A settlement in the Liberty Utilities rate case has been reached, according to staff from state Rep. Matt Schaefers office.<\/p>\n
In a post on a Facebook page about the case, the staff said they were informed Monday about the settlement.<\/p>\n
We do not have details that we can share at this time, the post read. Rep. Schaefer is requesting a meeting in person with PUC (Public Utility Commission) officials ASAP. <\/p>\n
A hearing about the merits of the Liberty Utilities rate case was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Austin. <\/p>\n
However, because of the settlement, the hearing was canceled, according to the Facebook post. <\/p>\n
It was unclear late Monday what the settlement would mean for the proposed rate increases for customers in Tyler and Smith County. <\/p>\n
The settlement is the latest development in a process that began in September after the utility company notified its Tall Timbers and Woodmark Sewer customers about a proposed rate change for wastewater service. <\/p>\n
The rate increase as proposed then would more than triple some customers monthly bills and was met with widespread opposition. <\/p>\n
Customers submitted more than 1,000 protests to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. <\/p>\n
The commission has original jurisdiction over the companys rate application for customers living in Smith County. <\/p>\n
However, the city of Tyler has original jurisdiction over Liberty Utilities rate application for customers living inside the city limits. <\/p>\n
The number of protests from Smith County customers triggered an automatic hearing at the state level and, in December, the Public Utility Commission referred the case to the State Office of Administrative Hearings to address factual disputes. <\/p>\n
At the same time, the city of Tyler was addressing the rate request for its residents and in April, the city denied the companys application for a rate increase saying it lacked the authority to approve rates based on alternate ratemaking methodologies, which the company was proposing in its application. <\/p>\n
The company appealed the citys decision to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and, in June, a judge with the State Office of Administrative Hearings consolidated the appeal with the rest of the case it already was addressing. <\/p>\n
Schaefers staff said they would provide an update as soon as possible. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
TWITTER: @TMTEmily <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Tyler Morning Telegraph - Settlement reached in Liberty Utilities rate ... - Tyler Morning Telegraph<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A settlement in the Liberty Utilities rate case has been reached, according to staff from state Rep. Matt Schaefers office. In a post on a Facebook page about the case, the staff said they were informed Monday about the settlement. Continue reading