20240820Interlocutory_Order_No_36295.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 20,2024
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF CAPITOL WATER ) CASE NO. CAP-W-24-01
CORPORATION'S APPLICATION TO )
INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES FOR ) ORDER NO. 36295
WATER SERVICE IN THE STATE OF )
IDAHO )
On August 5, 2024, Staff filed an expedited motion seeking to vacate the August 21, 2024,
public comment deadline, the September 4, 2024, company reply deadline, and the August 22,
2024, customer hearing in this case; and (2) to indefinitely suspend the Capitol Water
Corporation's ("Company") proposed effective date for new rates (as suspended by Order No.
36118), pending completion of Staff s review of the Company's financial records. Attached to
Staffs motion as an exhibit was a document signed by a duly authorized Company representative
consenting to the relief sought in the motion.
Having reviewed the record, the Commission issues this interlocutory order vacating the
August 21, 2024, public comment deadline, the September 4, 2024, company reply deadline, and
the August 22, 2024, customer hearing in this case; and indefinitely suspending the Company's
proposed effective date for new rates.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
With the consent of the party seeking approval of a new rate,we may suspend the proposed
effective date of the new rate indefinitely. See Idaho Code § 61-622. Additionally, we may alter
or amend interlocutory orders, like those suspending rates, scheduling deadlines for written
communications, or proposing modified procedure. IDAPA 31.21.01.322.
Staff represented that, despite the Company's overall cooperativeness, the antiquated
billing and record keeping software the Company uses has slowed the review of the Company's
financial records. So much so, that Staff will be unable to file appropriate comments by the
established August 21, 2024, public comment deadline. Indeed, Staff indicated that it is currently
unsure when its review of the Company's financial records will be complete. Consequently, Staff
seeks to not only vacate the comment deadlines and customer hearing, but also to suspend
indefinitely the Company's October 1, 2024, proposed effective date for new rates until the
financial review is complete. Staff further indicated its willingness to work with the Company to
recommend new comment deadlines and propose a date for the rescheduled customer hearing after
ORDER NO. 36295 1

completing its review of the Company's financial records. As further demonstration of its overall
cooperativeness, the Company consented to the relief Staff requests. Accordingly, we find it
reasonable to grant Staff s request to vacate comment deadlines and the customer hearing and
indefinitely suspend the Company's proposed effective date for new rates.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the August 21, 2024, public comment deadline, the
September 4, 2024, company reply deadline, and the August 22, 2024, customer hearing in this
case are vacated.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company's October 1,2024,proposed effective date
for new rates is suspended indefinitely, pending completion of Staff s review of the Company's
financial records.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that after completing its examination of the Company's
finances, Staff shall work with the Company to recommend to the Commission new comment
deadlines and propose a date for the rescheduled customer hearing.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER, not a final and appealable Order of the
Commission. The period of reconsideration will not begin until the final order is issued.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 20th day of
August 2024.
I rcroL
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
HN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
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EDWARD LODGE, CO ISSIONER
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ORDER NO. 36295 2