20250616Comments_3.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Donald Clark
Submission Time: Jun 13 2025 4:56PM
Email: clark.dc.ccCcbgmail.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 10076 W CoeurdAlene Dr.
Spirit Lake , ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "Request that case GSW-W-24-01 be denied for for Gem State Water due to the
following
Name of Utility Company: Gem State
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "Gem State Water is owned by Northwest Natural Holdings which is a publicly
traded company on the NYSE (NWN). Like most publicly traded companies, their goal is to
maximize the profits for the shareholders. Northwest Natural Holdings/Gem State Water
this is a monopoly situation have a Monopoly position on our water and does not follow the
spirit of Idaho and etc.
I request this case be denied
Thank You
Don Clark
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Glenn Fetter
Submission Time: Jun 13 2025 6:35PM
Email: glenn.pat hotmail.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2693 W. Diamond Bar Road
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-0
Comment: "I want to see water usage on the bills Gem State Water sends us showing the
units of water used; currently the bills do not state gallons, cubic feet, nor abbreviations for
either of these. Also, Gem State Water's Rate Sheets talk about gallons of water only,yet
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many of us have new cubic feet water meters. Does Gem State omit this information by
design, or are they too lazy to be precise? "
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Steven George
Submission Time: Jun 13 2025 6:03PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 16950 W Coeur d'Alene Drive
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-24-01
Comment: "June 13, 2025
To: Public Utilities Commission
From: Steven G. George
16950 West Coeur d'Alene Drive
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
RE: GSW-W-24-01
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commission, I am a rural customer of Gem State Water
Company and am deeply concerned about the impact of the proposed rate increase on
families like mine. I am writing to formally object to the proposed 78.8%water rate increase
by Gem State Water Company.While the base rate is set to increase from $35.00 to $62.65,
the proposal also reduces the included water allowance from 7,480 gallons to 5,000
gallons per month. The base bill would increase by roughly 79%, but the effective cost per
gallon of included water would rise by approximately 168%. This change severely penalizes
higher water usage. As structured, water bills could easily be doubled,tripled, or more—
placing an extreme burden on those of us in rural communities. According to the EPA, the
average American family uses over 300 gallons of water per day, with about 70% used
indoors and 30% outdoors—a figure that can be significantly higher in rural areas like ours,
especially for households situated on acreage. Based on these averages, a monthly base
water allotment should be at least 9,000 gallons just for standard household needs. That
estimate doesn't even account for additional water requirements common in rural Idaho,
such as livestock care, gardens, orchard irrigation, fire prevention, and landscape
maintenance. Reducing the included gallons while raising the base rate compounds the
hardship and ignores the real-world needs of rural families. This rate proposal feels
disconnected from the realities of life in rural Idaho. Unlike urban neighborhoods, we
cannot rely on municipal irrigation systems, sewer infrastructure, or community fire
protection.We are responsible for managing our land, animals, and safety independently,
which inherently requires more water. Penalizing this necessary usage through reduced
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base allowances and increased overage fees is not only unfair— it feels like rural families
are being financially punished for where and how they live. Looking at the numbers above,
it's clear how this proposal will severely and disproportionately impact the very residents
Gem State Water claims to serve. These increases are not within reason by any standard,
and the company's proposal appears one-sided and lacks consideration for rural realities.
If this proposal included a reasonable increase in the base water allotment—say, to 15,000
gallons for rural Idaho households—there could be room for meaningful discussion. But
under the current plan, this is simply a drastic rate hike with diminished service. I
respectfully urge the Commission to deny this rate increase as proposed. At minimum, the
Commission should require Gem State Water to provide:
• Transparency around current and proposed overage charges;
• A plan that accounts for the real needs of rural residents, including consideration for
acreage, livestock, and essential outdoor use.
Additionally, I am concerned about Gem State Water's recent acquisition of another
community system that required significant repairs. The costs of those repairs were
distributed across all the systems they operate—effectively spreading the financial burden
to customers who had no part in that decision. This sets a troubling precedent. What is to
stop them from repeating this pattern—acquiring troubled systems and passing the costs
on to existing customers? I urge the Commission to consider safeguards that protect
customers from bearing the cost of corporate decisions that do not directly benefit them.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I trust the Commission will protect the interests
of rural customers by denying this proposal.
The parent company of Gem State Water, Northwest Natural Water is located in Portland,
Oregon. Their Profit and Loss (P&L) statement shows:
• Net Income:
• Q1 2025: $87.9 million
• Q1 2024: $63.8 million
We cannot afford a more than $71,000.00 for each individual property for just each single
property to get our own well for water supply.
Many of those in eastern Oregon would like to secede from Oregon and become part of
Idaho for many reasons.
Please do not allow the millionaires of Oregon control us by limiting our ability to have our
water.
Sincerely,
Steven George
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