20120215notice_of_public_workshop.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 15,2012
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMMISSION’S )
INQUIRY INTO THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS )CASE NO.GNR-E-12-O1
AND FUNDING OF LOW INCOME )
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS FOR )NOTICE OF
ELECTRIC UTILITIES )PUBLIC WORKSHOP
Idaho Power Company,Avista Utilities,and Rocky Mountain Power Company offer
low-income weatherization programs and energy conservation education programs.In recent
rate cases,questions surfaced about how to best determine each utility’s appropriate level of
program funding.In particular,concerns arose about how such programs are to be accurately
assessed for cost-effectiveness and overall customer need.
The Commission issued an Order in each case instructing the companies to participate
in public workshops to resolve these issues.See Order No.32371,Case No.AVU-E/G-11-01;
Order No.32426,Case No.IPC-E-1 1-08;Order No.32432,Case No.PAC-E-1 1-12;and Order
No.32440,Case No.PAC-E-11-13.By this Notice,the Commission initiates a generic
investigation and schedules a workshop to explore these issues.
NOTICE OF WORKSHOP
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission shall convene a workshop on
MONDAY,MARCH 19,2012 AT 10:00 A.M.,AND TUESDAY,MARCH 20,2012 AT 9:00
A.M.IN THE COMMISSION HEARING ROOM,472 WEST WASHINGTON STREET,
BOISE,IDAHO.The pu1pose of the workshop is for the utilities,interested persons,and
Commission Staff to explore in greater detail issues related to the funding,implementation,and
evaluation of utility low-income weatherization and energy conservation education programs.
Following the workshop,Commission Staff shall prepare and submit a report of its findings and
recommendations.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that workshop participants should be prepared to
discuss the issues,including without limitation:
1.What factors should the Commission use to assess the need of any given
utility’s customers for low-income weatherization and education
programs?For example,to what extent should the Commission look to:
a.“Parity”based on the total number of customers in each utility’s
territory?
NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP 1
b.Number of low-income customers in a utility’s territory?
c.The community action partnership (CAP)agency low-income
customer “waiting lists”for a given utility?
d.Poverty rates?
e.Unemployment rates?
f.Number of homes needing weatherization?
g.Number of electrically-heated homes?
h.Project cost-effectiveness?
i.Other factors?
2.How should the Commission measure the cost-effectiveness of any given
utility’s low-income weatherization and education programs?
a.How similar should the utilities’cost-effectiveness methodologies,
including the treatment of non-energy benefits,be?
b.How should the utilities measure energy savings?
c.How should the utilities record measure-level data?
d.What kinds of oversight should the utilities provide to the CAP
agencies?
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that following the workshop,Commission Staff
will prepare and submit a report discussing its findings and recommendations,and the
Commission then will schedule further proceedings and hearings as needed.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be held in
facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other assistance in order to participate
in or to understand testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask the Commission to
provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing.The request for assistance
must be received at least five (5)working days before the hearing by contacting the Commission
Secretary at:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP 2
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
P0 BOX 83720
BOISE,IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone] (Telephone)
[phone] (FAX)
E-Mail:secretary(puc.idaho.gov
IDATEDatBoise,Idaho this i day of February 2012.
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PAUL KJELLANDI3R,PRESIDENT
MACK A.REDF0RT5,COMMISSIONER
it1 d&
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
/1
I LLr L /I’1jC
Jean D Jewel!
COmmission Sécretary
N:GNR-E-12-Oikk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3