20170309notice_of_application_order_no_33727.pdf

Office ofthe Secretary
Service Date
March 9,2017
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NO.GPW-W-17-O1
OF GROUSE POINT WATER COMPANY,)
LLC FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
RATES AND CHARGES FOR WATER )
SERVICE IN IDAHO )NOTICE OF
)INTERVENTION DEADLINE
)
______________________________
)ORDER NO.33727
On February 22,2017,Grouse Point Water Company,LLC applied to the
Commission for authority to increase its monthly base rate,increase its consumptive charge for
customers using over 8,000 gallons/month,and add a new consumptive charge for use under
8,000 gallons/month.Grouse Point asked for the new rates to take effect on April 15,2017.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that Grouse Point is a limited liability corporation
providing water service to 24 customers in the Kuna,Idaho area.The Company’s existing tariff
is a simple base rate with a uniform single block structure approved by the Commission in
December 2003.Order No.29402.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company claims its existing rates are not
adequate to cover even half of the operational and maintenance expenses;do not recognize
significant capital improvements made since the last rate case;and that they must be increased to
continue operating.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company plans to notify its customers
about the proposed rate increase by distributing bill stuffers over the March 2017 billing cycle,
and through a news release in the Idaho Statesman.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes to increase its
monthly base rate from $22 per month to $113.86 per month (4 18%),and increase its
consumptive charge for customers using over 8,000 gallons per month from $0.50 per 1,000
gallons of use to $5.00 per 1,000 gallons of use (900%).
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes a new consumptive
charge of $1.83 per 1,000 gallons of use under 8,000 total gallons per month.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.33727 1
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Grouse Point claims that the proposed
increase is attributable to two capital improvement projects:in 2009.the construction of a new
well;and,in 2013,the replacement of an existing well that contained unsafe levels of uranium.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has designated this case as a
general rate case.As such,every component of the Company’s rate base and expenses are at
issue.The Commission may grant,deny,or modify the revenue requirement requested and may
find a revenue requirement different from that proposed by any party is just,fair and reasonable.
See Rule 124,IDAPA 3 1.01.01.124.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may approve,reject or
modify existing or proposed relationships between and among rates and charges within,between
or among customer classes or rate groupings and may approve,reject or modify existing or
proposed relationships among and between customer classes or rate groupings.Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may abolish,reduce or
create rate blocks or categories of rates and charges,abolish,create or reduce components of
rates and charges,abolish,reduce or create customer classes or rate groupings,and abolish,
reduce or create absolute or relative differences among and between existing classes or rate
groupings of customers.Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the tariffs,practices,rules and regulations,
service,instrumentalities,equipment,facilities,classifications,and customer relations of the
utility are at issue,and the Commission may address any of them in its Order.Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting workpapers
have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular
business hours at the Commission offices.The Application is also available on the
Commission’s web site at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click on the “File Room”tab at the top of the
page,scroll down to the type of “Open Water Cases,”and then click on the case number as
shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held
pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and specifically
Idaho Code §61-501,61-502,61-507,61-520,61-521,61-523,and 61-622.The Commission
may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.33727 2
SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
Due to the number of matters at issue in this case,the nature of the proposed increase
and the limited amount of time available between now and the Company’s proposed effective
date of April 15,2017,the Commission hereby suspends the proposed rates.The proposed rate
changes subject to this Application are suspended for a period of thirty (30)days plus five (5)
months from April 15,2017,until October 15,2017,or until such time as the Commission enters
an Order accepting,rejecting,or modifying the request in this matter.Idaho Code §S 61-622,
and 61-623.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter
for the purpose of presenting evidence or cross-examining witnesses at hearing must file a
Petition to Intervene with the Commission pursuant to this Commission’s Rules of Procedure
72 and 73,IDAPA 3 1.01.01.072 and -.073.Persons intending to participate at the hearing must
file a Petition to Intervene no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order.Persons
desiring to present their views without parties’rights of participation and cross-examination are
not required to intervene and may present their comments without prior notification to the
Commission or the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a
Notice of Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed.The Notice of Parties shall
assign exhibit numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued,the
Commission Staff will convene an informal prehearing conference at the Commission’s offices
for the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case and other issues as may be raised by the
parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following persons are designated as
Grouse Point’s representative in this matter:
Lisa A Wanner.ISB No.1296
Personal Representative
Grouse Point Water Company,LLC
P0 Box 9906
Boise,ID 83707
E-mail:[e-mail]
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.33727 3
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Grouse Point’s proposed April 15,2017 effective
date is suspended for a period of thirty days plus five months,until October 15,2017,unless the
Commission issues an earlier Order accepting,rejecting,or modifying the Application.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter for the
purpose of presenting evidence or cross-examination at hearing shall file a Petition to Intervene
with the Commission no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that discovery is available in this case pursuant to the
Commission’s Rules of Procedure 221-234,IDAPA 31.01.01.221-.234.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of March 2017.
/.
/
PAUL KJELLANDER,PRESIDENT
KRISTINE RAPER,COMMISSIONER
Zi //
.
////7L.
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane Hanian
Commission Secretary
O:GPW-W-17-Olbk
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.33727 4