20041110Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. UWI-04-3, Order No. 29625
November 10, 2004
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.state.id.
Commission approves water system sale to N ampa
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved the sale of a Nampa subdivision
water system from United Water to the City ofNampa.
The commission approved the $375 000 sale price, but said a $28 138 risk premium that was to
be paid to United Water s parent company, United Waterworks, should instead be passed on to
customers in the company s upcoming rate case.
The developers of Carriage Hill reached an agreement in 1998 with United Waterworks under
which United Waterworks would loan the developers up to $350 000 to finance a water supply
system for Carriage Hill.
Once the subdivision grew beyond 25 lots, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
required a second source of supply. Carriage Hill developers informed United Water that they
did not have the funds to construct a second well.
United Water proposed to sell the domestic water system to the City ofNampa for $375 000. The
city expressed interest because of its view that multiple water suppliers within or near its
boundaries are not in the best interest of citizens.
The commission, in approving the sale, noted that Carriage Hill is a non-contiguous water
system geographically remote from United Water s remaining service areas. Further, the
commission said, the city ofNampa
, "
has the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to
serve and provide potable drinking water to the customers of Carriage Hill, and at rates that are
lower than United Water
Documents related to this case are available on the commission s Web site at
www.puc.state.id.. Click on "File Room " and then on "Water Cases" and scroll down to Case
No. UWI-04-