20070927notice_of_application_order_no_30446.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 27, 2007
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF UNITED WATER IDAHO INc. TO
IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF MONTHLY
BILLING AND FOR RECOVERY OF COSTS
ASSOCIATED THEREWITH
CASE NO. UWI-07-
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF
INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30446
On September 17, 2007 , United Water Idaho Inc. filed an Application seeking
authority to implement a program of monthly billing and for authority to implement rates and
charges to recover the increased cost of converting from bi-monthly to monthly billing. The
Company requested that its Application be processed by Modified Procedure. With this Order the
Commission authorizes the use of Modified Procedure, establishes a deadline to petition for
intervention, and establishes a deadline for the submission of comments.
THE APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that United Water states that it believes it would be
in the public interest to convert from bi-monthly to monthly billing for the following reasons: (1)
a monthly bill should be easier for customers to budget for and to pay than a bi-monthly bill
especially in summer; (2) monthly billing can enhance water conservation and lower bills by
sending a more timely price signal to customers and providing more timely information to
customers regarding their consumption; (3) monthly billing would reduce the incidence of "high-
bill" complaints from customers that result from bills that reflect charges for two months of usage;
and (4) monthly billing would double the number of visits to customer premises by meter readers
enabling quicker detection and troubleshooting of leaks or meter problems.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company estimates that the additional
annual cost of monthly billing will be $1 125 905, reflecting the cost of additional personnel for
meter reading, preparation and mailing of bills on a more frequent basis, increased collections
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 30446
processing, and administrative expenses. Recovery of this cost represents an overall increase in
rates of 3.75% on average. The Company proposes to apply the increase to the fixed Customer
Charge portion of customers' bills. This would raise rates for all customers by approximately
$1.15 per month, bringing the average annual residential customer bill from $368.61 to $382.44.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company estimates that it will require at
least five months' lead time to hire and train additional personnel and to make the operational
adjustments needed to implement monthly billing. It requests an effective date for the proposed
tariff changes of May 1 , 2008, and consequently an Order approving its request on or before
December 1 , 2007.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company filed with its Application revised
tariff sheets showing the proposed changes from bi-monthly to monthly billing. The Company
also filed the Direct Testimony of Gregory P. Wyatt that discusses the Company s Application and
requests in more detail.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company s Application is merely a
proposal subject to public review and Commission approval.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has jurisdiction over this
matter and United Water, a public utility, pursuant to the authority and power granted under Title
61 of the Idaho Code and the Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAP A 31.01.01.000 et seq.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting workpapers
testimonies, and exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices. The Application and
testimonies are also available on the Commission s Website at www.puc.idaho.gov under the "File
Room" and "Water Cases.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filing of
record in Case No. UWI-07-04. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public
interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case and that issues
raised by the Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure , by written
submission rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission notes
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 30446
that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining
public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in this
proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified
Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. IDAP A 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no protests or written comments are
received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter and enter its Order without
a hearing. If protests or comments are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider
them and may, in its discretion, set the matter for hearing or decide the matter and issue its Order
on the basis of the written positions before it. IDAP A 31.01.01.204.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter
for the purpose of presenting evidence or cross-examining witnesses at hearing must file a
Petition to Intervene with the Commission pursuant to this Commission s Rules of Procedure 72
and 73 , IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073. A written request for a hearing must be made along with
the Petition to Intervene. Persons intending to participate at hearing must file a Petition to
Intervene on or before October 11,2007. Persons seeking intervenor status shall also provide the
Commission Secretary with their electronic mail addresses to facilitate future communications in
this matter.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to present their views without
parties' rights of participation and cross-examination are not required to intervene and may present
their comments without prior notification to the Commission or the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice
of Parties if any Petitions to Intervene are granted. The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding. Depending on the number of intervenors, the
Commission may direct that pleadings and testimony be filed electronically with the other parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that after the Notice of Parties is issued the
Commission anticipates that the parties will informally convene to devise a recommended
schedule to process this case. Once a schedule is developed, the Commission will subsequently
issue a Notice of Hearing.
NOTICE OF APPLICA nON
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 30446
NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or
protests with respect to the Application and the Commission s use of Modified Procedure in Case
No. UWI-07-04 is January 9, 2008. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a
hearing in their written Petition to Intervene.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning this case should
be mailed to the Commission and to the Company at the addresses reflected below.
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Street Address For Express Mail:
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5983
Dean J. Miller
McDevitt & Miller LLP
420 W. Bannock Street
PO Box 2564-83701
Boise, Idaho 83702
E-mail: ioe0)mcdevitt-miller.com
Gregory P. Wyatt
United Water Idaho Inc.
PO Box 190420
Boise, Idaho 83719-0420
E-mail: greg.wvatt~unitedwater.com
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document. Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission s homepage located at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. These comments must also be sent to United Water at the e-mail addresses listed
above.
FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over United Water, its
Application, and the issues involved in this case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, specifically
Idaho Code gg 61-124, 61-125, 61-129, 61-501 , 61-502, 61-503 , 61-520, and 61-523, and the
Commission s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require
a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case, and that issues raised by the Company
filing may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by
NOTICE OF APPLICA nON
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 30446
hearing. IDAP A 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission notes that Modified Procedure
and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input and
participation.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this case be processed under Modified Procedure.
Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding this case or protesting the use of
Modified Procedure must do so no later than January 9, 2008.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the
purpose of presenting evidence or cross-examination at hearing shall file a Petition to Intervene
with the Commission no later than October 11 , 2007. A written request for a hearing must be
made along with the Petition to Intervene.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this ~ 7
day of September 2007.
LJ~
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
~ell
Commission Secretary
O:UWI-O7-04 dw
NOTICE OF APPLICA nON
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 30446