HomeMy WebLinkAbout20040123min.docIDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2004 – 1:30 P.M.
In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Dennis Hansen, and Marsha Smith.
Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order. The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS on December 22nd, December 29th, and January 5th. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the minutes. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.
The next order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA. Commissioner Kjellander noted that item 4 would be moved to MATTERS IN PROGRESS, leaving items 2 and 3 on the Consent Agenda. There was no discussion. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve items 2 and 3. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
Wayne Hart’s January 14, 2004 Decision Memorandum re: Verizon Tariff Advice Regarding Operator Service Charges.
Mr. Hart reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Hansen asked what Qwest charges for similar services. Mr. Hart replied that Qwest’s charges are about $1.80 for a similar call, so Verizon’s charges are in the same ball park. He stated that AT&T’s charges are approximately $5.00, and other companies charge a lot more than AT&T. There were no further questions. Commissioner Kjellander moved for approval of Staff’s recommendation to approve the two tariff advices. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
Don Howell’s January 8, 2004 Decision Memorandum re: United Water’s Motion to Alter Order No. 29359, Case No. UWI-W-03-01.
Mr. Howell reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Hansen asked how the cost to locate the customer will be handled—i.e. is the ratepayer going to end up paying to try to locate customers who are no longer with United Water in order to give them a $.50 refund. Mr. Howell replied that he thought they would be treated as ordinary expenses. Commissioner Hansen stated he didn’t want to spend a fortune chasing a penny, and he was concerned that the cost to locate former customers would be passed on to the ratepayer.
Commissioner Smith commented that she was also concerned that the Company could end up spending more to locate former customers than the refund amount. She suggested that any money that can’t be refunded could just be subtracted from the bad debt expense. Mr. Howell said it is up to the Commission to decide if it wishes to dispense with the notice provisions of trying to inform former customers of a very small credit.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to reject the Stipulation and order the Company to give the refunds to all existing customers, and if there is any money left over it should be used to reduce the Company’s bad debt expense. Commissioner Kjellander stated he supported the motion because it made the most common sense, rather than spending $.37 on a stamp to mail a $.50 refund. He said he appreciated the fact that the parties worked hard to come up with a Stipulation, however, and he thanked them for their efforts. There was no further discussion. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The only other item on the agenda was under FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS and Commissioner Kjellander stated it would be deliberated privately. He then adjourned the meeting.
DATED this ______ day of January, 2003.
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COMMISSON SECRETARY
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