MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012
HEARING SET TO BEGIN ON UNS GAS RATE CASE PROCEEDING
The evidentiary hearing on UNS Gas, Inc.'s request for a permanent increase in rates is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 400 W. Congress in Tucson.
UNS Gas filed its application with the ACC on Friday April 8, 2011. UNS Gas is a subsidiary of Tucson-based UniSourse Energy Corporation and serves approximately 146,500 customers in Coconino, Yavapai, Santa Cruz, Navajo and Mohave counties. The local gas distribution company is requesting a $5.6 million increase in operating revenue. According to the company's application, the monthly bill for an average customer would increase from $56.04 to $57.33.
Click on the "Pending Cases" link to learn more about this and other cases that RUCO is currently involved with.
HEARING CONCLUDED ON APS RATE CASE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
The evidentiary hearing on the proposed Arizona Public Service Company settlement agreement concluded on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Arizona Corporation Commission's offices at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
Opening legal briefs are scheduled to be filed on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Reply legal briefs will be filed on Wednesday March 14, 2012.
On Friday, January 6, 2012, Arizona Public Service Company, Staff of the Arizona Corporation Commission, RUCO and a number of other intervenors filed a proposed settlement agreement on APS' request for a permanent increase in rates. RUCO filed testimony in support of the Proposed Settlement Agreement on Wednesday, January 18, 2012.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REACHED ON ARIZONA WATER COMPANY WESTERN GROUP RATE CASE
After two days of negotiation, parties to the Arizona Water Company Western Group rate case resolved a number of issues and have agreed to file a proposed settlement agreement on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.
Public comment on the rate case proceeding will be heard at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. The evidentiary hearing on the proposed settlement agreement is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2012.
Arizona Water Company's Western Group systems provide service to Casa Grande, Stanfield, Coolidge, Ajo and the White Tanks area.
JUDGE ISSUES RECOMMENDED ORDER ON GOODMAN WATER COMPANY SETTLEMENT
On Monday, January 30, 2012, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear the Goodman Water Company rate case issued a Recommended Opinion and Order that adopts the proposed settlement agreement reached between the company and intervenors Lawrence Wawrzyniak, James Schoemperlen and RUCO.
A final vote on the matter has been tentatively scheduled for the Arizona Corporation Commission's Regular Open Meeting scheduled for February 14, and 15, 2012 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
RUCO FILES APPLICATION FOR REHEARING ON SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION RATE CASE
On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, RUCO filed an application for rehearing of Decision No. 72723, asking the Arizona Corporation Commission to reconsider its recent decision to adopt a full decoupling mechanism for Southwest Gas Corporation.
CENTURYLINK FILES DIRECT TESTIMONY IN DEREGULATION PROCEEDING
On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, CenturyLink filed direct testimony on it's deregulation application that is now pending before the Arizona Corporation Commission.
The evidentiary hearing on the matter is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 30, 2012 at 400 W. Congress in Tucson.
CenturyLink filed its request to classify and regulate retail local exchange telecommunications services as competitive, and to classify and deregulate certain services as non-essential on Thursday, October 13, 2011.
INITIAL CLOSING BRIEFS FILED ON ANTHEM/AGUA FRIA WASTEWATER DISTRICT DECONSOLIDATION
Parties to the proposed deconsolidation of the Arizona-American Anthem/Agua Fria Wastewater District filed their initial closing briefs on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. A final round of reply briefs will be filed on Tuesday February 7, 2012.
The evidentiary hearing on the matter concluded on Thursday, November 17, 2011.
RECOMMENDED ORDER ISSUED ON BERMUDA WATER COMPANY RATE CASE
On Friday, January 13, 2012, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear Bermuda Water Company's request for an increase in rates issued a Recommended Opinion and Order.
A final vote on the matter by the five sitting ACC Commissioners has been tentatively scheduled during the Regular Open Meeting on February 14 and 15, 2012 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. The Commissioners can either accept, reject or amend the ROO.
ACC STAFF SEEKS EXTENSION ON WATER COMPANY WORKSHOP REPORT
On Thursday, January 12, 2012, ACC Staff requested a 45-day extension for filing the Staff Report on a water company workshop ordered by the Arizona Corporation Commission in Decision No. 71878. ACC Staff is seeking additional time to include the findings of an independent audit firm's examination on Infrastructure Coordination and Financing Agreements and related transactions.
Decision No. 71878, dated September 14, 2010, requires stakeholders, including ACC Staff and Global Utilities, to commence a generic investigation which looks at how best to achieve the Commission's objectives with regard to encouraging the acquisition of troubled water companies and the development of regional infrastructure where appropriate. The sixth and final water company workshop was held on Friday, November 4, 2011 in Hearing Room #1 at 1200 West Washington in Phoenix. Attendee's listened to presentations on generalized rate of return methods and carrying costs as they relate to Infrastructure Coordination and Financing Agreements.
RUCO GRANTED INTERVENTION IN PIMA UTILITY COMPANY RATE CASE
On Monday, January 9, 2012 the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear Pima Utility Company's request for a permanent increase in rates that is now pending before the Arizona Corporation Commission, granted RUCO's request to intervene in the case. Pima filed applications for both its Water and Wastewater Divisions on Monday, August 29, 2011. The company provides service to residents of Sun Lakes.
The evidentiary hearing on the matter has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
EVIDENTIARY HEARING CONCLUDED ON ARIZONA-AMERICAN RATE CASE SETTLEMENT
The evidentiary hearing on the proposed settlement agreement on Arizona-American Water Company's pending rate increase concluded on Friday, December 16, 2011. Final arguments were given orally by the attorneys representing the parties to the case at the end of the hearing in lieu of filing closing legal briefs. A final vote on the matter is not expected until sometime in the early part of 2012. The settlement agreement resolves disputed issues concerning Arizona-American's Agua Fria, Havasu and Mohave water districts.
COMMISSION APPROVES REST PLANS FOR APS, TEP AND UNS ELECTRIC
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 13 and 14, 2011, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved amended proposed orders on Energy Standard Rules Tariffs for Arizona Public Service Company, Tucson Electric Power and UNS Electric, Inc.
PROCEDURAL CONFERENCE RESCHEDULED ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARIZONA UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND
On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, the ALJ assigned to hear a proposed amendment to the Arizona Universal Service Fund issued a Procedural Order rescheduling a procedural conference for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012, for the purpose of discussing a long-awaited Federal Communications Commission Order on federal Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier Compensation. The FCC Order addresses many of the issues raised in this case.
RUCO filed its reply brief on a proposed amendment to the Arizona Universal Service Fund on Tuesday, September, 14, 2010. RUCO filed its initial closing legal brief on Friday, July 9, 2010.
The evidentiary hearing on the matter concluded at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 400 West Congress in Tucson.
ACC APPROVES ARIZONA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY REORGANIZATION
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, ACC Commissioners voted to approve, subject to certain conditions recommended by ACC Staff, RUCO and other intervenors to the case, Arizona-American Water Company's request for reorganization with EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. EPCOR's acquisition of both Arizona-American and New Mexico-American Water Company is expected to become final sometime in 2012.
LITCHFIELD PARK SERVICE COMPANY PHASE 2 PROCEEDING CONCLUDED
Four of the five sitting ACC Commissioners voted to adopt the recommended opinion and order on the Litchfield Park Service Company Phase 2 proceeding during the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, RUCO filed exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge's Recommended Opinion and Order. RUCO is asking the commission to deny LPSCO's proposed hook-up fee tariff.
REPLY BRIEFS FILED ON APS FOUR CORNERS POWER PLANT FILING
On Friday, October 14, 2011, RUCO filed its reply brief on Arizona Public Service Company's request for an authorization to purchase Southern California Edison's 48 percent share of the Four Corners Power Plant's Units 4 and 5. The evidentiary hearing on the matter concluded on Thursday, September 1, 2011.
EVIDENTIARY HEARING SCHEDULED ON ARIZONA WATER COMPANY EASTERN GROUP RATE CASE
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011 the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear the Arizona Water Company Eastern Group rate case issued a Procedural Order scheduling the evidentiary hearing on the matter for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. RUCO's direct testimony will be due on Friday, May 2, 2012. Arizona Water Company filed its application for a permanent rate increase with the Arizona Corporation Commission on Friday, August 5, 2011. The company's Eastern Group is comprised of systems that provide service to customers in Apache Junction, Superior, Miami, Bisbee, Sierra Vista, San Manuel, Oracle, SaddleBrook Ranch and Winkelman.
ACC ISSUES DECISION ON APS ELECTRIC VEHICLE FILING
On September 15, 2011, the Commission issued Decision No. 72582, which approved APS' Experimental Rate Schedule ET-EV and, among other conditions, requires APS to file annual reports detailing the development of the EV market.
COMMISSION APPROVES RATE INCREASE FOR JOHNSON UTILITIES
By a vote of 3 yes, 1 no and 1 abstention, the Arizona Corporation Commission adopted a proposed order that reversed a number of findings included in Decision No. 71854, which will result in a rate increase for wastewater customers of Johnson Utilities. The vote was taken during the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Under the new rates adopted by the Commission, a typical residential wastewater customer, on a 3/4-inch meter, will experience an increase of $6.56 or approximately 20% over the rates formerly approved for Johnson Utilities in Decision No. 71854, from $32.79 to $39.35 per month. Tuesday's vote represented the five Commissioners' final decision on Johnson Utilities' petition to amend Decision No. 71854 which was filed on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.
FAR WEST WATER & SEWER COMPANY FILES STATUS REPORT
On Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Far West Water and Sewer Company filed a status report updating the Arizona Corporation Commission on the progress being made on its wastewater treatment plant.
On Tuesday, April 13, 2010 the ALJ assigned to Far West's permanent rate case issued a procedural order that will leave the existing docket (WS-03478A-08-0454) open for compliance purposes only (i.e. the filing of reports and ACC Staff's study on the possible appointment of an interim manager).
RUCO INTERVENES IN APS SCHEDULE 3 PROCEEDING
On Wednesday, June 15, 2011, RUCO filed an application requesting intervenor status in Arizona Public Service Company's Schedule 3 proceeding that is pending before the Arizona Corporation Commission. APS is seeking Commission approval of a proposed agreement on its line extension policy as part of the filing. RUCO is a party to the agreement.
DECISION ISSUED ON ARIZONA WATER COMPANY'S REQUEST FOR ARSENIC COST RECOVERY MECHANISM SURCHARGE
On Tuesday, May 27, 2011, the Arizona Corporation Commission issued Decision No. 72375 approving a Step-One ACRM surcharge for Arizona Water Company's Sedona system.
EVIDENTIARY HEARING SET FOR PHASE 2 OF LITCHFIELD PARK SERVICE COMPANY RATE CASE
On Monday, May 2, 2011, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear Phase 2 of the Litchfield Park Service Company ("LPSCO") rate case issued a Procedural Order scheduling the evidentiary hearing on the matter for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2011 in Hearing Room No. 1, 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. Phase 2 involves LPSCO's request for a hook-up fee tariff (the issue was bifurcated during Phase 1 of the general rate case proceeding).
ACC APPROVES SALE OF CHAPARRAL CITY WATER COMPANY TO EPCOR USA
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, the five sitting ACC Commissioners approved the sale of Chaparral City Water Company to EPCOR USA by a vote of 5-0. The final decision on the matter adopts RUCO's recommendations regarding the sale.
EPCOR USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. ("EPCOR"), a Canadian firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. EPCOR builds, owns and operates electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure. EPCOR provides water and wastewater services to more than one million people in over 70 communities in Western Canada.
COMMISSIONERS VOTE ON CHAPARRAL CITY WATER COMPANY REHEARING
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, the five sitting ACC Commissioners voted 4-1 to increase rates for Chaparral City Water Company customers by adopting the recommendations of the Administrative Law Judge assigned to rehear the Company's 2007 rate case.
During the rehearing, RUCO argued that ratepayers should receive all of the proceeds from a settlement agreement reached between Chaparral City Water and the Fountain Hills Sanitary District and that CCWC's request for legal fees for the appeal and remand of a prior Commission decision be denied as a matter of fairness and public policy.
COMMISSION APPROVES RATE INCREASE ON BELLA VISTA/SUNRISE RATE CASE
By a final vote of 4-1, ACC Commissioners approved a final decision that increased rates for Liberty Water's Bella Vista, Northern Sunrise and Southern Sunrise water systems during a Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
COMMISSION VOTES FOR NO INCREASE ON SOUTHWEST GAS DSM SURCHARGE
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, the five sitting ACC Commissioners voted to adopt ACC Staff's proposed order recommending that Southwest Gas Corporation's demand-side management ("DSM") adjustor rate not be reset and that it remain at its current level of $0.0200 per therm.
Southwest Gas filed its request with the Arizona Corporation Commission on Friday, January 28, 2011.
COMMISSION APPROVES QWEST/CENTURYLINK MERGER
By their vote of 5-0 the five members of the Arizona Corporation Commission approved the proposed merger of Qwest Communications International, Inc. and CenturyLink, Inc. during the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
On Tuesday, February 15, 2011, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to hear the matter issued a Recommended Opinion and Order recommending that the ACC approve the transaction subject to the terms and conditions of settlement agreements reached by the various parties to the case including RUCO.
COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PARADISE VALLEY CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT SURCHARGE
The five sitting ACC Commissioners voted to approve ACC Staff's recommended 2011 Paradise Valley Water District Central Arizona Project surcharge during the Regular Open Meeting held on Thursday, February 17, 2011.
On Friday, February 11, 2011, RUCO filed its annual report on Arizona-American Water Company's revised 2011 Paradise Valley Water District Central Arizona Project surcharge pursuant to Decision No. 61831. RUCO is recommending that the Arizona Corporation Commission adopt ACC Staff's recommended CAP surcharge rate of $0.2372 per 1,000 gallons of usage, which is comprised of a rate of $0.0726 per 1,000 gallons to recover the under-collection of Arizona-American's prior year surcharge over a three-year period, and a rate of $0.1646 per 1,000 gallons to recover current capital and delivery charges. The surcharge applies to all customers of the District with the exception of sales for resale customers. For residential customers the surcharge is calculated on a per 1,000 gallon basis in excess of 45,000 gallons of consumption and all levels of consumption for non-residential customers.
COMMISSION APPROVES ARIZONA-AMERICAN WATER RATE INCREASE
On Wednesday, December 15, 2010, the five sitting ACC Commissioners passed an amended Recommended Opinion and Order on Arizona-American Water Company's request for increased rates for its Anthem and Sun City Water Districts, and for its Anthem/Agua Fria, Sun City and Sun City West Wastewater Districts. The final order rejects consolidated rates, adopts RUCO's recommended lower 9.50 percent cost of common equity (that produces a 6.70 percent overall rate of return), and accepts an agreement between Arizona-American, Anthem and RUCO for phased-in rates to mitigate the impact of $23.3 million in Arizona-American repayments to Pulte Homes for Anthem water and wastewater infrastructure.
ACC ADOPTS AMENDED RECOMMENDED OPINION AND ORDER ON RIO RICO UTILITIES, INC. RATE CASE
The five sitting ACC Commissioners passed an amended Recommended Opinion and Order on Rio Rico Utilities Inc.'s rate request during the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix. The final decision adopts a lower 8.74 percent rate of return that was agreed on by Liberty Water and RUCO.
COMMISSION ADOPTS POLICY STATEMENT ON REGULATORY AND RATE INCENTIVES FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ACC Commissioners adopted a policy statement on decoupling for electric and natural gas utilities during the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 1200 W. Washington in Phoenix.
COMMISSION APPROVES UNS ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE
On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, ACC Commissioners passed an amended Recommended Opinion and Order ("ROO") on UNS Electric, Inc.'s request or an increase in rates. The final decision includes a provision to offer billing credits for new line-extensions.
ACC COMMISSIONERS ADOPT AMENDED ORDER ON GLOBAL UTILITIES RATE REQUEST
By a vote of 5 - 0, ACC Commissioners passed an amended order that reduced Global Utilities' proposed increase in rates. The Commission's final Decision adopts RUCO's recommended 9.00 percent cost of common equity. The five ACC Commissioners cast their final vote on the matter during a Special Open Meeting held on Monday, August 30, 2010.
COMMISSION APPROVES ACRM SURCHARGE FOR ARIZONA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY'S TUBAC DISTRICT
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a Step-1 Arsenic Cost Recovery Mechanism surcharge for Arizona-American Water Company's Tubac District. The surcharge was requested by Arizona-American Water Company in accordance with Decision No. 71410, dated December 8, 2009, in order to recover the costs of arsenic removal plant which is needed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 10 parts per billion standard.
COMMISSION APPROVES BLACK MOUNTAIN SEWER CORPORATION RATE INCREASE
During the Regular Open Meeting held on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, ACC Commissioners voted to approve a rate increase and an additional surcharge, to cover the costs of decommissioning a wastewater treatment facility, for the Black Mountain Sewer Corporation.
ACC APPROVES SOLARCITY ADJUDICATION REQUEST
By a final vote of 5 - 0, ACC Commissioners passed an amended Recommended Opinion and Order that finds that SSA agreements such as those offered by SolarCity Corporation should not be regulated.
COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMS ACC REMAND DECISION ON CHAPARRAL CITY WATER COMPANY
On Thursday, June 10, 2010, the Arizona Court of Appeals Division One issued a Memorandum Decision affirming the Arizona Corporation Commission's Decision No. 70441, dated July 28, 2008 on Chaparral City Water Company. RUCO's Chief Legal Counsel and counsel for the Commission 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.
COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMS ACC DECISION ON GOLD CANYON SEWER
On Thursday, May 20, 2010, the Arizona Court of Appeals Division One issued a Memorandum Decision affirming the Arizona Corporation Commission's Decision No. 70624, dated November 19, 2008 and Decision No. 70662, dated December 23, 2008 on Gold Canyon Sewer Company. Attorneys for RUCO and the ACC defended the Commission's Decisions before a panel of three appeals court judges in February 2010. Customers of Gold Canyon Sewer were on hand to witness the proceeding.
ACC APPROVES APS' COMMUNITY POWER PROJECT- FLAGSTAFF PILOT
During the Regular Open Meeting on Thursday, April 1, 2010, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted to approve Arizona Public Service Company's ("APS") Community Power Project in Flagstaff, a pilot program that will bring solar panels to the rooftops of homes and businesses.
On Friday, February 26, 2010, RUCO filed comments on ACC Staff's report on APS' request for approval of the renewable distributed energy pilot program that will supplement APS' 2009 Renewable Energy Standard Implementation Plan.
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.