LISBON – The Maine Public Utilities Commission formally begins its investigation into the Lisbon Water Department’s proposed 51.52-percent rate hike with an initial case conference and technical conference 2:30 p.m. today in Augusta.
The rate hike was to take effect Aug. 31. However, a petition by water users asked that the PUC “suspend and investigate” the need for the increase. That resulted in a PUC-ordered three-month suspension until an investigation is completed. On Sept. 29, the public advocate filed a petition to intervene in the case.
The conferences today will include procedural issues. The technical conference will take place immediately after the case conference. This conference will be broadcast over the PUC Web page and a Real Audio recording will be made available on the Web page after the conference.
The web page may be accessed at www.maine.gov/mpuc. From the PUC home page, click on Calendar/Real Audio in the Staying Informed box. To hear the conference on that day, click on the live audio link. After the conference, click on “Archive of Other Events” at the bottom of the first screen to find the archived Real Audio of the technical conference.
The Water Department was asked to provide answers about various issues by Oct. 12, including salary and wage increases for employees, increases in pensions and benefits, and an increase of $28,000 from projected 2005 expenses, which would go from $32,000 to $60,000.
Other questions include the cost of the new Water Department building, where the offices were previously, why a new building was needed and the process used to determine the best location and contractor for the project. A final question asks about how options for water treatment were evaluated.
On Friday, there will be another meeting, where there may additional written requests. The next technical conference will be Oct. 24.
A technical conference will be held at the Lisbon Town Office 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. The public may attend, but won’t be permitted to participate.
At 6 p.m. that day, there will be a public meeting/hearing to allow public comment and concerns. This meeting won’t be recorded.
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