20170814min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

August 14, 2017 – 1:30 P.M.

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander and Eric Anderson. Commissioner Raper’s absence was excused. Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order.

The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING on Monday, August 7, 2017. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.

The second order of business was CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Application of Idaho Power Company for Approval of the Capacity Deficiency to be Utilized for Avoided Cost Calculations, Case No. IPC-E-17-12.
3. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Residential and Small Farm Annual Rate Filing of Avista Corporation, Case No. AVU-E-17-05.
4. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Annual Rate Adjustment Filing of Avista Corporation, Case No. AVU-E-17-07.
5. Daphne Huang’s August 8, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Avista’s Application to Increase Its Energy Efficiency Rider Adjustment Schedule 91, Case No. AVU-E-17-06.
6. Daphne Huang’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Intermountain Gas Company’s Application to Implement a DSM Program Funding Mechanism, Case No. INT-G-17-03.
7. Daphne Huang’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power’s Request to Release Transmission Line Easement.
8. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Rickel Water Company, Inc. and Bitterroot Water System, Inc., Case No. RIC-W-17-01.
9. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Application of Idaho Power Company for a Determination of Hells Canyon Relicensing Costs Through 2015 as Prudently Incurred, Case No. IPC-E-16-32.
10. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Rocky Mountain Power’s Wind Repowering Application, Case No. PAC-E-17-06.
There were no questions and Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 through 10 on the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
11. Karl Klein’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Simplot’s Joint Motion for Expedited Relief from the Commission’s Order to Process Case by Modified Procedure, Case No. GNR-E-17-02.
Mr. Klein reviewed his Decision Memo; he stated, this is a joint motion from several intervenors asking the Commission to vacate its recently issued Notice of Modified Procedure and to instead set a Technical Hearing. The Commissions Notice of Modified Procedure indicated that the soul issue in the case was if the Commission should issue the EIA Henry Hub Focus instead of the EIA Mountain Region Forecast in calculating published avoided costs rates each year. The parties originally disagreed on whether the Modified Procedure or a Technical Hearing was appropriate. The Commission found that Modified Procedure would work and set a 21 day comment deadline and a reply deadline as well it also indicated that if the parties wanted ask for a Technical Hearing they could still ask for a motion.
Commissioner Anderson moved that we grant the joint motion by vacating the modified procedure and setting a Technical Hearing as requested by the intervenor companies Simplot Company, Tamarack Energy Partnership, Idahydro and Renewable Energy Coalition and have the parties meet informally and bring a proposed time schedule back to the Commission that is agreed upon.
Commission Kjellander asked if there were any comments for questions, a vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
12. Carolee Hall’s August 7, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: 2017 Idaho Universal Service Fund Annual Report and Recommendations; Case No. GNR-T-17-04.
Ms. Hall reviewed her Decision Memo; she stated she had one correction in the Decision Memo on page 3, under switched access service it is a 37% decrease as opposed to the 11.5% decrease. On July 14, 2017 Ms. Anderson, the Administrator of the Idaho USF, filed the 2017 Idaho Universal Service Report with the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The report explained that an increase is needed because there is an audit that is needed for next Fall. She reported there was a 37% decrease in business lines, 10% decreased in residential and billed minutes also experienced a 37% decrease last year. The administrator presented four options for adjusting the fund to Idaho’s eight rural USF recipients companies. Staff has reviewed the options and agrees with Ms. Anderson’s recommendations to adopt option number 3.
Does the Commission wish to approve the Administrator’s IUSF 2017-2018 budget? Does the Commission wish to adopt the Administrator and Staff’s recommended funding Option3? Does the Commission wish to adopt different funding option? Does the Commission wish to open a docket to investigate the future of the IUSF through comments and workshops? Does the Commission with to accept Staff’s final recommendation for quarterly cash flow reports to monitor revenue impacts unforeseen changes in line counts or access minutes?
Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the Administrators 2017 – 2018 budget as outline in the Decision Memo, adopt the Administrator and Staff’s recommendation for funding option 3, and additionally open a docket to investigate the future of the state USF. Also, with regards to the Staff’s recommendation for quarterly cash flow reports we should monitor this as closely as possible, try to get ahead or recognize where we are at in decline of access minutes in business lines as well as residential and look at the September 1 effective date.
Commission Kjellander asked if there were any comments for questions, a vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The next order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
13. Deliberation re: In the Matter of the Application of Falls Water Company, Inc. for Authorization to Build a New Water Source, and Access to the Special Plant Reserve Account, Case No. FLS-W-17-01. [Brandon Karpen, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander announced that item 13 would be deliberately privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

____________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL