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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