20221102Answer.pdf

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November 2,2022
VIA ELECTRONIC FILING
Jan Noriyuki, Secretary
ldaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg 8,
Suite 201-A (83714)
PO Box 83720
Boise, ldaho 83720-0074
Case No. IPC-E-22-25
Sara and Matthew Hartzheim vs. ldaho Power Company
Dear Ms. Noriyuki:
Enclosed for electronic filing please find ldaho Power Company's Answer in the
above matter.
lf you have any questions about the attached documents, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Very truly yours,
LISA D. NORDSTROTII
Lead Counsel
[e-mail]
LDN:sg
Enclosures
fr;!.(^t t,-*,
Re
Lisa D. Nordstrom
LISA D. NORDSTROM (lSB No. 5733)
MEGAN GOICOECHEA ALLEN (lSB No. 7623)
ldaho Power Company
1221West ldaho Street (83702)
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ldaho 83707
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
mooicoecheaa [e-mail]
lnordstrom@idahopower. com
Aftorneys for Idaho Power Company
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Sara E. Statz Hartzheim and Mafthew
Hartzheim,Case No. IPC-E-22-25
Complainants,
vs.
ldaho Power Company,
Respondent.
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IDAHO PO\A/ER COMPANY'S
ANSWER
COMES NOW ldaho Power Company ("Respondent", 'ldaho Powef or
"Company"), and pursuant to Procedural Rule 57, now answers the Summons of the
ldaho Public Utilities Commission ('Commission') dated October 2'1, 2022, concerning
the formal Complaint ("Complainf') of Sara E. Statz Hartzheim and Mafthew Hartzheim
('Complainants" or "Hartzheims").
\Mile the Complainants contest the Company's application of the existing
Schedule 6 tariff conditions and the Commission's grandfathering (or "legacy") criteria to
IDAHO PO\A'ER COMPANY'S ANSWER.l
their current circumstance, ldaho Power is reluctant to suggest that an exception be made
for several reasons that are broader than the circumstances presented in this complaint.
Moreover, ldaho Power does not believe it can unilaterally take action under existing
ldaho law that is different than that currently permitted by Commission's orders and the
Company's Commission-approved tariff. ldaho Power respectfully requests the
Commission issue its Order denying the Complainants' requested extension of the
grandfathering period or, alternatively, to establish objective exception criteria to be
administered by Staff in the event the Commission deems a hardship exception
appropriate.
I. FACTUAL AND LEGAL BACKGROUND
Legacy Net Meteing Sysfems
1. On September 30, 2013, the Commission approved the addition of
Conditions of Purchase and Sale language in ldaho Power's Schedule 84 tariff.l These
conditions were then incorporated into Schedule 6 (Residential Service On-Site
Generation) in 2018 when Schedule 84 was closed to service for ldaho residential and
ldaho smallgeneralservice customers.2 lncluded in the conditions governing transactions
occurring under the respective schedules was a provision providing that entitlement to
net metering service will lapse in the event the system is removed or disabled in excess
I ln the Mafter of ldaho Power Company's Application for Authoity to Modity lfs Nef Meteing Seruice and
to lncrease the Generation Capacity Limit, Case No. IPC-E-12-27, email from Commission Secretary
Jean D. Jewell with approved tariff submitted pursuant to Order No. 32846 and 32872 (Oct. 1 ,2013
effective date).
2 ln the Matter of the Application of ldaho Power Company for Authoity to Esfablish New Schedules for
Residentialand SmallGenerul Seryice Cusfomers with On-Site Generution, Case No. IPC-E-17-13,
Order No. 34046 (May 9, 2018). The newly authorized Schedule 6 was approved by the Commission on
May 21, 2018, and became effective June 1 ,2018.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER.2
of six (6) months.3
2. The Company's efforts to have the Commission review and modify outdated
net metering offerings to better align with actual circumstances have resulted in a series
of on-site generation related dockets through which incremental steps have been taken
toward the ultimate goal of establishing a more sustainable offering by implementing a
more equitable pricing and compensation structure. As part of that process, the
Commission determined that it was prudent "to distinguish between existing customer
and new customers based on the customers' reasonable expectations when making
significant personal investments in on-site generation systems.'a
3. ln issuing Order No. 34509 on December 20, 2019, the Commission
indicated that prior to that date, customers could have reasonably believed that net-
metering program fundamentals would remain the same and made decisions to invest in
on-site generation systems in reliance on that belief. ln issuing that Order, however, the
Commission established a firm cut-off for the reasonableness of this assumption: "After
the issuance of this Order. . . we believe it will no Ionger be reasonable for a customer to
assume the net-metering program fundamentals will remain the same over the expected
payback period of their investment."s
4. Finding reasonable differences between existing and new net-metering
customers based on the uncertainty that may have existed prior to the issuance of Order
3 The language appeared in the Conditions of Purchase and Sale as Section 8 in Schedule &4 (tariff sheet
84-4) and subsequently in Section 9 of Schedule 6 (tariff sheet 6-6).
a ln the Mafter of the Petition of ldaho Power Company to Study the Cosfg Beneftts, and Compensation
of Net Excess Energy Supplied by CustomerOn'Sife Generation, Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No.
34509 at 10 (Dec. 20,2019).
5 ld.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 3
No. 34509, the Commission established criteria to define legacy treatment for existing
systems under Schedule 6 and Schedule 8.6 Legacy systems are subject to the rules in
place as of the service date of Order No. 34509, including the excess energy
compensation structure. The Commission determined that Schedule 6 and Schedule 8
systems that qualify for legacy treatment continue to be subject to changes in
consumption rates but not to changes in the 1:1 monthly kilowatt-hour ("k\A/h") retail rate
compensation structure unti! legacy status terminates on December 20, 2045.
5. Subsequently, the Commission issued Order No. 34546 on reconsideration
in which it agreed to grandfather by system not by customer and identified four (4) criteria
to retain grandfather/legacy status of the system:
. A customer who moves into a property with a grandfathered net-metering system
gets to 'inherit" the grandfathered status of the system;
. lf a system is offline for more than six months, or is moved to another site, the
grandfathered status of the system is forfeited;
. To allow for the replacement of degraded or broken panels, the customer may
increase the capacity of the grandfathered system by no more than 10% of the
originally installed nameplate capacity, or 1 kW, whichever is greater; and
. Grandfathered status terminates December 20,2M5.7
6. As of October 20, 2022, there are 5,147 legacy and 7,133 non-legacy
residential and small general service systems interconnected to ldaho Power's system
under Schedule 6 (Residential On-Site Generation).
6 See Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 al14-15 and Order No. 34546 at 8-11 (Feb. 5, 2020)
7 Case No. ]PC-E-18-15, Order No. 34546 at 9.
IDAHO PO\A'ER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 4
The Hartzheims' Net Metering Seruice
7. Customers of record Sara Statz Hartzheim and Matthew Hartzheim began
taking residential electric service under Schedule 1 at 356 West Hidden Meadow Way in
Middleton, ldaho, on November 25,2013.
8. ldaho Power received the Hartzheims' completed Customer Generation
Application on September 18, 2018 (Attachment 1). When ldaho Powerwas notified that
the customer's solar project was complete and in need of a meter exchange, ldaho Power
requested a completed System Verification Form showing that the project had passed the
state electric inspection. Ms. Statz Hartzheim responded that the system passed its
electrical inspection on June '10,20'19, and included a picture with the "City of Middleton
O.K. to Connect" inspection sticker (Attachment 2). The Hartzheims' installer,
lntermountain Wind & Solar, submifted a System Verification Form to ldaho Power on
June 13, 2019, for a 11.88 kW solar system. The System Verification Form represented
that the system that had passed an electric inspection from the appropriate authority on
June 12, 2019 (Attachment 3).
9. On June 17, 2019, ldaho Power performed an on-site inspection of the
Hartzheims' system. The ldaho Power representative counted the number of panels,
tested the AC disconnect, verified the inverter seftings and model number, and confirmed
electrical inspector approval. Having approved the 11.88 kW system size, ldaho Power
personnel replaced the existing meter with a net meter, interconnected the solar array,
and moved the account from Schedule 1 (Residential Service Standard Plan) to Schedule
6 (Residential Service On-Site Generation) that same day.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 5
10. \Nhen the Commission issued Order No. 34509 that grandfathered
customers with systems online by December 20, 2019,8 the Hartzheims' account was
already interconnected to ldaho Powe/s distribution system and thus grandfathered to
legacy status.e
11. Ms. Statz Hartzheim contacted ldaho Power's customer service center on
May 19,2022, to advise ldaho Power that a fire1o had occurred at her residence and to
discuss options for account disconnection. The Hartzheims obtained temporary power
service for irrigation and construction of a replacement home on the premises. The ldaho
Power Customer Solutions Advisor also advised her that systems offline for six months
could lose legacy status. When Ms. Statz Hartzheim stated that she wished to appeal
this practice, a member of ldaho Power's Customer Generation team explained the rules
outlined in Schedule 6 concerning offline systems and how that impacts legacy status.
12. On June 9,2022, Ms. Statz Hartzheim contacted ldaho Power to inquire
about maintaining the legacy status of her solar system given that it would take
approximately one year to rebuild. ln accordance with Schedule 6 and Commission
precedent, the Customer Generation team advised Ms. Statz Hartzheim that legacy
8 Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 at 10 and 14. Residentialand SmallCommercialcustomers
could also be grandfathered if they made a finding financial commitment to install an on-site generation
system as of December 20, 2019, and proceeded to interconnect their system within one year.
e A legacy (i.e., grandfathered) system is defined as eilher an on-site generation system interconnected
with ldaho Powe/s system as of the service date of Order No. 34509 or a customer with a binding
financial commitment to install an on-site generation system that proceeds to interconnec{ their system on
or before December 20,2020.
10 The first page of the Hartsheim complaint lefter dated September 20, 2022, the house 'sustained an
electrical fire on 511712022 destroying the entire structure and our solar panel aray." ldaho Power is not
aware of the cause of the electrical fire that destroyed the HarEheims' residence or if it was associated
with the solar array. The Company-owned net meter at that location does not appear to have sustained
damage and remains operational at the premise.
