20080529notice_of_public_hearing.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
May 29, 2008
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF ATLANTA POWER COMPANY FOR AN
ORDER AUTHORIZING INCREASES IN
THE COMPANY'S RATES AND CHARGES
FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE IN THE STATE
OF IDAHO
CASE NO. A TL-O8-
NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE
(EMERGENCY SURCHARGE)
NOTICE OF
STAFF REPORT DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AND COMPANY
REPLY DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
On May 1 , 2008, Atlanta Power Company (Atlanta Power; Company) filed an
Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) requesting a general rate
increase in the Company s basic tariff rates for electric service together with a request for an
emergency surcharge. Atlanta Power operates pursuant to Certificate of Convenience and
Necessity No. 236. Atlanta Power is located in Elmore County and provides electric service to
approximately 75 residential and commercial customers in Atlanta.
On May 20 2008, the Commission issued a Notice of the Company s Application.
Emergency Surcharge
Atlanta Power, as part of its Application, requests that the Commission declare an
2008.
emergency and approve a surcharge on existing rates of 54.2% for an effective date of June 1
. By way of background, Atlanta Power states the following:
By Order No. 30417 dated August 29 2007 in Case No. ATL-07-, the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission authorized the Company to defer on its
accounting records the extraordinary costs incurred in the year 2007
associated with the failure of Atlanta Power s hydroelectric turbine. That
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
(EMERGENCY SURCHARGE)
NOTICE OF STAFF REPORT DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
AND COMPANY REPLY DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Order recognized that the Company would be filing additional
applications seeking recovery of the deferred extraordinary costs.
By Order No. 30511 dated March 3, 2008 in Case No. ATL-08-, the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission authorized the Company to incur debt
in the amount of $ll0 000. The Order recognized the need for the
Company to acquire cash to pay the extraordinary costs deferred pursuant
to Order No. 30417. Atlanta Power has determined that its loan
repayment obligations including loans from the Company s owners
require monthly payments of $3 088.66 per month for the first 12 months
and $2 206.01 per month for an additional 72 months. To fully recover
these repayment obligations over the term of the two notes comprising the
$110 000 incurred indebtedness, Atlanta Power contends that the
Company requires a surcharge on current rates of 54.2% for the first year
and 38.71 % for the remaining six years (or a surcharge of 33.74% for the
first year and 24.1 % for the remaining six years at the tariff rates proposed
in the Company s Application).
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings of
record in Case No. A TL-08-02. The Commission finds that exigent circumstances exist to
expedite procedure in the matter of the Company s request for an emergency surcharge. The
Commission has preliminarily found that the public interest regarding the Company s request for
an emergency surcharge may not require a technical hearing to consider the issues presented and
that issues raised by the Company s Application and request for emergency surcharge may be
processed under Modified Procedure, i., by written submission rather than by hearing.
Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAP A 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Staff has informed the
Commission that it will be prepared to file a report and recommendation with the Commission
regarding the Company s request for an emergency surcharge by June 5 2008. Accordingly, the
Commission hereby establishes a June 5, 2008 deadline for the filing by Commission Staff of
its report on the Company s request for an emergency surcharge.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or
protests by customers with respect to the Company s request for an emergency surcharge and
the Commission s use of Modified Procedure on this issue and the deadline for Company reply
comments to Staff report is Wednesday, June 11 2008.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
(EMERGENCY SURCHARGE)
NOTICE OF STAFF REPORT DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
AND COMPANY REPLY DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission takes notice of the customer
comments already filed in this case and the request of many for a hearing. The Commission will
conduct a public hearing for the purpose of taking public comment and testimony on the
Company request for an emergency surcharge on THURSDAY. JUNE 12. 2008.
COMMENCING AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE COMMISSION HEARING ROOM. 472 WEST
WASHINGTON STREET. BOISE. IDAHO
The Commission s choice of the Boise hearing location recognizes the nature of the
emergency relief requested by the Company, the remoteness of the Atlanta community, and the
calendaring constraints of the Commission in scheduling a hearing on such short notice.
workshop conducted by Commission Staff and a technical hearing on the Company s full
Application including a revisiting of the Company s request for an emergency surcharge will be
scheduled at a location in Atlanta later this year.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are
received within the deadlines established above, the Commission may consider the matter of the
Company s request for an emergency surcharge on its merits and may enter its Order without a
formal technical hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission
will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for technical hearing or may decide
the matter and issue its Order based on the record of public testimony and written positions
before it. Reference IDAP A 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case No. ATL-
08-02 should be mailed to the Commission and Atlanta Power Company at the addresses
reflected below.
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Israel Ray
Atlanta Power Company
11140 Chicken Dinner Road
Caldwell , ID 83406
Street Address for Express Mail:Robert E. Smith
2209 N. Bryson Road
Boise, ID 83713
E-mail: utilitygroup~yahoo.com
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5918
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
(EMERGENCY SURCHARGE)
NOTICE OF STAFF REPORT DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
AND COMPANY REPLY DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document. Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission s home page located at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. These comments must also be sent to Atlanta Power at the e-mail address listed
above.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case No. ATL-08-
may be viewed at www.puc.idaho.gov by clicking on "File Room" and "Electric Cases " or can
be viewed during regular business hours at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 472 W.
Washington Street, Boise, Idaho.
DATED at Boise, Idaho this ).. qt"day of May 2008.
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:~JG~Je D. Jewel
Commission Secretary
bls!N:A TL-08-sw2
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
(EMERGENCY SURCHARGE)
NOTICE OF STAFF REPORT DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT
AND COMPANY REPLY DEADLINE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING