20240312Comments_11.pdf

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The following comments were submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Evelyn Corrigan
Submission Time: Mar 11 2024 5:29PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 191 Hanaford Rd
Blanchard , ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: CDS Stoneridge U�li�es

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "I have just received a proposal/request from our u�lity company asking for a 261%-543%
rate increase for our residen�al water in the Stoneridge community. I strongly oppose this request. Most
of the residents in Stoneridge (myself included) are on fixed incomes like social security or a fixed
pension. a modest increase of 10-20% is totally acceptable, but the huge increase they are proposing will
make it where many cannot afford this kind of increase. What do we need to do to stop this request?"
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Name: John Thomas
Submission Time: Mar 11 2024 10:14PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1920 Blanchard Elk Rd
Blanchard , ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: stoneridge water u�lity

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "I am in complete opposi�on of this absurd request for 300+% increase in meter fees. The
fact of the mater is the only thing that has changed in the years since chan purchased this was all the
houses he has decided to pump onto the golf course. There has been very litle growth to happy valley
sub division since we have lived here in 14 years. His lack of planning and over building should not fall on
our pocketbooks to fix. I can understand something reasonable like 33% increase on a monthly fee. But
what he is asking for is absurd. And since he has put in all the new houses on the golf course my
downstream water service has diminished considerably. Can't even run 2 faucets at yhe same �me
without losing half the volume in each fixture. Thank you for your considera�on of my thoughts "
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The following comments were submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Daniel Ross
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 11:06AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
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Address: P.O. Box 54
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: CDS StoneRidge U�li�es, LLC

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "Gree�ngs,
I am wri�ng to express my opposi�on to the proposed rate increases by Stoneridge U�li�es, LLC. Myself,
my wife and our 4 children have been residents of the Happy Valley Ranchos service area since 2010. I
find the proposed rate increase to be exorbitant and unreasonable. It would be reasonable to apply rate
increases over a period of years to account for the increased cost of produc�on due to infla�on or
planned infrastructure improvements. It is not reasonable to atempt to recoup expenses or losses due
to mismanagement in a lump-sum fashion off the backs of working families and re�rees on fixed
incomes. This issue has shed some light on some serious concerns regarding the business prac�ces
being employed by the current ownership of the U�lity. In addi�on to the commission's denial of the
proposed rate increases, I would further urge the commission to conduct a full audit of CDS StoneRidge
U�lies, LLC. A ques�on that should be inves�gated would be in the case of the Happy Valley Ranchos
subdivision, it is my understanding that connec�on to Stoneridge U�li�es in the early 2000s resulted in a
$5 monthly surcharge that was supposed to be for a set term of 20 years? When the new ownership
took over, the sur-charge was increased to $14.03 per month, with no explana�on or indica�on of a
sunset on the 20-year term of the original obliga�on? One would think that an increased sur-charge
amount would result in a truncated term to sa�sfy the agreed upon obliga�on. I hope and trust that this
commission will conduct a thorough inves�ga�on into these and other ques�onable prac�ces, as well as
the merit of this proposal and that your findings will lead you to reject this outlandish request. Thank
you for your considera�on in this mater.
Regards,
Daniel J. Ross "
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Name: Ann Weaver
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 11:23AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 664 Stoneridge Rd.
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: Stoneridge U�li�es

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "I don't like to complain BUT don't you think this is a bit ridiculous for raising the water rates
that much. I am a widow and only live on Social Security and with my husbands passing it has been
tough enough with only one source of income. When you buy a piece of property you check into all
angles on what your responsibility is on that property and if you can't afford it --- don't buy it! There is
NO WAY I could ever throw my bills onto someone else, they would just laugh at me and if I couldn't pay
my bills, that property would come down to a foreclosure .How can one person think they can get by
with all this???????? Do you think I could ask my neighbors if they could pay my bills for me �ll the day
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the lord comes and takes me home? I would like to see an audit down. Thank you for your �me and
God Bless. "
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Name: Cynthia St Cyr
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 11:30AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 55 Parkland Ct
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: Stoneridge U�li�es

