20070129Comment.pdf

Yt~1/0Jean Jewell
/10 /10 Ct~
. H
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ejcjbalnis~earthnet.ws
Sunday, January 28, 2007 7:42 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment/Inquiry Form
A Comment from Edward Balnis follows:
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Case Number: SWSW0601
Name: Edward BalnisAddress: 53 Short Dr.
City: Blanchard
State: Idaho
Zip: 83804
Home Telephone: [phone]Contact E-Mail: ej cjbalnis~earthnet.
Name of Utili ty Compa StoneRidge WaterAdd to Mailing List: Company
Please describe your question or comment briefly:Re: Notice of application to increace rates.
Of all the water users in 'Happy Valley Ranchos ' that I have spoken with none have
contested a rate increase, only the exorbitant monetary amount of said increases. In
addition, we are preplexed about why it took StoneRidge one and a half months to notify
the ' users I about said application. Please be advised That the ' users ' in Happy ValleyRanchos and the ' users ' in Stone Ridge Resort are two very different entities. I StoneRidge
resort' could be classified as Beverly Hills and I Happy Valley ' could be classified as
Downtown Hollywood (Haves and have nots) .
When I.U. approved the Merger in August 2003, part of the reason for that approval was
you received 15 written comments plus a majority vote at our association meeting in favor,due to the higher water quality and that the combined water system would be at a cost
similar to what we were then paying. I am not sure of the overall income level of theusers' in Happy Valley Ranchos, but a simple drive through this area will tell you that
it is not far from the 'Have Nots . The dwelling charge has increased from $14.00 permonth to $38.00 per month and the commodity charge from thirty cents (.30) per 1000gallons used to sixty seven cents (.67) per gallon used per month. These increase
percentages are outragrous! Had the Happy Valley Ranchos users known this might happen
back when the merger was being considered, the vote would have been 98% to the negative.Shouldn t there be some sort of a cap on increased percentages? The ' Perception ' is that
StoneRidge Water Company is trying to dupe I. P. U. C. by asking for increases in gargantuan
form knowing that you will decrease those figures by a large amount then laugh all the way
to the bank because they will have gotten much more than if they had asked for a
reasonable increase. A wise man once opined: 'Perception is truth'
Please, Please, before making your decision send a representative to drive through ' HappyValley Ranchos ' and absorb what is to be seen and then compare to the $500,000+ homes inStone Ridge Resort'. The difference is blinding! What's wrong with a 10% increase? That'
still more than the increases in the cost of living that we on fixed incomes have a hard
time managing anyway.
Wi th Due Respect
Concerned Ci ti zenEd Balnis
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmi
IP address is 216.178.55.164
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