20200604Final_Order_No_34686.pdf

ORDER NO. 34686 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 4, 2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER’S
TARIFF ADVICE FOR AUTHORITY TO
TEMPORARILY MODIFY SCHEDULE 8
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
SMALL GENERAL SERVICE ON-SITE
GENERATION CUSTOMERS
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CASE NO. IPC-E-20-23

ORDER NO. 34686

On May 6, 2020, Idaho Power submitted an Application to temporarily modify
Schedule 8, Small General Service On-site Generation (“Schedule 8”) to allow customers whose
usage would otherwise require them to move to Schedule 9, Large General Service (“Schedule 9”)
to voluntarily remain under Schedule 8 through December 31, 2020 or until the Commission
approves changes to the Schedule 84 meter configuration requirements. The Company’s
Application requested an effective date of June 5, 2020 and that the change be processed as a tariff
advice, or alternatively, through Modified Procedure.
On June 1, 2020, Staff presented a Decision Memorandum at the Commission’s
regularly scheduled Decision Meeting recommending the Commission process the Company’s
request by a tariff advice and approve the Company’s proposal with modification to the
implementing language.
THE APPLICATION
The Company explains that customers on Schedule 8, Small General Service On-Site
Generation (“Schedule 8”), whose metered energy usage exceeds 2,000 kilowatt hours (“kWh”)
per billing period three times during the most recent 12 consecutive billing periods no longer
qualify for service under Schedule 8. Instead, these customers qualify for Schedule 9, Large
General Service (“Schedule 9”) and Schedule 84, Customer Energy Production Net Metering
Service (“Schedule 84”). Application at 2. Among other differences, Schedule 84 requires two
meters whereas Schedule 8 requires a single meter. See id.
The Company states it anticipates a future case examining its net metering service
offerings, which would include an examination of the Schedule 84 dual-meter configuration. Id.
at 3. Until then, the Company states its billing system is not presently configured to determine the
correct billing units using a single meter under Schedule 9/Schedule 84. Id. Because the Company
anticipates a possible change to the dual-meter configuration it proposed a temporary modification

ORDER NO. 34686 2
to the language of Schedule 8 that would allow otherwise affected customers to avoid the expense
and burden of moving to dual meters only to potentially have to move back to a single meter.
The Company states this change would be a time-limited and voluntary option that
would benefit Schedule 8 customers and therefore the change qualifies as a “minor change” under
the Commission’s rules defining matters appropriate for a tariff advice. Id. at 4-5. The Company
requested the change to Schedule 8 state, “Effective until 12/31/2020, existing Schedule 8
customers who no longer meet the energy usage requirements of Schedule 8 can elect to remain
on Schedule 8.”
COMMISSION STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Commission Staff recommended the Commission approve the Company’s request to
provide relief to Schedule 8 customers that would otherwise be required to move to Schedule 84.
Staff noted further differences between Schedule 8 and Schedule 84 billing and metering
requirements. Staff stated it “believes the Company’s proposed temporary modification is
reasonable because it will protect customers from unnecessary expense until this issue is fully
addressed by the Commission, and therefore recommends that the Commission approve it.”
While Staff agreed with the intent of the Company’s proposal, Staff recommended
different language that would tie expiration of the tariff advice to a final, non-appealable
determination by the Commission regarding metering configuration for Schedule 84 customers.
Staff proposed the tariff state, “Effective until a final order is issued that addresses metering
configuration for Schedule 84 customers, and any appeal period has passed or the order has been
upheld on appeal, existing Schedule 8 customers who no longer meet the energy usage requirement
of Schedule 8 that ‘energy usage is 2,000 kWh, or less, per Billing Period for ten or more Billing
Periods during the most recent 12 consecutive Billing Periods[,]’ can elect Schedule 8.” Staff
stated this language would apply to Schedule 8 customers who have recently exceeded the
Schedule 8 energy usage requirement but who have not installed the dual-meter configuration
required by Schedule 84.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under Idaho Code §§ 61-501, 61-
502, and 61-503. The Commission is vested with the power to “supervise and regulate every
public utility in the state and to do all things necessary to carry out the spirit and intent of the
[Public Utilities Law].” Idaho Code § 61-501. The Commission is empowered to investigate

ORDER NO. 34686 3
rates, charges, rules, regulations, practices, and contracts of public utilities and to determine
whether they are just, reasonable, preferential, discriminatory, or in violation of any provision of
law, and to fix the same by order. Idaho Code §§ 61-502 and 61-503.
Under Commission Rule of Procedure 134, the Commission can process “minor
changes” to the existing schedules of a utility without the process of Modified Procedure or
hearings. “Public utilities may file tariffs adding new or modifying existing services, providing
for new or modified rules, or otherwise making minor changes to existing schedules by tariff
advice. . . .” IDAPA 31.01.01.134.01. “. . . In 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. . . .” IDAPA 31.01.01.134.02. The
Commission approves the Company’s tariff advice as amended by Commission Staff.
The Commission finds this is a minor change that will benefit some Schedule 8
customers and will not be detrimental to other customers. The Commission finds that the language
recommended by Commission Staff more effectively implements the Company’s stated purpose
of proposing the tariff advice, which is to provide relief from unnecessary burden for impacted
customers until a final Commission order addresses metering configuration for Schedule 84
customers. “This option will provide eligible customers an opportunity to avoid the installation of
a second meter required for service under Schedule 9/Schedule 84 in the near-term.” Application
at 3. Furthermore, the Company states, “The Company proposes this modification to Schedule 8
would remain in effect until December 31, 2020, or until an order is issued that addresses metering
configuration for Schedule 84 customers.” Id.
By tying the termination of the Schedule 8 tariff advice to Commission approval of a
change to the metering configuration in Schedule 84, the Commission will avoid the foreseeable
and unnecessary administrative burden of addressing this issue again in December while also likely
processing the Company’s proposed modifications to the Company’s net metering service
offerings, as referenced by the Company.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s tariff advice is approved, as modified
by Commission Staff in its May 28, 2020 Decision Memorandum.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company will expeditiously file conforming
tariffs with the approved language, to be effective June 5, 2020.

ORDER NO. 34686 4
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any
matter decided in this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code § 61-
626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 4th
day of June 2020.

PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT

KRISTINE RAPER, COMMISSIONER

ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Diane M. Hanian
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-20-23\IPCE2023_final_ej.docx