Johnson Utilities complies with court order, operation transferred

As of Thursday, the interim manager agreement is active and EPCOR will be running the utility. Meetings are scheduled between the ACC and EPCOR for the following day.

“We have completed the transfer and the interim management agreement would renew with the commission tomorrow,” said Rebecca Stenholm, director of public and government affairs at EPCOR. “One of the things that we really want to focus on is our communications with customers and employees.”

This comes after the ACC got an injunctive order issued in Pinal County Superior Court that compelled Johnson Utilities to give EPCOR full and exclusive access to all revenues and facilities. The company was also ordered to provide complete information on all bank accounts through which revenues have gone, including accounts connected to Johnson affiliates Hunt Management and Ultra Management.

The order gave a deadline of 2 p.m. Thursday, which was met. Anyone affiliated with Johnson who did not comply faced being held in contempt of court.

“The question that we don’t know the answer to yet, but we will be looking forward to, is what’s the timeline?” ACC spokeswoman Holly Ward said. “What’s EPCOR laying out for short term and long term and how will they be communicating that back? So from a Corporation Commission perspective, we’d be looking to do that as publicly as possible. Our first priority will be the customers and the community overall.”