HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190215Decision Memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:EDWARD JEWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: FEBRUARY 14,2019
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S REQUESTED
SUSPENSION OF SCHEDULE 63 COMMUNITY SOLAR PILOT
PROGRAM tpc- e - r{_of
On February 1,2019, Idaho Power Company ("ldaho Power" or "Company") filed
Tariff Advice No. 19-02 requesting suspension of Schedule 63, the Community Solar Pilot
Program ("Program"). The Company also filed its 2019 annual report ("2019 Annual Report")
on February 1,2019, ahead of the April 30, 2019, due date established for the annual filing. The
Company submitted the 2019 Annual Report early in order to inform the Commission's decision
on whether to suspend the Program. The Company requests an effective date of March 4,2019.
THE TARIFF ADVICE
The Company bases its request to suspend the Program on insufficient enrollment.
The Company states that at the height of enrollment, June 2017, there were 239 subscriptions
purchased, equal to 153% of the total Program. 2019 Annual Report at 6. As of the date of the
filing, the Company states that there were 148 subscriptions issued, or roughly 9.5o/o of the
Program. Id. The 2019 Annual Report contains details on program outreach and marketing
efforts, program enrollment, subscriber characteristics, customer feedback, a customer
communication plan if suspension is approved, and future plans. The details of the Program
were agreed to by the parties in IPC-E-16-14 in a Settlement Stipulation that was approved by
the Commission in Order No. 33638.
1DECISION MEMORANDUM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Stafls initial review of the Company's Tariff Advice and the 2019 Annual Report
leads Staff to question whether a minor change is being proposed. IDAPA 3 I .01 .134.01 states
that a Tariff Advice is appropriate for "minor changes to existing schedules." Staff believes that
an opportunity for public input on the Company's request would be prudent and in the public
interest. Therefore, Staff recommends converting the Company's Tariff Advice into an
Application and processing the Application through Modified Procedure with a thirty five day
comment period and a seven day reply comment period.
IDAPA 31.01.134.02 states, "ln the absence of an order approving or suspending the
tariff advice, the tariff advice not suspended or approved goes into effect thirty (30) days after
filing or on the proposed effective date, whichever is later." Staff recommends the Commission
issue a Notice of Application, Notice of Modified Procedure, and Notice of Suspension of Tariff
Advice.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application, Notice of Modified
Procedure, and Notice of Suspension of Tariff Advice that suspends the Company's Tariff
Advice, converts the Tariff Advice into an Application, and establishes a thirty five day
comment period and a seven day reply comment period?
Ed
Deputy A General
I :\Legal\ELECTRlC\dec memo l -ej
2DECISION MEMORANDUM