26664.docx

(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF AN EXTENSION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE), IDAHO OPERATIONS OFFICE CONTRACT
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CASE NO. IPC-E-96-20
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO.  26664
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on September 27, 1996, the Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power; Company) filed an Application for approval of an extension of its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which expires November 1, 1996.  The Application proposed to maintain the existing terms and conditions of the contract with a modification to the billing demand and power factor computation on which the contract rates are based.  Such modification would have affected those rates.  On October 7, 1996, however, Idaho Power filed an Amended Application.  The Company now seeks to simply extend the DOE contract, without modification, through October 31, 1998.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application, together with attachments, has been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices: 472 W. Washington St., Boise, Idaho.
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 and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
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.
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 within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Notice.
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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments with reference to this application should be sent to the following:
COMMISSION SECRETARYLARRY D.  RIPLEY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONIDAHO POWER COMPANY
PO BOX 83720Box 70
BOISE, IDAHO  83720-0074Boise, ID 83707
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.
ORDER
As noted, the DOE contract expires November 1, 1996.  Because of the short time remaining prior to that date, it is not possible to provide a meaningful opportunity for parties to comment and respond to the Company’s Application until after the contract has expired.  Given that the Company does not propose to modify any of the contract rates, terms or conditions, but simply wishes to extend the contract for an additional two years, and because the rates contained in the contract are subject to modification in the event the Commission changes the class revenue allocation for Idaho Power Company prior to November 1, 1996, we find that no party would be prejudiced by granting interim approval of the contract extension effective November 1, 1996.  Depending upon the comments received, we will either grant final approval prior to the expiration of the comment period set forth in the Notice of Modified Procedure above or issue some other ruling with respect to the contract.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power’s request to extend its contract with the DOE until November 1, 1998 is granted interim approval subject to a final ruling by this Commission which will be issued subsequent to the receipt and consideration of any comments submitted pursuant to the Notice of Modified Procedure.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this                  day of October 1996.
                                                                                                                                      RALPH NELSON, PRESIDENT
                                                                                           MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
bls/O-ipce9620.bp
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
November 1, 1996