20250801Order_for_Investigation_Order_No_36701.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 1,2025
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
INVESTIGATION INTO RIVERVINE ) CASE NO. RWS-W-25-01
WATER& SEWER,LLC, OWNER OF A )
WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION ) ORDER FOR INVESTIGATION
SYSTEM )
ORDER NO. 36701
Rivervine Water & Sewer, LLC, ("Company") is a private water utility located in Ada
County near Eagle, Idaho. The Company provides water to ten connections. The Company is not
currently regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") and does not
possess a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity("CPCN").
At the Commission's July 8, 2025, Decision Meeting, Commission Staff ("Staff')
presented a decision memorandum recommending the Commission open a docket to formally
investigate whether the Company is operating as a public utility that should be regulated by the
Commission. Staff based its recommendation on the Company's failure to respond to an August
23, 2024, letter in which Staff indicated it possessed information suggesting the Company may be
operating as an unregulated public utility within the State of Idaho.
We now issue this Order directing Staff to investigate the status of the Company and to file
written comments making recommendations to the Commission for any further action that may be
necessary.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
Considering the uncertainty surrounding the Company's regulatory status,the Commission
finds it reasonable to investigate the Company pursuant to the Commission's statutory authority
and jurisdiction under the Idaho Public Utilities Law, specifically Idaho Code§ 61-501 et seq. The
purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the Company should be a regulated utility
under the Idaho Code. Staff s investigation should include a determination as to whether the
Company is a public utility that should be directed to apply for a CPCN, and what further steps, if
any, the Company should take to comply with Idaho law.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Staff shall investigate the status of the Company, and
Staff shall file written comments making recommendations to the Commission for any further
ORDER NO. 36701 1

action that may be necessary. Staff may issue production requests,written interrogatories, or other
forms of discovery and pursue its statutory right to examine and audit the records of the Company
as they relate to the sale of water.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company shall cooperate with Staff s investigation.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary.See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this l' day of
August 2025. /
G
EDWARD LODGE, PR ADENT
17N R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
DAMN HAFbIE, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
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Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\WATER\RWS-W-25-01\O[de[s\RWSW2501_Invest jI.docx
ORDER NO. 36701 2