20250317Comments_11.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name:Terry Crammer
Submission Time: Mar 15 2025 12:10PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 34226 N Newman Dr
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "A sudden increase in the base rate of 79% is very unreasonable. Gem State should
take look closer at use rates versus base rates. A base rate increase of 10-15%would seem
reasonable . Example I have only exceeded my base limit three times in the last year. Nov 0.1 ccf,
Dec 0.0 ccf, Jan 1.2 cc and Feb 0.3ccf. This 79% increase would create an undue burden on
households that have minimum water use. I would be more supportive of an increase on fees
associated with over base usage. Charge more for those who use more don't penalize those who
use less:'
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Everest Robillard
Submission Time: Mar 16 2025 2:24PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1017 E Amulet Cir
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case N° GSW-W-24-01

I am Everest Robillard, residing at 1017 E Amulet Cir, Rathdrum (Garwood Community), ID
83858. 1 am a customer in the"Bar Circle S"water system owned and operated by Gem State
Water.
The Idaho's PUC Mission Statement states: "to regulate investor-owned or privately-owned
utilities providing gas, water, electricity, and some telephone services for profit, ensuring fair,just,
AND REASONABLE RATES [Emphasis Added] and utility practices for consumers." Gem State
Water request to raise our base rate by 79%, plus lowering the base-line usage, is
UNREASONABLE.
1. Gem State Water's application to the IDAHO PUC, filed December 27, 2024, Section 13,
states they notified their customers of this proposed rate increase by monthly billing and the local
media on December 27, 2024. This is a false statement. I did not receive the notice by USPS mail
until March 10, 2025 and there was no media announcement in the local CDA Press newspaper. If
Gem State Water is providing false information to the PUC about their"Customer Notice,"then the
rest of their application should also be considered uncredible. The remedy to this is to extend the
public's comment period for this application.
2. Historical research through the PUC's website of"Closed Cases" revealed that in 2022, Gem
State Water already requested and was approved a 27.5+% increase in water rates. PUC case N°
GSW-W-22-01. To submit another rate increase just two years later, for a 79% rate increase in not
only unreasonable but is irresponsible.
3. The PUC should also question Gem State Water's ability to operate efficiently and be fiscally
responsible. My neighborhood development was constructed during the year 2020. All new water
meters were installed in 2020. The average life span of a new water meter is 20+years. Yet, in the
summer of 2024, after only 4 years, Gem State Water replaced all the water meters in our
community with the newest state-of-the-art"smart wireless"water meters. Presumably at great
capital expense. There was no need for this capital expense. However, I suspect Gem State Water
intentionally planned the installation of those new smart wireless meters in preparation for this
current request for a rate increase.
4. 1 researched the Idaho PUC's"Closed Cases"concerning Gem State Water. There is a
disturbing pattern that the PUC should consider. PUC's Closed Cases show numerous
applications from Gem State Water for the"ACQUISITION OF ASSETS"of small rural water
districts/companies. In those applications, Gem State Water states or infers there is"No Rate
Increase" if the ACQUISITION is approved by the PUC. After the PUC approves Gem State Water's
application for ACQUISITION, usually about 2 years later, Gem State Water then files an
application for substantial rate increases. Their applications also request to lower the monthly
base-line usage from 15,000 gallons a month, down, to 10,000 gallons, then down to 7,500

gallons, and now with this pending application, they are requesting to lower the monthly base-line
usage to just 5,000 gallons a month. The pattern of applications to the PUC indicate Gem State
Water is methodically monopolizing our small rural water communities, eliminating competition
and harming consumers.
5. Any approved rate increases by the PUC should be in-line with the annual"Consumer Price
Index" by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price
Index for 2025 is 2.8%. A 79% rate increase and lowering the base-line usage is unreasonable.
Respectfully,
/s/ Everest Robillard"
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name:William McNamara
Submission Time: Mar 16 2025 3:43PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 32435 N Newman Dr
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "Dear Commissioners,
I have been a Spirit Lake East resident for over 30 years. Gem State Water requested and received
an increase within the last few years.Their current request is unacceptable to me, and many
others in my neighborhood. Gem State knew the age and condition of the system before they
purchased it. Now, once again, they/you are asking for more.
Their request offers no plan for improvements or any increase to median usage. Nor do they
outline the cost of overage rates. This area is rural and heavily forested. A protected green space
is highly advisable around all homes. Thus, additional water supply is advantageous.
I urge you to NOT accept their proposal.
Thankyou."
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Nic Ames
Submission Time: Mar 16 2025 9:19PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1856 Boekel Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "I strongly oppose the Gem State Water rate increase. I am a current customer of Gem
State, unfortunately. I live in Diamond Bar Estates with about 3/4 of an acre of grass.We have two
meters, one 1 in line and one 2in line. The 1 in line is for the house and the 2in is for irrigation for the
yard.With two meters we pay the minimums on both meters year round, and when it's time to
irrigate the yard, we blow though the 2in minimum in just over 2 weeks, to simply keep the grass
from dying. I'm certainly not over watering, who can afford that?And now Gem State wants more?!
During the summer months, our water bill is about$600 per month currently!And they want to cut
the minimum gallons by 12,000 gallons on the 2in and charge 53% more?!This is outrageous! If
this passes, I will be forced to remove the 2in line and let my grass turn to weeds. Gem State is out
of control with these rate increases and price gouging they have been doing to us for years! Other
water companies in North Idaho charge a fraction of what Gem State is allowed to charge. They
cannot be allowed to continue operating this way. Thankyou for your consideration:'
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Glenn Fetter
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 10:27AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2693 W. Diamond Bar Road
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water

Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "We would like to request a public hearing to be held as soon as practical to discuss
Gem State Water's excessive and immediate proposed water rate increases. Thank you!
Submitted on March 17, 2025 by Glenn Fetter and Pat Cook, 2693 W. Diamond Bar Road,
Diamond Bar Estates."
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Joe Shay
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 11:03AM
Email:jmshay01 @yahoo.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2545 W.Diamond bar Road
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW W-24-01
Comment: "I would like to request a public meeting as soon as possible to discuss Gem States
excessive water rates in Diamond Bar Estates. Joseph M.Shay, 2545 West Diamond Bar Road."
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: John Novak
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 11:54AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2411 w Dimond bar road Rathdrum
Rathdrum , ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: none
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01

Comment: "I would like to have a meeting asap to discuss the Water rates. "
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The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Mike Carter
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 1:07PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2682 W Diamond Bar Road
Rathdrum , ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "I demand a public hearing, local to this action. This proposed rate increase is
outrageous and should not be approved by the PUC. The assumptions that underlay this
application are specious and ridiculous. The ongoing harm to victims of this action is intolerable!
This rate increase is abusive. Application should be rejected and arbitration should be
implemented to reach a fair, for all parties, resolution.
Suspend! Hearing! Arbitration! "
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Name: Kelly Lundy
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 1:09PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 254 E Chilco Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water Company
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "My husband Jason Lundy and I would like to submit another formal complaint
regarding the proposed general rate increase to be effective on April 1, 2025. A 79% increase is
extreme and unreasonable for us and the other residents in our neighborhood. We request that
the Commission deny this proposal:'

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Name: Jason Lundy
Submission Time: Mar 17 2025 1:10PM
Email:[e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 254 E Chilco Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water Company
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "My wife Kelly Lundy and I would like to submit another formal complaint regarding the
proposed general rate increase to be effective on April 1, 2025. A 79% increase is extreme and
unreasonable for us and the other residents in our neighborhood.We request that the
Commission deny this proposal."

March 13, 2025 "RECEIVED
Idaho Public Utilities Commission ''v`5�9r �? i 7 AM 9: !
P.O. Box 83720 7� '`. f*-USL?C
it=> (10MMISS{o,\r
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Dear Commissioners,
I wrote a letter of opposition to the Gem State Water Company rate increase
when they asked for it last year, but it seemed to make no difference in your
decision. I'm writing again because I don't want the need to address this
issue every year. I'm again opposed to their rate increase request.
I'm askingforyou to reconsiderthe proposed rate increase requested by Gem
State Water Company. 1 have yet to see any upgrade toward our equipment
since their request last year. I know that it was asked that they install a
backup generator, in case we lose our electricity, and it has never been
installed. I feelthis is an upgrade that wouldn't be too expensive and it would
show some attempt at some smaller upgrade, some parshall reason for the
rate increase.
Please think about this 77 year old disabled widow with her only income of
Social Security, that doesn't coverthe request each yearto increase her
mortgage, water, garbage and groceries, and anything else that may increase.
Her $30 increase from her Social Security doesn't cover all the requests.
Will you please reconsider their 79% rate increase for Lynnwood Water. Our
monthly payments should cover upgrades to our water well, we shouldn't
need to pay for otherwater systems upgrades. Without seeing any
improvements to ourwater system equipment, their request for a rate
increase to the Lynnwood Water system should be denied. It woluld place a
hardship on those of us on a fixed income.
Thankyou for yourvaluabletime,
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