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Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. FLS-W-09-01, Order No. 30994

February 2, 2010

Contact: Gene Fadness [phone], 890-2712

Website:
http://www.puc.idaho.govwww.puc.idaho.gov

Telephonic hearing scheduled in Falls Water case

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a telephonic public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., regarding a request by Falls Water Company for a rate increase. Customers will be able to listen in as well as testify to the commissioners who will decide the case by calling a toll-free number.

Falls Water, which serves about 3,600 customers north of Ammon and northeast of Idaho Falls, is seeking a 14.4 percent increase to its annual revenue. To meet that revenue requirement, the company proposes to increase its fixed rate for metered customers from $14 to $18 per month. However, the company proposes to decrease the portion of rates based on the amount of water used. That rate, the commodity rate, would decrease from 66.7 cents per 1,000 gallons used to 60 cents.

Falls Water estimates that the increase in the fixed rate and the decrease in the commodity charge will result in an average 14.9 percent increase for residential customers, an 8.5 percent increase for customers living in multi-family units and a 4.2 percent increase for business customers.

The hearing, conducted from the commission hearing room in Boise, begins at 7 p.m. Persons wishing to listen to the proceedings or offer testimony may dial toll-free 1-800-920-7487. You will be asked to enter a “participant code,” with is 76373262. The process will then continue as follows:

After you enter your participant code and are welcomed into the meeting, you may listen to the entire hearing. The phones of all those listening will be muted except for the person testifying.

 If you would like to testify, press *1 (star one) on the phone key pad at any time and you will be placed in a queue of those wanting to testify. When it is your turn to testify, a prompt will say, “Ask your question.” At that time, you will be sworn in and asked to state your name and address and offer your testimony. If, after indicating you want to testify you decide against testifying, push the # (pound) key and you will be taken out of the queue.

Those providing testimony are asked to eliminate any background noise (TV, radio, etc.)

At the conclusion of your testimony you may be asked questions.

The telephonic hearings make it possible for customers to testify without having to leave the comfort of their homes to do so. It also saves state taxpayer dollars because the considerable expense of time and travel for the commissioners and staff is greatly reduced.

For those who may not want to testify but have comments, the commission is also accepting written comments. Comments can be submitted via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at
http://www.puc.idaho.gov/www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (FLS-W-09-01) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to [phone].

A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, is available on the website. Click on “File Room” and then on “Water Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.