• Coordinate Rate Proceedings o Beginning prior to the Advance Notice, work with the Board, Water Department, Public Advocate and other participants to plan a schedule of the public input and technical hearings for the purpose of collecting evidence related to the proposed Water Rates, to encourage appropriate production of documents and information, and to enable consolidation or coordination of multiple Rate Proceedings to the extent feasible. o Enter an appropriate prehearing scheduling order following a participant meeting shortly after the Formal Notice. o Resolve disputes concerning documents and information to be provided. o Ensure that each Rate Proceeding is conducted according to the established schedule and complies with the Rate Regulations and the City, Pennsylvania, and Federal ordinances, statutes, and Constitutions. o Coordinate all Rate Proceedings to establish an environment that facilitates and encourages significant public participation in the Rate Proceedings. o With the assistance of City staff, ensure that all data and documents related to the Rate Proceedings, including the initial filing, all discovery requests and responses, all pleadings, briefs, motions, and transcripts of the public input and technical hearings, are posted on the Board’s publicly accessible website. o Develop a familiarity with the requirements of bond indenture and insurance requirements applicable to Water and Wastewater Revenue Bonds and with the relevant rate standards in the Code. [The selected Applicant should not charge the Board to obtain such familiarity except and to the extent of any changes in such bond law or rate standards.] o Work with the Board, court reporting, and City staff to maintain a formal record of all legal notices, filings, testimony, exhibits, interrogatories and requests for discovery. • Conduct Public Input Hearings and Technical Hearings o Preside and maintain order over all public input hearings (“Public Hearings”). A minimum of four (4) Public Hearings must be held for General Rate Proceedings, and one (1) or more for TAP-R Reconciliation Proceedings and Special Rate Proceedings. During recent years, some public hearings have been held via Zoom. While it is possible that the Board could require some public hearings to be held in-person at locations throughout the city that are easily accessible to the public, it may also be possible for the Hearing Officer to attend and preside virtually, or for a Board member to preside. Public Hearings are generally held in the afternoon or early evening. o Preside over all scheduled Technical Hearings. The 2025 Rate Proceeding included three (3) Technical Hearings and the 2025 TAP-R Reconciliation Proceeding included one (1) Technical Hearing, all during weekday business hours. o Review and summarize for the Board, as part of the Hearing Officer’s Report, all testimony of witnesses, exhibits and supporting documentation presented at all Public and Technical Hearings. • Discovery Management o Meet with all participants in the Rate Proceedings as necessary to coordinate scheduling and resolve discovery disputes so as to maintain the established Rate Proceeding schedule. o Resolve all discovery questions and disputes in a timely fashion.
