20050119Comments.pdf

SCOTT WOODBURY
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone]
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In hiD PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
BAR CIRCLE "S" RANCH, INC. FOR
AUTHORITY TO AMEND ITS CERTIFICATE
OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY
NO. 296 AND EXPAND ITS CERTIFICATEDAREA OF SERVICE.
CASE NO. BCS-O4-
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its
Attorney of record, Scott Woodbury, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the December
, 2004 Notice of Application, Notice of Modified Procedure and Notice of Comment/Protest
Deadline in Case No. BCS- W -04-, submits the following comments.
BACKGROUND
On December 6 2004, Bar Circle "S" Water Co, Inc. (Bar Circle; Company) filed an
Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) for authority to expand its
certificated service territory in Kootenai County, Idaho to include a portion of the South Half of
the Northeast Quarter of Section 22, Township 52 North, Range 4 West, Boise Meridian
Kootenai County, Idaho (65 acres) to provide domestic water service to approximately 13 five-
acre lots. Idaho Code ~ 61-526; IDAPA 31.01.01.112.
STAFF COMMENTS JANUARY 18, 2005
STAFF REVIEW
Staff has reviewed the Company s Application, and response to production requests and
recommends that the request for service area expansion be granted. Staff further recommends
that all extension costs be recorded on Bar Circle s books as Contribution in Aid of Construction
(CIA C).
The Company wishes to extend service to the Country Estates Subdivision, an adjacent
65-acre parcel to be developed into five (5) acre lots. The legal description for the service area
expansion is the following:
The South half of the Northeast Quarter of Section 22, Township 52 North, Range
4 West, Boise Meridian, Kootenai County Idaho.
The proposed subdivision is directly adjacent to the current Bar Circle service area and
requires only a line extension across Ramsey Road to tie into the existing Bar Circle system.
The Company and the developer Ray Vaudreuil have submitted a signed line extension
agreement wherein the developer agrees to pay for the construction of the line extension and
provide the necessary easements to the Company. The construction is anticipated to include a
bore of 80- feet under Ramsey Road with 8" C-900 water line in a sleeve. It will include 2200
lineal feet of main, 13 two (2") inch service laterals and service connections, 3 fire hydrants
pressure testing and compaction. Construction is anticipated to begin as soon as possible
following the approval of the service area expansion.
Staff has reviewed the adjacent water utility information provided by the Company and
no other public water utilities regulated by the PUC are in the immediate vicinity. There are
several homeowner associations or water district systems within 3 miles of the proposed
development with the closest being the Panhandle Water Home Owners Association. Staff has
contacted via phone Panhandle Water and confirmed that the association is not interested in
providing service to the proposed Country Estates Subdivision.
The Company has indicated that it has adequate capacity to serve the system and that the
service extension will be at the expense of the developer. No change in rates are proposed with
this request.
STAFF COMMENTS JANUARY 18 2005
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the Commission approve the requested service area expansion.
Staff further recommends that all extension costs be recorded on Bar Circle s books as
Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIA C).
Respectfully submitted this
/ g
'111 day of January 2005.
Scott oodbury
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff: Michael Fuss
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STAFF COMMENTS JANUARY 18, 2005
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 18TH DAY OF JANUARY 2005
SERVED THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF, IN
CASE NO. BCS-04-, BY MAILING A COpy THEREOF POSTAGE PREPAID
THE FOLLOWING:
ROBERT TURNIPSEED
PRESIDENT
BAR CIRCLE'S' RANCH INC
PO BOX 1870
HAYDEN ID 83835
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE