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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250121Application for Intervenor Funding.pdf RECEIVED 2025 January 21 Eric L. Olsen(ISB#4811) IDAHO PUBLIC ECHO HAWK& OLSEN, PLLC UTILITIES COMMISSION 505 Pershing Ave., Ste. 100 P.O. Box 6119 Pocatello, Idaho 83205 Telephone: (208) 478-1624 Facsimile: (208)478-1670 Email: elo(a)echohawk.com Attorney for Intervenor Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION CASE NO. PAC-E-24-04 OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR AND CHARGES IN IDAHO AND FUNDING OF THE IDAHO APPROVAL OF PROPOSED ELECTRIC IRRIGATION PUMPERS SERVICE SCHEDULES AND ASSOCIATION,INC. REGULATIONS COMES NOW the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. ("Irrigators"), by and through counsel of record,Echo Hawk&Olsen,PLLC, and hereby respectfully makes application to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") for intervenor funding, pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-617A and IDAPA §§ 31.01.01.161 through .165, in this case, as follows: (A) A summary of the expenses that the Irrigators request to recover broken down into legal fees, witness fees and other costs and expenses is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated by reference. (B) The Irrigators' Counsel, Eric L. Olsen of Echo Hawk & Olsen ("Mr. Olsen") and Irrigators' witness Lance D. Kaufman, Ph.D ("Dr. Kaufman") participated in these proceedings. Mr. Olsen and Dr. Kaufman prepared and served written discovery, reviewed and analyzed the various parties' positions, and attended via video conference in the settlement/technical APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 1 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 conferences ("Settlement Conferences") held between the staff and intervenors and the staff, intervenors and PacifiCorp on October 22 & 24, 2024 and November 19 & 21, 2024. As a result of the Settlement Discussions, the parties entered into a Settlement Stipulation which was filed with the Commission on December 6, 2024. Dr. Kaufman's efforts that were not inclusive of Staff s efforts included the removal of the rate base and depreciation expense associated with Labor Day Wildfire restoration,the removal of the amounts attributable to wildfire injuries and legal damages awarded against PacifiCorp, and proposed changes to PacifiCorp's capital structure. These adjustments would have resulted in a reduction in the Idaho revenue requirement of approximately $11,796.399. As a signatory, IIPA believes that the Settlement Stipulation and the resulting proposed revenue requirement and new rates are fair, just and reasonable resolution to issues addressed therein. (C) The expenses and costs incurred by the Irrigators set forth in Exhibit A are reasonable in amount and were necessarily incurred. The expenses and costs were incurred in participating in the Settlement Conferences, in the drafting and review discovery responses, and negotiating the final terms of the Stipulation, and preparing brief testimony in support of the Settlement Stipulation. Without incurring these expenses and costs, the Irrigators would not have been able to fully participate in this matter. (D) The costs described in Exhibit A constitute a financial hardship for the Irrigators. The Irrigators are an Idaho nonprofit corporation qualified under I.R.C. § 501(c)(5) representing farm interests in electric utility rate matters affecting farmers in southern and central Idaho. The Irrigators rely solely upon dues and contributions voluntarily paid by members, together with intervenor funding, to support its activities. Each year mailings are sent to approximately 7,000 Idaho Irrigators (approximately one-third in the Rocky Mountain Power service area), soliciting APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 2 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 annual dues. The Irrigators recommend members make voluntary contributions based on acres irrigated or horsepower per pump. Member contributions have been falling which is believed to be attributable to increased operating costs and declining commodity prices. From member contributions the Irrigators must pay all expenses, which generally include mailing expenses, meeting expenses, post office box, in addition to the expenses relating to participation in matters before the Commission. The Executive Director, Amy McKoon, is the only part-time paid contractor, receiving a retainer plus expenses for office space, office equipment, and secretarial services. Other Irrigator officers and directors are elected annually and serve without compensation. It has been and continues to be a financial hardship for the Irrigators to fully participate in important cases such as this one due to the time and expense that must be incurred to fully participate in such a case. Because of the Irrigators' financial constraints,participation in this case, preparing to file testimony, and participating in the settlement negotiations has been focused and prudent. (E) Dr.Kaufinan's efforts that were not inclusive of Staff s efforts included the removal of the rate base and depreciation expense associated with Labor Day Wildfire restoration, the removal of the amounts attributable to wildfire injuries and legal damages awarded against PacifiCorp, and proposed changes to PacifiCorp's capital structure. These adjustments materially differed from those raised by Commission Staff and other parties and would have resulted in a reduction in the Idaho revenue requirement of approximately $11,796.399. (F) The Irrigators' participation addressed issues of concern to the general body of users or consumers on Rocky Mountain Power's system in that the Irrigator adjustments adopted in the Stipulation reduced the proposed rate increase for all customer classes. APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 3 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 (G) The Irrigators represent the irrigation class of customers under Schedule 10 on Rocky Mountain Power's system. Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully submitted that the Irrigators are a qualifying intervenor and should be entitled to an award of costs of intervention in the maximum amount allowable pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-617A and IDAPA §§ 31.01.01.161 through .165. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2025. ECHO HAWK& OLSEN ERIC L. OLSEN APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 4 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFIY that on this 22nd day of January, 2025, I served a true, correct and complete copy of the Petition of Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. for Leave to Intervene to each of the following, via U.S. Mail or private courier, email or hand delivery, as indicated below: Monica Barrios-Sanchez, Commission Secretary ❑ U.S. Mail Idaho Public Utilities Commission ❑ Hand Delivered P.O. Box 83720 ❑ Overnight Mail Boise, ID 83720-0074 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) monica.barriossanchez(&puc.idaho.gov ® Electronic Mail (Email) Mark Alder ❑ U.S. Mail Michael Snow ❑ Hand Delivered Idaho Regulatory Affairs Manager ❑ Overnight Mail PacificCorp/Rocky Mountain Power ❑ Telecopy(Fax) 1407 WN Temple Ste 330 ® Electronic Mail (Email) Salt Lake City,UT 84116 mark.alderkpacificorp.com michael.snowgpacificorp.com Data Request Response Center ❑ U.S. Mail PacifiCorp ❑ Hand Delivered 825 NE Multnomah, Ste 2000 ❑ Overnight Mail Portland, OR 97232 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) datarequestkl2acificorp.com ® Electronic Mail (Email) Joseph Dallas (ISB #10330) ❑ U.S. Mail Carla Scarsella ❑ Hand Delivered PacificCorp/Rocky Mountain Power ❑ Overnight Mail 825 NE Multnomah, Suite 2000 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Portland, OR 97232 ® Electronic Mail (Email) „joseph.dallas(i pacificorp.com carla.scars ellagpacificorp.com Adam Triplett ❑ U.S. Mail Deputy Attorney General ❑ Hand Delivered Idaho Public Utilities Commission ❑ Overnight Mail P.O. Box 83720 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Boise, Idaho 83720-0074 ® Electronic Mail (Email) adam.triplett@Xuc.idaho.gov APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 5 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 Lane Kaufman, Ph.D. ❑ U.S. Mail Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. ❑ Hand Delivered 2623 NW Bluebell Place ❑ Overnight Mail Corvallis, OR 97330 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) lane@ae isg insi h� ® Electronic Mail (Email) Mike Veile ❑ U.S. Mail Bayer Corporation ❑ Hand Delivered P4 Production, L.L.C. ❑ Overnight Mail P.O. Box 816 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Soda Springs, ID 83276 ® Electronic Mail (Email) mike.veile(&bayer.com Thomas J. Budge ❑ U.S. Mail Bayer Corporation ❑ Hand Delivered Racine Olsen, PLLP ❑ Overnight Mail P.O. Box 1391 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Pocatello, ID 83204-1391 ® Electronic Mail (Email) ti(&,racineolson.com Brian C. Collins ❑ U.S. Mail Greg Meyer ❑ Hand Delivered Bayer Corporation ❑ Overnight Mail Brubaker&Associates ❑ Telecopy(Fax) 16690 Swingley Ridge Rd., #140 ® Electronic Mail (Email) Chesterfield, MO 63017 bcollins(&,consultbai.com gmeyer@consultbai.com Kevin Higgins ❑ U.S. Mail Neal Townsend ❑ Hand Delivered Bayer Corporation ❑ Overnight Mail Energy Strategies LLC ❑ Telecopy(Fax) I I I East Broadway Suite 1200 ® Electronic Mail (Email) Salt Lake City, UT 84111 khiggins@energystrat.com ntownsend(&,energystrat.com APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 6 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 Matthew Nykiel ❑ U.S. Mail Attorney for Idaho Conservation League ❑ Hand Delivered 710 N. 61h St. ❑ Overnight Mail Boise, ID 83702 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) matthew.n, k elggmail.com ® Electronic Mail (Email) Brad Heusinkveld ❑ U.S. Mail Idaho Conservation League ❑ Hand Delivered Regulatory Counsel ❑ Overnight Mail 710 N. 61h St. ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Boise, ID 83702 ® Electronic Mail (Email) bheusinkveldgidahoconservation.org Ronald L. Williams ❑ U.S. Mail Brandon Helgeson ❑ Hand Delivered PacifiCorp Idaho Industrial Customers ❑ Overnight Mail Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP ❑ Telecopy(Fax) P.O. Box 1617 ® Electronic Mail (Email) Boise, ID 83701 rwilliams khawleytroxell.com bhel eg songhawleytroxell.com Bradley Mullins ❑ U.S. Mail PacifiCorp Idaho Industrial Customers ❑ Hand Delivered MW Analytics ❑ Overnight Mail Teitotie 2, Suite 208 ❑ Telecopy(Fax) Oulunsalo Finland, FI-90460 ® Electronic Mail (Email) brmullinsgmwanalytics.com Val Steiner ❑ U.S. Mail PacifiCorp Idaho Industrial Customers ❑ Hand Delivered Itafos Conda, LLC ❑ Overnight Mail val.steiner(a�itafos.com ❑ Telecopy(Fax) ❑ Electronic Mail (Email) Kyle Williams ❑ U.S. Mail PacifiCorp Idaho Industrial Customers ❑ Hand Delivered BYU Idaho ❑ Overnight Mail williamskA,byui.edu ❑ Telecopy(Fax) ® Electronic Mail (Email) APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 7 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 ,� P�V�- ERIC L. OLSEN APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 8 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04 EXHIBIT A Expert Witness,Lance Kaufman, Expenses: 1. Witness Fees: 53.75 Hours @ $250= $13,437.50 Legal Expenses: 1. Paralegal Fees: 14.2 Hours @ $155 = $ 2,201.01 2. Legal Fees Eric L. Olsen: 45.6 Hours @ $250 = $ 11,400.00 3. Soft Costs (Copies) $ 66.75 4. Hard Costs (Hotel for Hearing) $ 141.37 Sub Total: $ 13,809.13 Grand Total: S 27,246.63 APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION,INC. Page 9 CASE NO.PAC-E-24-04