20220906Final_Order_No_35443.pdf

ORDER NO. 35443 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 6, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE CORPORATE
NAME CHANGE OF SUEZ WATER IDAHO,
INC., TO VEOLIA WATER IDAHO, INC.
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CASE NOS. VEO-W-22-01
SUZ-W-22-01

ORDER NO. 35443

On April 8, 2022, Veolia Environment S.A. (“Company”) filed a letter with the
Commission stating that the Company’s acquisition of SUEZ S.A. (“SUEZ”) was completed on
January 18, 2022. The Company claimed that the Competition and Markets Authority provided
antitrust clearance for the transaction in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2022, clearing the way
for the Company and SUEZ to commence the integration of the Veolia North America and the
SUEZ North America (“SNA”) businesses, which include SUEZ Water Idaho Inc. (“SUEZ Water
Idaho”). The Company explained that as part of the integration, there would be a rebranding of the
SNA businesses to the Veolia brand. The Company stated that if the name change was approved,
customers would continue to receive water service under the same rates, terms, and conditions as
were currently on file with the Commission. The Company included a copy of its Commission
approved tariffs with the indicated name change with a proposed effective date of May 1, 2022.
At the Commission’s April 28, 2022, Decision Meeting, Commission Staff recommended
that the Commission treat the Tariff Advice as an Application1 and process the case by Modified
Procedure to allow additional time to review the Company’s proposal and for public input. To
accomplish this, Staff also recommended the Commission suspend the Company’s proposed
effective date pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622(4).
On April 29, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Application, Notice of Modified
Procedure, and Notice of Suspension of Proposed Effective Date. The Commission observed that
the Company had not yet requested a change to the corporate name on the Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”) No. 143. The Commission noted that the Company’s
Application was likely premature until such a request was made and reviewed by the Commission.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reviewed the Application, tariffs, and other submitted documents to confirm that the
proposed filing would not negatively affect customers. Staff confirmed that the proposed tariffs

1 See Commission Rule of Procedure 134.02, IDAPA 31.01.01.134.02.
ORDER NO. 35443 2

with the name change had the same rates, terms, and conditions as the current tariffs on file with
the Commission. Staff reviewed the Secretary of State website and confirmed the name Veolia
Water Idaho, Inc. was adopted on March 28, 2022, which was consistent with the Company’s
Application.
Staff was concerned that SUEZ had not complied with the Commission’s previous
directive ordering SUEZ to amend CPCN No. 143 “to reflect the acquisition of Eagle Water’s
service territory and customers.” Order No. 35247 at 20. Staff recommended that Veolia comply
with Order No. 35247 and file an amended CPCN that included the Eagle Water Company service
territory.
During informal discussions with Veolia, Staff became aware that the Company had begun
surveying its entire Eagle Water service territory, and the Company indicated that it may need up
to 60 days to complete and file an amended CPCN. Staff recommended approval of the name
change contingent upon the Company filing an amended CPCN that included the Eagle Water
Company service territory within 60 days of the Commission’s Final Order in this case. After
review of the amended CPCN, Staff would make its recommendations regarding its findings in a
decision memo to the Commission.
SUBSEQUENT FILINGS
On August 16, 2022, the Company filed a Revised Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity No. 143 (“Revised CPCN”). The Company represented that the Revised CPCN
reflected: 1) the corporate name change from SUEZ Water Idaho Inc. to Veolia Water Idaho, Inc.;
2) removal of the service territory associated with the Trailhead Community Expansion as
approved in Order No. 35130, Case No. SUZ-W-21-02 (Aug. 9, 2021); and 3) the addition of the
former Eagle Water Company service territory as approved in Order No. 35247, Case Nos. SUZ-
W-18-02 and EAG-W-18-01 (Dec. 9, 2021). The Company submitted a proposed order adopting
the Revised CPCN and an illustrative map with its filing. The Company stated that the proposed
order and Revised CPCN reflected the form of the order and CPCN from the most recent name-
change case, UWI-W-15-03.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over the Company’s Application and the issues in this
case under Title 61 of the Idaho Code including Idaho Code §§ 61-301 through 303. The
Commission is empowered to investigate rates, charges, rules, regulations, practices, and contracts
ORDER NO. 35443 3

of all public utilities and to determine whether they are just, reasonable, preferential,
discriminatory, or in violation of any provisions of law, and to fix the same by order. Idaho Code
§§ 61-501 through 503.
The Commission has reviewed the Company’s Application including all submitted
materials and comments. Based on its review of the record, the Commission finds the name change
does not affect rates, and the cost of changing the Company’s name will not be borne by ratepayers.
Therefore, the Commission finds it fair, just, and reasonable to approve the application.2

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2 The Commission notes that its approval of the Company’s name change in this case in no way waives any Company
duties or obligations as expressed in any prior proceeding before the Commission, nor any directives of the
Commission towards the Company as provided in any Commission order.
ORDER NO. 35443 4

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s name change is approved.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date upon this Order regarding any
matter decided in this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code §§ 61-
626 and 62-619.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 6th day of
September 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

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