The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink Aboutconsumer.pdf2003 ANNUAL REPORTPage 63 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Regulating Idaho’s Railroads More than 900 miles of railroad track in Idaho have been abandoned since 1976. Rail line abandonments are governed by federal law, with the federal Surface Transportation Board deciding the final outcome of abandon- ment applications. Under Idaho law, however, after a railroad files its federal notice of intent to abandon, the IPUC must determine whether the proposed abandonment would adversely affect the public interest. The commission then reports its findings to the STB. In reaching a conclusion, the commission considers whether abandon- ment would adversely affect the service area, impair market access or access of Idaho communities to vital goods and services, and whether the line has a potential for profitability. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission also conducts inspections of Idaho’s railroads to determine compliance with state and federal laws, rules and regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous materials, locomotive cab safety and sanitation rules, and railroad - highway grade crossings. Hazardous material inspections are conducted in rail yards and at shipping facilities. In 1994, Idaho was invited to participate in the Federal Railroad Administration’s State Participation Program. IPUC has a State Program Manager and one FRA certified hazardous material inspector. Since 1997, the IPUC has been working with railroads, labor unions, and the FRA to improve locomotive cab working conditions. This includes random inspections to determine overall cab cleanliness, sanitation facilities, first aid requirements and the availability of fresh cold drinking water. The IPUC inspects railroad-highway grade crossings where incidents occur, investigates citizen complaints of unsafe or rough crossings and conducts railroad crossing surveys. Railroad Activity Summary 2003 Tank Cars Inspected 1051 Freight Cars Inspected 119 Trains Inspected 59 Defects Disclosed 123 Violation Reports to FRA 4 Crossing Accidents Investigated 8 Crossing Complaints 35 Crossings Inspected 30 Locomotives Inspected 24 Locomotives with Deficiencies 1 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Page 642003 ANNUAL REPORT Operation Lifesaver Idaho Operation Lifesaver is a non profit state organization that is dedi- cated to increasing public awareness of the potential dangers that exist at high- way-rail grade crossings and around trains in general. Volunteers from various sponsoring groups and other interested indi- viduals staff the organization. Volunteer staff members talk to about 130,000 people each year at presentations and safety booths. Because of the IPUC’s railroad safety oversight, it has taken a leading role in sponsoring and supporting Operation Lifesaver. IPUC staff members participate by making presentations to groups, manning safety booths and serving on the board and various commit- tees. It is the intent of the program to achieve its goal by using: Education – Educate the public about trains by providing safety pre- sentations and by operating informational booths. Engineering – Work with government entities, businesses and railroads to improve highway/rail intersections. Enforcement – Work with law enforcement agencies and railroads to enforce traffic laws pertaining to highway/rail intersections. Railroads In Idaho Palouse River Railroad 709 N. 10th Street Walla Walla, Washington 99362 509/522-1464 Idaho Track Miles: 2 Burlington Northern Railroad 176 East 5th Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 208/263-2016 Idaho Track Miles: 194 Camas Prairie Railnet 325 Mill Road Lewiston, Idaho 83501 208/798-8393 Idaho Track Miles: 174 Eastern Idaho Railroad 618 Shoshone Street West Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 208/733-4686 Idaho Track Miles: 267 Idaho Northern & Pacific P.O.Box 715 Emmett, Idaho 83617 208/365-6353 Idaho Track Miles: 102 Montana Rail Link P.O.Box 8779 Missoula, Montana 59807 406/523-1500 Idaho Track Miles: 34 St. Maries River Railroad 318 North 10th Street St. Maries, Idaho 83861 208/245-4531 Idaho Track Miles: 71 Union Pacific Railroad 1416 Dodge Street Omaha, Nebraska 68179 208/343-1771 Idaho Track Miles: 1,096 2003 ANNUAL REPORTPage 65 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Consumer Assistance The Consumer Assistance Staff responded to 6,030 consumer com- plaints, comments or inquiries in calendar year 2002, of which 88 percent were from residential customers. About 51 percent of the contacts with the commis- sion concerned telecommunications companies. Fifty-six percent of those telecommunications contacts involved Qwest Communications. Thirty-one percent of the commission’s 6,030 consumer assistance contacts involved energy utilities, 60 percent of those about Idaho Power Company. Three percent of all contacts concerned water utilities and 15 percent were not related to a specific regulated utility. Four percent of the commission’s contacts concerned service quality problems; 22 percent concerned utility rates and policies and 5 percent in- volved unauthorized carrier switching. Other categories included: credit and collection issues, 21 percent; disputed billings, 26 percent; line extensions or service upgrades, 3 percent; and miscellaneous, 19 percent. While dispute resolution remains an important task, it is hoped that by working with consumer groups, social service agencies, and utilities, persistent causes of consumer difficulties can be identified and addressed. Consumer complaints present an opportunity for utilities and the com- mission to learn the effect of utility practices and policies on people. For ex- ample, the unintentional and perhaps unfair impact of a rule or regulation might be discovered in the course of investigating a complaint. In such cases an informal, negotiated remedy may not be possible, and formal action by the commission would be required. The Consumer Assistance Staff’s participation in formal rate and policy cases before the commission is the primary method used to address these issues. The Consumer Assistance Staff is able to respond to many consumer contacts without extensive investigation, however 51 percent of consumer contacts required investigation by the staff and are classified as informal com- plaints. Sixty percent of investigations resulted in reversal or modification of the utilities’ original action. Toll Free Complaint Line The commission, in January 1992, established a toll-free “800” telephone line for receiving utility complaints and inquiries from consumers outside the Boise area. The toll-free line (1-800-432-0369) is reserved for inquiries and complaints concerning utilities. Consumers may also file a complaint electronically via the commission’s Website at www.puc.state.id.us. Although the majority of customers still contact the PUC via telephone, 5 percent contacted us through our Website to ask a question or file a complaint.