The Postal Rate Commission provided a timetable last week for the rate case currently under way, setting an abbreviated schedule with the hope that a settlement of the case is likely.
The U.S. Postal Service filed for a 5.4 percent across-the-board rate increase in April. Rate cases typically take 18 months from filing to implementation, but the PRC's schedule anticipates the completion of procedural matters for this case no later than early October.
Also, if a substantial number of issues in the case are settled, the PRC may be able to do without some procedures that normally are time consuming, the commission said. For example, the PRC may need to receive evidence only from the postal service and not other participants, or it may be able to forgo a round of testimony.
The USPS is confident that a settlement is possible because no participants have expressed opposition to a settlement, though some participants in the rate case have yet to state a position, the PRC said. The USPS is pursuing ways to reduce the need for cross-examination in an effort to shorten the time needed for the case.
The USPS expects to implement the current rate case sometime next year. To see the full schedule of the rate case along with the PRC's comments, go to www.prc.gov/docs/44/44262/POR11.doc .
Scott Hovanyetz covers telemarketing, production and printing and direct response TV marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
