Section 556.80  Approval or Withdrawal of QIP Surcharge Tariff

a)         The Commission shall issue an order approving, or approving with modification to ensure compliance with Section 9-220.3 of the Act, the QIP surcharge tariff no later than 120 days after such filing of the tariffs filed pursuant to this Part. The utility shall have 7 days following the date of service of the order to notify the Commission in writing whether it will accept any modifications so identified in the order or whether it has elected not to proceed with the tariff. If the order includes no modifications or if the utility notifies the Commission that it will accept such modifications, the QIP surcharge tariff shall take effect on the first day of the calendar year in which the Commission issues the order, subject to petitions for rehearing and appellate procedures. [220 ILCS 5/9-220.3(a)(3)]

b)         In approving the QIP surcharge tariff for a utility having more than one rate zone, the Commission may determine that it is appropriate for different QIP surcharge tariffs to be applied in the different rate zones of the utility.

c)         After the QIP surcharge tariff takes effect, the utility may, upon 10 days' notice to the Commission, file to withdraw the QIP surcharge tariff at any time, and the Commission shall approve such filing without suspension or hearing, subject to a final reconciliation as provided in Section 556.100. [220 ILCS 5/9-220.3(a)(3)]

d)         When a natural gas utility withdraws the QIP surcharge tariff, the utility shall not recover any additional charges through the QIP surcharge approved pursuant to this Part, subject to the resolution of the final reconciliation.  The utility's qualifying infrastructure investment net of accumulated depreciation may be transferred to the natural gas utility's rate base in the utility's next general rate case.  The utility's delivery base rates in effect upon withdrawal of the QIP surcharge tariff shall not be adjusted at the time the QIP surcharge tariff is withdrawn. [220 ILCS 5/9-220.3(a)(4)]