20071227Comments.pdf

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UNITED WATER IDAHO INC.
. .. 8248 West Victory Road, Boise, ID 83709
P.O. Box 190420, Boise, ID 83719-0420
Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
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Dear United Water Idaho Customer:
On September 1 7, 2007 United Water Idaho filed an Application 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 billed every two months.
There are a several benefits of monthly billing, including: . ,~~
· Easier budgeting and easier to pay than a bi-monthly bill; ~ J.~
· 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 Application the increase will be applied to the fixed Customer Charge portion of
your bill which is not affected by how h water you use. The requested increase would raise
rates for all customers by abo $1.15 a montlì (about 4 cents a day), bringing the average
annual residentia#:t~ ~ _~t~:/4~r J!JX~~ ti ry ir ~ .
The ~crease is necessary to cover the increased costs ~;:~ïtonai 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 the G,pany's
office at 8248 W. Victory Road, Boise, ID and at the Commission's office at W~ington,Boise, 10. It is also available on-line at the IPUC website: ~
http://www.puc.state.id.us/FILEROOM/water/water.htm . ("N
Or mail comments to:
You can also file a comment on the Application via the IPUC website at:
http://www.puc.state.id.us/scri pts/polyform.d II/i puc.~
q:No
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074 í11-, (J14/J1~
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United Water Idaho
06010012007
UNITED WATER IDAHO INC.
8248 West Victory Road, Boise. 10 83709
P.O. Box 190420, Boise, 1083719-0420
Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
Q Q .~ United Water
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Dear United Water Idaho Customer:
On September 1 7, 2007 United Water Idaho filed an Application 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 billed 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 Application the increase will be applied 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. 1 5 a month (about 4 cents a day), bringi ng the average
annual residential customer bill from $368.61 to $382.44, or 3.75%.
e 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's
offce 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:
http:Uwww.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/scri pts/polyform.d Illi puc.
Or mail comments to:)tltt pH í!1¿£. . Crø/1~Idaho Public Utilities Commission ;:/.--- / /r ¿"S
P.O. Box 83720 /Jl' )/J íJ¿:c4S'£ /:(V-?-/V~( ..Boise, ID 83720-0074 /(u
United Water Idaho
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Sincerely,
06010012007
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Jean Jewell
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Sent:
To:
Subject:
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 7:28 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment/Inquiry Form
A Comment from William R. Schroeder follows:
Case Number:
Name: William R. Schroeder
Address: 3314 Cassia St
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83705
Home Telephone: [phone]Contact E-Mail:
Name of Utili ty Compan~Uni ted Water
Add to Mailing List :(yes)""-..,,..,ë'
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I am opposed to the rate increase request for. United Water to enable them to switch over
to a monthly billing system instead of the current bi-monthly. This appears to me to be
unnecessary, the current bi-monthly bill is convenient, meaning less paperwork and a
monthly cycle wouldn't improve anything. They are proposing to establish a new department
to accomplish this, which means extra work load, so it takes more money and an increase to
the customer in their monthly bill. It is an additional corporate bureaucracy that is
unnecessary to the customer.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 67.60.229.140
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Jean JewelF
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
ada0341 (§hotmail.com
Saturday, December 22,200710:14 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from John Sproul follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: John Sproul
Address: 1866 S Goldking Wy
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83709
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: ada03410hotmail.com
Name of Utility Company: UNITED WATER
Add to Mailing List: no
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
First of all, I would like to see Idaho get a water company that is from Idaho, not
France. Second, United Water wants a SUBSTANTIAL rate increase. This in addition to going
to monthly readings because it is more convenient for THEM! I would like to see the
statistics on that because I cannot imagine that creating twice as much postage, more
meter readers, and more paper SAVES them money. I think that it is obvious that we are
being taken for a ride by this bloated, foreign 'utility' and I think that the people of
Idaho deserve better . United Water is already too expensive for what we get. Even if I uSeNO water at all, I still have to pay almost $30 just to have the privilege of being ripped
off by the water company. What if United Water was not only denied a rate increase, but
were told that their rate structure was out of line with the rest of the country and to
LOWER their rates. Maybe we could drive these frenchy frenchmen clear out of the country.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 24.117.255.72------ - -- - - ------ ----- - --- - - --- - ----
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
GOT J~cableone.net
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 4:43 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Geroge E. Cawthon follows :
Case Number: UMI-W-07-04
Name: Geroge E. CawthonAddress: 10228 W. Calico Street
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83709
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: GOTJØcableone.netName of Utility Comp~~nited Water
Add to Mailing List:~
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
In a letter to customers, United Water (UW) states they want to change meter readings
from once every 2 month to once each month. This will require an increase in the customer
rate by about $1.15 per month ($2.30 every 2 months) to pay for the expense of increasedmeter readings.
United Water presents this change to monthly billing as a benefit to the customer in the
following ways:
1. Easier budgeting and pay for customers.
For a very small minority of homeowners, who have a difficult time with expenses,
monthly water bills might seem easier, but their costs will go up. A much better plan for
such homeowners would be to change to a xeric landscape. All other homeowners would
recei ve no benefit but would realize an increase in cost. Monthly billing is not easier
for most customers. It is difficult to see how UW reasons that writing 12 checks instead
of 6 checks per year would be easier for customers.
2. Enhanced water conservation especially during the irrigation season
Any water savings would be rather minuscule for the following reasons. A large
percentage of the homes served by UW irrigate with water provided by an irrigation
district not domestic water from UW. A very large percentage of homeowner historically do
not and will not change their water use patterns unless costs increase radically.
Without large cost increases, measurable water conservation occurs only when a government
enti ty implements measures and strictly enforce those measures with fines or other
deterrents. A very small percentage of homeowners can be expected to make modest water
use changes in irrigation water use, preferring to maintain their lawns, shrubs and trees.
UW, seems to forget that monthly billing would present prior month information that is 1~
to ~ month old, during the 2 month high water use period. So, the potential for more
timely information to influence customer water usage would be increased by only a ~ month
period of greatest irrigation water use in the Boise Area. Potential water savings wouldbe limited.
3. Quicker detection and trouble shooting of leaks and meter problems
Leaks are either catastrophic or slow. Catastrophic leaks are detected by the
homeowner observation of water spouts, puddling, basement filling up, etc. Action is
needed in minutes or hours not days or weeks for a meter reader to detect. The best
insurance to reduce possible damage is for the homeowner to know where the meter is and to
have a wrench that fits valve at the meter. Slow leaks result in increased water usage
but that isn't likely to mean anything to a meter reader. Homeowners detect slow leaks by
slow water accumulation on surfaces or other changes around the property or by noting
unexpected water consumption for a prolonged period of time. The homeowners alone can
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.determine if the change in water consumption is unusual or unexpected. A meter reader
doesn't have the knowledge to know if changes in water consumption is natural or a cause
for concern. Furthermore, homeowners will likely delay action for a long period after
suspecting a minor leak. They may suspect a problem after 3-4 meter readings but
discusses it with coworkers and friends for several months before acting when slow leaks
occur. A change from bimonthly to monthly meter reading is no help with catastrophic
leaks and is unlikely to make much difference with slow leak detection which requires
homeowner knowledge. Earlier detection of meter problems would benefit UW more than the
customer (meter slow or stops, customer benefits; meter speeds, UW is sued for return of
money) .
None of the three "benefits" indicated by UW are valid. It is interesting that UW
indicates the cost increase for this measure at $1.15 per month rather than $2.30 per
current billing period. A per month change is used just ,to minimize cost impact. Even
sleazier is indicating the cost increase per day, a typical tactic of a door to door
magazine salesmen.
Sometime back UW introduced homeowner insurance against failure of piping downstream of
the meter; piping downstream is the homeowners responsibility. To many, this insurance
sounds like a good deal, and it is for the insurance company, but it isn't good deal for
most customers. Although everyone has heard of a pipe failure and an exorbitant cost to
fix the problem, few people realize how rare a failure is with proper construction or what
the actual cost may be. The literature with the insurance offer was mostly based on scare
tactics and overinflated estimate of costs for potential repair. For that reason, I
wonder if the #3 reason above, helping the homeowner detect leaks, isn't looking forward
to increase opportunities to sell leak insurance.
