HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120319min.docIDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
MARCH 19, 2012 – 1:30 P.M.
In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Mack Redford and Marsha Smith.
Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order. The first order of business was
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING on Monday, March 5, 2012. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.
The next order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Bev Barker's March 16, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Proposed Exemption from Idaho Power's Rule C Tariff Provisions Regarding Aggregated Meter Reading Pursuant to Case No. IPC-E-07-02. 3. Don Howell's March 16, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Increase Rates and Its Rate Base to Recover Its Investment in the Langley Gulch Power Plant, Case No. IPC-E-12-14. 4. Don Howell's March 9, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Increase Rates to Recover Costs Associated with the Company's FERC Transmission Rate Case, Case No. IPC-E-12-06. 5. Karl Klein's March 16, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Share Revenue with Customers, Case No. IPC-E-12-13. 6. Neil Price's March 15, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Rocky Mountain Power's Application for Approval of Its ESA with Monsanto Pursuant to Order No. 32432, Case No. PAC-E-12-05. 7. Neil Price's March 15, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Rocky Mountain Power's Application to Increase Rates through Its Energy Cost Adjustment Mechanism (ECAM), Case No. PAC-E-12-03. 8. Weldon Stutzman's March 15, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Implement Fixed Cost Adjustment Rates Effective June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013, Case No. IPC-E-12-12.
There was no discussion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 through 8 on the Consent Agenda.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
9. Daniel Klein and Chris Hecht's March 16, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Formal Complaint of Leonard Koch Against Falls Water Objecting to the Cost to Connect to Service.
Mr. Klein reviewed the Decision Memo. Commissioner Smith made a motion for the Commission to issue a Summons to Falls Water Company regarding the complaint of Mr. Koch, and in addition ask Commission staff to have an auditor check into the allegations that for seven years the Company has been collecting money it is not entitled to collect. There was no discussion. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously. 10. Idaho Power Company's Motion for a Temporary Stay of Its Obligation to Enter into New Power Purchase Agreements with Qualifying Facilities, Case No. GNR-E-11-03. [Kristine Sasser, Attorney]
Ms. Sasser reviewed the Motion filed by Idaho Power Company on March 12, 2012. She noted that the Company had subsequently filed Affidavits, and four other parties had filed motions in opposition to the Motion, including Exergy, J.R. Simplot Company, Snake River Alliance and Idaho Conservation League. She said Rocky Mountain Power made a filing on March 14, 2012, to support Idaho Power’s Motion and asked that it be permitted to join in the Stay requested by Idaho Power.
Commissioner Smith stated it would be well advised for the Commission to hold an Oral Argument on Idaho Power’s Motion for three purposes: (1) to determine whether Idaho Power has made a prima facie showing that some extraordinary relief is necessary; (2) to determine whether the existing schedule needs to be modified; and (3) if the Commission then decides there has been a sufficient showing that some action is needed during the pendency of the case, then it can determine what action, if any, is needed. She stated the Oral Argument should be held as soon as possible and suggested scheduling it on March 21st.
Commissioner Redford stated that he agreed with Commissioner Smith and suggested that her recommendations be put in the form of a motion. Commissioner Kjellander stated that he concurred that some type of process is more than warranted in this case, and he agreed the Oral Argument should be scheduled as quickly as possible. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The final order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
11. Deliberation re: Avista's Application to Approve a Territory Allocation Agreement with Clearwater Power Company, Case No. AVU-E-12-02. [Karl Klein, Attorney.] 12. Deliberation re: Staff Complaint Against Rocky Mountain Power: Billing Under an Inappropriate Rate Schedule (Utility Customer Relations Rule 203.01.c), Case No. PAC-E-12-01. [Karl Klein, Attorney] 13. Deliberation re: Grouse Creek Wind Parks v. Idaho PUC and Idaho Power Company, Case Nos. IPC-E-10-61 and IPC-E-10-62 (Supreme Court Docket No. 39151-2011). [Kristine Sasser, Attorney] 14. Deliberation re: Application of Cricket Communications, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier, Case No. CRI-T-11-01. [Neil Price, Attorney] 15. Deliberation re: Complaint Cases Filed by Bonnie Menth and Vicky Davis, Case No. IPC-E-12-04. [Weldon Stutzman, Attorney] 16. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Request for Approval of Modifications to Schedules 1, 4, and 5 Implementing a Time-Variant Pricing Plan, Case No. IPC-E-12-05. [Weldon Stutzman, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander stated that items 11 through 16 would be deliberated privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.
___________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL
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