20190910MIN.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
September 10, 2019 – 1:30 P.M.
In attendance were Commissioners Kris Raper and Eric Anderson. Commissioner Kjellander was excused
from the meeting. Commissioner Anderson called the meeting to order.
The first order of business was APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING on Tuesday August 27, 2019. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.
The second order of business was CONSENT AGENDA:
2. Action Item: Daniel Klein’s September 4, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: The 2017 Broadband
Equipment Tax Credit Application for Inland Cellular, LLC.; Case No. INC-T-19-01.
3. Action Item: Daniel Klein’s September 5, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Application for
Approval of an Amendment to an Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba
CenturyLink QC and Teliax, Inc.; Case No. QWE-T-19-04.
4. Action Item: John Hammond’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Avista
Corporation’s Application to Approve Agreement Allocating Territory with Kootenai Electric
Cooperative; Case No. AVU-E-19-10.
5. Action Item: Matt Hunter’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Rocky Mountain
Power’s Application for Approval of the Asset Sale between Rocky Mountain Power and Idaho
Power; Case No. PAC-E-19-11.
6. Action Item: Matt Hunter’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Application of Avista
Utilities for an Order Approving a Change in Natural Gas Rates and Charges; Case No. AVU-G-
19-06.
7. Action Item: Matt Hunter’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Petition of Custer
Telephone Cooperative, Inc., for Amendment of its Certified Service Area Boundary; Case No.
CUS-T-19-02.
8. Action Item: Dayn Hardie’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power’s
Application for Authority to Transfer Title of Golden Hills Mobile Home Park Meter Pedestals;
Case No. IPC-E-19-26.
Commissioner Anderson made a motion to approve Staff’s recommendation for items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and
8 on the Consent Agenda. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

The next order of business was MATTERS IN PROGRESS:

9. Action Item: John Hammond’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Modification of
Written Comment Filing Process for a Limited Period Due to the Moving of the Commission’s
Office.

Mr. Hammond reviewed his Decision Memo and stated; due to the Commissions move during the
September 16 through September 20 2019 it became apparent we would be unable to receive documents
during that time. There were a number of cases that had written comments deadlines set during that
period. We became concerned that we would not be able to receive them and there would be a timely
filing issue.

Commissioner Raper made a motion that; we modify the filing for the cases that have Comment deadlines
dates that fall in the September 16 and September 20, 2019; and that the Commission waive the
requirement of Rule 14 that receipt by the Commission Secretary is required and instead allow for the
post mark date to be reflected as the receipts date on only those documents so that the hard copies can be
delivered to the Commission at P.O. Box 83720. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried
unanimously.

10. Action Item: John Hammond’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Avista General
Rate Case Scheduling-Electric; Case No. AVU-E-19-04.

John Hammond reviewed his Decision Memo and stated; Staff recommends the Commission issue an
Order that adopts the proposed rate case schedule and sets a technical hearing for December 17-18, 2019.
Staff also recommends the Commission direct Staff to conduct one or more public informational
workshops within the Company’s service territory. Also, the Staff recommends the Commission notify
customers that the Commission will schedule one or more public hearings for customers at a later date.
Does the Commission wish to issue an Order that adopts the agreed-upon schedule and set a technical
hearing for a later date.

Commissioner Raper made a motion that; we adopt the proposed schedule including the technical hearing
dates of December 17 and 18, 2019 and with the direction that Staff keep on top of public workshops and
with one or two public hearing being scheduled at a later date. A vote was taken on the motion and it
carried unanimously.

11. Action Item: Dayn Hardie’s September 6, 2019, Decision Memorandum re: Staff’s Request to
Electric, Gas, and Large Water Utilities to Not Disconnect Any Customer Service During the Week
of September 16-20, 2019.

Mr. Hardie reviewed his Decision Memo and stated; the Commission’s Consumers and Staff will possibly
be unable to receive or return phone calls between September 16 and 20, 2019. Staff sent its request to
Avista (gas and electric), Idaho Power, Rocky Mountain Power, Intermountain Gas, and Suez on
September 5, 2019. To date, one utility has responded that this would cause disruption to its scheduled
payment operations.

Commissioner Raper made a motion that; the Commission Secretary post a notice to the consumers on
our web site that notifies the consumers that with regard to disconnection of service we will do everything
within our power to be of assistance even during the down times although there may be some technical
difficulties. A vote was taken on the motion and it carried unanimously.

The next order of business was FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS:

12. Deliberation re: Capitol Water Corporation’s Application to Increase Its Schedule No. 3
Purchased Power Adjustment Rate; Case No. CAP-W-19-01. [John Hammond, Attorney]

Commissioner Anderson stated that items 12 under Fully Submitted Matters would be deliberated
privately.

Commissioner Anderson stated, there was no further business before the Commission and he adjourned
the meeting.

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COMMISSION SECRETARY DATE OF APPROVAL