The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has issued a decision on a northern Idaho water utility’s application to increase the rates and charges to provide water service.

Gem State Water Company, LLC had sought commission approval to increase rates between 53 and 79 percent. The utility has six systems that serve customers in northern Idaho. The monthly bill for an average customer receiving water from a 1-inch meter would have increased between $21.65 and $27.65, depending on which system was serving them.

In its application to the commission, the utility sought approval for an increase of $602,050 in its annual revenue requirement. Gem State Water said the increase was needed to recover the current cost of operating and maintaining the water systems, the cost for system improvements and i

See Full Page