20130510Comment.pdf

LOT 111
May 7,2013
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
RE: CASE NO, SPL W-13-01
Dear Sir or Madam:
33588 North West Kelso Drive
Spirit Lake, Idaho 83869
2013 MAY 10 IM 8 L+O Tel [phone]
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I reviewed the application of the Spirit Lake East Water Company and attendant letter of
April 9, 2013.
I am in agreement with the request to increase the fee for residential water use to $24.75
per month from the present $12.50, I am not in agreement with the Monthly allegation of 9000
Gallons.
The Company's current allotment of 9000 gallons per month (1203 Cubic Feet) should be
increased to 1500 cubic feet per month and subsequent usage reported in Cubic Feet not
Gallons. The Company has made the point that the meters record in Cubic Feet and not in
Gallons. Therefore it makes little or no sense to a person attempting to monitor their usage in
Gallons if the meter reads in Cubic Feet and the Billing therefore is in Gallons. The conversion
while simplistic to an Engineer makes little use to the average household. A subsequent increase
for overage would approximate $.15 for 15 Cubic Feet.
The present system of meter reading is potentially available in most cases from April
through October, depending on the weather and current snowfall. This year although my meter
is located well above the roadway, it would have been difficult if not impossible to read the
meter from November to April. Snow removal and snowfall would prevent all but the most
vigorous attempts to uncover the meter.
If an accurate account of usage is to be made the readings of the meters must be
conducted in a timely and routine manner if an accurate portrayal of usage is to be valid, based
on the tn-monthly system in present use. The use of a contemplated averaging system by the
Company to cover the Spring to Fall usage period is inconsistent with timely reading of the
meters.
I participated in the City of Spokane's efforts to install Water Meter's accessible to drive
by remote reading in the 1980's so I appreciate the expense of such an effort in the Spirit Lake
East Plat. Financial recovery would be difficult on a potential 313 unit basis, not all of which is
occupied at present. One possibility would be to raise the current installation and connection fee
not only to cover the cost of connection, but to provide for an upgraded Water Meter. While the
Company Representative has mentioned the possible installation of new meters, the current
pricing is inadequate for this purpose and to my knowledge is not discussed in this application. In
so far as advanced technology is readily available from Itron located in Liberty Lake,
Washington.
With respect to my Household, the current meter although it reads in Cubic Feet has not
operative. The Meter Reader broke the connecting leads while attempting to read the meter. As
such the meter has bee inoperative since October 2012.
I am pleased to be able to participate in the Application process although not an Internet
R e gd ount 930
cc: Spirit Lake East Water Company