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IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
August 14, 2017 – 1:30 P.M.
In attendance were Commissioners Paul Kjellander and Eric Anderson. Commissioner Raper’s
absence was excused. Commissioner Kjellander called the meeting to order.
The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
on Monday, August 7, 2017. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as
written.
The second order of business was CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Application of
Idaho Power Company for Approval of the Capacity Deficiency to be Utilized for Avoided
Cost Calculations, Case No. IPC-E-17-12.
3. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Residential and
Small Farm Annual Rate Filing of Avista Corporation, Case No. AVU-E-17-05.
4. Camille Christen’s August 10, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: The Power Cost
Adjustment (PCA) Annual Rate Adjustment Filing of Avista Corporation, Case No. AVU-
E-17-07.
5. Daphne Huang’s August 8, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Avista’s Application to
Increase Its Energy Efficiency Rider Adjustment Schedule 91, Case No. AVU-E-17-06.
6. Daphne Huang’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Intermountain Gas
Company’s Application to Implement a DSM Program Funding Mechanism, Case No.
INT-G-17-03.
7. Daphne Huang’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power’s Request to
Release Transmission Line Easement.
8. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Rickel Water Company,
Inc. and Bitterroot Water System, Inc., Case No. RIC-W-17-01.
9. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Application of Idaho
Power Company for a Determination of Hells Canyon Relicensing Costs Through 2015 as
Prudently Incurred, Case No. IPC-E-16-32.
10. Brandon Karpen’s August 11, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Rocky Mountain
Power’s Wind Repowering Application, Case No. PAC-E-17-06.
There were no questions and Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve Staff’s
recommendations for items 2 through 10 on the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the
motion and it carried unanimously.
The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:
11. Karl Klein’s August 9, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: Simplot’s Joint Motion for
Expedited Relief from the Commission’s Order to Process Case by Modified Procedure,
Case No. GNR-E-17-02.
Mr. Klein reviewed his Decision Memo; he stated, this is a joint motion from several intervenors
asking the Commission to vacate its recently issued Notice of Modified Procedure and to instead
set a Technical Hearing. The Commissions Notice of Modified Procedure indicated that the soul
issue in the case was if the Commission should issue the EIA Henry Hub Focus instead of the
EIA Mountain Region Forecast in calculating published avoided costs rates each year. The
parties originally disagreed on whether the Modified Procedure or a Technical Hearing was
appropriate. The Commission found that Modified Procedure would work and set a 21 day
comment deadline and a reply deadline as well it also indicated that if the parties wanted ask for
a Technical Hearing they could still ask for a motion.
Commissioner Anderson moved that we grant the joint motion by vacating the modified
procedure and setting a Technical Hearing as requested by the intervenor companies Simplot
Company, Tamarack Energy Partnership, Idahydro and Renewable Energy Coalition and have
the parties meet informally and bring a proposed time schedule back to the Commission that is
agreed upon.
Commission Kjellander asked if there were any comments for questions, a vote was taken on the
motion and it carried unanimously.
12. Carolee Hall’s August 7, 2017 Decision Memorandum re: 2017 Idaho Universal
Service Fund Annual Report and Recommendations; Case No. GNR-T-17-04.
Ms. Hall reviewed her Decision Memo; she stated she had one correction in the Decision Memo
on page 3, under switched access service it is a 37% decrease as opposed to the 11.5% decrease.
On July 14, 2017 Ms. Anderson, the Administrator of the Idaho USF, filed the 2017 Idaho
Universal Service Report with the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The report explained that
an increase is needed because there is an audit that is needed for next Fall. She reported there
was a 37% decrease in business lines, 10% decreased in residential and billed minutes also
experienced a 37% decrease last year. The administrator presented four options for adjusting the
fund to Idaho’s eight rural USF recipients companies. Staff has reviewed the options and agrees
with Ms. Anderson’s recommendations to adopt option number 3.
Does the Commission wish to approve the Administrator’s IUSF 2017-2018 budget? Does the
Commission wish to adopt the Administrator and Staff’s recommended funding Option3? Does
the Commission wish to adopt different funding option? Does the Commission wish to open a
docket to investigate the future of the IUSF through comments and workshops? Does the
Commission with to accept Staff’s final recommendation for quarterly cash flow reports to
monitor revenue impacts unforeseen changes in line counts or access minutes?
Commissioner Kjellander made a motion to approve the Administrators 2017 – 2018 budget as
outline in the Decision Memo, adopt the Administrator and Staff’s recommendation for funding
option 3, and additionally open a docket to investigate the future of the state USF. Also, with
regards to the Staff’s recommendation for quarterly cash flow reports we should monitor this as
closely as possible, try to get ahead or recognize where we are at in decline of access minutes in
business lines as well as residential and look at the September 1 effective date.
Commission Kjellander asked if there were any comments for questions, a vote was taken on the
motion and it carried unanimously.
The next order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:
13. Deliberation re: In the Matter of the Application of Falls Water Company, Inc. for
Authorization to Build a New Water Source, and Access to the Special Plant Reserve
Account, Case No. FLS-W-17-01. [Brandon Karpen, Attorney]
Commissioner Kjellander announced that item 13 would be deliberately privately.
There was no further business before the Commission and Commissioner Kjellander adjourned
the meeting.
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COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL