20060126notice_of_filing_order_no_29959.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
January 26 2006
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE REVIEW OF
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S PHASE ONE
AMR IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
REPORT NOTICE OF FILING
CASE NO. IPC-O6-
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
On December 30, 2005, Idaho Power Company (Company, Idaho Power) filed its
Phase One AMR Implementation Status Report (Report), as required by Order No. 29362, Case
No. IPC-02-12. The Commission directed Idaho Power to collaboratively develop and submit
a Phase One Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) Implementation Plan to replace current residential
meters with advanced meters in selected service areas by December 2003. Id. The Company
was also directed to complete Phase One AMR installation by December 31 , 2004, and file an
AMR Phase One implementation status report by the end of 2005. Id. This filing is meant to
comply with the directives of Order No. 29362. With this Order the Commission authorizes the
use of Modified Procedure and establishes a deadline for the submission of comments.
THE REPORT
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that according to the Executive Summary of the
Report the Phase One AMR Project (Project) consisted of the implementation and evaluation of
AMR technology for approximately 23 500 customers in the Company s Emmett and McCall
operating areas. In addition to the AMR technology and infrastructure that included the meters
substation technology, and AMR software, the Company installed a Meter Data Management
System, which is required for validating the data and providing the data for billing purposes, and
an Internet-based data presentment software system, which makes usage data available to
customers via the Company s web site. Idaho Power offered two programs: time-variant pricing
and AlC cool credit programs, in the Emmett area during the summer of 2005.
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that according to the Report the Project included
the installation of three separate but related systems, as no single system or vendor was able to
provide all the functionality requirements to meet the objective of the Project. This required
Idaho Power to evaluate multiple vendors and build the necessary interfaces between systems to
meet the functionality requirements. The systems installed are: (1) Two-Way Automated
Communication System (TW ACS) AMR Power Line Carrier System, (2) Itron EE Meter Data
Management System, and (3) Nexus Energy Software. The TW ACS AMR system, consisting of
software and physical equipment in the field, is the meter data collection system. TW ACS uses
two-way communications via power line carrier technology to retrieve meter-reading data. The
TW ACS system is a multi-tiered technology that uses specific TW ACS meter modules
substation equipment, a communications network, and software to operate the system. The Itron
EE Meter Data Management System was implemented in order to provide the Validating,
Editing, and Estimating (VEE) function for the hourly interval consumption data retrieved by
TW ACS and converting this interval data into billing data for time-variant pricing programs.
The TW ACS system is not designed to provide these functions. Nexus Energy Software is an
Internet-based software system used for data presentment in which customers can access their
AMR hourly energy use data through a web site. The total projected Phase One Project cost is
859 424.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Report provides the Project scope as well
as an assessment of: the three installed systems; customer feedback on AMR; time-variant
pricing; TW ACS load control functionality; other AMR-enhanced features; and Project costs and
benefits. The Report also provides the Company s conclusions or "lessons learned" during the
course of the Project as well as an analysis of future AMR deployments and the Company
proposed "next steps.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filing of
record in Case No. IPC-06-1. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public
interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case and that issues
raised by the Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure , by written
submission rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for
obtaining public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may 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. IDAP A 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no protests or written comments are
received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter and enter its Order
without a hearing. If protests or comments are filed within the deadline, the Commission will
consider them and may, in its discretion, set the matter for hearing or decide the matter and issue
its Order on the basis ofthe written positions before it. IDAP A 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be held
pursuant to the Commission s authority and jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be
conducted pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Procedure, IDAP A 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF COMMENTIPROTEST DEADLINE
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-06-is Tuesday, April 25 2006. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically
request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning this case
should be mailed to the Commission and to the Company at the addresses reflected below.
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Street Address For Express Mail:
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5983
John R. Gale
Barton L. Kline
Idaho Power Company
PO Box 70
Boise, ID 83707-0070
E-mail: rgale~idahopower.com
bkline~idahopower.com
These 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 homepage located at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click the "Comments and Questions
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
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 Idaho Power at the addresses listed above.
FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Idaho Power Company,
its filing, and the issues involved in this case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, and the
Commission s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not
require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case, and that issues raised by the
Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure , by written submission
rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission notes that
Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining
public input and participation.
ORDER
IT IS HERBY ORDERED that this case be processed under Modified Procedure.
Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding this case or protesting the use
Modified Procedure should do so no later than April 25, 2006.
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this ;U
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day of January 2006.
ATTEST:
Commission Secretary
O:IPC-06-01 dw
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29959
DER, PRESIDENT
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER