20250303Comments_1.pdf

From: PUCWeb Notification <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 11:00 AM
To: Monica Barrios-Sanchez
Subject: Notice:A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name:JP Carbon
Submission Time: Feb 28 2025 10:21AM
Email:[e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 132 S. Legacy Ridge Dr
Liberty Lake,WA 99019
Name of Utility Company: PLW LLC
Case ID: PLW-W-24-02
Comment: "To IPUD review committee, in regards to the case PLW-W-24-01 and PLW-W-24-02
Not sure how these were split or how to see PLW-W-24-02. I see the two cases when I search, but
they both contain the same document(PLW-W-24-01, 107 pgs).
Note—I believe I originally submitted this of the 1 st case PLW-W-24-01 but after last nights meeting
believe it need's to be part of the comments for the PLW-W-24-02.
I'm old and my mind doesn't work as well as it once did... I was trying to come up with a short
comment for these proposals to seriously increase the monthely rates and other rates for
connect/disconnect of service... But each time I looked thru it I found more things I wanted to add.
So, I'm not the best writer but these are something that I would like the regulators at IPUC to
consider as they decide how to respond to this attorneys'cases presented for Priest Lake Water
LLC,Jared Horlacher, Owner and"The sole member"of Priest Lake Water L.L.C.
Wow—107 pages... looks like there's a lot of word smithing in here from attorney's...
First of all, I think highly of Jared and he easy to work with and does good work.That said I think the
attorneys responsible for this preparing this article doesn't represent our small community, and the
water system designed for Marvin estates residents.
know for the past 3+years Idaho is working hard on water rights and how they are recorded and
how they are used (i.e. like the commercial lots in our community). I know Jared has had many new
things throw at him and I sure it has taken extra time trying to figure these new regulations/request
out and working hard to gather data and file paper work and be compliant to the newer request and
regulations....
At first glance/pass I see a reasonable business 101 planning sheet, but the time line and line items
and cost/expanse numbers to justify current system/state of disrepair and upgrades to support

these new proposed over 150% increases seem to be padded and lot of wishful, discretionary
expenses and the gloom and doom of existing infrastructure with inflated scope and cost in the
data/documentation that should be further investigated and understood before considering these
unreasonable requests for this small water service designed for our little community. Most people
are in complete shock and disagreement on the new proposed rates and the methodology being
used to come up with his"needed" revenue.
There also a since of a monopoly for both the control of the cost of the current water service and
who can perform any of the work. So maybe the IPUC can help us with that and future rate
increases.
Also, I see big changes in usage and hook-up fees-there appear to be several large adjustments
within the document with regards numbers a gallons and monthly vs yearly charges. (i.e. Goes from
10,000 gal/mt with $3/extra for each 1,000 to 30,000 gal/mt with $3/extra for each 101000gat... -
seem weird because most properties never use 10,000 gal/mt. -and it not even monitored in 6+
months a year.
Also one-time charges for hookup fee are going from$1,200 to$7,444,this may be more
reasonable-but should also be considers in his numbers for operating costs and upgrades show to
try and justify new monthely costs of our water from his business/business.
Just some numbers to consider...
If you look at other Water service suppliers around the lake: PLW LLC is already the highest we went
from$90/qtr to$111/qtr(a 19%increase over the past 3 years).
What I've been told is: Kokanee Park pays$54/qtr;
• Coolin pays a flat$250/year;
• Kalispel Bay pays$250/year;
• Outlet Bay water just went from$75/quarter to$90/qtr(a 16%increase);
• Huckleberry Bay pays$80/mo.for water and sewer(combined);
• Marvin estates currently pay Outlet Bay Sewer District$150/tr or$50/mo.
Income at a glance:with -MAX 113 lots at$37/mt=>$50,172/yr-plus hook-ups at$20K-
$40K/yr. at 76 lots?_>$33,744/yr plus hook- maybe$50K/year garneted (for a parttime/seasonal
work/job (maybe 500hrs/year is equivalent of a $200K/year job)
History of fees: 2008-2020=$90/qrt=>$360/year 2023-$111/qtr=>$444(Note:Jared has
increased rates about 19% since he took over 3-4 years ago.) (this is also another Business 101
strategy to grow income is rase rates 6%/yr) —but that strategy mainly applies to competitive
operations environments which we are clearly have no control there and there are no means for
competition and therefore PLW LLC can set its own terms and prices, allowing it/him to become
highly profitable.
Maybe a counter for homeowners to these proposed increases would be to ask for a"fixed"annual
cost more in line with other providers or freeze the current rate and, limit any 6%yr annual increases
with-out IPUD approval—or turn everything back over to the Homeowners to run/manage.