FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
8627
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Neither Program nor Fund
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The bill will require the hiring of two additional employees and associated current expenses, for a total fiscal impact of $170,105 per fiscal year.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2007
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2008
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
170,105 |
170,105 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
95,905 |
95,905 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
74,200 |
74,200 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Increase in personal services includes the hiring of two employees, one attorney and one secretary with benefits.
Increase in current expense includes the furnishing of two offices, rent, and additional consultants that will be necessary due to possible increase in rate case interventions.
No additional expense is expected in other categories.
Memorandum
The wording of the proposed statute is imprecise. While the title indicates that the bill requires the Consumer Advocate Division to review all rate cases filed with the PSC, the actual words of the statute state that the Consumer Advocate “shall advocate on behalf of the general public and shall have authority to intervene in any rate case….” The Consumer Advocate Division already has this authority. Assuming that the bill does require review and involvement in all rate cases filed, two additional employees would need to be hired to handle the additional case load: one attorney and one support staff. Associated benefits and current expense are included in the fiscal note estimate.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Herb Brooks
Email Address: HBrooks@PSC.state.wv.us