20181102Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:SEAN COSTELLO
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: NOVEMBER l,2018
SUBJECT:IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER
COMPANY TO STUDY THE COSTS, BENEFITS, AND
COMPENSATION OF NET EXCESS ENERGY SUPPLIED BY
CUSTOMER ON.SITE GENERATION, CASE NO. IPC-E.I8.15.
On October 19,2018, Idaho Power Company filed a Petition with the Commission
seeking to initiate a docket "to comprehensively study the costs and benefits of on-site
generation on Idaho Power's system, as well as proper rates and rate design, transitional rates,
and related issues of compensation for net excess energy provided as a resource to the Company"
as required by Order No. 34046 in Case No. IPC-E-17-13. Application at l; Order No. 34046 at
31. In that Order the Commission indicated that the docket should include all net-metering
interests with a focus on Idaho Power's systems, costs, benefits, resources, and tariffs.
Application at 2; Order No. 34046 at 23.
Idaho Power's Petition asks the Commission, according to Order No. 34046, to open
a docket in order to undertake such a study and establish an intervention period to identify
interested parties that wish to participate therein. Application at 2. Idaho Power states that the
Commission envisioned that once a docket was initiated, and intervention finalized, parties will
meet in order to attempt to reach agreement on the procedural and substantive scope of the on-
site generation docket under a deadline established by the Commission. Id.; Order No. 34046 at
23.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Application and deadline to
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
intervene, with a 2l-day intervention deadline.
Staff further recommends that after the intervention period runs, the Commission
should direct Staff to convene an informal prehearing conference for the Company, Staff, and
any intervenors to discuss a schedule to process the case and other issues that may be raised by
the parties. Staff would propose that the parties conduct this process within three (3) months of
the issue date of the Notice of Application. After this process occurs, Staff would report back to
the Commission so another Order can issue setting further procedure.
COMMISSION DECISION
l. Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application setting a 2l-day
deadline for intervention?
2. Does the Commission wish to direct Staff to convene an informal prehearing
conference, or conferences, for the Company, Staff, and any intervenors to discuss a schedule to
process this case by and attempt consensus on the scope of issues that may be raised by the
parties?
3. Does the Commission wish to order the parties to conduct their prehearing
conference(s) and establish and present to the Commission for decision the agreed upon
procedural and substantive scope of this docket within three (3) months of the issue date of the
Notice of Application?
4. Anything else?
Sean Costello
Deputy Attorney General
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2DECISION MEMORANDUM