The commission held an emergency meeting on Tuesday night with the two consultants — hearing examiner Harry Boertzel and Jamshed Madan, a regulatory consultant of the Georgetown Consulting Group.
They will help PUC create a new rate structure for CUC. before Dec. 31, 2008.
Viola Alepuyo, PUC chairwoman, issued an order stipulating the services and responsibilities of the regulatory consultants in preparation for the CUC rate structuring program.
During the meeting, the commission also adopted provisional rules that will govern practice and procedure in all matters before the commission.
It also approved the hiring of a PUC executive director who will oversee the overall operation of the commission and set up a temporary office space.
Alepuyo said the effort to review and adopt a just and reasonable rate structure for CUC is mandated by Public Law 16-23.
Under its enabling legislation, she said, PUC is “empowered and directed to perform a broad spectrum of additional regulatory responsibilities, including regulatory oversight of the rates of all regulated entities.”
PUC is also directed to review CUC’s rates within one year of its first meeting, review and approve or disapprove any divestiture of capital or contractual agreement by a regulated entity, which may increase rates and charges to the customer.
Alepuyo said the commission will also serve as an “adjudication body of customer complaints, establish the telecommunication quality of service standards, adopt rules and regulations, and review cable television.”
PUC’s hearing examiner will, among other duties, oversee the investigation, development of testimony and preparation for a PUC public hearing on or before Dec. 15, 2008.
The hearing will consider evidence, arguments and public comments regarding a just and reasonable CUC rate structure.
