Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Commission grants United Water authority to serve Trailhead
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has determined that
Boise-based United Water Idaho Inc., and not the City of Eagle, should be
allowed to provide water service to the Trailhead Community north of Eagle.
The developer of Trailhead, Kastera Development LLC,
petitioned the commission to allow United Water to provide service to the
520-acre subdivision. The City of Eagle objected, alleging the development is
part of the city’s long-range expansion plan and should be connected to the
municipal water service.
After the city’s objection, the matter was stayed,
allowing Kastera time to explore the possibility of annexation and rezone with
the city. However, negotiations between the two were not successful and Kastera
renewed its request for service from United Water.
The commission said United Water is the only utility that
has the present ability to serve Trailhead. The proposed area, north of Homer
Road, is not within Eagle’s corporate boundaries and also lies outside its
designated Area of City Impact, the commission said. “This, we find, presents
the city with statutory and jurisdictional constraints on its ability to serve
Trailhead,” the commission said.
The commission said the city would likely participate in
Kastera’s application process with Ada County and would recommend the county
disallow Kastera’s application and direct the developer to file a request for
annexation and use city water services. “Although we find this statement to be
an indication of the city’s resolve, it has no bearing on the city’s present
municipal authority regarding the provision of water service to Trailhead,” the
commission said.
The commission said both the city’s mayor and Kastera’s
general manager agree it is in the public interest for water providers to
cooperate in area of service decisions. “Yet it appears from the testimony of
those with responsibility for planning for each water provider, that such
cooperation does not take place, not even discussions,” the commission said.
“Is the public interest being equally well served by not engaging in planning
discussions? We suspect not.”
United Water distribution facilities needed to serve
Trailhead shall be contributed by the developer without refund, the commission
said. Any booster stations and storage reservoirs that may be required will be
built with funds advanced by the developer with refund eligibility for those
expenses that benefit all United Water customers.
A full
text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this
case, are available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “File Room”
and then on “Water Cases” and scroll down to Case No. UWI-W-06-04.
Interested parties may petition the commission for
reconsideration by no later than Aug. 24. Petitions for reconsideration must
set forth specifically why the petitioner contends that the order is
unreasonable, unlawful or erroneous. Petitions should include a statement of
the nature and quantity of evidence the petitioner will offer if
reconsideration is granted.
Petitions
can be delivered to the commission at 472 W. Washington St. in Boise, mailed to
P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID, 83720-0074, or faxed to 208-334-3762.