20140317min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

MARCH 17, 2014 – 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 10, 2014. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.
The next order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Carolee Hall's March 10, 2014 Decision Memorandum re: Application for Approval of an Interim Arrangement Between CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc., CenturyTel of the Gem State, Inc. dba CenturyLink ("CenturyLink") and Teleport Communications of America, LLC. ("Teleport"), Case Nos. CEN-T-14-01 and CGS-T-14-01.3. Terri Carlock's March 14, 2014 Decision Memorandum re: Avista Corporation's Application for Authority to Enter into Credit Facilities up to $500,000,000, Case No. AVU-U-14-01.
There was no discussion and Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 and 3 on the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
4. Grace Seaman's March 14, 2014 Decision Memorandum re: 2013 Idaho Telecommunications Relay Service Annual Report, Case No. GNR-T-14-02.
Ms. Seaman welcomed Bob Dunbar, Administrator of the Idaho Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), to the meeting and then reviewed her Decision Memo. Commissioner Smith thanked Mr. Dunbar for his excellent work on the TRS over the years and then made a motion to approve Mr. Dunbar’s recommendation to retain the current assessment rates, accept the annual report and adopt the 2014 budget.
Commissioner Kjellander asked Mr. Dunbar how long it might take for the TRS to reach a point of exhaust. Mr. Dunbar replied that he estimated it would be about four years, based on his understanding of some of the new technologies, or I-Phone applications, that will be available in the future. He added that the program could come to a sudden halt. Commissioner Kjellander asked if the current financing would transition over to the new technology, or if the technology would be picked up through other protocols such as internet protocols. Mr. Dunbar replied that he thought it would be picked up through other protocols, although he didn’t know what the FCC would do as far as transferring some of the costs of the internet protocol products to the states. He said he hopes that would not happen, and there is the possibility that private enterprise might put an I-Phone application on the market. Commissioner Kjellander added that for 99 cents the problem could be fixed, and Mr. Dunbar concurred, stating that he believed that is the answer. Commissioner Kjellander thanked Mr. Dunbar for his service. There was no further discussion. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The final order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
5. Deliberation re: Avista Corporation's 2013 Integrated Resource Plan, Case No. AVU-E-13-07. [Karl Klein, Attorney]6. Deliberation re: Intervenor's Motion to Dismiss, Case No. IPC-E-13-22. [Kristine Sasser, Attorney]7. Deliberation re: Settlement Stipulation Between Idaho Power Company and Idaho Wind Partners LLC, Case No. IPC-E-13-19. [Kristine Sasser, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander stated that items 5 through 7 would be deliberated privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

_____________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL

1