Aaron Conklin: Good afternoon.
Aaron Conklin: We're here today for a status conference in docket number 2600009 in repetition of
Aaron Conklin: Atmos Energy Corporation for approval of its 2026 annual Rate review filing
Aaron Conklin: pursuant to Tennessee Code Amitated section 65-5-103-D6.
Aaron Conklin: I'm Erin Conklin, the administrative judge on this matter.
Aaron Conklin: The status conference has been scheduled on short notice at the request of the
Aaron Conklin: parties, and as I mentioned, it's being recorded so.
Aaron Conklin: That the parties would introduce themselves.
Aaron Conklin: At this time, I'd appreciate it.
Erik Lybeck: Eric Libeck from Sims Funk on behalf of Atmos Energy Corporation.
Shilina B. Brown: Shalina Brown and Ryan Mcgehee, with the attorney General's office,
Shilina B. Brown: Consumer Advocate division.
Aaron Conklin: All right.
Aaron Conklin: Thank you.
Aaron Conklin: We've got several members of Commission staff here as well.
Aaron Conklin: We are here today to discuss procedures for filing of documents related to a
Aaron Conklin: proposed settlement agreement of the parties in accordance with the e-mail
Aaron Conklin: sent by Mr. Liebeck earlier.
Aaron Conklin: Council, one of you. Just go ahead and summarize where we're
Aaron Conklin: at.
Erik Lybeck: Sure. Jalena you want me to take a stab at it?
Shilina B. Brown: Sure.
Erik Lybeck: The parties have been engaged in fruitful settlement discussions throughout the
Erik Lybeck: week and.
Erik Lybeck: Yesterday we're able to resolve the last remaining issue.
Erik Lybeck: So there is now an agreement in principle on all issues raised in the prefiled
Erik Lybeck: testimony of the consumer advocate.
Erik Lybeck: The parties have drafted a settlement agreement that is very nearly completed
Erik Lybeck: that contains all of those terms.
Erik Lybeck: But just as a matter of practical reality will not be fully executed.
Erik Lybeck: By 2:00 PM today.
Erik Lybeck: And so we asked for this hearing to, to talk about possible alternative ways
Erik Lybeck: to submit those terms for review this afternoon,
Erik Lybeck: while we were awaiting the finalized version of that settlement,
Erik Lybeck: including whether we we needed to move back the deadline for formally filing it
Erik Lybeck: to allow us to.
Erik Lybeck: Do so in in compliance with the terms of the scheduling.
Aaron Conklin: And then the reason.
Aaron Conklin: I appreciate that, Eric. The reason we have the.
Aaron Conklin: The deadline for settlement agreement is so staff has sufficient time to analyze
Aaron Conklin: and review the settlement agreement.
Aaron Conklin: Michelle, do you want to you have any thoughts from
Aaron Conklin: staff's perspective?
Michelle Mairs: Yeah, because we wanted to start, right? Our recommendation.
Michelle Mairs: So can you if the party could send us that the letter of the agreement or
Michelle Mairs: whatever issue related to how to settle and schedule?
Erik Lybeck: Yes.
Michelle Mairs: Showing what revenue requirement.
Michelle Mairs: They settle to so we can go ahead and start to review it.
Erik Lybeck: Yes, I think we can.
Aaron Conklin: So go ahead, Eric.
Erik Lybeck: I was gonna say I think we can certainly do that.
Erik Lybeck: It sounds like I'll let Shlina speak for the consumer advocate,
Erik Lybeck: but I think that the parties are both amenable to that from our conversations
Erik Lybeck: before this call, I just received the revised revenue
Erik Lybeck: requirement from the folks at Atmos Energy.
Erik Lybeck: So I need to send that to the consumer advocate. Obviously before we file it,
Erik Lybeck: but I think it makes sense to we can certainly prepare a letter that contains
Erik Lybeck: the substance of that agreement and attaches the revenue requirements.
Erik Lybeck: So that review of that can start while we wait to.
Erik Lybeck: Fully execute.
Erik Lybeck: Keep that settlement agreement.
Shilina B. Brown: In the consumer advocate agrees with doing that.
Aaron Conklin: OK. Do you think?
Aaron Conklin: How long do you think it will take to get signatures on the settlement agreement
Aaron Conklin: itself?
Shilina B. Brown: For the consumer advocate, you know, as you know,
Shilina B. Brown: we have to have it routed through the Attorney general himself.
Shilina B. Brown: We think that it could be done by possibly Wednesday of next week.
Aaron Conklin: OK.
