I Mission Valley Power (MVP) MVP Consumer Council Proposed Changes to the MVP Operations Manual including service fee increases Public Hearing Notice The MVP Consumer Council has received a proposal from the Mission Valley Power Utility Board to increase utility service fees and change utility practices including but not limited to the practice of providing a new customer with a line extension credit of $500.00. All of the proposed changes are subject to review and recommendation by the MVP Consumer Council. The Consumer Council will hold a public hearing and take written input on the proposed changes. A summary of the proposed changes is described below. What: Mission Valley Power has proposed to increase service fees to reflect utility actual costs. This means that when fuel and wages increase, so will the utility service fees. Having adequate revenue (including service fees) is key to system reliability. This particular recommendation will primarily impact those customers who are disconnected and need a reconnect. Customers requesting MVP assistance on individual customer issues will also see a charge that reflects the actual cost of doing business. MVP has also proposed to eliminate the new customer aid to construction credit of $500.00. This means that new customers will pay 100% of the cost of new construction similar to other utilities like Missoula Electric. An additional change is that all MVP aid to construction or work order estimates will be valid for two weeks. This is necessary as the cost of materials are so volatile. MVP has seen some costs like wire increase by 178% in the last five years. This will eliminate the circumstances where a customer estimate was provided 5 months ago. The proposal by the Utility will require MVP to update all estimates to recover present costs. MVP has also proposed assessing a fee of 2% when customers pay their utility bill with a credit card. At this time, the utility is absorbing an estimated $120,000 annually in credit card fees. The utility would rather invest the $120,000 in materials to support system reliability for multiple customers. Why: The cost of providing reliable utility service is increasing. MVP costs must reflect the actual cost of doing business. The elimination of the new customer credit on line extensions is to stop the practice of having existing customers pay a portion of the cost of new connections. That practice is called a subsidy. The recommendation is for all customers to pay their share without having one customer subsidize another. How can my voice be heard: MVP customers are invited to come to a hearing on the proposed changes to be held in Pablo at the MVP Office Conference Room on August 24, 2023 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. You can also submit written comments by September 1, 2023 by mailing them to MVP, Operations Manual Changes, PO Box 97, Pablo, Mt. 59855-0097. Your voice is important. The Consumer Council wants to hear from you. MISSION VALLEY POWER I Mission Valley Power ( MVP ) MVP Consumer Council Proposed Changes to the MVP Operations Manual including service fee increases Public Hearing Notice The MVP Consumer Council has received a proposal from the Mission Valley Power Utility Board to increase utility service fees and change utility practices including but not limited to the practice of providing a new customer with a line extension credit of $ 500.00 . All of the proposed changes are subject to review and recommendation by the MVP Consumer Council . The Consumer Council will hold a public hearing and take written input on the proposed changes . A summary of the proposed changes is described below . What : Mission Valley Power has proposed to increase service fees to reflect utility actual costs . This means that when fuel and wages increase , so will the utility service fees . Having adequate revenue ( including service fees ) is key to system reliability . This particular recommendation will primarily impact those customers who are disconnected and need a reconnect . Customers requesting MVP assistance on individual customer issues will also see a charge that reflects the actual cost of doing business . MVP has also proposed to eliminate the new customer aid to construction credit of $ 500.00 . This means that new customers will pay 100 % of the cost of new construction similar to other utilities like Missoula Electric . An additional change is that all MVP aid to construction or work order estimates will be valid for two weeks . This is necessary as the cost of materials are so volatile . MVP has seen some costs like wire increase by 178 % in the last five years . This will eliminate the circumstances where a customer estimate was provided 5 months ago . The proposal by the Utility will require MVP to update all estimates to recover present costs . MVP has also proposed assessing a fee of 2 % when customers pay their utility bill with a credit card . At this time , the utility is absorbing an estimated $ 120,000 annually in credit card fees . The utility would rather invest the $ 120,000 in materials to support system reliability for multiple customers . Why : The cost of providing reliable utility service is increasing . MVP costs must reflect the actual cost of doing business . The elimination of the new customer credit on line extensions is to stop the practice of having existing customers pay a portion of the cost of new connections . That practice is called a subsidy . The recommendation is for all customers to pay their share without having one customer subsidize another . How can my voice be heard : MVP customers are invited to come to a hearing on the proposed changes to be held in Pablo at the MVP Office Conference Room on August 24 , 2023 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm . You can also submit written comments by September 1 , 2023 by mailing them to MVP , Operations Manual Changes , PO Box 97 , Pablo , Mt. 59855-0097 . Your voice is important . The Consumer Council wants to hear from you . MISSION VALLEY POWER