26682.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES FOR REGULATED TITLE 61 SERVICES.
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CASE NO. USW-S-96-5
ORDER NO.  26682          
On November 5, 1996, Staff filed a Motion to modify the schedule set in Order No. 26626 pursuant to Rule 256, IDAPA 31.01.01.256.  Staff indicated that due to continual discovery, Staff is seeking to have the deadline for Staff and Intervenor prefiled direct testimony moved from November 19, 1996 to November 26, 1996. Staff also proposes changing the deadline for U S WEST rebuttal testimony from December 10, 1996 to December 16, 1996. U S WEST agrees with this change.  
Pursuant to Commission Rules of Procedure Rule 256, IDAPA 31.01.01.256, the Commission may grant a Motion on fewer than 14 days notice when all parties have received actual notice of the Motion by telephone or personal delivery of the Motion, or continued efforts are being made to reach  those parties who have not been contacted.  Staff stated that they have attempted to contact all parties to the case by telephone to give notice of the Motion.  All the parties contacted concur with the changes to the deadlines.  Staff was unable to contact David Hoffman by phone, however, they are attempting to reach him by mail.  
We find that Staff has adequately complied with Rule 256 and no party will be prejudiced by the modification to the schedule.  We find there is good cause to modify the schedule described in Order 26626.  We therefore amend the schedule as follows:
November 26, 1996Staff and Intervenor prefiled direct testimony (in-hand to U S WEST before noon)
December 16, 1996Deadline for U S WEST rebuttal (in-hand to parties before noon)
All other deadlines shall remain in full force and effect.
The parties are also reminded that to facilitate preparation of the reporter’s transcript in a computer-searchable format, the parties prefiling testimony in this case are requested to submit such testimony on a diskette in WordPerfect (5.1 to 7.0) format as well as a hard copy.  Attached to the Notice of Parties issued September 24, 1996, the Commission Secretary forward to the parties a testimony “template” for the preparation of prefiled testimony.  This format is in accordance with Idaho Appellate Rules 24 & 26 which became effective October 1, 1996 and Commission Rule 231.01.  Questions concerning the format of the testimony may be directed to the Commission Secretary.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that there is good cause to amend the schedule in Order No. 26676 as outlined above.  All other deadlines shall remain in full force and effect.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of November 1996.
                                                                                                                                      RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/O:USW-S-96-5.sh
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
November 14, 1996