TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
HEARING SET TO BEGIN ON RIO RICO UTILITIES, INC. RATE REQUEST
The Arizona Corporation Commission's evidentiary hearing on Rio Rico Utilities Inc.'s ("RRUI") request for a permanent rate increase is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 400 West Congress in Tucson, and is expected to last three days. Public comment will be taken at the start of the hearing.
RUCO filed its surrebuttal testimony on RRUI's request for increased rates as scheduled on Wednesday, February 24, 2010. On Thursday, February 25, 2010, ACC Staff filed a second motion for extension to file surrebuttal testimony on Monday, March 1, 2010. The motion also sought to extend the filing date for RRUI's rejoinder testimony to Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
Click on the "Pending Cases" link to learn more about this and other cases that RUCO is currently involved with.
DIRECT TESTIMONY FILED IN ARIZONA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY, INC. RATE CASE
On Monday, March 8, 2010, RUCO filed its direct testimony on required revenue on Arizona-American Water Company Inc.'s ("Arizona-American") request for increased rates. As directed by the Administrative Law Judge's previous procedural order dated February 2, 2010, direct testimony on rate design is scheduled to be filed on Monday, March 22, 2010. Arizona-American will file rebuttal testimony on Monday, April 5, 2010. Surrebuttal testimony is scheduled to be filed on Monday, April 12, 2010. Arizona-American will have the opportunity to offer rejoinder testimony orally during the evidentiary hearing which is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010 at 1200 West Washington in Phoenix. Public comment will be taken at the start of the hearing.
RUCO FILES REJOINDER TESTIMONY ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARIZONA UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND
On Friday, March 5, 2010, RUCO filed its rejoinder testimony on a proposed amendment to the Arizona Universal Service Fund.
The evidentiary hearing on the matter is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 400 West Congress in Tucson. Public comment will be taken at the start of the hearing.
JUDGE APPROVES ACC STAFF REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION IN UNS ELECTRIC RATE CASE
The Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") assigned to UNS, Electric, Inc.'s request for an increase in rates has approved ACC Staff's request for an extension to file a late-filed exhibit, final accounting schedules, and legal briefs. Per a procedural order issued on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, final accounting schedules and ACC Staff's late filed exhibit S-18 will now be filed on Friday, March 12, 2010. Objections and responses to exhibit S-18 are due on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Initial closing briefs are now due on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 and reply briefs will be filed on Friday, April 2, 2010.
RUCO filed its final accounting schedules on Monday, March 1, 2010. The evidentiary hearing on UNS Electric concluded on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
RUCO FILES COMMENTS ON APS' REQUEST TO EXTEND COMPETITION RULES COMPLIANCE CHARGE
On Monday, March 1, 2010, RUCO filed comments on ACC Staff's Proposed Order recommending approval of APS' request to extend the collection period of its Competition Rules Compliance Charge. APS' request is scheduled to be voted on at the Arizona Corporation Commission's Regular Open Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
DIRECT TESTIMONY ON BELLA VISTA/SUNRISE RATE REQUEST DUE APRIL 12, 2010
As directed by the Arizona Corporation Commission's Hearing Division, RUCO's direct testimony on Liberty Water's request for increased rates for its Bella Vista, Northern Sunrise and Southern Sunrise water systems will be filed on Monday, April 12, 2010.
The evidentiary hearing on Liberty Water's request is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010 at 400 West Congress in Tucson. Public comment will be taken at the start of the hearing.
RUCO FILES COMMENTS ON APS' COMMUNITY POWER PROJECT- FLAGSTAFF PILOT
On Friday, February 26, 2010, RUCO filed comments on ACC Staff's report on APS' request for approval of a renewable distributed energy pilot program that will supplement APS' 2009 Renewable Energy Standard Implementation Plan.
REPLY BRIEFS FILED ON LITCHFIELD PARK SERVICE COMPANY RATE REQUEST
On Wednesday, February 24, RUCO filed its reply closing legal brief on Litchfield Park Service Company's ("LPSCO") request for increased water and sewer rates that is now before the Arizona Corporation Commission ("ACC").
Approximately 488 concerned citizens attended the recent ACC public comment meeting on LPSCO's request that was held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 25, 2010 in the Sachem Room of the Wigwam Resort, 300 Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park. All five ACC Commissioners listened to the thirty-five customers of LPSCO who chose to express their opinions (for the record) on the Company's request. A representative from RUCO was also on hand to answer questions from concerned ratepayers.
The evidentiary hearing on Litchfield Park Service Company concluded on Friday, January 15, 2010.
REPLY LEGAL BRIEFS FILED ON GLOBAL UTILITIES
Reply legal briefs on Global Utilities' request for increased rates were filed on Friday, February 19, 2010. Final Accounting schedules and initial closing legal briefs on Global Utilities' request for increased rates were filed on Friday, February 5, 2010.
The evidentiary hearing on Global Utilities began on Monday, December 14, 2009 and was concluded on Monday, December 28, 2009. During the hearing, attorneys for the various parties involved in the case had the opportunity to cross examine expert witnesses and present their positions on various issues.
