Comments sought on proposed Algoma Water System rate hikes

SAGLE — The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is taking written comments until mid-October on an application from Algoma Water System to raise rates for residential and commercial customers.

Algoma Water serves roughly 22 residential and five commercial customers in the Sagle area. In its application to IPUC, system officials are seeking approval to increase residential customer rates to $54 per month and increase commercial customer rates to $89 per month.

The commission can approve, deny or modify the proposed increase.

While the rates would double if IPUC officials approve the request, Algoma Water System operator Bob Hansen said the system needs call for a 180% increase.

Algoma Water officials told IPUC that they plan to operate under the proposed rate structure for "a few years." They would then reevaluate their costs and determine if another increase was needed at that time.

News of the proposed rate hike isn't pleasing some of the water system's users with resident calling on IPUC to deny the request.

"I think it’s ridiculous that I have to pay for runoff for water that’s already almost $50 a month and you

wanna up at $90 a month for water runoff seems a bit ridiculous," David Daniels wrote the commission in early May.

Fellow resident Todd Kelley also called for the commission to deny the request, calling the proposal "very aggressive and excessive."

Both noted they have septic tanks and the costs to maintain those systems are born by themselves.

"A 100% increase for access to this field seems absurd," Kelley said.

Comments are being accepted until Oct. 18, and are required to be filed through the commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is not available. To comment using the commission’s website, please visit puc.idaho.gov and click on the “Case Comment Form” link on the upper left side of the page. Please use case number AWS-W-23-01 when filling out the form. If submitting comments through e-mail, comments are required to be sent to Algoma and the commission secretary at the e-mail addresses listed below.

If computer access is not available, comments may be mailed to the commission and the utility at these addresses:

• Idaho Public Utilities Commission: Commission Secretary, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074; secretary@puc.idaho.gov;

• Street address for express mail: 11331 W. Chinden Blvd, Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise, ID 83714;

• For Algoma: Bob Hansen, Jeff Cowley, Algoma Water System, 67 Wild Horse Trail, Sandpoint, ID 83864, wsmibob@aol.com

jeff.cowley@usa.com. 

Information: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7027