Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Eagle Water proposing surcharge for customers
Boise – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a workshop and public hearing for customers of Eagle Water Company in response to the company’s request to add a surcharge that could be has high as $9.16 a month to correct low-pressure problems. Eagle Water is a private water company, not the same as the City of Eagle’s municipal water service.
The company responded to an Aug. 3 emergency order from the commission to correct low-pressure problems in the Eagle Springs Estates subdivision by replacing an 8-inch mainline with a 12-inch mainline. While the company believes its has addressed immediate problems, it is concerned about occasional drops in water pressure “especially in light of the continued wasting of water that has been observed in Eagle Springs” subdivision, according to the company’s application. Consequently, Eagle Water is proposing one of three options, which will be presented to customers at an Oct. 12 workshop and hearing conducted by the commission.
The company’s preferred option, to drill a new well, will cost $390,305. Costs to replace the mainline and conduct an engineering study of the entire system totaled $127,172, according to the company. The company proposes to recover the total cost of the recent corrections and the new well – $517,477 – with a 40.85 percent surcharge that would recover the amount over three years. If approved, that surcharge would add about $9.16 to the average homeowner’s monthly bill. The current average monthly charge for a residential customer is $22.43 per month.
The other options are to increase the power of the current booster pump from 60 horsepower to 75 or 100 hp at a cost of $87,075 or to install an additional booster pump under Big Springs Street for $81,600.
In addition to the commission’s order directing Eagle Water to correct the low-water pressure problem, the company also received a Notice of Violation from the state Department of Environmental Quality for failing to maintain water pressure to about 50 customers in the subdivision. The company serves more than 2,500 customers in and around the City of Eagle.
The public workshop will
begin at 6 p.m., Oct. 12, in the Eagle Senior Citizen Center, 312 E. State St.
The public hearing begins immediately following the workshop at 7 p.m.
The commission is also
taking written comments through Oct. 6. 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 (EAG-W-05-02)
and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise,
ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.