Section VI Consumer Assistance, Railroad & Pipeline.pdf

CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
Complaints by Industry
The Consumer Assistance staff responded to 1,364 complaints and inquiries in fiscal year 2023, a 26% increase when
compared to the previous fiscal year. The majority (90%) of complaints and inquiries were from residential customers.
The chart below illustrates the complaints and inquiries by industry.

0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%
Complaints by Industry
Miscellaneous (unregulated services, unidentified utility, general information requests)
Water companies
Energy companies (electric, natural gas)
Telecommunications companies

Summary of Issues
Commission. While the Consumer Assistance staff is
s

Summary of Issues
Billing
Credit and Collection (deposits, disconnection, payment arrangements)
Miscellaneous Issues
Rates and policies
Telecommunications Issues
Line extensions and service upgrades
Service quality and repair
Unable to follow up with person who inquired or filed complaint

*Source: ITD (2017)

RAILROAD SAFETY
The Commission conducts inspections of Idaho’s railroads to determine compliance with state and federal laws, rules

has a State Program Manager and one FRA certified hazardous material inspector. Hazardous material

Commission inspects railroad-highway grade crossings where incidents occur, investigates citizen complaints of
-crossing surveys.
Commission also plays a role when rail lines are abandoned.
Federal law governs rail line abandonments, and the federal Surface Transportation
), formerly the Interstate Commerce Commission. The STB decides the final outcome of abandonment
Idaho law, however, after a railroad files its federal notice of intent to abandon, the Commission
Commission then
In reaching a conclusion, the Commission considers whether abandonment would

Railroad Activity Summary
Idaho Railroad Track Miles 1710/996 Class I *
Hazmat Inspections 261
Rail Cars inspected 12,212
Railcar Violations 9
Railcar Defects 165
Railroad Grade Crossings Inspected 327
Crossing Accidents Investigated 28
Crossing Complaints Investigated 3
Crossing Complaints Validated 5
Locomotives Inspected 4
Locomotive defects 0

PIPELINE SAFETY
Idaho Code § 61-515 empowers the Commission to require every utility to “maintain and operate its line, plant,

§ 60105, Chapter 601, the Commission is a certified partner with the U.S. Department of

ipeline facilities under annual certification.
more stringent standards for intrastate pipeline facilities provided the standards are compatible
Commission has a state program manager and two trained and certified pipeline safety
field installed equipment inspections on all intrastate natural gas pipeline

Pipeline Safety Activity Summary
Standard Inspection Days 135
Compliance Inspection Days 5
Damage Prevention Inspection Days 3.5
Construction Inspection Days 145
Operator Qualification Inspection Days 9.5
Integrity Management Program Inspection
Days
Compliance Enforcement Actions

CONTACT LIST
Contact IPUC: 208-334-0300 Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Commission Secretary 1-208-334-0338
Public Information 1-208-334-0339
Utilities Division 1-208-344-0367
Legal Division 1-208-334-0324
Rail and Pipeline Safety 1-208-334-0338
Consumer Assistance 1-208-334-0369
Outside Boise, Toll-Free Consumer Assistance 1-800-432-0369

Idaho Telephone Relay Service (statewide)
Voice: 1-800-377-3529
Text Telephone: [phone]
TRS Information: 1-800-368-6185
Commission’s Website at www.puc.idaho.gov.
3 Annual Report.”

This report satisfies Idaho Code § 61-214; this is a “full and complete account” of the most significant cases to come before the Commission during
9 through June 30, 2023.) Anyone with access to the Internet may also
Commission’s agendas, notices, case information and decisions by visiting the IPUC’s Web site at: www.puc.idaho.gov. Commission
Commission’s Boise office, 11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Commission, as outlined in its Strategic Plan, serves the citizens and utilities of Idaho by determining fair, just, and reasonable rates for utility
the Commission also had
Commission also has a pipeline safety