Current NewsFor
Immediate Release: Contact:
William
D. Patterson, SVP and CFO
Pennichuck
Corporation Announces Remarketing of $17,865,000 Tax-Exempt Bonds
The Company also announced that last Friday the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued its Order approving Pennichuck Water's request for temporary rate relief providing for an annualized increase in Pennichuck Water's revenues of approximately $2.4 million, or 14.41%. The Order approved a settlement agreement among the Company, the New Hampshire PUC staff, the New Hampshire Office of Consumer Advocate and Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Pennichuck Water's largest commercial/industrial customer. The Order calls for the temporary rate increase to be effective for service provided from and after July 18, 2006. The primary purpose for Pennichuck Water's requested rate relief is to allow it to recover a portion of costs incurred to upgrade its water treatment plant to meet more stringent federally mandated water quality standards. Pennichuck Water initiated the rate relief proceeding in June 2006 when it requested an overall increase in its rates that would result in an annualized increase in Pennichuck Water's revenues of approximately $6.1 million, or 36.49%. At that time, Pennichuck Water proposed that the rate relief be considered in two parts - an initial increase of 15.91% and a step increase of 20.58%. The temporary rate relief announced today does not necessarily reflect the ultimate outcome of Pennichuck Water's June 2006 request for permanent rate relief. Any difference between the temporary rate relief and the permanent rates ultimately approved by the New Hampshire PUC will be reconciled upon the approval of such permanent rates. Pennichuck Corporation is a holding company located in Merrimack, New Hampshire with three wholly owned operating subsidiaries involved in regulated water supply and distribution throughout southern and central New Hampshire; non-regulated water-related services conducted through Pennichuck Water Service Corporation; and real estate investment and development activities conducted through The Southwood Corporation. Pennichuck
Corporation is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol "PNNW." |