28271.mod.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO MAKE REVISIONS TO SCHEDULE 24 FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE TO IRRIGATION CUSTOMERS. )
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) CASE NO. IPC-E-00-1

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE

ORDER NO. 28271

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on December 10, 1999, Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power; Company) filed an Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) for authority to revise its electric Schedule 24 tariff for irrigation service effective August 23, 2000. A copy of the Proposed Schedule 24 in legislative format is attached.
The Company contends that its filing is an effort to streamline and improve procedures, to maintain and promote customer satisfaction, and to more efficiently utilize the Company’s resources.
The following changes to Schedule 24 are proposed:
Deposit Requirements
Under the Company’s proposal the existing Seasonal Advance provisions of Schedule 24, which were designed to protect the Company against loss from unpaid irrigation bills, will be replaced with a revised deposit provision. The deposit provision, the Company contends, will continue to protect against losses from unpaid irrigation bills but will provide advantages to both the irrigation customers and the Company.
Idaho Power believes that irrigation customers will benefit because in most cases, the proposed deposit of either the previous year’s highest month’s bill, or an estimated monthly bill, multiplied by a factor of one and one-half (1.5) will be a smaller dollar amount than a Seasonal Advance. The Company contends that it will benefit from a deposit process that is more consistent and uniform with the Company’s deposit provisions for other non-residential customers. Consistent and more uniform processes will reduce training, supervision, and technical support costs. Customer-oriented innovation will also assist the Company in attaining its goals of customer service and customer satisfaction.
The Company contends that another advantage of the deposit requirement over a Seasonal Advance is preventing a history of biennial flip-flopping between payment protection for the Company one year and no payment protection the succeeding year.
Interest on Deposits
The Company requests that the interest rate to be paid on deposits from Schedule 24 customers be the same as that paid on deposits for residential and small commercial customers. Reference Utility Customer Relations Rule 106.02.
Prepayment Option
Customers are now permitted to pay a $12.00 prepayment for their November through April customer charges with their October monthly payment. Customers choosing the prepayment option do not receive a monthly billing for the prepayment period unless there is a balance owing on the account. The Company proposes to eliminate this option. There has been a significant yearly decrease in participation and an increasing percentage of those exercising the prepayment option who are using energy in the out-of-season period.
Preferred Due Date Provision
The preferred due date provision was added to Schedule 24 when the year round irrigation program was adopted in 1996. Under this provision customers, particularly those with multiple accounts, may specify a single due date for all of their irrigation bills. Since the year-round irrigation program was adopted, the Company reports that it has fully implemented its Summary Billing Provision. This option allows customers to receive a summary of charges for multiple accounts in a single bill. Summary Billing, the Company reports, has become the preferred option for those customers desiring to have a single due date for multiple accounts and requires less administrative work for Company personnel. The Company requests that the preferred due date provision be eliminated for Schedule 24.
Service Connection
In order to bring more consistency to the Company’s termination and deposit requirements, once the out-of-season begins, the Company proposes that its standard termination procedures be followed for those irrigation customers who have outstanding account balances. However, customers who have had two or more late payments of $100 or more but who pay their accounts in full prior to having service disconnected, will not as a matter of routine have their service disconnected at the end of their pumping season. Rather, customers in this category will be required to pay a deposit by March 1 of the following year in order to remain connected for service during the irrigation season. The Company requests that sub-section 2 (Late Payments) under the Service Connection section of Schedule 24 be deleted.

The Company requests that the proposed revisions to Schedule 24 be approved February 10, 2000 with service under the schedule effective August 23, 2000, the first meter read date for the September billing period. This procedure, the Company contends, will allow the 2000 irrigation season to be completed under the Schedule 24 provisions that are currently in place, will allow the Company sufficient time to notify its customers about the changes in Schedule 24 that will be in effect at the end of the 2000 irrigation season and to get its internal systems and processes revised.
The Company requests that its Application be processed pursuant to Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the Company’s Application, and proposed changes to Tariff Schedule 24. The Commission has preliminarily found that the public interest regarding implementation of the proposed changes to Tariff Schedule 24 may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the Application may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission with the consent of the Company has suspended the proposed approval date of February 10, 2000, to provide sufficient time for notice and for submitting comments in Case No. IPC-E-00-01. Reference Idaho Code 61-307; 61-622.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission will not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or protests with respect to the Application and the Commission’s use of Modified Procedure in Case No. IPC-E-00-1 is Thursday, February 24, 2000. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and proposed revisions to Idaho Power Electric Tariff Schedule 24 for irrigation service, have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission office and at the Idaho offices of Idaho Power Company. Written comments concerning this Application should be mailed to the Commission and Company at the addresses reflected below:

COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983 MAGGI BRILZ
DIRECTOR, PRICING
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
PO BOX 70
BOISE, ID 83707

LARRY D. RIPLEY
SENIOR ATTORNEY
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
PO BOX 70
BOISE, ID 83707
Street Address for Express Mail:
1221 W Idaho Street
Boise, ID 83702
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
O R D E R
In consideration of the foregoing and as more particularly described above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and the Commission in Case No. IPC-E-00-1 does hereby suspend the Company’s proposed February 10, 2000, approval date and approves the above schedule for Modified Procedure.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
day of January 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:IPC-E-00-01_sw

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 28271 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 1, 2000