20081128Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER KEMPTON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: SCOTT WOODBURY
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: NOVEMBER 25, 2008

SUBJECT: CASE NO. BCS-W-08-01 (Bar Circle “S” Water)
BAR CIRCLE “S” WATER COMPANY’S REQUEST TO AMEND
ITS CERTIFICATE NO. 296

On November 21, 2008, Bar Circle “S” Water Company (Bar Circle “S”; Company)
filed an Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) requesting
authority to amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity No. 296 to include a new
subdivision, Double T Estates in Kootenai County, Idaho.
Bar Circle “S” Water Company provides water service to the Bar Circle “S” Ranch
subdivision located on the Rathdrum Prairie in Kootenai County, Idaho approximately seven
miles north of the City of Coeur d’Alene. The Company currently serves approximately 156
residential and 1 commercial customers. Residential customers are typically located on five acre
lots.
An application and plat map for a new subdivision, Double T Estates, has been filed
with Kootenai County for approval. The final plat has not yet been approved but approval is
expected soon and construction should begin in the next few months. The new subdivision is
located on approximately 237 acres in a portion of the West ½ of Section 14, Township 52
North, Range 4 West of the Boise Meridian (W½ S14, T52N, R4W, BM) in Kootenai County,
Idaho. This subdivision is located approximately 1,300 lineal feet from the existing Bar Circle
“S” service area at the Ohio Match Road and Ramsey Road intersection. A vicinity map is
attached to the Company’s Application and shows the location of the existing service area and
the proposed new subdivision. Also attached is a copy of the proposed plat map of the new
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
subdivision. A final approved plat map complete with detail of the location of all water system
installations will be provided to the Commission when completed.
Bar Circle “S” recently had a hydraulic engineering study performed of its water
system by Toothman-Orton Engineering. The new subdivision will contain 47 five acre
residential home sites. The hydraulic modeling study performed by the consulting engineers
determined that there is adequate capacity on the Company’s existing system to serve this new
subdivision without the need for construction of additional source of supply or reservoir
facilities.
Construction costs of the water distribution system including mains, valves, fire
hydrants, customer service line taps, meter boxes, meter bases and the line extension required to
interconnect to the existing water system will be paid by the subdivision developer and
contributed to Bar Circle “S” Water Company. The only cost to be borne by the Company will
be the cost of meters at the time a property is developed and service is requested. Addition of
this service area to the existing system will have no adverse effect on the Company’s existing
customers.
The Company is not aware of any other water company in the vicinity of the new
subdivision that would be willing and able to provide service to the area being developed.
Bar Circle “S” requests that the Commission process its Application under the
Commission’s rules of Modified Procedure.
COMMISSION DECISION
The Bar Circle “S” Water Company has requested an expansion of its Certificate of
Convenience and Necessity No. 296 to serve a new subdivision, Double T Estates, in Kootenai
County, Idaho. The Company and Staff recommend that the Application be processed pursuant
to Modified Procedure. Does the Commission agree with the recommended procedure?

Scott Woodbury
Deputy Attorney General

bls/M:BCS-W-08-01_sw