20210413Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM -1-

DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
ADAM RUSH
STEVEN GOODSON
LEGAL
WORKING FILE

FROM: MARIA BARRATT-RILEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DATE: APRIL 13, 2021

RE: CALCULATING THE 2021 REGULATORY FEE ASSESSMENTS FOR
PUBLIC UTILITIES, and RAILROADS; CASE NOS. F-2021-1 and F-2021-2.

In March 2021, the Idaho Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 1141 appropriating a
total of $6,709,600 to the Commission for Fiscal Year (FY 2022). The total appropriation includes
$6,148,500 from fees assessed on public utilities and railroads; $341,800 for federal grants; and
$219,300 for indirect funds.

The Commission finished FY 2020 with an unused balance of $1,538,500. This one-time
reversion amount reflects the completion of the Commission move to the Chinden complex. As
authorized by Idaho Code § 61-104, this reverted appropriation amount was pro-rated between the
utilities and railroad assessment calculations to fund FY 2022. Attachment 1 shows the
calculations to arrive at the amounts to be collected.

Attachment 2 shows the calculations to arrive at the assessment for utilities and railroads.

1. Utility Assessment. The FY 2020 reverted carry-over amount for utilities is $1,487,300. The
calculated assessment for public utilities for FY 2022 is $4,456,400 ($5,943,700-$1,487,300).

2. For Calendar Year (CY) 2020, Title 61 and Title 62 utilities reported gross intrastate operating
revenues totaling approximately $2.28 billion. This is a reported revenue increase of
approximately $43.8 million (1.96%) from the prior year. The proportionate share for each
utility’s regulatory fee is to be assessed at .1953% (.001953) of each utility’s gross intrastate
operating revenue. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-1004(2) the maximum fee payable shall not
exceed three-tenths (3/10) of one percent (1%) of the gross operating revenues derived from
the intrastate utility business of each such public utility. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-1004(4)
the minimum regulatory fee assessed shall be no less than $50.00.