20111007Comments.pdf

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Jerry A. Moore
2006 N. Cribbens
Boise, Idaho 83713
October 5, 2011
.~r:c'-''''It- 'i_ ¡. \-. ,';":
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
2011 OCT -6 A~1 8= 28
Re: 19.9% Proposed Rate Increase
SVEZ Environment
United Water
Gentlemen:
After reading the letter from United Water regarding the request for a 19.9% rate increase, I was not very
enlightened as to the need for a rate increase.
The repairs and maintenance of the water system would seem to be a necessary part of operating any water
business. Some years there are a few more repairs, some years there are a few less.
It appears thât some of the expenditures are for providing water for future growth. The 24", 1.7 mile water line
along Hil Rd., and the 600,000 gallon storage tank for Warm Springs Mesa area seem to be along that line.
Some companies call it R&D, which enables them to remain competitive in the future.
The replacement and upgrade of the water companies information system, meter reading, and transaction
information should be borne by the company. Presumably, whatever is being considered wil provide more
efficiency gathering the information, and utilzing the information. Intermountain Gas replaced gas meters
several years ago with remote reading capabilties, without a rate increase, but recouped their capital
expenditure relatively quickly by the savings from the increased effciency. Aren't these choices part of running
an effcient business. Replacing worn out stuff, upgrading to the current technology, while not free, is just part
of doing business.
The fact that the majority of a utilty companies expenses are fixed, is common to pretty much all utilities. The
expenditures for capital improvements, the rate of return, and the efficiency of one, or a limited number of
companies providing the service is the reason the monopoly exists, and also the reason the PUC exists. The
oversight, and reasonableness of the requested adjustments are your job. It is pretty diffcult to be informed
about the need for a proposed rate increase based upon "I don't want to pay more money". Additional
information is required, the kind not available to the general public, and most of the general public would
probably not really understand, even if the info was available.
The rate of return on money is quite low, unreasonably low, at this time. A 19.9% increase is HUGE in relation to
the current economic situation. In fact it is huge in a healthy economic situation. How much money is going to
go to France. And how much is going to be siphoned off by the "corporate executives". We seem to have lost
our way in common sense and reasonableness for the majority, for the benefit of greedy, connected, elite few.
My hope is that the PUC is not in the back pocket of SVEZ Environment, United Water, rather, you will consider
the facts, review the rates of return on the capital investment, and come to a realistic conclusion, based upon
those facts.
Sitìly'
t7~
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
jeffronenberg~yahoo.com
Thursday, October 06, 2011 4:04 PM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Jeff Kronenberg follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-ii-e2
Name: Jeff Kronenberg
Address:
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip:
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: jeffkronenber~ahoo.com Name of Utility Company: United Water Idaho
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I strongly encourage IPUC to deny the United Water rate relief request. From a business
perspective, their rationale for an increase has no merit. Businesses can't always pass on
capital costs (such as the $2e million claimed by United Water)to customers if they have to
update their infrastructure. Manufacturers regularly make capital improvements to their
facilities, but don't raise the prices of goods every time an expenditure is made. If they
did, the consumer can choose to buy a different car, shovel, food product, etc. However,
since United Water is our only choice in Boise, they have a monopoly and should be carefully
regulated to prevent excessive profit taking. Their company is already highly profitable,
see quote from Feb. 2eii Wall Street Journal:
i Mr. Chaussade was speaking as Suez posted a 48% increase in net profit to €565 million ($77e
million) and a 13% growth in revenue to €13. 87 billion for 2eie. The company expects revenue
to rise 5% next year and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization to rise
1e%. That is because for the French company, which serves municipalities around the world,
water shortages mean plenty of business opportunities. i
As you can also note, this is a French company and further profit taking will not benefit our
troubled Idaho and USA economies.
Please reject the proposed revenue increase. Thank you.
Jeff Kronenberg
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.117.23.229
1
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
dmringold~msn.com
Thursday, October 06, 2011 7:55 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Maria Ringold follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-11-Ø2
Name: Maria Ringold
Address: 1832 N. 19th St.
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 837e2
Daytime Telephone: 2e8-336-8469
Contact E-Mail: dmringold~msn.com
Name of Utility Company: United Water Idaho
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I object to the nearly 2Ø percent increase United Water is requesting of its customers!
United Water acknowledges that water consumption is down 'per metered customer' and this
defici t represents 38 percent of its rate request. Assuming that United Water has an
increased customer base in a growing metropolis during a year where water has been plentiful,
the economics of demanding a 2e percent increase seems skewed. Uni ted Water claims the
majority of its costs are fixed, but cites the cost of a new customer information system, new
facilities, new metering systems etc. which are capital improvements that are not fixed. The
costs of such improvements should wi thin United Water's current, increasing, revenues. To
request an increase of its water-wise customers under the guise of covering capital costs
smacks of dishonesty and inj ustice.
The form submitted on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html
IP address is 97.121.19.163
1
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
ruconboi~cableone.net
Thursday, October 06, 2011 7:07 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Connie Reed follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-11-02
Name: Connie Reed
Address: 8887 W Craydon
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 837e4
Daytime Telephone: 2e8-761-5e32
Contact E-Mail: ruconboi~cableone.net
Name of Utility Company : United Water Idaho
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
How dare they ask for an increase because the public has done exactly what they asked us to
do. We cut our consumption and they have a reduction in revenue..... .why is this a
surprise? Many customers have reduced their water consumption based on monetary
issues... .and they want to make it more expensive for even basic needs. I'd like a 19.9%
increase in my social security too.. .give me a break!
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.119.117.95
i
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
imojry~yahoo.com
Thursday, October 06, 2011 5:03 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from James K. Ory follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-11-0i
Name: James K. Ory
Address: 4402 Denton 5t.
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83706
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: imojr~ahoo.com
Name of Utility Company: United Water
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I find it rediculous in the extreme that United Water would ask for a 19% increase in rate
because customers did as it suggested and significantly reduced water consumption. I saw
exhibi ts in the Main Branch of the Boise Library encouraging xeriscaping, and water
conservation, all encouraged by United Water. They did not explain that we were expected to
pay the same price as a reward for co-operating with the plan. The truth is they were
expecting growth to continue at pre-recession rates. This would make up for any reduction in
per customer consumption. I don't think users should be punished for doing what they asked.
This shortfall is due to poor management. Uni ted Water always touted their water quality,
yet I know for a fact that my water has always been high in iron content.
My toilet tank, replaced, was rusty red in two months. I encourage the PUC to deny this
increase. I resent a foreign-owned monopoly trying to rescue the EU economy on the backs of
Boiseans.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 184.99.94.246
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Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
ann~warbarron.com
Wednesday, October OS, 2011 5:02 PM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Ann Barron follows:
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Case Number: IALJ.L-iJ -If -0 y
Name: Ann Barron
Address: 2631 N Aster Ave
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83704
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: ann~arbarron.com
Name of Utility Company : United Water
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
The water co., which used to be local, has asked for a rate increase. Their reasons for
same, however, are not persuasive and indeed, sound like whining. Every time over the years
that the co. has taught us how to conserve on ,water we have. Consumption then decreases and
another rate increase is requested. Their current low consumption reasons are not going to
improve any time soon so are we going to continue to see requests for rate increases? They
must do what we've always been encouraged to do: CONSERVE! I strongly encourage you to deny
the increase. Thank you.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 71.36. 21.1e7- - --------- - - - ----- - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - --
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Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
westonlaney~gmail.com
Tuesday, October 04, 2011 2:34 PM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Weston Laney follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-11-02
Name: Weston Laney
Address: 353 W. Thornberry Dr
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83702
Daytime Telephone: 2e8-342-1598
Contact E-Mail: westonlane~mail.com
Name of Utility Company: United Water Idaho
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I have read Scott Tuthill, s comments and I fully agree with his observations. It makes no
sense to rais~ rates in this economy. We who are on fixed incomes have no where to go to
raise our income to accodidate your elaborate spending. We are maxed out. My water bill the
last two months was $34e.00. Do you see what your 'modest rate increse' will do to me.
Please decline their request and require them to be accountable for their expenditures.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.116.255.236
1
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
jsklgreen~cableone. net
Tuesday, October 04, 2011 1 :52 PM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Jay Green follows:
Case Number: UWI-W-ii-e2
Name: Jay Green
Address:
City: Eagle
State: ID
Zip:
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: jsklgreen~cableone.net
Name of Utility Company : United Water Idaho
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I just received the notice from United Water that they are making application with IPUC for
yet another rate increase - a whopping 19.9% residential increase and 19.1% for commercial
users. I find this amount of increase (or any amount of increase in this severe economic
time) bordering on the ludricous and outrageous level. Does this company give a damn about
their customers?
To add insult to inJury, they justify a large share of their rate request due to lack of
demand of water usage by the same customers that were sold a bill of goods by them this
summer to · conserve' our precious water resource. As I write these comments, I am looking at
the booklet they sent their customers entitled i Use Water Wisely - A Guide to Water
Conservation' wherein they state they received a 25% rate increase to give customers the
incentive to conserve. They seem to be positioning themselves in a win-win situation: use
more water and I will charge you higher, escalating rates; or, use less water and I will
charge you higher, escalating rates. Great business model for them but really unreasonable
and deceptive for their customers who are controlled by a monopolistic supplier of their
water supply.
I strongly oppose this rate request and am hopeful that the IPUC not only reject this request
but reject it soundly with no increase granted at all. When a monopolistic supplier, such as
United Water Idaho, has lost touch with reality, it is the public entity such as IPUC that
must protect the interests of the citizens (since we have no choice in selecting another
water supplier). I trust the IPUC will make the right decision to protect us from companies
like United Water.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to comment.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.119. ge. 25e
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