20090520final_order_no_30816.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
May 20, 2009
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR
APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR
CONTINUATION OF ELECTRIC SERVICE
BETWEEN IDAHO POWER COMPANY
AND THE UNITED STATES D EP AR TMENT
OF ENERGY
ORDER NO. 30816
CASE NO. IPC-09-
On May 14, 2009, Idaho Power Company filed an Application for an Order
approving another one-year extension to the special contract for electric service between Idaho
Power and the u.s. Department of Energy (DOE) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site.
More specifically, Idaho Power seeks approval for a third, one-year extension of its special
contract (Schedule 30) with DOE. The current extension expired on May 14, 2009. The
Company states that there are no substantial changes to the contract or rates. Application at 2.
BACKGROUND
The current special contract between Idaho Power and DOE was initially approved by
the Commission in May 2006 in Order No. 30030. Id The 2006 contract granted DOE the
option of requesting up to four, one-year extensions. The 2006 contract has previously been
extended twice (in 2007 and 2008). See Order Nos. 30314 and 30536. In both prior contract
extensions, the Commission approved the extension without public comment or hearing.
Because the current contract extension expired on May 14 2009, the Company requests that the
Commission process this Application on an expedited basis and approve this extension without
further public comment.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the Application and confirmed that there are no substantive
changes to the contract or the rates. Under this extension ("the 2009 Extension ), electric service
to INL will continue to be provided under the 2005 special contract contained in tariff Schedule
30. The tariff rates and charges for providing service under the 2009 Extension will be subject to
change in any Commission ratemaking proceeding. Staff concurs with the Company s request
that the 2009 Extension be approved without further public notice or comment.
ORDER NO. 30816
COMMISSION FINDINGS
The Commission has reviewed the Application and the underlying 2006 special
contract between Idaho Power and DOE for electric service at the INL. See Order No. 30030
Case No. IPC-06-12. The rates and charges under the 2006 special contract and the 2009
Extension are subject to amendment in an appropriate rate proceeding before the Commission.
Because there are no substantive changes to the special contract, or the rates contained therein
we find that it is reasonable to approve the 2009 Extension without further public notice or
comment. The 2009 Extension shall become effective on May 15, 2009, and shall run through
May 15 2010, pursuant to Section 1.2 of the special contract addendum.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Idaho Power Company
and the special contract (Schedule 30) for electric service between the utility and the U.
Department of Energy pursuant to Idaho Code ~~ 61-129, 61-502 and Section 12 of the
addendum to the Special Contract No. GS-00P-99-BSD-0124.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power Company s Application for a one-year
extension (the 2009 Extension) to the underlying April 20, 2006, special contract between Idaho
Power Company and the u.s. Department of Energy for electric service at the Idaho National
Laboratory is approved. The 2009 Extension to the special contract contained in tariff Schedule
30 shall become effective on May 15 2009, and shall run through May 15 2010.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if the parties intend to request a fourth extension of
the special contract, the parties shall file their application with the Commission no later than May
2010.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally
decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. IPC-09-
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 or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in
this case. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other
person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code ~ 61-626.
ORDER NO. 30816
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this ;lO
f-'#'-
day of May 2009.4~/~
KEMPTO SIDENT
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
~~~ONER
ATTEST:
D. Jewell
Co mission Secretary
blsIO:IPC-09-14 dh
ORDER NO. 30816