20050914final order no 29866.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 14, 2005
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION
OF LOW WATER PRESSURE IN A
PORTION OF EAGLE WATER COMPANY'SERVICE AREA
CASE NO. EAG-O5-
ORDER NO. 29866
On August 3, 2005 , the Commission issued an emergency Order directing Eagle
Water to immediately address low water pressure conditions in the Eagle Springs subdivision.
Order No. 29840. The Order also directed Eagle Water to prepare an engineering report of its
entire system. The report is to include a comprehensive analysis of the existing system including
projected water and facility needs to 2010. Id. at 3. Eagle Water was to advise the Commission
within 21 days of when the engineering study can be completed and submitted to the
Commission. The Order also required Eagle Water to file an Application for a customer
surcharge in an amount sufficient to recover the costs of: (1) the immediate system
improvements to correct the low pressure conditions; (2) preparing the system engineering
report; and (3) the legal, accounting and engineering expenses to be incurred in the preparation
of the report and the surcharge application. Order No. 29840 at 3.
On August 24, 2005, Eagle Water filed its Application for a temporary surcharge.
its Application, the Company maintains that it has alleviated the immediate low-pressure
problems by replacing an 8-inch mainline with a 12-inch mainline that is connected to the
booster pump serving Eagle Springs subdivision. The 12-inch mainline was operational on
August 5 , 2005. Surcharge Application at 2. The Company has also complied with the
engineering and cost directives contained in Order No. 29840.
In addition to the Company s assertions, Staff reports that its review of the water
pressure reports does not reveal any instances where water pressure in the system has dropped
below 20 pounds per square inch (psi). Staff also reports that it has not received any customer
complaints concerning the immediate low-pressure problems.
1 The Commission has received one letter from a customer in Eagle Springs expressing concerns about inadequate
water pressure in light of additional development occurring in the Shadow Ridge subdivision. She maintains that
the development at Shadow Ridge, at a lower elevation than Eagle Springs, will diminish water pressure and
capacity in Eagle Springs.
ORDER NO. 29866
DISCUSSION
Based upon the Company s assertions and the Staffs report, we find that Eagle
Water has addressed the immediate low-pressure problems and complied with the other
directives contained in Order No. 29840. In its Surcharge Application, Eagle Water has
identified three additional measures "that may further alleviate water pressure problems in the
Eagle Springs area.Id. at 2-3. The Commission will examine these three additional measures
in the surcharge case, Case No. EAG- W -05-
Having found that Eagle Water has complied with the directives contained in Order
No. 29840, we further find it is reasonable to close Case No. EAG-05-1 and turn our attention
to the Surcharge Application.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Case No. EAG-05-1 be closed.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally
decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. EAG-05-
1 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order
with regard to any matter decided in this Order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in
this Case No. EAG- W -05-1. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code 9 61-
626.
ORDER NO. 29866
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this l'l~
day of September 2005.
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
. /
J efl1)l D. Jewell
Cbinmission Secretary
bls/O:EAG-O5-01 dh2
ORDER NO. 29866