(a) The Commission may require every public utility to file with the Commission complete schedules of every classification employed and of every individual or joint rate, fare or charge made, charged or executed by the public utility for any regulated product or service supplied or rendered within this State. Every application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall include a proposed tariff for approval by the Commission. A copy of all regulated tariffs then in effect shall be available for inspection by customers at each public office of the utility where applications for service are received.

(b) This section shall not apply to charges made for electric supply service or for transmission or ancillary services on and after October 1, 1999, for Delmarva Power & Light Company and April 1, 2000, for Delaware Electric Cooperative.

(c) Any person or entity in the business of a wastewater utility as of June 7, 2004, and subject to the supervision and regulation of the Commission under this chapter shall file a schedule of its rates in effect as of June 7, 2004, by November 3, 2004, in such form as the Commission may require. On July 6, 2004, such wastewater utility’s rates will be deemed in effect pending the outcome of an initial rate change request application filed in accordance with this title. Such application must be filed by January 2, 2005. A wastewater utility required to make such a rate filing may seek the assistance of the Commission in preparing its rate filing. Rates in effect on July 6, 2004, shall be deemed temporary and not subject to change, unless ordered by the Commission. Section 306 of this title shall not apply pending the outcome of this initial rate setting case. The Commission shall have 9 months to complete its review following the filing of the rate change application. However, to the extent possible, the Commission shall attempt to expedite such application. For good cause shown, the Commission may waive any provision of this subsection.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, no public utility may assess switched access rates pursuant to tariff that are higher than the switched access rates set forth in the tariffs of the incumbent local exchange provider in the same service territory.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, a public utility that provides telecommunications services shall not be subject to mandatory tariff or other filing requirements except with respect to switched access service.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  3;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  128;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 10, §  11;  74 Del. Laws, c. 317, §  7;  78 Del. Laws, c. 174;  79 Del. Laws, c. 53, §  7; 

The Commission may, from time to time, ascertain and determine the rate base of any public utility whenever, in the judgment of the Commission, it is necessary so to do for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, and in making such determination the Commission may have access to and use any books, documents, or records in the possession of any department, board, commission or agency of this State or any political subdivision thereof. In ascertaining and determining the rate base, the Commission may determine every fact, matter, or thing which, in its judgment, does or may have any bearing thereon.

If a water utility is not, pursuant to § 122(3)c. of Title 16, under review concerning its water system’s ability to provide adequate service to its customers under its present certificates of public convenience and necessity or subject to a review by the Commission of the appropriate rates to be charged by the water utility in light of the quality of service being provided to its customers, the Commission will include in the utility’s rate base, treat as used and useful utility plant, and, accordingly, allow to be fully recovered in the utility’s rates without imputation of revenues, all costs which are incurred by the water utility, in the exercise of its good faith business judgment, in constructing facilities (including without limitation supply, treatment and transmission facilities) to serve the needs of existing customers or of persons who are reasonably anticipated by the water utility to be its customers within 3 years from the date used by the Commission to recognize rate base in the rate proceeding. The number of customers reasonably anticipated to be added within that 3-year period will consist of customer projections which are relied on by the utility and are generated by professional engineers or planners, governmental or regulatory agencies, officials or authorities, or the water utility itself, and which are not arbitrary and capricious. If the water utility does not, by the end of the 3-year period after the date used by the Commission to recognize rate base in the rate proceeding, reach at least 75% of the total number of customers originally anticipated to be served by the facilities, the Commission may only then require the water utility to impute revenues and then only to the extent of the number of customers it originally anticipated to be served by the facilities but who have not, as of the end of the 3-year period, been added.

59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 402, §  7; 

(a) No public utility shall make, impose or exact any unjust or unreasonable or unduly preferential or unjustly discriminatory individual or joint rate for any product or service supplied or rendered by it within the State, or adopt, maintain or enforce any regulation, practice or measurement which is unjust, unreasonable, unduly preferential or unjustly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of law, or make, or give, directly or indirectly, any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or corporation or to any particular description of traffic, in any respect whatsoever.

(b) The Commission shall require all utilities operating within its jurisdiction to produce evidence at a public hearing of the need for a change in the fuel adjustment as a part of the rate-making procedure. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, such fuel adjustment may include a separate component to adjust for or correct for any difference between actual allowable fuel costs incurred by the utility and fuel costs recovered through base rates and the fuel adjustment. Notice of such hearing shall be advertised in at least 1 newspaper in each of the 3 counties. As in other applications before the Commission, the burden of proof that the fuel adjustment change is required shall be upon the utility. No change in the fuel adjustment shall be authorized by the Commission except by affirmative vote of the majority of all members appointed to the Commission. The Commission shall consider the evidence for and against the proposed change as it would all evidence in any other ratemaking procedure. Consistent with the introduction of customer choice in the supply of electricity pursuant to Chapter 10 of this title, and subject to subsection (c) of this section below, this section shall have no application to rates in effect on and after October 1, 1999, for Delmarva Power & Light Company and April 1, 2000, for Delaware Electric Cooperative.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall determine the actual overrecovered or underrecovered deferred fuel balance for each electric distribution company as of September 30, 1999, for Delmarva Power & Light Company and March 31, 2000, for Delaware Electric Cooperative. Such overrecovery or underrecovery shall be either returned to or collected from that electric distribution company’s retail electric customers by a mechanism that is designed to provide a full credit or charge of the actual deferred fuel balance and that the Commission shall adopt and order to be effective no later than 90 days after such dates. The Commission shall adopt either a single bill credit or charge mechanism or an alternative per kilowatt-hour credit or charge mechanism to be in effect for up to a period of 12 months, depending upon the relative size of the actual amount to be credited or charged to retail electric customers. No further adjustments of such amounts shall be required.

(d) (1) The Commission shall authorize a public utility to establish an individual or joint rate for any product supplied or service rendered within the State for the purposes of ensuring the State’s current and future economic well-being and growth where prior to authorizing such individual or joint rate the Commission finds:

a. That such rate is in the public interest;

b. That such rate prevents the loss of customers, encourages customers to expand present facilities and operations in Delaware and/or attracts new customers where necessary or appropriate to promote economic development in Delaware. This finding shall include, but is not limited to, a determination that the new or existing customer or the growth in an existing customer represents at least 25 jobs and/or at least $2 million in capital expenditures;

c. That such rate shall provide recovery of at least the incremental cost (including capital cost) of providing the relevant utility services;

d. If, how, and to what extent any discount being authorized below a relevant standard tariff rate shall be recovered; and

e. The period of time during which such rate shall remain in effect, normally up to 5 years.

(2) In addition to the above specific findings, the Commission shall also consider, among other things, the following items:

a. The utility’s load and capacity situation;

b. The portion that the relevant utility service makes up of the customer’s total operating expenses;

c. Viable economic alternatives to the utility service available to the customer;

d. The customer’s ability to relocate, if relevant;

e. Reasonable efforts that the customer has made to secure government grants and/or other concessions; and

f. The effect, if any, on competitors located in Delaware of the customer or customers to which such rate may apply.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  7;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  161;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  60 Del. Laws, c. 431, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 17, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 240, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 48, §  5;  72 Del. Laws, c. 10, §§  12, 13; 

(a) Unless the Commission otherwise orders, no public utility shall make any change in any existing rate except after 60 days notice to the Commission, which notice shall plainly state the changes proposed to be made in the rates then in force and the time when the changes will go into effect. All proposed changes shall be shown by filing new schedules or shall be plainly indicated upon schedules filed and in force at the time and kept open to public inspection. Public notice of all proposed changes shall be given in a form and manner set by the Commission. The Commission, for good cause shown, may allow changes in rates without requiring the 60-days’ notice and/or public notice under such conditions as it may prescribe. All such changes shall be immediately indicated upon its schedules by such public utility.

(b) In prescribing conditions for rate changes, the Commission is specifically authorized and empowered to conduct proceedings in which it limits the number or type of issues it will consider in determining whether or not to permit or allow such changes. The Commission may adopt or change regulations to govern such limited issue rate proceedings.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  10;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  151;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 48, §  6;  70 Del. Laws, c. 585, §  4; 

Whenever there is filed with the Commission by any public utility any schedule stating a new rate, the Commission may, either upon complaint or upon its own initiative, upon reasonable notice, enter upon a hearing concerning the lawfulness of such rate.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  10;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  152;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The Commission, upon the filing of a petition for a proposed change to any rate, may within 60 days after said filing:

(1) Suspend the operation of such rate change for a period not to exceed 7 months after said filing; provided, however, that if the Commission has not reached its decision within said 7 months after filing, the public utility may place their rate into effect under bond in accordance with subsection (b) of this section;

(2) Determine that a portion of such change shall become effective not later than 60 days after the filing of the petition on a temporary basis pending the final decision of the Commission.