IDAHO POVVER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 6
status would be lost if the inverter or panels were not online in six months.
13. The Hartzheim complaint letter states: "We are in the process of rebuilding
our home at the same service address (356 W Hidden Meadow Way, Middleton, ID
836214) and fully intend to reinstall our solar array."11 Because the new home is not
expected to be complete until approximately August 2023, the Hartzheims request that
'the IPUC consider extension of the grandfathering period in our case by the amount of
time our system will be offline."12
II. ANSWER
14. ldaho Power is keenly aware from its industry training and experience that
electricalfires are incredibly fast and dangerous. First and foremost, ldaho Power and its
employees extend our sincere sympathy to the Hartzheim family for the trauma and
displacement caused by the house fire. The Hartzheims' loss is significant, and no
argument presented in the Company's Answer is intended to minimize or dismiss it.
A. ldaho Power Lacks Authority to Extend the Grandfather Period to
Encompass the Yet-To-Belnstalled Hartzheim Solar Array.
15. Neither the ldaho Legislature nor the Commission has authorized the
Company to exercise discretion that deviates from prior Commission's orders and
Commission-approved tariff.
ldaho Sfafufes
16. ldaho Code S 61-313 provides that no public utility shall collect or receive
greater or less or different compensation for any service rendered to the public than the
rates and charges applicable to such service as specified in its tariffs on file with the
11 Hartzheim complaint letter at 2 (Sept. 20,2022).
12 ld.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 7
Commission and in effect at the time. Additionally, ldaho Code S 61-313 specifically
provides that no refund or remit of any rates or charges may be made, and no contract or
agreement extended except as specr/Ied by taiff and as are regularly and uniformly
extended to all corporations or persons.
17. Similarly, ldaho Code S 61-315 codifies the concept of non-discriminatory
service and prohibits a utility from giving preferential treatment to any customer or
customer class over another. lt reads:
61-315. DISCRIMINATION AND PREFERENCE
PROHIBITED. No public utility shall, as to rates, charges,
service, facilities or in any other respect, make or grant any
preference or advantage to any corporation or person or
subject any corporation or person to any prejudice or
disadvantage. No public utility shallestablish or maintain any
unreasonable difference as to rates, charges, service,
facilities or in any other respect, either as between localities
or as between classes of service. The commission shall have
the power to determine any question of fact arising under this
section.
Prior Commr.ssion Orders
18. !n Order No. 34509, the Commission established a hard line on the issue
of legacy treatment, distinguishing between customers that had already made significant
investments in on-site generations systems and those that had not. The Commission
noted the Residential Solar Energy System Disclosure Act requires that a "clear warning
to potential customers,"l3 which "combined with the statements made in this Order
regarding the likelihood of future program changes, is enough to differentiate existing
13 See ldaho Code 548-18M(c)(ii) (requiring a written statement be provided to potential customs that
states in capital letters: "LEGISLATIVE OR REGUI-ATORY ACTION MAY AFFECT OR ELIMINATE
YOUR ABILITY TO SELL OR GET CREDIT FOR ANY EXCESS POWER GENERATED BY THE
SYSTEM AND MAY AFFECT THE PRICE OR VALUE OF THAT POVVER.).
IDAHO PO\A'ER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 8
customers with on-site generation from new customers with on-site generation because
existing customers reasonably expected program stability whereas new customers will
not."14
19. On reconsideration, the Commission granted the request to grandfather the
system as opposed to the customer and set forth criteria that must be met for a system
to retain grandfather/legacy status, including the following: 'lf a system is offline for more
than six months, or is moved to another site, the grandfathered status of the system is
forfeited."l5
20. The decision to grandfather customers with existing on-site generation
systems or that had made binding financial commitments to install on-site generation
systems prior to the issuance of Order No. 34509, was based on these customers'
reliance on their beliefs regarding the stability of the net-metering program fundamentals,
which until that date were reasonable. However, as the Commission stated in Order No.
34546, the Commission has "made it abundantly clear in Order No. 34509 that the
program fundamentals are subject to change.'16 ln February 2020, the Commission
denied requests of parties seeking reconsideration of the eligibility date for grandfathered
status stating: "lt would contravene our rationale to extend the date at which customers
are eligible for grandfathered status, and we therefore decline to do so.o17
ra Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 at 13.
15 Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34546 at 9.
16 ld. at 10.
17 ld.
IDAHO PO\A/ER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 9
21. Addressing the issue of legacy treatment for commercia!, industrial, and
irrigation ("Cl&1") customers taking net metering service under Schedule 84, Customer
Energy Production/Net Metering Service ("Schedule 84"), the Commission reiterated that
customers should consider the uncertainty of program design when deciding whether to
invest in on-site generation.ls After delineating the parameters for legacy treatment of
Schedule 84 customer generators, based on the same criteria applied to Schedule 6 and
Schedule 8 customers in Case No. IPC-E-18'15, the Commission set the standard for
CI&l customer generators going fonrard consistent with residential and small general
service customers: "Following our pronouncements in the orders in these cases, made
afterextensive briefing, publictestimony, and deliberation, thatthe program fundamentals
are Iikely to change in the not too distant future, the reliance on long-term program stability
will no longer be reasonable given the ongoing evaluation of the programs."le
22. Under the Commission's prior orders, if the Hartzheims elect to invest in a
replacement system, it could not be given legacy status absent present intervention by
the Commission.
The Company's Tariff
23. Currently, the Hartzheims take net metering service under Schedule 6,
Residential Service On-Site Generation, which, in pertinent part, Iists conditions that apply
to all transactions under that schedule including the provision that is the subject of the
Hartzheims' complaint:
18 ln the Mafter of ldaho Power Company's Application for Authority to Mdify Schedule 84's Meteing
Requircment and to Grandfather Existing Customers with Two Meterc, Case No. IPC-E-20-26, Order NoUlil at 10-11 (Dec. 1,2020).
te ld.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'SANSWER- 10
The Customer shall notiff the Company immediately if an
Exporting System is permanently removed or disabled.
Permanent removal or disablement for the purposes of this
Schedule is any remova! or disablement of an Exporting
System lasting longer than six (6) months. Customers with
permanently removed or disabled systems will be removed
from service under this schedule and placed on the
appropriate standard service schedule.
24. Schedule 6 does not provide any exceptions to this provision or room for
interpretation; removal from Schedule 6 service should occur if the condition precedent
(system removal/disablement for more than 6 months) is met without regard to any of the
circumstances.
The Filed Rate Doctrine
25. ldaho Power is required to follow the Commission's prior orders as well as
the utility tarifts on file with the Commission. lt is a basic principle of utility regulation the
Company cannot charge more, and also that it cannot charge less than its filed rate. This
concept, known as the.filed rate doctrine," is embodiedin ldaho Code SS 61-313 and 61-
315.
26. A customer's request to receive treatment that deviates from the tariff and/or
Commission precedent, such as the Hartzheims' request to maintain legacy status for a
system that is inactive for over six months, implicates the "filed rate doctrine" and
authorizing such would defeat this non-discriminatory policy. This is true regardless of the
utility's motive or intent in quoting or charging a rate that is greater or lesser than the filed
rate, the policy of non-discriminatory rates is violated when similarly situated customers
are allowed to pay different rates for the same services.2o
20 AT&T v. Central Office Telephone,524 U.S. 214, 118 S.Ct. 1956, 1963 (1998).
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANS\A'ER- 11
27. Absent this complaint, ldaho Power is required by law to move the
Hartzheims' account to Schedule 1 as soon as November 20,2022 (six months from the
date of ldaho Power's confirmation that the customer generation system was offline and
notification to the customer generator that systems offline for more than six months will
lose legacy status). However, in keeping with the spirit of the Utility Customer Relations
Rules compliant procedure,2l ldaho Power will not take that action until it receives further
direction from the Commission.
B. Public Policy Considerations Gomplicate Extension of the Grandfather
Period for the HarEheims' Solar Array.
28. While the Hartzheims' request for an extension of their grandfathering
status is certainly understandable under the specific circumstances presented, it raises
larger public policy issues that could have an impact broader than their household. These
considerations include the provision of equivalent notice to all customers, the use of non-
participants as a backstop to eliminate self-generation investment risk, and the
administration/duration of any authorized exceptions.
Same Notice Provided to All Customers
29. The Commission's grandfather rationale that distinguished between
existing and new customers was based on customers' reasonable expectations when
making significant personal investments in on-site generation systems:
. the Commission finds it prudent and justifiable to
distinguish between existing customers and new customers
based on the customers' reasonable expectations when
making significant personal investments in on-site generation
systems. We find that before the service date of this Order,
customers reasonably assumed the net-metering program
fundamentals would not change. Representations made by
both solar developers and the Company, whether explicit or
21 IDAPA 31.21.01.40'.1 - .402.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANS\A'ER- 12
implied, created a reasonable basis for reliance. After the
issuance of this Order, however, we believe it will no
longer be reasonable for a customer to assume the net-
metering program fundamentals wil! remain the same
over the expected payback period of their investment. We
find this is a cognizable and reasonable difference between
classes of customers, which justifies different treatment. . . .22
30. The Commission has strictly construed the availability of legacy treatment
repeatedly affirming that it is "only appropriate in limited circumstances":
ffie have found that when the customer-generator has made
a significant investment in an on-site system based on
reasonable reliance of program stability, it is fair, just, and
reasonable, non-discriminatory, and in the public interest to
allow those customer-generators to recoup the value of their
investments over the anticipated life of their investments. 23
31. Even though it is to replace an array that the Hartzheims lost, they are
making a new decision to invest the insurance proceeds in a new system. This decision
will be made with full awareness and appreciation that the net metering program
fundamentals are not guaranteed to remain the same over the expected payback period
of that investment. ln this regard, the Complainants are no different than those customers
who made the decision to install on-site generation after the December 20, 2019,
grandfather date, at which time the Commission stated: 'We think a reasonable customer
would consider the uncertainty of the program design when deciding to invest in on-site
generation going forward."24
22 Case No
23 Case No
2a Case No
IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 at 10 (emphasis added).
