LISBON – The Maine Public Utilities Commission, after issuing a nine-month suspension of the Lisbon Water Department’s planned 50.19-percent water rate hike on July 31, has now issued a “corrected” suspension order.
Under the new corrected version, dated Sept. 22, the proposed rate hike will be put on hold for three months, rather than nine months.
Paul Adams, Lisbon Water Department manager, explained that his department has been working with the Maine Rural Water Association and its attorney, and it was determined that the original nine-month suspension did not meet the law.
The law allows an initial three-month suspension, which can be followed by an additional five-month suspension, if needed, Adams said.
This information was conveyed to the PUC, which concurred. The PUC then issued the corrected order. Andrew Hagler, staff attorney at the PUC, attributed the snafu to a “clerical error, which has been corrected.”
Lisbon’s proposed water rate hike was to have taken effect Aug. 31. But it was suspended as a result of a petition calling for an investigation by the PUC into the Water Department’s need for an increase. The petition was signed by 497 water customers who requested that the effective date of the rate hike be suspended to the allow the PUC time to investigate the matter.
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