20250423Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSIONER LODGE
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: ADAM TRIPLETT
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: APRIL 23, 2025
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF PRIEST LAKE WATER,LLC'S APPLICATION TO
INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE IN THE
STATE OF IDAHO; CASE NO. PLW-W-24-02.
On October 8, 2024, Priest Lake Water, LLC ("Company") applied for a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity("CPCN"),to provide water service near Priest Lake in Bonner
County, Idaho. The Company also requested authorization to increase its rates from the current
single flat monthly rate of$37 to a flat monthly rate of$98 for residential customers and a flat
monthly rate of$100 for commercial customers. The Company requested a December 1, 2024,
effective date for the rate increase.
On December 4, 2024, the Commission opened this case, transferring the Company's
request to increase rates to it for processing and evaluation. The Commission further directed
Commission Staff("Staff')to recommend a procedural schedule for processing the requested rate
increase, contingent upon the resolution of the Company's request for a CPCN.
On January 13, 2025, the Commission issued Order No. 36442, granting the Company's
request for a CPCN.
On February 19,2025,the Commission issued a Notice of Application,Notice of Modified
Procedure, and Notice of Customer Hearing, establishing a public comment deadline of April 9,
2025, a company reply deadline of April 30, 2025, and scheduling an in-person customer hearing
in this matter for April 16, 2025.
At the Commission's April 10, 2025, decision meeting, Staff presented a decision
memorandum recommending that the Commission vacate the April 16, 2025, customer hearing,
due to scheduling conflicts and logistical issues.As the Commission would be unable to reschedule
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1

a customer hearing before the Company's current reply comment deadline of April 30, 2025, due
to scheduling conflicts, Staff further recommended that the Commission vacate the existing reply
comment deadline. The Commission verbally adopted Staff s recommendations during the April
10, 2025, decision meeting. A written order memorializing that decision is in process.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
After consulting with the parties, Staff recommends that the Commission issue an
Amended Notice of Modified Procedure,establishing a May 19,2025,deadline for Company reply
comments. Staff also recommends that the Commission issue an Amended Notice of Customer
hearing, scheduling a customer hearing for May 7, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. (PDT) to 7:00 p.m. or
after all testimony has been taken, whichever occurs first, at the Inn at Priest Lake, 5310
Dickensheet Road, Coolin, ID, 83 82 1.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to:
1) Issue an Amended Notice of Modified Procedure, establishing a May 19, 2025,
deadline for Company reply comments?
2) Schedule a customer hearing for May 7, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. (PDT) to 7:00 p.m.
or after all testimony has been taken, whichever occurs first, at the Inn at Priest
Lake, 5310 Dickensheet Road, Coolin, ID, 83821?
OJ4-..-, :Z�
Adam Triplett
Deputy Attorney General
I:\Legal\WATER\PLW-W-24-02_GRC\memos\PLW W2402_dec4_at.docx
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2