HomeMy WebLinkAbout20140103Decision Memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: WELDON STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JANUARY 2, 2014
SUBJECT: IDAHO POWER’S FILING TO IMPLEMENT A SCHEDULE 19
SUBSTATION ALLOWANCE AND TRANSMISSION VESTED
INTEREST (TARIFF ADVICE NO. 13-08), CASE NO. IPC-E-14-01
On December 23, 2013, Idaho Power Company filed Tariff Advice No. 13-08, annual
compliance filing to update the substation allowance and vested interest provisions under
Schedule 19, Large Power Service. The Company stated it is its first annual compliance filing to
implement a substation allowance and vested interest provision for Schedule 19 customers as
required by Commission Order Nos. 32893 and 32914. The filing consists of three new tariff
sheets comprised of three sections: (1) defined terms used in the substation allowance and
transmission vested interest sections, (2) the substation allowance section outlining when a
customer would qualify to receive an allowance, the maximum possible allowance, and how a
customer will receive a refund, and (3) the transmission vested interest section explaining when a
customer would qualify to receive a vested interest and how vested interest charges would be
calculated. The Company’s filing includes a cost estimation methodology to reflect an updated
station overhead rate to determine the allowance amount. The Company states its calculation of
overhead is similar to the method used to calculate the Company’s general distribution overhead
rate that is updated annually in the Company’s Rule H New Service Attachments and
Distribution Line Installations compliance filing. Idaho Power proposed a February 1, 2014
effective date.
The Company’s filing is in response to the Commission’s Orders in Case No. IPC-E-
13-09. The Commission in that case approved a request by Glanbia Foods, Inc. for an allowance
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
against construction costs for upgrades to Idaho Power’s facilities. The Commission concluded
Glanbia is entitled to an allowance of $65,734 per MW multiplied by the 19 MW Glanbia
planned to use through the new facilities it is constructing. Idaho Power filed the new allowance
provisions as a tariff advice to implement the substation allowance and vested interest terms
approved by the Commission in Case No. IPC-E-13-09. Nonetheless, Staff believes the
Company’s filing is larger than “minor changes to existing schedules” to qualify as a tariff
advice under Commission Rule of Procedure 134. See IDAPA 31.01.01.134. In addition, large
power service customers that did not participate in the Glanbia case may be interested in
commenting on Idaho Power’s tariff provisions. Accordingly, Staff recommends the
Commission issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure, providing for a
21-day comment period, to process the Company’s filing as an Application. Because it may not
be possible to complete the process by February 1, Staff also recommends the Commission
suspend the proposed effective date of February 1 for 30 days or until the Commission issues an
Order.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Commission issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure to process Idaho Power’s proposed implementation of a Schedule 19 substation
allowance and transmission vested interest, and suspend the February 1, 2014 proposed effective
date?
Weldon Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General
bls/M:TA1308_ws