20070119final_order_no_30226.pdf

Office ofthe Secretary
Service Date
January 19, 2007
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
ORDER NO. 30226
CASE NO. IPC-06-
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.
The Commission issued a Notice of Application and Modified Procedure on
December 19, 2006, setting a comment deadline of January 8, 2007. The only comments
received were those of Staff. Staff recommended approval ofthe Company s request.
THE PETITION
Idaho Power 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.
The Company states that 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 does not believe it is
the best use of resources to modify the MDMS to enable the display of the beginning and ending
meter reading on the monthly bills of those participating in time-variant pricing options.
Idaho Power states that it has not received any inquiries 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.
ORDER NO. 30226
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.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reported that the Company had previously been granted a temporary waiver of
UCCR 201.03 as it applies to customers with time-variant pricing service, Schedules 4, 5 , and
19. Order No 29834. This temporary waiver was to expire on December 31 , 2006, and was
extended by the Commission pending the outcome of this case.
Staff reported that the Commission s Consumer Assistance Staff has not received any
mqumes or complaints about the lack of beginning and ending meter readings since the
exception has been in effect. The beginning and ending meter data is available to the Company,
and the Company has committed to provide this information to customers upon their request.
Staff stated that granting this exemption will allow the Company to make additional time-variant
pricing services available in the future without requesting additional limited waivers. Staff
recommended approval of the Company s request.
FINDINGS
We have reviewed the record for this case, including the Petition and comments. No
protests to the Commission s use of Modified Procedure were filed. We continue to find that the
public interest does not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case and that
Modified Procedure is appropriate. IDAPA 31.01.01.204. The Commission has jurisdiction
over Idaho Power, its Petition requesting a permanent exemption from UCRR 201.03 as it
applies to all current and future time-variant pricing services, and the issues involved in this case
by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, specifically including Idaho Code 99 61-129 61-119 61-301
61-302, 61-303, 61-305 , and 61-501 , and the Commission s Rules of Procedure IDAPA
31.01.01.000 et seq.
We find that the Company s request for an exemption from the requirements of
UCRR 201.03 is reasonable. The Company s ongoing evaluation of time-variant pricing
programs, as well as the use and development of the required technology is documented and
discussed in Case Nos. IPC-06-01 and IPC-06-05. We have consistently urged, encouraged
ORDER NO. 30226
and required the Company to develop meaningful time-variant pricing programs. The additional
cost and effort required to change the billings to include beginning and ending meter readings is
better spent on the continued development of time-variant pricing programs. This exemption
applies to a relatively small number of the Company s customers. We had previously granted
this same exemption, but on a temporary basis. Case No. IPC-05-, Order No. 29834. The
temporary exemption has been in place since July of 2005, and neither the Commission nor the
Company has received any complaints about the lack of a beginning and ending meter reading
on the affected customers' billings. The beginning and ending meter data is readily available to
customers should they inquire about it with the Company. We find it is reasonable and in the
public interest to grant the Company s Petition for a permanent waiver ofUCRR 201.03.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power s Petition requesting a permanent
exemption from UCRR 201., as it applies to time-variant pricing services is granted.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any
matter decided in this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code 9 61-
626.
ORDER NO. 30226
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this /9 #
day of January 2007.
J\1~ JJ
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
fiB:
fJ Je D. Jewell
Co mISSIon Secretary
O:IPC-O6-30 dw2
ORDER NO. 30226