20050204Press Release re proposed low-income assistance.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. UWI-04-
February 4, 2005
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.state.id.
United Water considers low-income assistance program
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a workshop to evaluate the need for
scope and design of a proposed low-income customer assistance program for United Water.
The company is proposing the program in light of its request for 21.46 percent average increase
in rates.
The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 23 , at 10 a., at the commission s hearing
room at 472 W. Washington 8t. in Boise.
The workshop will focus only on the need for a low-income assistance program, not on the rate
increase request. An evidentiary hearing on the broader issue of United Water s rate request is
scheduled for May 18-20 in the commission hearing room. The commission is also planning
other workshops and/or hearings before the evidentiary hearing.
United Water, which provides water to 75 400 customers in Ada and Canyon counties, wants to
increase revenues by nearly $6.8 million to recover the cost of capital improvements and to meet
the demands of a growing customer base.
END--