CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It appears the Timberline Four Season Utilities is getting closer to being placed in receivership.
The state Public Service Commission staff made a filing with the state Public Commission Tuesday saying it agreed with the conclusion of an administrative law judge that the Tucker County-based utility “meets the requirements to be placed into receivership.”
PSC Legal Division Supervising Attorney Leslie Anderson anticipates the PSC will order staff to file a motion in Tucker County Circuit Court on Feb. 19 asking a judge to make the decision.
The PSC presented evidence in a December ALJ hearing alleging TFSU had failed to meet federal and state tax liabilities for multiple years, failed to collect payment on water and sewer services provided to affiliates, was unable to provide timely bills to their customers along with having inaccurate readings of water meters on the bills, and was unable to satisfy many other state codes. The delinquent public utility taxes amount to more than $13,000, with arrearages reaching more than $200,000 by October.
It’s anticipated the Canaan Valley Public Service District will become the receiver for both the water and sewer service for Timberline’s 743 sewer and 428 water customers.
In Tuesday’s news release from the PSC, the agency said the TFSU’s water provider, Quality Water Services, LLC, expressed concern about a recent check from the utility of $4,500 that was returned for insufficient funds.