20200310Notice_of_Comment_Deadlines_Order_No_34579.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 10,2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF GEM STATE WATER )CASE NO.GSW-W-19-01
COMPANY,LLC'S APPLICATION FOR )
APPROVAL OF ACQUISITIONOF THE )NOTICE OF COMMENT
ASSETS OF THE WATER BUSINESS OF )DEADLINES
HAPPY VALLEY WATER SYSTEM INC.)
AND BITTERROOT WATER CO.,INC.)ORDER NO.34579
On November 18,2019,Gem State Water Company,LLC ("Gem State Water"or
"Company")appliedto the Commission for approval of its acquisition of the water business assets
of Happy Valley Water System,Inc.("Happy Valley")and Bitterroot Water Co.,Inc.
("Bitterroot").The Company also asked for approval to transfer Happy Valley and Bitterroot's
certificates of public convenience and necessity to Gem State Water.
On December 27,2019,the Commission issued a Notice of Application and a Notice
of Modified Procedure,setting a February 19,2020 comment deadline and a February 26,2020
reply comment deadline.Commission Staff filed comments that supported the Company's
Application as being in the public interest.Gem State Water filed reply comments that concurred
with Staff's analysis and recommended the Commission approve the Application.
On March 4,2020,the Commission deliberatedon the fully submitted case.During the
deliberation,the Commission noted Happy Valley and Bitterroot had not yet notified their
customers about the proposed acquisitions.The Commission declined to issue a final order until
the record reflected that the customers of Happy Valley and Bitterroot had been notified of the
proposed acquisitions and been given an opportunityto comment on them.
On March 5,2020,notice of the proposed acquisitions was mailed by Gem State Water
to the customers of Happy Valley and Bitterroot.
NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINES
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Application and other filings in this case are
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission's office.These
documents are also available on the Commission's web site at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click on the
"WATER"icon,select "Open Cases,"and then click on the case number shown in the caption to
this document.
NOTICE COMMENT DEADLINES
ORDER NO.34579 1
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this
Application must file a written comment in supportor opposition with the Commission by
March 23,2020.The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment.
Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.Written
comments concerning this Application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the
addresses reflected below:
For the Idaho Public Utilities For Gem State Water:
Commission
Commission Secretary Preston N.Carter
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Givens Pursley LLP
PO Box 83720 601 W.Bannock St.
Boise,ID 83720-0074 Boise,ID 83702
Email:,ud
Street Address for Express Mail:ak
11331 W.Chinden Blvd.
Building 8,Suite 201-A Eric W.Nelsen
Boise,Idaho 83714 Senior Regulatory Attorney
NW Natural
220 NW 2nd Ave.
Portland,OR 97209
Email:Eric.Nelsenginwnatugd.com
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document.Persons desiring to submit comments via email may do so by accessing the
Commission's home page located at Click the "Consumers"tab then click
the "Case Comment Form"and complete the comment form using the case number as it appears
on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by
March 27,2020.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received
within the time limit set,the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order
without a formal hearing.If written comments are received within the time limit set,the
Commission will consider them and,in its discretion,may set the same for formal hearing.
NOTICE COMMENT DEADLINES
ORDER NO.34579 2
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons interested in submitting written comments on
the Company's Application must do so by March 23,2020.The Company must file any reply
comments by March 27,2020.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /
day of March,2020.
PAUL lÉI LAN R,PRESIDENT
KRIŠTINE RAPER,CO MISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\WATER\GSW-W-19-01\orders\GSWW1901_nte_comment_deadlines_mh.docx
NOTICE COMMENT DEADLINES
ORDER NO.34579 3