20071106Comments.pdf

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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
the5woodards~clearwire. net
Tuesday, November 06 , 2007 3:22 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Craig Woodard follows:
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Case Number: UW1-W-07-
Name: Craig Woodard
Address: 7147 Bluebird Drive
Ci ty: Boise
State: 1D
Zip: 83714
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: the5woodards~clearwire. net
Name of Utility Comp~~ United Water
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I realize the ease of monthly billing, but with gas and grocery prices going up I really
don t want to pay more just to have monthly billing. $0.04 per day may not seem likemuch, but to my household every little bit counts. I I ve gotten quite use to the bi-monthly billing as I've been here paying United Water for many years for their service.
I don t know how the issue of water conservation and more frequent visits will positivelyaffect the pocket book. I only hope that the homework has been done to really verify that
the benefits will outway the costs that will be incurred.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html1P address is 15.235.137.
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
bjkboise~juno.com
Monday, November OS, 2007 7:23 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
'--
A Comment from Joyce Knox follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Joyce Knox
Address: 2813 Starlington Dr.
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83712
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: bj kboise~juno. com
Name of Utility Compa~United Water
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
The present bi-monthly billing process works efficiently for us. This method is 'notbroken. I Therefore, I urge the PUC to resist any attempts to fix it,' expecially since achange to monthly billing would require a rate increase to fund the costs of additionalbilling. Instead, I suggest Boise Water offer a similar discount to customers who electautomatic payment! Such prompt and guaranteed payments, should be worth something.Thanks for this easy opportunity to make comment.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 4.253.99.
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Jean Jewell J H
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
roseboise~yahoo.com
Monday, November OS, 2007 4:22 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Douglas Rose follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Douglas RoseAddress: 5383 S. Farmhouse Pl.
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83716
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: roseboise~yahoo. com
Name of Utility Company: United Water
Add to Mailing List: .E,o
Idaho
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I wish to register my opposition to the proposed change in United Water s billing cycle.The company s literature presents a list of benefits, but these are all clearly for thecompany, not the consumer. The company acknowledges the increase in our water bills under
the proposed change. It fails to mention the doubling of postage costs to pay the bills
and the added base upon which United Water will be able to present future proposals forpercentage-based increases in its rates. In a public utility monopoly environment, theonly recourse we have as consumers to represent our interests is the Commission. We needthe Commission to stand against the unnecessary increase in the cost of this essential
commodi ty when there is absolutely no benefit to the consumer.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 67.60.166.247
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
michaelnk~peoplepc,com
Monday, November OS, 20074:01 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Michael Killworth follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Michael KillworthAddress: 4158 S Barber Station Way
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83716
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: michaelnk~peoplepc. com
Name of Utility Comp~nited WaterAdd to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I recently received a letter from United Water informing me of their desire to go to
monthly billing and presenting their reasons for the needed change. I find theirjustifications for wanting monthly billing to be so weak that they border on the
ridiculous! The only merit (depending on point of view) of this proposal is the creation
of eight new jobs and more timely cash flow to the company. As a United Water customerfor many years I do not support their request. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. MK
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 4.227.160.
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
boisesell~aol.com
Monday, November 05, 2007 3:57 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Cliff Sell follows:
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Case Number: United Water dated 09/17/2007
Name: Cliff SellAddress: 5223 Cheyenne Ave
City: Boise
State: Id
Zip: 8309
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: boisesell~aol. com
Name of Utility Compa~United Water
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
Uni ted Water s application to change billing frequency to a monthly basis overlooks one
aspect that is extremely important to me and 1'm sure to many others. The company claimsthis is a cost saving measure to both customer and company but, will, nevertheless, costeach subscriber only $1.15 a month more than currently charged. This additional cost ismeant to handle the expense of more frequent billing and meter reading. I don t believethis is necessary as the benefit is weak to the customer (does not equal the cost of morefrequent meter reading) and to customers like myself who automatically pay their bills
electronically without benefit of any economic offset by the company. A measure that savesthem money by not having to pay postage and process checks. I am already saving thecompany money and I don I t want to pay more for the privelge. Thank you. Cliff Sell
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 207.200.116.203
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
fiveringers~cableone. net
Sunday, November 04, 2007 11 :57 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Steve Ringer follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Steve Ringer
Address: 3054 Starview Drive
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83712
Home Telephone: [phone]Contact E-Mail: fi veringers~cableone. net
Name of Utility Company: United Water
Add to Mailing List: no
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
Changing to monthly billing is idiotic if it costs more to the customer. The reasonsstated for the change are phony and not the true reasons they want to do this. The realreason is probably to speed up their cash flow. If they want want to do it they should pay
for it themselves and not charge ratepayers. If monthly billing is such a great idea
perhaps going to weekly billing would even be better. Is it really good to have more carsdri ving around polluting our air. I don t want to pay extra and go through the hassle and
expense of writing more checks solely to benefit United Water so that they can collect
their revenue a few weeks faster.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 69.92.211.102
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
dan~raceme.
