20050225Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. TGW-05-, Order No. 29716
February 25, 2005
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.idaho.2ov
Terra Grande seeks emergency relief
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will take comments through March 4 on Terra
Grande Water s application for interim rate relief and further proceedings to establish a
permanent rate.
Terra Grande Water, with about 117 residential customers in southwest Boise, notified customers
of contamination problems from Trichloroethylene (TCE) on Jan. 21. The company advised
customers to stop using the water for drinking and started supplying bottled water. One week
later, on January 28, an emergency connection was made to United Water s system. Terra
Grande customers now receive water from that system. The state Department of Environmental
Quality provided funds from the Idaho Hazardous Waste Emergency Response Fund to pay the
cost of the emergency connection to the United Water system.
Terra Grande is seeking commission authorization to continue assessing its flat $16 per month
non-summer charge ($26 during the summer) plus a surcharge that will cover the billing it
receives from United Water. The company proposes to divide its United Water bill by the total
number of Terra Grande customers and pass the pro rata expense on to each customer equally by
adding a surcharge to the existing flat rate.
Further, Terra Grande is asking the commission to establish permanent rates that are just and
reasonable for its customers on a going-forward basis.
The company is asking for immediate authorization to change its rates based on an emergency
that it says was beyond its control and that has unexpectedly increased its expenses on short
notice. It is asking that the case be processed by written comment rather than by public hearings.
The commission will proceed under a modified procedure that allows the case to be handled
through written public comments. Those wishing to submit comments must do so by no later
than March 4. Comments are accepted via e-mail by accessing the commission s homepage at
www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (TGW-
05-1) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ill
83720-0074 or faxed to [phone].
A full text of the commission s order, along with other documents related to this case, are
available on the commission s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on "File Room" and then
on "Water Cases" and scroll down to the above case number.