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "IPUC Commissioners,
I am wri�ng to you in respect to Case # SWS-W-24-01 at the request of Stoneridge U�li�es, LLC. The
proposed rate increases of 261% and 543% for a base rate increase is not only against fair prac�ce, but
also creates an undue hardship on the ci�zens who rely on the water provided by this u�lity company.
The average annual rate increase per year across the na�on for u�li�es is 4.1% according to Bluefield
Research. In fact, the largest water rate increases across the na�on was in El Paso, Tx and San Jose
California which boasted an 8% increase. Monthly water bills range from a low of $19.15 in San Antonio,
Texas, to a high of $114.25 in San Francisco, California.
Stoneridge U�li�es has stated that there hasn’t been a rate increase since 2007, even with an annual
increase since 2007 of 4.1% annually, the base rate should only be at $47.52 a�er 17 years of 4.1%
annually for a ¾ or 1-inch meter. While we all understand that need for a rate increase to ensure
Stoneridge U�li�es maintains and is profitable, a single jump rate increase of 261% or 543% is
unacceptable and unfair to the customers that rely on these services and also have no other choice. I
have provided tables below based on an annual rate increase of 4.1%.
Subsequently Stoneridge U�li�es has requested a monthly user fee increase from $.79/1,000 gallons up
to $2.94/1,000 gallons which is a 272% increase. Again, far above the na�onal average and while we
understand a need to increase revenue, this type of increase is increasingly impac�ul to our community.
The two-person home uses approximately 6,090 gallons of water according to
www.fatherresource.org/family-water-usage.com. With this increase to both base rate and water usage
the monthly bill will go from $28.74 to $107.23 for residents with a ¾ in meter, for those with a 1-inch
meter will go from $28.74 to $174.82 per month. Which is a 508% increase in monthly fee and usage.
We strongly urge IPUC to decline this significant rate increase, and adhere to the na�onal average of rate
increases that can be absorbed steadily by the communi�es and users of the water provided by
Stoneridge U�li�es.
We also request that IPUC review the request and conduct an audit of Stoneridge U�li�es, as using
customer-based rate increases to pay for debt capitaliza�on, and a reduc�on of revenue from the golf
irriga�on down to zero is not acceptable. The below points indicate areas that we believe should be
reviewed for considera�on that supports the request for a comprehensive audit of Stoneridge U�li�es.
Costs requested based on the rate increase proposal
• The u�lity wants to replace 3 pump motors. To our knowledge, there are currently two wells for
the u�lity. The applica�on document cites atachment W-1, but it is not included in the available
download paperwork. This is an expenditure for which the u�lity bears sole responsibility for, not its
users.
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• The owner of the u�lity claims to have financial harm from the reduc�on in water sales to the
golf course. However, the golf course drilled its own well to avoid water charges from the u�lity. Please
note that the owner of the golf course is the same owner of the u�lity, so in summary the owner was in
fact paying himself. Through this increase the owner is transferring what the course owed the u�lity onto
the customers, with this proposed increase the owner is doubling his gains which is approximately
50,00,000 gallons of water cost annually.
• The u�lity also wants the users to fund the connec�on costs of 20 vacant ploted lots owned by
the owner of those lots, which is also the owner of the u�lity. This cost should not be passed onto the
users.
• The u�lity wants to install approximately 360 water meters to remotely read the water usage.
This expense should be covered by the u�lity not the users.
• The u�lity wants to install (replace?) “backup electrical generators” at water pump sites. No
paperwork is included in the available downloaded documents. This expenditure is the sole
responsibility of the u�lity not the users.
In summa�on, we strongly urge IPUC to deny this rate increase request in its en�rety.

