Tim Sabo

Overview

Tim has decades of experience in the regulation of water and wastewater utilities, electric utilities, gas utilities, and telecommunications utilities. His career has been dedicated to navigating utility regulation matters at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), affording him comprehensive insight into these industries from various perspectives. Tim has served as a Staff Attorney at the ACC, in-house counsel at a prominent water utility, and external counsel for diverse utilities. Tim possesses a nuanced understanding of regulatory issues. He has demonstrated leadership within the industry, notably through his participation in ACC workshops and contributions to the development of the ACC’s Water Policy Statements. Tim has a keen understanding of the business impacts of regulation, including how rate cases impact every aspect of the business.  He has first-chaired many rate cases and has experience with all types of rate cases, including water, wastewater, electric, and gas.  He has guided a large water utility through its first-rate case and has considerable experience in the consolidation of rate districts, as well as obtaining approval of various adjuster mechanisms. 

Tim has also guided clients through many utility acquisitions, including regulatory due diligence, contract negotiation, and regulatory approvals.  His track record includes successful representation of both sellers and buyers in acquisitions and divestitures, as well as adeptly representing both cities and utilities in the condemnation of utility systems. 

Tim has been involved in many Certificates of Convenience and Necessity hearings, for all types of utilities, including contested hearings. He has effectively represented clients in appeals of ACC orders, notably contributing to several precedent-setting cases. Additionally, Tim has demonstrated his proficiency by representing respondents in complex ACC Securities Division cases, notably taking on the role of lead counsel in a month-long hearing.