Public Comment & Hearing - WS-01303A-24-0130 - Epcor Water Arizona Inc. - Jul 27, 2026

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Arizona Corporation Commission 6h 4m 8 agenda items transcribed 1 day ago official recording ↗

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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What is the purpose of the hearing and how is public comment introduced?

Sarah Harpering 0:01

Let's go on the record. Good morning and welcome to the Arizona Corporation Commission. I am Administrative Law Judge Sarah Harpering, and I've been assigned to preside over this matter. This is the time set for the hearing for phase two of docket number WS 01303A 240130 in the matter of the application of Epcor Water Arizona Inc., Santan Water and Wastewater Districts for a determination of its water and wastewater utility plant and property for increases in its rate. rates and charges for water and wastewater utility service and for related approvals. Phase two specifically concerns EPCOR's proposed annual rate adjustment mechanism or ARAM. Um before I go on to take the appearances of the parties, I will provide an opportunity for public comment to be provided.

Sarah Harpering 0:59

Um I don't have anyone on the phone, but I believe I do have someone in the audience. So if you would like to provide public comment, please come on up to the um podium. Oh, okay. Okay. The member of the public here doesn't want to provide public comment? Is she has previously, I'm pretty sure. Um, is there anyone else who wants to provide public comment? No. Okay. I don't want to have her lose her opportunity since she has provided public comment previously.

Gregory Stein 1:45

Your Your Honor, I just overheard her say she was gonna look for somebody, so maybe she was intending for somebody else to appear and make public comment. I'm not sure. That's just what I thought I heard.

Sarah Harpering 1:55

Well, we will give her time by going on to appearances. Um, we can always go back to public comment. So The parties who have indicated that they intend to participate in this phase.

Gregory Stein 2:11

Good morning, Your Honor, Jason Gelman and Gregory Stein on behalf of the applicant Epcor Water Arizona Inc.

2:17

Morning.

Sarah Harpering 2:17

Good morning. Thank you. For the Residential Utility Consumer Office.

Sarah Barrios-Cool 2:22

Good morning, Your Honor. Sarah Barrios Cool and with me is Chief Counsel Dan Pazetsky for the Residential Utility Consumer Office.

Sarah Harpering 2:28

Thank you. And Mr. Pratt, I don't believe, is with us today.

Desiree McCollum 2:35

I can have Try to get here. Yeah.

Sarah Harpering 2:42

Okay, hold on one minute and I will get back to you. Yes ma'am. Okay. Um for the utilities division.

Eli Gollivan 2:50

Yes, your Honor, Eli Gollivan, Ben Kieros, um for uh st uh sta staff attorneys, thank you.

Sarah Harpering 2:56

Thank you. Okay. Um For the record, I'm going to note that the following parties from phase one are not participating in phase two. The first one is Pulty Home Company LLC. The second is Anthem at Merrill Ranch Community Council, Inc. The third is VPMRV LLC. Fourth is Lenar Arizona LLC. Fifth is RMG R E. E S one C L C and the last is Langley Freedom Farms L L C. Okay. Um our public commenter. Okay, there's a woman on the phone who didn't call in but who wants to speak over the microphone from her phone and we are going to allow that because apparently she had trouble getting here. Yes ma'am. So

Desiree McCollum 3:57

Way at thirteen hundred.

Sarah Harpering 4:01

If she's it we are in twelve hundred West Washington, if she's in the vicinity, I can come back to you all while she's here. Okay. You'll let me know. All right, great. Then we will move on. Um, are there any procedural items or issues that need to be addressed before we go forward?

Gregory Stein 4:21

I don't believe so, Your Honor.

Sarah Harpering 4:23

Okay. Not from us, Your Honor.

Gregory Stein 4:27

No, your honor.

Sarah Harpering 4:28

Great. Then would you like to make opening statements?

Gregory Stein 4:31

Uh very briefly, Your Honor, thank you. Um I realize and the company realizes that this is about the fifth time I think that uh The commission is gonna hear evidence about formula rates, whether you call it an A RAM, a FRAM, or Something else. And I very much doubt that I will say anything that will open up the heavens and there'll be chanting and suddenly there'll be this euphoria about formula rates that hasn't already been said. So I'm gonna try to keep my comments very brief. But I and I also recognize that this is a policy decision for the Commission. And it's particularly uh this matter, this phase two, is about to implement policy based on the circumstances, uh specifically Epcor circumstances for the Santan Water and Wastewater District.

Gregory Stein 5:17

Like a lot of things with the commission, it's not a can you question, it's a should you question.