DR 98-034
Public Service Company of New Hampshire
Outdoor Lighting Service Rate ML and ML-EM
Order NISI Approving Changes to Outdoor Lighting Service Rate ML
and Outdoor Lighting Energy and Maintenance Service High Pressure
Sodium Rate ML-HPS Rate Schedules
O R D E R N O. 22,911
April 28, 1998
On March 16, 1998, the Petitioner, Public Service
Company of New Hampshire (PSNH or the Company), filed with the
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) a
proposal to expand its outdoor lighting service along with a
technical statement and revised tariff pages. PSNH proposes to
add new metal halide sizes to the existing Outdoor Lighting
Service Rate ML and Outdoor Lighting Energy and Maintenance
Service High Pressure Sodium Rate ML-HPS rate schedules. PSNH is
proposing these changes to meet the increased demand for halide
lighting by its customers. Because the Company is introducing
metal halide lights under Rate ML-HPS, PSNH is also proposing to
rename Rate ML-HPS to Outdoor Lighting Energy and Maintenance
Service Rate ML-EM.
The Company maintains that metal halide lighting offers
versatility, efficiency, and long life, for outdoor lighting
services. Due to similarities in cost between high pressure
sodium and metal halide lighting equipment, the Company used
existing high pressure sodium rates as a reference to calculate
rates for additional sizes for metal halide. In addition to the
new lighting types, PSNH also proposes a minor revision to the
New Installations, Extensions and Replacement section of Rate ML.
Specifically, the reference to the First National Bank of Boston
as the source of determining the interest rate for carrying
charges has been changed to The Wall Street Journal. This change
is necessary because the First Bank of Boston merged with BayBank
and is now called BankBoston. The use of the Prime Rate in The
Wall Street Journal is consistent with the interest rate PSNH
uses to determine interest on deposits.
The Commission has reviewed PSNH's filing and will
approve the proposed changes. We find that the proposed changes
will help PSNH better meet the needs of its customers and that
the changes are in the public interest. There have been
substantial technological improvements in metal halide lighting
and this will allow the Company to offer more cost-effective
outdoor lighting services to its customers.
Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED NISI, that Public Service Company of New
Hampshire's request for approval of changes to its tariff for
Outdoor Service Rate ML and Outdoor Lighting Energy and
Maintenance Service High Pressure Sodium Rate ML-HPS are
approved; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules,
Puc 1604.03 or Puc 1605.03, the Petitioner shall cause a copy of
this Order Nisi to be published once in a statewide newspaper of
general circulation or of circulation in those portions of the
state where operations are conducted, such publication to be no
later than May 5, 1998 and to be documented by affidavit filed
with this office on or before May 12, 1998; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that all persons interested in
responding to this petition be notified that they may submit
their comments or file a written request for a hearing on this
matter before the Commission no later than May 19, 1998; and
it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that any party interested in
responding to such comments or request for hearing shall do so no
later than May 26, 1998; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi shall be
effective May 28, 1998, unless the Commission provides otherwise
in a supplemental order issued prior to the effective date; and
it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petitioner shall file a
compliance tariff with the Commission on or before May 28, 1998,
in accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc 1603.02(b).
By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this twenty-eighth day of April, 1998.
Douglas L. Patch Bruce B. Ellsworth Susan S. Geiger
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Claire D. DiCicco
Assistant Secretary