20100913PAC to Staff 250-255, 257-270.pdf

~~:OUNTAIN RECE n
lOID SE? l 3 AM 10: '3
201 South Main, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
September 10, 2010
Scott Woodbur
Idaho Public Utilties Commission
472 W. Washington
Boise, ID 83702-5918
Neil Price
Idaho Public Utilties Commission
472 W. Washigton
Boise, ID 83702-5918
RE: ID P AC-E- 10-07
IPUC Data Request (252-270)
Please find enclosed Rocky Mountan Power's responses to IPUC Data Requests 252-270,
excluding IPUC 256. Ths response will be provided separately. Provided on the enclosed CD
are Attachments IPUC 252 -(1 -6), 253 -(1 -2), 254, and 264. Provided on the enclosed
Confdential CD are Confdential Attchments IPUC 253 -(3-4), 257, 258, 259 -(1-2),260, and
262. The Confdential Attchments are Confdential and ar provided to paries tht have signed
a protective order in ths docket.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at [phone].
Sincerely,
:J I~¿l Ú/4.Z1(~
J. Ted Weston
Manager, Regulation
Enclosure:
cc: Jean Jewell/IUC (C)/ 3 copies
Eric OlsenlIPA (C)
Ben Oto/ICL (C)
Radall Budge/Monsanto (C)
James R. Smithonsanto (C)
Richad Anderson/onsanto (C)
George C. Carer, III/onsanto (C)
Denns Peseau/onsanto (C)
Gareth R. Kajander/Monsanto (C)
Maurce Brubaker/Monsanto (C)
Brian Collin/Monsanto (C)
Michael Gormanonsanto (C)
Kath Iverson/onsanto (C)
P AC-E- 1 0-07/Rocky Mounta Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 252
IPUC Production Data Request 252
Please provide copies of the Actual Reports for the Company's pension plan
for 2007-2009.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 252
Please refer to Attachments IPUC 252 - 1 and 252 -2 for the 2007 reports, IPUC
252 -3 and 252 -4 for the 2008 reports, and IPUC 252 -5 and 252 -6 for the 2009
reports.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Erich D. Wilson
Erich D. Wilson
P AC-E- 10-07 /Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 253
¡PUC Production Data Request 253
Please provide copies of any correspondence between the Company and its
actues, specifically any corrspondence regarding futue fuding levels or
chages in assumptions for 2009 and 2010.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 253
Please refer to Attchments IPUC 253 - 1 and 253 -2 for changes in assumptions
for 2009 and 2010. For futue fuding levels, please refer to Confdential
Attchments IPUC 253 -3 and 253 -4. Ths inormation is confdential and is
provided subject to the terms and conditions of the protective agreement in ths
proceeding.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Erich D. Wilson
Erich D. Wilson
P AC-E- 1 0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Data Request 254
¡PUC Production Data Request 254
Please provide a table comparg the anua taget incentive amounts to the
amounts actully paid for the year 2007-2009.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 254
Please refer to Attchment IPUC 254.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Erich D. Wilson
Erich D. Wilson
PAC-E-1O-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 255
¡PUC Production Data Request 255
Please describe in detal the natue of all afliate relationships between
PacifiCorp or its parent companes and any company under contract to trport
coal to any of the PacifiCorp coal-fired plants.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 255
PacifiCorp is a subsidiar of MidAerica Energy Holdings Company.
MidAerican Energy Holdigs Company is a subsidiar Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
In Febru of2010 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and BNSF
Ralway Company became subsidiares of Berkshie Hathaway Inc.
PacifiCorp Energy receives coal at the Dave Johnston and Cholla Plants under
long-term rail agreements with the BNSF Railway Company. Both ageements
were contracted prior to the Berkshie Hathaway's acquisition of the BNSF
Railway Company. The transporttion agreement for the Dave Johnston Plant
was negotiated in 1998 and expires in December 2013. The tranporttion
agreement for the Cholla Plant was negotiated in 2005 and extends though
December 2017.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durg
Cindy Crane
P AC-E-I0-07 /Rocky Mountain Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Data Request 257
¡PUC Production Data Request 257
Please describe the method of determg cost of coal for the BCC. Please
provide all backup documentation and spreadsheets with formulas intat used in
ths determnation. How does ths cost of coal compare to the cost of coal agreed
to in the most recent IERCO-IdaoPower coal contrct?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 257
The cost of coal for Bridger Coal Company is based on mine production costs as
forecast and fied by the Company. By agreement with the Idaho Public Servce
Commssion, the Company adjusted Bridger Coal production costs to remove the
inventory effects of the Finacial Accountig Stadads Board Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) No. 04-6, Accounting for Strpping Costs Incured durng
Production in the Mining Industr. The supporting work papers are in found in
Confdential Atthment IPUC 257. Ths information is confdential and is
provided subject to the terms and conditions of the protective agreement in ths
proceeding.
The Company canot comment on the Idaho Power cost of coal as test periods
and related filings are specific to that company.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durng
Cindy Crane
PAC-E-I0-07/Rocky Mountan Power
September 10, 2010
¡PUC Production Data Request 258
¡PUC Production Data Request 258
What is the all-in cost of coal per ton for the BCC coal? Ths all-in cost should
identify both the detailed coal cost and the detaled retu component. Please
provide all backup documentation includig spreadsheets with formulas intat
used for ths anysis.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 258
Please refer to Confdential Attchment IPUC 258 for the all-in cost of Bridger
Coal as well as a comparson to Powder River Basin coal costs. Ths inormation
is confdential and is provided subject to the terms and conditions of the
protective agreement in this proceeding.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durng
Cindy Crane
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 259
¡PUC Production Data Request 259
Please provide all studies/cost-benefit analyses since 2000 performed by
PacifiCorp or under its direction related to obtainig all or par of the coal used by
the Bridger coal plant from any source other than BCC?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 259
In 2003 the Company initiated a study to review the viabilty of implementing an
underground longwall minig operation at Bridger Coal Company. A sumar
of the approved project is provided in Confdential Attchment IPUC 259 -1.
Ths information is confdential and is provided subject to the terms and
conditions of the protective agreement in ths proceeding.
In 2008 the Company began coal contract negotiations with Kiewett Ming
Company, Black Butte Coal Company for a new coal supply agreement beging
in 2010. An internal review and analysis ofthis contract is provided in
Confdential Attchment IPUC 259 -2. Ths inormation is confdential and is
provided subject to the terms and conditions of the protective agreement in this
proceeding.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durng
Cindy Crane
PAC-E-I0-07/Rocky Mountan Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 260
¡PUC Production Data Request 260
Please provide the same information as the above request for comparsons at all
other coal plants.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 260
With respect to the Company's afliate mines, the Company recently reviewed
the cost!nefit of contiuig to produce coal from the Company's Deer Creek
Mine in central Uta. The Deer Creek Mine provides a portion of the coal
consumed by the Company's Carbon, Huntington and Hunter power plants. Deer
Creek's longwall minng unt wa approaching the end of the expected operating
life of the longwall shields. In 2009, the Company evaluated the cost of
rebuilding the curent longwall system relative to a) purchasing a new longwall
system and b) closing the mine and replacing Deer Creek's production with
external coal. Please refer to Confdential Attchment IPUC 260 for a copy of the
analysis and justification for the longwall rebuild. Ths information is confdential
and is provided subject to the terms and conditions of the protective agreement in
ths proceeding.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durg
Cindy Crae
PAC-E-10-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Data Request 260
¡PUC Production Data Request 261
Wht retrofitting would the Bridger coal plant need in order to economically bum
a lower Btugher ash coal than tht supplied by Black Butte/BCC? Wht are the
estimated costs for ths retrofit?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 261
The Company expets conversion to Powder River Basin coals would require
signficant modifications. A futue comprehensive unt specific study would nee
to be completed prior to fmalizing any equipment modifications and project
economics.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durng
Cindy Crane
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 262
¡PUC Production Data Request 262
For the Naughton-Chevron Minng coal contract, please provide a schedule
showing the dollar amount of the coal costs in 2010 when the contract effective
date is changed from Janua 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010. In your response, please
include all supporting documentation and spreadsheets with formulas intact that
were used in this analysis. Please show the line item detail to identify the
difference between this schedule and the Company's PAC-E-I0-07 gener rate
case (RAJAM amounts.
Response to ¡PUC Producton Data Request 262
As reflected in Confdential Attchment IPUC 262, the reduction in test period
coal costs related to the chage in the Naughton contract reopener is $7.63 millon
on a tota system basis. This information is confdential and is provided subject to
the terms and conditions of the protective agreement in ths proceeding.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Durg
Cindy Crae
P AC-E-I0-07 /Rocky Mountain Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Data Request 263
¡PUC Production Data Request 263
What is the composition of the suspended solids in the water pumped from the
Bridger Underground Mine? What is the BCC plan for reclamation of ths water?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 263
The water from the mie can be categorized as a brackish solution of sodium
bicarbonate and sodium sulfate with varable levels of tota suspended solids.
Based on sample testing conducted by SPF Water Engineering between
September 2007 and October 2009 of water pumped from the Bridger
underground mie, the average Suspended Solids (mg/) is 91, and average Tota
Dissolved Solids (mg/) is 1,084. Additional mine water quality chacteristics
were reported as follows:
91
1084
8.1
775
49
0.52
0.08
46
1100
8.1
780
50
.29
0.09
3 - 538
692 - 1690
7.5 -8.8
640-890
33 -60
0:0.01-4.1
0.01-0.14
The plan for water reclamation is storage at the mine, and for cooling water us at
the Bridger Power Plant. Water treatment processing will be requied to use the
ru of mine water as a power plant cooling water source. A water clarfication
project was approved at the mine in May of 2010. The clarfier project will be
conducted over two years, with expected completion by Augut 2011 and a
projected life of th years.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Brian Dug
Cindy Crane
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountan Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Dat Request 264
¡PUC Production Data Request 264
In response to Sta Production Request No. 126, Rocky Mounta Power stated
that in 2009 there were 15,158 customers on Schedule 36 (Time of Use pricing).
It also reported that in 2008 there were 16,723 on Schedule 36. That is 1,565
fewer paricipants in 2009 than in 2008. Has Rocky Mountain Power done a
sureyor an internal review of those customers that are no longer parcipatig in
the time-of-use pricing to determine why those customers chose to be dropped
from Schedule 36? If so, what were the fidings?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 264
Rocky Mountan Power conducts intern reviews to ensure customers are being
biled on the appropriate rate. A comparson of Idaho Residential Rate 1 and Rate
36 utilzing the last twelve months' usage was conducted in June 2009. For those
customers disadvantaged on Rate 36, their account was updated to tae advantage
of the lower residential rate. A letter was mailed informng customers to contat
the Company if they preferred to remain on Rate 36. Please refer to Attchment
IPUC 264 for a copy of the letter. New customers are also informed about Rate 1
and Rate 36 at the time of new connects, which may also inuence Rate 36
customer counts.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determined
PAC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mounta Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 265
¡PUC Production Data Request 265
In response to Production Request No. 137, Rocky Mounta Power stted that
the theshold at which it would go out and physically disconnect a meter if no one
had signed up for the premises was 1,000 kwhs. In response to the same question
in Case PAC-E-05-01 (Sta Production Request No. 50), Rocky Mounta stated
tht its theshold was 400 kwhs. Why did the Company raise the theshold from
400 kwhs to 1000 kwhs? If a cost analysis was completed, please provide tht
anysis.
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 265
The threshold was chaged from 400 kWhs to 1000 kWhs in 2002 and system
chages implemented in 2003. The benefits associated with ths change included
reduction in number of work requests sent to the field where the revenue loss
potential was less than the cost of the field visit, savings in field labor costs and
reductions in back office time requied for call center agents to work the using
reports and issue work requests to disconnect.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determined
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 266
IPUC Production Data Request 266
Regarding those accounts that met the 1,000 kwh theshold, how many ofthose
835 customer accounts were physically disconnected: a) withn 3 days, b) with
4-5 days, or, c) after 5 days?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 266
In 2009,322 sites were physically disconnected. The remaining orders were
cancelled because the new customer signed for service or the order expired. In
2009, orders expired after 20 days if not worked or if a new cusmer ha not
signed for service.
