20151204final_order_no_33429.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 4,2015
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF UNITED WATER IDAHO INC.TO )CASE NO.UWI-W-15-03
CHANGE ITS NAME TO SUEZ WATER )
IDAHO INC.AND TO REVISE ITS )
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE )
AND NECESSITY NO.143 )ORDER NO.33429
________________________________________________________________________________________
)
On November 16,2015,United Water Idaho filed a letter notice with the
Commission Secretary indicating the water utility’s intent to change its name to “SUEZ Water
Idaho Inc.”As outlined in the letter to the Commission Secretary,United Water Idaho’s
corporate parent SUEZ Group announced its intention to operate its various businesses under a
single brand name:SUEZ.Accordingly,United Water amended its Articles of Incorporation
with the Idaho Secretary of State changing the name of the Idaho utility to SUEZ Water Idaho
Inc.effective November 9,2015.
The letter notice further stated that the Company intended to change its customer
bills,signage,and vehicle/uniform identifiers over the next several months.In addition,the
Company will notify its customers of the name change beginning in November,which “will
employ digital and print advertising,bill inserts,website and social media postings,and outdoor
advertising.”Letter at 1.As part of the notice filing,the utility included a complete copy of
SUEZ Water Idaho’s tariff schedules which indicate the name change.The tariff schedules have
a proposed effective date of December 22,2015,and reflect the stipulated rates agreed to by the
parties in the Company’s pending general rate case,UWI-W-15-01.
Separate correspondence from the utility’s Vice President and General Manager,
Gregory P.Wyatt,indicated that there would be “no change in existing control,ownership,
corporate structure,operations or management,and no cost of the [name changej program will
be passed on to customers.”He also stated that the utility will continue to provide excellent
service to Boise area customers.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Because the name change does not affect rates and the cost of changing the name will
not be borne by ratepayers,Staff recommended the Commission acknowledge the name change
ORDER NO.33429 1
and order the utility to submit an updated Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity No.
143 in the name of SUEZ Water Idaho Inc.United Water’s Certificate No.143 needs to be
updated because it has been amended approximately 24 times since the Company’s last name
change (from Boise Water to United Water Idaho)in 1995.
DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
Based upon our review of the letter notices,we find the name change does not affect
rates and the cost of changing the Company’s name will not be borne by ratepayers.
Consequently,we find that it is appropriate to order the utility to submit an updated Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity No.143 in the name of SUEZ Water Idaho Inc.We also
direct the Company to submit an area service map with its updated Certificate.Finally,we take
no action in this case on the proposed tariff schedules.The tariff schedules will be reviewed in
the pending rate case,UWI-W-15-O1.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that United Water Idaho’s Certificate No.143 be
amended to reflect the change in its name to SUEZ Water Idaho Inc.The Company is directed
to submit a revised Certificate No.143 for our review,including a service area map.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally
decided by this Order)or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No.UWI-W-1 5-
03 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the service date of this Order
with regard to any matter decided in this Order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in
this case.Within seven (7)days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other
person may cross-petition for reconsideration.See Idaho Code §61-626.
ORDER NO.33429 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of December 2015.
ATTEST:
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
4’Lt /
KRI INE RAPER,CO MISSIONER
IISU
ommission Secretary
bls/O:UWIW-15-O3dhName Change
PAUL
ORDER NO.33429 3