20130326Staff 1-24 to Spirit Lake.pdf

NEIL PRICE
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
P0 BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
ISB NO. 6864
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5918
Attorney for the Commission Staff
ii 'r 7013 MAR D AN
IDAhO Ub:.
L ill T:c r'rU'QI
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )
SPIRIT LAKE EAST WATER COMPANY FOR ) CASE NO. SPL-W-13-01
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND )
CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE IN THE ) FIRST PRODUCTION
STATE OF IDAHO. ) REQUEST OF THE
) COMMISSION STAFF
) TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
) WATER COMPANY
The Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its attorney of record,
Neil Price, Deputy Attorney General, requests that Spirit Lake East Water Company (Company;
Spirit Lake) provide the following documents and information on or before TUESDAY,
APRIL 16, 2013.
This Production Request is to be considered as continuing, and Spirit Lake East Water
Company is requested to provide, by way of supplementary responses, additional documents that it
or any person acting on its behalf may later obtain that will augment the documents produced.
For each item, please indicate the name of the person(s) preparing the answers, along with
the job title of such person(s) and the witness who can sponsor the answer at hearing.
FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST 1 MARCH 26, 2013
TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
REQUEST NO. 1: Please provide a copy of a map showing the general layout of Spirit
Lake East Water Company including wells and pumps, main/distribution systems and general
area/lots served by the Company.
REQUEST NO. 2: The Application did not provide the current number of customers
served. However, the Company's 2011 Annual Report indicates 289 residential customers and no
commercial or other classes of customers. Please provide the current number of all customers (i.e.
residential, commercial, etc.) served by Spirit Lake.
REQUEST NO. 3: Please provide the various service meter sizes installed by the
Company to date and the breakdown of the meter size for all customer classes receiving service.
For example, 100 residential customers - 3/4 inch meter, 25 residential customers - 1 inch meter,
etc.
REQUEST NO. 4: How many undeveloped lots still remain in the Company's service
area that could potentially request water service in the future? How many new connections
(residential or commercial) do you anticipate in the next two to three years? What service
line/meter size do you expect to install for new service connections (residential or commercial)?
REQUEST NO. 5: Staff understands that IDEQ conducted a Sanitary Survey on the
Company's water system in August 2011. Please provide any communication with IDEQ
indicating any deficiencies identified or recommendations made as a result of the sanitary survey
and the Company's response concerning status of compliance of such deficiencies and/or
recommendations, if there are any.
REQUEST NO. 6: Please provide any water quality and water system issues or violations
identified by the IDEQ since the completion of the Sanitary Survey in August 2011 and the status
of compliance of those issues/violations, if there are any.
FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST 2 MARCH 26, 2013
TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
REQUEST NO. 7: Please provide a list for the last three years of all service related
complaints (e.g. low system pressure, pump failure, water system leaks, water quality, high bills,
etc.) and an explanation on how each complaint was resolved.
REQUEST NO. 8: Please provide monthly water production data and appropriate yearly
totals for calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012.
REQUEST NO. 9: Please provide monthly water consumption data for each metered
customer and the appropriate total for calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Please provide
supporting data used in the calculations.
REQUEST NO. 10: For the purpose of estimating future revenues, please provide the
monthly excess usage per customer for calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Please provide
supporting data used in the calculations.
REQUEST NO. 11: Please provide an estimate of total unaccounted water losses due to
leaks, wasted water, etc. by month for calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Please explain how
these losses are estimated.
REQUEST NO. 12: The Company proposes to increase the base (fixed) rate from $12.50
per month to $24.75 per month and maintain the present commodity rate. Please state your
rationale regarding why you are proposing to increase only the base charge.
REQUEST NO. 13: Please provide documentation showing that the Company's proposed
rates will meet the Company's proposed revenue requirement of $150,414 (rate proof).
REQUEST NO. 14: Please provide a list of all water quality tests for the water source
(well) and the tests within the distribution system as required by the Idaho Department of
FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST 3 MARCH 26, 2013
TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
Environmental Quality. For each type of test, indicate the frequency, total cost per test and the
prorated yearly (normalized) cost. For example, Well No. 1, arsenic test, every 3 years, $20 per
test, $6.67 per year; nitrate test, yearly, $20 per test, $20 per year, and so on.
REQUEST NO. 15: The current Company tariff states that meter readings will be done at
the end of a quarterly billing cycle beginning January 1 except when conditions make the meters
inaccessible. Staff understands that the other regular meter reading periods are in April 1, July 1
and October 1. Please state how many meter readings were made and at what month during the
calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012.
REQUEST NO. 16: Please provide a sample copy of all the bills for a typical residential
customer during the calendar year 2012.
REQUEST NO. 17: In reference to the Company's proposal to conduct monthly meter
reading and billing, please provide an estimate of how many months during a typical year when
actual readings will be performed and specify the months covering the estimate. Please provide
justification for your assumption(s).
REQUEST NO. 18: Please provide calculations showing how the Company estimated per
customer test year water loss totaling 2,311,242 gallons and forgive revenue of $2,773.49 (See
Application, pg 2).
REQUEST NO. 19: Please provide a copy of any capital improvement project plan or the
Company's asset inventory and management plan.
REQUEST NO. 20: Please provide a list of all capital improvement projects initiated and
completed since the last general rate case. Please briefly describe the total cost incurred,
completion date and justification for each project.
FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST 4 MARCH 26, 2013
TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
REQUEST NO. 21: It appears that Leslie Abrams is now the owner and President of
Spirit Lake East Water Company as noted in the Company's 2011 Annual Report. However, there
is no official record of ownership transfer to the Company from the previous owner, Hanson
Properties, Inc. (Raymond Hanson, President). Please provide a copy of the sales agreement,
deeds, and other sales-related documents showing transfer of ownership from Raymond Hansen to
Leslie Abrams.
REQUEST NO. 22: The Company's 2011 Annual Report shows that the Company
contracts with Water Works, Inc. to provide regular water system maintenance, emergency
services and accounting. Please provide a copy of a current service contract between the Company
and Water Works, Inc. including cost for the said services.
REQUEST NO. 23: Please state any affiliation between Spirit Lake East Water Company
and Water Works, Inc.
REQUEST NO. 24: Please provide the name of the licensed operator for Spirit Lake East
Water Company. Please provide proof that the operator's license is current.
DATED at Boise, Idaho, this ?63j>.day of March 2013.
ea<~ -
Neil Price
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff: Gerry Galinato
umisc:prodreq/spIw13. I npgg prod req I
FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST 5 MARCH 26, 2013
TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2013,
SERVED THE FOREGOING FIRST PRODUCTION REQUEST OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF TO SPIRIT LAKE EAST WATER COMPANY, IN CASE
NO. SPL-W-13-01, BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE
FOLLOWING:
LESLIE ABRAMS
OWNER/OPERATOR
SPIRIT LAKE EAST WATER
P0 BOX 3388
COEUR D'ALENE ID 83816
Lklmoffilk"Y f
X41411411
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE