26880.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES FOR REGULATED TITLE 61 SERVICES.  
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CASE NO. USW-S-96-5
AMENDED SCHEDULE FOR POST-HEARING BRIEFS
ORDER NO.  26880
In Order No. 26739 the Commission established a post-hearing briefing schedule in this proceeding.  Initial briefs and reply briefs were originally scheduled to be filed with the Commission no later than April 18 and May 5, 1997, respectively.  In Order No. 26824 issued March 4, 1997, the Commission extended the technical hearing by a week when it scheduled U S WEST’s rebuttal testimony for March 25-27, 1997.  
At the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing on March 26, 1997, the parties (including U S WEST) requested that we extend the post-hearing briefing schedule.  Given the additional hearing week as well as the time necessary for the court reporters to prepare the extensive transcript, the Commission ruled that an extension to the briefing schedule was warranted.  We affirm our bench ruling and further find that the Company has expressly consented to postponing the timely issuance of an Order pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622.
AMENDED SCHEDULE FOR POST-HEARING BRIEFS
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the schedule for filing initial and reply post-hearing briefs is amended.  Initial post-hearing briefs are to be filed with the Commission no later than May 9, 1997.  Reply post-hearing briefs are to be filed with the Commission no later than May 23, 1997.  Given the extension of the post-hearing brief schedule, the Commission anticipates that it will issue its final Order in this proceeding no later than July 1, 1997.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties desiring to file post-hearing briefs must adhere to the amended schedule set out above.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of April 1997.
                                                                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/O:USW-S-96-5.dh5
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
April 10, 1997