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Regulatory Rate Filings | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory Rate Filings | Regulatory Rate Filings On January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a general rate case application requesting rate increases of $47,394, or 21.51% in 2013, $12,963, or 4.87% in 2014, and $34,797, or 12.59% in 2015. This general rate case filing also includes: (1) recovery of under-collected balancing account balances of $2,599, (2) disbursement of over-collected memorandum account balances of $650 and (3) implementation of a full revenue decoupling Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) and associated Modified Cost Balancing Account (“MCBA”). If approved, the WRAM and the MCBA would de-couple San Jose Water Company's earnings from customer usage. Parties to the proceeding filed open briefs on July 20, 2012 and reply briefs on August 7, 2012. On September 26, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a motion for interim rate relief so that if a decision was not reached by the end of 2012, San Jose Water Company would be allowed to adopt interim rates, effective January 1, 2013, until a decision is adopted. To date a decision has not been adopted and interim rates are currently in effect. Interim rates were set equal to fiscal year-end 2012 rates. Differences between interim rates and approved rates are tracked in a memorandum account and will be submitted for recovery or refund. A decision on this application is expected in the second quarter of 2014. On February 28, 2014, San Jose Water Company submitted Advice Letter No. 456. In this advice letter, San Jose Water Company notified the CPUC that San Jose Water Company was implementing conservation Tariff Rule 14.1. The CPUC's Rule 14.1 provides voluntary conservation measures for customers, focusing primarily on outdoor water use which accounts for 50% of a typical customer's water usage. In addition, San Jose Water Company requested the implementation of a Mandatory Conservation Memorandum Account (“MCMA”) to track all operational and administrative costs associated with the implementation of Rule 14.1 and implementation of a Mandatory Conservation Revenue Adjustment Memorandum Account (“MCRAMA”) to track any revenue shortfall associated with the implementation of the 20% conservation goal. The advice letter was approved on March 21, 2014 and the Rule 14.1 voluntary conservation measures, the MCMA, and MCRAMA all went into effect on March 31, 2014. On October 3, 2013, CLWSC filed a rate case with the TCEQ. The filing contained a request for an average system-wide rate increase of 23.1%, or $2,400. With the exception of customers served within the City of Bulverde, the new rates became effective on December 2, 2013. Subsequently, effective March 1, 2014, a rate settlement agreement was reached with the City of Bulverde with rate increases being phased-in over a 28-month period. For customers outside the City of Bulverde, prior to approval by the TCEQ, the new rates are subject to adjustment and refund. The Company has recognized the average 23.1% increase in accordance with ASC Topic 980 which provides guidance when a regulated entity is permitted to bill requested rate increases before the regulator has ruled on the request. If information becomes available that indicates it is probable that any of the average 23.1% rate increase will need to be refunded and the amount of refund can be reasonably estimated, a loss contingency shall be accrued. CLWSC has determined at this time that it is not probable that any of the rate increase will need to be refunded. Management does not anticipate that the final TCEQ decision will materially affect the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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