Public Utility Commission of Texas Issues Regulatory Document on William Marsh Rice University's Petition to Amend Water Certificate of Convenience and Necessity

Strategic Insights -

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (Commission) has issued a regulatory document in response to a petition filed by William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) seeking to amend G & W Water Supply Corporation's (G & W WSC) water Certificate of Convenience and Necessity in Waller County. Rice University asserts that it owns four tracts of land that meet the qualifying criteria under Texas Water Code, and it is seeking to expedite the process for approval. The Commission's administrative law judge has directed the Staff to file comments on the administrative completeness of the petition and notice by September 11, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rice University owns four tracts of land in Waller County, each at least 25 contiguous acres, and not receiving retail water service from G&W WSC.
  • The Commission has directed the Staff to file comments on the administrative completeness of the petition and notice by September 11, 2025.
  • The Staff recommends that the petition, as supplemented, be deemed administratively incomplete and that Rice University be ordered to cure the identified deficiencies by October 13, 2025.
  • The proposed deadlines are as follows: Rice University must cure the deficiencies by October 13, 2025, and the Staff must file a supplemental recommendation on the administrative completeness of the petition and the sufficiency of notice by November 13, 2025.
  • The Staff intends to propose a procedural schedule alongside a subsequent recommendation that the petition be found administratively complete.
  • The Commission's Staff recommends that the petition, as supplemented, be found administratively incomplete and that Rice University be ordered to file supplemental information to cure the deficiencies.
  • The Commission's staff will require at least thirty days to review and assist Rice University regarding the supplemental mapping information needed to cure the identified deficiencies.

Statistics:

  • Four tracts of land owned by Rice University meet the qualifying criteria under Texas Water Code.
  • The Staff has recommended that Rice University cure the identified deficiencies by October 13, 2025.
  • The proposed deadline for the Staff to file a supplemental recommendation on the administrative completeness of the petition and the sufficiency of notice is November 13, 2025.
  • Rice University's land is located in Waller County, which is a qualifying county.
  • The Commission's staff intends to propose a procedural schedule alongside a subsequent recommendation that the petition be found administratively complete.

Sources:

  • PETITION OF WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY TO AMEND G&W WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION'S WATER CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY IN WALLER COUNTY BY STREAMLINED EXPEDITED RELEASE COMMISSION STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLETENESS OF THE PETITION AND NOTICE, Public Utility Commission of Texas, September 11, 2025.