20170530min.doc

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

May 30, 2017 – 1:30 P.M.

In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander, Kristine Raper and Eric Anderson. Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order.

The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING on Monday, May 11, 2017. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.

The second order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:
There were no questions and Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve Staff’s recommendations for items 2 through 7 on the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
2. Daphne Huang's May 25, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application to Approve or Reject Energy Sales Agreement with Shingle Creek LLC, Case No. IPC-E-17-08.3. Grace Seaman's May 17, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Albion Telephone Company dba ATC Communication's 2016 Broadband Equipment Tax Credit Application; Case No. ALB-T-17-01.4. Grace Seaman's May 12, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Blackfoot Communications, Inc. dba Fremont Communications' 2016 Broadband Equipment Tax Credit Application; Case No. FRC-T-17-01.5. Grace Seaman's May 12, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.'s 2016 Broadband Equipment Tax Credit Application; Case No. BTC-T-17-01.6. Grace Seaman's May 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Fremont Telecom's 2016 Broadband Equipment Tax Credit Application; Case No. FRE-T-17-02.7. Sean Costello's May 26, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Tanager Telecommunications, LLC's Request to Cancel Certificate No. 488, Case No. TTL-T-09-01.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
8. Daphne Huang/Yao Yin's May 26, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Update to Published Avoided Cost Rates to Reflect an Updated Natural Gas Price Forecast of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Case Nos. AVU-E-17-02, IPC-E-17-07, PAC-E-17-05.

Ms. Huang, reviewed her Decision Memo on item 8; she stated there is one amendment to make on the Decision Memo on page 2, under staffs annual update, the second sentence indicated the new avoided cost rates if approved will increase approximately 1 to 6 percent; that was calculation error. The change should read; a slight decrease of about 2 to 3 percent.
Commissioner Kjellander asked if there were any questions.
Commissioner Raper asked if the utilities agreed that under the current scenario that those rates are correct with Dr. Yin’s modifications that actually cause it to lower the rate slightly.
Ms. Huang stated that, yes the calculations are now considered correct, the only concern with Idaho Power is which forecast is to be used.
Commissioner Kjellander asked Idaho Power’s representative to identify himself for the record.
Donovan Walker, Idaho Power, stated he was there to clarify Idaho Power’s position with relation to the process moving forward. His understanding was that staff is proposing an interim rate be adopted which is their proposal, until Idaho Power could be heard on its objection to the proper use of gas forecast in the updated rate.
Commissioner Kjellander stated, he did not see any reference in the memo for this to be an interim rate in the Decision Memo.
Ms. Huang stated, what staff is proposing is that the Commission adopt staff’s proposal now pending resolution of a generic docket and Idaho Power is requesting that what is put in place as of June 1 only be in effect as an interim rate until the GNR is resolved.
Commissioner Raper made a motion to accept the updated published avoided cost rates with the caveat made by Dr. Yin and Ms. Huang, effective June 1, 2017; open a docket based on Idaho Power’s position as stated in its response and provide a 14-day intervention period so that any interested partied can weigh in on the case with the understanding that the Commission can then order either to implement new rates on a new level at the time the final order is issued or to choose its normal annual update.
Commissioner Kjellander asked if there were any further questions. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.
The final order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
9. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Application for Authority to Implement Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Rates for Electric Service from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018, Case No. IPC-E-17-06. [Brandon Karpen, Attorney]10. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Application to Implement Fixed Cost Adjustment Rates Effective June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018, Case No. IPC-E-17-02. [Brandon Karpen, Attorney]11. Deliberation re: Rocky Mountain Power's ECAM Application, Case No. PAC-E-17-02. [Brandon Karpen, Attorney]12. Deliberation re: Application of Idaho Power Company to Recover Costs Associated with the North Valmy Plant, Case No. IPC-E-16-24. [Daphne Huang, Attorney]13. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Application to Approve Energy Sales Agreement with CAFCO Idaho Refuse Management LLC, Idaho, Case No. IPC-E-17-04. [Daphne Huang, Attorney]14. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Application to Approve Revised Depreciation Rates, Case No. IPC-E-16-23. [Daphne Huang, Attorney]15. Deliberation re: Idaho Power's Petition for a Declaratory Order Regarding PURPA Contract Terms for Battery Storage Facilities, Case No. IPC-E-17-01. [Daphne Huang, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander announced that items 9 through 15 would be deliberated privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned the meeting.

____________________________________ ______________________________ COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL