Public Utilities Commission hearing: CVCA treasurer faults Cascade New Vision accounting and lease; staff urges denial of one-time rate increase and $18/month S

A Public Utilities Commission hearing on proceeding 25A-0385W focused on whether Cascade New Vision should be allowed a one-time rate increase and a proposed $18-per-customer monthly contribution to a major capital improvement fund. Chesney Borquette, volunteer treasurer of the Cascade Village Condominium Association (CVCA), testified for residents, criticizing certain lease costs and financial presentations; staff witness Dr. DePuy urged the commission to deny the one-time increase and the surcharge until the utility supplies reliable, auditable financial records.

Borquette testified that he is the CVCA volunteer treasurer and described reviewing utility documents submitted in the rate case. He told counsel he had not filed prior PUC complaints but that he had long viewed Cascade's rates as high. He summarized cost and lease information in his testimony and said the land under the wastewater treatment facility appeared to have been purchased for about $102,283 while the lease on that land was about $180,000 a year. "So on that basis—I would say, yes. That's false accounting," he said when asked…