In defense of public participation in the 58124 Rate Case, the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) challenged Aqua Texas’s sweeping objection to future ratepayer intervenors in the ongoing rate case (PUC Docket No. 58124). Aqua Texas attempted to block all pending and future motions to intervene without addressing individual concerns or providing full notice of its application.
OPUC’s response makes it clear: ratepayers have the right to be heard, and Aqua’s procedural shortcut won’t stand. 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.
“Any ratepayer requesting to intervene must have the opportunity to review a complete application after adequate notice,” OPUC wrote. “Until this is done, any request to dismiss a ratepayer intervenor at this stage is premature and must be dissuaded.”
This statement underscores a critical point: Aqua Texas’s application is still administratively incomplete. Without proper notice and a procedural schedule, ratepayers cannot be expected to meet deadlines or defend their interests against a blanket objection.
Why This Matters
Aqua Texas’s move to preemptively shut out ratepayer voices is a direct challenge to the transparency and fairness that should define public utility regulation. OPUC’s intervention ensures that:
- Each ratepayer’s motion to intervene must be considered individually
- No one can be dismissed before Aqua’s application is complete and properly noticed
- The public retains its right to participate meaningfully in the rate-setting process
Fair Water Texas applauds OPUC’s stand. We believe that every ratepayer deserves a seat at the table—especially when the stakes involve essential services and rising costs.
Want to make your voice heard? Visit our rate case action page to learn how to file a protest or motion to intervene.
