20170821Request for Intervenor Funding.pdf

Kelsey Jae Nunez, ISB No. 7899
Kelsey Jae Nr-rnez LLC
920 N. Clover Dr.
Boise, ID 83703
208_39t.2961
kclseviii; kel sevi acnunez.corn#
Attornelt Jitr lclaho Sieta Lllub
IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER
COMPANY'S APPLICATION FOR
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC
CONYENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR
WOOD RIVER VALLEY
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CASE NO. IPC.E-I6.28
REQUEST FOR
INTERVENOR FUNDING
COMES NOW the Idaho Sierra Club ("Sierra Club"), pursuant to Idaho Code $ 6l-617A
and IDAPA 31.01.01.161-165 with the following request for intervenor funding. Sierra Club is
an intervenor in this case pursuant to Order No. 33683. This request is timely pursuant to the
Commission's instruction at the technical hearing to submit such requests within l4 days by
August 22,2017
Applicability of Idaho Code $ 61-6UA and IDAPA Rule 31.01.01.161
Idaho Power Company ("Idaho Power" or the "Company") is a regulated public utility
that has gross Idaho intrastate annual revenues exceeding S3,500,000.00.
III. IDAPA Rule 31.01 .01.162 requirements
A. Itemized list of expenses
The attached Exhibit A is an itemized list of expenses incurred by Sierra Club in this
proceeding. Exhibit A indicates a subset of hours spent on investigating the Application and
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Idaho Sierra Club Apptication for Intervenor Funding - IPC-E-16-28 - I
direct testimonies of ldaho Power, Commission Staff, and other lntervenors; analyzing and
conducting discovery; preparing and liling the direct and rebuttal testimony of Michael Heckler:
reviewing the direct and rebuttaltestimon,v of other pafiies: lrreparing for cross examination of
witnesses; and participating in the public and technical hearings.
B. Statement of proposed findings
Sierra Club requests that the Commission f,rnd that: (i) the Company has not
demonstrated that the proposed redundant transmission line is necessary or in the public interest;
(ii) a more robust analysis of the alternatives is needed to determine the most cost-efl-ective
means of providing reliable and adequate service; and (iii) a technical advisory committee or
sirnilar body should be appointed to conduct such analysis. Idaho Sierra Club also asks the
Commission to grant this request for inten'enor funding.
C. Statement showing costs
Idaho Sierra Ch-rb requests $14,850 in intervenor tunding fbr attorney t-ees, as shown in
Exhibit A. These fees rvere incurred reasonably and appropriately. This case covered complex
and technical issues and required reviewing and responding to extensive filings of the Company,
Commission Statl, and other active parties. To uncover and understand the f-acts. rve revier,ved
multiple rounds of discovery requests and submitted our own discovery requests, the results of
u&ich were used by Sierra Club and other parties in prepared testimorry and at the technical
hearing. Counsel for Sierra Club was an active participant in all stages of the proceeding. For
eacl"r of these efTofts, lve endeavored to be effrcient and have chosen not to request
reimbursement fbr all billable hours. Many hours w'ere billed exploring creative options and
strategies i.vith fellor.v parties and other internal and external stakeholders, and ouly a portion of
Idaho Siena C'lub Request Ibr Interveilor Fulding - 2
those hours are included in this request. Other costs not included in this request include travel,
printing, and more than one hundred hours collectively invested by Sierra Club staIl, including
that of Energy Committee Chair and Witness Michael l-leckler. We request an hourly rate for
legal cotursel of $150 per hour. which is a reasonable local rate and in line with the guidance
provided in Order No. 32846. For all these reasons, our request fbr intervenclr funding to pay the
costs of the listed attomey fees is reasonable.
D. f,xplanation of cost statement
Sierra CIub is a nonprofit organization supported through charitable donations fi'om our
members and tbundations. In this proceeding, we represent our members and supporters who are
Idaho Power ratepayers as well as those who have an interest in promoting distributed energy
generation and resiliency throughout [daho. To provide consistent, professional, and impactful
advocacy for our members and supporters, Sierra Club dedicates signihcant staff time to energy
issues. The cost of employing and training staff members and hiring outside legal counsel is a
significant financial commitment for a charitable organization. Because charitable contributions
are inherently unstable and sometimes insufficient. the availability of interyenor funding is
essential fbr Siena Club to participate in these proceedings. Sierra Club has no pecuniary interest
in the outcome of this case; rather rve dedicated our time and resoulces to represent the interests
of our supporters who have a strong interest in robust distributed energy in ldaho.
E. Statement of difference
Siena Club's proposed findings are materially different thar, the Commission StafT. Staff
took the position that local generation and storage options considered by the Company exceed
the cost of the proposed redundant line, r,vhich indicated that StafIbelieves the Company's
Idaho Siena C'lub Request lbr Intervenor Funding - 3
alternatives analysis was sutficient and need not be redone by a technical advisory committee or
other similar body. Our direct and rebuttal testimony thoroughly explains our position on the
insufficiency of the alternatives analysis and our disagreement with Staff s characterization of
the costs and benefits associated with distributed energy resources. Our participation provides a
detailed counterpoint to the Staff position in this case so that the Commission has a complete and
robust record upon which to base its decision.
F. Statement of recommendation
Sierra Club's proposed tindings address issues of concern fbr general ratepayers '*'ho will
be subject to rate increases wten ldaho Power seeks to recover the costs of the proposed
redundant line, as well as local ratepayers who rnay be assessed additional charges for local
undergrounding. Sierra Club asserts that all customers, regardless of class, share a strong interest
in ensuring Idaho Power makes cost effective expenditures after a thorough and proper analysis
of alternatives. Our participation in this case raises issues relating to the investment in redundant
infrastructure for the sake of redundancy and the dismissal after only "high-level" and
"conceptual" analysis of altemative technologies that can serve in providing cost-el1'ective,
reliable service at variours locations within our state" including the North Wood River Valley.
G. Statement shorving class of customer
Sierra Club's members and supporters are residential and small commercial customers of
Idaho Power
Respectfully subrnitted this 21st day of August, 2017
U}ry,fo I'Iu*Yu#
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Kelsey Jae Nunez, Attorney for Idaho Sierra Club
Idaho Sierra Club Request for Intervenor Funding - 4
Exhibit A
Cost Statement for ldaho Sierra Clutl
For attorney fees billed by Kelsey.Iae Nunez LLC
Analyzing Idaho Power's application and
direct testimonies, conducting relevant legal
research, and crafting response strategies
25 hours
Analyzing discovery requests and responses
of other parties and drafting Sierra Club
discovery
15 hours
Preparing and filing the direct testimony and
rebuttal testimony of Michael Heckler
35 hours
Reviewing the direct and rebuttal testimony of
other parties
6 hours
Preparing for and participating in the public
hearing of July 26, not including travel to and
from Ketchum
3 hours
Preparing for and participating in the
technical hearing of August 8
15 hours
Total 99 hours
@ $150/hour $14,850
Idaho SienaClub Request for Intervenor Funding - 5
CERTTFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certifu that on the 21 st day of August. 201 7, I caused to be served true and correct
copies of the foregoing document upon:
Oripinal and 7 conies via hand deliverv
Diane Hanian
Commission Secretary
ldaho Ptrblic Lltilities Commission
472W. Washingtt'rn Boise,ID 83702
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Kelsey Jae Nunez
Attorneyfor ldaho Sierra Club
Idaho SienaClub Request for Intervenor Funding - 7