20080529Comment.pdf

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Jean Jewell
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Sent:
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Subject:
kunawards~gmail.com
Wednesday. May 28. 20084:22 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Christopher and Natasha Ward follows:
Case Number: MSW-W-08-01
Name: Christopher and Natasha Ward
Address: 11550 W . Dynamite Ln
City: Kuna
State: Idaho
Zip: 83634
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: kunawards~gmail.com
Name of Utility Company: MAYFIELD SPRINGS WATER COMPANY, INC. - - CPCN Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your comment briefly:
Please disregard the prior comments that I submitted on Tue, 27 May 2008 22: 59 :45-
At the meeting with the PUC it was stated that once the rate was determined there could be
the possibility that Mayfield Water Company could bill the homeowners the base rate plus
usage charges for usage in the past. Mayfield Water Company, while it was still Intermountain
Water/Idaho Springs, sent customers an update stating that the rate would be $50 per month
until the time that the PUC had set rates. We believe we should not pay for a service that
occurred in the past without first being told the rate at which we would be charged.
Therefore, I urge the commission to set the rates from the determination date forward and not
allow Mayfield Water Company to collect the new rate retroactively.
We also feel that all 100 residential lots in the subdivision should be paying the base rate
based on the benefits of watering common areas for all lot owners. All lots, even the ones
without homes, are benefiting from the water system through the watering of the common areas.
By having a lush green landscape and common areas to welcome potential buyers into the
subdivision, those lots which are undeveloped gain more from the water system.
Mayfield water company's request to have a lower rate for homes under construction is
flawed, homes that are under construction are putting in their landscape which requires an
enormous amount of water to establish, whereas homes that are already completed require
considerably less water to maintain their landscape. We believe all 100 residential lots
should pay the same base rate and usage rates, regardless of who owns them and their current
construction status. The $900/month that Mayfield water is charging the HOA for watering the
common areas is too low for the volume of water used and forces the base rate and additional
gallons used by the residences to be charged at a much higher rate. We feel that the Monthly
common area water charge should be increased to $30,000 per year ($4300*7 months).
We feel that the amount Mayfield Water Company is requesting for a sinking fund be denied.
The amount requested is for new meters, even though when we requested water service a meter
was installed. Since we requested water service, the developer/Mayfield Water Company has
changed out the original meter with a new meter that is electronic, even though the original
meter worked fine. We believe this change was made so the developer could change the intent
of the water system from a Homeowner Association owned system to a system run as a public
utility. Furthermore, we believe that until such time that the PUC grants the CPCN to
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Mayfield Water Company, any money the developer and/or Mayfield Water Company has or will put
into the system should be considered as part of the initial cost of the system, therefore the
developer/ Mayfield Water Company should not be granted such money.
We would like to see the base rate be as low as possible, but also include the amount to
water the common areas, which is the monthly amount divided amongst the 100 residential lots.
Our proposal for the base rate structure is:
Base Rate for residential lots (includes 10,000 gallons) ~ $25. 00/month + monthly common
area water charge from below
Monthly common area water charge
- $30,000/year (equals $4300 per months watered) Divided by 100 residential lots = $300/year
Divided by 12 months = $25/month per residential lot
Additional Gallons of residential usage
- billed in 5,000 gallons increments
This would make the base rate $50.00 per month for each of the 100 residential lots.
Thanks,
Chris and Natasha Ward
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 137.201.242.130
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