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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20060516Comments.pdf,qtu/ov Jean Jewell From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Friday, May 12, 2006 1:17 PM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WWW Form Submission: Friday, May 12, 2006 12 : 17 : 13 Case: Unknown Name: Craig Noll Street Address: 2236 Elderberry Place City: Boise State: 10 ZIP: 83706-4492 Home Telephone: 208-331-1972E-MaIl: canol10earthlink. net Company: United Water Idaho mailing list yes no: ~o Comment description: Ladies & Gentlemen: m writing relative to the recent request for rate increases by United Water Idaho. The stated purpose for the 17.91% rate increase is to "have an opportunity to earn a return on its investments in water facilities and to address ongoing costs of operation. To put it succinctly, I am one consumer who, in an era of decreasing wages and benefits,am tired of watching business, especially public utilities, request 10%, 17% and 27% rate increases. What ever happened to the era of 2% - 5% increases to cover inflation? I am of the opinion that these increases are directly related to new development and simplegreed. Frankly, I'm tired of subsidizing the growth of a publicly-traded company with clearly unreasonable rate increases. That is flat wrong, especially when the increases continue to come in, year after year, with ridiculously high percentage rates. It's farpast time that developers and new residents bear the financial burden of their new developments. Sincerely, Craig Noll Transaction 10: 5121217.Referred by: http: / /www. puc. state. id. us/ scripts/polyform. dll/ipuc User Address: 207.69.137.User Hostname: 207.69.137. AvivIr 4It./OlrI)if'""' .Ii tv./10 May 10 2006 . ~ . 'o"; Idaho Public Utilities Commission O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 - ~ - Reference: United Water Idaho Inc. rate increase request Dear Commission Members I am writing to PROTEST further increases in our utility rates including United Water s request for a 17.91 %! As a Boise resident for the past 9 years we have faced continuing increases in our utility rates that far outstrip my wage increases at work! My net increase this year was $1.62 per my bi-weekly paycheck! Just the increases in gas prices during the past few months alone took my net increases for the past two years or more. So I continue to go backwards on my income trying to pay these increasing costs. All the influx of homes in Boise and the surrounding area should have provided United Water with the additional revenue they need without increasing the rates of existing home owners when this year when we have so much snow pack and available water for a change. I am asking you to deny in whole this request increase in water rates by United Water. rosswhite 6077 W. Oreana Boise, ID 83709 Cc:United Water Idaho Inc. O. Box 190420 Boise, ID 83719-0420 ~/(J('/1u Ail ,/~ t-f .. C' .. ,.. .. Robert H. Wood 7131 Brentwood Dr. Boise, Idaho 83709 ,. ; " i :' :; ;.:: ; LJ May 10, 2006 ::.. ! ,c ~: '::;~", :::;:3:t Idaho Public Utilities Commission O. Box 83720 Boise, Idaho 83720-0074 Gentlemen I refer to the February 13 2006 United Water Idaho letter regarding Notice of Application to Increase Rates. The reasons for the need to raise rates stated by United Water Idaho are: 1. To provide United Water Idaho a return on its investments in water facilities. 2. To provide recovery of more than $14 million invested in source, treatment and distribution facilities that have not yet been allowed for recovery. 3. To pay for increases in ongoing costs of operations since United Water s last general rate case. I object to the proposed increase in rates for the following reasons: 1. I live on a lot of .27 acre with a house and driveway occupying a major portion of the yard surface. My house was built in 1964 and water service has been provided since then. My water bill last year was $610.58. Therefore the amount I will pay if my bill is increased by 17.91% will be $610.58 x 1.1791 = $719.93 or an increase of$109.35/year rather than $59 suggested by United Water. I suggest that the information provided by United Water is seriously misleading and the amount of increase is exorbitant. 2. I object to the application of the rate increases to all classes of customers. While this would simplify administration and accounting by United Water it is important to consider that many customers were serviced by infrastructure in place long before United Water took over the infrastructure and operations. I suspect the $14 million investment for the most part pertains to water services to new homes and businesses. I suggest it is not fair for existing customers to pay for infrastructure additions that are made to service new residential and commercial customers. Such new customers should pay the bill for the infrastructure additions to provide them water service. 