DF 96-210
TILTON & NORTHFIELD AQUEDUCT COMPANY, INC.
Petition for Authority to Issue Securities and Increase Rates
Order Approving Procedural Schedule
O R D E R N O. 22,866
March 10, 1998
In Docket DF 95-185, by Order No. 21,876, the New
Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (Commission) authorized the
Petitioner, Tilton & Northfield Aqueduct Company, Inc. (TNA or
the Company) to issue securities in an amount not to exceed
$3,124,398. Order No. 21,876 also found the proposal to finance
the construction of gravel packed wells in Northfield and a new
transmission system to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA) to be prudent uses of the funds. On August 27, 1996, the
Commission issued Order No. 22,296 in DF 96-210 which provided
authorization for borrowing an additional $64,318 for larger
transmission mains in order to achieve acceptable fire flows. On
February 11, 1997, the Commission issued Order No. 22,502 which
increased TNA's financing authorization up to $3,841,965, to
enclose its storage reservoir rather than use a floating cover
system. Finally, Order No. 22,564 (April 21, 1997) further
authorized the Company to increase its total borrowing authority
up to $4,159,889. That increase in financing related to the
lapse in time since the original estimates in 1995 and subsequent
higher bids for the well pumping station and the water main
improvement projects.
On December 30, 1997, the Company filed financial
schedules which would provide for a 192% increase in its
currently approved rates as a result of the construction of the
wells and transmission system (Phase I of the project). Those
schedules included the Company's calculations of the final
construction costs of Phase I as well as related increases in
expenses.
A duly noticed prehearing conference was held on
February 25, 1998. The Commission received no requests for
intervention. Staff indicated that it would meet with
representatives of TNA following the prehearing conference to
prepare a proposed procedural schedule. Staff subsequently
submitted the following proposed schedule:
Data Requests by Staff March 6, 1998
Company Responses to Data Requests March 11, 1998
Hearing March 16, 1998
at 1:30pm
Also at the prehearing conference, in accordance with
the Order of Notice, the Company and Staff stated their positions
with regard to the issues in the filing for the record. An audit
had already been conducted by Staff, and the Company and Staff
envision an agreement on the proposed increase in rates prior to
the proposed date of the hearing.
Staff and the Company also discussed an additional
requested financing package filed by the Company on February 11,
1998 which would finance main replacements made necessary by
increased system pressure. Staff and the Company will work
towards an expedited resolution that will meet the needs of the
Company while limiting the requested water system improvements to
those which are related to the current SDWA project.
We find the proposed procedural schedule to be
reasonable and will, therefore, approve it for the duration of
the proceeding.
Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED, that the procedural schedule delineated above
is APPROVED.
By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this tenth day of March, 1998.
Douglas L. Patch Bruce B. Ellsworth Susan S. Geiger
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary