Docket Number	Docket Name	Company
UW 205	AGATE WATER COMPANY REQUEST FOR A GENERAL RATE REVISION	AGATE WATER COMPANY

Comment Number	Created Date	Email Received Date	Company Name	Comment Type	Source Type	First Name	Last Name	Email	Nearest City	Comment
UW 205-1	3/26/2025 12:33:56 AM	3/25/2025 1:51:07 PM		General Comment	Email			amanda.kc.reilly@gmail.com		Good afternoon, I received a notice yesterday regarding a price increase being proposed with Agate Water Company. While I understand that rate increases are necessary, the increase that they are proposing almost doubles our water bill. We already implement practices in our home to decrease our monthly utility bills, including monitoring our water usage. As a working class family with seven children, this increase would have a significant financial impact on us. A majority of this neighborhood is in the same income bracket as we are, and I would imagine have similar concerns. I think it would be more responsible and fair for Agate to adopt these increases gradually over a longer timeframe. Furthermore, we live in a fire zone with a very real seasonal threat to our neighborhood. While we do not maintain a lawn on our property, several of our neighbors do. These spaces can help protect our home should a fire spark up in our vicinity. This increase could force our neighbors to abandon their lawns and gardens which would be replaced with more dry fuel for a wildfire. Please consider the ramifications of this immense rate increase and devise a more effective plan for the customers of Agate Water Company. Thank you, Amanda Reilly-Heisinger 541-508-8550
UW 205-10	3/30/2025 8:23:57 AM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Leah	Harmon		BEND	Hello, On behalf of my family and neighbors, I would like to speak out against Agate Water Company request for rate revision. This rate increase, which is nearly double, would have a crippling effect on our ability to pay our bills. It is an unacceptable sudden and extreme increase. While we understand that Agate feels this is a necessary increase for varying reasons, we request that you consider the impact this increase would have on families like ours. We simply cannot support this rate increase. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, L Harmon
UW 205-11	3/31/2025 12:05:57 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Linda	Taylor		BEND	I'm writing in response to a letter I received from my water service provider, Agate Water, which indicated they want to significantly increase their base rate and rate per cubic foot. According to their PDF posted online, their current rates are: Base rate $32.73 $1.65/cubic foot With requested increase to: Base rate $53.71 $3.23/cubic foot This puts the community of Deschutes River Woods far above City of Bend water rates. The massive increase, which they're seeking to impose all at once, is not sustainable for our community. We have not seen an improvement in service or infrastructure to account for an immediate 65% increase.
UW 205-12	3/31/2025 1:06:06 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Phillip	Carr		BEND	We have lived at our current address for 5.5 years. We have had our power increase roughly 50% during that time. All our costs have increased in that time, as have everyone's. I'm frustrated that we received their letter dated 3/18/25 (that took 5 days to arrive from that date) from Agate regarding the proposed increase. They provided a one page letter about the increase via standard mail. It's up to the customer to go online and review their application to get any further information. It seems like they gave us no time to look into this increase and share our thoughts or how it would impact us. After looking through the 40 page document, I don't clearly see how they will be using the increase. It looks like the new rate will start 4/10/25. That is less than 30 days notice to it's customers. Are they improving infrastructure, maintenance, just paying employees/owners more? I understand that they haven't asked for an increase in 10 years. However, to expect customers to go from paying roughly $50 per month, to $88 per month (their provided amount in letter) in less than a month's time, is ridiculous. Even if they want to ask for a rate increase, which makes sense, it should be in a more staggered way over time. This is a huge burden to put on many people who are barely making ends meet right now. We live in a high fire danger area, with solid Ponderosa Pine trees all around our homes. This increase will only cause us to not be able to maintain our defensible green space/lawn, keep trees healthy that are next to our buildings. We already do our very best to conserve water so that we don't have huge bills each summer. We have a small garden trying to grow veggies, and a small yard that is mostly clover, which requires less water than grass. We are reasonable people. We also do not have any other choices for water out here. They are the only water service option, or putting in a well, which isn't an option. Please do not approve Agate Water Company to such a huge increase at one time for their customers.
UW 205-13	3/31/2025 2:48:49 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Shaina	Tapia		BEND	Agates proposal to almost double their rates should not be approved. According to the proposal, most of the increase being asked for is to increase employee wages. And, as a business owner myself, I can relate to the need to do so. However, I urge whoever is looking into this case to consider a fair hourly rate, for all the employees as well as officers. Please consider what other employees of other utility companies are making, and only allow for an increase in wages to reflect that. Upon doing some research it appears that the increase being proposed is well above what other employees in similar fields of work make. A utility company is a need. A need for all people including those on limited incomes so a request to nearly double the cost could be catastrophic for some. Unlike other services or products, we do not have the ability to shop around. Also, city of bends water is a neighboring water company who has many more employees than Agate yet is charging nearly $1.00 less per cubic foot, that the increase proposed by Agate. My final thought that I think should be considered is we live in a densely wooded area, my fear is that people who are serviced by agate water company will start conserving water to a hazardous level. The ammount of water that is used a my house and neighbors in whom I have talked to spend about 6 times as much in the summer in order to maintain a fire free yard. For that ammount to double would be equivalent to working minium wage for 1 week.
UW 205-14	4/1/2025 12:32:51 AM	3/31/2025 4:14:04 PM		General Comment	Email			PUC PUC.PublicComments * PUC		From: Linda Ly Taylor <linda.mobile@gmail.com<mailto:linda.mobile@gmail.com>> Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2025 9:44 PM To: PUC PUCHearings * PUC <puc.hearings@puc.oregon.gov<mailto:puc.hearings@puc.oregon.gov>> Subject: Docket #UW205 linda.mobile@gmail.com<mailto:linda.mobile@gmail.com>. To whom it may concern, I'm writing in response to a letter I received from my water service provider, Agate Water, which indicated they want to significantly increase their base rate and rate per cubic foot. According to their PDF posted online, their current rates are: Base rate $32.73 $1.65/cubic foot With requested increase to: Base rate $53.71 $3.23/cubic foot This puts the community of Deschutes River Woods far above City of Bend water rates. The massive increase, which they're seeking to impose all at once, is not sustainable for our community. We have not seen an improvement in service or infrastructure to account for an immediate 65% increase. I oppose the increase as proposed and would like to be included in upcoming hearings. Regards, Linda Taylor 19210 Shoshone Rd. Bend, OR 97702 310-210-4475
UW 205-15	4/1/2025 8:49:22 AM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Ellen	Morrison		BEND	Letter entered by Consumer Services staff JC on 04/01/2025 PUC ADMINISTRATION We in Central Oregon have been notified of a 40% water increase from Agate Water Co. They state it's been 10 years since the last hike. Looking back on my records which is 6 1/2 years. From 2019 ($32.73) to 2025 ($50.27). Now they propose a ($88.04) and this is just to look at the faucet not turning it on. I believe that a 40% increase will dry up our lands and make us susceptible to even a greater fire threat then we are already in. Please reconsider a 40% rate "hike". Thank you
UW 205-16	4/1/2025 8:37:42 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	David	Bredendick		BEND	I oppose Agate Water Company’s request for a 2025 fixed plus variable rate increase of 79% based on our own 2023 invoiced amounts. I applaud Chief Administrative Law Judge Alison Lackey's notations on propriety and reasonableness and support the up to nine-month suspension of the requested increases to allow the staff at the Oregon Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to review this request thoroughly. Agate Water Company’s prior request for a rate change, initiated in 2013, was also suspended for further evaluation before a conditional approval was granted in 2014. The Oregon PUC made conditional requests of Agate Water in the 2014 approval that are not reflected in their 2025 submission. Specifically: • A reduction in base rate calculations based on Oregon Safe Drinking Water loans totaling $750,000 that were forgiven. • A request to file an additional rate case by August of 2017. Agate Water Company was given an opportunity for additional increase considerations before their 2025 submission. The current filing includes questionable proposed increases for this year related to Salaries & Wages for the five, now six, full-time employees plus part-time employees. These increases are questionable since no such increases are indicated for Agate’s officers and directors. The requested increase of $283,027 for Salaries and Wages and $23,727 in Pensions and Benefits, without any corresponding entries for officers and directors, suggests Agate’s employees would be receiving close to $100,000 per year. This does not align with their Section 23.Q note regarding the addition of a full-time employee for 2025 at $52,000 per year. Additionally, based on local testimonials, the proposed rate increase is higher than that of other area water providers. The fixed and variable rate increases requested are simply out of line for implementation in 2025 for any Public Utility company serving a limited customer base. At best, a phased implementation of increases in line with area competitors makes more sense to the customer base they hold captive.
UW 205-17	4/2/2025 7:26:58 AM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	carla	Flaskerud		BEND	Letter entered by Consumer Services staff (KR) on 4/2/2025 PUC Administrative Hearing Division PO Box 1088 Salem OR 97308-1088 I am writing with a big concern regarding the amount of increase that my water company is asking for. Agate Water Company of Bend OR had asked for a 75% increase in our monthly bills. They justify it by saying that they haven't had an increase in a long time. Well, that is not my fault. I understand that an increase probably needs to happen but 75% at one time? That seems steep to me. With the amount of inflation and all the other increases that have hit in the past few years who can afford this much of an increase? I hope that you and your team will take into consideration how much to actually allow them to increase our bill. Water is an essential need and not being able to pay the bill puts us in jeopardy of having basic needs met. Carla Flaskerud 19053 River Woods Dr Bend OR 97702 541-388-4832
UW 205-2	3/26/2025 12:33:59 AM	3/25/2025 11:32:53 AM		General Comment	Email			kimkahl44@gmail.com		Hello….everyone in my subdivision received a letter from the private water company who provides the water for our subdivision telling us that they have made application to the PUC to raise the rates from $50.27 to $88.04 per month! This is outrageous and because they are a monopoly, if this is approved by the PUC, they will get what they want whether people are able to pay or not. That would mean people will have their water shut off since there would be no alternative to being able to get water. There are people in this subdivision who are on fixed incomes, many of whom are low income. I am personally in a precarious situation because at this time, I am only receiving social security. The subdivision in question is Deschutes River Woods in Bend Oregon. We are instructed in the letter everyone received from Agate Water Co. in Bend OR that we can write letters to the PUC but I am wanting to know if there is an email address to write a complaint to. I do not have a printer so it would be very expedient to be able to send email. I would like to share that information with all the people in my subdivision who are understandably concerned and upset about how they would be able to pay that high rate. I look forward to a reply. Thank you... Kim Kahl
UW 205-3	3/26/2025 10:49:01 AM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Andrea	Munro		BEND	Subject: Public Comment on UW 205 Agate Water – Opposition to Proposed Rate Increase Dear Oregon Public Utility Commission, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed 75% increase in base residential water rates by Agate Water Company. While I understand that operational costs rise over time, such an extreme increase places an undue financial burden on residents, particularly those on fixed incomes or with limited means to absorb such a drastic change. To put this in perspective, state regulations often cap residential rent increases at around 10% to prevent financial strain on tenants. If landlords must adhere to reasonable limits to ensure housing remains affordable, it seems only fair that essential utilities like water should follow a similar standard of gradual, justified adjustments rather than an abrupt and overwhelming increase. A more measured approach—such as smaller, periodic rate adjustments over time—would be more equitable and allow customers to plan and adjust their budgets accordingly. A sudden 75% hike is simply not feasible for many households and would create significant hardship. I urge the commission to reject this proposal and instead require a more responsible, incremental approach that balances the company's financial needs with the financial realities of its customers. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Deschutes River Woods Resident
UW 205-4	3/26/2025 2:07:11 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Mike	Christy		BEND	To whom it may concern, I am a paying customer that is concerned about the hefty price increase proposed by Agate Water Company. The prices they are asking for are nearly double the current price and that is unacceptable. Water is a required utility and life supporting necessity. The increase would sustainsably increase their rates above all other nearby water companies. Agate Water Company should reflect a competitive rate, not a higher rate than anyone else. Please take the time to assess the needs of the CUSTOMERS of Agate Water Company and not just the needs of the company. Thank you.