In 2010, ths process was changed and these orders no longer expire for these
reasons.
a) 140 with 3 days
b) 24 4-5 days
c) 158 afer 5 days
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determined
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountan Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 267
¡PUC Production Data Request 267
Regarding Rocky Mountain Power's response to Sta Production Request #132,
the answer was not responsive. To fuer clarfy the question, for all the
customer-requested account closures in 2009, by rate class, how many of those
accounts that were closed, were reconnected to a new .customer: a) withn 3
calenda days, b) within 4-5 days, or c) went longer than 5 days before a new
customer signed up for service?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 267
Customer-requested account closures in 2009, by rate class, closed and
reconnected to a new customer a) with 3 calenda days, b) with 4-5 days, or c)
longer than 5 days before a new customer signed up for service.
COM
IND
IRG
RES
Grand Total
*The tota count differs from the Company's response to IPUC Data Request 132
delivered August 13th, due to two residential customers updated to not closed and
one additional commercial customer back-dated disconnect.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determined
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mounta Power
September 10,2010
IPUC Production Data Request 268
¡PUC Production Data Request 268
In response to Sta Production Request No. 135, Rocky Mountain states that if a
customer-requested account close/open date is 5 days before or 5 days afer a
scheduled monthy meter reading date tht the close or open reading will be
computer estimated based upon the per day usage. So in the remaig 2/3 of the
days in a month, in 2009, what was the lengt of time it took the Company to
obtain an actul reading (Le., by rate class, how many were obtaned withn 3
days, 4-5 days, or took more than 5 days)?
Response to IPUC Production Data Request 268
Commercial 259 55 23 13 12 23 385
Industral 1 2 1 1 3 8
Irgation 48 24 9 7 1 8 97
Residential 4932 805 444 247 190 210 6828
Grand Total 5240 88 477 267 284 244 7318
Percentage
complete 72%12%7%4%3%3%
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determed
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountan Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 269
¡PUC Production Data Request 269
Regarding RM's response to the above question, in all the scenaos above,
whether it took 3 days to obtan an actu readg or more than 5 days, would an
estimate always be done to tae the reading back to the actual date reuested by
the customer to close or open the account?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 269
The Company does prorate the open and/or close read except in the following
scenaros:
i. An open read is being filled with no active prior customer;
11. The open and/or close read is a CUT read - there should not be any
consumption as the service was physically disconnected.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determned
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mounta Power
September 10, 2010
IPUC Production Data Request 270
¡PUC Production Data Request 270
Regarding RM's Landlord Agreement program, is it possible for a landlord at
any time to obta a real time copy of the propert listing showig the propertes
covered by the agreement and whether the account is tued on or tued off at
the time of the request? If yes, can ths listing mailed or faxed to the customer, or
is it available on line?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 270
Upon request, the Company will provide a complete listing of propertes covere
by the landlord agreement. The sttus of the service can be provided, but no other
inormation if the service is curently biling in the tenant name. Ths inormation
can be provided to the landlord by mail, fax or e-maiL.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Are Muhstein
To Be Determned
P AC-E-l 0-07/Rocky Mountain Power
September 10, 2010
¡PUC Production Data Request 270
¡PUC Production Data Request 270
Regarding RM's Landlord Agreement program, is it possible for a landlord at
any time to obtain a real time copy of the property listing showig the propertes
covered by the agreement and whether the account is tued on or tued off at
the time of the request? If yes, can this listing mailed or faxed to the customer, or
is it available on line?
Response to ¡PUC Production Data Request 270
Upon request, th Company will provide a complete listing of properties covered
by the landlord agreement. The statu of the servce can be provided, but no other
information if the service is curently billng in the tenat name. Ths information
can be provided to the landlord by mail, fax or e-maiL.
Recordholder:
Sponsor:
Arc Muhstein
To Be Determed