NOTICES
PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Extension of the Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge Special Permission 28207
[34 Pa.B. 2409] Public Meeting held
April 15, 2004
Commissioners Present: Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, Chairperson; Robert K. Bloom, Vice Chairperson; Glen R. Thomas; Kim Pizzingrilli; Wendell F. Holland
Extension of the Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge Special Permission 28207
Order By the Commission:
Tristate Household Goods Conference, Inc. (Tristate), a tariff publishing agency, represents approximately 275 PUC household good carriers. Tristate filed on March 15, 2004, to extend the current Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge approved in a Public Meeting held April 17, 2003, for duration of 1 year unless changed, cancelled or extended. The current surcharge grants approval to temporarily increase the Tristate tariff to recover temporarily increased fuel costs when transporting household goods for moves more than 40 miles (weight and distance) and moves that are 40 miles or less (hourly) by the use of a Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge.
In support of its proposed surcharge, Tristate has submitted data from the Department of Energy for the Central Atlantic Region. The March 2004 diesel prices are $1.736 and remain 28% higher than the March 2002 diesel prices of $1.355.
The United States Department of Transportation has responded to the escalating fuel costs for interstate transportation by approving a fuel surcharge on a similar sliding scale. The Federal Fuel Surcharge became effective May 15, 2000, and continues to be in effect.
Based on our review, it appears that the extension of the Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge for transportation of household goods is an appropriate means to address this regulatory problem and will result in just and reasonable rates. To prevent financial hardship it is imperative that household goods carriers in this Commonwealth be afforded an opportunity to temporarily adjust rates to offset escalating fuel costs using the proposed extended Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge and, accordingly, we shall allow the proposed extended surcharge to become effective for a period of 1 year unless changes, cancelled or further extended. Therefore,
It Is Ordered That:
1. Tristate members rendering service under authority of this Commission shall charge a Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge on transportation provided for over 40 mile charges and for 40 miles or less hourly charge in accordance with all other tariff rules of this Commission. The Fuel Recovery Surcharge is to be extended effective April 18, 2004.
2. The Extended Fuel Recovery Surcharge shall be in effect for 1 year to April 18, 2005, unless changed, cancelled or further extended by the Commission.
3. Copies of this order shall be served by the Secretary to the Office of Consumer Advocate and Office of Small Business Advocate. The Secretary shall forward this Order to the Pennsylvania Bulletin for publication.
4. Each carrier shall post a copy of this Extended Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge along with the original Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge dated April 17, 2003, in a conspicuous place. In addition, each carrier shall include the surcharge as a separate line item of the Estimate of Charges provided to prospective shippers.
5. The rates collected to the Extended Fuel Cost Recovery Surcharge are subject to refund in the event that any formal complaints are filed, within 30 days of the date of publication of this order, and are successful in challenging the surcharge.
JAMES J. MCNULTY,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-791. Filed for public inspection April 30, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]
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