20250328Comments_2.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Kim Heistuman
Submission Time: Mar 27 2025 4:41 PM
Email: I<im@wdwerl<s.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address:5098 N Anne St
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "PUC members and GSW Company
A few weeks ago I received a letter stating that once again Gem State Water is looking to raise our
neighborhood's baser water fee by a whopping 79%!As any homeowner knows,this percentage is
not only outlandish but hyper inflated and far from what regular inflation percentages currently
stand,which is approx 2.3%.
1 hope that you can try to understand what a financial burden this will put on your customers,
especially the elderly on fixed incomes,who have been long time,faithful and conservative users of
this PUBLIC utility and please either veto this motion, or offer a more reasonable price or instead
plan to increase fees stretched out over years with caps.
As a business owner myself, I understand that it costs money to make money, and it seems you
would have known the condition of these wells when you recently purchased them. I believe that if
us as customers are in some grave danger of losing our water supply then it would be up to GSW to
acquire a business loan to upgrade necessary changes-which they are completely vague about in
their letter-and should look to recoup their costs over time by providing excellent service, not to
mention win the trust of the people they serve, like regular business owners, instead of gouging
citizens who have no other public water utilities to choose from. Our incomes haven't increased by
79%, so why should GSW be entitled to that?This is a very unethical,twisted business practice and
is lacking any sense of checks and balances- ESPECIALLY from a privately owned PUBLIC utility,
and perhaps a conflict of interest.
I'd also like to point out that GSW doesn't seem to be obligated to disclose any type of financial
accountability for the way these fees have and will be spent.What has been done with the last 60%
increase over the last two years?With the digital meters,there would have been a cost to install
them, but there is also reduced labor costs as a consequence. GSW's cost of doing business is like
any other business-repairs or upgrades are major tax write offs for them-and all new business
owners have to put in a lot in the beginning and wait patiently for investments to grow, but GSW is

demanding a 79% increase again from their existing customer base-and our monthly bill keeps
rising every month and year with no end in sight!
Many people will not be able to keep their home lawns, costly landscaping, and gardened food
sources healthy and vibrant in the summer months when water bills are often doubled, at least.
This is an unnecessary burden in my opinion.
At minimum, I would ask the PUC to please postpone this decision to raise the astronomically
proposed fees to show some kind of good faith towards those they"serve"and allow people time to
address this matter more thoughtfully, collectively and diplomatically; a two week's notice is both
unprofessional and inconsiderate.
If this decision goes through without regard and concern to the financial welfare of the people it
serves,then this"PUBLIC"utility can be guaranteed that there will be not only frustration but
broken trust in the PUC due process,which could lead to unfortunate legal hassles later for all
involved.
Thank you for this opportunity to post my concerns and hope that the PUC will step up to the plate
and represent the citizens it serves with integrity.
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Stanley Freemyers
Submission Time: Mar 28 2025 12:27PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address:400 Sky Hawk Drive
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "To whom it may concern at the Idaho Public Utility Commission (PUC)/Gem State
Water,
received a notice from Gem state water dated 28 Feb 2025 on or about 08 Mar 2025 notifying me of
proposed rate changes by Gem State Water that is before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for
consideration of approval(PUC case#GSW-W-24-01). This proposal,for lack of a better
description, is extremely offensive and unfair to the water consumers of North Idaho. I ask that the
Idaho Public Utility Commission protect Idaho consumers from this unfair and excessive proposal
to increase base rate by 79% while also decreasing median usage at that rate by approx 10%.This
proposal when taken wholly will result in an excess of 100% increase in overall water costs to
consumers. With this base usage allotment there will be many months of the year where the usage
will easily exceed the proposed base usage of 7000 gallons.This will result in additional charges at

the in excess rate,which is not even shared with us in the proposal. The current rate above base
allotment appears to be$1.8084 per CCF based on my bill dated 2/20/2025.
Based on the history of water service at my address, base allotment is exceeded approximately
50%of the time since the original rates under Spirit Lake east water and the transition to Gem State
water initial rate proposal increase was approved.After Gem States acquisition of Spirit Lake Water
the rate was raised to$35 for a reduced base usage allotment to 10 CCF(equivalent to 7480
gallons).Website claims they charge$35 for 10.7 CCF however they actually charge$35 for 10 CCF
and claim $1.74 for each CCF over the 10.0 CCF but apparently charge$1.8084 per CCF. I rarely
experienced a bill over base rate prior to Gem states acquisition.Since the acquisition I frequently,
(approx 6 months/yr) have bills that exceed the base usage. The 28 Feb 2025 proposal appears to
increase the rate to$62.65 per 7000 gallons usage, or 9.36 CCF.This represents a 79%increase in
cost for a reduction from the claimed 10.7 CCF to 9.36 CCF(a greater than 10% reduction of usage
allotment).Will this actually be for the rounded down amount of a base 9.0 CCF(6732 gallons)
which is less than the 7000 gallons stated in the proposal.
These dramatic increases in cost for base usage and reductions in the base usage allotment harm
our North Idaho consumers.This proposal fails to provide what many would regard as affordable
amounts of water to support basic water needs for a household. Further it is financially impacting
consumers'decisions to enjoy the use of their land or to provide for one's family to include growing
a small garden, raising chickens or other livestock such as cattle,if they desire. North Idaho is a
predominantly rural community with many of its consumers desire to garden or raise small
amounts of livestock.This proposal feels excessive and would appear to be indicative of greed by
the corporate conglomerate that has taken over many of our small North Idaho water utilities. Gem
State water is not even an Idaho based company, it is headquartered in Portland, OR. It is wholly
owned by another company,which is owned by yet another company which is traded on the NYSE.
These public utilities should be owned and managed closer to the consumers, not by giant
conglomerates. Sadly that is not the case, however I believe that underscores why the Idaho PUC
must be very critical in the analysis of Gem State Water's proposal such that the citizens are
protected from corporate greed or exploitation of our precious water utilities and water resources.
I sincerely hope that the Idaho Public Utilities Commission,way heavily the many voices of the
people of North Idaho, and act to reject or dramatically reduce the proposed rate increase while
maintaining a base usage allotment to amounts that are fair forthe consumers. Possibly even
pushing for a base usage allotment increase closer to 1200 CCF or 8976 gallons to support normal
water usage that would rarely exceed the usage allotment for basic water needs.
I hope to observe a transparent and fair process as public meetings and workshops are scheduled
and conducted. It is imperative that the Idaho PUC manage this process in a manner fair to the
Idaho consumers and not just be a rubber stamp to the Gem State Water's proposal. If done
properly I am confident that Idaho PUC is capable of arriving at an decision that is fair and equitable
to all parties, I hope that is the case.

Please contact me if any additional information is desired. My address is 400 Sky Hawk Drive, Spirit
Lake, Idaho 83869
WR
Stanley Freemyers
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