20040121Stipulation.pdf

Dean J. Miller (ISE No. 1968)
McDevitt & Miller LLP
420 West Bannock Street
O. Box 2564-83701
Boise, Idaho 83702
208-343- 7500 (T)
208-336-6912 (F)
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Attorneys for United Water Idaho Inc.
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MA TTER OF UNITED WATER
IDAHO's TARIFF ADVICE TO INCREASE
CUSTOMER RATES TO RECOVER THE
CITY OF BOISE's 4% FRANCHISE FEE
Case No. UWI~O3~
STIPULA TON
United Water Idaho Inc., (United) and the Staff ofthe Idaho Public Utilities Commission
(Staff) hereby stipulate and agree as follows:
1. United's Motion to Alter Order No. 29359, dated December 18 2003 is currently
pending before the Commission. In the Motion to Alter, United proposed to refund to its
customers franchise fee revenues collected from its customers in excess of a 3% franchise fee by
way of bill credits.
2. On January 8 , 2004, Staff submitted to the Commission a Decision Memorandum in
which Staff supported refunds by bill credits, but raised the issue of refunds for customers who
may have left United's system during the period October 1 2003 through December 16 2003
(the refund period).
3. United estimates that during the refund period it rendered approximately 2 600 final
bills. It is currently unknown how many customers who received final bills thereafter
commenced service at a new location on United's system (in which case any bill credit would
follow the customer to the new location) and how many customers left the system altogether.
STIPULATION-
United estimates that the average credit/refund owing to customers who left the system entirely
would be approximately $.50. United also estimates that the total amount owing to customers
who left the system would be less that $2 000.
4. Taking into account the relatively small amount of money to be refunded when
compared to the expense of finding customers and issuing refunds, United and Staff agree that
the following process is reasonable in this circumstance:
a. United will cause to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in
the Idaho Statesman legal notices section a notice in substantially the following
form:
TO FORMER CUSTOMERS OF UNITED WATER IDAHO INC:
If you were a customer of United Water Idaho during the period October
, 2003 and December 16 , 2003 , and if you were a resident of the City of
Boise, and if you ceased being a customer of United Water Idaho during
that period you may be eligible for a refund of some portion of payments
for the Boise City Franchise Fee that were included on bills you received.
To determine if you are eligible you may contact United Water Idaho by
calling [phone] or writing United Water Idaho 8248 W. Victory
Road, Boise ID 83709. All inquiries must be received by (60 days after
publication) .
b. For a period of 60 days after final publication of the notice United will make
refunds to former customers who respond to the notice and who establish an
entitlement thereto. Thereafter, United shall have no further obligation to make
refunds.
c. After the 60 day refund period, United, to the extent possible, shall calculate
the un-refunded amount of franchise fee collections in excess of3% and report
that amount to the Staff. United will then credit that amount to Account
No.904000, Bad Debt Expense.
STIPULATION-
5. Staff and United request that the Commission approve the foregoing process in its
Order ruling on United's Motion to Alter Order No. 29359.
Dated this-z.\day of January, 2004.
McDevitt & Miller LLP Staff of the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission
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Deputy Attorney General
Attorney for Commission StaffAttorneys for United Water Idaho Inc.
STIPULATION-