accounting
advice in contested utility and transportation cases. The program
manages legislative relations, directs external communications,
assists the public in resolving consumer disputes with regulated
firms, and provides the agency with information services and library
resources.
Objectives are to provide the resources and tools to develop and apply alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance the Commission's ability to adapt prospectively to changes in the regulated industry sectors; and to ensure that regulated companies are responsive to the needs and concerns of consumers.
| Program Employment
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||||
| FTE Staff Years | 32.6 | 35.2 | 35.6 | 35.4 | 35.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Average FTE Staff Year Costs | 41,083 | 43,215 | 38,307 | 42,442 | 42,322 | |||||||||||||||
| Expenditure Detail
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries and Benefits | 1,680,727 | 1,908,629 | 1,709,518 | 1,883,470 | 1,883,472 | |||||||||||||
| Other Operating Costs | 651,193 | 484,907 | 634,641 | 559,773 | 559,775 | |||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
2,331,920 |
2,393,536 |
2,344,159 |
2,443,243 |
2,443,247 | |||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year 1993-94 | 2,120,625 | |||||||||||||||||
| Biennium Total |
4,452,545 |
4,737,695 |
4,886,490 | |||||||||||||||
| Source of Funds - Public Service Revolving Account - State | |||||||||||||||||||
This program provides the management operations and support service
functions of the Commission. Specific tasks include: human resource
activities, including employee development and training; fiscal
and cost accounting; budget and finance; supply and equipment
procurement; internal policy and procedural development; word
processing; and records management.
This program also includes assistant attorneys general who are appointed to represent the public interest in all major proceedings before the Commission.
| Program Employment
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||||
| FTE Staff Years | 25.1 | 29.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Average FTE Staff Year Costs | 33,154 | 38,244 | 36,392 | 37,989 | 37,989 | |||||||||||||||
| Expenditure Detail
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 Actual | 1995-96 Estimated | 1996-97 Estimated | 1997-98 Proposed | 1998-99 Proposed | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries and Benefits | 1,059,891 | 1,412,540 | 1,324,706 | 1,366,712 | 1,367,446 | |||||||||||||
| Grants and Subsidies | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Operating Costs | 3,124,555 | 2,738,822 | 2,906,507 | 3,219,687 | 3,219,687 | |||||||||||||
| Annual Total |
4,184,481 |
4,151,362 |
4,231,213 |
4,586,399 |
4,587,133 | |||||||||||||
| Fiscal Year 1993-94 | 4,253,369 | |||||||||||||||||
| Biennium Total |
8,437,850 |
8,382,575 |
9,173,532 | |||||||||||||||
| Source of Funds - Public Service Revolving Account - State | |||||||||||||||||||