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Water service in SLE is provided by the Spirit Lake East Water Company
run by Water Works in Rathdrum.
The water company was created to provide service
to SLE and Treeport residents. For many years, service was provided with few complaints
from customers. However, in October 2004, the pump failed and the two developments
were without water for 10 days. This resulted in activism on the part of residents.
It was discovered that the many outages over the years had not been reported to
the DEQ as required. These outages were the result of having no backup generator.
Frequent electrical outages meant that the residents were often without water
during bad weather. Letter from Spirit Lake East Water
Company about a service outage in October 2004. After this serious outage,
a water committee was formed by SLE residents and later included Treeport residents
as well. That committee and a successor committee have been active in compaigning
for better water service. This brought to light a variety of problems with the
water system which SLEWCO was ordered to correct. Details In
October 2205, Most residents of SLE received a letter from Hanson Industries and
SLE Water Company. The water system has been disapproved by the IDEQ because repairs
have not been completed. Hanson Letter Eventually,
a backup generator was installed. However, for various reasons, it rarely worked.
In ..., SLEWCO requested a 100% rate increase. PUC
Notice In March 2007, the pump motor failed. Residents were without
water for more than a day. In April, the
PUC announced their ruling on April 2, 2007. The highlights are: 1.
Raised the "rate to $12. 50 for the first 9 000 gallons of water per month
, and to $0. 12 for each 100 gallons after the initial 9 000 , and a new customer
connection fee of $2 500." 2.
"Idaho Code ~ 61-302 requires every public utility to "furnish, provide
and maintain such service, instrumentalities, equipment and facilities as shall
promote the safety, health, comfort and convenience of its patrons, . . . and
as shall be in all respects adequate, efficient, just and reasonable. Considerable
evidence provided by Staff and by customers of Spirit Lake demonstrates that the
water delivery system has been unreliable, particularly following power outages,
and inadequate in delivering a dependable supply of water to many customers. The
Commission finds on the record presented that Spirit Lake currently does not meet
the standard of Section 61-302 for service that is in all respects adequate, efficient,
just and reasonable." 3. "Staff
recommended that the Company s cost of electricity, beyond that which is required
to pump water in excess of the metered usage plus 10%, be disallowed in the Company
s revenue requirement. Staff calculated the pro rata share of electricity for
disallowance to be 55% of the test year total electric bill." 4.
"The evidence is undisputed that the most pressing needs to improve the water
system
are replacement of the inadequate generator and repair of the system
leaks. A generator must be of sufficient size to operate the well pump and keep
the reservoir full during power outages. Repair of leaks will mean more water
is delivered to customers at higher levels of pressure. We direct the Company
to address these needs without delay. To assure prompt action is taken, we direct
the Company to provide a written plan to the Commission within fourteen (14) days
of the service date of this Order, explaining the steps the Company will take
to install a new generator and to address the system leaks. We expect the Company
to respond promptly and in good faith to address the problems with its water system." 5.
The cost of the generator and some of the legal expenses were disallowed.
Final
Order No. 30279 - Case No. SPL-W-06-01 - Spirit Lake East Water Company is now
available on the IPUC Home Page. http://www.puc.idaho.gov/orders/recent/recent.htm
During the summer of 2007, Water Works took over management
of the SLEWCO system. After the system was brought into compliance Water
Works bought the company from Hanson Industries. Since then, water service
has improved significantly.
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