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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20221007Notice_of_Public_Hearings_Order_No_35558.pdfNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 1 Office of the Secretary Service Date October 7, 2022 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY’S APPLICATION TO COMPLETE THE STUDY REVIEW PHASE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ON-SITE CUSTOMER GENERATION & FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO SCHEDULES 6, 8, AND 84 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. IPC-E-22-22 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE ORDER NO. 35558 On June 30, 2022, Idaho Power Company (“Company”) filed an Application requesting that the Commission complete the study review phase of the multi-phase collaborative process being undertaken by the Company to study the costs, benefits, and compensation of net excess energy associated with customer on-site generation. Application at 1-2. The Company also filed the Value of Distributed Energy Resources study and associated appendices (“Study”), a customer notice and bill insert, and the Direct Testimony of Grant T. Anderson, Regulatory Consultant. The Company requested the Commission: (1) establish a formal process for the public and other parties to comment on the Study; and (2) “issue an order acknowledging that the Study satisfies the Commission directives outlined in Order Nos. 34046, 345091, and 35284 and directing modifications to the Company’s on-site generation service offerings . . . .” Id. at 2. On July 14, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of a 21-day Intervention Deadline. Order No. 35464. The following parties intervened in this case: Clean Energy Opportunities for Idaho (“CEO”); Idaho Hydroelectric Power Producers Trust, an Idaho Trust, d/b/a IdaHydro; Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. (“IIPA”); the Idaho Conservation League (“ICL”); the Industrial Customers of Idaho Power; the city of Boise City (“Boise City”); Micron Technology, Inc., Richard E. Kluckhohn and Wesley A. Kluckhohn, pro se; ABC Power Co. LLC; and Idaho Solar Owners Network. See Order Nos. 35472, 35493, 35499, and 35505. 1 In Order No. 34509, the Commission ordered the Company to “submit a comprehensive study of the costs and benefits of net metering to the Commission before any further proposals to change the Company’s net-metering program.” Order No. 34509 at 17. The Commission directed this study to “incorporate public feedback and concerns in the design and review of the study, including public workshops and public comments on the record.” Id. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 2 On August 10, 2022, the Commission Staff (“Staff”), all pending and current intervenors, and the Company began communicating regarding a proposed schedule for processing this case. At the August 16, 2022, decision meeting, the Commission considered two proposed procedural schedules. On August 22, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Schedule, Notice of Public Workshops and Notice of Comment Deadlines. Order No. 35512. Order No. 35512 instructed all parties to work “with Staff to develop a minimum of two customer hearing times and dates to present to the Commission for its consideration.” Id. at 5. The Commission stated that it would “issue a second or amended scheduling order setting the date(s) and time(s) for any customer hearing(s).” Id. at 2. The Commission also set the following comment deadlines: • September 21, 2022: all Parties’ written comments on the Study; • October 12, 2022: all Parties’ reply comments; and • October 26, 2022: Company final response comments. The Commission further ordered that all persons “shall have until September 21, 2022, to file written comments . . . [and that] . . . [p]ersons who choose to file comments on or before September 21, 2022, and desire to further comment must reply to all party comments by October 12, 2022.” Id. at 3. On September 21, 2022, CEO, Boise City, ICL, IIPA, Staff, and the Company submitted comments. The Commission has received over 600 public comments as of the date of this Order. The Parties have communicated about the location, format, and dates for the public hearings. A majority of public comments have requested the Commission hold multiple public hearings at various times throughout the Company’s service area. With this Order, the Commission provides notice of three public customer hearings and notice of extension of the public comment deadline. NOTICE OF PUBLIC CUSTOMER HEARING #1 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that there will be a public hearing on whether the Company’s Study satisfies previous Commission directives outlined in Order Nos. 34046, 34509, and 35284, on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. MST. The public hearing will be held at the Red Lion Hotel Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID 83201. Those attending the hearing in-person will have an opportunity to provide NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 3 testimony. People may also listen to the live testimony and the proceedings at the hearing by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering code 2460 338 6337. However, persons will not be able to provide testimony by phone. NOTICE OF PUBLIC CUSTOMER HEARING #2 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that there will be a second public hearing on whether the Company’s Study satisfies previous Commission directives outlined in Order Nos. 34046, 34509, and 35284, on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. MST. The public hearing will be held at the Vera C. O’Leary Middle School Auditorium, 2350 Elizabeth Boulevard, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Those attending the hearing in-person will have an opportunity to provide testimony. People may also listen to the live testimony and the proceedings at the hearing by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering code 2455 251 2587. However, persons will not be able to provide testimony by phone. NOTICE OF PUBLIC CUSTOMER HEARING #3 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that there will be a third public hearing on whether the Company’s Study satisfies previous Commission directives outlined in Order Nos. 34046, 34509, and 35284, on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. MST. The public hearing will be held at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 11331 W. Chinden Boulevard, Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise, ID 83714. Those attending the hearing in-person will have an opportunity to provide testimony. People may also listen to the live testimony and proceedings at the hearing by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering code 2454 163 5014. However, persons will not be able to provide testimony by phone. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings in this matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other assistance to participate in or to understand testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing. The request for assistance must be received at least five (5) working days before the hearing by contacting the Commission Secretary at: IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION PO BOX 83720 BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074 (208) 334-0338 (Telephone) (208) 334-3762 (FAX) E-Mail: secretary@puc.idaho.gov NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 4 YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000, et seq. The Commission notes Commission Rule 241.04.b, which states that, “[u]nless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer, parties are prohibited from presenting evidence at the customer hearing.” IDAPA 31.01.01.241.04.b. The Commission may establish a time limit of 2 - 5 minutes per person for those persons providing testimony, and the Commission may implement any other reasonable measure in conducting the public hearings to allow for an efficient process that provides the opportunity for as many interested members of the public to provide testimony. NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINES YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has found written comments to be an effective method of participation. The Commission also acknowledges that there may be interested persons who are unable to testify at any of the three public hearings. The Commission believes it fair, just, and reasonable for members of the public to have ample opportunity to provide input on the Study review. As such, the Commission finds it to be in the public interest to extend the public comment deadline for non-parties to comment on the Study. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that non-party members of the public desiring to state a position on whether the Study satisfies the Commission directives outlined in Order Nos. 34046, 34509, and 35284 may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission by no later than November 4, 2022. Comments must be filed through the Commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To comment electronically, please access the Commission’s website at http://www.puc.idaho.gov/. Click the “Case Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of this document. To file by e- mail, persons must e-mail the comments to the Commission Secretary and the Company at the e- mail addresses listed below. If computer access is unavailable, then comments may be mailed to the Commission and Company at these addresses: For the Commission: Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 E-mail: secretary@puc.idaho.gov For the Company: Lisa D. Nordstrom Megan Goicoechea Allen Idaho Power Company 1221 West Idaho Street (83702) P.O. Box 70 Boise, ID 83707 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 5 Street Address for Express Mail: 11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Building 8, Suite 201-A Boise, Idaho 83714 lnordstrom@idahopower.com mgoicoecheaallen@idahopower.com dockets@idahopower.com Timothy Tatum Connie Aschenbrenner Grant Anderson 1221 West Idaho Street (83702) P.O. Box 70 Boise, ID 83707 ttatum@idahopower.com caschenbrenner@idahopower.com ganderson@idahopower.com YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission anticipates further proceedings, including public comments and hearings, if necessary, regarding implementation of the Company’s modifications to the Company’s on-site generation service offerings. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the procedural schedule as set forth in the above Notice of Public Hearing and Notice of Comment Deadline Extension is approved. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that there will be a public hearing on the Study on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022, at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. MST at the Red Lion Hotel Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID 83201. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that there will be a public hearing on the Study on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022, at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. MST at Vera C. O’Leary Middle School Auditorium, 2350 Elizabeth Boulevard, Twin Falls, ID 83301. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that there will be a public hearing on the Study on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022, at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. MST at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 11331 W. Chinden Boulevard, Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise, ID 83714. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons who are not Parties in this case shall have until November 4, 2022, to file written comments on the Study. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21, 2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE OF COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION ORDER NO. 35558 6 //Abstain due to potential conflict// parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive. DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 7th day of October 2022. ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER ______________________________________ JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER ATTEST: Jan Noriyuki Commission Secretary I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-22-22 On-Site Generation\orders\IPCE2222_NOH_rncb.docx