Thank you,
Cynthia St. Cyr"
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Name: James WHITEAKER
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 11:50AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 151 Forest Ridge Rd
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: Stoneridge U�li�es LLC

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "To whom it may concern:
Regarding the proposed applica�on to increase minimum monthly user fees 261% for a 3/4" meter and
543% for a 1" meter. Most of us in this community are re�red and are on fixed incomes, as my wife and I
are. This would be an unreasonable hardship to the people of this community, to have us pay for, the
mismanagement of this u�lity. Most people would not object to small increases as costs increase, but
this is not reasonable. Please do not approve these rate increases.
Thank you for your considera�on on these maters, "
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Name: Michael Kizer
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 11:53AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 77 Parkland Ct
Blandchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: StoneRidge U�li�es LLC
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Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "I have already wrote a coment regarding Case # SWS-W-24-01 StoneRidge Un�li�es LLC. I am
including some informa�on that I just found out and would like to include my complaint for not jus�fing
a 261-561% rate hike. We found out that the StoneRidge golf course drilled their own well or wells for
their needs, this is why their will be a zero bill to the golf cours. But now that this has happned
StoneRidge U�li�es LLC is claiming it will have $500,000 loss of revinue. This revinue loss the U�lity is
claiming is not an actual loss, all of the maintenance and u�lity exspence will go down because of this
water use decrease and what the u�lity is asking us to fund is loss of revenue that has no actual bases. I
also found out that StoneRidge U�li�es LLC has one of its 3 wells in deficit with a colasped casing that
was known on the owner of StoneRidge U�lites LLC purchase. I am asking for an audit of StoneRidge
U�li�es this year and previous year to see where the losses are and the jus�fica�on for this enormous
rate increase. I would also like to have more �me for others in our StoneRidge U�li�es LLC water district
to coment, it feels like this applica�on was sent in at a �me when most of the community was gone and
did not have �me to respond. Can we have a Zoom mee�ng or town hall mee�ng with the IPUC board to
convey our complaints, thoughts and see how it is possible to come to a aggreable outcome to our
community.

Regards,
Michael & Diana Kizer
425-268-2706
77 Parkland Ct
Blanchard Idaho, 83804"
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The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Joan Budai
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 12:06PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 248 Vista Drive
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: StoneRidge

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "I strenuously object to the obscene rate increase that's being proposed by Stoneridge
U�li�es. I, like many others in this area, are re�red and am on Social Security. I grow a large garden
every year to offset the ever-increasing food prices. If the proposed rate goes into effect the base rate
for water will nearly quadruple for me and the increased usage in July and August will make the cost of
gardening out of my price range. Please audit Stoneridge U�li�es to discover if there's any serious
reason for such an outrageous increase besides greed! "
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The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: gary lamb
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 1:56PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 88 Ironwood Dr
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: StoneRidge U�li�es, LLC

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "Please do not approve a 261% increase for water service at our townhome in Blanchard, ID
83804. Our pensions never go up more than 2% a year.
Thank you for your considera�on.
Gary and Lynn Lamb"
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The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Kelley Hicks
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 3:04PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1443 Poirier Rd
Blanchard, ID 83804

Name of U�lity Company: CDS StoneRidge U�li�es

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "As a re�red person on a fixed income, I think the proposed water rate increase is exorbitant.
I am not opposed to an increase, but I feel this proposal is excessive and will create hardship for those of
us on fixed incomes. Thank you for considering this when looking at this proposal.
Kelley Hicks"
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The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Carlton and Kathleen Edwards
Submission Time: Mar 12 2024 4:34PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 80 Parkland Dr
Blandchard, ID 83804
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Name of U�lity Company: CDS StoneRidge U�li�es, LLC

Case ID: SWS-W-24-01

Comment: "We are opposing the rate increase proposal applica�on from CDS StoneRidge U�li�es, LLC.
The percentage increase of 261% and 543% is upse�ng and ridiculous. There has not been an increase
since 2007 and this increase would put most resident, who are re�red and on a fixed income in financial
jeopardy. For a company to request such a large increase in such a short �me show the this company
has financial mishandlings. To show a deficite of $900,000 and a zero amount to be paid by StoneRidge
Golf Course, which uses more water than all houses combined, would warrant an audit. We are
reques�ng that IPUC assigns an independent auditor to look into the financial state to CDS StoneRidge
U�lites, LLC before recommending any sort of rate increase."
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