COURT OF APPEALS HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON GOLD CANYON SEWER
On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the Arizona Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Gold Canyon Sewer Company's appeal of Arizona Corporation Commission Decision No. 70624, dated November 19, 2008 and Decision No. 70662, dated December 23, 2008. Attorneys for RUCO and ACC Staff defended the Commission's Decisions before a panel of three appeals court judges. Customers of Gold Canyon Sewer were on hand to witness the proceeding.
ALJ ISSUES PROCEDURAL ORDER ON CHAPARRAL CITY WATER COMPANY REHEARING
On Tuesday, February 9, 2010, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to rehear the Chaparral City Water Company, Inc. rate case (Decision No. 71308, dated October 21, 2009) issued a procedural order that schedules an evidentiary hearing on the matter for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 2, 2010 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. The purpose of the rehearing is to address two issues: the ratemaking treatment of Fountain Hills Sanitary District settlement proceeds and the recovery of legal fees associated with the appeal of Decision No. 68176. Direct testimony will be filed by the parties to the case on March 30, 2010.
At an Open Meeting held on Thursday, October 8, 2009, four of the five ACC Commissioners passed an amended Recommended Order and Opinion which adopted RUCO's recommendations to provide Chaparral's ratepayers with 100 percent of the Fountain Hills Sanitary District settlement proceeds and to deny the Company recovery of legal fees associated with the appeal of Decision No. 68176.
ALJ ISSUES PROCEDURAL ORDER ON FAR WEST SEWER PERMANENT RATE REQUEST
On Thursday, January 21, 2010, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to Far West Sewer's request for a permanent rate increase issued a procedural order which schedules a procedural conference for Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Tucson. Parties to the case will discuss the procedural schedule for Far West's request for permanent rates that is now before the ACC.
During the recent procedural conference on Far West Sewer's request for a permanent rate increase (held on Wednesday January 20, 2010), the Company's attorney requested a 6 to 8 week continuance of the procedural conference in order to put together a plan for going forward with the permanent rate case. The Company also agreed to file a report on loan funding, to be treated as an equity infusion, on Friday, February 5, 2010, and to provide a report on the status of the new wastewater plant.
At the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, the five sitting Commissioners adopted an amended Recommended Order and Opinion that denied Far West's request for interim rates.
CLOSING LEGAL BRIEFS FILED IN SOLARCITY CASE
RUCO's final closing legal brief on SolarCity's request that the ACC determine that it is not acting as a public service corporation was filed on Friday, January 15, 2010.
RUCO DEFENDS ACC REMAND DECISION ON CHAPARRAL CITY WATER COMPANY BEFORE THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
RUCO's Chief Legal Counsel defended the ACC's remand decision on a fair value rate of return for Chaparral City Water Company before the Arizona Court of Appeals on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The appeal has major implications on the amount of operating income that utilities are entitled to.
APS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PASSED
During a late session of the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, the five sitting Commissioners passed an amended order that adopted the APS Settlement Agreement by a vote of 4 to 1.
JOHNSON UTILITIES HEARING CONCLUDES
The evidentiary hearing on Johnson Utilities concluded on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 4 p.m. at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. Final legal briefs were filed on Friday, December 11, 2009.
FINAL LEGAL BRIEFS FILED ON BLACK MOUNTAIN SEWER CORPORATION RATE CASE
The rescheduled evidentiary hearing on Black Mountain Sewer Corporation concluded on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Initial closing briefs were filed on Friday, December 11, 2009. A second round of reply briefs were filed on Monday, December 21, 2009.
CLOSING BRIEFS FILED IN UNS GAS, INC. RATE CASE
RUCO's final schedules and initial closing legal brief on UNS Gas, Inc.'s request for an increase in rates was filed on Friday, September 18, 2009. Reply legal briefs were filed on Wednesday, September, 30, 2009.
HEARING CONCLUDES ON ARIZONA WATER COMPANY RATE CASE
The evidentiary hearing on Arizona Water Company's rate increase request for all seventeen of its statewide operating systems was concluded on Friday, September 11, 2009. Final schedules were filed on Friday, October 2, 2009. Initial closing legal briefs were filed on Friday, October 9, 2009. A final round of reply legal briefs were filed on Friday, October 23, 2009.
COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMS ACC DECISION TO REJECT FIRE-FLOW SURCHARGE FOR ARIZONA-AMERICAN'S SUN CITY WATER DISTRICT
On Friday, June 26, 2009, the Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the Arizona Corporation Commission's decision to reject a fire-flow surcharge for Arizona-American Water Company's Sun City Water District. The ACC decision adopted arguments made by RUCO during the Sun City Water District rate case proceeding. The appeal was filed by the Town of Youngtown.
RUCO PROFILED ON KAET'S "HORIZON" PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM
On Wednesday evening, May 27, 2009, the Residential Utility Consumer Office was profiled on local PBS affiliate KAET's public affairs program "Horizon." RUCO Director Jodi Jerich was interviewed by host Ted Simons during the segment.
Click here to view the 10 minute profile online.