HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090810min.docIDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
August 10, 2009 – 1:30 P.M.
In attendance were Commissioners Jim Kempton, Marsha Smith and Mack Redford.
Commissioner Kempton called the meeting to order. The first order of business was approval of MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING on August 3, 2009. A vote was taken to approve the minutes as written.
The second order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA, items 2 - 4. The Commission voted unanimously to approve Staff’s recommendations for each of these items.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
5. Chris Hecht’s August 3, 2009 Decision Memorandum re: Formal Complaint of Everett Jameson.
Commissioner Smith asked Mr. Hecht what the Commission can do for Mr. Jameson. Mr. Hecht stated that the question is whether the Company followed procedure and the complainant wants a chance to air his grievances. Commissioner Kempton asked about Idaho Power’s termination procedures and whether the company is required to knock on the door to deliver the termination notice. Mr. Hecht explained that it is a requirement that the employee knock on the door and attempt to collect, but it is unclear whether the Idaho Power employee did so, and when questioned, the employee had no recollection of this particular disconnection and there were no notes made in the field, other than the time of day the power was shut off. Commissioner Kempton asked why the power was shut off before the end of the winter protection program, and Mr. Hecht replied that Mr. Jameson was not enrolled in the winter payment plan, which would have offered protection from disconnection through March.
Commissioner Kempton asked about the formal complaint process, and Mr. Howell explained that the Commission can proceed at its own discretion, once the informal complaint process has been exhausted.
Commissioner Redford asked what the complainant hopes to achieve by filing a formal complaint. Mr. Hecht replied that he hopes to recover monetary damages or some type of claim for emotional distress, neither of which the Commission can award.
Commissioner Redford asked Mr. Howell if he knew what the complainant’s expectations might be. Mr. Howell replied that he didn’t know and he confirmed the Commission does not have jurisdictional authority to award damages. He said the Commission could order the company to follow its door knocking procedures and refund to Mr. Jameson the reconnection fee he incurred, but that would be the limit of what the Commission could offer to him.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to accept Mr. Jameson’s letter as a formal complaint and issue a Summons and Complaint to Idaho Power for its response. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
6. Don Howell’s August 1, 2009 Decision Memorandum re: Eagle Water Company’s Application for a Surcharge, Case No. EAG-W-09-01.
The Commission voted unanimously to process the Application by Modified Procedure with the schedule proposed by the parties, and the Commission voted unanimously to hold a public workshop regarding the Company’s Application.
The only other item on the agenda was under FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS and Commissioner Kempton stated it would be deliberated privately. He then adjourned the meeting.
DATED this ______ day of August, 2009.
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COMMISSION SECRETARY
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