Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission grants Alabama Water Utilities certificates, orders rate-filing deadline
Summary
The commission granted certificates to Alabama Water Utilities Inc. and Shelby Ridge Utility Systems LLC but required the company to initiate a general rate proceeding by June 1, 2026 or face a commission investigation; meanwhile, existing published rates remain in effect.
The Alabama Public Service Commission on April 7 granted petitions from Alabama Water Utilities Inc. and its subsidiary Shelby Ridge Utility Systems LLC for certificates of public convenience and necessity to operate specified wastewater systems.
Administrative Law Judge Chad Mason told the commission the petition included a notice under Alabama Code §37-4-161 electing commission jurisdiction for affiliated wastewater systems. He recommended granting the certificate authorizations identified in the petition.
Judge Mason also told commissioners the commission would notify Alabama Water Utilities that if it "does not initiate a general rate proceeding on or before June 1st, 2026, the commission will initiate an investigation into the rates and charges." He added that under the applicable constitutional and code provisions, rates in the interim would remain the utilities' most recent published rates.
The commission moved and voted to grant the petition and to issue the notice requiring either a rate filing by June 1 or a commission-initiated investigation. Commissioners recorded unanimous approval during the meeting.
The commission noted that Alabama Water Utilities holds a certificate of financial viability covering systems formerly owned by Community Utilities of Alabama; rates for those customers will remain as previously published until the commission determines applicable rates and charges.