IPC-E-20-26, Order No. 34854 at 11.
IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 at 10.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 13
32. Granting the Complainants' request would undermine the prior
pronouncements of the Commission that "reliance on long-term program stability will no
longer be reasonable given the ongoing evaluations of the programs."25
Non-Participants to Backstop lnvestmenf Risk
33. lnvestments inherently carry a certain amount of risk. The cost of building
materials required to rebuild one's home is not grandfathered to a set price - nor is the
building code to which a subsequent home is required to be built. However, the
Complainants request the objective value of excess generation from a replacement array
be compensated in a more advantageous manner even though they were presumably
compensated with insurance proceeds for the value of their destroyed array. ffiile it may
be true that the electric fire occurred through no fault of the Complainants,2o it is also true
that the fire occurred at no fault of the general body of customers that could pay a
premium2T for the Complainants' excess generation if their grandfathered status is
extended.
Prejudice to Similarly Situated Cusfomers
U. Similarly, ldaho Power is concerned about the negative impact any
extension of the Hartzheims' legacy status could have on customers with systems that
lost legacy status due to circumstances that were similarly beyond their control. Since
the Commission set the criteria for systems to retain grandfather/legacy status, a number
25 ld.
26 Hartzheim complaint letter at 2 (Sept. 20,2022)
27 ln the Matter of ldaho Power Company's Application to Complete the Study Review Phase of the
Comprchensive Study of Costs and Benefits of On-Site Customer Genention & For Authoity to
lmplement Changes fo Schedu/es 6, 8, and 84, Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VODER) Study
at 86-87 (October 2022).
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 14
of systems have failed to satisfo one or more of these requirements and lost legacy status
as a result. Granting the Hartzheims' requested relief would arguably create a preference
that runs afoul ldaho Code S 61-315. None of the other 5,14728 existing on-site
generation customers without legacy status taking Schedule 6 service had a similar
guarantee or certainty available when making their investment decisions. Extensions of
grandfather periods have not been made by ldaho Power or the Commission for
customers experiencing supply chain or construction/repair-related delays exceeding six
months at any point during the last decade. Nor was an exception applied to a Caldwell
customer whose home and solar affay were destroyed by fire in January 2021. Because
the Company does not comprehensively track information regarding systems that have
lost their grandfathering in the past, it would have no way to administer an exception
process retroactively for these customers further undermining the concept of non-
discriminatory service.
35. Subsequentto the Commission issuing Order Nos. 34509 and 34546,ldaho
Power has consistently communicated with customerc regarding the potentialfor changes
to the net metering service offering. These customer notices are posted on the
Company's website, are outlined on the Customer Generation Application (Attachment 1)
where customers are required to affirmatively acknowledge:
28 As of October 20,2022.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 15
I understand that the net meteing program design is subject
to change including, but not limited to, the interuallength over
which netting occurs, compensation for excess generation
and the interconnection requirements for on-site generation
sysfems.
and
/ UNDERSTAND THAT LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY
ACTION MAY AFFECT OR ELIMINATE MY ABILIW TO
SEIL OR GET CREDIT FOR ANY EXCESS POWER
GENERATED BY THE SYSIEM AND MAY AFFECT THE
PRICE OR VALUE OF THAT POWER,
and are highlighted again in an email sent to customers who submit a completed
application (Attachments 4 and 5).2s The Company developed these materials consistent
with the Commission's directive: "We encourage the Company to continue conveying to
potential on-site generation customers that rates and program structure are subject to
change, either of which can profoundly affect the projected repayment period of the
customer's investment."3o While Company personnel can attest to conversations with
customers who have suggested they chose not to proceed with an installation of on-site
generation after reviewing these disclaimers, it is unclear how many other customers
have made that choice or what other circumstances surrounded each custome/s
decision.
2e ldaho Power has routinely advised customer generation applicants that the Company's tarifts can
change since at least July 2016. Following the conclusion of Case No. IPC-E-18-15, ldaho Power has
provided notice to all customers who submit a Customer Generation Application advising them of the
potentialfor the Company's on-site generation tariffs to change upon Commission order (Attachment 4).
After June 30,2022,1daho Power sent an 'Update on Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VODER)
Study' version of this notice to customer generation applicants (Attachment 5).
s Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509 at 13.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANS\A/ER- 16
Administration
36. Unexpected things happen that customers, regulators and utilities do not
anticipate. lf relief is granted in this instance, the Company respectfully requests the
Commission establish objective criteria to minimize claims of preference/discrimination
under ldaho Code S 61-315 during the remainder of the grandfather period(s).31 Because
a decision to authorize hardship exceptions would require significant subjectivity which
may carry an unknown future administrative burden, ldaho Power believes an exception
process should be administered by Staff and not the Company.
II!. COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICE OF PLEADINGS
37. Service of pleadings and communications with reference to this case should
be sent to the following:
Lisa D. Nordstrom
Megan Goicoechea Allen
ldaho Power Company
1221West ldaho Street (83702)
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ldaho 83707
lnordstrom@ida hopower.com
Connie Aschenbrenner
Grant Anderson
ldaho Power Company
1221 West ldaho Street (83702)
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ldaho 83707
caschen bren ner@ ida hopower.com
[e-mail] [e-mail]
dockets@idahopower. com
tv. coNcLustoN
ldaho Power does not believe that the key facts are in dispute - just the application
of the Schedule 6 tariff conditions and the Commission's grandfathering criteria to the
Hartzheims in this unfortunate circumstance. ldaho Power is reluctant to suggest that an
exception be made for the several reasons discussed above that are broader than the
circumstances presented in this complaint. Although it has tremendous sympathy for loss
31 As observed with the Master-Metering Rules for Electric Utilities (IDAPA 31.26.01) rules that set a July
1, 1980 grandfather date, such criteria are challenging to administer over multiple decades.
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 17
of the Hartzheim family home, ldaho Power does not believe it can unilaterally take action
under existing ldaho law that is different than that currently permitted by Commission's
orders and the Company's Commission-approved tariff.
ldaho Power respectfully requests the Commission issue its Order denying the
Complainants' requested extension of the grandfathering period or, alternatively, to
establish objective exception criteria to be administered by Staff in the event the
Commission deems a hardship exception appropriate.
DATED at Boise, ldaho, this 2nd day of November 2022.
x;!.fr,,t-t"-*,
LISA D. NORDSTROM
Attorney for ldaho Power Company
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 18
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on the 2nd day of November 2022,1 served a true and
correct copy of ldaho Power Company's Answer upon the following named parties by the
method indicated below, and addressed to the following:
Commission Staft
Riley Newton
Deputy Attorney General
ldaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg No. 8,
Suite 201-A (83714)
PO Box 83720
Boise, lD 83720-0074
Sara E Statz Hartsheim
Matthew Hartzheim
356 W. Hidden Meadow Way
Middleton, ID 83644
_Hand Delivered
_U.S. Mail
_Overnight Mail_FAX
FTP SiteX Email:[e-mail]
_Hand Delivered_U.S. Mail
Overnight Mail
_FAX
FTP SiteX Email: [e-mail]
:Ur",*&.^"J.
Stacy Gust, Regulatory Administrative
Assistant
IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S ANSWER- 19
BEFORE THE
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
GASE NO. IPC-E-22-25
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
ATTACHMENT 1
HARTZHEIM CUSTOMER GENERATION
APPLICATION
customer Generation Apprication l/*ltt 3ffi
Maximum Size:25 kW Residential, SmallGeneraUl00 kW Large Commercial, lndustrial, lrrigation
This appllcatlon ls an interconnectlon reque$ for exlstlq accounts who wish to lnstall renewable generatlon systems (solar, wind, hydro,
biomass and fue! cell technologies) with the Stat$ of ldaho or Oregon. Allgenention systems must satisfy the requlrements in Schedule
72, lnterconnections to Non-Utillty Generation. Upon completion of the lnterconnectlon proce3s, customers wlll take servlce under one of
the followin3 schcdules:. ldaho Residentlal customcrs - Schcdule 6, Rcsidcntial Servlcc On-Site Gcneratlone ldaho Small General Service customer - Schedule 8. Small General Service On-Slte Generatlon. All Oregon customers, and ldaho large Commercial, lrrigation and lndustrhl customers - Schedule &{, Customer Energy
Production/Net Meterint Service
Upon recelpt of the appllc.tlon and fee, ldaho Power will revlew the pCIect and determlne if any upgrades to the electrical grid are
needed. lf no upgrades are neede4 customer will receive an approval to procecd. Applkatlon and fee cxplre one year after approral to
proceed. Visit http://www.idahopower.com/CustomerGeneration for detailed lnformatlon about the lnterconnectlon process, tariff
schedules, productlon crcdlts and credit transfer ellglblliU.
1. Profcct lnformatlon 'Required Fields
$t00 non-rcftrndable lppllortlon fcc cncloscd g
Contact
4. Account Holdcr
2
3
{ccount Holder'
Project Locatlon: '
Sara E. StaE Account Number'
356 W Hidden Meadow W.y, Middleton lD 83644 MeterNumber-I
Ad&ess
Exlsting project at locatlon? ' E Yes @ No
w, stotQ zlq
lf yes, total nameplate ratint of existing proJect (kW): '
Prcpoccd holcct'
Sire(kWoc): tl RR ln-Service Date (mm/dd/yyW)': October 2018 Proposed system ls:' E Slngle Phase tr Three Phase
ProllctTVpc'
E Soler
Number of modules 36
lf fixed, approximate tllt from horizon (G9O') 13o
Orientation:0N 0ne 0nW 0S ESe 0SW EE
Tracker? OYes A No Battery backup? EYes
g Wlnd
Number of turbines _
Turbine Manufacturer
O Other (descrlbcl0w
ENo
lnYcttcr'
How many?Watt slze (eachl: Ze0O Manufacturer: SolarEdse
ls lnverter Ut 1741or IEEE 1547 llsted? E Yes D No lf no, what protection type?