(b) Upon termination of the 7 months as set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section the proposed rate change shall automatically become effective if the public utility files with the Commission a bond in a reasonable amount approved by the Commission with sureties approved by the Commission, conditioned upon the refund, in a manner to be prescribed by order of the Commission, to the persons entitled thereto of the amount of the excess, if the rate so put into effect is finally determined to be excessive; or there may be substituted for such bond other arrangements satisfactory to the Commission for the protection of the parties interested. In no event shall a public utility put a rate into effect under bond as authorized in this subsection that would constitute an increase in excess of 15 percent of the public utility’s gross intrastate operating revenues.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, 60 days after said filing, a public utility may put a rate into effect under bond as authorized in subsection (b) of this section, provided that the increase does not constitute an increase in excess of 15 percent of the public utility’s annual gross intrastate operating revenues or $2,500,000 annually, whichever is less. This subsection shall not apply to any proposed rate change sought by a public utility under regulations adopted pursuant to § 304(b) of this title.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  10;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  153;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  61 Del. Laws, c. 254, §§  1-3;  70 Del. Laws, c. 48, §  7; 

(a) In any proceeding upon the motion of the Commission, or upon complaint, or upon application of a public utility, involving any proposed or existing rate of any public utility, or any proposed change in rates, the burden of proof to show that the rate involved is just and reasonable is upon the public utility.

(b) The public utility shall have the burden of proof in justifying every accounting entry of record questioned by the Commission which may suspend any charge or credit pending submission of satisfactory and sufficient proof in support thereof by the public utility.

(c) The Commission shall give preference to the hearing and decision of any rate proceeding over all other proceedings and decide the same as speedily as possible.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5A;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  11;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  157;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) (1) In exercising the jurisdiction and power conferred upon the Commission by § 201 of this title, the Commission, upon its own motion at any time it deems such action to be in the public interest or upon complaint duly filed with it, may take into consideration, among other things, the efficiency, sufficiency and adequacy of the facilities and products provided and services rendered by the public utility, the value of such services, products and facilities to the public, and the ability of the public utility to improve such services, products and facilities. During such proceeding, the Commission may consider any service complaints by subscribers and the public.

(2) If the Commission finds that the public utility’s facilities, products or services are inefficient, insufficient or inadequate, it may impose such penalty upon the public utility as may be necessary to restore such facilities, products or services to a state of efficiency, sufficiency or adequacy. Upon significant improvement in such services, products or facilities, the Commission may, after hearing, remove or reduce the penalty imposed.

(b) The power and authority herein conferred upon the Commission shall not be construed in any way to limit the general jurisdiction and power conferred upon the Commission by § 201 of this title, it being the legislative intent that efficient, sufficient and adequate services, products and facilities shall be provided by public utilities.

59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The Commission may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, fix just and reasonable individual rates, joint rates, charges or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage and other special rates, which shall be imposed, observed and followed thereafter by any public utility whenever the Commission determines any existing individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge or schedule thereof, or commutation, mileage, or other special rate to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory or preferential.

(b) No order of the Commission requiring a change in rates shall become operative until at least 30 days after service thereof except upon the written consent of the public utility affected.

59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) Whenever the Commission, after due consideration of pertinent facts and information, is of the opinion that any rates of any public utility are producing a return in excess of a reasonable rate of return upon its rate base, or when appropriate, its operating ratio, and that a proceeding to determine all of the issues involved in a final determination of such rates will require more than 90 days, the Commission may, after reasonable notice to the public utility and opportunity to be heard thereon, if the public interest so requires, immediately enter a temporary order fixing a temporary schedule of rates to be charged by such public utility pending the final determination of such rate proceeding, which order shall become operative and binding upon such public utility at the time prescribed by the Commission.

(b) The power of the Commission to order reductions in rates and charges of any public utility by means of such temporary order shall be limited to reductions which will absorb not more than the amount found to be in excess of the amount of operating income, as determined by the Commission, necessary to provide a reasonable rate of return on the rate base of the public utility or when appropriate, its operating ratio.

(c) The temporary rate so prescribed shall be effective until the final determination of the rate proceeding, unless sooner terminated or changed by the Commission.

