20230406Notice_of_Application_Order_No_35729.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35729 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 6, 2023
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER’S
APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO
IMPLEMENT FIXED COST ADJUSTMENT
RATES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE FROM
JUNE 1, 2023, THROUGH MAY 31, 2024
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
CASE NO. IPC-E-23-09

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE

ORDER NO. 35729

On March 15, 2023, Idaho Power Company (“Company”) applied to implement new Fixed
Cost Adjustment (“FCA”) rates for electric service from June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024, and
a corresponding revised tariff Schedule 54 (“Application”). The Company proposed “a
$9,976,903, or 1.56 percent, decrease for Residential and Small General Service customers. If the
Company’s proposal is approved as filed, a typical residential customer using 950 kilowatt-hours
(“kWh”) per month will see an approximate $1.66 decrease to their monthly bill.” Application at
1-2. The Company requested its Application be processed through modified procedure with an
effective date of June 1, 2023.
The Commission now issues this Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure
establishing a public comment and Company reply deadlines.
BACKGROUND
The FCA is a rate adjustment mechanism designed to break the link between the energy a
utility sells and the revenue it collects to recover fixed costs1 of providing service, thus decoupling
the utility’s revenues from its customers’ energy usage. This decoupling removes a utility’s
incentive to increase sales to increase revenue and profits and encourages energy conservation. It
applies to Residential and Small General Service customers.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company seeks recovery of the 2022 FCA
balance and approval of proposed rates. “The proposed FCA is $24,076,901.44 for the Residential
class and $988,173.81 for the Small General Service class, for a total amount of $25,065,075.31.”

1 “Fixed costs” are a utility’s costs to provide service, such as infrastructure and customer service, which do not vary
with energy use, output, or production, and remain relatively stable between rate cases.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35729 2

Id. at 6. The Company stated, “the proposed FCA deferral balance is less than the current FCA
deferral balance collected in customers’ rates.” Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requested to decrease the FCA rate
for Residential customers to 0.4402 cents per kWh and decrease the FCA rate for Small General
Service customers to 0.5541 cents per kWh. If approved, the proposed FCA rates would decrease
current billed revenue from affected customer classes by 1.56 percent.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requested the proposed rates take
effect on June 1, 2023, and remain in effect until May 31, 2024.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company will notify customers about its
Application through a press release to relevant media outlets in the Company’s service area and a
customer notice distributed in customers’ bills. The Company states it will distribute the customer
notice during the “current billing cycle, with the last notice being sent on or about April 25, 2023.”
Id. at 7.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application, proposed tariff, and testimony
have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular
business hours at the Commission office. The Application and testimonies are also available on
the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “ELECTRIC” icon, select “Open
Cases,” and then click on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant
to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.
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.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public
interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure
pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure,
IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204. The Commission notes that Modified Procedure and written
comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to state a position on this
Application may file a written comment explaining why the person supports or opposes the
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35729 3

Application. Persons who would like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written
comments. Persons shall have until May 3, 2023, to file written comments. Comments must be
filed through the Commission website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To
comment electronically, please access the Commission’s home page at 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, the customer must e-mail the comments to the e-mail addresses
listed below. In addition to submitting the comments to the Commission Secretary, the customer
must also e-mail 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]

Street Address for Express Mail:

11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714

For the Company:

Megan Goicoechea Allen
Lisa D. Nordstrom
Connie Aschenbrenner
Pawel P. Goralski
1221 W. Idaho Street (83702)
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power must file any reply comments by
May 10, 2023.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received
within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its order
without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the
Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this case be processed by Modified Procedure. Persons
wishing to file written comments must do so by May 3, 2023. The Company must file any reply
comments by May 10, 2023.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35729 4

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
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 6th day of
April 2023.

__________________________________________
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

__________________________________________
JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

__________________________________________
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-23-09 FCA\orders\IPCE2309_Ntc_App_Mod_md.docx