Public Notice

CASE NO. 20-1033-WS-P
THE NEWELL COMPANY
TOMLINSON PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT and HANCOCK
COUNTY PUBLIC SERVICE
DISTRICT,
Petition for determination that the Company is a Distressed or Failing Utility under W. Va. Code § 24-2H-6(a).
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND EVIDENTIARY HEARING
On December 22, 2020, The Newell Company (Newell) requested that the Public Service Commission of West Virginia declare, pursuant to W. Va. Code § 24-2H-6(a), that Newell is a distressed or failing utility. Newell provides service as a public utility in the City of Newell and the vicinity to 425 sewer customers and 650 water customers. Newell also sells water for resale to Tomlinson Public Service District (Tomlinson).
Newell has been in discussions with 1) the Hancock County Commission and Tomlinson regarding the sale of Newell’s water assets and 2) Hancock County Public Service District (Hancock PSD) regarding the sale of Newell’s sewer assets.
The Public Service Commission will conduct a hearing beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Council Chambers in the Weirton City Building, 200 Municipal Plaza, Weirton, West Virginia, to receive public comments regarding, but not limited to, possible options available to bring the distressed or failing utility into compliance with appropriate statutory and regulatory standards concerning actual or imminent public health problems or unreasonable quality and reliability service standards. After receiving any public comment, the Commission will begin the evidentiary hearing to address the statutory elements of the Distressed and Failing Utilities Improvement Act, W. Va. Code § 24-2H-1 et seq., including whether Newell is a distressed or failing utility, Tomlinson is a capable proximate water utility, or Hancock PSD is a capable sewer utility.
The Commission will receive oral comments at the public hearing on September 30, 2021. Anyone desiring to file a written comment should do so as soon as possible although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding. All written comments should state the case name and number and be addressed to Connie Graley, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. Written comment also may be filed electronically via the “Submit a Comment” link on the Commission website,
www.psc.state.wv.us.
WDT Sept. 22, 2021