2018Annual Report.pdf

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NAME
PO Box 1261
Hayden Lake, ID 83835
ADDRESS
TO THE
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
YEAR ENDED 2018
FOR THE
ANNUAL REPORT FOR WATER UTILITIES TO
THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 2018
COMPANY INFORMATION
1 Give full name of utility
2 Dale of Organization
3 Organized under the laws of the state of
4 Address of Principal Office (number & street)
5 P.O. Box (if applicable)
6 City
7 State
B Zip Code
9 Organization (proprietor, partnership, corp.)
10 Towns, Counties served
RickelWater Company
4/1 3/1 995
ldaho
2446101d 95 N, Atho!, lD 83801 ma
PO Box 1261
Hayden Lake
ldaho
83835
Corporation
Kootenai County
11 Are there any affiliated companies?No
lf yes, attach a list with names, addresses & descriptions. Explain any services
provided to the utility.
12 Contact lnformation Name
President (Owner)
Vice President
Secretary
General Manager
Complaints or Billing
Engineering
Emergency Service
Accounting
13 Were any water systems acquired during the year or any additions/deletions made
to the service area during the year? No
lf yes, attach a list with names, addresses & descriptions. Explain any services
provided to the utility.
14 Where are the Company's books and records kept?
Street Address 2446'l Old Hwy 95 N
City Athol
State ldaho
83801
Ken Rickel
Ken Rickel
Rickel
Ken Rickel
Rickel
lnland NW Consultants
Ken Rickel
Susan Jacobson
Phone No.
208-683-8105
208-683-8105
05
208-683-8105
0s
208-773-8370
208-683-8105
303-9414005
Rev 3/02
zip
Page 1
NAME: Rickel Water Company
COMPANY INFORMATION (Cont.)
Forthe Year Ended 2018
15 ls the system operated or maintained under a
service contract?
16 lf yes: With whom is the contract?
When does the contract expire?
What services and rates are included?
Name of Organization
Name of owner or operator
Mailing Address
City
State
zip
17 ls water purchased for resale through the system?
18 lf yes
Yes
Bitterroot Water Company
No
Ken Rickel
PO Box 2306
Hayden Lake
ldaho
83835
Water Purchased
19 Has any system(s) been disapproved by the
ldaho Department of Environmental Quality?
lf yes, attach full explanation
20 Has the ldaho Department of Environmental Quality
recommended any improvements?
lf yes, attach full explanation
21 Number of Complaints received during year concerning:
Quality of Service
High Bills
Disconnection
22 Number of Customers involuntarily disconnected
23 Date customers last received a copy of the Summary
of Rules required by IDAPA 31.21.01.701?
Attach a copy of the Summary
24 Did significant additions or retirements from the
Plant Accounts occur during the year?
lf yes, attach full explanation
and an updated system map
Gallons/CCF
934,120
$Amount
$ 280.24
No
No
0
0
0
0
May-2018
Yes
Rev 3/02
Page 2
NAME: Rickel Water Company
ACCT #
REVENUE & EXPENSE DETAIL
Forthe Year Ended 2018
DESCRIPTION
1
2
3
4
5
o
7
8
4OO REVENUES
460 Unmetered Water Revenue
461.1 Metered Sales - Residential
461.2 Metered Sales - Commercial, lndustrial
462 Fire Protection Revenue
464 Other Water Sales Revenue
465 lrrigation Sales Revenue
466 Sales for Resale
400 Total Revenue (Add Lines 1 - 7)
(also enter result on Page 4, line 1)
* DEQ Fees Billed separately to customers
** Hookup or Connection Fees Collected
***Commission Approved Surcharges Collected
401 OPERATING EXPENSES
601.1-6 Labor - Operation & Maintenance
601.7 Labor - Customer Accounts
601.8 Labor - Administrative & General
603 Salaries, Otficers & Directors
604 Employee Pensions & Benefits
610 Purchased Water
615-16 Purchased Power & Fuel for Power
618 Chemicals
620.1-6 Materials & Supplies - Operation & Maint.
620.7-B Materials & Supplies - Administrative & General
631-34 Contract Services - Professional
635 Contract Services - Water Testing
636 Contract Services - Other
64142 Rentals - Property & Equipment
650 Transportation Expense
656-59 lnsurance
660 Advertising
666 Rate Case Expense (Amortization)
667 Regulatory Comm. Exp. (Other except taxes)
670 Bad Debt Expense
675 Miscellaneous
$
$ 6,033
$
I
10
11
$
$ 6,033
Booked to Acct #
Booked to Acct #
Booked to Acct #
460.1
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
$70
$85
$
$280
$567
$ 1,380
$
$293
$
$
Tota! Operating Expenses (Add lines 12 - 32, also enter on Pg 4, line 2) $ 3,269
594
Rev 3/02
Page 3
Name: RickelWaterCompany
INCOME STATEMENT
For Year Ended 2018
ACCT #DESCRIPTION
1
2
3
4
5
b
7
8
Revenue (From Page 3, line 8)
Operating Expenses (From Page 3, line 33)
Depreciation Expense
Amortization, Utility Plant Aquisition Adj.
Amortization Exp. - Other
Regulatory Fees (PUC)
Property Taxes
PayrollTaxes
Other Taxes (list) DEQ Fees
$ 6,033
$ 3,269
403
406
407
408.1 0
408.1 1
408.12
$9,469
$50
$690
9A 408.13
9B
9C
9D
10 409.10
11 409.11
12 410.10
13 410.11
14 411
15 412
16
17 413
18 414
19
20 415
21 416
22 419
23 420
24 421
25 426
26 408.20
27 409-20
28
29
30 427.3
31 427.5
32
Federal lncome Taxes
State lncome Taxes
Provision for Deferred lncome Tax - Federal
Provision for Deferred lncome Tax - State
Provision for Deferred Utility lncome Tax Credits
lnvestment Tax Credits - Utility
$20
Total Expenses from operations before interest (add lines 2-15)
lncome From Utility Plant Leased to Others
Gains (Losses) From Disposition of Utility Plant
Net Operating lncome (Add lines 1, 17 &18less line 16)
Revenues, Merchandizing Jobbing and Contract Work
Expenses, Merchandizing, Jobbing & Contracts
lnterest & Dividend lncome
Allowance for Funds used During Construction
Miscellaneous Non-Utility lncome
Miscellaneous Non-Utility Expense
Other Taxes, Non-Utility Operations
lncome Taxes, Non-Utility Operations
Net Non-Utility lncome (Add lines 20,22,23 & 24 less lines 21 ,25,26, &27)
Gross lncome (add lines 19 & 28)
lnterest Exp. on Long-Term Debt
Other lnterest Charges
NET INCOME (Line 29 less lines 30 & 31) (Also Enter on Pg 9, Line 2)
$ 13,498
$ (7,465)
$
$148
$350
$ (202)
$ (7,667)
$
Rev 3/02
Page 4
$ (7,667)
Name: RickelWaterCompany
ACCOUNT 101 PLANT IN SERVICE DETAIL
For Year Ended 2018
SUB
ACCT #DESCRIPTION
Balance
Beginning
of Year
Added
During
Year
Removed
During
Year
Balance
End of
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
320
330
331
333
334
335
336
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
Organization
Franchises and Consents
Land & Land Rights
Structures and lmprovements
Collecting & lmpounding Reservoirs
Lake, River & Other lntakes
Wells
lnfiltration Galleries & Tunnels
Supply Mains
Power Generation Equipment
Power Pumping Equipment
Purification Systems
Distribution Reservoirs & Standpipes
Trans. & Distrib. Mains & Accessories
Services
Meters and Meter lnstallations
Hydrants
Backflow Prevention Devices
Other Plant & Misc. Equipment
Office Furniture and Equipment
Transportation Equ ipment
Stores Equipment
Tools, Shop and Garage Equipment
Laboratory Equipment
Power Operated Equipment
Communications Equipment
Miscellaneous Equipment
Other Tangible Property
2
$
$5
$13 103
$
54
$
17 298 $
$
172
1 932
$275
$$
727 0
$$
$$
585
$
$
TOTAL PLANT IN SERVICE
(Add lines 1-28)
$ 206 $0
g A year tota on ne1
2,098$
$
5,094$
$ 13,103
$
$
$ 54,380
$
$
$
$ 17,298
$
$
$ 90,172
$
102$$ 19,035
$275
$
$
1,270$4,997$
$
$
$
$
1,585$
$
$
$
1,373$$ 208,037
Rev 3/02
Page 5
Name: RickelWaterCompany
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT 108.1 DETAIL
For Year Ended 2018
SUB
ACCT #
Depreciation
Rate
Yo
#Dtv/0!
#Dtv/0!
#Dtv/0!
#Dtv/0!
5120000.00%
#Dtv/0!
-233333.33%
Balance
Beginning
of Year
Balance
End of
Year
lncrease
or
46 1
1 304
2 305
3 306
4 307
5 308
6 309
7 310
8 311
I 320
10 330
11 331
12 333
13 334
14 335
15 336
16 339
DESCRIPTION
Structures and lmprovements
Collecting & lmpounding Reservoirs
Lake, River & Other lntakes
Wells
lnfiltration Galleries & Tunnels
Supply Mains
Power Generation Equipment
Power Pumping Equipment
Purification Systems
Distribution Reservoirs & Standpipes
Trans. & Distrib. Mains & Accessories
Services
Meters and Meter lnstallations
Hydrants
Backflow Prevention Devices
Other Plant & Misc. Equipment
Office Furniture and Equipment
Transportation Equipment
Stores Equipment
Tools, Shop and Garage Equipment
Laboratory Equipment
Power Operated Equipment
Communications Equipment
Miscellaneous Equipment
Other Tangible Property
TOTALS (Add Lines 1 - 25)
$
$
$
$
01
1
154
$
$
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
Rev 3/02
130
Enter beginning yeat on Pg 7, Line 7
Page 6
9,489$$
$ 46,312 $
6,029$$
$ 62,013 $
5,120$$
$154$
$980 $
$$ 130,097
Name: RickelWaterCompany
ASSETS
DESCRIPTION
Utility Plant in Service (From Pg 5, Line 29)
Utility Plant Leased to Others
Plant Held for Future Use
Construction Work in Progress
Utility Plant Aquisition Adjustment
Subtotal (Add Lines 1 - 5)
Accumulated Depreciation (From Pg 6, Line 26)
Accum. Depr. - Utility Plant Lease to Others
Accum. Depr. - Property Held for Future Use
Accum. Amort. - Utility Plant in Service
Accum. Amort. - Utility Plant Lease to Others
Accumulated Amortization - Aquisition Adj.
Net Utility Plant (Line 6 less lines 7 - 12)
lnvestment in Subsidiaries
Other lnvestments
Total lnvestments (Add lines 14 & 15)
Cash
Short Term lnvestments
Accts/Notes Receivable - Customers
Other Receivables
Receivables from Associated Companies
Materials & Supplies lnventory
Prepaid Expenses
Unbilled (Accrued) Utility Revenue
Provision for Uncollectable Accounts
Total Current (Add lines 17 -24 less line 25)
Unamortized Debt Discount & Expense
Preliminary Survey & lnvestigation Charges
Deferred Rate Case Expenses
Other Deferred Charges
TotalAssets (Add lines 13, 16 & 26 - 30)
BALANCE SHEET
For Year Ended 2018
Balance
Beginning
of Year
$2 665
$ 206,665
130
$7
7
$53
019
$ 131 540
Balance
End of
Year
lncrease
$
30
$31
or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
ACCT #
101
102
103
105
114
1 08.1
108.2
108.3
110.1
110.2
115
123
125
131
135
141
142
145
151
162
173
143
181
183
184
186
$
52
$
$
$
$
$
$52
1
01
53
2$
$
$
$
$
$
0$
0$
$
2,100$$
$0
$
$
$
$
$
0$
Rev 3/02
Page 7
Name: Ricket Water Company
BALANCE SHEET
For Year Ended 2018
LIABILITIES & CAPITAL
ACCT #DESCRIPTION
1 201-3 Common Stock
2 204-6 Preferred Stock
3 207-13 MiscellaneousCapitalAccounts
4 214 Appropriated Retained Earnings
5 215 Unappropriated Retained Earnings
6 216 Reacquired CapitalStock
7 218 Proprietary Capital
I Total Equity Capital (Add Lines 1-5+7 less line 6)
I 221-2 Bonds
10 223 Advances from Associated Companies
11 224 Other Long - Term Debt
12 231 Accounts Payable
13 232 Notes Payable
14 233 Accounts Payable - Associated Companies
15 235 Customer Deposits (Refundable)
16 236.11 Accrued Other Taxes Payable
17 236.12 Accrued lncome Taxes Payable
18 236.2 Accrued Taxes - Non-Utility
19 237-40 Accrued Debt, lnterest & Dividends Payable
20 241 Misc. Current & Accrued Liabilities
21 251 Unamortized Debt Premium
22 252 Advances for Construction
23 253 Other Deferred Liabilities
24 255.1 Accumulated lnvestment Tax Credits - Utility
25 255.2 Accum. lnvestment Tax Credits - Non-Utility
26 261-5 Operating Reserves
27 271 Contributions in Aid of Construction
28 272 Accum. Amort. of Contrib. in Aid of Const. **
29 281-3 Accumulated Deferred lncome Taxes
30 Total Liabilities (Add lines 9 - 29
31 TOTAL LIAB & CAPITAL ( Add lines 8 & 30)
** Only if Commission Approved
Balance
Beginning
of Year
Balance
End of
Year
lncrease
or
1$
$
$
$
$
$
0
0
12
16 601
81
$
$ tgt
01
31
$
$
$
$ 68,430 $ 68,430
$ 39,750 $ 39,750
$ (236,217\$ (266,340)
$ (128,037)$ (158,160)
$$
$ 16,601 $
$ 84,816 0$
$ 173,250 $ 173,250
$ (15,091)$ (15,091)
$ 158,160
0$
Rev 3/02
Page 8
Name: Rickel Water Company
1 Retained Earnings Balance @ Beginning of Year
2 Amount Added from Current Year lncome (From Pg 4, Line 32)
3 Other Credits to Account
4 Dividends Paid or Appropriated
5 Other Distributions of Retained Earnings
6 Retained Earnings Balance @ End of Year
7 lelqiption (Class, Par Value etc.)
STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS
ForYear Ended 2018
CAPITAL STOCK DETAIL
No. Shares
Authorized
DETAIL OF LONG.TERM DEBT
Year-end
Balance
$ (236,217)
$ (7,667)
$(20,456)
$ (2,000)
$ (266,340)
No. Shares
Outstandi
lnterest
Paid
Dividends
Paid
0
lnterest
Accrued
Commo n.no r value 1 336
8
K & C Rickel
lnterest
Rate
Note 0
109,336
$0 $0
Rev 3/02
Page 9
Name: RickelWaterCompany
SYSTEM ENGINEERING DATA
For Year Ended 2018
1 Provide an updated system map if significant changes have been made to the system during the year
2 Water Supply:Type of
Treatment:
(None, Chlorine
Pu nation or location
1.5 Miles West on Brunner Road
from north side of
before railroad tracks
Rated
Capacity
Total
Capacity
000's
Gal.
Fluoride
Filter etc.
Usable
Capacity
000's
Gal.
Annual
Production
Type of
Reservoir
(Elevated,Pres-
urized
Gal.Surface
Well
Water
Supply
Source
(Well, Spring,
Construction
(Wood, Steel
Steel
3 System Storage:
or Location
1.5 Miles West on Brunner Road
from north side of
before railroad tracks
(Duplicate form and attach if necessary. Asterisk facilities added this year.)
125 None 12,600
2,000 2,000 Pressure
Rev 3/02
Page 10
SYSTEM ENGINEERING DATA
(continued)
For Year Ended 2018
4 Pump information for ALL system pumps, including wells and boosters
Designation or Location Horse
Power
Rated
Capacity
&T ofP
1.5 Miles West on Brunner Road
from north side of
before railroad tracks
Franklin Motor
bmit pump curves un p usly or una'
Attach additional sheets if inadequate space is available on this page.
5 lf Wells are metered:
What was the total amount pumped this year?
What was the total amount pumped during peak month?
What was the total amount pumped on the peak day?
6 lf customers are metered, what was the total amount sold in peak month?
7 Was your system designed to supply fire flows?
lf Yes: What is current system rating?
How many times were meters read this year?
During which months?May
How many additionalcustomers could be served with no system improvements
except a service line and meter?
How many of those potential additions are vacant lots?
10 Are backbone plant additions anticipated during the coming year?
lf Yes, attach an explanation of projects and anticipated costsl
11 ln what year do you anticipate that the system capacity (supply, storage or distribution)
will have to be expanded?
Discharge
Pressure
Energy
Used
This Year
15 KW
year.
678,300
169,575
N/A
169 575
NO
18
9
10
10
NO
25 125 60
Rev 3/02
Page 1 1
UNKNOWN
Name: Rickel Water Company
Name: Rickel Water Company
SYSTEM ENGINEERING DATA
(continued)
For Year Ended 2018
FEET OF MATNS
ln Use
Beginning
Of Year
Pipe
Size
1
720
996
8"
o
lnstalled
During
Year
Last
Year
Abandoned
During
Year
This
Year
ln Use
End of
Year
Last
Year
720
9 996
CUSTOMER STATISTICS
Number of Customers Thousands of Gallons Sold
2
2A
28
2C
3
3A
3B
3C
Metered:
Residential
Commercial
lndustrial
Flat Rate:
Residential
Commercial
lndustrial
This
Year
38 7 795
4
5
Private Fire Protection
Public Fire Protection
6 Street Sprinkling
7 Municipal, Other
8 Other Water Utilities 7050
0 0
0 0
38 1,612
I
1 0
1,61239
Rev 3/02
TOTALS (Add lines 2 through 8)
Page 12
38 8,500
CERTIFICATE
State of ldaho )
)
)
SS
County of Hooktv..ar
WE, the undersigned, Kenneth W. Rickel and Catherine L. Rickel, of the RICKEL WATER COMPANY,
utility, on our oath do severally say that the foregoing report has been prepared under our direction,
from the original books, papers and records of said utility; that we have carefully examined same, and
declare the same to be a correct statement of the business and affairs of said utility for the period
covered by the report in respect to each and every matter and thing therin set forth, to the best of our
knowledge, information and belief.
t*/.2/
(Chief Officer)
in nts)
Subscribed and Sworn to Before Me
this -L day of -Lot-,
J
Yt!-
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires rar lrq I 7.oZo
gd UexceUjnelson/anulrpts^r{trannualrpt
cormtruuBm2GAlt
TOIARYPI.ETTCSdldaho
Rev 3/02
Page 13
RICKEL WATER COMPANY
PO BOX 1261
HAYDEN LAKE,ID 83835 Ken Rickel, General Manager
Telephone: [phone] or 208-660-2560
Fax: [phone]
To Our Customers:
This is a summary of the rules for termination of service for all Rickel Water Company customers as
determined by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC), as of March 1,1997. These rules cover
the rights and responsibilities of the customer and the Rickel Water Company. An explanation of our
rate schedule, other fees and landscaping restrictions has also been included.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact:
Rickel Water Company OR
PO Box 1261
Hayden Lake, ID 83835
208-683-8 I 05 or 208-660-2560
208-683-4315 (fax)
IPUC
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
208-334-0300
800-432-0369
RULES FOR TERMINATI ON OF SERVICE
TERMINATION WITH PRIOR NOTICE
With proper customer notice Rickel Water Company may deny or terminate water service for one of
the following reasons:
1. Nonpayment of a past due bill or payment of a past due billing with a NSF check.
2. Failure to honor the terms of a payment arrangement.
3. Obtaining service by false identity.
4. Refusing to allow access to the water meter shut-off valve.
5. Willfully wasting service through improper equipment or otherwise.
6. Failure to apply for service.
TERMINATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
Rickel Water Company may deny or terminate water service without notice for one of the following
reasons:
1. A situation exists that is immediately dangerous to life, physical safety or property.
2. To prevent a violation of federal, state or local safety or health codes.
3. Service is obtained, diverted or used without the authorization of Rickel Water Company.
4. Rickel Water Company has diligently attempted to notifo you of termination and has been
unable to contact you.
5. If ordered by any court, The Commission, or any other duly authorized public authority.
February 2018
(continued on next page)
Page I of 3
Rickel Water Comnany
Customer Rules
NOTIFIgATION AND BILLING
l. Meters will be read between the first and the fifth day of each month (weather permitting).
Invoices will be sent out on the fifth day with payment due on or before the 20tl'of the same
month. During the winter months a basic monthly fee of $30.00 per month will be charged.
At the next reading of the meters, you will be billed for any water used over 15,000 gallons
per month.
2. An invoice will be considered past due (25) twenty-five days after the invoice date. A written
notice of termination must be mailed at least (7) seven days before the proposed termination
date.
3. At least (24) t'wenty-four hours before the service is terminated, a notice will be left at the
property advising you ofthe steps needed to have services continued or restored.
4. When the 24-hour period has ended, another attempt will be made to contact you in person or
by phone before service is terminated.
5. No additional notice of termination is required if upon receipt of a termination noticeo The customer makes a payment arrangement and subsequently fails to keep that
arrangement,
o The customer tenders payment with a dishonored check, either at a Water Company
collection visit to terminate service or by mail.
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
If you cannot pay your bill in full or you receive a notice of termination, please call our office.
Pavment arrangements can be made to avoid termination of service.
Termination of service willbe postponed thirty (30) days from the date of a written certification from
a licensed physician or public health official stating the name of the person who is ill and their
relationship to the customer. The certification must show the name, title and signature of the person
certifoing that the termination of service will aggravate or create a medical emergency for a
permanent resident of your household.
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
If, at any time, you have a complaint concerning the termination of service, policies and practices or
any other matter regarding our service please contact Rickel Water Company in person, by telephone
or in writing. Your complaint will be investigated promptly and thoroughly. You will be notified in
writing the results of the investigation and we will make every effort to resolve the complaint.
If you are dissatisfied with the proposed resolution of your complaint, you may ask the IPUC to
review the matter. Your request may be done orally or in writing. Your service will not be
disconnected while the complaint is being investigated by the Rickel Water Company or the IPUC.
(continued on next page)
February 2018 Page?of 3
Rickel Water Companv
Customer Rules
RESTRICTION OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE
Service cannot be disconnected on Friday after 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, Sunday, any legal holidays
recognized by the State of Idaho or 2:00 p.m. on any day immediately before any legal holiday.
Service may only be terminated between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
The employee sent to the premises to terminate the services will identifo him/herself to you and state
the purpose of the visit. This person is authorized to accept payment in full.
HOOKUP
The Rickel Water Company reserves the right to deny hookups during the winter months due to
adverse weather conditions. New hookups will be scheduled as soon as weather conditions permit.
HOOKT'P CHARGES AND FEES
A one-time hookup charge of $6,000.00 willbe paid in advance for any new service hookup. The
extra costs of an out of the ordinary circumstances requiring additional equipment or special
construction techniques involved in the installation of a new service connection will be agree to in
advance and put into writing by the customer and the Rickel Water Company. Only one residence
per hookup is allowed, one stock tank will also be permitted. No irrigation of property will be
permitted.
The monthly rate is $30.00 per month for the first 15,000 gallons of water used. Water will be billed
at $1.10 per thousand gallons after the first 15,000 gallons used. Meters will be read between the I't
and the 5'h of the month. Payment is due in full (20) twenty days after the billing date and a bill may
be considered delinquent (25) twenty-five days after the billing date. Arrangements can be made to
pay in advance monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
Any customer check returned to Rickel Water Company due to insufficient funds will be subject to a
$25.00 NSF fee, which will be added to the customer's account. The customer will be contacted by
Rickel Water Company staff to make payment arrangements, as the current balance and the NSF fee
are due immediately.
RECONNECTION FEE
If water service has been terminated, any balance due plus a reconnection fee of ($25.00) twenty-five
dollars must be paid in full before service can be restored.
LANDSCAPING AROUND METERS
Any landscaping to be placed within 6 feet in all directions of your water meter is required to
have prior approval from the General Manager before the landscaping can be completed. Any
landscaping completed prior to June l, 2008 is exempt, with the understanding that if the current
landscaping does interfere with future water meter maintenance, it may have to be altered by the
property owner to comply with this rule.
NO ONE EXCEPT AN AUTHOzuZED AGENT OF TT{E RICKEL
WATER COMPANY SHALL TAMPER WITH, INTERFERE WITH,
REPAIR, CONNECT TO OR REPLACE ANY OF THE RICKEL WATER
COMPANY'S PROPERTY, EXCEPT IN TFIE CASE OF
EXTREME EMERGENCY
February 2018 Page 3 of 3
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April9,20l8
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLTC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT
APPLICATION OF RICKEL WATER
COMPAI{Y AND BITTERROOT WATER
SYSTEM,INC. TO COMBINE INTO A
SINGLE COMPANY
CASE NO. RIC.W-T7.OI
ORDER NO.34027
On July 28,2017, Rickel Water Company ("Rickel") and Bitterroot Water System,Inc.
("Bitterroot") submitted a one-page letter Application to the Commission to consolidate the two
Companies into one, The Companies stated that they are interconnected and share common
ownership. The Companies further stated that if the request were approved by the Commission,
they would continue to operate under the current rate structure and rules.
The Commission issued Notice of the Application and set an intervention deadline of
September 5,2017. No intervenors appeared. Staff reviewed the Companies' Application, spoke
with the Companies'owner, and requested additional information. Staff filed the only comments
and recommended that the request to consolidate the two water utilities be conditionally approved.
BACKGROUND
Bitterroot is an owner-operated water utility providing water service under Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) No. 3 19. It serves approximately 120 customers in
in Kootenai County, Idaho. Rickel is a contiguous water utility providing water service under
CPCN No. 324. It serves approximately 38 customers.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff recommended that the two Companies be allowed to consolidate into a new
company-Bitterroot Water System, Inc.-and to operate under the Bitterroot CPCN.I However,
Staff also expressed that the new entity should maintain separate rates and accounting of the Rickel
and Bitterroot Water System customer groups until the new entity obtains new rates through a
general rate case.
Staff reviewed the Companies' approved tariffs, and noted that it would be impossible
to operate the two entities under the same tariff without raising rates on one customer group or the
other. Staff commented that "applying Rickel rates to Bitterroot customer usage would increase
I The Application stated a request to consolidate under the name Rickel Water, but in subsequent conversations with
the applicants, the request was revised to use the name Bitterroot Water System, Inc.
ORDER NO. 34027
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the average Bitterroot bill by approximately 90h." Staff Comments at 2. The tariffs also contain
diff-erences in recurring and non-recurring charges, and rules and regulations. /d. Staff argued that
a consolidation under a unified rate schedule would be possible only after a general rate case was
filed. 1d. In discussions with Stafl the Companies agreed to retain the existing separate rate
schedules. 1d. Staff recommended that the consolidated Company work with Staff to update its
tariffs using the most current version of the Small Water Company Model Tariff.Id.
Staff evaluated the applicants' claim that the two systems are intercorurected. Id. at3.
Staff reported that the Companies did not sufficiently respond to Staff information requests. .[d.
However, the Companies stated that an eight-inch diameter pipe connects the two systems. .Id.
Staff highlighted a serious concern that the systems may not meet fire-flow requirements, a
concern the local fire department echoed when questioned by Staff. /d. Staff stated that any rate
case would require further evaluation of this issue. .Id.
Finally, Staff recommended that the new consolidated company write to inform
customers that it formed through the merger of Rickel Water Company and Bitterroot Water
System, Inc., and that it had obtained the Commission's approval to operate those Companies'
systems as a consolidated entity. Id.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Rickel Water and
Bitterroot Water System, Inc., their joint Application, and the issues involved in this case by virfue
of Title 61, and the Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 er seq. After
thoroughly analyzing the proposal and Staff s comments recommending conditional approval, we
approve the Application.
We find that the Companies' Application is reasonable and in the public interest. ,See
Browning v. Wood,99 Idaho 174,579 P ,2d 120 (1978) (noting that the Commission must consider
the public interest in addressing Applications such as this). We further find the following
conditions appropriate :
1. The combined Company must use the currently approved rates for Bitterroot and
Rickel until it files and obtains new rates through a general rate case;
2. The combined Company must work with Staff to update its tariffs; and
3. The combined Company must notify all customers in writing that the Bitterroot and
Rickel systems have consolidated into a single Company.
2ORDER NO. 34027
Accordingly, the Commission approves the Companies' Application to combine into a
single entity, Bitterroot Water System, Inc. under CPCN No. 319.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Companies' Application, and the merger of Rickel
Water Company and Bittenoot Water System, Inc. into a single public utility called Bitterroot
Water System Inc., is approved. The combined Company shall serve Rickel's and Bitterroot's
former customers under Bitterroot Water System CPCN No. 319. CPCN No. 319 is amended to
include the service area of Rickel Water Company CPCN No. 324.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that CPCN No. 324, issued to Rickel Water Company,
is cancelled.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the combined Company shall continue to bill and
collect under Bitterroot Water's and Rickel Water's existing approved rates until the combined
Company files and obtains new Commission-approved rates, through a general rate case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the combined Company work with Staff to update
its tariffs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the combined Company send notice to its customers
of the consolidation of Bitterroot and Rickel by no later than June 5,2018.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order. Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration. See ldaho Code $ 6l-626.
JORDER NO. 34027
?fr/DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of April2018.
PAUL PRESIDENT
Kru'fr;n^ Pa^ut
rru drnG hAp pR, e oh7-vrrs s r oNER
ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER
Diane M. Hanian
Commission Secretary
RICW 170 t_llnal_bkl
4ORDER NO. 34027
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