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Agenda Date: 11/07/08Agenda Item: VilASTATE IOF NEW JERSEYBoard of Public UtilitiesTwo Gateway CenterNelNark, NJ 07102 vw.ni.qov/blJu/CUSTOMER ASSISTANCEDONALDBYK,PETITIONER,v.NEW JERSEY Ar. ERICAN WATER COMPANY,RESPONDENT.))))))ORDER ADOPTING INITIALDECISION SETTLEMENTBPU DOCKET NO. WCO8030158UOAL DOCKET NO. PUG CCO7119-2008N(SERVICE LIST A TT ACHEP)BY THE BOARD:On March 18, 2008, Donald Byk (Petitione r) filed a petition with the Board disputing bills of NewJersey American Water Company (Resporldent) for water services.After the filing of Respondent's answer, the Board transmitted this matter to the 01fice ofAdministrative Law (GAL) on May 29, 20108for hearing and initial disposition as a corltestedcase pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 § .§.f'& and N.J.S.A. 52:14F-1 § This mattl r wasassigned to Administrative Law Judge (AL.J) Gail M. Cookson.While this matter was pending at the OAL, the parties engaged in negotiations and enterl d intoand executed a Settlement Agreement (Slettlement) dated October 6, 2008 that was sutlmittedto ALJ Cookson. By Initial Decision issued on October 10, 2008, and submitted to the Board onOctober 15, 2008, ALJ Cookson found that the agreement was voluntary, that its ternls fullydisposed of all issues in controversy, and that it met the requirements of N.J.A.C. 1:'1-19.1.Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement, the parties agreed that: 1) of the 1,185.64 balance onPetitioner's account located at 51 Carrar Drive, Watchung, New Jersey, the Petitioner ,ill pay 350.00 to the Respondent in full and final settlement of the account, and 2) of the Petitioner'sthree accounts located at 11, 13, and 15 I-lighmount Avenue, Warren, New Jersey (Higt' mountAvenue Accounts), the Petitioner will pay 20.00 per quarter per account for water usclge, or 540.00 ( 20.00 x 3 accounts x 9 Qtrs; 540.00), plus 814,49 for outstanding fclcilitiescharges, totaling 1,354,49. The Petitioner has already paid 1,033,49 of the 1,354,49 a mountagreed upon and payment of the difference of 321.00 will constitute a full and final settlement
'-of the Highmount Avenue Accounts.should be dismissed with prejudice.In return, Petitioner agreed that the petition in this matterAfter review and consideration of the Irlitial Decision and the Settlement of the parti'3s, theBoard HEREBY FINDS that, by the terms of the agreement, the parties have resolved alloutstanding contested issues in this matter. Accordingly, the Board HEREBY .6QQE@ theInitial Decision and agreement of the parties in their entirety as if fully set out herein.DATED:BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIESBY: /l.ItA n"1V) RE )IDENTrEAf'I '. O t'F;/, y ."Ci A,i/J,/l1A.A--.11;1.-1FREDERICK F.COMMISSIONER VL. FIORDALISOCOMMISSIONER\fl- R"ANO"-LCOMM IONER ATTEST:2BPU Docket No.WCO8030158UOAL Docket No. PUCCC 07119- OO8N
DONALD BYKv.NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER COMPANYBPU Docket No. WCO8030158UOAL Doc,ket No. PUCCC 07119-2008NSERVICE LISTDonald Byk15 Carrar Drive,Watchung, 07069Suzana Loncar, Esq.New Jersey American Water Company167 J.F. Kennedy ParkwayShort Hills, New Jersey 07078Robert J. Brabston, Esq.New Jersey American Water Company167 J.F. Kennedy ParkwayShort Hills, New Jersey 07078Eric Hartsfield, DirectorDivision of Customer AssistanceBoard of Public UtilitiesTwo Gateway CenterNewark, New Jersey 07102Julie Ford-WilliamsDivision of Customer AssistanceBoard of Public UtilitiesTwo Gateway CenterNewark, New Jersey 07102Kerri Kirschbaum, DAGDivision of Law124 Halsey StreetP.O. Box 45029Newark, New Jersey 071023BPU Docket No. WCO8030158UOAL Docket No. PUCCC 07119- OO8N
r t:"'."I.;c;C r"'\ ., c: Nc: -0. -r'.)J iJLState of New Jersey:OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVELAW r.--vxc--.c:'r-"". .;:.:.:. r-:-;.,- ,.-''" , -. N KJ I Gl--l( "'\{/\./1/ ?' ,:?'" ? n.--.-,MITIAL DECISIQNIN .SETTLEMENTOAL DKT. NO. PUC 07119-08AGENCY DKT. NO. WC080:30158UDONALD BYK.PetitionerJv.NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER COIMPANY,Respondent.DonaldByk, Q[Q §.§Suzana Loncar, Esq., for respondent New ,Jersey American Water Company (NewJersey American Water Corporate Counsel)Record Closed: October 9, 2008Decided: October 10, 2008BEFORE GAIL M. COOKSON, ALJ:toward an amIcable resolution was reached.The parties subsequently submitted a fullyexecuted settlement document which is attached hereto and made part hereof.reviewed the record and terms of the Settlement Agreement and FIND:New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity EmployerI nave-.?-:: :rri(.-:-3r:".,. ::":- . ,':.
