New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 11 - NEW JERSEY WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY › Subchapter 4 - SCHEDULE OF RATES, CHARGES AND DEBT SERVICE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SALE OF WATER FROM THE MANASQUAN RESERVOIR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM › Section 7:11-4.18 - Procedures for rate adjustments

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Prior to
				amending the schedule of rates, charges and debt service assessments
				established by this subchapter, the Authority shall:
1. Provide notice and an explanation
				outlining the need for the proposed rate adjustment to all purchasers; the
				Department of the Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer Advocate; the Board of
				Public Utilities and other interested persons at least six months prior to the
				proposed effective date. This notice and explanation shall be deemed to be part
				of the record of the proceedings.
2. Provide supporting documents and financial
				records of the Authority, at the Authority's cost, in support of the proposed
				adjustment to all purchasers; the Department of the Treasury, Division of the
				Ratepayer Advocate; the Board of Public Utilities and other interested persons
				upon request, and make such documents and records available for review at the
				Authority's offices in Clinton, New Jersey at the time notice of the proposed
				amendment to the rates is given. These supporting documents and financial
				records shall be deemed to be part of the record of the proceedings for
				purposes of preparing the hearing officer's report required under (a)9
				below;
3. Afford purchasers, the
				Department of the Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer Advocate and the Board of
				Public Utilities and other interested persons the opportunity to submit written
				questions and requests for additional data prior to the time of the meeting
				required under (a)4 below. The Authority staff shall provide written answers to
				the questions and supply the additional data requested prior to the
				meeting;
4. Schedule a meeting with
				the purchasers, the Department of the Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer
				Advocate and the Board of Public Utilities and other interested persons within
				45 days after sending them notice of the proposed amendments to the rate
				schedule regarding the proposed amendments:
i.
				At the meeting, the purchasers, the Department of the Treasury, Division of the
				Ratepayer Advocate, and the Board of Public Utilities and other interested
				persons will be invited to submit written questions which will be put into the
				hearing record and which will be answered by the Authority at the public
				hearing;
ii. In order to be
				answered at the public hearing, questions must be received by the Authority no
				later than 15 days prior to the public hearing. The Authority will make every
				reasonable effort to answer those questions received less than 15 days prior to
				the public hearing at the time of the hearing. All questions will be answered
				as part of the record and the comments and responses will be included in the
				hearing report prepared pursuant to (a)9 below;
5. Hold a public hearing on the proposed rate
				adjustment. One or more members of the Authority will serve as the hearing
				officer. The public hearing agenda shall include, but not be limited to:
i. An opening statement by the hearing
				officer;
ii. The Authority's
				answers to the questions raised prior to the hearing by the purchasers, the
				Department of the Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer Advocate, the Board of
				Public Utilities and other interested persons;
iii. Oral statements, written statements and
				any supporting evidence presented by interested persons; and
iv. Questions of the Authority by the
				purchasers, the Department of the Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer Advocate,
				the Board of Public Utilities and any interested persons on any aspect of the
				need for, the basis of, or any provision of the proposed rate adjustment.
				Follow up questions relative to the answers of the Authority may also be
				directed to the Authority during the public hearing;
6. Attempt to answer all questions raised at
				the public hearing. In the event that a response cannot be immediately given at
				the public hearing, then a written response shall be prepared within 10 working
				days after the public hearing, and a copy of that written response will be
				provided to all contractual water purchasers, the Department of the Treasury,
				Division of the Ratepayer Advocate, Board of Public Utilities and attendees at
				the hearing and made a part of the hearing record;
7. Permit, within 10 working days after
				receipt of the answer, contractual water purchasers, the Department of the
				Treasury, Division of the Ratepayer Advocate, the Board of Public Utilities and
				attendees to respond in writing to the answers of the staff for the
				record;
8. Hold the public comment
				period open for at least 25 working days after the public hearing in order to
				allow additional written comments to be submitted; and
9. After the public comment period is closed,
				require a hearing officer's report, which shall include findings of fact and
				specific responses to all issues and questions raised during the public hearing
				proceedings, to be prepared and submitted to the Authority prior to the
				Authority taking final action on the proposal.