Sunday, November 04, 2007 5:58 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Dan Kern follows:
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Case Number:
Name: Dan KernAddress: 11408 W. Columbia
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83709
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: dan~raceme.
Name of Utility Compa~nited
Add to Mailing List:
Water
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I would like to let you know my displeasure with United Water, as for starters their rate
is high enough, when they took over as our provider of water we were notified that we
should look for other ways to water our lawn so our bills would be less as this was a bigleap in paying for water service. As you know their is no way for us to use another source
so we are stuck with them it seems to me they added nothing for us out here and now would
like us to pay for more of the same, I say NO to rate hike to pay for monthly billing I
li ke it as well as I can the way it is. I hope you (PUC) see this as a way to continue
having us pay for more and receive less PLEASE say NO. I hope this doesnt fall on deaf
ears, if you were to drive around our area you would see several lawns dead and not kept
up as a result of their rates, I have lived here since 1975 and this is the worst I have
seen this area, this area is econmically challenged as it is, and United Water has not
helped in any aspect, as far as I am concerned we are worse off than before, UW. All theyreally want it to collect money each month so they can get it sooner rather than later,and I should care? If they can not make ends meet, so be it, I hope the next water company
will do a better job but than again who couldn t, as they would have to do nothing to stay
the same.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html
IP address is 71.215.29.
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
rookery1 ~cableone. net
Saturday, November 03, 2007 2:03 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Todd McCulloch follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Todd McCulloch
Address: 3244 S. Rookery Lane
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83706
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: rookeryl~cableone. net
Name of Utility Compa ~~nited Water
Add to Mailing List:
Idaho
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I am not opposed to a justified increase in utility billing. 3.75% seems reasonable ifthis improves customer satisfaction and helps conserve a valuable natural resource.However, I am not convinced by Mr. Wyatt's testimony to the IPUC that adding 4 new meter
readers and 4 new office staff will accomplish that. Providing monthly billing, asopposed to bi-monthly billing to United Water customers without improving available online
usage information and bill payment options for customers seems to only result in more feesand no value added. Mr. Wyatt is asking for $1,125,905 annually from all United Water
customers equally and his primary reasons as stated in his testimony are 1. to decreasethe amount of each bill to the customer, making it easier to pay; and 2. to conserve waterby providing customers with information to make better usage decisions depending on the
season. As I stated, I do not disagree with the amount of the proposed increase or the
creation of jobs for the Treasure Valley labor market. Nor do I disagree with thefundamental objectives of Mr. Wyatt- to lower monthly expenses of users and to provide
better information to UW customers. I do, however disagree with the methods proposed. Iam not an expert in this field and I am not familiar with the complex workings of a public
utility but judging from UW's current website, current billing practices and public
awareness program it seems that there may be better more beneficial strategies to increase
customer satisfaction. I welcome any response and look forward to discussing this matterin more detail if circumstances warrant. Thank you for your consideration.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 69.92.233.127
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Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
JosephWillmus~msn.com
Friday, November 02, 2007 2:42 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from J Willmus follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: J Willmus
Address: PO 8422
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83707
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: JosephWillmus~msn. com
Name of Utility Compa United Water
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
Charging me an extra $14/year to send me six additional mailings is silly and greedy. I
think they either twisted the survey numbers or twisted the survey questions to get these
resul ts. I think the truth is more likely they wish to have a lower average accounts
receivable balance. If they really do have a very few folks that really do want a monthly
bill then simply estimate it. In fact, if they must send a monthly bill to all they could
estimated all with a reading about four times a year.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html
IP address is 71.37.166.216
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
mdwilson~boisecenter. net
Friday, November 02 , 2007 1:41 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Monte D. Wilson follows:
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Case Number: ??
Name: Monte D. Wilson
Address: 700 E. Parkway Ct.
