20090402notice_of_application_order_no_30764.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 2, 2009
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES
DUE TO THE INCLUSION OF ADV ANCED
METERING INFRASTRUCTURE ("AMI"INVESTMENT IN RATE BASE
CASE NO. IPC-09-
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764
On March 13 , 2009, Idaho Power Company ("Idaho Power" or "Company
submitted an Application, pursuant to Idaho Code 99 61-502, 61-502A and 61-507, and
Commission Rules of Procedure 52, 121 and 123, for authority to increase its rates due to the
inclusion of Advance Metering Infrastructure ("AMI") investment in rate base. The Company
requested that its Application be processed through Modified Procedure. IDAP A 31.01.01.201-
204.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power proposes a uniform percentage
increase of 1.61 % to Tariff Schedules 1 , 5 , 7, 9 secondary, 24 secondary, 41 metered service
and 42 (residential, small commercial, irrigation, and metered lighting customer classes).
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power requests that the proposed
increase take effect on June 1 , 2009, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, for service
provided on and after that date.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power cites its investment in AMI
through the end of May 2010 into the Company s rate base/revenue requirement as justification
for the increase. The Company seeks to include the capital investment it has made thus far
pursuant to a CPCN authorizing the installation of AMI throughout its service territory, see
Commission Order No. 30726, as well as investment made during a proposed June 1 , 2009
through May 31 , 2010, test year.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power estimates that the 13-month
average plant in service associated with the AMI system for the proposed test year is
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764
$23 981 251. The Company asserts that, after applying the Commission authorized rate-of-
return of 8.18%, authorized three-year depreciation period, Operation and Maintenance benefits
and applicable tax rates, an increase of $11 181 318 to the Idaho jurisdictional revenue
requirement is warranted.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power Application includes
reductions for removed metering equipment and changes in operating expenses that accompany
the changes in plant investment in its calculations.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power has included revised/proposed
tariff sheets reflecting the proposed increase to the Idaho jurisdictional revenue requirement; and
a report comparing revenues under its existing rates and revenues generated under its proposed
revenue requirement as Attachments 1-3 to its Application.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power filed the testimony of Gregory
W. Said, Director of State Regulation in the Pricing and Regulatory Services Department, and
Courtney Waites, Pricing Analyst, simultaneously with, and in support of, its Application.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application, supporting workpapers
testimonies, and exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission s offices. The Application and
testimonies are also available on the Commission s Website at www.puc.idaho.gov under "File
Room" and then "Electric Cases.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings in
Case No. IPC-09-07. 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, i., 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
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764
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. IDAP A 31.01.01.204.
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST 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-09-07 is 45 days from the service date of this Order. 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:
Donovan E. Walker
Barton L. Kline
Idaho Power Company
PO Box 70
Boise, Idaho 83707-0070
E-mail: dwalker~idahopower.com
bkline~idahopower.com
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5918 Courtney Waites
Greg Said
Idaho Power Company
PO Box 70
Boise, Idaho 83707-0070
E-mail: cwaites~idahopower.com
gsaid~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
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 e-mail addresses listed
above.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission, pursuant to Idaho Code 99 61-502, 61-502A
and 61-507, and Commission Rules of Procedure 52, 121 and 123 , has jurisdiction over Idaho
Power Company and its Application for authority to increase its rates due to the inclusion of
Advance Metering Infrastructure ("AMI") investment in rate base.
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
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 HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power s Application be processed under
Modified Procedure. Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding Case No.
IPC-09-07 or protesting the use of Modified Procedure should do so no later than 45 days from
the service date of this Order.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764
DONE by Order ofthe Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this ;Z 11
day of April 2009.
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
. KEMP MMISSIONER
ATTEST:~L~
D. Jewell
mISSIOn Secretary
O:IPC-O9-O7 _
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30764