20201222_jh1.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: JOHN R. HAMMOND JR.
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: DECEMBER 18, 2020

SUBJECT: CDS STONERIDGE UTILITIES, LLC’S APPLICATION TO CHANGE
RATES FOR NON-REFUNDABLE HOOK-UP FEE FOR A NEW WATER
CONNNECTION; CASE NO. SWS-W-20-01.

On November 30, 2020, Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Staff”)
moved the Commission to extend the period of suspension in this case by 60 days. The Company
did not file a written response.
BACKGROUND
On June 4, 2020, CDS Stoneridge Utilities, LLC (“Company”) sought authority to
increase the hook-up fee for a new customer to physically connect to the Company’s water system
from $1,200 to $9,735. See Application at 1. The Company requested an effective date of July
27, 2020. On June 25, 2020, the Commission ordered the Application to be processed by Modified
Procedure and suspended the Company’s proposed effective date from July 27, 2020 to January
26, 2021. See Order No. 34702.
On June 29, 2020, Staff served Production Requests Nos. 1-19 on the Company. Staff
also served Production Requests Nos. 20-23 on September 16, 2020, on the Company. For
unknown reasons, the Company has been unable to timely and fully respond to these Production.
The Company’s last responses to these Requests for Production was delivered to Staff on
November 23, 2020.
STAFF’S MOTION
Due to the Company’s late and in some cases incomplete responses to Staff’s
Production Requests, Staff asserted it has not been able to evaluate the Company’s request to
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
increase its hook -up fee. Further, Staff stated it m ay need further information from the
Company on its request. Finally, Staff asserted that due to the Company’s delay in providing
responses to Production Requests more time is needed for Staff and the Company to file
comments a nd reply comments .
Staff argued Idaho Code § 61-622(4) provides that, after a showing of good cause,
the Commission may grant a request to suspend an effective date for additional 60 days. Staff
submitted there is good cause to extend the suspension period due to the Company’s failure to
provide timely responses to Production Requests and request ed that the Commission extend
the suspension period by 60 days from January 26, 2021, to allow Staff and the Com pany time
to provide comments in this case prior to the Commission issuing an order approving,
modifying, or rejecting the Company’s Application to increase its hook -up fee. Staff proposed
that the Commission set a written comment deadline for interested persons and parties of
January 26, 2021, and a reply comment deadline of February 9, 2021.
COMPANY
The Company did not file a written response to Staff’s Motion.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to grant Staff’s Motion to Extend Suspension Period for an
additional 60 days after January 26, 2021?
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Comment Deadlines setting a comment
deadline for interested persons and parties of January 26, 2021, and a reply comment deadline
for the Comp any of February 9, 2021?

__________________________
John R. Hammond Jr.
Deputy Attorney General

I:\Legal\WATER\SWS-W-20-01\SWSW2001_decmemo_jh.docx