Public Utility Commission of Texas Issues Statement on Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation Complaint

Strategic Insights -

The City of Waco has filed a complaint against Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation under 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 22.242 regarding water service. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) has issued a statement on the matter, recommending that the Commission lacks jurisdiction over the complaint due to a dispute between the City of Waco and Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation regarding the terms of a prior settlement agreement. The Commission is bound by Section 4(e) of the agreement, which requires mediation before judicial proceedings can be initiated.

Key Takeaways:

  • The City of Waco has filed a complaint against Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation under 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 22.242 regarding water service.
  • The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) has issued a statement on the matter, recommending that the Commission lacks jurisdiction over the complaint.
  • The dispute centers around the terms of a prior settlement agreement between the City of Waco and Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation.
  • The agreement requires mediation before judicial proceedings can be initiated, and the Commission is bound by this requirement.
  • The PUC Staff recommends that the Commission cannot resolve the dispute regarding the terms of the prior settlement agreement and therefore cannot have jurisdiction over the complaint.
  • The City of Waco has the burden of proof in this proceeding, and the PUC Staff reserves the right to respond to the positions taken by other parties and to participate in the hearing.

Statistics:

  • The complaint was filed on July 16, 2024 (Source: Complaint of the City of Waco).
  • The PUC Staff filed a statement of position on May 16, 2025 (Source: PUC Staff's Statement of Position).
  • The prior settlement agreement was signed on March 25, 2025 (Source: Direct Testimony and Attachments of Robert Mathis on behalf of Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation, Exhibit RM-5).
  • The agreement requires mediation within 90 days after written notification of a dispute (Source: Section 4(e) of the prior settlement agreement).

Sources:

  • Complaint of the City of Waco (July 16, 2024)
  • PUC Staff's Statement of Position (May 16, 2025)
  • Direct Testimony and Attachments of Robert Mathis on behalf of Prairie Hill Water Supply Corporation, Exhibit RM-5-March 25, 2025 (Source: May 2, 2025)
  • Section 4(e) of the prior settlement agreement (Source: Settlement Agreement between Prairie Hill and Waco at Section 4(e) (May 2, 2025))