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6.1 INTRODUCTION The Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan utilities element shall, at minimum, consist of the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including but limited to, electrical lines, water bank, telecommunication lines and natural gas lines. The primary regulatory agency for most utilities in Washington State is the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC), a state agency. The WUTC ensures that safe and reliable service is provided to customers at reasonable rates. The Commission regulates the rates and charges, services, facilities, and practices of most of Washington's investor-owned gas, electric and telecommunication utilities. As defined by the WUTC, some utilities are considered a critical service, namely electricity and standard telephone, and must be provided "upon demand." In order to fulfill public service obligations, these utility providers must plan to extend or add to their facilities when needed. On the other hand, natural gas is not considered a necessity, but rather a utility of convenience. All utilities regulated by the WUTC are prohibited from passing the cost of new construction onto the existing rate base. Federal agencies also play a role in regulating some of these utilities. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates telecommunications. In addition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an independent commission with the U.S. Department of Energy, sets rates and charges for the transportation and sale of natural gas, and for the transportation of oil by pipeline, for the transmission and sale of electricity, and the licensing of hydroelectric power projects. Local government, too, has a role in regulation for certain utilities, such as franchise agreements. However, the effort behind meeting Growth Management Act requirements is not primarily regulatory; rather it is to promote coordination and cooperation between jurisdictions and utility providers. Virtually all land uses require one or more of the utilities discussed in this Chapter. Local land use decisions drive the need for new or expanded utility facilities. In other words, utilities follow growth. Expansion of the utility systems is a function of the demand for reliable service that people, their land uses, and activities place on the systems. 6.1.1 Participation Kittitas County recognizes the vast array of utilities provided by various companies and government agencies. Utilities provided include electricity, natural gas, telephone, wireless, cable, and irrigation purveyors. Capital Facilities Plans of utility providers available in Kittitas County is hereby adopted by reference to meet the requirements of identifying proposed facilities . Page 75 nm,>( li ensive Plan