authorized NHSC to increase its annual operating revenue by $75,000 over a Order year period from July 17, 2013, to July 17, 2017. Approximately eighty percent of the increase was designed to provide sufficient revenues to pay a then 2013 Rate Order $60,000 past-due balance NHSC owed to Met Ed. The directed NHSC 2013 Rate Order to develop a payment plan to eliminate the arrearage and to provide evidence of the payment plan to the Office of Consumer Advocate, the party representing ratepayer interests in that proceeding. at 2–3. The 2013 Rate Order 2013 Rate Order memorialized the NHSC obligation to address the arrearage as on-going and as having a mandatory binding effect upon NHSC in all future proceedings. at 10. Id. Recent Litigation On March 21, 2017, the Commission’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E or Petitioner) filed a Petition for Issuance of an Ex Parte Emergency Order against Met Ed and NHSC. The Petition averred that Met Ed had begun termination procedures against NHSC due to non-payment of what had become a $157,000 arrearage for electric services rendered. In short, it appeared that NHSC had not fulfilled its obligation under the To protect the public, the Petitioner requested the Commission 2013 Rate Order. enjoin Met Ed from terminating electric service to NHSC without prior Commission approval. Petitioner further requested that the Commission direct NHSC to cease withholding electric service payments to Met Ed. Finally, Petitioner requested the Commission direct NHSC to notify its customers that they will continue to receive wastewater services. On March 22, 2017, Chairman Gladys M. Brown signed an Ex Parte Emergency Order (Ex The granted the Petition as modified as a Parte Order). Ex Parte Order temporary measure to preserve the status quo such that NHSC customers would continue to receive uninterrupted wastewater service. The also directed the Ex Parte Order Commission’s Office of Administrative Law Judge (OALJ) to schedule a hearing, which
Order authorized NHSC to increase its annual operating revenue by $75,000 over a period from July 17, 2013, to July 17, 2017. Approximately eighty percent of the 2013 Rate Order increase was designed to provide sufficient revenues to pay a then $60,000 past-due balance NHSC owed to Met Ed. The 2013 Rate Order directed NHSC to develop a payment plan to eliminate the arrearage and to provide evidence of the payment plan to the Office of Consumer Advocate, the party representing ratepayer interests in that proceeding. 2013 Rate Order at 2–3. The 2013 Rate Order memorialized the NHSC obligation to address the arrearage as on-going and as having a mandatory binding effect upon NHSC in all future proceedings. Id. at 10. Recent Litigation On March 21, 2017, the Commission’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E or Petitioner) filed a Petition for Issuance of an Ex Parte Emergency Order against Met Ed and NHSC. The Petition averred that Met Ed had begun termination procedures against NHSC due to non-payment of what had become a $157,000 arrearage for electric services rendered. In short, it appeared that NHSC had not fulfilled its obligation under the 2013 Rate Order. To protect the public, the Petitioner requested the Commission enjoin Met Ed from terminating electric service to NHSC without prior Commission approval. Petitioner further requested that the Commission direct NHSC to cease withholding electric service payments to Met Ed. Finally, Petitioner requested the Commission direct NHSC to notify its customers that they will continue to receive wastewater services. On March 22, 2017, Chairman Gladys M. Brown signed an Ex Parte Emergency Order (Ex Parte Order). The Ex Parte Order granted the Petition as modified as a temporary measure to preserve the status quo such that NHSC customers would continue to receive uninterrupted wastewater service. The Ex Parte Order also directed the Commission’s Office of Administrative Law Judge (OALJ) to schedule a hearing, which year