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Home My WebLink About20051116Comments.pdf.I~ ~b/6S v(- lio) PUBLIC UTiliTIES /-(; :s )-1; COMMISSION Public Workshop :CEiVEO Case No. BIT;~W;()5- :e~~I ~~d~~0 005 15 (,1"; 8: i 0 WHAT DO YOU THINK? !L;i\i!iJ F'uaLIC JI!L!TJES COt'1HISSIOrJ If you want your opinion noted in the record , please use the space below to write your comments. Add extra sheets as needed. You may either hand this sheet to a commission staff member or mail it to: IPUC , PO Box 83720 , Boise , 10 83720-0074. You may also post comments on our Web site. www.puc.idaho.gov lickon "comments & questions. Ctr.CD~\..L of fhi!\ c:p-b.-ati1U' VI/).t. 11\.vUvd~ () Y\ L I~ -l-M PO\f"q ./ ft. \It- JD\~ CA. MI0~~ f-f-Z I CD~ ~z. ~t..v\~ 'fi. ~:~~~~ ~~ ~d b ~\ ~ :::~f' ~~. ~I((~ c,D ~h-~ ~~\ 'f\ ~~.~ \A)l - ~ CJv. "-1- j~). t. ~-t. I;l)~- ~hc\ C,-k- \~~\ -k~$~~)ch1\~fS G.- ~V'J ~~ c\rt\\t)~ t1rx1 (bO~ \~/ \~(", ~t Q~ 8lhA "5€.iA!;L\;-- is tH- ~ j ~ U o.rJ Q1;U ~ . CY\I.X ~~. 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I r- C'r. 1,11"11 55 I 011; ! 1-1'- U COMM ISSION If you want your opinion noted in the record , please use the space below to write your comments. Add extra sheets as needed. You may either hand this sheet to a commission staff member or mail it to: IPUC , PO Box 83720 , Boise , 1083720-0074. You may also post comments on our Web site. www.puc.idaho.gov Clickoh "comments & questions. ~~~ ! ~7~d ~~ ~~(\~~: ~::~ ~r J\~ \1'01\\\0. D~ ~)~~h ~,::\t)O~ 0-- lJro'*' \D~ ~fu- \ \,S)CI. \)J\\.L"\J \ Xl\. Cc . \)1)d)-\ 0Q j~ ~).~ 0..."') 1'-,-- ~,Cj' H ()\o(~ , 0-0~ \ ()Joy- ~~\Y\~~X:m QUW'(\~tk ~. =~ ' ~dt~\0 ~ ~~~~ ~~~~~ 1.. Q \\ btl \ VI \j~ ~\t\cct ' ll-- \A ~D-\ ~~. ~ 0\* \0:... ")L d r~\-\!I ()JID. ,\ i\ . 0)\ on \ Y\R m u. L J, \. Print Name.JX\ II \~U' , \),wdr\r Sign Name Address 9D ~D't, W5CJ Phone Number U; City and State~(\ l(\'\ ,.!J:\ '8 ~ VL"- ~~~CL b\d-~lsO ~N\:s 0-- ~~G..hS \~~\c\~. !j; \A, X:b\ ~ ~~ lJL .torfV\ .W~ \0~. , ~\ 0\-- ~\)$ \. '(\ , \\$Q . W\W:: ~. 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W\C\ tD~~ ~dL jN\ t-\ ut\rt cC) .I JlI,"lu) Jean Jewell /1~Aj/. ,/ j; &rV'v'f'YLA-f) r fr From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Tuesday, November 15 , 2005 7:02 PM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WNW Form Submission: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 7: 01: 56 Case: BIT-W-05- Name: Levi and Angela Shoolroy Street Address: 29611 N. Silver Meadows Loop City: Athol State: ID ZIP: 83801 Home Telephone: 208.683.0893E-MaIl: angelas0icehouse. net Company: Bitterroot Water Company mailing list yes _no :cy~Comment description: -1. At its heart, an increase from $20 to $45 per month isdifficult to accept. It has been my experience that a user increase of 225% from current levels is driven by either a major upgrade to a utility or tremendous growth, either of which must be thoroughly substantiated and reviewed by both the Owner and consumers. It is our opinion that insufficient evidence is provided in the application to discern what the driving issue is for this proposed cost increase.2. It is concerning that the application was filed in June 15, 2005, yet notice to the consumers was made on or around October 20, 2005 by a post card with an invitation to a public meeting. No information was provided in defense of the proposed rate increase.3. The applicant claims that the proposed rate increase is, in part, to "maintain compliance with increasingly tougher government standards for water quality.Whichstandards are these? As a civil engineer, I work with municipalities to meet government regulations and am unaware of any new or more stringent drinking water standards that may be imposed on this system. A search of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) website indicates the water system was assessed for vulnerability in March, 2002 (http: / /www. deq. state. id. us/water /SWAReports/download/1280260BitterrootWaterCompany.pdf). Has IDEQ changed its position since then? If so, the applicant should provide documentation from IDEQ substantiating this claim.4. The applicant further claims that " (rJ ising power costs play the biggest role inrecent operating expenses. However, if