Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. TTS-W-08-01

August 21, 2008

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

Comments accepted through Sept. 5 on Teton Springs water case

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will take comments through Sept. 5 on a request by Teton Springs Water and Sewer Company to establish rates for the nearly 300 customers within the Teton Springs Golf and Casting Club planned development near Victor.

The commission has determined that this case may be decided by written comment rather than by a public hearing unless customers expressly request a hearing. Commission staff were on hand Aug. 12 to present information to customers regarding the case but no customers attended.

Teton Springs Water and Sewer Company is seeking commission approval to raise multi-family residential rates from $80 per quarter to $150 and commercial rates from $240 per quarter to $450. Single-family residential rates would actually decrease under the company’s proposal from $240 per quarter to $150, but the company wants to assess an “availability charge” of $75 per quarter to single-family residential lots and $225 per quarter to commercial lots. The availability charge would be assessed against inactive residential and commercial customers whose properties front an existing water main but who have not yet connected to the system.

When built out, the resort development could serve up to 581 single-family residential lots, 14 commercial lots and 143 residential multi-family units.

In June, the commission issued the company a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which means it is now a regulated utility under the commission’s jurisdiction. The commission will establish rates that allow the utility to recover its capital investment and its prudently incurred costs of doing business in addition to a rate of return, which is also established by the commission. In exchange for that guarantee, the utility promises to serve all the customers within its assigned territory with reliable service at just and reasonable rates.

Documents related to this case are available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the water icon, then on “Open Water Cases,” and scroll down to Case No. TTS-W-08-01.