Florida Public Service Commission native order document 05438-2026

FILED 8/24/2026
DOCUMENT NO. 05438-2026
FPSC 	- COMMISSION CLERK
BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
In re: Application for revised service
availability charges and policy for water and
wastewater service in Duval, Baker, and
Nassau Counties, by First Coast Regional
Utilities, Inc. _
DOCKET NO. 2026001 2-WS
ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0299-PAA-WS
ISSUED: August 24, 2026
The following Commissioners participated in the disposition of this matter:
GABRIELLA PASSIDOMO SMITH, Chairman
GARY F. CLARK
MIKE LA ROSA
BOBBY PAYNE
ANA ORTEGA
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AGENCY ACTION
ORDER APPROVING REVISED SERVICE
AVAILABILITY CHARGES AND POLICY
BY THE COMMISSION:
NOTICE 	is 	hereby 	given by 	the 	Florida 	Public 	Service Commission 	that 	the 	action
discussed herein 	is preliminary 	in nature and will become 	final unless a person whose 	interests
are 	substantially 	affected 	files a petition 	for a formal proceeding, pursuant 	to Rule 	25-22.029,
Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
Background
First Coast Regional 	Utilities, 	Inc. (FCRU or Utility) 	is a Class C water and wastewater
utility 	in Duval, 	Baker, and Nassau 	Counties. 	In 2022, 	this Commission 	granted 	the 	Utility’s
original 	certificates 	and 	approved 	the 	Utility’s 	current 	service 	availability 	charges. 1 The
approved 	service 	availability charges were based on preliminary construction 	plans. 	Currently,
there 	are no 	existing 	facilities. FCRU 	indicated 	that 	it was 	in 	the 	final phase of design and
construction cost components have considerably changed. The Utility stated that revisions to the
service 	availability charges 	are necessary 	in order 	to remain 	in compliance with our 	rules and
ensure 	the appropriate 	cost 	are recovered through 	the 	charges. On January 	6, 2026, 	the 	Utility
filed an 	application 	to 	revise 	its water and wastewater main 	extension 	charge, 	plant 	capacity
charge, and service availability policy to account for the changes in cost.
By Order No. PSC-2026-0077-PCO-WS, we suspended 	the 	Utility’s proposed 	tariffs 	to
allow 	staff sufficient time 	to review 	the 	Utility’s 	petition and gather 	all pertinent information. 2
1Order No. PSC-2022-0193-FOF-WS, issued May 25, 2022, 	in Docket No. 20190168-WS, In 	re: Application for
water and wastewater service in Duval, Baker, and Nassau Counties, by First Coast Regional Utilities, Inc.
2Order No. PSC-2026-0077-PCO-WS, issued March 23, 2026.

ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0299-PAA-WS
DOCKET NO. 20260012-WS
PAGE 2
On March 4, 2026, the Utility provided responses to Commission staff’s first data request. On
July 17, 2026, the Utility provided certain corrections to the proposed service availability policy
contained in the tariff.3
We 	have 	jurisdiction 	in 	this 	case 	pursuant 	to 	Sections 	367.091, 	367.101, 	and
367.121(1)(a), Florida Statutes (F.S.).
Decision
Pursuant to Section 367.101, F.S., this Commission shall set just and reasonable charges
and conditions for service availability. Service availability charges are one-time charges
applicable to new connections, which allow customers to pay their pro rata share of the facilities
and plant costs. Rule 25-30.580, F.A.C., establishes guidelines for designing service availability
charges. Pursuant to Rule 25-30.580(1), F.A.C., the maximum amount of contributions-in-aid-of-
construction (CIAC), net of amortization, should not exceed 75 percent of the total original cost,
net of depreciation, of the Utility’s facilities and plant when the facilities and plant are at their
designed capacity. Rule 25-30.580(2), F.A.C., provides that the minimum amount of CIAC
should not be less than the percentage of such facilities and plant that is represented by water
transmission and distribution and sewage collection systems.
FCRU’s existing water service availability charges consist of $3,158 for the main
extension, $752 for plant capacity, $285 for meter installation, and $610 for service installation.
For wastewater service availability, the charges consist of $4,833 for main extension, $1,250 for
plant capacity, and actual costs for lateral installation. The existing policy for both water and
wastewater address only the applicability of the service availability charges. The Utility is not
requesting any changes to its meter installation and service/lateral installation charges.
Main Extension Charge and Plant Capacity Charge
FCRU requested revised main extension charges of $759 for water and $994 for
wastewater to recover a portion of the cost of the Utility’s transmission and distribution and
collection system from future customers. The main extension charges decreased as a result of the
Utility planning to install fewer lines than originally projected. FCRU proposed plant capacity
charges of $1,766 for water and $9,281 for wastewater to allow the Utility to recover all or part
of its capital costs associated with the construction or expansion of treatment facilities. As
mentioned in the background, the initial charges were based on preliminary construction plans.
FCRU is in the final stages of design and has updated costs for its planned facilities. Although
the Utility’s plant in service decreased for both water and wastewater, the capacity of the
treatment facility decreased for wastewater, resulting in increased plant capacity charges for the
wastewater system. Capacity determines how many equivalent residential connections can be
served by the treatment facility.
FCRU’s revised service availability charges result in contribution levels of 69.66 percent
for water and 65.61 percent for wastewater. FCRU’s revised service availability charges are
3 Document No. 04459-2026.

ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0299-PAA-WS
DOCKET NO. 20260012-WS
PAGE 3
reasonable and result in contribution levels that are within the guidelines established in Rule 25-
30.580, F.A.C. However, the Utility anticipates receiving future contributions of facilities from
developers and we recognize that these contributions could cause FCRU to exceed the guidelines
established by rule. Through our earnings surveillance process, our staff can monitor the
contribution levels and the service availability charges can be revisited if and when the Utility
exceeds the guidelines of the rule. Therefore, we approve the requested service availability
charges.
The revised service availability policy is more comprehensive than the existing policy
and aligns with the rules pertaining to service availability. Within its service availability policy,
FCRU indicated that it would assess actual costs for inspections and plan reviews, which we find
is reasonable. Therefore, we also approve the revised service availability policy.
Conclusion
We find that FCRU’s existing water and wastewater service availability charges and
policy shall be revised. We approve the Utility’s requested main extension charges of $759 for
water and $994 for wastewater and plant capacity charges of $1,766 for water and $9,281 for
wastewater. The revised service availability policy complies with our rules and is therefore also
approved. The approved charges and policy shall be effective for connections made on or after
the stamped approval date on the tariff sheets pursuant to Rule 25-30.475, F.A.C. FCRU shall be
required to collect its approved service availability charges until authorized to change them by
this Commission in a subsequent proceeding.
Based on the foregoing, it is
ORDERED by the Florida Public Service Commission that First Coast Regional Utilities,
Inc.’s proposed revised service availability charges and policy, as discussed in the body of this
Order, are hereby approved, effective for connections made on or after the stamped approval date
on the tariff sheets pursuant to Rule 25-30.475, F.A.C. FCRU shall collect its approved service
availability charges until authorized to change them by us in a subsequent proceeding. It is
further
ORDERED that the provisions of this Order, issued as proposed agency action, shall
become final and effective upon the issuance of a Consummating Order unless an appropriate
petition, in the form provided by Rule 28-106.201, Florida Administrative Code, is received by
the Commission Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850, by the
close of business on the date set forth in the “Notice of Further Proceedings” attached hereto. It
is further
ORDERED that if a protest is filed within 21 days of the Order, the tariff should remain
in effect with the charge held subject to refund pending resolution of the protest. If no timely
protest is filed, a consummating order shall be issued and the docket should be closed
administratively once Commission staff verifies that the revised tariff sheet has been filed and
the notice of the charge has been approved by staff and provided to property owners.

ORDER NO. PSC-2026-0299-PAA-WS
DOCKET NO. 2026001 2- WS
PAGE 4
By ORDER of the Florida Public Service Commission this 24th day of August, 2026 	.
Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850)413-6770
www.floridapsc.com
Copies 	furnished: A 	copy 	of 	this document 	is
provided 	to 	the 	parties 	of record 	at 	the 	time 	of
issuance and, 	if applicable, interested persons.
SF
NOTICE OF FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OR JUDICIAL REVIEW
The 	Florida 	Public 	Service 	Commission 	is 	required by 	Section 	120.569(1), 	Florida
Statutes, 	to notify 	parties of any administrative hearing 	that 	is 	available under Section 	120.57,
Florida 	Statutes, 	as well as the procedures and time 	limits that apply. 	This notice should not be
construed to mean 	all requests 	for an administrative hearing will be granted or result in the relief
sought.
Mediation may be 	available on a case-by-case 	basis. 	If mediation 	is conducted, 	it does
not affect a substantially interested person's right to a hearing.
The 	action 	proposed 	herein 	is 	preliminary 	in 	nature. Any 	person whose 	substantial
interests 	are 	affected by 	the 	action proposed by 	this 	order may 	file 	a 	petition 	for 	a 	formal
proceeding, 	in 	the 	form 	provided by 	Rule 	28-106.201, 	Florida 	Administrative 	Code. 	This
petition must be received by 	the 	Office of Commission 	Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850, by the close of business on September 14, 2026 	.
In the absence of such a 	petition, 	this 	order 	shall become 	final and 	effective upon the
issuance of a Consummating Order.
Any objection or protest filed in this/these docket(s) before the issuance date of this order
is 	considered abandoned unless 	it 	satisfies the foregoing 	conditions and 	is renewed within 	the
specified protest period.