20240910News Release.pdf

Case No. GNR-W-24-01
Order No. 36312
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

NEWS RELEASE: Commission determines northern Idaho water utility should be regulated.

BOISE (Sept. 10, 2024) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has determined a northern
Idaho water utility is operating as a public utility and has directed it to work with commission
staff to complete a process to become regulated.

Valiant Idaho, Inc. owns and operates a water supply and distribution system that serves
customers in a development and golf club called the Idaho Club in the Bonner County, Idaho,
area. Valiant Idaho obtained the water system assets, an undeveloped portion of the Idaho Club
and land comprising the golf course in a 2016 sheriff sale.

Commission staff believed Valiant Idaho should be regulated under Title 61 of the Idaho Code
and recommended the commission issue it a certificate of public convenience and necessity. In
an order issued Sept. 6, Valiant Idaho was issued the certificate.

The determination that Valiant Idaho was operating as a public utility and the issuance of the
certificate occurred after the commission’s review of the record and the nature and manner of
control exercised by Valiant Idaho in the operation and management of the water system. The
commission found it reasonable to assert formal regulatory jurisdiction by finding that Valiant
Idaho operates its water system as a public utility. Accordingly, the commission has jurisdiction
over Valiant Idaho.

In addition to issuing the certificate of public convenience and necessity, the order directed
Valiant Idaho to submit a full and accurate legal description of the company’s service territory to
ensure that Valiant Idaho does not overlap with that of another public utility, adopt the
commission’s Utility Customer Relations Rules and Utility Customer Information Rules. The
order also directed Valiant Idaho to use an accounting system consistent with information
required by the commission’s annual report for small water companies. These companies submit
their annual reports to the commission.

Valiant Idaho also is directed to submit information required under the Utility Customer
Relations Rules for commission review and approval. This information includes a tariff, various
customer notices and an annual rules summary.

The order also directs commission staff to open a separate docket to evaluate whether Valiant
Idaho’s rates are fair, just and reasonable.

Additional information is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7301.