Rate Case Procedures for Water and Wastewater Utilities
To assist consumers, this brochure explains rate case procedures for a water and/or
wastewater utility regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). For
further information on rules, service, or rates first contact your utility. The
PSCs Office of Consumer Assistance & Outreach is also ready to assist consumers
and answer questions.
Standard Rate Case
This procedure is for water/wastewater utilities, or any utility seeking a substantial
increase in rates and charges. A case begins when the utility requests a specific
time period (a test year) for PSC analysis of its investments and expenses to
determine new rates.
It usually takes 90 to 120 days from the test year approval
for the utility to prepare the rate, accounting, and engineering data necessary
to support a requested increase. This data, called minimum filing requirements (MFRs),
is required by the PSC.
After the MFRs are filed with the PSC, a time clock begins. The PSC has 60 days
to officially suspend, deny, or approve the utilitys requested rates. Generally,
the requested rates are suspended because further investigation is needed. During
that time, the PSC may authorize an interim rate increase if the MFRs indicate that
the utility is earning less than its last authorized rate of return on investment.
This interim rate is subject to refund at the conclusion of the case.
The utility is required to place a copy of the MFRs and a summary of the rate request
at its local business office and at the county library or local community center.
Thirty days after the PSC establishes a case time schedule, the utility must notify
customers of the rate increase request, and list the present and proposed rates,
the case time schedule, and the summary and MFR locations.
The PSCs professional staff review and analyze the utilitys submitted data, audit
its accounting and billing records, and carefully review its financial operations.
Engineering staff study the utilitys physical facilities, conduct onsite plant
investigations, and review its compliance with local, state, and federal environmental
agency rules.
Two or more PSC Commissioners are assigned to the case and make the final decision.
One Commissioner is designated the Prehearing Officer and will issue a procedural
order that sets a prehearing conference in Tallahassee. During the conference, all
parties discuss the orders dates for filing testimony and develop case issues.
A formal evidentiary hearing is held in or close to the utility service area approximately
five months into the rate case.
The Office of Public Counsel is authorized by statute to represent consumers in
cases before the PSC. Consumer input, such as quality of service, management responsiveness,
and the utilitys operation and rate structure, are helpful in determining fair
and reasonable rates and play an integral part in the PSC's final decision.
Customer testimony is usually heard the morning of the evidentiary hearing, with
an evening session also held to accommodate all customer schedules. The hearing
is recorded and a transcript is prepared by a court reporter. Each party prepares
a brief, and the Commission staff prepares a recommendation based on the evidence
presented at the hearing. The panel of Commissioners will vote on each issue at
a Commission Conference in Tallahassee. A final order is then prepared based on
the Commissioners' vote. The PSCs final decision can be appealed to the First District
Court of Appeal and ultimately to the Florida Supreme Court.
The entire process for a standard rate case usually takes eight months.
Proposed Agency Action Process
Some utilities choose to file a rate case under the PSC's proposed agency action
(PAA) process, which forgoes a formal hearing. In the first few months, as a part
of the discovery process, the PSC staff schedules a customer meeting in the utilitys
service area to hear customer comments on quality of service and the rates under
consideration. Suspension of the utilitys proposed rates and the determination
of interim rates reflect the standard rate case process.
After the customer meeting and staff investigations have been completed, the staff
prepares a recommendation for consideration by the full Commission at a Commission
Conference in Tallahassee.
Since the case has not been to hearing, affected parties are allowed to address
the Commission at the Conference when the case is being considered.
The Commission will then vote to adopt, reject, or modify the staffs recommendation.
Then, a PAA order is prepared and issued. The order becomes final if a substantially
affected person does not protest it within 21 days.
The PAA process takes approximately five months. If the case is protested, it will
be scheduled for a hearing, and a final decision will be made within eight months
of the protest date.
Staff Assisted Rate Case
Many small water and wastewater utilities do not have the staff to compile the MFRs
for a rate case. Because of their size, it is not economically feasible for them
to hire outside engineers, accountants, and attorneys to compile the necessary information
without passing these expenses on to consumers.
For this reason, the PSC developed a staff-assisted rate case (SARC) program which
allows small water or wastewater utilities with annual revenues under $275,000 to
request PSC staff assistance in developing its rate case. For utilities that provide
both water and wastewater service, revenues must be under $550,000 to request a
SARC. SARCs avoid passing rate case costs on to the customer.
PSC engineers and accountants audit the utilitys books and investigate onsite operations.
A customer meeting is held in the companys service area to allow customer testimony
on its quality of service and the rates under consideration. After considering the
customers testimony, the investigation, and audit findings, a recommendation is
prepared and scheduled for a Commission Conference.
Since the case has not been to hearing, affected parties are allowed to address
the Commission at the Conference when the case is being considered. The Commission
will then vote to adopt, reject, or modify the staff's recommendation. Then, a PAA
order is prepared and issued. The order becomes final if a substantially affected
person, other than the utility, does not protest it within 21 days.
If the case is protested, it will then be scheduled for hearing. The Commission
will usually authorize the PAA order rates subject to refund, until the case is
concluded. The Commission has 15 months from the official filing date to issue its
order.
How To Contact the Public Service Commission and Its Staff:
If you have a service, billing, or rate problem, first attempt to resolve it with
your utility. After giving the utility adequate time to correct the problem, if
you still are not satisfied, call the PSC's Office of Consumer Assistance & Outreach
at 1-800-342-3552, or fax your questions to 1-800-511-0809.