In the unfolding rate case before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC Docket No. 58124), the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is raising serious questions about whether Aqua Texas made adequate efforts to notify customers of proposed rate increases. The Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) exists to be the voice of Texas’s residential and small commercial utility consumers—especially in regulatory proceedings where those voices might otherwise be drowned out.
In its first formal discovery request to Aqua Texas Inc., OPUC is pressing Aqua Texas to explain how—and whether—it informed ratepayers across its service areas about the pending changes. Specifically, OPUC is asking whether system-by-system improvement notifications were provided individually to customers, and if not, whether Aqua Texas plans to do so in the future under its proposed unified rate structure.
This line of inquiry suggests that OPUC is concerned about transparency and fairness in the rate-setting process. Without clear, direct communication, thousands of Texans may be left unaware of how the proposed increases could affect their monthly bills or what infrastructure improvements—if any—are planned in their communities.
Fair Water Texas believes that meaningful public participation begins with informed customers. We applaud OPUC’s efforts to hold Aqua Texas accountable and urge residents to stay engaged, ask questions, and make their voices heard.
Want to take action? Visit our intervenor information page to learn how you can submit a protest or become an official party to the case.