Modelt: SE7600H
Company'
Email'
lntermountain Wnd and Solar
[e-mail]
Malllng Address 1953 W.24255.Clty Woods Cross
Phone (nrlmt-xxxx(801 298-5255
conuct. Mauricia Mortensen
st t" UT
E I c€rtlfy that the information provided ln thls applicatlon is correct to the best of my knowledge.
B I I understand that the on-slte generatlon and net meterlng scrvicc - lncludlng the rate structure and interconnectlon
requirements - are subject to change and that current rates do not represent future
E I give my permission for ldaho Power to discuss my project and electric usage the listed above.
Name (Type or Prlnt) ' Safa E. StatZ Slgnature'
Phone'(xul xxr-Br rman. [e-mail] oarc. 8l14l20
Onca omplctcd, ptcrrc mrll thlr fom rnd tfrc non.rcfundeblc 9100 rpdkrdon flc to:
U.S. Postal delivery: Exprers dellvcry:
ldaho Power Company ldaho Power Company
Attn: C$tomer Generatlon, CHQ8 Attn: Custom€r Gcncrrtlon, CHQ8
P,O. Box 7O 1221West ld.ho Stret
lf you hrYc rny qucctlons, plo:r crll
203.38!.1539 or cmrll CG0ldehonower.com
BEFORE THE
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
GASE NO, IPC.E.22.25
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
ATTACHMENT 2
HARTZHEIM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VERIFICATION FORM
From: Sa ra Statz <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, June L3,2OL9 11:05 AM
To: VM_CG <[e-mail]>
Cc: NetMetering <[e-mail]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: NM lD#3281
KEEP IDAHO POWER SECURE! External emails may request information or contain malicious links or
attachments. Verify the sender before proceeding, and check for additional warning messages below
Hello,
Our home passed its electrical inspection on Monday 6ltO/L9. Attached is the sticker showing the
inspection from Shane, lnspector with the City of Middleton.
ol Middleton
to Connect
'r'L )
cllrooKc0206
!
t
,{
":.,
Please let me know if you need anything else.
- Sara E. Statz
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun t3,2OL9, at 10:02 AM, LOC. CG <[e-mail] wrote
Hello,
We received a message that the solar project located at 355 W Hidden Meadow Way in Middleton lD is
complete and needing to have a net meter installed. ln order for us to process this, we will need to have
a system verification form filled out showing that this p@ect has passed the state electrical
inspection. Once we have that and entered in our system, we can order the meter exchange.
Thank you
Shawn Lovewel!
Customer Generation Team
ldaho Power Company
208-388-2559
[e-mail]
IDAHO POWER LEGAL DISCIAIMER
This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from
disclosure under applicable law. lf you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that any disclosure, copying distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including
any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. lf you received this transmission in error, please
immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic
or hard copy format. Thank you.
BEFORE THE
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
GASE NO. IPC-E-22-25
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
ATTACHMENT 3
HARTZHEIM SYSTEM VERIFICATION FORM
customerGenerationSystemVerificationFormsEm.
lnstructions: Anuco'P.onlt'
This System Verification Form is required after the proposed onsite renewable generation system is lnstalled and after successful
completion of a state or city electrical inspection. ldaho Power prefers that this form be completed by a licensed electrician, solar
company/installer, NABCEP certified individual or an engineer or other qualified persons as accepted by ldaho Power. ln lieu of
professional certification, documentation must be provided including cut sheets and/or invoices for installed components. lf invoices
are provided, financial information (e.9., purchase price) is not required and can be excluded if desired. For additional information,
visit http://www.idahopower.com/CustomerGeneration.
1. Prdect tnformatlon *Required Fields
2. Final lnstallation lnformation*
3. Professional Certification
Once completed, please emall or mall thls form to:[e-mail]
Express delivery:ldaho Power Company
Attn: Customer Generatlon, CHQ-8
1221 West ldaho Street
Boise, lD 83702
U.S. Postal delivery: ldaho Power ComPany
Attn: Customer Generation, CHQ-8
P.O. Box 70
Boise, lD 83707
Account Holder* Sara E. Statz Account Number*
Must be the customerhcoum holdcr m the ldaho Power xcount
Project location: . 356 W. Hidden Meadow Way. Middleton lD 83044t4eter Number*Addrcss Clty,Stotc,Zip
Electrical Permit Number* EL4657 Final Electrical lnspection Completion oate* 611212019
IotalSystem Size/Name Plate Rating (kW)*:
Prolect Type *
El sont
11.88
Number of Modules -36- Watts per lvtodub 330
lf fixed, approximate tilt from horizon (0-90') 23
orientation:EN Ene Es Esr Esw EIe Ew Eruw
Tracker? Elv"s Bruo Batterybackup? Ev"r Eto
(For solar, total size should match the watts x modules below.)
E wtna Number of turbines
Turbine capacity {watts)
E xydro Number of Generators
Capacity (watts)
Eotmr (describe on back of form)
lnverter Detalls* (lf more than one inverter model, list on back of form)
Manufacturer: SolarEdoe Modet#: SE7600H
lotal number of inverters: 2 lnverter watt size (each):TAOn
ls inverter UL774tor IEEE ,547 11r1s67 BYes Eruo I no, what protection type?
l, the undersigned, certifo the above information is correct and the system meets the requirements of ldaho Schedule 72
lnterconnections to Non-Utlllty Generation. I also certify that:
ElSystem meets all reguired codes and has passed the clry/state electrical inspection.
ElSystem is operational, breaker and inverter are on. lf applicable, the inverter is programmed.
EThe A/C disconnect is in the open or off posltion.
ERequired placards are in place. lf disconnect is more than 10 feet or not visible from the meter, permanent directions to the
disconnect have been placed next to the meter.
Name (Type or Print) ' Mauricia Mortensen Signature*
Phoner(ux) xn-xlon 801-298-5255 Emaitr [€t][e-mail] Date. Bt1?t?o1s
I am: (check all that apply)B Eectrician
E NescEP certified
Eil Solar Company/!nstaller
E Engineer lf Other, documentation ls included per instructions.
E oth"rttr
lf you have any questlons, please call 208-388-2559 or emall [e-mail]
Com for
for
inverter models
marked "Othe/'
ls inverter ULL74L or IEEE 1547 listed? [Yes ENo lf nq what protection type?
[otal number of inverters:lnverter watt size (each)
Model#:
Inverter Details
Manufacturer:
ls inverter ULL74t or IEEE 1547 listed? EYes ENo lf no, what protection type?
Manufacturer:
lotal number of inverters:lnverter watt size (each)
Model#:
ls inverter ULL74L or IEEE 1547 listed? EYes Etrto lf no, what protection type?
Manufacturer:
[otal number of inverters:lnverter watt size (each)
Model #:
Project Type:
BEFORE THE
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
cAsE NO. IPC-E-22-25
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
ATTACHMENT 4
PRE.STUDY NOTICE OF FUTURE TARIFF
CHANGES TO APPLICANT
raDro(FcoaloanY
Hello,
On XXXXXXXX, we received your application to interconnect on-site generation to ldaho Powe/s electrical
system. We are processing your application. You wi!! receive a second communication shortly with the
results of our review of your application and next steps.
ln the meantime, we are providing this emailto inform you the company's on-site generation tariffs
(Schedules 6, 8, 68, 84 and successor tariffs), as with all other tarifb, are not contracts and are subject to
change upon order of the state public utilities commission. Changes to the on-site generation tariff in the
future may include, but are not limited to, modifications to rates, billing components, billing structure, and for
Exporting Systems the compensation structures, and the value for excess energy produced by the
customer's on-site generation system (and thus the amount a customer would be
compensated). Legislative or regulatory actions can affect or eliminate one's ability to sell or get credit for
any excess power generated by the system and may affect the price or value of that power.
More information about customer generation, including compensation structure, technical requirements, and
the application process can be found at idahopower.com/customergeneration.
lf you have questions, about the on-site generation tariff and requirements, please contact the customer
generation team at 800-632-6605.
We appreciate the opportunity to serue you
Sincerely,
Your ldaho Power Customer Generation Team
[e-mail]
ldaho Power
Attn: Customer Generation
P.O. Box 70, Boise, lD 83707
BEFORE THE
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CASE NO. IPC-E-22-25
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
ATTACHMENT 5
VODER STUDY NOTICE OF FUTURE TARIFF
CHANGES TO APPLICANT
tli!mtoN!FOiEt.
ano corPcsnoilY
Hello,
On )()U)O(/)(XXX, we received your application to interconnect on-site generation to ldaho Power's electrical
system. We are processing your application. You will receive a second communication shortly with the
results of our review of your application and next steps.
ln the meantime, we are providing this email because you may be impacted by future changes to ldaho
Power's service offering for on-site customer generation. At the direction of the ldaho Public Utilities
Commission (IPUC), ldaho Power has filed a study analyzing the benefits and costs of on-site customer
generation within ldaho Poweds service area. The study provides information that the IPUC, ldaho Power
and other stakeholders will use to determine whether changes should be made to ldaho Power's existing
customer generation offering for all customer classes. To view the study and supporting data, visit
idahopower.com/studv. To provide feedback to the IPUC regarding the study, visit puc.idaho.qov and
reference Case No. IPC-E-22-22.
ldaho Power's on-site generation tariffs (Schedules 6, 8, 68, and 84), as with all other tariffis, are not
contracts and are subject to change at any time upon order of the IPUC. Changes to the on-site generation
tariffs in the future may include, but are not limited to, modifications to rates, billing components, billing
structure, compensation structure, and the value for excess energy produced by the custome/s on-site
generation system (and thus, the amount a customer would be compensated). This is consistent with the
ldaho Residential Energy System Disclosure Act, which requires solar retailers to provide a disclosure
reminding potential customers that legislative or regulatory actions can affect or eliminate one's ability to sell
or get credit for any excess power generated by the system and may affect the price or value of that power.
lnformation about customer generation, including compensation structure, technical requirements, and the
application process can be found at idahopower. com/customerqeneratio n.
lf you have questions, about the on-site generation tariff and requirements, please contact the customer
generation team at 80G.632-6605.
We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Your ldaho Power Customer Generation Team
[e-mail]