20250319Comments_10.pdf

The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Glenn Fetter
Submission Time: Mar 18 2025 6:11 PM
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: "The extreme proposed rate increases by Gem State Water needs discussion
and your consideration and oversight, representatives of Idaho PUC! We implore you to
hold a public meeting as soon as practical to address why such increases are imperative
with little advance notice. If you do indeed decide to hold a public meeting, how will you
Let homeowners know about this? Thank you. Glenn Fetter& Pat Cook, Diamond Bar
Estates. "
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Name: David Morris
Submission Time: Mar 18 2025 8:21 PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2156 W Boekel Road
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "We request a public hearing on this case because the requested rate increase
is way too high."
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Name: Lauri Murakami
Submission Time: Mar 18 2025 9:37PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
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Address: 30966 N Priest River Dr
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "Gem State Water is requesting a 79% rate increase to my baseline water bill.
My Social Security COLA increase after Medicare deduction in no way covers an increase
to that extent.What services have they provided to warrant such an increase? None that I
can see. This is an unreasonable request and in the current economy unrealistic. I am
voicing my opposition to this increase.
Thank You,
Lauri Murakami"
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Name: Louis Litzko
Submission Time: Mar 18 2025 9:57PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2582 W Diamond Bar RD
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "A proposed nearly 60% increase in our water costs by Gem State is extreme!
This needs discussion and your consideration and oversight as representatives of Idaho
PUC!
We are requesting a public hearing to be held as soon as it is possible to discuss Gem State
Water's very excessive proposed water rate increases, that they want to occur in the very
near future. As PUC representatives, please address why such lavish increases are
occurring and why such increases are imperative with little advance notice. If you do have a
public meeting which our whole community is hoping for, how will you let the homeowners
know about it?
Thankyou,
Louis and Shelley Litzko
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Diamond Bar Estates"
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From:Jaycie Raykowski
Sent:Wednesday, March 19, 2025 11:50 AM
To: secretary
Subject: Utility Rebuttal to Proposed Rate Increase
Please see the attached letter for a rebuttal to the proposed rate increase by Gem State
Water, Case No. GSW-W-24-01
Thankyou,
Jaycie Marich
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Name: Jaycie Marich
Submission,March 19 2025
Email: [e-mail]
Address: 1531 E Amulet Cir,Rathdrum ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID GSW-W-24-01
Formal Rebuttal to Proposed Rate Increase.
Submitted to Idaho Public Utilities Commission
To: Idaho Public Utilities Commission
I am writing this letter to protest the proposed rate hike for Gem State Water customers case ID
GSW-W-24-01. The rate increase proposed is astronomical and inequitable.There is no reason
that the residents should pay a 79% increase. And to make matters worse,they are also
proposing an increase at a lower base line usage,going from a base line of 15,000 gallons per
month to just 5,000 gallons per month. This rate hike is abusive and unreasonable.
My concern and strong opposition to any proposed utility rate hike increase by Gem State Water
will negatively affect all residents. This is a sudden and significant unexplained increase.
without any prior notice by the utility provider. As a resident,we are still attempting to recover
from record high and ongoing inflation. As a retired resident,we are on a fixed income as are
many residents in this area. This will have a negative impact on our community,and will make it
impossible for some residents to afford this unjustified increase. We have no ability to have
alternative water sources as Gem State has a monopoly in our area.
I am urging the Board of Public Utilities,prior to authorizing any increase to the residents of our
community and the harsh financial burden that would be placed on the families in our area,to
consider the negative impact of yet another utility increase,especially such a huge increase. This
increase is excessive,unjustified,and inconsistent with Idaho's statutory requirements for"just
and reasonable"utility rates.
The proposed rate increase directly contravenes Idaho Code#61-301,which explicitly requires
that:
"All charges made,demanded or received by any public utility for any product or commodity
furnished,or to be furnished,or for any services rendered,or to be rendered, shall be just and
reasonable".
Furthermore,Idaho Code#61-625 places the burden of proof squarely on the utility to
demonstrate that proposed rates are just and reasonable. Based on the information provided,
Gem State Water has failed to meet this burden for the following reasons:
The Proposed increase is Unprecedented and Disproportionate

The increase is extraordinarily excessive by any reasonable standard. This increase would
impose sudden,severe financial hardship on customers,many of whom are on fixed incomes or
have budgeted based on established utility costs.
Inadequate Justification Provided. The notification vaguely references "cost of operating and
maintaining the water system" without providing: 1. Specific breakdown of the costs,2.
Evidence that all investments are necessary and prudently incurred. 3. Demonstration that
alternatives to such a dramatic rate increase is fully explored. 4. Evidence that operational
efficiencies were maximized before seeking additional revenue.
In accordance with Idaho Code#61-502,which grants the IPUC authority to determine just and
reasonable rates,I respectfully request that the Commission:
1. Suspend the proposed rates for the full statutory period under Idaho Code#61-623 to
conduct a thorough investigation
2. Require Gem State Water to provide detailed justification for each component of the
proposed increase
3. Consider rejecting the application outright or significantly modifying the requested increase
4. If any increase is deemed necessary,implement a phase approach over multiple years to
minimize customer impact
5. Ensure any approved rate design equitably distributes costs across all customer classes
Conclusion
While I recognize that utilities must remain financially viable to provide reliable services,rate
increases must be reasonable,justified,and implemented with consideration for customer impact.
The proposed increase fails to meet these standards and should be rejected or substantially
modified by the Commission.
I respectfully request to be notified of any hearings or public comment opportunities related to
this case.
Sincerely,
Jaycie Marich
Richard Raykowski
1531 E Amulet Cir
Rathdrum,ID 83858

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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Shane Avriett
Submission Time: Mar 19 2025 3:38PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2819 W Diamond Bar Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "I would like to formally request a public hearing regarding excessive rate
increases to our water supplier, Gem State Water. "
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he following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Mary Boettcher
Submission Time: Mar 19 2025 4:07PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1937 W Diamond Bar Rd
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "The proposed water rate increase for our property is way too much! May we
please have a hearing to be able to voice our concerns?
Mary Boettcher"
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Name: Jodi Wilson
Submission Time: Mar 19 2025 4:22PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 4850 N Anne St
Coeur d Alene, ID 83815
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "I am writing as a concerned citizen of Coeur d Alene, Idaho about the
exorbitant proposed increase in our water bill as petitioned by Gem State Water Company.
This is the second increase in less than two years. These are difficult times in our state and
country. Everyone is paying more for less, with less. My husband and I are retired senior
citizens on fixed incomes and such an increase is tough. Please consider one of two ideas:
1. Postpone the increase until the economy in our country has settled from the last
national election and the changes to our current economic climate OR (2) consider a lower
increase that could happen over multiple years to help those for whom this causes
financial hardship and need time to anticipate the increase in our monthly budget.
Thankyou,
Jodi and Russ Wilson"
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Name: Juliana Lockshaw
Submission Time: Mar 19 2025 4:34PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 12090 N GIPPER LOOP, RATHDRUM, ID 83858-5502
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Avista
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "No rate hikes please."
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Name: Glenn Fetter
Submission Time: Mar 19 2025 4:52PM
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: "Water is essential for life. For our family, pets, farm animals, gardens and
trees. A proposed 53%water cost increase along with a decreased useage amount with no
discussion except for Gem State Water's hear ye short notice letter of these changes
smacks of greed. Please plan to hold a public meeting with us so that we can reach some
common ground with an acceptable water rate increase. Thank you. Glenn Fetter&
Pat Cook, Diamond Bar Estates."
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