HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240313Notice_of_Application_Order_No_36116.pdf
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 13, 2024
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF CDS STONERIDGE
UTILITIES, LLC’S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES
AND CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE IN
THE STATE OF IDAHO
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CASE NO. SWS-W-24-01
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION
DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116
On February 28, 2024, CDS Stoneridge Utilities, LLC (“Company”) applied for
authorization to increase its rates and charges for water service (“Application”). The Company’s
Application contained several supplemental materials which it offers to justify its request. Also on
February 28, 2024, the Company made a separate supplemental filing requesting an April 1, 2024,
effective date.1
At the Commission’s March 5, 2024, Decision Meeting, Staff presented a Decision
Memorandum recommending the Commission issue a Notice of Application, set a 21-day
intervention deadline, and suspend the Company’s proposed April 1, 2024, effective date.
We now issue this Notice of Application and set a 21-day intervention period and suspend
the Company’s proposed effective date.
BACKGROUND
The Company serves about 384 residential and commercial customers near Blanchard,
Idaho, under Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity No. 395. The Company draws water
from two wells and uses several storage tanks to provide service.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company represents that it has invested more
than $900,000 in the system since 2018. To recover its investment, the Company proposes to
1 In its Application the Company initially requested a July 1, 2024, effective date. See Attachment G.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116 2
increase rates for customers by an average of 261 percent—which represents an overall increase
in revenue of $555,190 to the Company. The increases would apply to residential customers in
Stoneridge and Happy Valley subdivisions, commercial customers at SR Resort/Timeshare and
MCV & Golf Course, Irrigation, and Golf Course Irrigation customers. See Attachment D.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes to increase monthly user
fees and non-recurring fees. The commodity charge would increase from $0.79/1,000 gallons to
$2.94/1,000 gallons. See Attachments E and F.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company included financial statements and
other documents relevant to its request. The Company did not include a redline or clean copy of
its proposed tariff. See Attachments P and Q. The Company indicated it was working with Staff
on this and would file it when it was complete.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company included copies of its customer
notification and publication notice with its Application. See Attachments E and F.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s Application and supporting
documents are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s
office. The Application and supporting documents are also available on the Commission’s web
site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “WATER” tab in the left-hand column of the home page,
then select “Open Cases” and then locate and click on the case number as shown on the front of
this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has designated this case as a
general rate case. As such, the Company’s intrastate revenue requirement, and every component
of it, both rate base and expense, are at issue. The Commission may grant, deny, or modify the
revenue requirement requested and may find a revenue requirement different from that proposed
by any party is just, fair, and reasonable. IDAPA 31.01.01.124.01.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all of the Company’s retail rates and charges, both
recurring and non-recurring, including those of special contract customers, are at issue, and every
component of every existing and proposed rate and charge is at issue. The Commission may
approve, reject, or modify the rates and charges proposed and may find that rates and charges
different from those proposed by any party are just, fair, and reasonable. IDAPA 31.01.01.124.02.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116 3
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may approve, reject, or modify
existing or proposed relationships between and among rates and charges within, between, or
among customer classes or rate groupings and may approve, reject, or modify existing or proposed
relationships among and between customer classes or rate groupings. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may abolish, reduce, or create rate
blocks or categories of rates and charges; abolish, create, or reduce components of rates and
charges; abolish, reduce, or create customer classes or rate groupings; and abolish, reduce, or create
absolute or relative differences among and between existing classes or rate groupings of customers.
Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the tariffs, practices, rules and regulations, service,
instrumentalities, equipment, facilities, classifications, and customer relations of the utility are at
issue, and the Commission may address any of them in its order. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant
to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code. The Commission may enter
any final order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted
under the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000, et seq.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter to
obtain parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission
pursuant to this Commission’s Rules of Procedure 72 and 73, IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073.
Persons who wish to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than 21
days after the date of service of this Order. Persons desiring to present their views without
parties’ rights of participation do not have to intervene and may present their comments without
prior notification to the Commission or the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice of
Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed. The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116 4
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued, Commission
Staff will informally confer with the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case and other
issues as may be raised by the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following person is designated as the
Company’s representative in this matter:
Chan Karupiah
Managing Partner
CDS StoneRidge Utilities, LLC
P.O. Box 298
364 Stoneridge Road
Blanchard, ID 83804
chansan@comcast.net
utilities@stoneridgeidaho.com
SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
The Company filed its Application on February 28, 2024, and proposes an April 1, 2024,
effective date. The Commission finds the Company’s proposed effective date does not provide
adequate time for Commission Staff and interested persons to evaluate the Company’s proposal.
Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622(4), the Commission suspends the proposed changes for thirty
(30) days and five months or until the Commission enters an earlier order accepting, rejecting, or
modifying the Company’s request.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the purpose
of obtaining parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission,
no later than 21 days after the service date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the April 1, 2024, effective date proposed by the
Company is suspended for 30 days plus five months or until the Commission enters an earlier
order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed changes.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36116 5
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 13th day of
March 2024.
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Monica Barrios-Sanchez
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\WATER\SWS-W-24-01_rates\orders\SWSW2401_ntc app int susp_dh.docx