20120416min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

APRIL 16, 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, April 9, 2012. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.

The next order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Don Howell's April 13, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Contract for Consulting Services.3. Don Howell's April 13, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Contract for Legal Services.4. Grace Seaman's April 12, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Potlatch Telephone Company's Advice Letter 12-01 to Add Exceptions to the Company's Concurrence in the Idaho Rural Exchange Carriers Access Tariff for Toll VOIP-PSTN Traffic.5. Matt Elam's April 9, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Avista's Tariff Advice - Updates to Reflect PGA Change.6. Terri Carlock's April 12, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power Company's Request for Extension to Issue and Sell Up to $500 Million First Mortgage Bonds and Debt Securities by Shelf Authority, Case No. IPC-E-12-16.
There was no discussion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 through 6 on the Consent Agenda.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
7. David Hattaway's April 13, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Calculating the 2012 Regulatory Fee Assessments for Public Utilities and Railroads, Case Nos. F-2012-1 and F-2012-2.
Mr. Hattaway reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Kjellander asked how close the Commission is getting to the statutory cap. Mr. Hattaway replied that the statutory cap is .3%, so we are still a ways from reaching it. There was no further discussion and Commissioner Kjellander moved for approval of Staff’s recommendations. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.8. Don Howell's April 10, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Increase Its Rate Base and Rates to Recover Its Investment in the Langley Gulch Power Plant, Case No. IPC-E-12-14.
Mr. Howell reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Smith stated she had no objection to the proposed schedule but was curious how this case meshes with the PCA rate change and if there will be rate changes on both June 1st and July 1st. Mr. Howell confirmed that there will be two rate changes. Commissioner Smith asked if this was the only rate change occurring on July 1st and if so, could this case be completed by June 1st. Mr. Lobb replied that this is the only rate change scheduled for July 1st and there are other rates that will go into effect on June 1st. He said the Company requested the July 1st effective date for the Langley case and by the time the Company filed the case a June 1st date seemed unworkable. He said they met last week and established a compressed schedule.
Commissioner Redford asked about the informational meeting and if it is purely discretionary. Mr. Howell replied that the meeting can be held at the Commission’s discretion. He stated that Staff believes an informational meeting may not be necessary because of the use of modified procedure and because the Commission has already granted a certificate for the plant.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to accept the parties’ proposal to process the case by modified procedure according to the schedule outlined without conducting an informational meeting. Commissioner Kjellander stated that he supported the motion and noted that if there is a demand to hold an informational session the Commission can always come back and do so. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.9. Don Howell's April 12, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: Revised Special Contract Between Hoku and Idaho Power, Case No. IPC-E-12-02; and Idaho Power Tariff Advice No. 12-07, Schedule 32 (Hoku).
There was no discussion and Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve staff’s recommendations and the tariff advice filed in reference to the Hoku case. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.10. Grace Seaman's April 13, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: 2011 ITSAP Annual Report, Case No. GNR-T-12-02.
Ms. Seaman welcomed Alyson Anderson, the ITSAP administrator, and then reviewed her Decision Memo. She noted an error on page 2 of the Decision Memo in the third paragraph and corrected the 2010 disbursement figure to $1,159,958. Ms. Seaman commended Ms. Anderson for her work in administering the ITSAP. Commissioner Kjellander asked Ms. Anderson if there was anything she wanted to share. She stated that she understands Staff’s position and likes maintaining a steady charge rather than adjusting it up and down. Commissioner Kjellander thanked Ms. Anderson for her efforts. Commissioner Smith made a motion to adopt Staff’s recommendation to maintain the assessments at their current level, accept the annual report, adopt the Administrator’s budget and thank Ms. Anderson for her services. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.11. Grace Seaman's April 11, 2012 Decision Memorandum re: 2011 Telecommunications Relay Service Annual Report, Case No. GNR-T-12-01.
Ms. Seaman welcomed the Administrator of the TRS program, Robert Dunbar, and then reviewed her Decision Memo. She commended Mr. Dunbar for his work in administering the TRS program. Commissioner Kjellander asked Mr. Dunbar if he had anything to add. Mr. Dunbar stated the traditional relay service that has been in effect for many years has leveled out in the last year and the captioned telephone is up and down, so he was making his best estimate. Commissioner Kjellander thanked Mr. Dunbar and made a motion to approve Staff’s recommendations. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

___________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL

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