20220801Comments(12)_12.pdf

From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Saturday, July 30, 2022 1:00:14 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: David Clark
Submission Time: Jul 30 2022 12:10PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 9840 N Happy Trail
Rathdrum, ID 83854
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "July 29, 2022 I received notice that Gem State Water is seeking a rate increase of 82% for the Bitterroot/Happy Valley Water System. I have no basis or factual information
upon which to base my objection to this rate increase other than the amount of 82% in one fell swoop is obscene and outrageous for this small, rural water system!! And the notice received
does not address what the rate might be for overages that are not uncommon in the summer months. I find it hard to believe that an 82% increase is justified. We're all struggling in this
Bidenflation economy. We don't need additional struggles to keep water flowing in our taps."
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Saturday, July 30, 2022 5:00:13 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Connie Maxwell
Submission Time: Jul 30 2022 4:46PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 5070 N Anne Street
Coeur d ALENE, ID 83815
Name of Utility Company: Gem State
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "W e can't afford a higher water bill. With gas and food and our inhalers it is getting very hard to get by with a fixed income. Please do not approve this raise for Gem
State. "
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Sunday, July 31, 2022 7:00:25 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: james johnson
Submission Time: Jul 30 2022 7:17PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1290 E. Margaret Ave.
coeur d alene, ID 83815
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "James C. Johnson 1290 E. Margaret Ave. Coeur d Alene, ID, 83815 208-664-5195 A 30 plus year resident, homeowner at the above address. Received the 68% increase
request for the Troy Hoffman Water System, a portion of the 69.9% overall increase requested. Between the Avista utilities increase (ours $50 per month), this increase if approved
adds up to much bigger numbers, especially for those of us retired. We expected some increase, inflation all around. Assuming Avista was mainly natural gas as our electric portion
is mainly hydro generated, the dams long ago established. We have no idea of other costs incurred or improvements proposed by Gem State Water, this is adding $22.65 a month to our
service. We appreciate the water has always been safe and dependable, can support what is needed to continue the service. What is reasonable, what is inflation, what is prudent, if
inflation is truly 9%, 69.9% is a blowout number, a number needing the scrutiny of a Commission to examine. Thanks for hearing me out. Jimhttps://"
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 9:00:08 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Michael Mallory
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 8:54AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 26645 North Bitterroot Court
Athol, ID 83801
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water Company
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "To: Jan Noriyuki Commission Secretary ldaho Public Utilities Commission PO Box 83720 Boise, lD 83720-0074 Good morning, I am requesting an open forum in Athol
Idaho regarding the request of Gem State Water to raise our rates, I have been communicating with residents affected by this request and we are extremely unhappy. The issues concerning
us per month rate change, gallons per month reduction from 15K to 10K, before new rate per gallon kicks in, the charges Gem State Water has outlined are in question, respectfully we
need the commission to dig into this request and provide the open forum here in Athol. In our community, we only use six months for watering our lawns, flowers, trees. The request acts as
though usage is a year around demand, the water company does not read meters during the off months (6) since they are snow covered, for this period they send a monthly bill at the base
rate and when meters are first read usually in April, if there is any overage a bill is sent with those details. From my descriptions on operation this request is way out of line for the service
provided. Thank you, Michael Mallory "
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 10:00:06 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Paul East
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 9:09AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 28657 N. Silver Meadows Loop
Athol, ID 83801
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "Refering to Gem State Water's Proposed 'General Rate Increase', specifically the'Bitterroot System'. the proposed increase of 135% for this system is a financial hardship on
this family of two retired seniors living on Social Security alone. We do understand Gem Stateneed for an increase but it should be perhaps phased over a period determined by the PUC, and
trust in that Commission's ability to fairly look at all factors involved defore giving Gem StateWater a 'Windfall' of this statue. As a retired Senior Construction Project Manager in the
building of Water & Waste Water Plant Systems, I have followed Gem State's acquisition ofBitterroot Water Co., I understand Gem State's investment in bringing Bitterroot Water's plant
up to PUC & Federal 'Standards', however they seem to want the 'WholeEnchilada'.....Respectfully Submitted, Paul L. East"
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 12:00:06 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Linda Jones
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 11:49AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 4100 E Lupin Ln
Athol, ID 83801
Name of Utility Company: Bitterroot
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "The proposed rate for water is 135% increase for our area. We currently pay$21.00 per month, the proposed amount is $49.25, which is completely out of line and
highway robbery. We are retired and living on a fixed income, this is outrageous. Everything has increased and now water which is a great necessity is going to be affordable for us. Any
updating or repairs that Gem State Water needs to conduct, can be written off on their taxes, the consumer should not be responsible for it. Also, they will be making a disgusting amount
of profit with this increase, which is morally wrong!"
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 1:00:06 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Dale Fitzgerald
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 12:27PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 29448 N Silver Meadows Loop
Athol, ID 83801
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "This is regarding the outrageous price increase request from Gem State Water. I have been a resident at this address for 18 years and in that time only one rate increase has
been approved so I am not totally against any kind of increase but I think it should be reasonable. In this rate increase request our basic monthly rate goes from $21 to $49.25 and
they cut our basic allowance from 15,000 to 10,000 gallons and then want to increase the over usage fee from $1.73 / 1,000 gals to $2.85. My last year's record shows that I exceeded the
15,000 gallon limit only 5 months and during the winter months where they don't read the meter I had an average usage of around 3500 gallons per month. During these low usage
months I am paying for many thousands of gallons of water that I am not using which is just pure profit for the company. I would think just raising the basic fee $10 or $15 and keep
everything else the same would be a more reasonable request"
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 2:00:06 PM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Janet Lucero
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 1:13PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1657 W Highway 54
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: GEM State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "As a resident of the SPIRIT LAKE EAST development, and as a customer of GEM Stater Water district, I OPPOSE the proposed 69% rate hike that GEM State Water has
applied for. The 69% proposed hike is EXCESSIVE! Please do NOT approve this excessively HIGH rate increase. If the PUC approves this rate increase, water will become unaffordable to
home owners. "
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 3:00:06 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: James Johnson
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 2:20PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 17955 N Wrangler
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "I want to state that the rate increase that Gem State Water is seeking is unnecessary and unjust and I am against this proposal. By Gem States own accounting they
have several items that increase their revenue requirement that are not a recurring charge, such as: a truck purchase for $87,150.00, contracting items for $72,849.00 and $9,148.00 also a
misc. charge of $ 49,021.00. These non recurring charges come to a total of $218,168.00. These charges are enough to disprove Gem States requirement for revenue increase. Gem
States administration costs are also too high at $94,991.00. My Question is that is this Public Utility Company looking to spend away dollars to get an unjust rate increase? They certainly
do not look as though they are trying to save money, they could have leased a truck far less expensive and saving approx. $80,000.00, and what is in the misc expense for $49,021.00 ? So
in my opinion a rate increase of a realized 30% in my overage cost and others nearly 500% is totally unfair and unjust. Thank you, Jim Johnson"
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Saturday, July 30, 2022 3:00:07 PM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Judy Dlouhy
Submission Time: Jul 30 2022 2:31PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 6608 E Williams Ln
Athol, ID 83801
Name of Utility Company: No Answer
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "How does this water co have the right to increase our water bill by 102% and the other systems only increase by 64 to 82 %. How do they decide which systems pay more than
others ? It would be nice if our annual revenue from SSA went up by $ 402,000 !! I think the customers need to have a meeting with Gem State before this increase. Thank you , Judy
Dlouhy"
------
Name: Larry TanzerSubmission Time: Jul 30 2022 2:17PM
Email: [e-mail]: 208-623-2618
Address: 6509 W Coeur D Alene DriveSpirit Lake, ID 83869
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "I today received a notice of a requested water rate increase. The proposed change
would (according to the letter) be a 69% increase. 69% seems to be excessive. While I understand that all costs are rising, I would like to see evidence that Gem State is doing
everything possible that can be reasonably expected to control costs. In other words, are they being fiscally responsible? Thank you,"
------
From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, August 1, 2022 4:00:07 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Ron Beringer
Submission Time: Aug 1 2022 3:54PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 20970 N Wandering Pines RD
Rathdrum, ID 83858
Name of Utility Company: Gem State Water
Case ID: GSW-W-22-01
Comment: "I am submitting this comment to strongly object to the proposed 69.9% rate increase requested by Gem State Water. A 69.9% increase is outrageous since it is not inline
with current inflation figures reflected in Bureau of Labor consumer price index of 9.1% for the past twelve months especially for retired people who have no way of increase retirement
benefits. This looks like Gem State is trying to pass on their acquisition cost for Bar Circle S Water. Even factoring rising energy costs this in no way is justified. I would like the
commission to keep in mind that there are lots of numbers between 0% and 69.9% and if know of way to increase my retirement income please let me know. Also keep in mind that we had
no water earlier this year for over 18 hours from Gem State. Bad service shouldn't be rewarded. Earger to hear your thoughts."
------