20230127Veolia Public Workshop Press Release.pdf

Case No. VEO-W-22-02
Order No. 35670
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

NEWS RELEASE: Commission will host customer/public workshop on Jan. 31 regarding Veolia
Water Idaho application to raise rates

BOISE (Jan. 27, 2023) - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will host a customer and public
workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 31, to share information on an application from Veolia Water Idaho
to increase rates for water service.

The workshop will start at 6:00 p.m. MST and end at 9:00 p.m. MST, or after all customer
questions have been answered, whichever comes first. The workshop will provide the public
with an overview of the application from Veolia to increase rates. Commission staff will present
information on the application, and be available to answer questions. A formal customer/public
hearing will be held at a later date to accept testimony that will become part of the formal record.
At the workshop on Tuesday evening, staff will be available to answer questions. However, any
comments submitted by attendees will not become formal testimony until the customer/public
hearing is held at a later date.

To participate online, please visit idahogov.webex.com. At this window, please enter meeting
number 2452 700 5741 when prompted. There are no dashes between the numbers. At the next
window, please enter your name, e-mail address and this password: VEOLIARATECASE. To
participate over the phone, please call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 2452 700
5741. There are no dashes between the numbers.

Veolia represents that if the commission approves the request in full, customer bills would be
adjusted by 24.1% and company revenues would increase by 23.4% or $12.1 million per year.

In its application to the commission, Veolia says the proposed changes in rates and charges are
just and reasonable. The requested rate of return under the revised rates and charges will be
7.77%, which Veolia says is a fair return on the utility’s investment in property used to provide
water service.

The revenue gathered by Veolia under its presently authorized rates produces a rate of return of
4.59% based on a historical year ending June 30, 2022. Veolia is asking the commission for
additional revenues to recover increased operating expenses and costs associated with plant
additions. Veolia said the average residential bill would increase by $0.25 a day or $7.59 per
month. The average commercial bill would increase by $0.93 a day or $27.92 each month, and
the average public authority bill by $0.85 a day or $25.46 a month.

All of Veolia’s retail rates and charges, both recurring and non-recurring, including those of
special contract customers, are at issue, and every component of every existing and proposed rate
and charge is at issue. The commission may approve, reject, or modify the rates and charges
proposed and may find that rates and charges different from those proposed by any party are just,
fair, and reasonable.

In December of 2021, the commission approved a settlement agreement that allowed SUEZ
Water Idaho to acquire the assets of Eagle Water Company. Legacy Eagle Water Company area
customer rates will continue to phase-in over time. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, existing Eagle Water
customers’ rates will be set at 50 percent of SUEZ’s approved rates. Each year thereafter on Jan.
1, existing customers’ phase-in rates will increase by approximately 8.33 percent until their rates
are 100 percent of SUEZ’s approved rates.

For additional information about Veolia’s application, please visit:
https://puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6908.