Title 3 . Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

Chapter 48 . Telecommunications

Section 277. Uniform system of accounts

3 AAC 48.277. Uniform system of accounts

(a) Except as otherwise ordered by the commission, each public utility or pipeline carrier shall comply with the following Uniform System of Accounts applicable to that utility or carrier:

(1) a telephone utility shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Telecommunications Companies prescribed by 47 C.F.R. 32, as revised as of January 1, 1988 and adopted by reference, subject to the following modifications, exceptions, and exclusions:

(A) a telephone utility with annual operating revenues of $5,000,000 or more is a Class A utility and shall use the Class A system of accounts under 47 C.F.R. 32;

(B) a telephone utility with annual operating revenues of less than $5,000,000 is a Class B utility and shall use the Class B system of accounts under 47 C.F.R. 32;

(C) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.16(a), 47 C.F.R. 32.22(a) and (c), 47 C.F.R. 32.27(f), 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(b)(1) and (4), 47 C.F.R. 32.2004, 47 C.F.R. 32.2005(b)(3), 47 C.F.R. 32.2215, 47 C.F.R. 32.2425, 47 C.F.R. 32.6215, and 47 C.F.R. 32.6425 are not adopted by reference;

(D) a reference in 47 C.F.R. 32 to "Commission," "Federal Communications Commission," "Common Carrier Bureau," or "Wireline Competition Bureau" means the Regulatory Commission of Alaska;

(E) the dollar-limit waivers provided for in 47 C.F.R. 32 are not applicable for purposes of the account treatment required by this paragraph, with the following exceptions:

(i) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.25 are adopted, as revised to allow a Class A telephone utility, without prior commission approval, to record in current operating accounts a correction of an error in a prior period that is no more than one percent of the aggregate summary account;

(ii) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(d)(1) are adopted;

(iii) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.2003(b) are adopted, as revised to allow a Class A telephone utility to book short-term plant under construction to plant accounts when the cost of a construction project is $100,000 or less and to allow a Class B telephone utility to book plant under construction to plant accounts when the cost of the construction project is $25,000 or less;

(iv) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(a)(4), as revised as of January 1, 2003, are adopted by reference to allow a telephone utility to employ a capitalization threshold of $2,000 for the applicable accounts identified in 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(a)(4);

(v) a telephone utility following 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(a)(4), as adopted by reference in (iv) of this subparagraph, may elect a $500 capitalization threshold in place of the $2,000 threshold; within 60 days after November 28, 2003, a telephone utility making an election under this sub-subparagraph must file with the commission a letter indicating the election to use the lower threshold; once the election is made, the telephone utility may not change to the $2,000 threshold without commission approval;

(F) for purposes of the account at 47 C.F.R. 32.2003 for plant under construction, a telephone utility shall capitalize allowance for funds used during construction and construction work in progress using a capitalization rate based on the actual average cost of debt, as provided for in 47 C.F.R. 32.2000(c)(2)(x), 47 C.F.R. 32.2003(a) and (c), and 47 C.F.R. 32.7340, as revised as of September 6, 1995 and adopted by reference;

(G) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.2123, 47 C.F.R. 32.2211, 47 C.F.R. 32.2212, 47 C.F.R. 32.2232, and 47 C.F.R. 32.2424, as revised as of January 1, 2003, are adopted by reference;

(H) the provisions of 47 C.F.R. 32.6120, 47 C.F.R. 32.6211, 47 C.F.R. 32.6212, 47 C.F.R. 32.6232, and 47 C.F.R. 32.6424, as revised as of January 1, 2003, are adopted by reference

(2) for purposes of applying (1) of this subsection a telephone utility shall follow the cost allocation principles prescribed by 47 C.F.R. 64.901, as revised as of January 1, 1988 and adopted by reference;

(3) for purposes of allocating the costs of joint use or interconnection of facilities under 3 AAC 48.430, a telephone utility shall account for its operations in accordance with (1) and (2) of this subsection;

(4) in (1) - (3) of this subsection "telephone utility" means a telecommunications public utility, except for a cable television or radio common carrier utility;

(5) gas public utilities with annual operating revenues of $5,000,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A natural gas companies prescribed by Part 201 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 201) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(6) gas public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $1,500,000 but less than $5,000,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B natural gas companies prescribed by Part 201 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 201) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(7) gas public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $500,000 but less than $1,500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class C natural gas companies prescribed by Part 204 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 204) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(8) gas public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class D natural gas companies prescribed by Part 204 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 204) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(9) electric public utilities financed in whole or in part by the Rural Electrification Administration shall maintain their records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed for electric borrowers of the Rural Electrification Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(10) electric public utilities not subject to (9) of this subsection with annual operating revenues of $5,000,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A public utilities prescribed by Part 101 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 101) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(11) electric public utilities not subject to (9) of this subsection with annual operating revenues of at least $1,500,000 but less than $5,000,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B public utilities prescribed by Part 101 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 101) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(12) electric public utilities not subject to (9) of this subsection with annual operating revenues of at least $500,000 but less than $1,500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class C public utilities prescribed by Part 104 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 104) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(13) electric public utilities not subject to (9) of this subsection with annual operating revenues of less than $500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class D public utilities prescribed by Part 104 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.R.F. Part 104) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(14) water public utilities with annual operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A water utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(15) water public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B water utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(16) water public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $250,000 but less than $500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class C water utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(17) water public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $250,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class D water utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(18) garbage, refuse, trash, and other waste material public utilities with annual operating revenues of $250,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class 1 solid waste collection and disposal utilities prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities, State of New Jersey, which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(19) garbage, refuse, trash, or other waste material public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $250,000 but more than $100,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class 2 solid waste collection and disposal utilities prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities, State of New Jersey, which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(20) garbage, refuse, trash, or other waste material public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $100,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class 3 solid waste collection and disposal utilities prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities, State of New Jersey, which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(21) community antenna or cable television (CATV) public utilities with annual operating revenues of $200,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A CATV public utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(22) community antenna or cable television (CATV) public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $200,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B CATV public utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(23) beginning with the utility's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, radio common carrier public utilities shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for radio common carrier public utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(24) beginning with the utility's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, sewer public utilities with annual operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A sewer utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(25) beginning with the utility's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, sewer public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B sewer public utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(26) beginning with the utility's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, sewer public utilities with annual operating revenues of at least $250,000 but less than $500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class C sewer public utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(27) beginning with the utility's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, sewer public utilities with annual operating revenues of less than $250,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class D sewer utilities prescribed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(28) beginning with the pipeline carrier's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, pipeline carriers shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for oil (crude and products) pipelines prescribed by Part 352 (18 C.F.R. Part 352) of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(29) beginning with the pipeline carrier's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, natural gas pipeline carriers with annual operating revenues of $2,500,000 or more shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class A natural gas pipelines prescribed by Part 201 of the Federal Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 201) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(30) beginning with the pipeline carrier's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, natural gas pipeline carriers with annual operating revenues of at least $1,000,000 but less than $2,500,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class B natural gas pipelines prescribed by Part 201 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 201) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(31) beginning with the pipeline carrier's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, natural gas pipeline carriers with annual operating revenues of at least $150,000 but less than $1,000,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class C natural gas pipelines prescribed by Part 204 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 204) which were in effect on January 1, 1982;

(32) beginning with the pipeline carrier's fiscal year immediately following the effective date of this paragraph, natural gas pipeline carriers with annual operating revenues of less than $150,000 shall maintain records and accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for Class D natural gas pipelines prescribed by Part 204 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations (18 C.F.R. Part 204) which were in effect on January 1, 1982.

(b) Each of the Uniform System of Accounts referred to in (a) of this section may be obtained at the office of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission as specified in 3 AAC 48.010(a) .

(c) Repealed 11/28/2003.

(d) The adoption by reference of the applicable Uniform System of Accounts set out in (a) of this section does not preclude a utility, upon notification to the commission, from maintaining accounts and records in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed for the same type of utility in a higher revenue classification.

(e) A pipeline carrier shall establish and maintain as part of its system of accounts continuing property records showing, as to property units in this state, the year of placement in service; original cost; and current location; and, as to a pipeline system, accounts and records in a manner showing, on a current basis, the original cost of the system in the state and related reserves for depreciation.

(f) A pipeline carrier shall keep its accounts for its pipeline facilities located in this state separate from any accounts relating to any other business it engages in, directly or indirectly. No property, expense, or revenue used in or derived from the other business will be considered in establishing the rates and charges of the facilities.

History: Eff. 6/29/84, Register 90; am 6/16/88, Register 106; am 5/20/99, Register 150; am 11/23/2003, Register 168

Authority: AS 42.05.141

AS 42.05.151

AS 42.05.321

AS 42.05.361

AS 42.05.401

AS 42.05.451

AS 42.05.691

AS 42.06.140

AS 42.06.430

AS 42.06.620