20240605Final_Order_No_36209.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 5,2024
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF ST. MARIES RIVER ) CASE NO. SMR-R-24-01
RAILROAD COMPANY FAILURE TO PAY )
ITS 2023 ASSESSMENT FEES AND )
PROMPTLY COMPLY WITH STATUTORY ) ORDER NO. 36209
MANDATES )
On March 26, 2024, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") issued Order
No. 36120, directing St. Maries River Railroad Company ("Railroad" or "Company") to appear
and show cause why it failed to pay its annual assessment fees. Specifically, the Order alleged the
Company failed to pay its special regulatory assessment fees ("assessment") and unpaid interest
for 2023 and interest on unpaid regulatory fees for 2022, as required by Idaho Code §§ 61-1001
through 61-1005.
On April 11, 2024, the Commission held a Show Cause Hearing ("Hearing"). During the
Hearing, Ms. Nancy Ashcraft, a senior financial specialist for the Commission Staff("Staff'), and
the Railroad's president, Mr. Michael Williams, testified. A copy of a certified letter sent to the
Railroad by Staff and a written statement of the Railroad's unpaid annual assessment were also
admitted as exhibits.
Having reviewed the evidence presented at the Hearing, we impose a $10,000 monetary
penalty upon the Railroad. However, this monetary penalty shall be held in abeyance under the
terms and conditions described below.
BACKGROUND
1. Commission Regulatory Fees
By statute, railroads and public utilities subject to Commission jurisdiction must annually
pay an assessment.Idaho Code§ 61-1001.Each year,the Commission calculates the proportionate
assessment that each railroad and public utility shall pay to defray the Commission's expenses for
supervising and regulating these entities during the next fiscal year. Idaho Code § 61-1004. At
most, a railroad's annual assessment can be one percent (1%) of its gross intrastate operating
revenues,but not less than$50.Idaho Code§ 61-1004(1)and(4). After calculating each railroad's
proportionate assessment based on all the railroads reported intrastate operating revenues for the
previous year, the Commission notifies each railroad of its assessed regulatory fee by May 1 of
ORDER NO. 36209 1

each year. The railroads then must pay the fee in equal semi-annual installments by May 15th and
November 15th of each year. Idaho Code §§ 61-1001 through 61-1005.
In this case, Staff alleged that it contacted the Company on several occasions demanding
that it pay its annual regulatory fee for 2023. Despite this,the Company failed or otherwise refused
to pay either semi-annual installment of its $6,117.912 annual regulatory fee in violation of Idaho
Code §§ 61-1001 and 61-1005. In addition to the outstanding 2023 assessment balance, the
Company also owed $127.72 in fees due to interest on the unpaid 2023 assessment balance
(through December 5, 2023) and $28.32 in interest carried forward from its 2022 assessment. In
total, Staff alleged that the Company owed the Commission $6,273.95 in regulatory fees and
interest.
THE SHOW CAUSE HEARING
During the Hearing, Ms. Ashcraft testified to the amount of the Company's 2023
assessment, when it was due, and Staff s efforts to collect the 2023 assessment plus interest from
2022 that carried forward. Specifically, Ms. Ashcraft testified that, before May 1' of each year,
the Commission sends an invoice to each public utility in Idaho for their annual assessment. The
public utilities must then pay half the invoiced amount by May 15th and the remainder by
November 15th. According to Ms. Ashcraft, the Company's assessment for 2023 was $6,117.91.
Regarding Staff s collection efforts,Ms. Ashcraft testified to sending the Company a letter
via certified mail on December 5, 2023. The certified letter stated that the Company owed
$6,117.91 in unpaid annual assessment plus $156.04 of accrued interest(this included the$127.72
outstanding interest for 2023 and $28.32 for unpaid interest for its 2022 assessment). The letter
further noted the Railroad's "history of failing to pay its yearly assessment on time," provided
instructions regarding the potential payment of installments,and warned of the possibility of show
cause proceedings for the unpaid balances. Despite the letter, the Railroad's outstanding
assessment remained unpaid, resulting in Staff recommending the Commission issue an Order to
Show Cause requiring the Railroad to appear and show cause why it had failed to pay its required
assessment and accrued interest.
Ms. Ashcraft further testified to the Company's history of untimely annual assessment
payments. According to Ms. Ashcraft,the Company paid its annual assessment on time only once
between 2017 and 2023. Ms. Ashcraft also testified that the Company had continued this pattern
of late payment by failing to pay its 2023 assessment as of the date of the Hearing.
ORDER NO. 36209 2

During the Hearing, Mr. Williams admitted that the Company had established a pattern of
tardiness in paying its annual assessment—including its 2023 assessment. Mr. Williams neither
disputed the amount the Company owed, nor did he attempt to excuse the Company's failure to
timely pay its 2023 assessment,testifying that it resulted only from an error on his part. Regarding
the future assessment,Mr.Williams testified that he would make prompt payments going forward.
Notably,Mr. Williams indicated that he had brought payment for the Company's 2023 assessment
with him and could provide it to Staff immediately following the Hearing.
COMMISSION JURISDICTION AND FINDINGS
The Commission has jurisdiction in this matter under Idaho Code §§ 61-101, et seq.,
including Idaho Code § 61-501, which vests the Commission with the authority and jurisdiction
to supervise and regulate every public utility in the state. More specifically, Idaho Code §§ 61-
701, et seq., provides direction to the Commission relating to enforcement, penalties, and
interpretation of public utilities law. See Idaho Code §§ 61-1001 through 61-1005 (relating to
regulatory fees of railroads).
Having reviewed the evidence presented at the Hearing, we find that the Railroad failed to
timely pay its annual regulatory assessment for 2023 in violation of Idaho Code §§ 61-1001 and
61-1005. We further find that this failure is part of a history of late payment by the Company
reaching back to at least 2017. Based on this established pattern of tardiness, we find it necessary
to impose a monetary sanction of$10,000 for the Company's failure to timely pay either semi-
annual installment of its total$6,117.91 assessment(and any associated interest)by May 15,2023,
and November 15,2023. Each day these fees remained unpaid constituted a separate violation. See
Idaho Code § 61-707.
However, considering the Company's acceptance of responsibility and recent efforts to
comply with its payment obligations, we find it fair, just, and reasonable to hold the monetary
sanction in abeyance for a period of five years. If the Company timely pays its annual assessment
for 2024-2028, the $10,000 sanction will be waived at the end of that five years. However, should
the Company fail to meet its payment obligations at any time after June 1, 2024, the $10,000
sanction may be reinstated along with an additional sanction of$500 for each day the Company
remains out of compliance with its regulatory obligations.
ORDER NO. 36209 3

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company is subject to a penalty of$10,000 for its
failure to pay either semi-annual installment of its total $6,117.91 annual assessment, and
associated interest, in May and November of 2023.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the $10,000 penalty shall be held in abeyance for a
period of five years from the issuance of this Order. If the Company pays its annual assessment on
time during that five-year period, the $10,000 penalty may be waived.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if the Company fails to meet its payment obligations
after June 1, 2024, the $10,000 sanction may be reinstated along with an additional sanction of
$500 for every day the Company remains out of compliance with its regulatory obligations.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order regarding any matter
decided in this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,
any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code § 61-626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 5th day of
June 2024.
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
G
EDWARD LODGE, MISSIONER
ATTEST:
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Commission Secretary
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