one reviews the cost schedules, rising power costs account for an estimated increase of $1,098.45 from 2004 to the proposed rates. This amounts to an additional $0.79 per user per month on the base rate. This claim is not valid as presented by the applicant.5. The applicant also contends that these costs are "largely out of its control" are suspicious of this statement since several of the maj or increases suddenly arose over the course of one year, as noted below. Have payrolls been submitted for these expenses? What additional services are being rendered for $12,649 per year? What evidence does the applicant have that these are the result of IDEQ requirements or rising energy costs?a. Schedule 2, Subitem 1 "Operation Labor" increased from $0 to $6,324.50 from 2003 to 2004.b. Schedule 2, Subi tem 4 "Administrative and General Salaries " increased from $93.00 $6,324.50 ($6,231.50) from 2003 to 2004.6. The applicant is also requesting a large increase for "Billing and Bookkeeping expenses, which is in addition to the "Operation Labor " and "Administrative and GeneralSalaries" noted above. If all labor costs are summed, the total amount is on the order of$24,000, which would pay an individual for roughly 20 hours per week. Has this level of work been documented and substantiated? Some small municipalities run water, sewer, and road departments with this amount of time commitment.7. The applicant's claim for an additional $9,000 for chlorine residual testing appears considerably inflated. Standard water quality test kits for residual chlorine are readily available at a price of $25 to $50 with chemical costs of $0.60 per test. This is dramatically different than the $25 per test per day claim in Schedule 6, Item G.8. Meter maintenance is claimed, yet no maintenance has been performed to date at ourmeter. The installation was by our contractor and vegetation control has been our responsibility. Asking for $2,000 per year to do something we already do does not appearreasonable.9. The applicant is proposing to purchase a backhoe. Since meter maintenance has not been provided to our knowledge, one would ask if a backhoe is warranted. One could contend it is necessary for maintaining the well site. However, the site is fairly small (perhaps 0.5 acres). We live on 5 acres and seem to maintain our land sufficiently. Is this expense justified? 10. How can the company claim it has the capacity to serve an additional 90 customers (Engineering form), yet require capacity upgrades this year? 11. How can the company sell 21,875,000 gallons of water last year (Engineering form, page 2), yet deliver 19,550,709 gallons (Engineering form, page I)? 12. Engineering form, page 2: The main well pump is scheduled for replacement to increase its size. Is this to accommodate the additional 90 customers the applicantclaims to be able to serve? If so, these costs should be borne by the new customers who will be diminishing the capacity of the current users. Current users cannot be expected to pay for expansion required for future users. 13. Several of the items indicate a recovery period of four years. Can we expect our rates to decrease in four years if the proposed rate increase is approved? In summary, we ask that the Idaho Public Utilities Commission evaluate the applicant' claims in detail to verify these are warranted costs to pass on to the users. The purported reasons for the proposed rate increase from $20 to $45 per month are not valid based on information provided by the applicant. Perhaps the applicant has additional supporting documentation? If so, we believe this should be made public prior to a decision being made. Transaction 10: 11151901. Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dlll ipuc User Address: 208.187.252. User Hostname: 208.187.252. J. wJ(I~ /f/llif()~ Jean Jewell ./ ~ A--(o ~yYVt/J ~. I~ From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Tuesday, November 15 , 200510:36 PM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WWW Form Submission: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 10: 36: 20 Case: bit-w-05- Name: MIKE FORD Street Address: 28874 silver meadows loop City: Athol State: 10 ZIP: 83801 Home Telephone: 683 0384 E-Mail: tekmike0msn. com Company: bitterroot water co.mailing list yes no: Comment description: Hi; Thanks for the informative meeting at Athol. I hope that the pressure goes up; many times in the summer we can barely take a shower. I had intended to install a 5,000 gallon water tank with its own pump so we wouldn t have to contend with just a dribble. It seems like the low pressure is caused by the folks that use huge amounts of water; weuse only our minimal allotment (basic monthly charge). If the large users are causing the low pressure, shouldn t the cost to them rise more rapidly than $.75 per thousand? I guess more system pressure is a better answer. Can t a large feeder line be installed from the pump house directly to the north end of the system, so the system is more balanced? Can we drill our own well and disconnect from the community system? Thanks for your attention, Mike Ford (North end of the water line) Transaction 10: 11152236.Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dill ipucUser Address: 67.145.User Hostname: 67.145. , All, /h- /JrJvP' -011&/65 Jean Jewell .IY- /10 /10 From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Tuesday, November 15, 2005 9:52 PM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WNW Form Submission: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 9:51:48 PM Case: BIT-W-05-01 Name: Steve and Karen Schuman Street Address: 26571 N. Silver Meadows Loop City: Athol State: Id ZIP: 83801 Home Telephone: 208-659-2137E-Mail: sil verschu~adelphia. net Company: Bitterroot Wat~rmailinglist _yes _no: dL~Comment description: This increase request is over and above the local avarage! We would like to see a credit in the. winter months, just like we get an over charge in the summer months for going over the aloted amount. Something needs to be done with the people that abuse the water. Just not sure what the answer to that is. We appose this increase! Transaction 10: 11152151. Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dll/ipucUser Address: 69.172.199.161 User Hostname: 69.172.199.161 , ~4, /I-'r h--' J/ 'Iii ;f"'_ Jean Jewell t/1o Av./1u C4Yvv/V\ 1.1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Tuesday, November 15, 2005 1:49 PM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WWW Form Submission: Tuesday, November 15, 20051: 49: 07 Case: BIT-W-05- Name: Charles Rajewski Street Address: 4659 E. Lupin Lane City: Athol State: 10 ZIP: 83801 Home Telephone: 6836063E-MaIl: raj ewski0adelphia. net Company: Bitterroot W~~. Company mailing list yes no: /yesComment=descriptIon: can understand the seems ridiculous. You would think it wouldincrements. need for a rate raise but to go from $20 to $45 make more since to raise it in samller Will this rate raise improve the water pressure at my home??? Transaction 10: 11151349.Referred by: http: / /www. puc. state. id. us/ scripts/polyform. dll/ipucUser Address: 69.172.195.253 User Hostname: 69.172.195.253 Jean Jewell A, Wv;/ p'./)'V .r- i 1/1",)0- -;' jYfl /1-Ii. ~ H From: Sent: To: Subject: Ed Howell Tuesday, November 15, 2005 11 :39 AM Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark Comment acknowledgement WWW Form Submission: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 11:39:28 AM Case: BIT-W-05-1Name: Susan Costa Street Address: 30512 N. Silver Meadows Loop City: Athol State: Idaho ZIP: 83801 Home Telephone: 208-683-6410 E-MaIl: Baywinds2~yahoo. com Company: Bitterroot Water Co mailing list yes no: yes Comment=descriptIon: Regarding the request for rate increase at Silver Meadows Loop, Ioffer the following comment. It is indeed due for a rate increase. The requested amount of $45 is excessive. I would offer a rate increase to $35 base rate monthly, but also increase the commodity rate to allow the excessive water usage to be paid for accordingly.I have no formula to offer, but a suggestion could be $1.00/1000 gal over 15,000 gallons; AND a higher tariff for usage over 50,000 gal, perhaps$1.25 or $1.50 per 100 gallons. I feel the excessive users should be willing to pay forwhat they use over and above the "average " user. Transaction 10: 11151139. Referred by: http: / /www.puc. state. id. us/ scripts/polyform. d1l/ipucUser Address: 70.36.12.252User Hostname: 70.36.12.252