Regulatory Decisions

In a tentative decision, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has disclosed how it intends to oversee future water, wastewater, and storm water services provided by entities created by Pennsylvania cities of the second class — specifically, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA). The ruling proposes methods for rate making, tariff approval, compliance plans, infrastructure improvements, consumer protections, and other implementation issues. The commission asked that interested parties and stakeholders submit comments and input on the commission’s plans.

In looking at a petition filed by a group of landholders seeking a preliminary injunction against the construction of a nearby interstate natural gas pipeline, a federal district court in Ohio reached the same conclusion as had a federal district court in Virginia in December, namely, that federal district courts are without jurisdiction to entertain appeals of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certificate decisions with respect to pipeline projects.