DR 98-128
CENTRAL WATER COMPANY, INC.
Petition for Rate Increase
Order Suspending Proposed Permanent Rate Schedule
and Notice of Prehearing Conference
O R D E R N O. 23,045
October 27, 1998
Central Water Company Inc. (Central or the Petitioner),
filed with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
(Commission) on September 25, 1998 proposed rate schedules and
supporting documentation which, if approved, would result in an
increase of approximately 32.15% or a total annual increase in
revenue of approximately $84,681, for the 625 customers at the
Locke Lake Development in Barnstead, New Hampshire. Central
stated in its prefiled testimony that it is not seeking temporary
rates in this proceeding. The filing raises, inter alia, issues related to
consumption trends, operation and maintenance expenses, capital
structure, rate base additions, management contract allocations
and rate case expenses, all of which require a thorough
investigation.
Based on the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED, that Central's NHPUC No.4 Water, Fourth
Revised Page 16 is hereby suspended; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that a Prehearing Conference be held
before the Commission located at 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New
Hampshire on November 13, 1998 10:00 a.m. at which each party
will provide a preliminary summary of its position with regard to
the Petition. Absent objection five days before the prehearing,
the Prehearing Conference will be recorded on tape rather than by
a stenographer; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that, immediately following the
Prehearing Conference, Central, the Staff of the Commission and
the Intervenors hold a First Technical Session to review the
Petition and allow the Petitioner to provide any updates or
amendments to its filing; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that the parties discuss the following
proposed schedule prior to the prehearing conference:
Responses to Oral Data November 20, 1998
Requests Propounded at the
1st Technical Session
First set of Data Requests to December 3, 1998 Company from Staff and
Intervenors
Company Data Responses December 10, 1998
Second set of Data Requests December 17, 1998
Company Data Response December 30, 1998
Testimony by Staff and January 21, 1999
Intervenors
Data Requests to Staff and January 29, 1999
Intervenors
Data Responses by Staff and February 4, 1999
Intervenors
Settlement Conference February 18, 1999
Filing of Settlement February 25, 1999
Agreement, if any
Hearing March 2, 1999;
Unless otherwise ordered following the prehearing
conference, the above schedule shall be adopted; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
203.01, Central notify all persons desiring to be heard at this
hearing by publishing a copy of this Order no later than November
6, 1998, in a newspaper of general circulation in that portion of
the state in which operations are conducted, publication to be
documented by affidavit filed with the Commission on or before
November 13, 1998; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that Central serve a summary of its
proposed rate change and a copy of this Order of Notice in
accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules Puc 1601.05(j), on current and
known prospective customers and the Barnstead Town Clerk by first
class U.S. Mail, postmarked no later than November 6, 1998; and
it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
203.02, any party seeking to intervene in the proceeding shall
submit to the Commission an original and eight copies of a
Petition to Intervene with copies sent to Central and the Office
of the Consumer Advocate on or before November 10, 1998, such
Petition stating the facts demonstrating how its rights, duties,
privileges, immunities or other substantial interests may be
affected by the proceeding, as required by N.H. Admin. Rule Puc
203.02 (a)(2); and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that any party objecting to a Petition
to Intervene file said Objection on or before November 13, 1998. By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this twenty-seventh day of October, 1998.
Douglas L. Patch Susan S. Geiger Nancy Brockway
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary
Any individuals needing assistance or auxiliary communication aids
due to sensory impairment or other disability, should contact the American
with Disabilities Act Coordinator, NHPUC, 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New
Hampshire 03301-7319; 603-271-2431; TDD Access: Relay N.H. 1-800-735-2964.
Preferably, notification of the need for assistance should be made one week
before the scheduled event.