Sec. 61.6. (a) This section applies to water utilities that serve less than five thousand (5,000) customers.

(b) As used in this section, "purchaser" means a water utility that buys water from another water utility on a wholesale basis.

(c) As used in this section, "supplier" means a water utility that provides water to another water utility on a wholesale basis.

(d) As used in this section, "water utility" means:

(1) an investor owned water utility;

(2) a municipally owned water utility;

(3) a conservancy district (as described in IC 14-33); or

(4) a nonprofit water utility.

(e) Notwithstanding section 42 of this chapter, whenever a supplier petitions the commission for a change in rates or charges that affect its wholesale rates, the supplier shall notify each of its wholesale customers by United States registered mail. The notice must include the cause number assigned to the supplier's petition.

(f) Upon notification by the supplier, the purchaser of a wholesale water supply may notify the secretary of the commission of its intent to monitor its supplier's cause. The commission shall then provide a copy of the supplier's prehearing conference order upon its approval to the purchaser.

(g) If the purchaser requests simultaneous rate relief for its cost of water in conjunction with the relief requested by its supplier, the purchaser shall complete and file forms prescribed by the commission within fourteen (14) days of the supplier's case in chief.

(h) After the purchaser has filed the forms as described in subsection (g), the commission may provide rate relief to the purchaser simultaneously with an order approved for its supplier.

As added by P.L.107-1989, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.1-1995, SEC.54.