20250403Comments_1.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: John Schwandt
Submission Time: Apr 2 2025 9:05PM
Email:[e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1440 E. Margaret Av
Coeur dALene, ID 83815
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "CASE#GSW-W-24-01
I recently received notice that my water rates from Gem State Water Company are going to
be increase by NEARLY 80%!!
This means my median bill will increase from $35 to $62.65. Using the median instead of
mean number is a clever way to disguise the real changes that may occur when you have a
few high months of use.
I looked at my monthly cost over the prior 12 months and it fluctuated from $35.00
(minimum)to nearly$400 since I have a large landscaped yard with a lot of trees, shrubs,
flowers as well as lawn.
If I apply the planned rate hike to these numbers my rates would cost me $62.25 to over
$700 for a single month of water usage. My wife and I are on fixed incomes and barely
make the current cost, and I'm sure our fixed incomes will not be increasing by anywhere
near 79%!!
We have lived in our home since 1985 and we will have to consider moving or we will have
to cut off water and watch our precious plants die just so we can make ends meet.
I can understand how costs of operation can continue to increase—but I have a very hard
time understanding why they would need an increase of 79% so the company would
receive an additional%600,000 H GSW should be obligated to justify this request with
appropriate data at a public hearing.
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The company requesting this outrageous increase is trying to ram it through with minimal
public awareness so I strongly encourage the commission to hold a well-publicized public
hearing so that others who may not have been aware of this unpublicized rate hike will have
an opportunity to understand what is being proposed.
I strongly urge you to deny this outrageous increase in our water rates.
Thank you for the opportunity to share our concerns.
John Schwandt, retired
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