{"id":"AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-003","kind":"order","level":"sector-regulator","jurisdiction":"Arkansas (State public utility commission)","state":"AR","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG","eco":"","issuer":"Arkansas Public Service Commission","authority":"Ark. Code Ann. 23-2-301; EO 20-03; EO 20-06 (recited)","instrument":"Order No. 1, Docket No. 20-012-A, In the Matter of Administrative Orders Relating to the COVID-19 State of Emergency","title":"Order directing all Commission-jurisdictional electric, gas and water public utilities to suspend disconnections during the Governor\u0027s emergency declaration, suspending tariff provisions conditioning reconnection, and authorizing regulatory assets","dateIssued":"2020-04-10","effective":"2020-04-10 (filed April 10, 2020, 11:40 a.m.)","end":"By its terms, \u0027during the pendency of the Governor\u0027s emergency declaration, or until this directive is rescinded by the Commission\u0027.","startDate":"2020-04-10","endDate":"2021-05-30","quarters":["2020Q2","2020Q3","2020Q4"],"types":["OTHER"],"addressees":["all Commission-jurisdictional electric public utilities (Entergy Arkansas, OG\u0026E, SWEPCO, Empire District and 18 named electric cooperatives)","gas utilities (Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Black Hills Energy Arkansas, CenterPoint Energy Resources, Logan Township Gas Users Association)","water utilities (Liberty Utilities (Pine Bluff Water))"],"clause":"2. If they have not done so already, all Commission-jurisdictional electric, gas, and water public utilities (Utilities) in the State of Arkansas shall suspend disconnections of water, gas, and electricity services during the pendency of the Governor\u0027s emergency declaration, or until this directive is rescinded by the Commission. The Commission also suspends, pending further orders, any and all rules and provisions of individual Utility tariffs on file that prevent or condition re-connection of disconnected customers.... 5. Utilities shall be required to offset costs by any cost savings directly attributable to the suspension of disconnections or other activities during the emergency declaration. Utilities should track all costs related to the implementation of these emergency measures. 6. All Utilities shall file a quarterly report on the amounts of the costs incurred and saved which have been booked to the regulatory assets beginning on July 1, 2020, and every three months thereafter.... 8. This Order shall not affect a Utility\u0027s ability to disconnect a customer\u0027s service for public safety concerns unrelated to non-payment of services. 9. This Order does not eliminate the requirement that Utility customers continue to pay Utility bills during this temporary suspension.","enforcement":"Ark. Code Ann. 23-2-301 (\u0027vested with the power and jurisdiction, and it is made its duty, to supervise and regulate every public utility... and to do all things... necessary or expedient in the exercise of such power\u0027); Ark. Code Ann. 23-3-108 to -109 (penalties for violation of Commission orders)","functions":["OP collections and disconnection operations of every jurisdictional electric, gas and water utility suspended","SV reconnection of previously disconnected customers required without tariff conditions","OF new quarterly cost-reporting obligation from July 1, 2020","CB customer base (bills continue to accrue; payment arrangements encouraged when the prohibition lifts)"],"notes":"The docket generated more than 300 filings by utilities responding to Order No. 1 (CenterPoint\u0027s request to suspend late fees, Apr. 22, 2020; SWEPCO, OG\u0026E, Entergy Arkansas, Farmers and Craighead cooperatives\u0027 requests for additional actions, Apr. 29-May 8, 2020), read in header only. The order recites that \u0027most jurisdictional electric, gas, and water public utilities have already resolved to suspend all disconnections for non-payment\u0027 and makes the suspension mandatory.","sourceUrl":"http://www.apscservices.info/pdf/20/20-012-A_1_1.pdf","snapshot":"","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":1569279,"grade":"primary","character":"","description":"","collection":"AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG","url":"/library/AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-003","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-003","citation":"Arkansas Public Service Commission, Order No. 1, Docket No. 20-012-A, In the Matter of Administrative Orders Relating to the COVID-19 State of Emergency (Apr. 10, 2020) (Ex. AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG-003)","stateName":"Arkansas","related":[]}