ORDER NO. 98-526
ENTERED DEC 14 1998
This is an electronic copy. Appendices and footnotes may not appear.
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
OF OREGON
UW 54/UM 857 (PHASE II)
| In the Matter of the Revised Rate Schedules Filed by First Hill Water, Inc., for a General Rate Increase/In the Matter of an Investigation into Connection Charges, Repair Assessment Fees, and Line Extension and Service Connection Practices of First Hill Water, Inc. | ) )ORDER ) |
DISPOSITION: STAFF RECOMMENDATION ADOPTED
On November 7, 1997, the Commission entered Order No. 97-432 in Docket UM 857, which addressed a Commission investigation into the appropriateness of First Hill Water, Inc.’s (First Hill) charges, fees, and practices. In that order, the Commission found that First Hill had subjected its customers to unreasonable exactions and concluded that First Hill must issue refunds to all customers with legitimate claims for inappropriate charges. The order further directed Staff to develop a formal refund claim form to distribute to past and present First Hill customers. Staff distributed the refund claim forms it developed, collected data, and reviewed the claims on the best information available.
Appendix A to this order, Staff’s memorandum presented at the December 1, 1998, public meeting, describes the background to the Commission’s investigation and Staff’s review of the refund claims. Exhibit A, the last page of Appendix A, summarizes Staff’s refund recommendation for individual customers based on Staff’s work papers.
At the December 1, 1998, Commission public meeting, Staff recommended that the Commission order First Hill to refund to customers unauthorized charges billed and collected for repair assessments, for hookup fees, and for work the utility required customers to contract and pay for which was the responsibility of the utility. The Commission adopted Staff’s recommendation.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that First Hill Water, Inc., refund to customers the unauthorized charges billed and collected for repair assessments, for hookup fees, and for the work the utility required customers to contract and pay for which was the responsibility of the utility. The customers and the refunds due them are listed in Exhibit A to Appendix A, attached to this order and incorporated herein by reference.
Made, entered, and effective ________________________.
______________________________ Ron Eachus Chairman |
____________________________ Roger Hamilton Commissioner |
____________________________ Joan H. Smith Commissioner |
A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A request for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of service of this order. The request must comply with the requirements in OAR 860-014-0095. A copy of any such request must also be served on each party to the proceeding as provided by OAR 860-013-0070(2). A party may appeal this order to a court pursuant to applicable law.