Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. BCS-W-08-01, Order No. 30731

February 27, 2009

Contact: Gene Fadness: (208)334-0339, 890-2712

Kootenai County water company expands territory

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved an expansion of the territory served by a Kootenai County water company to include a new subdivision of 47 five-acre residential lots.

Bar Circle “S” Water Company, which serves about 156 households seven miles north of Coeur d’Alene, sought authority to add the proposed 237-acre subdivision to be built in two phases.

The company claims the added territory, which is about 1,300 feet from the existing Bar Circle “S” territory, won’t adversely affect existing customers and won’t require construction of additional sources of water supply. Construction costs for the added mains, valves, fire hydrants, service line taps, meter boxes, meter bases and line extensions needed to interconnect to the existing water system will be paid by the subdivision developer. The only cost to be borne by the company will be the cost of the meters at the time service is requested.

Commission staff expressed concern about the company’s ability to serve the second phase of the development and whether the state Department of Environmental Quality would require a back-up well or additional water source. The company said it has acquired a permit for a 10- to 12-inch well to replace a 6-inch well that is not now serviceable and that the back-up well will be in operation by the time the second phase of the development is built.

A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, is available on the commission’s Website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the water icon, then on “Open Water Cases” and scroll down to Case No. BCS-W-08-01.