3. Similarly, I suggest it is unfair to seek a return on this investment from existing customers. Such return should be provided by the new customers. 4. I object to paying any increase in rates that is proposed to provide an increase in profits to United Water. When the services were provided by the city there was not a profit element in the city charges for water service. I suggest the objective in privatizing the Boise water supply system was that United Water Idaho could and would provide water service more efficiently than Boise city and at less cost to the customers. United Water s profit was to be derived from the more efficient operation of the water system by the private entity. I trust you will give my objections serious consideration. Cc United Water Idaho Inc. February 13, 2006 Notice of Application to Increase Rates Dear United Water Idaho Customer: This is to notify you that on February 10, 2006 United Water Idaho filed an Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) asking for authority to increase the company s rates and charges. In the Application, United Water is proposing a revenue increase of $5 921 691 , which represents an over- all increase in rates of 17.91 %, to be applied equally to all classes of customers. The requested increase would raise rates for a typical residential customer by about $4.90 a month , bringing the average annual residential bill from $327 to $386. The proposed increase is necessary so that United Water will have an opportunity to earn a return on its i nvestmentsi n water faci I ities wh ich are provid i ng service to customers. United Water has invested more than $14 million in source , treatment and distribution facilities that have not yet been allowed for recovery in the company s rates. An increase in revenue is necessary to support these investments and to maintain a sound financial position. Additionally, ongoing costs of operations have increased since United Water last general rate case. The proposed increase in rates is subject to review and a decision by the IPUC, which may accept, modify or reject in whole or in part the proposed increase. A complete copy of the proposal is available at the company s office at 8248 West Victory Road , Boise, Idaho , and at the Commission s office at 472 West Washington , Boise , Idaho. It is also available on-line at the IPUC website: http://www.puc.state.id.us/FILEROOM/water/water.htm You can also file a comment on the Application via the IPUC website at: http://www.puc.state.id.us/scripts/polyform.dlilipuc Or mail comments to: Q .:- is. L r-rT L.f.:! ~.3cJ( W. (Q~-bQ .5~ -1/J,i737d3 United Water Idaho Inc. O. Box 190420 Boise, Idaho 83719-0420 060022706 .s-- /1/ / C7 j).~~ It u... j- 1\ I ~~ ~--- Sincerely, " ". J G.. . o..d..?-. -.6 UnitedWaterldaho~" ~~ ~~ ~~ cLv Ji-:~ G~'- $l)~.7'l~" ~ ,~ ~~ - WWW.UNITEDWATER.COM f? February 13 , 2006 Notice of Application to Increase Rates Dear United Water Idaho Customer: This is to notify you that on February 10 , 2006 United Water Idaho filed an Application e Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) asking for authority to increase the company s rates a arges. In the Application , United Water is proposing a revenue increase of , 1 , 1 r r ents ver- all increase in rates of 17.91 %, to be applied equally to all classes 0 cu to . h reques e crease would raise rates for a typical residential customer by abo $4.90 a gl he av e annual residential bill from $327 to $386. The proposed increase is necessary so that unitelwater have an opportunity t rn a re inves !?nts, i ~ water facilities which are pro~idinf~erv ~~ ~ustomers. Unite ater has inve e than $14 million In source, eatme nd dlstnbotlon facilities that have n et been allow covery in the company s rates. n revenue is necessary to support these inv~nd to maintain a sound financial pos i 0 Y. ongoing costs of operations have increa~~nYUnited Water last general rate c The propose ncrea in ra es s subject to review and a d ision by t UC, which may accept, modify or reject in whole or part the proposed increase. A m ete copy he proposal is available at the company s office at 248 West Victory Road, Bo and at the commission s office at 4 Washington , Boise, I aho. It is also available th PUC website: htt ://www. uc.state.id.us/FILER M/wa ter You can also file ment on the ation via the IPUC website at: V, htt ://www. uc. at id.us/scri ts/ 01 form.dll/i uc. :),\r Id ho Inc, ~ Box 190420 Boise , Idaho 83719-0420 United Water Idah 060022706 WWW,UNITEDWATER,COM IAA-+,.A1;,,/oiJ ,/~ Ai. /ld , ' 'r" ,If /.3.~ol. ~JJ G'~ 'r~ ~~ kYf. J:;4- ~-d:~d :: J;~? ';t;/b.-- L.JJ ili:;.; ~. tP7\:. :;#-..+ -d D L- . '- ~ :.U/tf2U~ j) d!AMJ tHU t3U 61 9t J1:/G 6L ILQ , t:JtL l::-k \MtH-l Y, ~t- k /rlj)~-P r;~~ o/~ ;Y. A1t ' ~).IJ - 2f.3 2ct? :: :. C":'~ ' " ':;'2 ,l::;" ?: "..