20041004min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

October 4, 2004 – 1:30 P.M.

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Marsha Smith and Dennis Hansen.

Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order. The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS on September 8th and September 20th, 2004. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the minutes. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

The second order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA, items 2—12. There were no questions or comments. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:

Doug Cooley’s September 29, 2004 Decision Memorandum re: Petition From Residents of the Shoup Area Requesting EAS Into Salmon, Idaho, Case NO. GNR-T-01-03.

Mr. Cooley reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Hansen asked if Idaho USF funding had increased for other companies when the Commission expanded areas of calling in earlier cases. Mr. Cooley replied that there were some slight increases similar to what is proposed in this EAS case. He said some of the earlier cases were combined with rate cases at the same time EAS was investigated, but this would not be the first case of this nature. Commissioner Hansen asked if the expanded USF funding has continued for some of the small phone companies who were granted EAS, and Mr. Cooley replied that it has.

Commissioner Smith asked if Salmon has EAS to anywhere else or if they just have their own calling area. Mr. Cooley said Salmon only has calling to North Fork and Leodore, which are CenturyTel exchanges, also, but nothing into other communities such as Idaho Falls. Commissioner Smith asked if the Shoup area also has calling to Leodore and North Fork. Mr. Cooley replied that the numbers Staff has gathered have only included North Fork and Salmon, and there are an additional 200 customers in Leodore who have not been included.

Commissioner Smith made a motion to consider the Staff recommendation of implementing EAS from Shoup into Salmon and North Fork. She noted the Commission has had the case since February 21, 2001, which she thought was indicative of a very thorough review, and she suggested the Commission process the case by written comment and see how the people of Salmon feel, leaving the option open to have workshops or some other additional procedure if necessary. Commissioner Hansen asked if we should have a workshop to make the people of Salmon aware of the increased rates. He said he wondered how Staff will gather information from the public as to how the people in Salmon feel about the increases without having some kind of workshop. Commissioner Smith said the press release would give the necessary information and should include the detail about the proposed price changes. She said if people feel strongly after reading the information, they will contact the Commission and tell us what they think. She said she didn’t see any need to solicit comments from any other areas besides Shoup, Salmon, and North Fork. Commission Hansen said he would like to make sure that the press release makes the people of Salmon aware that their rates will go up and that they have an opportunity to submit comments. Commissioner Kjellander noted that the motion doesn’t preclude the Commission from taking comments and then choosing an additional process at a later time. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

Wayne Hart’s October 1, 2004 Decision Memorandum re: Page Data and Wavesent Application for Approval of Amendments to Their Paging Agreements with Qwest, Case Nos. QWE-T-03-06 and QWE-T-03-07.

Mr. Hart reviewed his Decision Memo. There was no discussion. Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to accept Staff’s recommendation to issue an order referring these cases to the FCC. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

The last order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS, and the Commissioners agreed they were ready to decide the matter:

15. Deliberation re: Stipulation of Eagle Water Company and United Water Idaho, Inc. to Allocate Service Territory for Five Parcels in the Eagle Area, Case No. EAG-W-04-2. [No Memo. Lisa Nordstrom, Attorney.]

Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the Stipulation. Commissioner Smith stated she supported the Motion and thanked the parties for their swift attention in resolving the matter so people can get the service they need. She said the resolution makes sense and she thought it would serve the customers in the various lots very well.

Commissioner Hansen seconded what Commissioner Smith said and complimented the companies for working it out.

There was no further discussion. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

There were no further items on the agenda and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

DATED this ______ day of October, 2004.

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COMMISSION SECRETARY

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