(d) If, upon final disposition of the issues involved in such proceeding, the rates as finally determined are in excess of the rates prescribed in such temporary order, then such public utility may amortize and recover by means of a temporary increase over and above the rates finally determined such sum as represents the difference between the operating revenues obtained from the rates prescribed in such temporary order and the operating revenues which would have been obtained under the rates finally determined if applied during the period such temporary order was in effect.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5A;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  311;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  156;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

If, after hearing, the Commission finds any existing or proposed rate unjust, unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, or in any wise in violation of law, the Commission shall determine the just and reasonable rate to be charged or applied by the utility for the service in question, and shall fix the same by order to be served upon the utility; and such rate shall thereafter be observed until changed, as provided in this chapter. In determining the just and reasonable rate to be charged, the Commission shall consider the revenue needs of the utility, its past and projected rates of return on its rate base, or, when appropriate, its operating ratio.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  10;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  155;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

If the public utility fails to make refund within 90 days after the final determination by the Commission or by the court on appeal from the Commission’s order that the rate is excessive, any person entitled to such refund may sue therefor in any court of this State of competent jurisdiction and shall be entitled to recover, in addition to the amount of the refund due, all court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees, but no action may be maintained for that purpose unless instituted within 2 years after such final determination. Any number of persons entitled to such refund may join as plaintiffs and recover their several claims in a single action, and in such action the court shall render a judgment severally for each plaintiff as each plaintiff’s interest may appear.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  5;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  10;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  154;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 127; 

The Commission may, after hearing, by order in writing, require every public utility to carry a reasonable and adequate depreciation account in accordance with such rules, regulations, orders and forms of account as the Commission may prescribe. The Commission may, from time to time, ascertain and determine, and by order fix, the proper and adequate rates of depreciation of the several classes of property of each public utility or class of public utilities. Each public utility shall conform its depreciation accounts to the rates so ascertained, determined and fixed.

47 Del. Laws, c. 254, §  4;  48 Del. Laws, c. 371, §  8;  26 Del. C. 1953, §  130;  59 Del. Laws, c. 397, §  1; 

(a) The following definitions shall apply in this section:

(1) As used in this section, “DSIC rate” refers to distribution system improvement charge.

(2) As used in this section, “DSIC costs” means depreciation expenses and pretax return associated with eligible distribution system improvements.

(3) As used in this section, “DSIC revenues” means revenues produced through a DSIC exclusive of revenues from all other rates and charges.

(4) As used in this section, “eligible distribution system improvements” means new, used and useful water utility plant projects that:

a. Do not increase revenues by connecting the distribution system to new customers; and

b. Are in service; and

c. Were not included in the public utility’s rate base in its most recent general rate case; and which

d. Replace or renew water mains, valves, services, meters and hydrants serving existing customers that have reached their useful service life, are worn out, are in deteriorated condition, or which negatively impact the quality and reliability of service to the customer if not replaced or renewed; or

e. Extend mains to eliminate dead ends which negatively impact the quality and reliability of service to the customer; or

f. Relocate existing facilities as a result of governmental actions that are not reimbursed, including but not limited to relocations of mains located in highway rights of way as required by the Department of Transportation; or

g. Place in service, for the benefit of the customers of the water utility applying for the DSIC rate, water supply sources identified as “A list projects” in the Governor’s Task Force Report dated December 2, 1999, to resolve the regional water supply concerns or subsequently added to the “A list projects” by the [former] Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council, all such added projects to have been so identified by the [former] Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Counsel by December 31, 2002; or

h. Place in service new or additional water treatment facilities, plant or equipment required to meet changes in state or federal water quality standards, rules or regulations.

(5) As used in this section, “pretax return” means the revenues necessary to:

a. Produce net operating income equal to the public water utility’s weighted cost of capital as established in the most recent general rate proceeding for the public water utility multiplied by the net original cost of eligible distribution system improvements. At any time the Commission, by its own motion, or by motion of the water utility, Commission staff or the Public Advocate, may determine to revisit and, after hearing without the necessity of a general rate filing, reset a water utility’s cost of capital to reflect its current cost of capital. The DSIC rate shall be adjusted back to the date of the motion to reflect any change in the cost of capital determined by the Commission through this process;

b. Provide for the tax deductibility of the debt interest component of the weighted cost of capital; and

c. Pay state and federal income taxes applicable to such income.

(b) Notwithstanding other sections of this subchapter, a public utility providing water service may file with the Commission rate schedules establishing a DSIC rate that will allow for the automatic adjustment of the public water utility’s basic rates and charges to provide recovery of DSIC costs on a semiannual basis.