Aaron Conklin: Then if it's, it's agreeable to everyone. It sounds like it is.
Aaron Conklin: If we can get the letter just filed and the schedules filed to to today,
Aaron Conklin: and then we can.
Aaron Conklin: We'll we'll shoot for the executed agreement to be filed.
Aaron Conklin: We'll say close of business next Wednesday.
Aaron Conklin: Does that sound agreement in agreement to everyone?
Shilina B. Brown: Yes, Sir.
Aaron Conklin: OK. And if and if there's any issues with
Erik Lybeck: Yes.
Aaron Conklin: getting that signature from the Attorney general, just let us all know and we will,
Aaron Conklin: we'll proceed accordingly.
Shilina B. Brown: OK.
Aaron Conklin: All right, I'll get an order down to summarize this
Ryan McGehee: Thank you.
Aaron Conklin: arrangement so that we have something in the record to reflect that.
Aaron Conklin: Is there anything else we need to discuss while we're all here?
Erik Lybeck: While we are here, I just.
Erik Lybeck: I want to note staff served discovery requests yesterday.
Erik Lybeck: I think at least some of that is going to be mooted by the settlement and just
Erik Lybeck: wanted to at least.
Erik Lybeck: See if there was any.
Erik Lybeck: I certainly don't need a a decision on this today,
Erik Lybeck: but wanted to see if there was any openness to limiting or moving some of
Erik Lybeck: those depending upon the positions in that settlement.
Aaron Conklin: Michelle, I speak to that.
Aaron Conklin: Your thoughts on that?
Michelle Mairs: Yeah, we cannot since we don't have that
Michelle Mairs: settlement yet.
Erik Lybeck: Yeah, of course.
Aaron Conklin: OK. Yeah.
Michelle Mairs: We cannot really answer any questions, so we will follow up with company.
Michelle Mairs: After we receive.
Erik Lybeck: OK, great.
Aaron Conklin: OK.
Michelle Mairs: And then I was just wondering.
Michelle Mairs: The party could send us unexpected settlement ahead of us.
Michelle Mairs: It will not by Wednesday, even we can as soon as possible if they
Michelle Mairs: have unexpected settlement.
Aaron Conklin: If you have an unexcused settlement agreement, can you?
Aaron Conklin: Can you just go ahead and provide that as soon as practicable?
Erik Lybeck: I don't have any objection to that. Shalina. Are you comfortable with that?
Shilina B. Brown: Yeah, I'm fine with that.
Aaron Conklin: And that's and that's fine on that. If you want to just send that.
Aaron Conklin: Send that. Circulate that by e-mail.
Aaron Conklin: Rather than filing it, we'll we'll file the the executed
Aaron Conklin: document when it's prepared.
Aaron Conklin: That will give staff at least opportunity to review that prior to the official
Aaron Conklin: filing.
Shilina B. Brown: Would you like us to submit the term sheet letter today by 2:00 PM?
Aaron Conklin: If you can just go by close of Business Today, that would be fine.
Shilina B. Brown: OK. And then just circulate the actual draft
Shilina B. Brown: settlement agreement with yourself and staff.
Aaron Conklin: Yes.
Shilina B. Brown: OK.
Erik Lybeck: And we will.
Ryan McGehee: Yeah, and that might be something we would want
Ryan McGehee: treated with a confidential label.
Ryan McGehee: Yeah.
Aaron Conklin: Yes, that that's.
Ryan McGehee: And and not necessarily fall, yeah.
Aaron Conklin: But yes, that's fine.
Aaron Conklin: Anything else?
Erik Lybeck: And and just to be clear, what we're going to submit today,
Erik Lybeck: you guys would also like a copy of the settlement model showing all the the math
Erik Lybeck: and the.
Erik Lybeck: Calculations based on settlement.
Aaron Conklin: Yes, that is correct.
Aaron Conklin: That's. Yeah, that's correct.
Erik Lybeck: Great.
Aaron Conklin: All right. Is there anything else?
Erik Lybeck: Not brightness.
Aaron Conklin: All right.
Aaron Conklin: Well, I appreciate everyone jumping on here
Aaron Conklin: real quick and congratulations on getting getting your talks to be fruitful.
Shilina B. Brown: Thank you.
Erik Lybeck: Thank you.
Aaron Conklin: All right, we're joined. Thank you, everybody.
Ryan McGehee: Thank you, your honor.
Ryan McGehee: Thank you.
Craig Cox: Thank you.
Shilina B. Brown: Bye bye.