Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Commission approves increase for Bitterroot Water
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved an increase in water rates for customers of Bitterroot Water Company from a base rate of $20 per month to $21 per month and a commodity rate increase from 75 cents to $1.73 for every 1,000 gallons consumed in excess of 15,000 gallons per month. Bitterroot sought an increase from $20 to $45 per month in its flat rate and no increase in its commodity rate.
The new rates are effective today.
Bitterroot Water, which serves about 117 households in the Athol area of Kootenai County, requested an increase in its annual revenue requirement from $35,619 to $71,212 to offset increasing costs associated with the operation, maintenance and capital improvements to its water system. The commission approved an annual revenue requirement of $53,708.
Also approved were two temporary surcharges. One is a four-year surcharge of $1.24 per month for back flow prevention. The other surcharge is $2.67 per month for eight years to replace defective isolation valves.
The commission agreed with commission staff’s recommendation that a greater percentage of the company’s revenue requirement should be recovered from the commodity rate, which is based on consumption rather than from the fixed base rate. That approach encourages conservation, the commission said.
A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, are available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “File Room” and then on “Water Cases” and scroll down to Case No. BIT-W-05-01.
Interested parties may petition the commission for
reconsideration by no later than Feb. 21. Petitions for reconsideration must
set forth specifically why the petitioner contends that the order is unreasonable,
unlawful or erroneous. Petitions should include a statement of the nature and
quantity of evidence the petitioner will offer if reconsideration is granted.
Petitions can be delivered to the commission at 472 W. Washington St. in Boise, mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID, 83720-0074, or faxed to 208-334-3762.