20020903_254.pdf

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
DECISION MEMORANDUM
COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
JEAN JEWELL
RON LAW
DAVE SCHUNKE
RANDY LOBB
GENE FADNESS
DON HOWELL
AUGUST 29, 2002
IDWR'S REQUEST TO IDAHO POWER FOR MONTHLY ENERGY
CONSUMPTION REPORTS
In a letter dated August 22, 2002, Idaho Power asked pennission to provide the Idaho
Department of Water Resources (IDWR) with monthly energy consumption reports for irrigation
wells located in State Water District 130. IDWR needs more timely infonnation "to allow the
watennaster and the Department to monitor plans intended to reduce withdrawal of ground
water.IDWR Letter. The letters are attached.
Idaho Code ~ 62-1302 and the Commission s Energy Consumption Reporting Rule
11 contemplate that IDWR may request annual reports from energy utilities so that IDWR can
monitor ground water depletion. IDAPA 31.81.01.011. In this instance, IDWR has requested
and Idaho Power has agreed to supply monthly reports for District 130. The parties have also
agreed to defray Idaho Power s cost in preparing the monthly reports. Idaho Power estimates the
start-up cost for these reports is approximately $3 050 and the monthly cost is approximately
$305. IDWR has agreed to these estimated payments.
Idaho Power inquires whether the Commission has any objection to honoring
IDWR's request. Given the agreement of the parties and the payment arrangements, the
Commission Staff does not object to Idaho Power honoring IDWR's request.
DECISION MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission concur with the parties' agreement to supply IDWR with
monthly consumption reports?
Vld/M: IPCreports - dh
DECISION MEMORANDUM
Don Howell
11: 30 141 002
3511 ?=t(
tate of Idaho
"7 hP-s~rd.l;bQJ1. ~e./1
'7~ f)vc..
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
1301 North Orchard Street, Boise, ID 83706 - P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ill 83720-0098
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Web Site: www.idwr.stateJd.
DJRK KEMPTHORNE
Governor
08/16/02 ft1 208 327 7866 ID WATER RESOlmS
July 23, 2002 kARL J. DREHER
Dlreclor
Quentin Nesbin
Idaho Power Company
1221 W. Idaho
Boise, Jdaho 83702
Re: Monthly Power Records for Ground Water Pumps in Water District 36
Dear Quentin:
Based upon our telephone discussion yesterday, please consider this letter as
request for a detennination of the cost of having Idaho Power Company provide power usage
informatjon on a monthly basis for irrigation wells in State Water District 130. This
infonnation is needed to allow the watennaster and the Depanment to monitor plans jntended
to reduce withdrawal of ground water by 8 percent in this area.
There are approximately 1000 ground water diversions in the area, but data reponed
monthly are only needed for those diversions for which the owner has offered a reduction
plan based upon reducing diversions (as opposed to those who have, for example, offered a
plan based upon reduced acreage irrigated).
The information is needed for the remainder of this and next season and possibly
future years. These are records that Idaho Power Company has been supplying to the
Depanment annually for several years, but the need now is to have the infonnation within a
week or so into the following month to allow management decisions to occur during the
season. If legal constraintS prevent Idaho Power Company from providing the infonnation
more frequently than yearly, the specific water users needing to have the monthly repon to
confurn. compliance wjth their reduction plan, can be asked to sign a fOnD allowing release of
the data.
Thank you for consideration of this request. If additional infonnation is needed
please give me a call at 327-7910 or Tim Luke at 327-7864.
Sincerely,
Norman C. Youn
Administrator
Water Management Division
c. Tim Luke
An IDACORP Company
HECElVEO 0'1.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
O. BOX 70 F\ LEO
BOISE, IDAHO 83707 11M. 0;
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UTlLl1\E.S~ GOt'U'1\SSION .
August 22, 2002
BARTON L. KLINE
Senior Attorney
...,-,.._..
Donald L. Howell , II
Deputy Attorney General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington Street
O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Re:Reporting of Consumption From Groundwater Pumping
Dear Mr. Howell:
In accordance with the provisions of IDAPA 31.81.01 and the provisions of
Chapter 13, Title 62 , Idaho Code , Idaho Power Company provides annual reports to the
Water Allocation Bureau of the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR)
concerning energy consumption by individual Irrigation Customers.
IDWR has requested that in addition to the annual report , Idaho Power
provide monthly data on electric consumption for Irrigation Customers located on the
eastern Snake River aquifer. Attached is a copy of a letter from Norman Young,
Administrator, Water Management Division , at the IDWR, to Quentin Nesbitt. Mr.
Young s letter describes why IDWR and the specific Irrigation Customers desire that
Idaho Power provide the requested consumption information on a monthly basis. The
letter also indicates that IDWR is willing to pay Idaho Power for any additional costs
associated with producing the requested information on a monthly basis.
After discussing this matter with iDWR , Idaho Powei has conciuded that
with relatively minor programming changes , it can provide the information requested by
the IOWA. The format for providing the information would be the same as the format
for the annual report. It would just be for a smaller geographic area. Idaho Power has
estimated the maximum additional cost associated with providing the requested data on
a monthly basis would be an initial lump sum payment of $3,049 to reimburse Idaho
Power for the original programming costs to establish the capability to make monthly
reports for the selected area, and monthly payments of $304.90 to cover ongoing
reporting costs. The above~described payments are maximum amounts. If it is
determined that the actual costs of performing the programming and generating the
monthly reports are less than currently estimated, the charges will be reducedaccordingly.
; .
Telephone [phone] Fax [phone], E-mail BKlinefBiidahopower.com
Donald L. Howell , II
Page #2
August 22, 2002
Idaho Power hereby requests that the IPUG advise Idaho Power as to
whether it has any objection to Idaho Power providing the above-described additional
data to the Department on a monthly basis subject to reimbursement as provided
above. Idaho Power would still provide the annual report as contemplated in IDAPA
31.81.01.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Barton L. Kline
BLK:jb
Enclosure
State of Idaho
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
1301 North Orchard Street, Boise, ill 83706 - P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ill 83720-0098
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Web Site: www.idwr.state.id.
DIRK KEMPTHORNE
Governor
July 23 2002 KARL J. DREHER
Director
Quentin Nesbitt
Idaho Power Company
1221 W. Idaho
Boise, Idaho 83702
Re: Monthly Power Records for Ground Water Pumps in Water District 36
Dear Quentin:
Based upon our telephone discussion yesterday, please consider this letter as
request for a determination of the cost of having Idaho Power Company provide power usage
information on a monthly basis for irrigation wells in State Water District 130. Thisinformation is needed to allow the watennaster and the Department to monitor plans intended
to reduce withdrawal of ground water by 8 percent in this area.
There are approximately 1000 ground water diversions in the area, but data reportedmonthly are only needed for those diversions for which the owner has offered a reduction
plan based upon reducing diversions (as opposed to those who have, for example, offered aplan based upon reduced acreage irrigated).
The infonnation is needed for the remainder of this and next season and possibly
future years. These are records that Idaho Power Company has been supplying to the
Department annually for several years, but the need now is to have the information within aweek or so into the following month to allow management decisions to occur during the
season. If legal constraints prevent Idaho Power Company from providing the information
more frequently than yearly, the specific water users needing to have the monthly report to
confirm compliance with their reduction plan, can be asked to sign a fonn allowing release of
the data.
Thank you for consideration of this request. If additional infonnation is needed,
please give me a call at 327-7910 or Tim Luke at 327-7864.
Sincerely,
: "
Nonnan C. Youn
Administrator. . "
. Water Management Division '
c. Tim Luke -