modproc.app.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF UNITED WATER IDAHO INC. FOR APPROVAL OF A BACKBONE PLANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNITED WATER IDAHO INC. AND HARRIS RANCH/BRIGHTON, LLC. )
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
CASE NO. UWI-W-00-04

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on October 24, 2000, United Water Idaho Inc. (United Water; Company) filed an Application with the Commission requesting approval of an October 19, 2000, Backbone Plant Agreement between United Water and Harris Ranch/Brighton, LLC.
Harris/Brighton, LLC is the developer of a residential subdivision in the City of Boise, Ada County, Idaho known as “Harris Ranch.” Harris Ranch is located within United Water’s existing service territory, north of the Boise River in the vicinity of Eckert Road and Warm Springs Avenue.
The Company notes that the Commission has previously determined that the Company should be responsible for the cost of wells, boosters, storage and main lines. These facilities, the Company states, are commonly referred to as backbone plant. In order to provide adequate and safe service to Harris Ranch, United Water states that it will be necessary to construct a 1,000 gpm booster station, a 355,000 gallon storage reservoir and a 12 inch water supply line with associated equipment (the facilities). The total estimated cost of the facilities is $657,894.
As described in the submitted Backbone Plant Agreement, Harris Ranch will advance to United Water the full estimated cost of the facilities in two installments corresponding to the construction schedule of the facilities. The first advance in the amount of $112,681 equals the estimated cost of the required booster station. The second advance in the amount of $425,849 equals the estimated cost of Harris Ranch’s allocated share of supply main and reservoir costs.
As the project proceeds, United Water will make payments to Harris Ranch as reimbursement for its advances as customers are connected to eligible portions of the Harris Ranch development. Eligible customers are those customers that can be served by the reservoir through gravity flow. New customers located at a higher pressure zone above 2880 feet, or those that are not hydraulically connected to the reservoir will not be considered for refund as part of this Agreement. Reference Agreement, Exhibit B. The Company estimates that the reservoir will enable it to provide service to 996 eligible customers within Harris Ranch and to approximately 500 additional customers within the general vicinity of Harris Ranch. Payments will cease after 996 customers have been connected, or the expiration of the Agreement in 15 years, whichever occurs first. Although the Harris Ranch development will eventually include more than 996 building lots, the additional lots, the Company contends, will be served by other facilities. In no event will the total of payments exceed the amount advanced by Harris Ranch.
United Water contends that the Agreement is advantageous to Harris Ranch and that it allows construction of the subdivision to proceed upon a schedule that is preferable to Harris Ranch rather than be constrained by United Water’s capital budget and construction cycle.
United Water contends that the submitted Agreement is in the best interests of the Company and its customers. The Company requests that its Application be processed pursuant to Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. Contending that the Company is unaware of any person who opposes the Application and that it will be advantageous to both the Company and Harris Ranch to commence construction of the facilities as soon as possible, it is requested that the Commission establish an expedited deadline for filing protests or comments, i.e., 14 days.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has preliminarily found that the pubic interest in this matter may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the Company’s filing may be processed under We continue to find it reasonable to process the Company’s Application in this case pursuant to Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or protests with respect to United Water’s Application and the use of Modified Procedure in Case No. UWI-W-00-04 is Wednesday, November 15, 2000.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission may consider the matter on its merits and may enter its order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case No. UWI-W-00-04 should be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074

Street Address For Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983 BENJAMIN HEPLER
UNITED WATER IDAHO INC.
PO BOX 7488
BOISE, ID 83707
And
DEAN J. MILLER, ESQ.
MCDEVITT & MILLER
537 W BANNOCK, STE 215
PO BOX 2564
BOISE, ID 83701-2564
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s Application in Case No. UWIW-00-04, together with a map of proposed affected areas, may be viewed during regular business hours at the offices of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 472 West Washington Street, Boise, Idaho and at the general business office of United Water Idaho Inc., 8248 West Victory Road, Boise, Idaho (UWI Telephone: [phone]

DATED at Boise, Idaho this day of November 2000.

DENNIS HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

Vld/N:UWI-W-00-04_sw

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 1, 2000