(1) The public water utility shall serve the Division of the Public Advocate’s office a copy of its filing at the time of its filing with the Commission. Customers of the public water utility shall be notified of changes in the DSIC rate by including appropriate information with the first bill they receive following any change in the rate.

(2) Publication of notice of the filing is not required.

(3) The effective date of changes in the DSIC rate shall be January 1 and July 1 every year.

(4) The public water utility shall file any request for a change in the DSIC rate and supporting data with the Commission at least 30 days prior to its effective date.

(5) The DSIC rate shall be adjusted semiannually for eligible distribution system improvements placed in service during the 6-month period ending 2 months prior to the effective date of changes in the DSIC rate.

(6) The DSIC rate shall be expressed as a percentage carried to 2 decimal places and applied to the total amount billed to each customer under the public water utility’s otherwise applicable rates and charges.

(7) The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings shall be capped at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, but the DSIC rate increase applied shall not exceed 5% within any 12-month period.

(8) The DSIC Rate shall be subject to audit at intervals determined by the Commission. It will also be subject to annual reconciliation based on a period consisting of the 12 months ending December 31 of each year. The revenue received under the DSIC Rate for the reconciliation period shall be compared to the public water utility’s eligible costs for that period with the difference between revenue received and eligible costs for the period recouped or refunded, as appropriate, over a 1-year period commencing July 1 of each year. If the DSIC Revenues exceeded the DSIC eligible costs, such over-collections shall be refunded with interest.

(9) The DSIC Rate shall be reset to zero as of the effective date of new base rates that provide for the prospective recovery of the annual costs theretofore recovered under the DSIC rate.

(10) The DSIC Rate shall also be reset to zero if, in any quarter, data filed with the Commission by the public water utility show that the public water utility will earn a rate of return that exceeds the rate of return established in its last general rate filing or by Commission order pursuant to paragraph (a)(5)a. of this section, if such was determined subsequent to the final order in the water utility’s last general rate filing. Further, the DSIC rate shall be reinstated when such data show that the established rate of return is not exceeded and will not be exceeded if the DSIC rate is reinstated and reset.

(11) Any water utility filing for interim rate relief under this section must comply with all reasonable information requests related to its filing, or any other audits or proceedings conducted pursuant to this section and must do so on an expedited basis.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not be available to a water utility subject to a finding of the Commission that the water utility is unable or unwilling to provide safe, adequate and reliable water service to its existing customers.

(d) The Commission may adopt rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this title, that the Commission finds reasonable or necessary to administer a DSIC.

73 Del. Laws, c. 138, §  2;  84 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 1; 

(a) The following definitions shall apply in this section:

(1) As used in this section, “DSIC costs” means depreciation expenses, and pretax return associated with eligible distribution system improvements.

(2) As used in this section, “DSIC rate” refers to a distribution system improvement charge.

(3) As used in this section, “DSIC revenues” means revenues produced through a DSIC exclusive of revenues from all other rates and charges.

(4) As used in this section, “eligible distribution system improvements” means new, used and useful electric or natural gas utility plant projects that:

a. Do not increase revenues by connecting the distribution system to new customers; and

b. Are in service; and

c. Were not included in the public utility’s rate base in its most recent general rate case filing; and which, in addition to meeting the 3 foregoing requirements, also satisfy at least 1 of the following criteria:

1. Replace or renew electric and natural gas distribution facilities serving existing customers that have reached their useful service life, are worn out, are in deteriorated condition, or which negatively impact the quality and reliability of service to the customer if not replaced or renewed; or

2. Extend or modify distribution facilities to eliminate conditions which negatively impact the quality and reliability of service to the customer; or

3. Relocate existing distribution facilities as a result of governmental actions that are not reimbursed, including but not limited to relocations of mains, lines and services, located in highway rights of way as required by the Department of Transportation; or

4. Place in service new or additional distribution facilities, plant or equipment required to meet changes in state or federal service quality standards, rules or regulations.

(5) As used in this section, “pretax return” means the revenues necessary to:

a. Produce net operating income equal to the public utility’s weighted cost of capital as established in the most recent general rate proceeding for the public utility multiplied by the net original cost of eligible distribution system improvements. At any time the Commission, by its own motion, or by motion of the utility, Commission staff or the Public Advocate, may determine to revisit and, after hearing without the necessity of a general rate filing, reset a utility’s cost of capital to reflect its current cost of capital. The DSIC rate shall be adjusted back to the date of the motion to reflect any change in the cost of capital determined by the Commission through this process;

b. Provide for the tax deductibility of the debt interest component of the weighted cost of capital; and

c. Pay state and federal income taxes applicable to such income.