If UW really wanted to help the customer, not their bottom line, they would keep the
bimonthly billing.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 24.119.23.137
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J,ean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
jeffrey-w _morris~msn.com
Friday, December 21,20076:12 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment/Inquiry Form
A Comment from JEFF MORRIS follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-07-04
Name: JEFF MORRIS
Address: 8574 W MORNIN MIST ST
City: BOISE
State: ID
Zip: 83709-0766
Home Telephone: [phone]Contact E-Mail: jeffreywmorris0msn.com
Name of Utility com~~,n ,~ HomeownerAdd to Mailing List ~
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
I received United Water's Application to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission requesting
to convert to montyly meter reading and billing for all customers dated September 17,
2007.
I DISAGREE with the proposal for two reasons.
1. The proposed increases cost to all customers. While the increase attempts to make
water bills more affordable for 'low income' customers, the charge instead increases the
overall cost to thse very customers United Water is trying to protect.
2. Adding more vehicles to canvas United Waters Service area to collect meter readings
is not energy efficient. While I applaud United Water's efforts to add jobs to the service
area, this business proposal does not meet customers' requirements for efficient andaffordable cost.
Possible Alternative Recommendations:
1. Offer monthly billing to customer areas with the largest concentration of 'unpaid
debt'. Every business must have the ability to collect bad debt from customers who areei ther behind or unwilling to pay.
2. Counter this increase billing expense by offering quarterly billing to more affluent
customers. I personally experienced quarterly billing in the United Kingdom. The British
water system offered customers living on fixed incomes or 'low incomes' a level pay
program to enable the customer to budget more effectively.
A more appropriate question is how much would it cost to add additional personnel
dedicated to collecting bad debt and working out affordable plans with delinquent
customers to bring those customers back into good standing with United Water.
I understand United Water's business perspective to reduce bad debt, but I disagree with
the proposed increase that reduces business efficiency collecting meter readings;
increases traffic and environmental impact collecting meter readings; and increases cost
to Idaho Public water consumers.
//Jeff Morris//
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 71.209.1.186
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
bernard _schur~yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:46 AM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC CommenUlnquiry Form
A Comment from Bernard Schur follows:
- - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
Case Number: ?
Name: Bernard Schur
Address: 8634 West Falling Star Street
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83709-6368
Home Telephone: [phone]Contact E~Mail: bernardschurØyahoo.com
Name of Utility compa~~United Idaho Water, IncAdd to Mailing List: ~
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
United Water Idaho of Boise, has an application to increase rates 3.75%, to increase
services, do monthly billing and add significant numbers of personnel to provided these
increased services. In their statement to water users UWI indicate that going to a monthly
billing cycle will increase revenues and still require more personnel so they must seek a
rate increase.
If the current system is working why change it? By their own statement in the Nov. mailing
the current system is efficient and working well and no advantage to the rate payer exists
in the proposed monthly billing system. So if there is no benefit to the rate payer, then
why do it? About 90% of the rate increase will be for an increase in personnel, mostly
meter readers and clerks. The other 10% will go for administrative and executive raises
that are far above salaries of most Boise, Idaho residents, especially at the Corporate
level. With the addition of more staff, the raise required next year and in subsequent
years due to the cost of living, will result in a much larger budget then is necessary to
efficienly operate the water utility. IF THE RATE INCREASE WILL NOT DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE
RATE PAYERS, AND IT WILL NOT REDUCE THE COST OF SERVICES, OR LOWER RATES, AND NOT ENHNACE
THE EFFICIENCY OF SERVICES, THEN PLEASE REJECT THE RATE INCREASE REQUEST.
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 71.36.13.36
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
sixbostons~msn.com
Thursday, December 20, 2007 2:32 PM
Tonya Clark; Jean Jewell; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment/Inquiry Form
A Comment from Aaron Boston follows:
Case Number: UW1-W-07-04
Name: Aaron Boston
Address: 10310 W. Raleigh St.
City: Boise
State: 10
Zip: 83709
Home Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: sixbostons0msn.com
Name of Utility Company: United Water
Add to Mailing List: ::
Please describe your question or comment briefly:
My comment is against the application to raise water rates to cover costs to switch to
monthly billing. So many people I know have no problem budgeting for the seasonal swingin water bills. I am the same way. Monthly billing will not help. I also don i t believe
that monthly billing will keep people from irrigating to maintain their landscaping. They
will water however much they want to, and still be surprised at the cost whenever they
receive a bill. That i s human nature. Please do not allow unnecessary raising of
everyone's water bill for the zero benefit almost all of us would receive. ATB
The form submited on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
1P address is 71.33.13.129--- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - --
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