HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070112Decision memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEG AL
FROM:DONOV AN E. WALKER
DATE:JANUARY 10,2007
SUBJECT:IDAHO POWER'S PETITION FOR A PERMANENT EXEMPTION
FROM UCRR 201.3 AS APPLIED TO TIME-VARIANT PRICING
SERVICE, CASE NO. IPC-06-30.
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. Staffrecommended approval of the 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 (MOMS) provided
by a third-party vendor, and the MOMS is not designed in such a way that the beginning and
ending meter readings can be displayed on customer s bills. The Company does not believe it is
the best use of resources to modify the MOMS to enable the display of the beginning and ending
meter reading on the monthly bills of those participating in time-variant pricing options.
DECISION MEMORANDUM
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.
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.
ST AFF 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.
recommended approval of the Company s request.
Staff
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to approve the Company s Petition to grant a permanent
exemption from UCRR 201.03, requiring that beginning and ending meter readings appear on
customer billings, as it applies to all current and future time-variant ricing services?
DECISION MEMORANDUM