(b) Notwithstanding other sections of this subchapter, a public utility providing electric and/or natural gas service may file with the Commission proposed rate schedules establishing a DSIC rate that will allow for the adjustment of the public utility’s basic rates and charges to provide recovery of DSIC costs on a semiannual basis.

(1) The public utility shall serve the Division of the Public Advocate’s office a copy of its filing at the time of its filing with the Commission. Customers not principally represented by the Public Advocate pursuant to § 8716(e)(2) of Title 29 and who inform the Commission in writing of their desire to be served shall also be served with a copy of the public utility filing at the time of its filing. All customers of the public utility shall be notified of changes in the DSIC rate by including appropriate information with the first bill they receive following any change in the rate.

(2) Publication of notice of the filing is not required.

(3) The effective date of changes in the DSIC rate shall be January 1 and July 1 every year. Proposed changes will become effective on those dates unless adjusted or rejected by the Commission for failure to comply with this section.

(4) The public utility shall file any request for a change in the DSIC rate and supporting data with the Commission at least 30 days prior to its effective date.

(5) The DSIC rate shall be adjusted semiannually for eligible distribution system improvements placed in service during the 6-month period ending 2 months prior to the effective date of changes in the DSIC rate.

(6) The DSIC rate shall be expressed as a percentage carried to 2 decimal places and applied to the total distribution base rate amount billed to each customer under the public utility’s otherwise applicable rates and charges established in the most recent general distribution rate case at the Commission.

(7) The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings shall be capped at 7.5% of the distribution base rate amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, but the DSIC rate increase applied shall not exceed 5% within any 12-month period.

(8) The DSIC Rate shall be subject to audit at intervals determined by the Commission. It will also be subject to annual reconciliation based on a period consisting of the 12 months ending December 31 of each year. The revenue received under the DSIC Rate for the reconciliation period shall be compared to the public utility’s eligible costs for that period with the difference between revenue received and eligible costs for the period recouped or refunded, as appropriate, over a 1-year period commencing July 1 of each year. If the DSIC Revenues exceeded the DSIC eligible costs, such over-collections shall be refunded with interest.

(9) The DSIC Rate shall be reset to zero as of the effective date of new base rates that provide for the prospective recovery of the annual costs theretofore recovered under the DSIC rate.

(10) The DSIC Rate shall also be reset to zero if, in any quarter, data filed with the Commission by the public utility show that the public utility will earn a rate of return that exceeds the rate of return established in its last general rate filing or by Commission order pursuant to paragraph (a)(5)a. of this section, if such was determined subsequent to the final order in the utility’s last general rate filing. Further, the DSIC rate shall be reinstated when such data show that the established rate of return is not exceeded and will not be exceeded if the DSIC rate is reinstated and reset.

(11) Any public utility filing for interim rate relief under this section must comply with all reasonable information requests related to its filing, or any other audits or proceedings conducted pursuant to this section and must do so on an expedited basis.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not be available to a public utility subject to a finding of the Commission that the public utility is unable or unwilling to provide safe, adequate and reliable service to its existing customers.

(d) The Commission may adopt rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this title, that the Commission finds reasonable or necessary to administer a DSIC. In the event an electric and/or natural gas utility applies for a DSIC before DSIC regulations specific to the particular utility are in place, then existing water DSIC regulations shall be applied to implement the utility’s DSIC without delay.

(e) In the event a DSIC rate is implemented under this section for any electric or natural gas utility serving over 100,000 customers in the State, such utility shall be precluded from filing an application with the Commission to increase its distribution base rates until January 1, 2020, at the earliest. In the event any electric or natural gas utility serving over 100,000 customers in the State files for an increase in its distribution base rates before January 1, 2020, such utility shall be precluded from filing for a DSIC rate.

(f) This section is not intended to preempt the Commission’s requirements under 26 DE Admin. Code 3007 with respect to annual reporting, annual planning or related stakeholder outreach.

(g) [Repealed.]

75 Del. Laws, c. 170, §  2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 1;  82 Del. Laws, c. 11, § 8;  83 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 27;  84 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 1;