Fair Water Texas (FWT) is calling on all intervenors in the Aqua Texas rate case (PUC Docket No. 58124) to take immediate action following the release of SOAH Order No. 4, which imposes a decisive filing requirement that will determine whether intervenors may continue participating in the proceeding.
The order, issued by Administrative Law Judge Cassandra Quinn, states that any intervenor who does not file direct testimony or a statement of position by February 11, 2026, will be stricken as a party unless they show good cause by February 18, 2026.
Intervenors who fail to meet this requirement will be barred from the hearing on the merits, cross‑examination, and all subsequent briefing.
Fair Water Texas: “This is the moment to act.”
Fair Water Texas emphasized that this deadline is not procedural housekeeping — it is the gateway to continued participation.
“SOAH Order No. 4 makes the stakes unmistakably clear,” said Joe Gimenez, Founder of Fair Water Texas. “If intervenors want to remain in the case and protect their communities, they must file testimony or a statement of position by February 11. Missing this deadline means losing your seat at the table and if you lose your seat at the table, you may be on the menu.”
FWT Will Assist Intervenors With Testimony Development
Recognizing that many intervenors are residents, neighborhood groups, or small local governments with limited resources, Fair Water Texas announced that it will provide support in developing testimony and statements of position to help ensure that community voices remain part of the official record.
FWT’s assistance will include:
- Guidance on drafting testimony
- Help articulating concerns about service quality, billing, infrastructure, and rate impacts
- Support in preparing statements of position for intervenors who do not plan to file full testimony
- Coordination with experts where needed
“Our goal is simple,” Gimenez said. “No community should lose representation because they lacked the resources to prepare testimony. We will help intervenors stay in the case.”
A High‑Stakes Deadline for Community Representation
If intervenors fail to file by February 11:
- They will be dismissed as parties
- They cannot present evidence
- They cannot cross‑examine Aqua Texas witnesses
- They cannot participate in the April 21–23 hearing
- They cannot submit briefs or proposed findings
“This is a make‑or‑break moment for every intervenor,” Gimenez said. “The communities affected by Aqua Texas’s proposed rates deserve to be heard — and that starts with meeting this deadline.”
Next Steps
Fair Water Texas is encouraging all intervenors to begin drafting immediately and to contact FWT for support. The organization will continue monitoring the case and providing guidance as deadlines approach.
