Pre-Hearing Conference - W-01812A-25-0166 - Bermuda Water Company, Inc. - May 07, 2026

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Arizona Corporation Commission 33 min 8 agenda items transcribed 3 days ago official recording ↗

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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What is the purpose of today’s pre‑hearing conference and who are the parties involved?

Chris Nichols 0:01

All right, well uh I've got shortly after one, so let's go ahead and uh go on the record. Good afternoon, everyone. This is the time set for the telephonic prehearing conference in the matter of the application of Bermuda Water Company Inc. For determination of the fair value of its water utility plant and property. For increases in its rates and charges for water utility service. And for related approvals. Docket number W Zero one eight one two A Twenty five zero one six six. I'm administrative law judge Chris Nichols, and I have been assigned to preside over this matter. Uh so let's uh go ahead and take appearances of the parties, beginning with the applicant, Bermuda Water Company.

Jeff Crockett 0:49

Good afternoon, Judge Nichols. Jeff Crockett appearing on behalf of the applicant, Bermuda Water Company, Inc. Good afternoon.

Chris Nichols 1:00

And for staff.

Eli Gollup 1:03

Your Honor, uh Eli Gollup, E L I, last name, G O L as in Larry, O B as in Boy. For staff.

Chris Nichols 1:16

Good afternoon, Mr. Gollum.

Eli Gollup 1:19

Afternoon.

Chris Nichols 1:19

All right. So Uh the purpose of today's pre-hearing conference is to discuss any procedural issues in advance of the hearing that is uh currently set to commence on Monday, May eleventh. Um so let's get started with an update on the settlement. Uh it looks like the settlement agreement and supporting schedules were filed this morning. Uh I did not see uh settlement testimony yet. So I'll turn to Mr. Crockett um for information on when we might uh expect any settlement testimony.

Jeff Crockett 1:52

Yeah, your your Honor, I'll just give you a uh just a quick Background on the settlement agreement. We company filed the application with direct testimony. Staff filed its direct testimony. The company filed responsive testimony. And after after that testimony was filed, we reached out to staff to talk about a possibility of settlement. We were able to meet and uh reach agreement on all of the issues in the rate case, and that settlement is reflected in the settlement agreement that was uh that was filed earlier today. I have prepared uh mostly prepared settlement testimony that will be sponsored by Mr. Delinco. Um we c we can be prepared to get that on file pretty quickly. Um we're gonna talk about m a revised uh

Jeff Crockett 2:41

a schedule next week for the hearing and uh That that may we I guess we'd like to know from your honor when you'd like to have the testimony. We we could be prepared, I think, to file ours by as early as tomorrow if necessary. Um I you know, it sometimes takes a little time to get sign off on things, but uh i you know, if that's if that's important we can get that done Friday. If not Monday certainly. Um and I'll just jump right in on the schedule. I did uh run in Mr. Uh Baxter at the open meeting this morning and we talked about going ahead on Monday uh with the hearing for the limited purpose of uh receiving any public comment that may uh be made. And then we would recess the hearing until either maybe Thursday or Friday to give your honor the opportunity to look at the settlement agreement and the supporting testimony.

Jeff Crockett 3:38

Um, I think Mr. Baxter I've talked to Mr. Dolinko. Uh he would be available either Thursday or Friday, and I believe Mr. Baxter is available either Thursday or Friday morning with maybe a slight preference for Thursday. I'll leave it there for now.

Chris Nichols 3:56

Thank you, Mr. Crockett. And uh yeah, you uh you read my mind. I wasn't sure when that settlement testimony might be coming in, but Uh I was I was concerned that it might come in on Monday and that the parties would want to move forward on Monday, which obviously um you know puts the hearing division in a tough position. Um so I I I I do think that um That that is a good idea, but I'll I'll turn to Mr. Gall to see uh whether he has anything to uh add. Does that all sound uh correct and and reasonable to you, Mr. Columb?

Eli Gollup 4:28

Uh yeah, and I have a little a few more specific. Um So we're thinking staff So I was thinking of filing the testimony on mu on Monday. Obviously, uh, and allow for public comment on Monday. Um and for Uh it would be uh Britt Baxter who who will be our sole witness. And of course we can have all the other witnesses available i if you need