20221110Gem State Water Public Workshop 11151.pdf

Case No. GSW-W-22-01
Order No. 35580
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

NEWS RELEASE: Commission will host workshop on Nov. 15 regarding Gem State Water
application to change rates

BOISE (Nov. 10, 2022) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is holding a public workshop
on Nov. 15 to share information regarding an application from Gem State Water Company to
change its rates for water service.

The workshop will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time at the Molstead Library
building’s Todd Lecture Hall on the North Idaho College Campus, 1000 West Garden Avenue,
Coeur d’Alene.

If the application is approved by the commission, monthly rates for customers would change
based on the diameter of their water meter and the water system they belong to. For example,
Spirit Lake
East customers (including customers formerly of the Lynnwood Estates Subdivision, would see a
monthly increase from $25.55 to $35.00. Bar Circle “S” customers (including customers
formerly of Diamond Bar), would see a decrease from $41.00 per month to $35.00 per month.

This is the first general rate case for Gem State Water. The utility consists of Bitterroot Water
Company, Bar Circle “S” Water Company, Spirit Lake East Water, Happy Valley Water
Systems, Troy Hoffman Water Corporation, Diamond Bar Estates and Lynnwood Estates
Subdivision. Rate increases were approved for individual companies from 2006 through 2019.

Gem State requested an effective date of Sept. 1, 2022. This was suspended by Order No. 35498,
which said the proposed rate changes were
suspended for 30 days plus five months or until the public utilities commission issues an earlier
order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the
proposed rate changes.

The rate changes would increase Gem State’s revenue by $402,000, which represents an increase
of 69.9 percent. The public utilities commission may approve, reject, or modify the proposed
rates and charges and may find rates and charges different from those proposed are just, fair and
reasonable.

Written comments on Gem State’s application are being accepted until Jan. 11, 2023. Comments
are required to be filed by e-mail unless e-mail is unavailable. To submit comments via e-mail,
please visit the commission’s webpage at puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “Case Comment Form”
link toward the top left of the page. Please use case number GSW-W-22-01 when filling out the
form. Any comments should also be sent to Gem State Water at the e-mail addresses listed
below. If e-mail is unavailable, comments may be mailed to the commission and Gem State
Water at these addresses:

For the Idaho Public Utilities Commission:

Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
[e-mail]
Street Address for Express Mail:

11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714

For Gem State Water:

Eric Nelsen
Senior Regulatory Attorney
Adam Rue
Rates and Regulatory Program Manager
Northwest Natural
250 SW Taylor St.
Portland, OR 97204-3038
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

For more information on Gem State Water’s application, please visit:
https://puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6894.