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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20231212Petition for Intervenor Funding.pdf APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 1 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 Eric L. Olsen (ISB# 4811) ECHO HAWK & OLSEN, PLLC 505 Pershing Ave., Ste. 100 P.O. Box 6119 Pocatello, Idaho 83205 Telephone: (208) 478-1624 Facsimile: (208) 478-1670 Email: elo@echohawk.com Attorney for Intervenor Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO AND FOR ASSOCIATED REGULATORY ACCOUNT TREATMENT CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. COMES NOW the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. (“IIPA”), by and through counsel of record, Echo Hawk & Olsen, PLLC, and hereby respectfully makes application to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) for intervenor funding, pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-617A and IDAPA §§ 31.01.01.161 through .165, in this case, as follows: (A) A summary of the expenses that the IIPA request to recover broken down into legal fees, witness fees and other costs and expenses is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated by reference. (B) The IIPA’s Counsel, Eric L. Olsen of Echo Hawk & Olsen (“Mr. Olsen”) and its witness Lance D. Kaufman, Ph.D. (“Mr. Kaufman”) participated in these proceedings. Mr. Olsen and Mr. Kaufman prepared and served written discovery, reviewed and analyzed the various parties’ positions, and attended and participated in person and via video conference in the various RECEIVED Tuesday, December 12, 2023 11:10:40 AM IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 2 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 technical conferences and settlement conferences held on September 18th, October 4th, and October 5th, 2023 (“Settlement Conferences”). Mr. Kaufman’s review efforts focused on cost of capital, rate base, expenses, load forecast, irrigation peak reward program, net power supply costs, cost of service, rate spread, and rate design. During the Settlement Conferences all issues considered by IIPA, with the exception of net power supply costs, were raised and discussed by the parties, including Idaho Power Company (“IPC”). IPC offered reasonable responses to many of the issues and concerns raised by parties. Between settlement discussions, IIPA met with members and other intervening parties to discuss issues in the case. IIPA proposed many of the compromises that led to the Stipulation and Settlement and associated Motion filed with the Commission on October 27, 2023 (the “Proposed Settlement”). The IIPA’s proposed findings and recommendations are captured in the Proposed Settlement. As a signatory, the IIPA believes that the Proposed Settlement and the resulting proposed revenue requirement and new rates are a fair, just and reasonable resolution to the issues addressed therein. (C) The expenses and costs incurred by the IIPA set forth in Exhibit A are reasonable in amount and were necessarily incurred. The expenses and costs were incurred in participating in the technical and settlement conferences, in the drafting and review discovery responses, and negotiating the final terms of the Proposed Settlement. Without incurring these expenses and costs, IIPA would not have been able to fully participate in this matter. (D) The costs described in Exhibit A constitute a financial hardship for the IIPA. The IIPA is an Idaho nonprofit corporation qualified under I.R.C. § 501(c)(5) representing farm interests in electric utility rate matters affecting farmers in southern and central Idaho. The IIPA relies solely upon dues and contributions voluntarily paid by members, together with intervenor APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 3 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 funding, to support its activities. Each year mailings are sent to approximately 7,000 Idaho Irrigators (approximately one-third in the IPC service area and the remainder in IPC’s service area), soliciting annual dues. IIPA recommends members make voluntary contributions based on acres irrigated or horsepower per pump. Member contributions have been falling which is believed to be attributable to increased operating costs and declining commodity prices. From member contributions the IIPA must pay all expenses, which generally include mailing expenses, meeting expenses, post office box, in addition to the expenses relating to participation in matters before the Commission. The Executive Director, Amy McKoon, is the only part-time paid contractor, receiving a retainer plus expenses for office space, office equipment, and secretarial services. Other IIPA officers and directors are elected annually and serve without compensation. It has been and continues to be a financial hardship for the IIPA to fully participate in important cases such as this one due to the time and expense that must be incurred to fully participate in such a case. Because of the IIPA’s financial constraints, participation in this case, preparing to file testimony, and participating in the settlement negotiations has been focused and prudent. (E) IIPA proposed many of the compromises that led to the rate spread and rate design contained in the Proposed Settlement. As such, the issues that the IIPA raised and urged to be adopted by in the settlement discussions materially differed from those addressed by the Commission Staff and other parties. (F) The IIPA’s participation addressed issues of concern to the general body of users or consumers on IPC’s system in that the Irrigator adjustments adopted in the Stipulation reduced the proposed rate increase for the majority of customer classes. APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 4 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 (G) The IIPA represents the irrigation class of customers under Schedule 10 on IPC’s system. Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully submitted that the IIPA’s are a qualifying intervenor and should be entitled to an award of costs of intervention in the maximum amount allowable pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-617A and IDAPA §§ 31.01.01.161 through .165. DATED this 12th day of December, 2023. ECHO HAWK & OLSEN _____________________________________ ERIC L. OLSEN APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 5 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFIY that on this 12th day of December, 2023, I served a true, correct and complete copy of the Petition of Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. for Leave to Intervene to each of the following, via U.S. Mail or private courier, email or hand delivery, as indicated below: Jan Noriyuki, Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Building 8, Suite 201-A Boise, ID 83714 jan.noriyuki@puc.idaho.gov U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Idaho Power Lisa D. Nordstrom Donovan E. Walker Megan Goicoechea Allen Timothy Tatum Connie Aschenbrenner Matthew T. Larkin 1221 W. Idaho St. (83702) P.O. Box 70 Boise, ID 83707-0070 lnordstrom@idahopower.com dwalker@idahopower.com mgoicoecheaallen@idahopower.com dockets@idahopower.com ttatum@idahopower.com caschenbrenner@idahopower.com mlarkin@idahopower.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Dayn Hardie Chris Burdin Deputy Attorneys General Idaho Public Utilities Commission 11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg No. 8, Suite 201- A (83714) P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 dayn.hardie@puc.idaho.gov chris.burdin@puc.idaho.gov U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 6 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 Lance Kaufman, Ph.D. Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc. 2623 NW Bluebell Place Corvallis, OR 97330 lance@aegisinsight.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Michael Heckler Courtney White Clean Energy Opportunities for Idaho Inc. 3778 Plantation River Dr., Ste 102 Boise, ID 83703 mike@cleanenergyopportunities.com courtney@cleanenergyopportunities.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Kelsey Jae Law for Conscious Leadership 920 N. Clover Dr. Boise, ID 83703 kelsey@kelseyjae.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Peter J. Richardson Richardson, Adams, PLLC 515 N 27th Street Boise, ID 83702 peter@richardsonadams.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Dr. Don Reading 280 S. Silverwood Way Eagle, ID 83616 dreading@mindspring.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Jim Swier Micron Technology, Inc. 8000 South Federal Way Boise, ID 83707 jswier@micron.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 7 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 Austin Rueschhoff Thorvald A. Nelson Austin W. Jensen Holland & Hart, LLP Micron Technology, Inc. 555 17th Street Suite 3200 Denver, CO 80202 darueschhoff@hollandhart.com tnelson@hollandhart.com awjensen@hollandhart.com aclee@hollandhart.com clmoser@hollandhart.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Tom Arkoosh Arkoosh Law Offices IdaHydro 913 W. River St, Suite 450 P.O. Box 2900 Boise, ID 83701 Tom.arkoosh@arkoosh.com Erin.cecil@arkoosh.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Ed Jewell Darrell Early City of Boise Deputy City Attorney Office 150 N. Capitol Blvd. PO Box 500 Boise, ID 83701-0500 ejewell@cityofboise.org dearly@cityofboise.org boca@cityofboise.org U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Wil Gehl, Energy Program Manager City of Boise Dept of Public Works 150 N. Capitol Blvd. PO Box 500 Boise, ID 83701-0500 wgehl@cityofboise.org U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 8 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 Matthew Nykiel Brad Heusinkveld Idaho Conservation League 710 N. 6th St. Boise, Idaho 83702 matthew.nykiel@gmail.com bheusinkveld@idahoconservation.org U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Peter Meier U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20585 Peter.meier@hq.doe.gov U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Dwight Etheridge Exeter Associates 5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 310 Columbia, MD 21044 detheridge@exeterassociates.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) F. Diego Rivas NW Energy Coalition 1101 8th Ave. Helena, MT 59601 diego@nwenergy.org U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Benjamin J. Otto NW Energy Coalition 1407 W. Cottonwood Court Boise, ID 83702 ben@nwenergy.org U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Steve W. Chriss Director, Energy Services Walmart, Inc. 2608 Southeast J Street Bentonville, AR 72716 stephen.chriss@walmart.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) Norman M. Semanko Parsons Behle & Latimer 800 W. Main St., Suite 1300 Boise, ID 83702 nsemanko@parsonsbehle.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 9 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 Justina A Caviglia, pro hac vice Parsons Behle & Latimer 50 West Liberty St., Suite 750 Reno, NV 89502 jcaviglia@parsonsbehle.com U.S. Mail Hand Delivered Overnight Mail Telecopy (Fax) Electronic Mail (Email) _____________________________________ ERIC L. OLSEN APPLICATION FOR INTERVENOR FUNDING OF THE IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Page 10 CASE NO. IPC-E-23-11 EXHIBIT A Expert Witness, Lance Kaufman, Expenses: 1. Witness Fees: 72.69 Hours @ $250 = $18,172.50 Legal Expenses: 1. Paralegal Fees: 6.1 Hours @ $90 = $ 549.00 2. Legal Fees Eric L. Olsen: 67.4 Hours @ $250 = $16,850.00 3. Soft Costs (Copies/Postage/Hotel) $ 509.51 Sub Total: $17,908.51 Grand Total: $36,081.01