20190114Comments_(2).pdf

From:
Sent:
To:
ottoachenbach@g mail.com
Monday, January 14,2019 2:28 PM
Beverly Barker; Diane Holt; Erik Jorgensen; Matthew Evans
Case Comment Form:Otto AchenbachSubject:
Name: Otto Achenbach
Case Number: EAG-W-1g-01 S ir z - w-
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: L44OE. Bogey Dr.
Eagle ldaho, 83616-6500
t8-o L
Name of Utility Company: Eagle Water Company
Comment: January L4, 2OL9
Otto H. Achenbach
t44O E. Bogey Dr.
Eagle, ldaho 83515-6500
Telephone: [phone]
IPUC Case Number: EAG-W-18-01
Concerning the proposed purchase of: Eagle Water Company, lnc., 188 W. State St., Eagle, ldaho 83616
I was always told to state my objective; I think that was Ms. Barnett, English class in the 10th grade, so there was an
understanding up front on my intention:
l, Otto H. Achenbach, located at the above address, am solidly against SUEZ Water ldaho lnc., company purchasing the
Eagle Water Company, either directly or by going through some Wyoming company with a name of H20 Eagle
Acquisition LLC.
I do not support the sale/purchase of Eagle Water Company to SUEZ Water ldaho lnc., directly or through a Wyoming
company that wants to purchase and then turn around and sell to SUEZ Water ldaho lnc. for the following reasons:
SUEZ is a foreign owned company, their only interest in purchasing Eagle Water Company, in my humble opinion, is raise
rates, turn a significant profit for its owners, and probably take our ldaho water as well and sell it to foreign countries.
Water in ldaho is a precious commodity as we all know. Why pick on Eagle, the current owner was here when I built my
home back in 1992 and is probably ready to retire, SUEZ sees an easy target and high return on their investment. ln
their mailings to me, this was after the article showed up in the news about their wanting to purchase the company,
does state that they will raise the rates by 200-300% and they want this to happen over I think it was a 4 year time
period. Justbecausel'mT4andaccordingtosome, l'mold,doesnotmeanthatl'mstupidandcannotreadtheirself-
serving mailings about "SUEZ is thrilled at the prospect of serving more of our neighbors, and we wanted to answer
some common questions." "Thrilled", oh yes, 2OO-3OO% increase, color me just plain tickled at this one, and "our
neighbors", I have been around long enough to pick up on this city slicker stuff, try another gimmick.
I read where SUEZ has big cities where they provide service, from what I read, service is not something in their corporate
structure and the BBB of some of the cities give them a D rating for actually working with their customers. This is ldaho,
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Diane Holt
where people help others, you need some assistance, let me help you, not "get off my property", or I will charge you to
talk to me.
ln their mailing it talks about the rates have not been raised, again, this is ldaho, they want to bring us in line with
others, why, we are a small community of 30,000, it was only 3,300 when I built here in 1992. They will read our meters,
answer our calls, not according to BBB comments, repair the pipes and ensure we have safe, dependable drinking water,
we have that now. They plan on spending 513.4 million over 3 years, replace meters, upgrade generators, add critical
system disinfection, fire protection and improve system monitoring, we have that now. I have water pressure, back in
1980, probably off on the year but they put in another well, Eagle was growing fast and needed more water and
pressure. They want to bring Eagle water customers level with existing SUEZ customers, we are a small community, we
do not need to match their customers where they have 500,000 or more people in the big cities, that is not us.
Our current water is provided by wells, the water purity and taste meet or exceed DEQ regulatory requirements, no
chlorine is done or required. I read somewhere that SUEZ wants to combine our water with "surface wate/', does that
mean they are taking water from some other area, maybe Boise, does Boise know this?
I attended a meeting last week and from what I heard the City of Eagle wants to purchase the Eagle Water Company to
keep the water here in Eagle, and I would certainly support the City of Eagle purchasing the company, that means it is
owned by the City of Eagle and l'm a long time resident of the City of Eagle. lf the City of Eagle wants to float a Bond, or
whatever the legal definition is, sign me up.
SUEZ somewhere talked about fire protection and water pressurized to provide water for the Eagle Fire Department,
well I live in a small subdivision behind Busters, where I live, the city street drain is located 3' from my driveway, when
the Eagle Fire Department comes out and opens the fire hydrant to clear them and to ensure they are working and there
is water pressure, I can attest to the amount of water that comes out, because I have to go to the drain and clean away
the debris to ensure there is no lake across the street because the drain is covered.
ln my humble opinion the ldaho Public Utilities Commission should reject this application, we are in ldaho, we support
ldaho and this is against what ldaho is all about. I have read information on the IPUC commission over the years, from
what I see, they are charged with protecting the citizens of our state and to keep the management of our most valuable
resources, in this case, water, in the hands of our locally owned, not for profit water utility company. Eagle Water
Company wants to sell, and most likely retire, the City of Eagle wants to purchase and take it over, an excellent idea and
I support it.
I have gone through the other comments, combine all these into a condensed presentation and the individuals located,
residing in and owners of property are against any sale of the Eagle Water Company to SUEZ.
I thank you for taking the time to read my comments and please excuse any display of English where I show I perhaps
failed some portion of my English education from Ms. Barnett.
Otto H. Achenbach
L44O E. Bogey Dr.
Eagle, ldaho 83616-6500
U n iq ue ldentifier: L7 4.208.27 .LSO
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Diane Holt
From:
Sent:
To:
[e-mail]
Monday, January 14,2019 3:37 PM
Beverly Barker; Diane Holt; Erik Jorgensen; Matthew Evans
Case Comment Form: Corey BarnumSubject:
Name: Corey Barnum
Case Number: EAG-W-18-01
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone:
Address:
Eagle 1D,83616
5.r.- N-lr--0 2-
Name of Utility Company: Eagle Water Company
Comment: I've continued to read about Suez's water management in other cities as a means of discovering what I might
expect if they take over Eagle Water Company. What I have found is that a number of cities have come to regret Suez
taking over their water. There have been significant inadequacies with billing collection, large maintenance backlogs,
risks to consumer health with bacterial contamination, and unaddressed damage to city properties and roadways when
lines have burst.
Our water quality is currently very good and the service has been as well. I think that Suez would bring a significant
reduction in the quality of water and service.
Some of this information can be found here: https://www.ktbs.com/3investigates/fast-facts-about-the-company-
interested-in-shreveport-s-water/article_7d483aca-71a8-11e7-9a8b-a70677c39423.htm1?fbclid=lwAR2e-ltUyFDZkYj-
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Unique ldentifier: L6O.3.7 .L62
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