Idaho Public Utilities Commission

CAP-W-08-02, Order No. 30713

January 9, 2009

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

Capitol Water customers can comment through Feb. 24

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is taking comments through Feb. 24 on an application by Boise-based Capitol Water Company to increase its rates by 7.8 percent.

Capitol Water has about 2,560 residential customers and 150 commercial customers in an area bounded roughly by Northview Street north to Ustick Road and from North Maple Grove east to Curtis Road.

The company claims is had to spend $102,000 to relocate distribution pipes, fire hydrants and customer service connections to accommodate the Ustick Road widening by the Ada County Highway District. In addition, the company seeks $11,235 to pay for the October 2008 failure of a pump that is now back in service. Capitol Water is also asking the commission to let it put a mechanism in place that will allow it to increase its rates whenever increases in electric rates for Idaho Power are approved.

On Jan. 1, a customer surcharge of $3.55 per month was removed from customer bills. In place since 2002, the surcharge paid for $500,000 in improvements, including one well replacement and an upgrade to the company’s distribution system.

The commission plans to handle the case with a modified procedure that uses written comments rather than conducting a hearing, unless customer comments can demonstrate a need for a public hearing.

Comments are accepted via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (CAP-W-08-02) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762. A full text of the company’s application, along with other documents related to this case, is available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File Room” and then on “Water Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.