20070914Decision memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
CO MMISSI 0 NER SMITH
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:DONOV AN E. WALKER
DATE:SEPTEMBER 14, 2007
SUBJECT:A VISTA'S APPLICATION TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROGRAM FOR
REMOTE DISCONNECTS AND RECONNECTS, CASE NO. AVU-07-
On August 31 , 2007, A vista Corporation filed an Application seeking approval to
implement a one-year pilot program for remote disconnects and reconnects. The Company also
requests a limited waiver of Utility Customer Relations Rules 311.03 and 311.04 (IDAP A
31.21.01.03 and .04). The Company requests that its Application be processed under the
Commission s Modified Procedure Rules. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204.
THE APPLICATION
The Company proposes to install approximately 250 remote disconnect collars which
would utilize Power Line Carrier (PLC) as the communication protocol in rural areas and
approximately 350 wireless meter devices for use in urban areas. The devices would allow for
the remote enabling and disabling of electric service from A vista s office. Customers selected
for the pilot would include customers with 200 amp services that either: have had multiple
disconnects, are located in rural areas, or otherwise occupy premises where the A vista employee
may be "at risk" for manually performing disconnects and/or reconnects.
The Company states that the anticipated benefits of remote disconnect and reconnect
capability include: reducing operating and maintenance expenses related to multiple
disconnections and reconnections for urban and rural accounts, productivity gains of employees
by eliminating multiple trips to customer homes for collections, enhancing employee safety,
quicker response time to reconnect service leading to increased customer satisfaction, and
recognizing a reduction in bill defaults and write-offs by encouraging prompt consumer payment
DECISION MEMORANDUM
over time. Avista proposes to report on the following at the conclusion of the one-year pilot
program: 1) number of disconnect devices installed, 2) reason for installation, 3) utilization of
the disconnect devices after installation, and 4) costs together with realized savings.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has read the Company s Application and recommends that it be processed by
Modified Procedure, with comments due on October 26 2007.
CO MMISSI 0 N D ECISI ON
Does the Commission preliminarily find that the public interest may not require a
hearing to consider the issues presented, and that this proceeding may be processed under
Modified Procedure as requested by the Company and recommended by Staff?
DECISION MEMORANDUM