Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Capitol Water will issue $65,000 in refunds
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan
by a Boise water company to issue $65,000 in refunds to customers who were
inadvertently over-billed from Dec. 1, 2003 through Sept. 1, 2006.
Capitol Water Corp. serves nearly 3,000 households in the
west bench area of Boise. During the course of a 2006 rate case, it was
determined that a billing error resulted in overcharges to certain metered
customers. The commission approved this plan refund customers:
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An immediate credit will be applied to the accounts of 99
current customers to whom the company owes $100 or less.
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There are 112 current customers to whom the company owes
more than $100. Their monthly statements will be credited over a 36-month
period and they will also be paid on interest rate of 5 percent. These refunds
represent an aggregate total of $58,937.26. The billing credits issued during
this refund period will reduce the company’s monthly revenues by about $1,800.
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The company will attempt to locate 18 former customers who
no longer reside in Capitol Water’s territory and issue refund checks totaling
$2,269.30.
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There are 13 former customers who are in arrears on their
accounts. The amount they were over-billed will be credited to their accounts.
The commission did decline the company’s proposal that the
money owed customers who cannot be located be deposited into a company
surcharge fund. Instead, the commission directed the company to contact the
Idaho State Tax Commission to determine its next steps in regard to money owed
these customers. The unclaimed money might be subject to Idaho’s unclaimed
property law.
A full text of the commission’s order may be found on the
commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov.
Click on “File Room,” then on “Open Water Cases,” and scroll down to Case No.
CAP-W-07-01.