Equitrans, L. P.
Original Volume No. 1
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Effective Date: 05/16/2010, Docket: RP10-616-000, Status: Effective
First Revised Sheet No. 313 First Revised Sheet No. 313
Superseding: Original Sheet No. 313
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Continued)
38. PIPELINE SAFETY COST TRACKER (PSCT) MECHANISM
38.1 Generally. This Section sets forth a mechanism for the recovery of
costs ("Qualifying Costs") incurred by Equitrans under the Pipeline
Safety Improvement Act of 2002 ("PSIA") and the Commission's Orders on
Accounting for Pipeline Assessment Costs in Docket No. AI05-1-000,
provided, however, that Qualifying Costs shall not include costs
associated with operation and maintenance expenses or capital additions
made in the ordinary course of business. The Qualifying Costs
recoverable through the PSCT surcharge shall include (i) the return,
taxes and depreciation expense associated with invested capital and (ii)
the actual operating and maintenance expenses incurred by Equitrans.
The PSCT surcharge shall be expressed in dollars per Dth and shall be
calculated based on projected throughput under Rate Schedules FTS, STS,
ITS and NOFT on a point to point basis. Equitrans shall separately
track all expenses and invested capital related to Qualifying Costs made
on and after September 1, 2005. Equitrans shall use a fifteen percent
(15%) pre-tax return on total invested capital for the purpose of
calculating the return component of any PSCT surcharge filings made
pursuant to this Section. All issues related to the prudence of cost
incurrence, qualification of the claimed costs for recovery under this
surcharge mechanism, and calculation of the charges are preserved for
protest and resolution in the annual filings to be made under Section
38.2.
38.2 Filing of the PSCT. Equitrans shall file the initial PSCT surcharge and
all subsequent changes in such surcharge at least thirty (30) days prior
to April 1st of each year ("Effective Date"). Equitrans shall include
with each PSCT filing an updated Statement of Rates setting forth the
PSCT surcharge and work papers detailing the calculation of such
surcharge in accordance with this Section 38.
38.3 Applicability. The PSCT surcharge shall be assessed on a per dekatherm
basis and apply to all receipts by Equitrans, pursuant to Customer
nominations and after fuel retainage, under Rate Schedules FTS, STS-1,
ITS, and NOFT on a point-to-point basis. Equitrans will not apply the
PSCT surcharge to gas nominated under Rate Schedule NOFT to the extent
that the volumes have been surcharged under Rate Schedules FTS, STS-1 or
ITS.
38.4 Calculation of the PSCT Surcharge
a. Equitrans shall determine the amount of costs to be recovered in its
PSCT by calculating its actual level of Qualifying Costs described
in Section 38.1 as of each December 31 preceding each Effective
Date. The PSCT related gross plant balance as of each December 31st
shall be reduced by the corresponding accumulated provisions for
depreciation and deferred income taxes to arrive at a PSCT Rate
Base. The PSCT Rate Base shall be multiplied by a fifteen percent
(15%) pre-tax return on total invested capital to arrive at a PSCT
Pre-Tax Return Amount. The PSCT Pre-Tax Return Amount shall be
added to PSIA operating, maintenance and depreciation expenses
incurred during the previous calendar year.