Legal Notices

In the juvenile court of Sublete county, Wyoming ninth judicial district
In the matter of the name change of Sierra Dawn Hawkins-Nudelman, a minor Civil Action No. 2006-6923 Notice of publication.
Notice is hereby given that Michelle Cunningham, guardian of Minor, Sierra Dawn Hawkins-Nudelman, has filed a petition with District Court of Sublette County, Wyoming in the above captioned civil action to legally change her daughter’s name to Sierra Dawn Cunningham. Any person having an objection to this petition is hereby put on notice, and may file a response with the Clerk of District Court.
Dated this 10 day of October, 2006
Jessica Rotzick, Attorney at Law
Post Office Box 4114
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-8140
(307) 733-8139 (facsimile)
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14, 2006.

STATE OF WYOMING Department of Environmental Quality /Division of Air Quality PUBLIC NOTICE
Chapter 6, Section 2(m) of the Wyoming Air Quality Standards and Regulations provides that prior to final determination on an application to modify an existing source, opportunity be given for public comment and/or public hearing on the information submitted by the owner or operator and on the analysis underlying the proposed approval or disapproval. The regulation further requires that such information be made available in at least one location in the affected air quality control region, and that the public be allowed a period of thirty (30) days in which to submit comments. A public hearing will be conducted only if in the opinion of the administrator sufficient interest is generated or if an aggrieved party so requests.
Notice is hereby given that the State of Wyoming, Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality, proposes to approve a request by the following applicant to modify an existing source in Sublette County, Wyoming.
EnCana Oil & Gas (USA)
370 17th Street, Suite 1700
Denver, CO 80202
The applicant has requested permission to modify the Jonah Federal 1-7X gas/ condensate production facility by installing production and equipment associated with five new wells and seven existing wells, with two reboiler overheads still vent condensers and one common smokeless combustion device to control volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutant emissions associated with two dehydration units and two condensate tanks, located in the NE1/4 NE1/4 of Section 7, T28N, R108W, approximately twenty one (21) miles east southeast of Big Piney in Sublette County, Wyoming. The Division is proposing to issue the permit with conditions allowing additional production and equipment to be installed at the facility in accordance with the revised permitting and emission control guidance issued July 28, 2004. A copy of the permit application and the agency’s analysis is available for public inspection at the Sublette County Clerk’s Office, Pinedale, Wyoming. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance or alternate formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities.
Comments may be directed to David A. Finley, Administrator, Division of Air Quality, Department of Environmental Quality, 122 W. 25th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002. All comments received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2007, will be considered in the final determination on this application.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 30 and December 7, 14, and 21, 2006.

NOTICE AND ORDER
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, W.S. § 37-1-101, et seq., and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Procedural Rules and Special Regulations, notice is hereby given that a public hearing regarding the application of Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. (Pinedale or the Company), for approval of its revised Commodity Balancing Account Tariff, has been scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2007, in the Commission’s hearing room located at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
On July 7, 2006, Pinedale submitted its application requesting approval of the Company’s proposed changes to its tariffs to comply with Sections 249 and 250 of the Commission’s Rules. Pinedale’s application includes a copy of the proposed tariff. The Company further states in its application the proposed tariff change does not result in a decrease or increase in rates and charges, and therefore, a report of tariff change is not required. The Company states in its application it is submitting changes to page R32 of its existing tariffs (PSCW Tariff No. 6) for the following reasons:
a. To specify in more detail the calculation of the monthly accrual for pass-on applications which reflect changes in the costs of wholesale gas.
b. To clarify and identify the specific costs or expenses the Commission has approved for inclusion in pass-on applications.
c. To explain the frequency the Company will file an application for an adjustment to rates and charges pursuant to the purchased gas adjustment clause and to explain how the test period is determined for any such filing. Pinedale is prepared to file such cases on a semi-annual basis.
d. To identify the supporting basis for the forecast of wholesale commodity related costs for the test period.
e. To request, in accordance with Commission Rule Section 250(e), the Company receive approval for calculating interest on any over-collected or under-collected balance. In support of its position, Pinedale offered, in its application, the following reasons for allowing the Company to charge interest on under-collected balances:
i. The application avers the Commission must consider the interests of the utility and the pubic in accordance with the public interest under W.S. § 37-2-112. The Company states this requires an equitable treatment for interest on under-collections. The calculation of interest on over-collected balances only is unfairly one-sided and contrary to the statutory requirement guiding the Commission.
ii. Pinedale states it is in the best interest of the customers to maintain a strong and healthy utility. A healthy Company can better attract investment and negotiate better interest rates on debt. The lower interest costs are passed on directly to the customers. The need to raise capital is crucial and the continued assessment of interest on under-collections is beneficial to the health of Pinedale.
iii. The Company asserts when there is an under-collected balance, Pinedale may be required to borrow money to pay for the gas customers have received, but for which they have not completely paid.
Extra borrowing can add significantly to the Company’s costs and may have an adverse impact on Pinedale’s ability to borrow. The calculation of interest on the under-collected balance compensates for these costs which would be difficult to recover in a general rate case, since they can vary significantly from year to year with the changes in the market price of natural gas.
vi. The Company claims because the interest on under-collected balances varies more directly with changes in the natural gas prices, these costs are more appropriately handled in a pass-on proceeding rather than a general rate case. A pass-on proceeding more appropriately addresses and matches all of the costs of natural gas.
v. The Company states neither Pinedale nor the customers can control the changes in the natural gas markets that cause imbalances. The Company proposes an alternative to calculating interest on undercollected balance: filing monthly pass-on cases, or at least much more frequent outof period pass-on cases. Pinedale states the more frequent filing of cases would lower the average balance, either under- or over-collected, but could also be a burden to the Company and the Commission. This extra-administrative burden could raise costs to all customers.
f. To clarify the procedure and time period used to amortize the balance of any over- or under-collection in the Commodity Balancing Account. The balance will be amortized over the forecasted decatherm sales for the period and the amortization will be added or subtracted from Pinedale’s gas-cost gas rates.
The Commission issued its Notice of Application regarding this matter on August 4, 2006. The Notice of Application was published in the Pinedale Roundup and was broadcast on KPIN in Pinedale. The Notice of Application provided a deadline of September 5, 2006, for interested persons to file a statement, protest, intervention, or a request for public hearing.
On September 5, 2006, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) filed its written statement, protest and notice of intervention in this matter, setting forth its concerns and issues regarding Pinedale’s proposed revisions to its tariffs.
On October 11, 2006, the Commission held a pre-hearing conference to consider scheduling issues related to the tariff application. A hearing was scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Pinedale’s application and OCA’s written comments are on file with the Commission at its offices in Cheyenne, Wyoming, or at the Company’s offices in Pinedale, Wyoming and may be inspected by any interested person during regular business hours.
The Commission hereby sets the following procedural schedule:
December 8, 2006 Deadline for Pinedale to pre-file its direct testimony and exhibits. December 22, 2006 Deadline for OCA to pre-file its direct testimony and exhibits January 8, 2007 Hearing at Commission’s hearing room commencing at 1:30 p.m.
All pre-filed testimony and exhibits are to be filed concurrently with the Commission and all parties. Any intervenor or other party who does not file and serve written, prepared direct testimony together with any exhibits it wishes to offer by the relevant deadline will not be allowed to present an affirmative case at the public hearing The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s Procedural Rules and Special Regulations. All interested persons may appear and be heard, either in person or through counsel, as provided for by Commission rule.
The Wyoming Public Service Commission’s hearings are open to all persons.
If you wish to attend this hearing and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Wyoming Public Service Commission at (307) 777-7427 (Voice or TTY) in Cheyenne during regular business hours or write to them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82002, to make arrangements. Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay (TTY) by dialing 711. Please mention Docket Number 30016-42-GT-06 in your communications and contact us as soon as possible to help us serve you better.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 30 and December 7, 2006.

PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Procedural Rules and Special Regulations, notice is hereby given of the amended application of Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. (Pinedale or the Company), for authority to establish a revised overall rate of return of 11.5% to reflect changes in the costs of providing natural gas service.
Pinedale is a public utility as defined by W.S. § 37-1-101(a)(vi)(D), and, as such, is subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of W.S. § 37 2112.
In Docket No. 30016-38-GP-06, the Commission directed Pinedale to file a general rate application no later than March 31, 2006. On February 6, 2006, Pinedale filed a general rate application seeking authority to establish a revised overall rate of return to reflect changes in the costs of providing natural gas.
On February 15, 2006, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) filed its Notice of Intervention, Objection, Request for Suspension and Request for Hearing.
On March 31, 2006, Pinedale filed an amended application pursuant to the Commission’s direction at the open meeting on March 2, 2006. Within the pre-filed testimony submitted with the amended application, Mr. Gilmer Mickey and Mr. Steve Shute, Pinedale’s witnesses, addressed a rate of return of 11.5%. The Company states the costs for providing natural gas service have been increasing. Pinedale states the rate of return on investment is not reasonable at this time and needs to increase. The application states while it is not anticipated the Company’s rates will increase, it is necessary that accurate customer counts are used in calculating the rates and an appropriate return on investment be awarded to Pinedale. The Company stated in the amended application it was requesting an elevated return on investment and a public hearing be set in this matter to establish rates which reflect the Company’s cost of service and the shareholder’s risk in providing service.
On April 26, 2006, Commission Technical Staff submitted to the Company a series of Data Requests to supplement Pinedale’s amended application. These Data Requests were in regard to (1) Cost of Service, (2) Financial Information, (3) Rate Base, (4) Cost of Equity/Rate of Return, and (5) Community Relations and Consumer Education. Staff requested Pinedale’s responses be submitted by May 15, 2006 and a pre-hearing conference was set for May 22, 2006.
On May 15, 2006, Pinedale requested additional time to respond to the Data Requests. This request was heard on May 22, 2006 at the pre-hearing conference. On May 19, 2006, Pinedale submitted responses to the Data Requests.
On May 26, 2006, the Commission issued an Order Denying Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. Request for Additional time to Respond to Commission Technical Staff Data Request April 26,2006 and Order by the Commission for Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. to Supplement its Amended Application. In this Order, the Commission stated in Paragraph 13, the Company’s response to the Data Requests was incomplete, and Pinedale has a responsibility to present a well-documented rate case. Pinedale was ordered to supplement its general rate case filing on or before the close of business on June 5, 2006, pursuant to Commission direction in Paragraph 13 of this Order.
On June 5, 2006, Pinedale submitted supplemental information to the Data Requests.
On June 9, 2006, the Commission held a pre-hearing conference directing Pinedale to file additional information to supplement its application on or before August 25, 2006.
On August 29, 2006, Pinedale filed additional information as directed by the Commission during the June 9, 2006, prehearing conference. This additional information includes a report by C.H. Guernsey & Company, which recommended a total cost of capital (return on rate base) range between 10.15% and 10.42%. C.H. Guernsey used the lower limit of this range (10.15%) in its calculations. The C.H. Guernsey report also recommended an estimated a cost of common equity in the range of 13.0% to 13.5%.
On October 11, 2006, the Commission held another pre-hearing conference to consider scheduling issues related to this application. The filing date in this matter was determined by the Commission to be August 29, 2006, as agreed to by Pinedale and OCA, and a hearing was scheduled for March 21-23, 2007, in Pinedale.
By Suspension Order issued on November 2, 2006, the rate filing of Pinedale was suspended for the statutory period provided for in W.S. § 37-3-106, utilizing the filing date of August 29, 2006.
In this amended and supplemented application, Pinedale requests to increase its overall rate of return on rate base to 11.5%. Although Pinedale only requests an increase to its rate of return on rate base, the requested increase may lead to a change in rates to individual customer classes. The Commission is guided by W.S. §§ 37-2-119 and 37-2-122 in review of such applications. The general rate application traditionally covers all facets of a utility's operations, finances, rate design, and rate of return. Montana Dakota Utilities Company v. Public Service Commission of Wyoming, 1993 WY 23, 847 P.2d 978, 988b(1993).
Pinedale’s amended and supplemented application is on file with the Commission at its offices located in Cheyenne, Wyoming and at its offices in Pinedale, Wyoming. The general rate filing may be inspected by any interested person during regular business hours.
Anyone desiring to file a statement, protest, intervention or to request a public hearing in this matter must so file, in writing, with the Commission, on or before December 28, 2006. The petition shall set forth the grounds of the proposed intervention or request for hearing and the position and interest of the petitioner in this proceeding.
If you wish to intervene in this matter and/or request a public hearing which you will attend and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Wyoming Public Service Commission at (307) 777-7427 or write to them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements.
Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay by dialing 711. Please mention Docket No. 30016-41-GR-06 in your communications and contact us as soon as possible to help us serve you better.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 30 and December 7, 2006.

PUBLIC NOTICE
In the District Court of Sublette County,
Wyoming Ninth Judicial District
BRYAN A. DAVID and
NINA C. DAVID, husband
and wife, in the interest
of SARAH KAY HYDE, Petitioners,
vs.
GARY W. HYDE, Respondent.
Civil Action No. 2006-6942
TO: Gary W. Hyde
NOTICE is hereby given that on the 20th day of November, 2006, a Petition was filed in the District Court for Sublette County, Wyoming, Ninth Judicial District, in which you were named a Respondent.
The Petition requests that your parental rights to Sarah Kay Hyde, born September 12, 1997, be terminated and that the Court enter a decree approving the adoption of Sarah Kay Hyde by her stepfather, Bryan A. David.
You are required to respond to this petition by filing an answer no later than thirty (30) days after the last date of publication of this notice or default may be entered against you if you fail to appear. DATED this 30th day of November, 2006.
MARILYN JENSEN
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
P.O. Box 764
Pinedale, WY 82941
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 30 and December 7, 14, and 21, 2006.

WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CHEYENNE, WYOMING NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AND FINAL SETTLEMENT FOR HIGHWAY WORK
Notice is hereby given that the State Transportation Commission of Wyoming has accepted as completed according to plans, specifications and rules governing the same work performed under that certain contract between the State of Wyoming, acting through said Commission, and Hardrives Construction, Inc.. the Contractor, on Highway Project Number AERPMP-03X-003X-00(206), in Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Platte, Sublette, Teton and Uinta County, consisting of statewide airport cracksealing, and the Contractor is entitled to final settlement therefore; that the Director of the Department of Transportation will cause said Contractor to be paid the full amount due him under said contract on January 10, 2007.
The date of the first publication of this Notice is November 29, 2006.
STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OF WYOMING
Original signed - copy on file in Federal Aid
By: Kimberly Lamb, Federal Aid Supervisor, Budget Program
Published in the Pinedale Roundup November 30 and December 7, and 14, 2006.

Notice of Public Hearings
Wyoming Livestock Board The Wyoming Livestock Board has scheduled public hearings to receive public comment on Chapter 2 Vaccination Against & Surveillance for Brucellosis Rules at the following times and locations:
Dec. 12 – Big Piney Sublette Co. Fairgrounds – Commercial Bldg. ~ 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 13 – Riverton The Armory at the Fairgrounds ~ 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Dec. 15 – Torrington Eastern WY College Tebbet Bldg. Rm. 131 ~ 1-3 p.m. For more information or copies of the proposed rules contact Cynthia Sandoz at (307) 777-6443.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup December 7, 2006.

PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission's (Commission) Procedural Rules and Special Regulations, notice is hereby given of the amended application of Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. (Pinedaie or the Company), for authority to establish a revised overall rate of return of 11.5% to reflect changes in the costs of providing natural gas service.
Pinedale is a public utility as defined by W.S. § 37-1-101(a)(vi)(D), and, as such, is subject to the Commission's jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of W.S.§ 37-2-112.
In Docket No. 30016-38-GP-06, the Commission directed Pinedale to file a general rate application no later than March 31, 2006. On February 6, 2006, Pinedale filed a general rate application seeking authority to establish a revised overall rate of return to reflect changes in the costs of providing natural gas.
On February 15, 2006, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) filed its Notice of Intervention, Objection, Request for Suspension and Request for Hearing.
On March 31, 2006, Pinedale filed an amended application pursuant to the Commission's direction at the open meeting on March 2, 2006. Within the prefiled testimony submitted with the amended application, Mr. Gilmer Mickey and Mr. Steve Shute, Pinedale's witnesses, addressed a rate of return of 11.5%. The Company states the costs for providing natural gas service have been increasing.
Pinedale states the rate of return on investment is not reasonable at this time and needs to increase. The application states while it is not anticipated the Company's rates will increase, it is necessary that accurate customer counts are used in calculating the rates and an appropriate return on investment be awarded to Pinedale. The Company stated in the amended application it was requesting an elevated return on investment and a public hearing be set in this matter to establish rates which reflect the Company's cost of service and the shareholder's risk in providing service. On April 26, 2006, Commission Technical Staff submitted to the Company a series of Data Requests to supplement Pinedale's amended application. These Data Requests were in regard to (1) Cost of Service, (2) Financial Information, (3) Rate Base, (4) Cost of Equity/Rate of Return, and (5) Community Relations and Consumer Education. Staff requested Pinedale's responses be submitted by May 15, 2006 and a pre-hearing conference was set for May 22, 2006.
