20250218Notice_of_Application_Order_No_36468.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 18,2025
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF FALLS WATER CO., ) CASE NO. FLS-W-24-02
INC.'S APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER )
AUTHORIZING INCREASES IN THE ) NOTICE OF APPLICATION
COMPANY'S RATES AND CHARGES FOR )
WATER SERVICE IN THE STATE OF ) NOTICE OF INTERVENTION
IDAHO ) DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468
On January 30,2025,Falls Water Company,Inc. ("Company")applied to increase its rates
and charges for water service in Idaho ("Application"). The Company requests a March 1, 2025,
effective date for new rates.
With this Order, the Commission provides notice of the Company's Application, sets a
deadline for interested parties to intervene, and suspends the Company's proposed effective date.
BACKGROUND
The Company is a Commission-regulated water corporation serving 6,833 residential and
commercial customers north of the City of Ammon and northeast of the City of Idaho Falls in
Bonneville County,Idaho.The Company provides service under Certificate of Public Convenience
No. 236. The Company's current rates were set about two years ago in Case No. FLS-W-23-01.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company represents that, under existing rates
based on an adjusted base test year ending September 24, 2024, it will experience a net operating
deficiency of$658,867.Accordingly,the Company seeks to increase the revenue collected through
rates by approximately$899,493, or approximately 25.02%.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that, if approved as filed,
the Application would produce an expected rate of return of about 7.96% resulting from a
45%/55% debt/equity structure, a 10.20%return on equity, and a 5.22% cost of debt.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468 1

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company seeks to increase its hookup fees for
certain classes of customers in amounts ranging from$25 to $495, depending upon the size of the
connection being hooked up.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes consolidating the tariffs for
the Falls Water and Taylor Mountain water systems, believing that it will benefit the customer
service and business practices for each system.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that it will notify its
customers by inserting a written notice in each customer's bill mailed after the filing of the
Application and via concurrent press releases to news media. Copies of the notices are included
with the Application.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting documentation
have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular
business hours at the Commission's office. These documents are also available on the
Commission's website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the "Water" icon, select "Open Cases,"
and then click on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has designated this case as a
general rate case. As such, the Company's intrastate revenue requirement, and every component
of it, both rate base and expense, are at issue. The Commission may grant, deny, or modify the
revenue requirement requested and may find a revenue requirement different from that proposed
by any party is just, fair, and reasonable. IDAPA 31.01.01.124.01.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all of the Company's retail rates and charges,both
recurring and non-recurring, are at issue, and every component of every existing and proposed rate
and charge is at issue. The Commission may approve, reject, or modify the rates and charges
proposed and may find that rates and charges different from those proposed by any party are just,
fair, and reasonable. IDAPA 31.01.01.124.02.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may approve, reject, or modify
existing or proposed relationships between and among rates and charges within, between, or
among customer classes or rate groupings and may approve,reject, or modify existing or proposed
relationships among and between customer classes or rate groupings.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468 2

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may abolish,reduce,or create rate
blocks or categories of rates and charges; abolish, create, or reduce components of rates and
charges;abolish,reduce,or create customer classes or rate groupings;and abolish,reduce,or create
absolute or relative differences among and between existing classes or rate groupings of customers.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the tariffs,practices,rules and regulations, service,
instrumentalities, equipment, facilities, classifications, and customer relations of the utility are at
issue, and the Commission may address any of them in its order.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant
to the Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted
pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter to
obtain parties' rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission
pursuant to this Commission's Rules of Procedure 72 and 73, IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and -.073.
Persons who wish to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than 21
days after the date of service of this Order. Such persons shall also provide the Commission
Secretary with their email address to facilitate further communications.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that after the intervention deadline runs, the
Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice of Parties identifying the parties and assigning exhibit
numbers to each party. Once the Notice of Parties has issued, Commission Staff shall informally
confer with the Company and any intervening parties about how to further process this case and
shall then report back to the Commission on a proposed case schedule.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who would like to present their views
without parties' rights of participation and cross-examination do not have to intervene but may
present their views by submitting written comments to the Commission.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following people are designated as the
Company's representatives in this matter:
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468 3

Preston N. Carter K. Scott Bruce
Givens Pursley LLP Falls Water Co., Inc.
601 W. Bannock St. 2180 North Deborah Drive
Boise, ID 83702 Idaho Falls, ID 83401
prestoncarteraa,givenspursley.com scottIO)fallswater.com
stephaniewggivenspursley.com
Matt Rowell
NW Natural Water
250 SW Taylor St.
Portland, OR 97204-3038
matt.rowellgnwnatural.com
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
As stated previously,the Company proposes a March 1,2025, effective date for new rates.
The Commission finds that the Company's proposed effective date does not provide adequate time
for Commission Staff and interested persons to evaluate the Company's proposal. Pursuant to
Idaho Code § 61-622(4), the Commission suspends the proposed changes for thirty (30) days and
five (5) months or until the Commission enters an order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the
proposed rate increases.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter must file a
Petition to Intervene no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order. Once the deadline
has passed, the Commission Secretary shall prepare and issue a Notice of Parties.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that,after the Notice of Parties has issued,Commission Staff
shall confer with the parties regarding a procedural schedule for this matter including,if necessary,
a hearing in this matter.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the March 1,2025,effective date the Company proposes
for its rate increases is suspended for thirty(30) days plus five (5)months or until the Commission
enters an earlier order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed rate increases.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary.See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a US flash drive.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468 4

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 18th day of
February 2025.
G
EDWARD LODGE, PRF. T ENT
R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
DAYN HARDIF,, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
40..
Ba os- a e
Commission Secreta
IALega1\WATER\FLS-W-24-02_GRC\orders\FLS W2402_NteApp_Int_Sus_at.doex
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 36468 5