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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26390.docx(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR IMPLEMEN­TA­TION OF A YEAR ‘ROUND CONNECTION PROCEDURE FOR IRRIGATION CUSTOMERS. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. IPC-E-96-2 NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.  26390 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on February 28, 1994, the Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power; Company) filed an Application with the Commission requesting approval of a pilot program for electric service to irrigation customers in the Blackfoot District.  Under the provisions of that pilot program, certain irrigation customers’ pumps remained connected year around rather than being connected and disconnected for the irrigation season in order to provide the Company, its customers and the Commission with information needed to evaluate the impacts and benefits of revising the connection procedures and related charges for electric service offered to irrigation customers. On May 12, 1994, the Commission issued Order No. 25502 approving the Company’s Application and the pilot program was implemented on September 1, 1994.  According to the Company, the program was successful and, as a result, Idaho Power filed an Application on February 29, 1996, for authority to implement, throughout the Company’s entire service territory in the state of Idaho, new connection procedures and related charges for irrigation service effective September 1, 1996. The Company proposes to leave all irrigation customers’ pumps connected throughout the year unless the customer requests otherwise.  The Company will disconnect service to a pump at the end of the irrigation season if the customer had two or more late payments of $50 or more during a 12-month period.  In this event, Idaho Power will reconnect service the following spring upon receipt of a seasonal advance.   The Company also proposes to reduce the monthly customer charge from $10 to $2.50 for out of season months.  The $10 monthly customer charge will continue to apply during the in season.   The current policy of one disconnection and connection at no charge will be replaced by a $30 account processing charge for those customers who request disconnection at the end of the season.  In addition, a new charge, known as the “maintenance service charge” of $50 will replace the current policy of charging actual time and mileage for disconnections/reconnections requested by irrigators for maintenance work.   Customers who are disconnected at the end of the pumping season for having two late payments in excess of $50 will also be charged the $30 account processing charge upon reconnection the following spring.  Idaho Power will no longer require monthly seasonal advances. The Company will affix dual language warning stickers to the front of all irrigation pump panels stating that the panels are energized at all times and including a phone number to call for more information.   Finally, the Company proposes an interim schedule No. 24 for the upcoming irrigation season implementing the seasonal advance payment provisions.  The full program would be implemented on September 1, 1996.  The tariff for the Blackfoot pilot program, which ends on October 1, 1996, would be revised to terminate on September 1, 1996, assuming Commission approval of the system-wide program. Idaho Power claims that the program is essentially revenue neutral and presents a simple analysis to show that the program would have resulted in a net revenue reduction to the Company of approximately $22,000 based upon 1995 data and the results of the Blackfoot pilot program.  Idaho Power states that it has discussed this proposal with the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association and proposes to use press releases to the news media to bring it to the attention of the affected customers.  The Company requests that the Application be processed under 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. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission on or before May 3, 1996.  The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment.  Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.  Written comments concerning this application shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicant at the addresses reflected below: COMMISSION SECRETARY IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION PO BOX 83720 BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074 Street Address for Express Mail: 472 W. WASHINGTON ST BOISE, IDAHO  83702-5983 These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments 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 We find that while this case is appropriately handled under Modified Procedure, the changes proposed by Idaho Power are significant enough to justify an extra effort in notifying the affected customers. The Company is directed, therefore, to individually notify all irrigation customers who will be affected by the proposed changes of those changes. Such notice shall be sent on or before April 8, 1996, and shall apprise the customers of the comment deadline established by this Notice. We further find that in order to solicit and assess input regarding the Company’s proposed changes it is necessary to suspend the proposed April 1, 1996, effective date proposed by Idaho Power in its Application for the interim tariff as well as the proposed effective date of September 1, 1996, for the permanent tariff.  Accordingly, pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622, the effective date of the Company’s proposed tariff is hereby suspended for a period of five (5) months plus thirty (30) days or until October 1, 1996, or such time as the Commission issues a final Order in this proceeding resolving the issues raised by the Company’s Application. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, consistent with the terms and conditions set forth above, Idaho Power Company is directed to individually notify affected customers of the proposed changes contained in the Company’s Application in this case on or before April 8, 1996.  The effective date of the Company’s proposed tariff is hereby suspended until October 1, 1996, or until such time as the Commission issues a final Order resolving the Company’s Application. DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of March 1996.                                                                                       RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT                                                                                       MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER                                                                                      DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER ATTEST:                                                                  Myrna J. Walters Commission Secretary vld/O:IPC-E-96-2.bp COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS Text Box 1: TEXT BOXES Office of the Secretary Service Date March 29, 1996