20250117Comment_1.pdf

From: Evelyn Francis
To: secretary
Subject: Priest Lake Water,LLC PLW-W-24-02
Date: Saturday,January 18,2025 5:13:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated outside the State of Idaho network. Verify links and attachments
BEFORE you click or open, even if you recognize and/or trust the sender. Contact your agency
service desk with any concerns.
Sent from my iPhone
To Whom It May Concern;
I am responding to a letter I received from Jared Horlacher, owner of
Priest Lake Water, LLC dated 1/1/24 which states Idaho Public Utility
Commission has recommended our monthly water rate be increased by
165% from the current rate of $37 to $98 per month. He stated it will take
the commission several months to accept, reject or modify this request. I
am sincerely hoping you will find this increase unreasonable and cost
prohibited for any home owner and not allow it.
Part of the attraction of buying into and building a home in Marvin Estates
in 2004, was that it was protected by Restrictive Covenants. It had a
water, sewer system and power available. The covenants specify in
Section, XII, Titled Water and Sewer, that "water shall be furnished to the
lot owners through a common water system. No private water systems,
including wells shall be allowed. Any hookup costs, valves, meters, piping,
tanks, pumps and lines shall be the responsibility of the lot owner. Lot
owners shall be responsible for any connection fees and monthly service
assessments". It does not state in our covenants we are responsible for
upgrades to the water system, or to pay for a fence around the well site,
building a building to store supplies (note there is already a building at well
site).
In 2009 our monthly water bill was $28. for 10,000 gallons of water. The
overage rate was $1.00 for every 1,000 gallon water. In 2021 our water
bill increased to $30 per month and overage increased to $3.00 per !,000
gallons of water. In 2023 our water bill increased to $37.00 per month or
$111.00 per quarter. The overage did not change.
In IPUC case PLW-W-24-02, the proposed rate is $98 for 30,000 gallons
of water. $3.00 per each additional 10,000 gallons. Note: In a 3/31/22,
Jared sent out a notice regarding the rate increase he stated "it's nearly
impossible to use 10,000 gallons inside the home." My question is why

the increase of water allowance from 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of water. Is
Jared trying to pass on the cost of overage to all users, or/and to eliminate
the need to read meters?
Also, in PLW-W-24-02, it has an additional proposed rate for multi-use
property (duplex, multi-family, multiple RV sites ADU's, etc). Please Note:
our covenants specify "each residential lot shall have only one (1) single
family resident placed on that lot." We are all in compliance. We have
single family homes. There is a section of the subdivision for seasonal
RVs. Per the covenants, the RV lots are allowed 2 RVs to be hooked up to
water/sewer per lot.
The new proposed connection fee for a commercial lot is $10,000.
However, it is not clear how he arrived at this amount. Also, there is no
rate listed for connection for a residential lot. Is it the same amount?
When Jared purchased the water system from Larry Marvin, he was
aware of the age and condition of the system as he was hired by Larry to
do the repairs and connections. I commend Jared for paying off the
purchase price of the water system in 3 years. He is conscientious about
maintaining the water system and I appreciate this and having good water.
I also realize that the water system needs to be maintained and upgraded
as money allows. We expect increases in our utilities as with our taxes,
etc but never 165%. He receives from the residents approx. $31,080 per
year. He should be able to make upgrades as money allows.
The residents of Marvin Estates are not wealthy people. We do not live on
Priest Lake or the golf course, We are seniors living on fixed incomes and
working families living on modest incomes with modest homes. A 165%
increase from our water company would cause a financial burden on us.
Please reconsider and not allow this increase.
Thank you for your time.
Evelyn Francis, Owner