RE: Petition of Consolidated Communications of Vermont Company, LLC and Consolidated Communications of Northland Company for approval of a successor (2022-2024) Incentive Regulation Plan, pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 226b. This case involves a petition filed with the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“Commission”) by Consolidated Communications of Vermont Company, LLC, and Consolidated Communications of Northland Company (collectively “Consolidated Communications”) for approval of a new incentive regulation plan pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 226b.
Consolidated Communications filed its petition and prefiled testimony on October 1, 2021. Consolidated Communications submitted additional testimony on market conditions on October 22, 2021.
On November 1, 2021, Consolidated Communications filed a proposed schedule for the proceeding. The Vermont Department of Public Service (“Department”) filed comments stating that it supports the proposed schedule and would file prefiled testimony containing its recommendations on or before January 21, 2022, consistent with the proposed schedule.
We are concerned that the proposed schedule does not allow sufficient time for public participation and it is not apparent from the filings whether Consolidated Communications has provided its customers with notice of this proceeding. Section 226b(e) states that the Commission “shall follow procedures substantially similar to those contained in sections 225, 226, and 227” of Title 30 when reviewing Consolidated Communications’ petition, and those procedures typically involve customer notices at the commencement of the proceeding. To discuss these issues and potential revisions to the schedule.
Before:The Public Utility Commission staff
Location: via Go ToMeeting videoconference The Scheduling Conference will be recorded by a court reporter and will be open to the public
Participants and members of the public may access the scheduling conference online at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/330261805, or call in by telephone using the following information: phone number: 1 (571) 317-3116; access code: 330-261-805. Participants may wish to download the GoToMeeting software application in advance of the hearing at https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/330261805. Guidance on how to join the meeting and system requirements may be found at https://www.gotomeeting.com/meeting/online-meeting-support.