Telephonic Pre-Hearing Conference - W-01427A-25-0126 - Liberty Utilities (Litchfield Park Water and Sewer) Corp. SW-01428A-25-0127 - Liberty Utilities (Litchfield Park Water and Sewer) Corp. SW-01428A-25-0163 et al Tucson

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Arizona Corporation Commission 19 min 4 agenda items transcribed 3 days ago official recording ↗

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What docket numbers and rate applications are being addressed in this pre‑hearing conference?

Belinda Martin 0:00

All right, well go ahead and go on the record. This is the time set for the prehearing conference in Docket Numbers W dash Zero One Two. Zero one four two seven A dash twenty five dash zero one two six and SW das one four two eight A-25 dash zero one two seven relating to Liberty Lichfield's rate applications for its water and wastewater divisions. And docket numbers W dash zero one four two seven A dash twenty five dash zero one six three And SW dash zero one four two eight A-two five dash zero one six three relating to Liberty Lichfield's financing application. Good morning. Welcome to the Arizona Corporation Commission. My name is Belinda Martin, the administrative The administrative law judge assigned to this matter.

Belinda Martin 0:54

Okay, before we get started, let's take appearances um here today on behalf of the company.

Tim Sabo 1:01

Morning, your honor. This is Tim Sabo with the law firm of Osborne Maladon, appearing on behalf of the company, and we also have Stephen Ameti, in house counsel for the director legal affairs, uh for uh the company and then uh we also have a a number of folks uh from the company here in the audience.

Belinda Martin 1:20

All right thank you. On behalf of Ruco.

Sarah Barrios Cool 1:25

Good morning, Your Honor, Sarah Barrios Cool, and with me is Chief Counsel Dan Posewski.

Bridget Humfrey 1:31

Thank you. And on behalf of staff. Good morning, Your Honor. Bridget Humfrey on behalf of staff. I would note, and and at the request of Maureen Scott, who has now been assigned to uh this case as well, uh, that she is not here today. She has uh had an emergency dental procedure this morning. So yeah. Uh we'd all rather be here, I'm sure, just than there. Uh so she is not here, and she wanted me to simply let you know that we do have some. Several, uh probably all of staff's witnesses uh present this morning as well.

Belinda Martin 2:05

Give Miss Scott my best wishes for a speedy recovery. When I think of the dentist I don't anybody ever see that movie Marathon Man with Laurence Olivier and Dustin Oh, cool. Jeepers. Heeby jeebies. Okay. Um before we get to the nuts and bolts of the prehearing conference, what I'd like to do is kind of address the elephant in the room. Okay. So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna do a round robin and let's wanna get everybody's thoughts on this and let's um just get this squared away, if we may. I must I'm referring to how we're gonna handle the testimony on the C S R M or C R S whichever it is. So Mr. Sabo.

Tim Sabo 2:46

Thank you. Uh good morning, Your Honor. Sorry, is that better? Yes. Uh so thank you, Your Honor, and and good morning. And sorry we had to uh drag you out uh here in person. Uh Four uh as you know, there have been a variety of filings.

Who are the attorneys and staff appearing on behalf of Liberty Utilities and the Commission?

Tim Sabo 3:03

Uh and uh in addition to that, behind the scenes the parties have had uh some extensive discussions. So I think we're uh uh Uh staff from Ruco can confirm this, but I believe uh we are all now on the same page, uh, which would be to proceed next week with the full hearing on all the issues including the CSRM. Uh so hopefully I have stated that uh correctly.

Belinda Martin 3:32

Okay. Uh Ms. Barrio School?

Sarah Barrios Cool 3:37

Uh yes, Your Honor, Mr. Sabo does state that uh correctly from Rico's perspective. We do think it would be uh most judicially efficient and and best to proceed um in a unified proceeding and handle the C S R M just you know. Take take care of all the issues at once. Okay.

Belinda Martin 3:53

Um whoops.

Bridget Humfrey 3:55

And Miss Humphrey. Thank you, Your Honor. Yes, I I do believe Mr. Savo correctly uh stated the position of the parties in this matter. Um Базиклі стаф із вас концерн. with proceeding b with proceeding with the hearing on formular rights because we were concerned about having a sufficient record to withstand appeal. Uh We have met with the company. And we anticipate that we will be filing something today. uh indicating that uh staff in the company have uh developed a poa that we can agree upon for the CSRM. And uh with that information we believe we will be able to present sufficient evidence at the hearing next week uh t to support a uh a decision with regard to the um with regard to the formula rates and for that reason staff would withdraw its request for reconsideration.