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83706
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: mdwilson~boisecenter. net
Name of Utility Company: United Water
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
There is no need, or consumer desire, for a monthly meter reading and billing. Budgeting
and paying is twice as easy for the consumer with the current bi-monthly bill, and it
costs $13. 80/yr less than the proposed rate. Water conservation is more likely to result
from a noticably large bi-monthly bill than from a smaller monthly bill. The current bi-
monthly billing works better than a monthly billing, so I encourage commissioners to heedmy grandmother s advice, 'If it ain t broke, don t fix it.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html
IP address is 208.100.250.187
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
wwc1 ~cableone.net
Friday, November 02 , 2007 7:41 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Bill Cheeseman follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: Bill Cheeseman
Addres s: 3677 E Arborvitae Ct
Ci ty: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83716
Home Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: wwcl~cableone. net
Name of Utility Compa~United WaterAdd to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I disagree with United Water s request to change to a monthly meter reading and billing
cycle. Their reasoning doesn t justify the increased expense and inconvenience to
customers nor the significant increase in pollution caused by the doubling of road miles
driven by their vehicles. United Water states that it is easier for customers to budget
and pay monthly than bimonthly. This is subjective and not supported by any testing or
proof by the company. I believe the only way to substantiate this anecdotal statement isto survey United Water customers and ask them if monthly billing is easier and more
convenient. Personally, the more times I have to pay a bill the less convenient it
becomes. And, unless you participate in United Water s automatic direct payment program,the company does not offer any cost-free way to pay the water bill; the company currently
charges a convenience fee to pay by phone or on line. Consequently, this change willdouble my costs to buy stamps to continue mailing my water bills. Additionally, United
Water claims that enhanced water conservation and quicker leak detection and meter
problems will be identified. Again, this is not proven and subj ecti ve at best. Most peoplewatering their lawns and plants during the summer already know what their consumption and
water costs are, and getting a monthly water bill will not change their water usage during
the high consumption months. Are United Water meter readers going to know if a water leak
exists just by reading the meter? No, the bill will have go to the customer who would have
to ascertain whether a problem exist with their water consumption. Lastly and most
importantly, increasing meter readings from six times a year to twelve times a year will
double the paper products produced for billing, and add to our pollution problems by
significantly adding to the number of miles that United Water vehicles must travel; donwe have enough pollution and congestion in the Treasure Valley without needlessly adding
to it? If Idaho Public Utilities Commission feels compelled to approve this request, thanit should stipulate that United Water must provide a cost-free convenient way forcustomers to receive and pay their water bills online, in the same way that Intermountain
Gas and Idaho Power currently provides.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 24.119.117.203
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
dkwolf2~msn.com
Thursday, November 01 , 2007 3:08 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from David Wolf follows:
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Case Number: UWI-W-07-4
Name: David WolfAddress: 12780 West Gisborne St.
City: Boise, ID
State: ID
Zip: 83709
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: dkwolf2~msn. com
Name of Utility Compa United WaterAdd to Mailing List:
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I am opposed to the United Water application for conversion to monthly billing. Thisapplication appears to be a thinly veiled attempt by United Water to increase its revenue
through billing its customers for the costs of its own bills. I do not believe UnitedWaters customers should be I allowed' to pay for their own billings just for the
convenience of United Water. If United Water wants to reduce its bi-monthly billingworkload it could certainly implement a one-time one month bill for half its customers and
split customer 's bi-monthly billing into two groups. Rather than billing each customermonthly, this would have the effect of allowing United Water to process bills monthly,halve United Water I s current bi-monthly billing workload and still allow customers to have
only six bills per year rather than twelve. By reducing United Water 's bi-monthlyworkload they could save time and staff effort and rather than raise rates, they couldlower them by refunding the savings.
I request that you not approve this rate request.customer.It is not to the benefit of the
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.htmlIP address is 71.221.128.155
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UNITED WATER IDAHO INC.
8248 West Victory Road, Boise, ID 83709
O. Box 190420, Boise, ID 83719-0420
Tel: [phone]' Fax: [phone]
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United Water
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Dear United Water Idaho Customer:zorn NOV -5 ti.r\ 8: 33
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On September 17 , 2007 United Water Idq'wlfJ/~!~i~j;'(J(~~I\)~ijt~)With the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (IPUC) asking for authority to convert to monthly meter reading and billing for all
customers, Currently, water meters are read and bi lied every two months,
There are a several benefits of monthly billing, including:
Easier budgeting and easier to pay than a bi-monthly bill;
Enhanced water conservation and lower bills through the provision of more timely
information on consumption , allowing customers time to make changes in water use
practices during the irrigation season , thus saving money;
More frequent visits to your premises by United Water Idaho personnel , enabling quicker
detection and troubleshooting of customer leaks or meter problems.
In the Application United Water Idaho is proposing a revenue increase of $1 125 905. Under
the proposed Appl ication the increase wi II be appl ied to the fixed Customer Charge portion of
your bill which is not affected by how much water you use. The requested increase would raise
rates for all customers by about $1.15 a month (about 4 cents a day), bringing the average
annual residential customer bill from $368,61 to $382., or 3.75%.
The proposed increase is necessary to cover the increased costs of additional personnel , billing,
and collections attributable solely to the conversion to monthly meter reading and billing,
To learn more about the company s Application please visit the company s website at
http://www.unitedwateridaho.com
The proposal to convert to monthly billing and the proposed increase in rates are subject to
review and approval by the IPUC. A complete copy of the proposal is available at the company
office at 8248 W. Victory Road , Boise , ID and at the Commission s office at 472 W. Washington
Boise, ID. It is also available on-line at the IPUC website:
ttp://www,puc.state.id.us/FI LEROOM/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.d'l/ipuc
Or mail comments to,
11 i Idaho Public Utilities Commission ,fA O. Box 83720 iWs WLpS, f'C..- VlD
Boise. 10 83720-0074 ~
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Sincerely,
United Water Idaho
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