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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 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 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