Appeal of the Office of the Consumer Advocate

The Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA) appeals from decisions of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC), modifying an order issued in a previous rate case and granting Southern New Hampshire Water Company, Inc.’s (Southern) petition for a temporary rate increase pursuant to RSA 378:27. The OCA argues that the PUC had no authority to modify its prior order and, alternatively, that in doing so, it violated RSA chapter 541-A and denied consumers due process. Further, it contends that the PUC’s temporary rate order is invalid, because an impartial tribunal would not have granted…