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Home My WebLink About20230329Comments (8)_8.pdf1 From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 4:00 PM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comment was submited via PUCWeb: Name: Mike Rithaler Submission Time: Mar 28 2023 3:26PM Email: mike.rithaler@gmail.com Telephone: 208-965-6165 Address: 1507 Bedford Dr Boise, ID 83705 Name of U�lity Company: VEOLIA Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I completely oppose this rate increase proposal, and Veolia and their representa�ves should feel ashamed in bringing it. I do not believe this ask is in good faith, but merely an over the top bargaining tac�c. As a public u�lity, their primary focus should be serving the public, not their own private coﬀers. People living in Boise are already ge�ng squeezed by huge housing cost increases as well as the eﬀects of inﬂa�on. I also take take oﬀense with including the $10.5M acquisi�on of the Eagle Water Company as part of their improvements. I don't live in Eagle or beneﬁt from that acquisi�on yet it seems my rates should go up to help pay for it. Finally, a few back of the envelope calcula�on shows the sheer avarice of this ask. Veolia has stated they have invested 70 million dollars in improvements, and are asking for an extra 12.1 million dollars a year to pay for it. That would allow them to recoup the cost in 5.7 years. Since, no doubt, they will never propose a rate decrease, they would have doubled their investment of 70 million dollars in ~12 years. That's the equivalent of inves�ng in a 12 year corporate bond that pays a simple annual interest of 8.33%, with no risk, and further more will con�nue to pay in perpetuity. Would that we all had a chance for such an investment. Their track record in Flint, Michigan (they were contracted to assess the lead contamina�on) and Pitsburgh, (another lead contamina�on crisis a�er Veolia decreased water quality staﬀ by half, and increased water rates by 20% over four years) shows that their interest is not to the public they serve, but to their proﬁts. " ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on] ------------------------------- From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 9:00 AM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comment was submited via PUCWeb: 2 Name: Jus�n Nutzman Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 8:23AM Email: jus�nnutzman@gmail.com Telephone: 208-996-4174 Address: 5571 Old Ranch Rd Boise, ID 83714 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Water Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "Good morning! I am relaying a concern over recent news I heard. We are very concerned to hear of Veolia's drama�c 24% rate increase request. From my understanding they bought Suez knowing the current rate of return. Their own public statements to investors detailing about record proﬁts before their proposed rate hike. We feel their proposed rate is FAR out of line with their costs and other water u�li�es in the regional market and exceeds any measure of inﬂa�on. The IPUC needs to interface with Veolia and come to an understanding to provide water services at a reasonable cost. Thanks for your �me. " ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on] ---------------------------------------- From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 11:01 AM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comments were submited via PUCWeb: Name: Jeﬀ Taylor Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 10:29AM Email: jeﬀ@dc208.org Telephone: 208-440-3456 Address: 3809 W Camas St Boise, ID 83705 Name of U�lity Company: veolia Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "this arte increase is ridiculous. they want us to pay for their investments that we didn't approve. I do not support the increase, par�cularly on the heels of a signiﬁcant increase that they already had recently. " ------ 3 Name: Miranda Joondeph Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 10:43AM Email: mirandafayj@gmail.com Telephone: 406-633-0209 Address: 753 S Kiser Avenue Boise, ID 83709 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Water Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I am opposed to Veolia's outrageous, predatory 24% rate increase request. They bought Suez knowing the current rate of return. Even their own public statements to investors boast about record proﬁts before their proposed rate hike. Their proposed rate is FAR out of line with their costs and other water u�li�es in the regional market and exceeds any measure of inﬂa�on. The IPUC needs to hold Veolia accountable to provide water services at a reasonable cost and stop trying to gouge Idahoans, many of whom are on ﬁxed and low incomes." ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on] ------------------------------------- From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 12:00 PM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comment was submited via PUCWeb: Name: Eric Joondeph Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 11:24AM Email: cluck-calumet-0t@icloud.com Telephone: 720-936-3312 Address: 753 S Kiser Ave Boise, ID 83709 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I am opposed to Veolia's outrageous, predatory 24% rate increase request. They bought Suez knowing the current rate of return. Even their own public statements to investors boast about record proﬁts before their proposed rate hike. Their proposed rate is FAR out of line with their costs and other water u�li�es in the regional market and exceeds any measure of inﬂa�on. The IPUC needs to hold Veolia accountable to provide water services at a reasonable cost and stop trying to gouge Idahoans, many of whom are on ﬁxed and low incomes." 4 ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on] -------------------------------------------------------------- From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 7:00 AM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comment was submited via PUCWeb: Name: Kelly Williamson Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 6:20AM Email: k2plus3@gmail.com Telephone: 503-460-7406 Address: 18330 N Goldenridge Way Boise, ID 83714 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I am opposed to Veolia's outrageous, predatory 24% rate increase request. They bought Suez knowing the current rate of return. Even their own public statements to investors boast about record proﬁts before their proposed rate hike. Their proposed rate is FAR out of line with their costs and other water u�li�es in the regional market and exceeds any measure of inﬂa�on. The IPUC needs to hold Veolia accountable to provide water services at a reasonable cost and stop gouging Idahoans. Sincerely, Kelly Williamson " ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on] ---------------------------------------------- From: PUCWeb No�ﬁca�on <Do.Not.Reply@puc.idaho.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 3:00 PM To: Jan Noriyuki <jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov> Subject: No�ce: A comment was submited to PUCWeb The following comments were submited via PUCWeb: Name: Thomas Wulbrecht Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 2:50PM Email: mtnhome999@verizon.net Telephone: 909-225-2697 Address: 18442 N. Burnt Car Pl. Boise, ID 83714 5 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Water Company Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I am opposed to the 24% rate hike proposed by the Veolia Water Company. This outlandish increase far exceeds all measures of inﬂa�on, and they are not providing any increase in services to account for their added revenue proposal. I am on a ﬁxed income, and if this increase is approved then I will be forced ot cut back on other essen�als. Say no to this gouging atempt." --------------------------------------------- Name: David Grunke Submission Time: Mar 29 2023 2:52PM Email: grun1078@gmail.com Telephone: 208-301-5696 Address: 320 W Fall Dr Boise, ID 83706 Name of U�lity Company: Veolia Water Case ID: VEO-W-22-02 Comment: "I am wri�ng to urge the Idaho PUC to soundly reject the proposed general rate increase of 24.1% for Veolia Water customers. I do not believe Veolia has provided suﬃcient evidence to warrant such a signiﬁcant increase in the cost of water for it's customers. I understand that Veolia purchased the rights to water from Suez who bought the rights from United Water. This is a classic patern (strategy) of merger and acquisi�on un�l a market monopoly is reached and no other choice is available for a consumer. Without the permission of such an en�ty as the PUC, I am conﬁdent that Veolia would have already implemented a 24% increase, if not more, from the residents of Idaho. Therefore, it becomes the duty of the PUC to protect Idaho residents from unfair and monopolis�c increases that are unwarranted and solely in the interest of proﬁt. Finally, I must say I was oﬀended by the sugges�on that this increase equates to "a cup of Starbucks" a month. Firstly, as a consumer, I try to avoid such unnecessary expenditures, which makes the ﬂippant nature of this comment quite insul�ng. Secondly, whenever expenses to individual residences are minimalized to things like "a cup of coﬀee" you know that a CEO somewhere is cashing in and buying a new yacht. I really hope it's not on my dime. Thank you." ------ [Open in the PUC Intranet applica�on]