HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090821Motion to Compel.pdfRECEiVED
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P.O. Box 7218 Boise, 10 83707 - SIS N. 27rh Sr. Boise, ID 83702
21 August
Ms. Jean Jewell
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington
Boise, 10 83702
RE: IPC-E-09-03
Dear Ms. Jewell:
We are enclosing an original and seven (7) copies of the MOTION TO COMPEL
OF THE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER in the above case.
An additional copy is enclosed for you to stamp for our records.
Sincerely,~ÛAm
Richardson & O'Leary PLLC
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Peter J. Richardson ISB # 3195
RICHARDSON & O'LEARY PLLC
515 N. 27th Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Telephone: (208) 938-7901
Fax: (208) 938-7904
peter~richardsonandoleary .com
2009 AUG 21 PH 2: 35
Attorneys for the Industrial Customers of Idaho Power
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER
COMPANY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF
PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND
NECESSITY FOR THE LANGLEY
GULCH POWER PLANT
) CASE NO. IPC-E-09-03
)
) MOTION TO COMPEL
)
)
)
On August 6,2009, the Industrial Customers of Idaho Power ("ICIP") served discovery
on Idaho Power that were related to the updated economic forecast the Company promised to file
with the Commission in August prior to the Commission's deliberations in this docket. Idaho
Power objected for two reasons:
First; Idaho Power argued that the ICIP's discovery is untimely. That objection is
misplaced because the facts upon which the discovery is premised were not known, or knowable,
until an Idaho Power witness volunteered on the stad at hearing that the Company would fie an
updated economic forecast. The ICIP asked for information to assist it, and the other paries, in
fully understanding the basis for the expected updated economic forecast. Therefore, the
discovery is timely in light of the fact that Idaho Power had notified the Commission at the
hearing of its intent to fie additional information (evidence) after the hearngs process had
concluded. Furhermore, the Commission's Staff filed post hearing discovery to which the
1 -MOTION TO COMPEL OF INUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER - IPC-E-09-03
Company did not object, thereby establishing a precedent for other paries to do the same.
Failure to permit the ICIP's discovery to stand would be prejudicial to the interests of the ICIP in
this process specifically, and in fact would undermine the process generally. The ICIP would be
hared specifically because it is a full par to this matter, and the substative interests of the
ICIP members canot be adequately represented without the information requested. The process
generally is hared because failure to allow discovery when discovery is so manifestly
waranted, as the Commission itself made clear during the July hearngs, guarantees that the
Commission and paries will not have the best available evidence before it when the Commission
must make a decision on this case of first impression.
Idaho Power's second objection is based on its argument that it no longer intends to
update its economic forecasts to aid the Commission in its deliberations in this docket. This
revelation is directly contrar to what the company promised the Commission. For example, Mr.
Gale testified as follows relating to the company's intention with regard to updating its economic
forecasts:
The tension is the timing of information that can preclude that from happening.
One of the key pieces of information as I detect the Commissioner questions is what's
this August load forecast going to show and what is the resource balance resulting from
it, and I would represent to you if it's the Commission's desire that we would provide
that to you during the process of your deliberations, to the other paries as well, so it
would be at least one additional piece of information when you're tring to make a
decision on 2012 or not and I that that's the implication it has.
Tr. 1208
Anticipating that this new load information provided durng August would be
veted and debated and debated and so forth, I understand that. The load forecast is an
important foundation in our integrated resource plan. The load and resource balance is an
importt foundation in our load and resource planing. All we can do in this instace is
offer the information.
Tr. 1208
2 -MOTION TO COMPEL OF INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER - IPC-E-09-03
Mr. Gale was then asked by Commissioner Smith if the Commission could expect to
receive "this load and resource data in August". Tr. 1231. To which Mr. Gale replied, "We have
- some of the folks involved in the forecast were involved in the hearing, so we would expedite
it." Tr. 1231.
