20160328min.pdf

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IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING

March 28, 2016 – 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, March 21, 2016. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as
written.

The next order of business was approval of the CONSENT AGENDA:

2. Daphne Huang's March 25, 2016 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application
for Authority to Implement FCA Rates for Electric Service from June 1, 2016 through May
31, 2017, Case No. IPC-E-16-02.

3. Daphne Huang's March 21, 2016 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power's Application
to Approve Second Amendment to Its Firm Energy Sales Agreement with New Energy
One, LLC, Case No. IPC-E-16-04.
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. Don Howell's March 25, 2016 Decision Memorandum re: Renewal of the Commission's
Regulatory Contract with the Utah Public Service Commission Regarding Questar Gas,
Case No. QST-G-16-01.
Mr. Howell reviewed his Decision Memo. Commissioner Kjellander asked about the exit clause
for both the Utah Commission and the Idaho Commission. Mr. Howell stated that the prior
contract had an initial term of 10 years with a renewable contract of 10 years, and this contract
has one-year provisions with automatic renewal, but each state reserves the right to terminate the
contract at any time. He said Idaho’s statute 61-505 sets out the terms under which the
Commission can terminate the contract, such as if the Commission believed Idaho ratepayers
were not getting the same treatment as Utah ratepayers regarding Questar’s service. He pointed
out that on page two of the draft contract it is spelled out that one-year terms are automatically
renewed subject to the termination provision in sub-paragraph six, where either party may
provide written notice of termination of the contract prior to the one-year term or discontinue or
terminate pursuant to the applicable laws of either Idaho or Utah.

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Commissioner Kjellander asked if Dominion is still in the process of acquiring Questar. Mr.
Howell replied that several states had opened dockets regarding the acquisition, and the contract
references the transaction but doesn’t make any findings. Commissioner Kjellander asked if
there will be an order accompanying the signing of the contract. Mr. Howell replied that an
order will be issued so that the contract can be tracked going forward. Commissioner Kjellander
asked if the order can recommend that the company have an annual update with the Commission
and Mr. Howell agreed. There was no further discussion. Commissioner Raper made a motion
that the Commission find the four provisions are met as outlined by Mr. Howell in his memo,
approve the attached regulatory contract, and issue an order accompanying the contract with the
recommendation to provide an annual update to the Commission. A vote was taken on the
motion and it carried unanimously.

5. Grace Seaman's March 24, 2016 Decision Memorandum re: 2015 Idaho Telephone
Service Assistance Program Annual Report, Case No. GNR-T-16-03.
Ms. Seaman introduced Alyson Anderson, Administrator of the Idaho Telecommunications
Service Assistance Program (ITSAP). She then reviewed her Decision Memo and concluded by
commending Ms. Anderson for her work in administering the ITSAP program during the past
year. There was no discussion. Commissioner Raper made a motion to accept the 2015 annual
report, adopt the Administrator’s 2016 budget, and adopt the Administrator’s recommendation to
maintain the monthly ITSAP surcharge rate at $0.01 per access line. She also thanked Ms.
Anderson for all her work and for keeping a close eye on the numbers. A vote was taken on the
motion and it carried unanimously.
The final order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
6. Deliberation re: Avista's Application for an Accounting Order Related to Costs Incurred
to Offer a Fee-Free Payment Program, Case Nos. AVU-E-16-01 AND AVU-G-16-01. [Karl
Klein, Attorney]

7. Deliberation re: Rocky Mountain Power's ECAM Application, Case No. PAC-E-16-05.
[Karl Klein, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander stated that items 6 and 7 would be deliberated privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned
the meeting.

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COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL