20060330order_no_30007.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 30, 2006
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION
OF APPROPRIATE RATEMAKING
TREATMENT OF IDAHO POWER
COMPANY'S S02 ALLOWANCE SALE
PROCEEDS
CASE NO. IPC-05-
ORDER NO. 30007
On March 6, 2006, the Commission issued Order No. 29989, establishing a comment
deadline of March 31 , 2006, as well as a briefing schedule, regarding the ratemaking treatment of
the proceeds from Idaho Power s sale of excess S02 emission allowances. The parties notified
the Commission that they have reached agreement upon the issues in this matter, and will be
submitting a stipulation for the Commission s consideration. With this Order the Commission
vacates the March 31 , 2006 comment deadline as well as the previously ordered briefing
schedule.
BACKGROUND
On June 9, 2005 , Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power, Company) filed an
Application requesting: (1) blanket authority to sell surplus sulfur dioxide (S02) allowances;
and (2) an accounting order to provide for recording any sale(s) of such allowances. Case No.
IPC-05-20. The Company s Application also suggested that a determination of ratemaking
treatment for the proceeds be made at a later date.
On August 22 2005 , the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved
the Company s Application. Order No. 29852. The Commission, while reserving the review of
the reasonableness of each sale, granted Idaho Power s request for blanket authority to sell S02
emissions allowances and approved the accounting treatment proposed by the Company, on an
interim basis, until such time as the Commission determines the appropriate ratemaking
treatment of the proceeds from the sale of the S02 allowances. Id. The Company was ordered
to file a report with the Commission within 60 days of the receipt of any S02 proceeds. Id.
Additionally, the Commission ordered that a separate docket be opened for Staff to conduct
workshops and make a recommendation to the Commission regarding the appropriate
ratemaking treatment of S02 proceeds. Id.
This docket, IPC-05-, was opened and two workshops were held on November 7
and November 23 , 2005, respectively. During the workshops the parties were unable to reach
ORDER NO. 30007
agreement upon the ratemaking treatment of the proceeds. On March 6, 2006, the Commission
issued Order No. 29989, establishing the following schedule: comment deadline of March 31
2006; Company s brief and Company s reply comments due on April 14, 2006; Staff and
Intervenor briefs due on April 28, 2006; Company s reply brief due on May 12 2006.
The parties met on March 23 , 2006, and reached agreement upon an appropriate
ratemaking treatment for the allowance proceeds. The parties are currently working on a
stipulation that will be signed and submitted to the Commission.
DISCUSSION/FINDINGS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Idaho Power Company
and the issues involved in this case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, including, but not limited
Idaho Code 99 61-129, 328, 501-503, 507, 523 , 524, and the Commission s Rules of
Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
Because the parties no longer contest the issues in this matter, we find it reasonable
to vacate the previously ordered comment deadline and briefing schedule. Once the stipulation
is filed, the Commission will set an appropriate comment period for interested persons to submit
comments regarding the stipulation. The Commission will review the stipulation and record to
consider the reasonableness of the settlement including whether acceptance of the settlement is
just, fair, reasonable, in the public interest, or otherwise in accordance with law or regulatory
policy. Rule 274, IDAPA 31.01.01.274.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the comment deadline and briefing schedule, as set
forth in Order No. 29989, are vacated. Commission Staff is directed to promptly file the
stipulation, when signed by the parties, with the Commission at which time an appropriate
comment period may be established for the stipulation.
ORDER NO. 30007
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 301-f-
day of March 2006.~dU-
KJELL DER, PRESIDENT
61J;L d MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
~()~.
D. Jewe
Commission Secretary
O:IPC-05-dw3
ORDER NO. 30007