The Wyoming Public Service Commission (Commission) approved the Application of Black Hills Wyoming Gas, LLC, d/b/a Black Hills Energy (BHGW or the Company), to revise tariff terms related to the assessment of late fees. The Commission’s interim approval is subject to notice, protest, intervention, refund, change, further investigation, opportunity for hearing and further order of the Commission.
On March 4, 2020, BHWG filed its Application to revise tariff terms related to the assessment of late fees. After the conclusion of the Company’s General Rate Case, BHGW discovered that language regarding the late payment fee assessment time in the proposed tariff was not that intended by the Company. The unintended language created billing issues for BHWG customers. The current tariff retained a combination of the two variations previously used. The language implemented a due date 20 days after issuance of the bill with a 10-day grace period before the assessment of late payment penalties. This is a total of 30 days for payment prior to the assessment of late fees. The Company explains this mistake in the proposed tariff extends assessment of late payment charges into a customer’s next billing cycle. The mistake potentially causes assessment of a late payment penalty after an on-time payment, creating unintended confusion for customers. BHWG states that it has suspended late fee charges until it is corrects tariff.
BHWG intends to standardize the bill due date and grace period by mirroring the then current terms of three of the four consolidated utilities. Specifically, BHWG is requesting to revise its tariff to state that bills are due 20 days after issuance, with a grace period of 7 days prior to the assessment of late fees. This would change the practice only for the legacy BHGD-WY customers, extending their due date by 5 days for a total extension of days without penalties by 2 days.
Interested persons may inspect the Application at BHWG's Wyoming business office and at the Commission’s offices in Cheyenne. The Application is available for inspection by any interested person during regular business hours or online at: http://psc.wyo.gov/.
Anyone desiring to file a statement, intervention petition, protest or request for a public hearing in this matter must file in writing with the Commission on or before May 27 2020. A proposed intervention or request for hearing must set forth the grounds under which it is made and the position and interest of the petitioner in this proceeding.
If you wish to intervene in this matter or request a public hearing that you will attend, or want to make a statement, a protest or a public comment, and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Commission at (307) 777-7427, or write to the Commission at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements. Communications-impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay at 711. Please mention Docket No. 30026-19-GT-20 (Record No. 15465) in your communications.
Dated: April 27, 2020.
Public Notice No. 7399 published in the Torrington Telegram May 1 and 8, 2020.
