State of Florida		Public Service Commission Capital Circle Office Center ● 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850 -M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M-
DATE:	September 21, 2023
TO:	Office of Commission Clerk (Teitzman)
FROM:	Division of Economics (McClelland, Hampson) Office of the General Counsel (Watrous)
RE:	Docket No. 20230096-GU – Petition for approval of swing service rider rates for January through December 2024, by Florida Public Utilities Company.
AGENDA:	10/03/23 – Regular Agenda – Tariff Suspension – Participation is at the Commission’s discretion
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED:			All Commissioners
PREHEARING OFFICER:			Administrative
CRITICAL DATES:			10/28/2023 (60-Day-Suspension Date)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:			None

Case Background

On August 29, 2023, Florida Public Utilities Company (FPUC) filed a petition for approval of revised Swing Service Rider rates and associated tariffs for the period January 2024 through December 2024.

The Commission first approved FPUC’s swing service rider tariff in Order No. PSC-16-0422-TRF-GU (swing service order) and the initial swing service rider rates were in effect for the period March through December 2017.[1] As required in the swing service order, FPUC submitted the instant petition with revised 2024 swing service rider rates for Commission approval by September 1, 2023. The January through December 2023 swing service rider rates were approved in Order No. PSC-2022-0378-TRF-GU.[2] The swing service rider is a cents per therm charge that is included in the monthly gas bill of transportation customers, who purchase gas from third party marketers, and therefore do not pay the purchased gas adjustment charge. During its evaluation of the petition, staff issued a data request to the company on September 14, 2023. This is staff’s recommendation to suspend the proposed tariffs. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Sections 366.03, 366.04, 366.05, and 366.06, Florida Statutes (F.S.).

Discussion of Issues

Issue 1:

 Should the Commission suspend FPUC’s proposed revised Swing Service Rider rates and associated tariffs for the period January through December 2024?

Recommendation: 

Yes. Staff recommends that FPUC’s proposed revised Swing Service Rider rates and associated tariffs for the period January through December 2024 be suspended to allow staff sufficient time to review the petition and gather all pertinent information in order to present the Commission with an informed recommendation on the tariff proposals. (McClelland)

Staff Analysis: 

 Staff recommends that the FPUC’s proposed revised Swing Service Rider rates and associated tariffs for the period January through December 2024 be suspended to allow staff sufficient time to review the petition and gather all pertinent information in order to present the Commission with an informed recommendation on the tariff proposal.

Pursuant to Section 366.06(3), F.S., the Commission may withhold consent to the operation of all or any portion of a new rate schedule, delivering to the utility requesting such a change, a reason, or written statement of good cause for doing so within 60 days. Staff believes that the reason stated above is a good cause consistent with the requirement of Section 366.06(3), F.S.

Issue 2:

 Should this docket be closed?

Recommendation: 

No. This docket should remain open pending the Commission decision on the proposed revised tariffs. (Watrous)

Staff Analysis: 

 This docket should remain open pending the Commission decision on the proposed revised tariffs.

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[1] Order No. PSC-16-0422-TRF-GU, issued October 3, 2016, in Docket No. 160085-GU, In re: Joint petition for approval of swing service rider, by Florida Public Utilities Company, Florida Public Utilities Company-Indiantown Division, Florida Public Utilities Company-Fort Meade, and Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation.

[2] Order No. PSC-2022-0378-TRF-GU, issued November 7, 2022, Docket No. 20220154-GU, In re: Joint petition for approval of swing service rider rates for January through December 2023, by Florida Public Utilities Company, Florida Public Utilities Company-Indiantown Division, Florida Public Utilities Company-Fort Meade, and Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation.