20181210press release.pdf

Case Nos. EAG-W-18-01, SUZ-W-18-02
Contact: Matt Evans
Office: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
[e-mail]
Deadline to intervene set in case involving
proposed sale of Eagle Water Company
BOISE (Dec. 10, 2018) – State regulators have set a deadline for parties seeking to intervene in a
case involving the proposed sale of Eagle Water Company to Suez Water Idaho.
The proposal, which requires the approval of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, calls for a
purchase price of $10 million as well as significant rate increases for the approximately 4,200
customers of Eagle Water.
The proposal includes a third entity, Wyoming-based H2O Eagle Acquisition LLC, which has entered
into asset purchase agreements with both Suez and Eagle Water. Those agreements call for H2O
Eagle to purchase Eagle Water and its assets, and for H2O Eagle to sell the company and assets to
Suez.
If the deal is approved as proposed, these transactions would close simultaneously, and Suez would
take over all ownership and operations of the water system, which is not the same as the city of
Eagle’s municipal water system.
Suez has proposed that rates for Eagle Water’s current customers be increased in three phases over
three years, in order to create “rate parity” with Suez’s approximately 96,000 customers in the
Boise area.
Under the proposed rate adjustment period, Eagle Water customers would see an approximate
monthly increase of $6.44 in the first year, and monthly increases of $9.40 in both the second and
third years.
Eagle Water’s owner cited his age, “the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements,
necessary and costly system upgrades” and the utility’s limited access to capital to fund those
upgrades as reasons for the proposed sale.
Both Eagle Water and Suez contend that the proposal is in the public interest and will result in
significant benefits to customers of both utilities by “among other things, realizing certain
efficiencies in water service, water supply and operating costs.”
Parties seeking to intervene in order to present testimony and exhibits and cross-examine
witnesses must do so by Dec. 28.
Later, the Commission will announce dates for public comment deadlines and customer workshops
and hearings.
Written comments are being accepted. Go here to submit a comment electronically. Or go to
the Commission’s web site, www.puc.idaho.gov and click on “Case Comment Form” under
the “Water” heading.
Comments can also be submitted via fax to [phone] or by mail to P.O. Box 83720,
Boise, ID 83720-0074. Please be sure to include the case number, EAG-W-18-01 or SUZ-W-
18-02.
All documents related to this case are available here. Or go to the Commission’s web site,
www.puc.idaho.gov, click on “Open Cases” under the “Water” heading and scroll down to
case number EAG-W-18-01 or SUZ-W-18-02.