Given the above exchange, the ICIP were reasonably expecting to see Idaho Power
update its economic forecasts in order for this Commission to have as curent and as complete
information as possible while makng its decision on whether to ratebase this large and costly
investment. Incredibly, in light of the above, and as the foundation for its objection to the ICIP's
request, Idaho Power claims that an updated economic forecast is not needed for the Commission
to render a decision in this docket:
As can be seen from the foregoing, in the normal course of business, the
Company would not file the anual load forecast with the Commission outside of the
reguar IRP process and it is not the intention of the Company to deviate from its regular
practice this year. The 2009 anual load forecast is not a par of the record in this case, is
not needed for the Commission to render its decision in this case, and the Commission
should not require the Company to respond to these production requests.
Idaho Power Objection at p. 3.
It is diffcult to understand how the 2009 anual load forecast is irrelevant to the
Commission's deliberations about the futue need for new resources. According to Idaho Power,
the 2009 anual forecast will be distributed "in the near future" -- meaning that its constituent
pars must be fully or nearly fully assembled. Furhermore, Idaho Power is mislabeling and
misunderstanding the ICIP's request. Mr. Gale promised Commissioner Smith to provide the
"August load forecast" that would show the resulting "resource balance". He did not specifically
tag the "2009 anual load forecast" nor did the ICIP specifically ask about the "2009 anual load
forecast." All the ICIP sought was information about the forecast promised by Mr. Gale,
however it tus out to be labeled. Since the company no longer intends to update its forecast,
3 -MOTION TO COMPEL OF INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER - IPC-E-09-03
the urgency in delaying a decision is underscored, especially given the fact that the company is
poised to release its 2009 forecast shortly after the Commission's final order is issued.
For the foregoing reasons the ICIP respectfully request this Commission issue its order
compellng Idaho Power to (a) provide the promised updated forecast and (b) respond to the
ICIP's discovery related to that forecast.
DATED this 21 st day of August, 2009:
RICHARDSON & O'LEARY PLLC
BY:tl./~
Peter J. Richardson, ISB #3195
Attorneys THE INDUSTRIAL
CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER
4 -MOTION TO COMPEL OF INDUSTRIL CUSTOMERS OF IDAHO POWER - IPC-E-09-03
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on the 21 st day of August, 2009, a true and correct copy of the
within and foregoing MOTION TO COMPEL BY THE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS OF
IDAHO POWER was served by electronic mail and hand delivery to:
Ms. Jean Jewell (C)
Commission Secreta
Idaho Public Utilties Commission
472 W. Washington (83702)
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
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_U.S. Mail, postage pre-paid
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Lisa Nordstrom (C)
Baron L. Kline
Idaho Power Company
POBox 70
Boise, Idaho 83707-0070
InordstromCfidahopower .com
bklineCfidahopower .com
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Scott Woodbury (C)
Deputy Attorney General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington
Boise ID 83702
Scott. woodburCfpuc.idaho.gov
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Dean J. Miler (C)
McDevitt & Miler LLP
420 W. Banock St (83702)
PO Box 2564
Boise ID 83701
joeCfmcdevittmiler .com
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Wiliam Borders (C)
Assistat General Counsel
Invenergy Thermal Development LLC
One South Wacker Dr., Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60606
wbordersCfinvenergyllc.com
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Eric L. Olsen
Racine, Olson, Nye, Budge & Bailey, Chtd.
201 E. Center
PO Box 1391
Pocatello,ID 83204-1391
eloCfracinelaw.net
Anthony Yanel
29814 Lake Road
Bay Vilage, OH 44140
tonyCfyankel.net
Ken Miler
Clean Energy Program Director
Snake River Allance
PO Box 1731
Boise, ID 83701
kmilerCfsnakeriverallance.org
Betsy Bridge
Idaho Conservation League
710 North Sixth Street (83702)
POBox 844
Boise, ID 83701
bbridgeCfwildidaho.org
Susan K. Ackerman
NIPPC
9883 NW Nottage Dr.
Portland OR 97229
Susan.k.ackermanCfcomcast.net
Don Reading
6070 Hil Rd
Boise ID 83703
dreadingCfmindspring.com
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Robert Kah
rkahCfnippc.org
~ÚM~
Nina Curtis
2
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