Public Hearing Process

If it is determined that a public hearing is necessary, Public Utilities Board (Board) staff will engage utility administration to determine a mutually agreeable hearing date. A public notice of hearing will be issued and the hearing held, usually in the evening and at a location convenient to utility customers. 

Public hearings provide stakeholders the opportunity to voice their concerns about a rate application in an open public hearing to the municipality in question.  Public hearings are valuable to the Board as they afford the public the opportunity to address the panel with their concerns. 

The public hearing process is as follows:  

1.  The chairperson for the hearing will make his or her opening comments, including admitting into the record the prepared exhibits.
2.  The applicant will then be asked to summarize the application. This should include:
•  a brief summary of the application’s request;
•  the reasoning for revised rates;
•  any other important information that is relevant to the scope of the hearing.
3.  Stakeholders will then be given an opportunity to ask their questions on the application.
4.  Stakeholders will be given the opportunity to address any other relevant issues or concerns they may have regarding the application.

Subsequent to the hearing, the Board will complete its review and render a decision by way of a Board Order