The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is inviting public comments as it reviews the request of Brown County Water Utility, Inc. for an increase in its rates and charges.
The OUCC - the state agency representing consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) - has not yet taken a position on the utility's request but is currently scheduled to complete its review and file testimony on Thursday, June 7. Consumers who wish to provide written comments on the proposal in the meantime may submit them to the OUCC's consumer services staff via mail, e-mail or fax.
Brown County Water Utility is a non-profit entity serving more than 4,800 member-customers in rural portions of Brown, Bartholomew, Johnson, Monroe and Morgan Counties. Under the utility's proposal - which would equalize rates throughout its service territory into a single tariff - a residential customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month would pay a monthly bill of $67.15. Current monthly residential bills for 5,000 gallons are $45.15 in the utility's Northern Division and $49.46 in its Southern Division.
The utility is also seeking IURC permission to issue up to $6.64 million in debt. According to its testimony and exhibits, the utility is seeking the changes to cover increased operating and maintenance costs, and to pay for capital improvements (including a new treatment plant, a new well field and a new storage tank). Brown County Water Utility's current rates were approved in 2000.
A copy of the utility's testimony is available for public review at the Brown County Public Library (205 Locust Lane in Nashville, Indiana). In addition, an electronic copy is available online, linked from the OUCC's Website.
"Written consumer comments are important to us as we review utility requests in rate cases," said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Susan L. Macey. "While our legal and technical case teams closely examine utility testimony and exhibits in each rate case before the IURC, consumer comments frequently help us to understand issues at the local level."
The OUCC needs to receive all written consumer comments in this case no later than Monday, June 4. Comments should include the consumer's name, address, and a reference to IURC Cause No. 43203, and can be submitted by mail, fax or the Internet:
Consumers with questions about submitting written comments can contact the OUCC's consumer services staff toll-free at 1-888-441-2494.
Comments received by the OUCC's filing deadline will be reviewed by the agency's consumer services staff, as well as legal and technical staff assigned to the case.
An IURC technical evidentiary hearing in this case is currently scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 26 in Indianapolis. While technical evidentiary hearings are open to the public, participation is typically limited to attorney and Commission questioning of technical witnesses that have filed testimony on behalf of the proceeding's formal parties. All hearing and filing dates are subject to change.
A settlement agreement is possible in any legal proceeding; such an agreement would require IURC approval. The OUCC attempts to reach a fair agreement for consumers in each IURC case.
The OUCC offers a number of consumer publications on utility issues, including tips for reducing water and energy bills, a guide to the state utility regulatory process, and tips for providing effective consumer comments in pending cases. All OUCC publications are available at no charge by calling the agency toll-free or visiting the agency's Website.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is the state agency that represents utility consumer interests in state and federal regulatory proceedings. To learn more, visit www.IN.gov/OUCC.
(IURC Cause No. 43203)
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