DR 98-088
Pennichuck Water Works, Inc.
Order Nisi Approving Tariff Revision
and Miscellaneous Fee Increases
O R D E R N O. 23,133
February 1, 1999
On May 20, 1998, Pennichuck Water Works, Inc. (the
Company or Petitioner) submitted a number of changes to its
existing tariffs governing the provision of water service to (1)
its Nashua Core customers, (2) its recently acquired service
areas in Pittsfield and (3) Pennichuck East customers served in a
number of satellite systems previously owned by Consumers Water.
The purpose of the revisions is to assure that the
terms and conditions of the three tariffs are consistent. A
limited number of modifications to the existing service
provisions have been submitted for approval and inclusion in the
three tariffs. The Company requested certain miscellaneous
Utility Service fees also be increased to reflect labor costs.
The following changes to the general provisions have
been submitted.
1. The Company is requesting the applicant for water
service install booster pumps under conditions of low pressure
and install pressure reducing valves when high pressure
conditions exist.
2. The Company is requesting authority for customers
on a monthly billing cycle to have the option to read some or all
meters in alternate months and render a monthly bill. For those
months in which no reading is taken the Company is proposing to
estimate consumption based upon the customer's historic
consumption data. The estimated bill will be trued-up to reflect
actual consumption on the next bill based on actual meter
reading. In the event the meter cannot be read at the regularly
scheduled time, pre-paid postcards may be used by the customer to
record the reading or the customer may call the company with a
meter reading.
3. For new services requested by developers and
non-residential customers, the Company is proposing that
non-residential customers and developers applying for service
install the section of the service pipe from the "main-to-stop"
or have that portion of the pipe installed by the Company at the
expense of the customer.
4. The Company has revised its water restrictions
section. It will inform customers concerning restrictions on
usage by mail or on-site notice, newspaper or local circulation,
radio and television.
5. The final changes are to Miscellaneous service fees
reflecting labor cost increases:
Existing Proposed
Service Connection Charge: $20 $28
Regular Hours
Non-regular Hours $30 $40
Staff has reviewed the above proposed changes and
recommended to the Commission that the Company be allowed to
modify Pennichuck's tariffs to reflect the above changes.
We find the proposed changes in Pennichuck's tariffs to
be in the public interest and will approve them subject to any
further proceeding deemed necessary based on any comments
received from the public.
Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED NISI, that Pennichuck Water Works, Inc's. above
tariff changes are APPROVED subject to any subsequent review
ordered by this Commission; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petitioner shall cause a copy
of this Order Nisi to be published once in a statewide newspaper
of general circulation and also a newspaper of general
circulation distributed only in that portion of the state where
operations are conducted, such publication to be no later than
February 8, 1999 and to be documented by affidavit filed with
this office on or before February 15, 1999; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that all persons interested in
responding to this petition be notified that they may submit
their comments or file a written request for a hearing on this
matter before the Commission no later than February 22, 1999; and
it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that any party interested in
responding to such comments or request for hearing shall do so no
later than March 1, 1999; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi shall be
effective March 3, 1999, unless the Commission provides otherwise
in a supplemental order issued prior to the effective date; and
it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petitioner shall file
compliance tariffs with the Commission on or before March 3, 1999
in accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc 1603.02(b).
By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this first day of February, 1999.
Douglas L. Patch Susan S. Geiger Nancy Brockway
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary