20240130Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSIONER LODGE
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: ADAM TRIPLETT
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: JANUARY 30, 2024

SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF PAUL MADALENA’S FORMAL COMPLAINT
AGAINST IDAHO POWER COMPANY; CASE NO. IPC-E-24-03

On January 16, 2024, Paul Madalena filed a formal complaint with the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission (“Commission”) against Idaho Power Company (“Company”). The
Complaint alleges that the Company’s failure to discover and repair a faulty “neutral on their
end” resulted in damage to several electronic devices in his home, including two power strips
and a garage door opener (“Complaint”). Complaint at 1. Specifically, Madalena describes two
separate incidents about a week apart during which he experienced electrical anomalies at his
home. Although an electrician who examined Madalena’s home following the first incident
concluded the Company’s equipment was the source of the problem, a Company technician
concluded the problem was somewhere on Madalena’s end. After the second incident, the
Company’s technicians discovered and repaired the faulty neutral.
The Company reimbursed Madalena for two power strips that were damaged during
the first incident, but did not reimburse him for an electric garage door opener that the Company
stated failed between the first and second incidents. Madalena wants the Company to “take
FULL responsibility for [its] faulty equipment” and perform sufficient testing to ensure problems
are fixed earlier. Id. at 2.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Commission issue a Summons to the Company directing it
to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint within twenty-one (21) days. It is further
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
recommended that the Commission allow fourteen (14) days for Commission Staff and
Madalena to reply to the Company’s answer.
COMMISSION DECISION
1. Does the Commission wish to issue a Summons to the Company directing it to
answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint within twenty-one (21) days?
2. Does the Commission wish to allow Commission Staff and Madalena fourteen (14)
days to respond to the Company’s answer?

_____________________________
Adam Triplett
Deputy Attorney General

I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-24-03_Madalena\IPCE2403_Dec_at.doc