20070619Decision memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
CO MMISSI 0 NER SMITH
CO MMISSI 0 NER RED FO RD
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEG AL
FROM:SCOTT WOODBURY
DATE:JUNE 12,2007
SUBJECT:CASE NO. UWI-07-03 (United Water)
AMENDED CERTIFICATE - BRITTANIA HEIGHTS
On April 23, 2007, United Water Idaho Inc. (United Water; Company) filed an
Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) requesting authority to
amend and revise its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity No. 143 , as amended, to
include an area located on McDermott Road in Canyon County, Idaho identified as Brittania
Heights. Reference Idaho Code ~ 61-526; IDAPA 31.01.01.112. The Application of the
Company includes a legal description and map of Brittania Heights.
Brittania Heights is located in the vicinity of United Water s existing Belmont
Heights service area, an area non-contiguous to the Company s larger integrated system.
Reference Case No. UWI-OI-, Order No. 28885. Brittania Heights will be developed in
two phases. Phase 1 is designed for approximately 34 residential lots and Phase 2 is designed for
approximately 105 residential lots. The water supply for Brittania Heights will come from two
wells located in Belmont Heights. Both domestic water and fire protection will be provided from
these wells. Lawn watering in Brittania Heights will be provided by an alternate irrigation
source, not from United Water.
The developer of Brittania Heights, Patriot Capital Partners LLC, has requested that
United Water extend domestic water service facilities to the area. As represented in the
Company s Application, the proposed development of Brittania Heights is not within the
authorized service territory of any other water utility under the jurisdiction of the Commission
nor, it states, will it interfere with the operations of any such utility. United Water further
DECISION MEMORANDUM
contends that the City of Nampa, Idaho, a municipal water provider with facilities in the vicinity
of Brittania Heights, has consented to service by United Water. United Water submits that the
extension into this area is consistent with the public convenience and necessity.
Water service facilities will be extended to Brittania Heights pursuant to United
Water s Rules and Regulations governing extensions. The area will be served by extending a 12-
inch off-site water main approximately 3 425 feet from the Belmont Heights subdivision (1,580
feet Powerline Road, 1 845 feet McDermott Road). No other off-site facilities will need to be
installed to provide service other than the associated 12-inch isolation valves. The developer
will contribute all off-site and on-site facilities. No special facilities are required.
On May 9, 2007, the Commission issued Notices of Application and Modified
Procedure in Case No. UWI-07-03. The deadline for filing written comments was June 8
2007. Comments were filed by Commission Staff and the City ofNampa.
The requested expansion area lies within the City of Nampa s Area of Impact.
However, the nearest Nampa municipal water facilities are located along Happy Valley Road
approximately Y2 miles west of the proposed Brittania subdivision. The City does not currently
provide water service in this area and consents to United Water providing water service to
Brittania Heights.
Commission Staff recommends that the United Water Application for Certificate
amendment be approved and that the Commission authorize United Water to construct of
facilities and extend service to Brittania Heights. Staff in its comments notes that under the
Company s Rules and Regulations Governing Non-Contiguous Expansion Brittania Heights, as a
latecomer, may be required to reimburse the developer of Belmont Heights for some source of
supply costs if the amount of the original advance by Belmont Heights has not yet been fully
recovered.Reference United Water/Thueson Construction and Development (developer of
Belmont Heights) August 1 , 2001 Residential or Multiple Family Housing Water System
Agreement.
COMMISSION DECISION
United Water has filed an Application in Case No. UWI-07-03 requesting
authority to amend and revise its certificated area of service to include an area in Canyon County
identified as Brittania Heights. The requested expansion area lies within the City of Nampa
DECISION MEMORANDUM
United Water. Commission Staff recommends that the Company s Application be approved.
Does the Commission find it reasonable to approve United Water s Application to expand its
service area to include Brittania Heights?
Scott Woodbury
bls/M:UWI-O7-03 sw2
DECISION MEMORANDUM