On May 15, 2006, Pinedale requested additional time to respond to the Data Requests. This request was heard on May 22, 2006 at the pre-hearing conference. On May 19, 2006, Pinedale submitted responses to the Data Requests.
On May 26, 2006, the Commission issued an Order Denying Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. Request for Additional time to Respond to Commission Technical Staff Data Request April 26,2006 and Order by the Commission for Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. to Supplement its Amended Application. In this Order, the Commission stated in Paragraph 13, the Company's response to the Data Requests was incomplete, and Pinedale has a responsibility to present a well- documented rate case.
Pinedale was ordered to supplement its general rate case filing on or before the close of business on June 5, 2006, pursuant to Commission direction in Paragraph 13 of this Order.
On June 5, 2006, Pinedale submitted supplemental information to the Data Requests.
On June 9, 2006, the Commission held a pre-hearing conference directing Pinedale to file additional information to supplement its application on or before August 25, 2006.
On August 29, 2006, Pinedale filed additional information as directed by the Commission during the June 9, 2006, pre-hearing conference. This additional information includes a report by C.H. Guernsey & Company, which recommended a total cost of capital (return on rate base) range between 10.15% and 10.42%.
C.H. Guernsey used the lower timit of this range (10.15%) in its calculations. The C.H. Guernsey report also recommended an estimated a cost of common equity in the range of 13.0% to 13.5%.
On October 11, 2006, the Commission held another pre-hearing conference to consider scheduling issues related to this application. The filing date in this matter was determined by the Commission to be August 29, 2006, as agreed to by Pinedale and OCA, and a hearing was scheduled for March 21-23, 2007, in Pinedale.
By Suspension Order issued on November 2, 2006, the rate filing of Pinedale was suspended for the statutory period provided for in W.S. § 37-3-106, utilizing the filing date of August 29, 2006.
In this amended and supplemented application, Pinedale requests to increase its overall rate of return on rate base to 11.5%. Although Pinedale only requests an increase to its rate of return on rate base, the requested increase may lead to a change in rates to individual customer classes. The Commission is guided by W.S. §§ 37-2-119 and 37-2-122 in review of such applications. The general rate application traditionally covers all facets of a utility's operations, finances, rate design, and rate of return. Montana Dakota Utilities Company v. Public Service Commission of Wyoming, 1993 WY 23, 847 P.2d 978, 988 (1993).
Pinedale's amended and supplemented application is on file with the Commission at its offices located in Cheyenne, Wyoming and at its offices in Pinedale, Wyoming. The general rate filing may be inspected by any interested person during regular business hours.
Anyone desiring to file a statement, protest, intervention or to request a public hearing in this matter must so file, in writing, with the Commission, on or before December 28, 2006. The petition shall set forth the grounds of the proposed intervention or request for hearing and the position and interest of the petitioner in this proceeding.
If you wish to intervene in this matter and/ or request a public hearing which you will attend and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Wyoming Public Service Commission at (307) 777-7427 or write to them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements.
Communications impaired persons mayalso contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay by dialing 711. Please mention Docket No. 30016-41-GR"06 in your communications and contact us as soon as possible to help us serve you better.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup December 7, and 14, 2006.

NOTICE AND ORDER
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, W.S. § 37-1-101, et seq.. and the Wyoming Public Service Commission's (Commission.) Procedural Rules and Special Regulations, notice is hereby given that a public hearing regarding the application of Pinedale Natural Gas, Inc. (Pinedale or the Company), for approval of its revised Commodity Balancing Account Tariff, has been scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2007, in the Commission's hearing room located at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
On July 7, 2006, Pinedale submitted its application requesting approval of the Company's proposed changes to its tariffs to comply with Sections 249 and 250 of the Commission's Rules. Pinedale's application includes a copy of the proposed tariff. The Company further states in its application the proposed tariff change does not result in a decrease or increase in rates and charges, and therefore, a report of tariff change is not required. The Company states in its application it is submitting changes to page R32 of its existing tariffs (PSCW Tariff No. 6) for the following reasons:
a. To specify in more detail the calculation of the monthly accrual for pass-on applications which reflect changes in the costs of wholesale gas.
b. To clarify and identify the specific costs or expenses the Commission has approved for inclusion in pass-on applications.
c. To explain the frequency the Company will file an application for an adjustment to rates and charges pursuant to the purchased gas adjustment clause and to explain how the test period is determined for any such filing. Pinedale is prepared to file such cases on a semi-annual basis.
d. To identify the supporting basis for the forecast of wholesale commodity related costs for the test period.
e. To request, in accordance with Commission Rule Section 250(e), the Company receive approval for calculating interest on any over-collected or under-collected balance. In support of its position, Pinedale offered, in its application, the following reasons for allowing the Company to charge interest on under-collected balances:
i. The application avers the Commission must consider the interests of the utility and the pubic in accordance with the public interest under W.S. § 37-2-112. The Company states this requires an equitable treatment for interest on under-collections. The calculation of interest on over-collected balances only is unfairly one-sided and contrary to the statutory requirement guiding the Commission.
ii. Pinedale states it is in the best interest of the customers to maintain a strong and healthy utility. A healthy Company can better attract investment and negotiate better interest rates on debt. The lower interest costs are passed on directly to the customers. The need to raise capital is crucial and the continued assessment of interest on under-collections is beneficial to the health of Pinedale.
iii. The Company asserts when there is an under-collected balance, Pinedale may be required to borrow money to pay for the gas customers have received, but for which they have not completely paid.
Extra borrowing can add significantly to the Company's costs and may have an adverse impact on Pinedale's ability to borrow. The calculation of interest on the undercollected balance compensates for these costs which would be difficult to recover in a general rate case, since they can vary significantly from year to year with the changes in the market price of natural gas.
vi. The Company claims because the interest on under-collected balances varies more directly with changes in the natural gas prices, these costs are more appropriately handled in a pass-on proceeding rather than a general rate case. A pass-on proceeding more appropriately addresses and matches all of the costs of natural gas.
v. The Company states neither Pinedale nor the customers can control the changes in the natural gas markets that cause imbalances. The Company proposes an alternative to calculating interest on undercollected balance: filing monthly pass-on cases, or at least much more frequent outof period pass-on cases. Pinedale states the more frequent filing of cases would lower the average balance, either under- or over-collected, but could also be a burden to the Company and the Commission. This extra-administrative burden could raise costs to all customers.
f. To clarify the procedure and time period used to amortize the balance of any over- or under-collection in the Commodity Balancing Account. The balance will be amortized over the forecasted decatherm sales for the period and the amortization will be added or subtracted from Pinedale's gas-cost gas rates.
The Commission issued its Notice of Application regarding this matter on August 4, 2006. The Notice of Application was published in the Pinedale Roundup and was broadcast on KPIN in Pinedale. The Notice of Application provided a deadline of September 5, 2006, for interested persons to file a statement, protest, intervention, or a request for public hearing.
On September 5, 2006, the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) filed its written statement, protest and notice of intervention in this matter, setting forth its concerns and issues regarding Pinedale's proposed revisions to its tariffs.
On October 11, 2006, the Commission held a pre-hearing conference to consider scheduling issues related to the tariff application. A hearing was scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2007 at 1:30 p.m.
Pinedale's application and OCA's written comments are on file with the Commission at its offices in Cheyenne, Wyoming, or at the Company's offices in Pinedale, Wyoming and may be inspected by any interested person during regular business hours.
The Commission hereby sets the following procedural schedule: December 8, 2006 Deadline for Pinedale to pre-file its direct testimony and exhibits December 22, 2006 Deadline for OCA to pre-file its direct testimony and exhibits January 8, 2007 Hearing at Commission's hearing room commencing at 1:30 p.m.
All pre-fiied testimony and exhibits are to be filed concurrently with the Commission and all parties. Any inten/enor or other party who does not file and serve written, prepared direct testimony together with any exhibits it wishes to offer by the relevant deadline will not be allowed to present an affirmative case at the public hearing The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission's Procedural Rules and Special Regulations. All interested persons may appear and be heard, either in person or through counsel, as provided for by Commission rule.
The Wyoming Public Service Commission's hearings are open to all persons. If you wish to attend this hearing and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Wyoming Public Service Commission at (307) 777-7427 (Voice or TTY) in Cheyenne during regular business hours or write to them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82002, to make arrangements.
Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay (TTY) by dialing 711.
Please mention Docket Number 30016-42-GT-06 in your communications and contact us as soon as possible to help us serve you better.
Published in the Pinedale Roundup December 7, and 14, 2006.