20061219notice_of_application_order_no_30202.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 19, 2006
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF
IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR A
PERMANENT EXEMPTION FROM
UTILITY CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULE
201.03 AS APPLIED TO TIME-VARIANT
PRICING SERVICE
CASE NO. IPC-06-
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30202
On December 1 , 2006, Idaho Power Company filed a Petition requesting a permanent
exemption from Utility Customer Relations Rule (UCRR) 201.03 , IDAPA 31.21.01.201.03, as it
applies to all current and future time-variant pricing services. UCRR 201.03 requires that the
beginning and ending meter readings appear on customer billings.
Idaho Power was previously granted a waiver of the requirements of UCRR 201.03
as it applies to the inclusion of the beginning and ending meter readings for time-variant pricing
service on customers' bills under Schedules 4 , and 19. Order No. 29834. That waiver expires
on December 31 , 2006. !d. The Company requested that its Petition be processed by Modified
Procedure.With this Order the Commission authorizes the use of Modified Procedure
establishes a comment deadline, and extends the previously granted temporary waiver during the
pendency of this case.
THE PETITION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that according to the Company s Petition it
currently has three tariff schedules with time-variant pricing based on usage data collected by
Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) systems. Schedule 19 is available to large commercial
customers with metered demand of 1 000 kW or more per billing period. Schedules 4 and 5 are
voluntary pilot programs, the Energy Watch and Time-of-Day Pilot Programs, available to
residential customers in the Emmett Valley until April 1 , 2007.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states it uses meter data
management systems (MDMS) provided by a third-party vendor, and the MDMS is not designed
in such a way that the beginning and ending meter readings can be displayed on customers' bills.
The Company states that it does not believe it is the best use of resources to modify the MDMS
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICES OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30202
to enable the display of the beginning and ending meter reading on the monthly bills of those
participating in time-variant pricing options.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states it has not received any
mqumes from customers regarding their beginning and ending monthly meter readings.
Customer bills currently display the total metered energy consumption broken into time periods
as well as other data required by UCRR 201. The Company states that its customer service
representatives have access to the beginning and ending meter read information, and can directly
assist customers should a dispute or inquiry arise.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requests a permanent
exemption from the requirement of displaying the monthly beginning and ending meter reading,
in order to cost effectively accommodate the technological advances in meter reading and billing
made possible by AMR. It states that such an exemption will allow the Company to make
additional time-variant pricing services available in the future without requesting additional
limited waivers.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petition, supporting workpapers
testimonies and exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.The Petition and
testimonies are also available on the Commission s website at www.puc.idaho.gov under the
File Room" icon.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filing of
record in Case No. IPC-06-30. 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.
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. IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICES OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30202
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 of the written positions before it. IDAPA 01.01.01.204.
NOTICE OF COMMENTIPROTEST DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments
or protests with respect to the Petition and the Commission s use of Modified Procedure in Case
No. IPC-06-30 is January 8, 2007. 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
Lisa D. Nordstrom
Barton L. Kline
Maggie Brilz
Idaho Power Company
PO Box 70
Boise, ID 83707-0070
E-mail: lnordstrom(g)idahopower.com
bkl ine(g)idahopower .com
mbri lz(g)i dahopower. com
document.
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
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
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 Petition requesting a permanent exemption from Utility Customer Relations Rule 201.03, and
the issues involved in this case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, including Idaho Code 99 61-
129, 61-301 , 302 , 303 , and 61-503, and the Commission s Rules of Procedure IDAPA
31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICES OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30202
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 January 8, 2007.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
q'fh
day of December 2006.
, PRESIDENT
~~
iJ~
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ENNIS S. HANSE , OMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
O:IPC-06-30 dw
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICES OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30202