Water utility company in eastern Idaho fined for inadequate services to customers

A utilities company based in southeast Idaho is facing penalties after failing to provide adequate water services to its customers. 

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced in a Wednesday press release that Island Park Water Company failed to provide its customers with safe and reliable services.

The company, which serves more than 300 customers in Fremont County, faces $434,000 in penalties after improperly billing its customers, retaliating against customers who expressed concerns, and failing to respond to requests from the utilities commission for records, among other violations. 

At a customer hearing in late March, the utilities commission received testimony from customers who said the company demanded additional payments to maintain water service, charged customers for prior owner’s bills and failed to make repairs.

“The commission provided the company the opportunity to avoid the imposition of the penalty if it rectified each violation which resulted in a penalty within 21 days of the issuance of the commission’s order,” the press release said. 

The Island Park Water Company consists of seven water systems including: 

•  Aspen Subdivision
•  Goose Bay Estates Public Water System
•  Shotgun Cherokee Subdivision 5
•  Shotgun Kickapoo Subdivision 6
•  Public Water System
•  Shotgun North Public Water System
•  Shotgun South Stevens Lane
•  Valley View Subdivision

Additional potential penalties include the revocation of Island Park Water Company’s certificate of public convenience and necessity.

According to the utilities commission, any person interested in this order may petition for reconsideration within 21 days of the service date of the order.