Wash. Admin. Code § 480-85-060
(1) A cost of service study filed with the commission must be calculated using an embedded cost method.
(e) The abbreviations for the functionalized costs are:
"Comm" is an abbreviation meaning the common function;
"Cust" is an abbreviation meaning the customer function;
"Dist" is an abbreviation meaning the distribution function;
"Gen" is an abbreviation meaning the generation function, for electric;
"Prod" is an abbreviation meaning the production function, for natural gas;
"Stor" is an abbreviation meaning the storage function, for natural gas; and
"Tran" is an abbreviation meaning the transmission function.
(3) Tables 1 through 4 of this subsection outline the functionalization, classification, and allocation methods required by subsection (1) of this section.
Table 1
Electric Cost of Service Approved Functionalization Methodologies
| Functionalization | FERC Account Numbers |
| Generation | 151, 152, 310-317, 330-337, 340-348, 500-515, 535-545.1, 546-557 |
| Transmission | 350-359.1, 560-573 |
| Distribution | 252, 360-374, 580-598 |
| Customer | 235, 901-905, 907, 908* 909-910 |
| Common | 920-935, working capital allowance |
| Gen/Tran/Dist/Cust/Comm | 301-303, 403, 403.1, 404-407 |
| Gen/Tran/Dist/Comm | 105, 107, 108, 111, 154, 165, 281, 282, 389-398 |
| Allocate basedon subaccount | 182.3, 253, 254 |
| *Expenses included in account 908 that are related to conservation must be functionalized as generation related. |
Table 2
Electric Cost of Service Approved Classification and Allocation Methodologies
| Functionalized Cost | Classification Method | Allocation Method |
| Generation | Renewable future peak credit with net power costs allocated on energy | Load net of renewable generation, using 12 coincident peaks. Net power costs are allocated using annual energy usage at the point of generation. |
| Transmission | Demand | 12 coincident peaks. |
| Distribution Substation | Demand | Direct assignment to large customer classes based on load ratio share of substations they are fed from; for this allocator only, the utility may determine "large customer." |
| All other classes use an average of the relative share of the summer distribution system coincident peak and the relative share of the winter distribution system coincident peak. | ||
| Distribution Line Transformers | Demand | Secondary customers directly assigned where practical. All remaining costs are allocated using a relative ratio of transformers at current installation costs. |
| Allocation to the lighting class(es) may be based upon its proportion of noncoincident peak to the sum of noncoincident peaks for all secondary voltage customers. | ||
| Distribution Poles and Wires | Demand | Primary system customers are allocated using the same method as distribution substation, where practical. When not practical, allocate using 12 distribution system noncoincident peaks. |
| Secondary system customers are allocated using 12 distribution system noncoincident peaks. | ||
| Service Lines | Customer | Average installed cost for new service lines multiplied by customer count relative to total installed cost. |
| Meters | Customer | Average installed cost for new metering multiplied by customer or meter count. |
| Customer Service/Billing | Customer | All costs assigned by weighted customer counts. |
| Administrative & General and General Plant | Depends on functionalization of account | Property insurance and property taxes based on allocated plant; pensions and employee insurance based on salary and wages; FERC fees based on energy; revenue-based fees allocated by class relative share of total revenue. |
| The remainder of administrative & general and general plant costs shall be allocated as deemed appropriate. An explanation of the allocation method used must be included in testimony. | ||
| Intangible Plant | Depends on functionalization of account | Each type of intangible and amortization in a separate account, allocated using appropriate factors. A materiality threshold of 0.5% of intangible plant will be applied. |
Table 3
Natural Gas Cost of Service Approved Functionalization Methodologies
| Functionalization | FERC Account Numbers |
| Production | 800-813 |
| Storage | 350-356, 352.1, 352.2, 352.3, 814-826, 830-837, 840-843, 842.1-842.3, 843.1-843.9 |
| Transmission | 365.1, 365.2, 366-371, 850-867, 870 |
| Distribution | 374-387, 871-881, 885-894 |
| Customer | 901-905, 907, 908*, 909-910 |
| Common | 920-935, working capital |
| Prod/Tran/Dist/Stor/Comm | 101.1, 104-108, 111, 114, 115, 117.1-117.4, 165, 182.3, 186, 190, 228.1-228.4, 229, 235, 252, 253, 255, 281-283, 301-303, 389-398, 403 |
| Allocate basedon subaccount | 182.3, 254 |
| *Expenses included in account 908 that are related to conservation must be functionalized as production related. |
Table 4
Natural Gas Cost of Service Approved Classification and Allocation Methodologies
| Functionalized Cost | Classification Method | Allocation Method |
| Distribution Mains | Demand | Direct assignment of distribution mains to a single customer class where practical. All other costs assigned based on design day (peak) and annual throughput (average) based on system load factor. |
| Transmission Main | Follows distribution mains | Follows distribution mains. |
| Distribution Assets | Follows distribution mains | Follows distribution mains. |
| Storage | Determined on a case-by-case basis | Costs classified as balancing are allocated to all customers based on winter sales. |
| All remaining costs are allocated to sales customers with a ratio based on average winter sales that exceed average summer sales. | ||
| Services | Customer | Allocated to customer class based on the class average service installation cost. |
| Large customers are directly assigned based on a special study; for only this allocator, it is up to the utility to determine "large customer." | ||
| Meters | Customer | Average installed cost for new metering multiplied by customer or meter count. |
| Customer Service/Billing | Customer | All costs assigned by weighted customer counts. |
| Administrative & General and General Plant | Depends on functionalization of account | Property insurance and property taxes based on allocated plant; pensions and employee insurance based on salary and wages; FERC fees based on energy; revenue-based fees allocated by class relative share of total revenue. |
| The remainder of administrative & general and general plant costs shall be allocated as deemed appropriate. An explanation of the allocation method used must be included in testimony. | ||
| Intangible Plant | Depends on functionalization of account | Each type of intangible and amortization in a separate account, allocated using appropriate factors. A materiality threshold of 0.5% of intangible plant will be applied. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160 and chapter 80.28 RCW. WSR 20-15-024 (Docket UE-170002 and UG-170003, General Order R-599), § 480-85-060, filed 7/7/20, effective 8/7/20.]