20101129min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

NOVEMBER 29, 2010 – 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 Monday, November 22, 2010. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes with a wording change noted by Commissioner Smith.

The second order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Don Howell's November 23, 2010 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Sale of SO2 Emission Allowances, Case No. IPC-E-10-20.3. Grace Seaman's November 24, 2010 Decision Memorandum re: Qwest Corporation's Application for Approval of Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement, Case No. QWE-T-04-26.4. Matt Elam's November 24, 2010 Decision Memorandum re: Avista's Tariff Advice - Schedule 146 Revisions.
There was no discussion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 through 4 on the Consent Agenda.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
5. Don Howell's November 23, 2010 Decision Memorandum re: In the Matter of the Joint Petition of Idaho Power, Avista Corporation, and Rocky Mountain Power to Address Avoided Cost Issues and to Reduce the Published Avoided Cost Rate Eligibility Cap, Case No. GNR-E-10-04.
Mr. Howell reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Smith asked if Staff is recommending that the comments focus only on the issue of reducing the eligibility cap. Mr. Howell replied that Staff is asking for comments on the issue of the eligibility cap and also the two related issues of aggregating and whether the reduction of the cap only applies to wind and not other PURPA-generating resources. He said unlike past issues where utilities have asked for the eligibility cap to be reduced, the petitioners in this case did not offer any evidence at the time they filed their petition, so Staff also recommended that the Order direct the petitioners to file initial comments in support of their request to reduce the cap. There was no further discussion. The Commission voted unanimously to issue a Notice of Petition and process the case under Modified Procedure, adopt the proposed schedule, approve the Petitions to Intervene, establish a deadline for intervention, direct the Commission Secretary to subsequently prepare a Notice of Parties in this matter, direct that parties file their initial and reply comments on other parties by electronic mail, and indicate in its Order that its decision regarding the Joint Motion to reduce the published avoided cost eligibility cap from 10 aMW to 100kW become effective seven days after the Commission issues its Notice of Petition and Notice of Modified Procedure.
FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
6. Deliberation re: Murray Water Works System's Rate Case, Petitions for Reconsideration Filed by Customers, Case No. MUR-W-10-01. [Neil Price, Attorney.]7. Deliberation re: Proposal to Reduce Eligibility Threshold for Large Load Customers, Case No. IPC-E-10-23 (Idaho Power). [Scott Woodbury, Attorney.]
Commissioner Kempton stated that items 6 and 7 would be deliberated privately following the meeting.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kempton adjourned the meeting.

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COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL

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