Water commission hears litigation update, rate-case timing and multi-site project progress

Courtney, utility administrative staff, updated the commission on legal and regulatory matters and recent construction progress. She said summary-judgment briefing in the SJ Lewis matter is complete and that depositions and expert reports are underway; the legal exchange and associated work could take three to nine months, and no trial date is set.

Courtney also said the Public Service Commission authorized an extension to Nov. 13 for filing the utility’s rate case and that rate impacts are unlikely to be visible to ratepayers in 2026. Commissioners discussed moving the October meeting one week later (to Oct. 23) to accommodate budget timing; staff will poll commissioners to confirm quorum for that revised date.

Matt then provided project updates: the Silver Nile Road realignment main is installed and being bacteriologically tested; Green Meadow main is installed and service tie-ins will start soon; the Fox River Parkway and School Drive mains are complete and awaiting sampling/pressure testing in spots; 59 reconstruction work continues with offsets scheduled as traffic is shifted; Porter and Frederick Broadway service tieovers began this week. Staff said most projects are progressing and noted some temporary service interruptions and the need to coordinate sampling and pressure tests before service activation.