20070621_1958.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM:MARILYN PARKER
DATE:JUNE 12, 2007
RE:FORMAL COMPLAINT OF JIM WILLSON DBA CUSTOM TOWING &
RECOVERY.
On May 24, 2007, the Commission received a "formal" complaint (attached) from Jim
Willson dba Custom Towing & Recovery against Intermountain Gas Company. Mr. Willson
disputes a rebilling in the amount of $2 000.92 plus late interest charges for natural gas that
Intermountain told him was used but not billed due to the Company s computer being
programmed improperly. The billing error covered the time period of December 2003, when the
meter was installed, until December of 2006 when the programming error was discovered (37
months). Mr. Willson was rebilled for 36 months as allowed by Utility Customer Relations Rule
(UCRR) 204.01. Mr. Willson was unsatisfied with the outcome of the informal procedures to
resolve his complaint and has filed this formal complaint.
BACKGROUND
On January 17, 2007, Mr. Willson called the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to
discuss an issue he had with Intermountain Gas Company. Mr. Willson stated that he had
received a telephone call from the Pocatello manager of Intermountain Gas informing him that
he had been under billed since December of2003. He was told by the Company that he had been
billed for one-half of what he should have been billed due to a computer programming error.
The bills are for a shop that Mr. Willson had constructed in 2003. Intermountain Gas offered
Mr. Willson 36 months to pay the rebilled amount as required by UCRR 204.02; however, the
customer indicated that an extra $57 a month for 3 years was a hardship.
DECISION MEMORANDUM - 1 -JUNE 12, 2007
On February 23 2007, the customer asked Intermountain to disconnect the service at his
shop. Service was disconnected on the following working day (February 26 2007). As of May
2007, the total amount owing is for the original rebilled amount of $2 000.92 plus three
months of late interest assessed in February, March and April. The total amount owing is
061.55 , of which $60.63 is late fees.
Staffs understanding is that the computer programming error that caused the incorrect
billing was due to a foot drive error. In a foot drive error, the meter, index and ERT function
correctly, but the programming necessary to prepare bills is not done correctly in the office.
Most residential customers have a 1- foot drive meter, while customers with larger usage
requirements may have a 2 , or lO-foot drive. A customer with a 2-foot drive meter that was
incorrectly identified in the billing system as a 1- foot drive meter would have been billed for
one-half the actual usage, as is the case with Mr. Willson.
ST AFF RECOMMENDATION
Jim Willson of Custom Towing & Recovery was not satisfied with the outcome of the
informal complaint. Consequently, he filed a formal complaint. See Rules 23, 25 and 54
IDAPA 31.01.01.023
, .
024 and .054. Staff recommends that the Commission issue a Summons
to Intermountain Gas Company and direct the Company to file a response to the complaint.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to accept Custom Towing s formal complaint?
Does the Commission wish to issue a Summons to Intermountain Gas, directing an
Answer be filed to Mr. Willson s Complaint? Alternatively, does the Commission wish to
proceed under Modified Procedure?
' ~
Marilyn arker
i:udmemos/formal complaint dec memo willson
DECISION MEMORANDUM - 2 -JUNE 12, 2007
-_..,._,.---S/z"l JfJN-d'1"
11-41
i).-r-
' ..;:~: (
: t:: \ -
May 22, 2006
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
o. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
j '"
i ~8: 2.
;;~:~;
;\l
,",vI.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing requesting a formal hearing regarding monetary charges made to me by
Intermountain Gas Company in Pocatello, Idaho for monies they say that I owe to them
due to an improperly programmed gas meter, programmed and installed'by IMGC on my
property at 1222 Wilson Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho approximately three years ago in 2004.
Each bill that was received from IMGC since the date of installation has been paid in full
monthly with no remaining balance due, each month in a timely fashion.
In January 2007, IMGC notified me of their error stating that the meter was programmed
incorrectly by their employees in 2004 and ~t I now owed them an additional two
thousand ninety two dollars due to their programming error that was done by them
through no fault of mine.
Hadl been aware at the time of use what the rate of use was I would have at that time
changed my heating source, which I have done since notification of the extra, balance. I
have also discontinued my account with IMGC as I am not able to afford the increase in
gas fees.
I feel that I do not owe the gas company any additional monies due to their
incompentency in programming their meters.
They continue to charge me interest on a balance that I feel I have been unjustly charged.
If I am required to seek legal counsel regarding this matter I would expect that IMGC
will cover legal fees as well since it is indeed their error. I had no knowledge of any
problem that went unrepaired for three years.
Thank you for your attention regarding this matter.
SM'
. ~
;1 )
- .
~~r&illson dba Custom Towing & Recove
..
~01