UW 205-5	3/26/2025 4:48:47 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	General Comment	Web	Geoff	Reynolds		BEND	I do not support this rate increase as it is too large (59%+). It would be better to spread out the increases over time, perhaps every 3 years. It is worth noting that over half (54.2%) of the proposed increase is due to salary increases - including the owners - not other costs of doing business. A large increase in Agage Water rates is not justified at this time.
UW 205-6	3/28/2025 12:33:22 AM	3/27/2025 9:38:38 AM		General Comment	Email			lavalands@yahoo.com		Agate Water Company in Deschutes River Woods provides us our water, and for the most part we’ve been pleased with their service. As far as the drinking quality of the water goes, it is the best, but recently we were informed that our rates would be increasing. This increase is not 5, 10, or even 20%, but 57% from an average of $50 per month to $88. Is this legal? I own rental property and would be in legal trouble if I’d increase rates by more than 10%, but it’s okay for a water company to increase rates by 57%? Bruce Wesley lavalands@yahoo.com
UW 205-7	3/25/2025 11:55:01 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	General Comment	Web	Sharon	Stevenson		BEND	I am a paying customer of Agate Water company and I am concerned about the large price increase being proposed. This will nearly double the current price at a time when we and our neighbors are already having a hard time being able to pay our bills and afford basic groceries. They state that the large rate increase is due to not increasing the rate for the last 10 years. If that is the case, how have they been operating at all the last few years? This is a required utility and water is necessary to support life. I am on a fixed income and will have no choice but to stop watering my yard which will put my property at risk for wildfire. Even if I only shower once a month and not do any laundry or wash dishes, I will not be able to afford this increase.
UW 205-8	3/28/2025 2:28:23 PM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	General Comment	Web	Shaina	Tapia		BEND	Public comment entered verbatim by Consumer Services staff-AN To whom it may concern, I am a paying customer that is concerned about the hefty price increase proposed with Agate Water Company. I understand that they note their reasoning for the proposed increase is the lack of rate increases in, the Iast 10 years. I understand that prices have increased for everything, but this should be reflected by making small adjustments over time. The prices they are asking for are nearly double the current price and that is frankly unacceptable, for a required utility and life supporting necessity. If they in fact NEED these price increases in order to maintain a functioning facility, then I would have to question how they have been able to operate over the last 10 years without any increase. They negligence to increase prices shouldn't weigh so heavy on their customers. Furthermore, the increase would sustainably increase their rates far above alI other nearby water companies, and their rates should reflect a competitive one. Please take time to assess the NEEDS of this water company, and the Need of the consumers that require it.
UW 205-9	3/30/2025 12:52:00 AM		AGATE WATER COMPANY	Oppose Docket	Web	Mike	Christy		BEND	o whom it may concern, I am a paying customer that is concerned about the hefty price increase proposed by Agate Water Company. The prices they are asking for are nearly double the current price and that is unacceptable. Water is a required utility and life supporting necessity. The increase would increase their rates above all other nearby water companies. Agate Water Company should reflect a competitive rate, not a higher rate than anyone else. Please take the time to assess the needs of the CUSTOMERS of Agate Water Company and not just the needs of the company. Thank you.