This transaction set communicates the expiration or closure of a rate docket—a formal regulatory filing used in utility and transportation rate cases. Regulatory agencies, public utilities, and rate bureaus send the 486 to notify stakeholders (typically other utilities, shippers, or regulatory participants) that a previously established rate docket has reached its expiration date or is no longer active. The transmission is typically sent in response to the completion of a rate docket period or upon regulatory directive. Key segments include the REN (Rate Request Information) segment, which identifies the specific rate request being expired; the DR (Docket Range) segment, which specifies the date range or docket identifier affected; and the SA (Status Action) segment, which documents the action being taken (such as expiration or withdrawal).

For example, the Public Utilities Commission of a state might send a 486 transaction set to inform Pacific Gas & Electric that Rate Docket No. 2023-001 has expired as of December 31, 2024. The REN segment references the original rate request, the DR segment confirms the affected docket range (January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024), and the SA segment indicates that the docket status is now “expired.” PG&E receives this notification and updates its rate management system to reflect that the associated tariff schedule is no longer valid for new contract negotiations, ensuring compliance with current regulatory requirements.