20220930Customer Notice and Press Release.pdf

ATTACHMENT 3
Press Release Page 2-4
Customer Notification Page 5-6
@veoun
VEOLIA FILES RATE REQUEST FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF
$70 MILLION IN DRINKING WATER INVESTMENTS IN IDAHO
lmprovements enhance water safety, quality and resiliency for
Treasure Valley homes and businesses
Boise, lD (September 30, 20221- Veolia filed a request with the ldaho Public Utilities Commission
(Commission) today to approve $70 million in customer improvements made over the last two
years in the Treasure Valley. The company enhanced water quality, storage capacity and fire
suppression for over 105,000 homes and businesses in the region, and acquired a new water
system - Eagle Water Company.
'The investments we made in Idaho overthe last two years directly improved water quality, service
reliability and safety for our customers," said Marshall Thompson, Vice President and General
Manager of Veolia's ldaho operations. 'We continue to increase the life of the water system so
that it can be relied upon for many years to come."
Water Service Remains a Strong Value for Customers
The $70 million of improvements represent an average investment of approximately $660 per
customer, while the average residentialcustomerwould have rates adjusted by 25 cents a day, if
the Commission approves the improvements in whole. Despite the large investment in the system
and any increases to water bills, rates for Veolia customers in ldaho will remain below or
competitive with all other water utilities in the valley - public or private.
"We are grateful to serve communities across the nation and will continue to work every day to
gain the trust of our customers," said Karine Rouge, CEO of Veolia North America's Municipal
Water division. "The investments in water infrastructure we have made in ldaho are for our
customers so they and future generations can continue to enjoy access to safe, clean water at a
reasonable price, regardless of income levels."
!f the Commission approves the request in full, customer bills would be adjusted by 24.1%. The
average residential bill would increase by $0.25 a day or $7.59 per month, the average
commercial bill by $0.93 a day or $27.92 a month, and the average public authority bill by $0.85
a day or $25.46 a month. Legacy Eagle Water Company area customer rates will continue to
phase-in over time. The existing Eagle average residential bill would increase by $0. t 5 a day or
$4.43 per month, the average commercial bill by $0.S+ a day or $16.29 a month, and the average
public authority bill by $0.50 a day or $14.85 a month. Company revenues would increase by
23.4o/o or $12.1 million per year.
!t will take several months for the Commission to accept, reject or modify the first review of this
investment recovery request.
New lnvestments Keep the Water Flowing
Veolia's $70 million in investments have improved water quality, safety and service reliability in
the region. Some of the larger investments include:
Eagle Water Company Acquisition: $10.5M acquisition that adds approximately 4,200
homes. Residents benefit from 24-hour monitoring of the system that enhances safety and
service reliability
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Veolia Completes $70 Million in Water System lmprovements
Columbia Water Treatment Plant New Clearwell Tank: $3.5M construction serving
Southeast Boise. Adds storage capacity and fire protection
Taggart Well Facility Filtration Treatnent System: $1.7M project that improved water
quality in the Boise Bench
Whistle Pig Storage Tank: $6.2M storage tank in Southwest Boise lmproves water
pressure, fire protection and capacity for customers
lce Pigging in East First Bench: a pipe cleaning technique that removes sediment and
buildup from water mains
VactorTruck: helps remove debris that might be left in pipes after maintenance or repair
ln addition, Veolia has followed through on various requests made by stakeholders in the last rate
filing in 2020:
lncreased community awareness on capital investments through targeted
communications and community outreach
Completed a full Cost of Service Study, including an analysis of capacity in the water
system
Created and led Community Resource Board for the Boise Bench and made
improvements to water quality in that area
Funded and shared the Treasure Valley Water Report, a study of the region's available
water resources and future demands
Gost Savings and Putting ldahoans to Work
Veolia has worked hard to keep operating costs in check in a number of ways, including the
installation of energy-efficient motors that help produce and deliver water to residents, a
partnership with ldaho Power to optimize energy usage and the negotiation of bulk purchase
orders with the company's largest suppliers.
The $70 million in projects also highlight the company's commitment to improve lives and
communities in ldaho by helping to stimulate and sustain the localeconomy.
"Our work in the Treasure Valley not only brings direct benefit to customers'water service, it helps
bolster the local economy through employment of local residents and contractors," Thompson
said.
Fi nancial Assistance Available
Veolia has helped area families who may be experiencing financial challenges with bill relief
These assistance programs continue to be available to ldaho residents.
Veolia Cares is a non-profit organization that helps customers who need temporary assistance
with their water bills. Eligible households may have their bills reduced by up to $85 once per
year. Customers can learn more by contacting the company's local agency partner, El-Ada
Community Action Agency, at 208-345-2820.
The company also continues to help customers reduce or eliminate water bill payments through
the Low lncome Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a federally funded program
administered by individual states to help low-income households with past due water bills.
lndividual households can apply for up to $2,500 to pay down their water debt. Customers in
Veolia North America
ldaho Operations
8248 W Viclory Road, Boise, lD 83709
208-362-7304
www.veol ianorthamerica.com
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Veolia Completes $70 Million in Water Sysfem lmprovements
ldaho can visit healthandwelfare.idaho.gov or call Veolia's customer service center for more
information.
'We encourage customers who may need help to take advantage of these programs if they have
not done so already. While water bills are often the smallest part of a household budget, every
little bit helps," said Rouge.
By the end of 2022, Veolia is expected to have helped customers across the country with over
$'10 million in bill relief.
This application is a proposal and subject to a decision by the Commission. A copy of the
application is available for public review at the offices of the Commission, at the local Veolia office
and on the Commission's homepage at vvvvw.puc.idaho.qov. Sign up for the commission's RSS
feed to receive email updates on the case.
Press Contacts:
Madeline Wyatt
201-310-6409
madeline.wvatt@veolia. com
Steve Goudsmith
201-225-6809
steven. qoudsmith@veolia. com
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About Veolia: Veolia Group aims to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation.
With nearly 220,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides game-changing
solutions that are both useful and practical for water, waste and energy management.
Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources,
preserve available resources and replenish them. ln 2021, the Veolia group provided 79 million
inhabitants with drinking water and 61 million with sanitation, produced nearly 48 million megawatt
hours and recovered 48 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE)
achieved consolidated revenue of 28,508 billion euros in 2021. www.veolia.com
About Veolia North America: A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers
a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater
treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and
resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and
municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts,
Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 400 locations
across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com
Veolla North America
ldaho Operations
8248 W Victory Road, Boise, lD 83709
208-362-7304
www.veol ianorthamerica.com 3
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