2.k,f').--UALl'liU. I-'Ul,.; VIUt\1"I -u The parties have voluntarily agreed to the settlement as evidenced by thesignatures of the parties or their representatives.with law.that these proceedings be and are hereby concluded.hereby FILE my initial decision with the BOARD OF PUBLICUTIL/TJE:S forconsideration.52:148-10. October 10. 2008DATEGAIL M. COOKSON,toDate Received at Agency:OCT1 5 2008-j,(ALJ'02-QfItF :c:. I:: A.W Jij '"'.,i---DATEOFF1CE OF ADMINISTRATIVEpb2LA'v"1
2.Donald Byk v. New Jersey AmericanWater CompanyBPU Docket No. WCO8030158U fOAL Docket No. PUCCC 07119-2008NSettlementAgreementThis Settlement Agreement is made by and between NEW JERSEY-AMERICANINC. ("NJAWC"),a corporationdoing business08034 and Donald Byk. a NJAWC customerNew Jersey 07069, with serviceCarrar Drive Account")addressesat 131 Wood crest Road, Cherry:Hill,("Customer") residingbeing providedat this addressand with service also being providedand NJAWC AccountNumbersNew Jersey;"at 51 Carrar rlve, : chung,(Account.#52-QO64936 )("5-rto this Customer-- ngat the followi(NJAWC and Customer are collectively hereinaftersometimes referred to as the "Parties"):1.W TER C? ::;MP,D.NY,11 Highmount Avenue, Warren NJAccount# 24144513 Highmount Avenue, Warren NJAccount# 24148815 Highmount Avenue, Warren NJAccount# 241487
IN WITNESS WHEREOF;t e Parties understandand a ree to t. termsand have duly executed this Settlement Agreement on thIs . -::day ofof this Settlement Ag'eement(?;c6 t? 20C8.Theparties acknowledge that this Settlement Agreement is entered into voluntarily and that no representation orinducement has been offered or made, except as contained herein. Customer further acknowledge i that hehas fully reviewed this Settlement and understands its contents.WITNESSCUSTOMER: BY-. IDonaldWITNESS: AAd Ct-""J!tByk{j(
(\ 4 C U' . .).j"/ A ."1A r.1-:-"""AJ2008OCT 20NEWJERSEYAMERICAN WATER.\:;.'. 1 "i1,-,;"P, .?: I Suzana LoncarCorporate Counsel167 J.F. Kennedy ParkwayShort Hills, NJ 07078October 7, 2008AIJ.-',vV" ,,VII.IonVia Reaular M ilH". Ga l' ' C ,,/'\vc:Office of Administrative Law33 Washington StreetNewark, New Jersey 07102 ,,Donald Byk v. New Jer5e ,/ American Water CompanyBPU Docket No. WCO8030158UOAL Docket No. PUCCC 07119-2008N:.:5Dear Judge Cookson:Enclosed is a fully executed Settlement Agreement between Petitioner, Donald Byk,Jersey-American Water Company, Inc., collectively, the "Parties", outlining the terms agreed toat the pre-hearing conference before Your Honor on July 22 and in between the Parties.Theissues Partiesin aptionedhearing.JrulYy:};, suzanttcar ;' ;"[,c i ,j'(';,: CRe:SL:dlcEnc.c:Donald Byk (via regular mail)Kern Kirschbaum, DAG (via e-mail)Eric Hartsfield, Director, Customer Assistance (via e-mail)Julie Ford-Williams, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Customer Relations, BPUP 973.564.5755F 973.564.5708
Two Gateway Center Newark, New Jersey 07102 Julie Ford-Williams Division of Customer Assistance Board of Public Utilities Two Gateway Center Newark, New Jersey 07102 Kerri Kirschbaum, DAG Division of Law 124 Halsey Street P.O. Box 45029 Newark, New Jersey 07102 BPU Docket No. WCO8030158U OAL Docket No. PUCCC 07119- OO8N 3
