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Idaho Water Utilities
The commission regulates about 30 privately held water systems, or only about 1 percent of the
approximate 2,100 water systems in the state. The regulated systems vary in size from
companies with about 85,000 customers to companies with as few as 22 customers. These
companies provide industrial, commercial and residential customers throughout the state with
drinking water as well as water for irrigation, recreation and manufacturing. Most of the
unregulated systems are operated by homeowner associations, water districts, co‐ops and
cities.
United Water Idaho, Brian subdivision homeowners,
seek commission approval of United Water takeover
Case No. UWI‐W‐14‐01, Order No. 33154
(Nov. 10, 2014) – United Water Idaho and
the Brian Subdivision Water Users
Association are asking the Commission to
approve an application that would allow
United Water to connect to and take over
operation of Brian Water’s domestic water
system.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission was
still processing the case at year’s end.
Brian Water serves 46 customers along
Warm Springs Avenue near the intersection
of U.S. Highway 21 just east of the Boise city
limits. United Water Idaho provides service
to about 85,000 customers in the Boise
metropolitan area.
The Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality is requiring Brian Water to eliminate
contaminants from its domestic water
system. The most feasible way of doing
that, according to the applicants, is to
connect to
United Water’s system. Brian Water is
currently operated by a not‐for‐profit
association of homeowners, which supports
the proposed application.
Applicants estimate the project, which
includes extending United Water pipelines
and replacing existing meters and service
lines for 46 homes, will cost $1.35 million.
The applicants propose that Brian Water
customers pay for 10 percent of the
pipeline costs and all of the costs for service
line and meter replacement. The Brian
Water portion of the expense would be
paid by a $124.86 surcharge on Brian Water
customer bills every two months for 10
years. Customers may also choose to pay
the surcharge with a one‐time payment.
United Water’s customers’ portion of the
90 percent of the pipeline extension costs ‐‐
$1.2 million – plus Allowance for Funds
Using During Construction (AFUDC) and a
return on investment would be deferred for
proposed recovery in rates after the
company’s next general rate case.