19990507Order No 28038.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COM-PANY’S TARIFF ADVICE FILING NO. 99-04 FOR AUTHORITY TO DISCONTINUE THE COMPANY’S SCHEDULE 85—RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION CASH GRANT PROGRAM. )
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CASE NO. IPC-E-99-4

ORDER NO. 28038

On April 1, 1999, the Idaho Power Company filed Tariff Advice No. 99-04 seeking authority to discontinue the Company’s Residential Weatherization Cash Grant Program (RWCGP).
The purpose of this program, which began in 1983, was to assist residential customers with weatherization of their homes. The two qualifying conditions for participation in the RWCGP are (1) that the customer’s primary space heating resource must be electricity and (2) the weatherization measure must be cost effective for the Company. Since 1993, there have been no participants in the RWCGP and the only customer who has inquired about it decided not to participate.
In commenting on Idaho Power’s tariff advice, Staff notes that discontinuance of the RWCGP will not effect the Company’s Low-Income Weatherization Program still in effect. Staff also notes that in 1996, the Commission allowed PacifiCorp to discontinue a similar program due to low participation and the non-cost effectiveness of maintaining the overhead for a program with few participants.

FINDINGS
We hereby authorize Idaho Power to discontinue the RWCGP. We note that in recent years we have allowed Idaho Power to discontinue almost all of its demand-side management efforts, with the exceptions being the Low-Income Weatherization Program and participation in the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. For example, we allowed discontinuance of Partners in Industrial Efficiency in January 1997, Design Excellence Award in May 1997, and Commercial Lighting in February 1998 in Order Nos. 26753, 26931, and 27575, respectively. In each of those Orders we expressed concerns regarding the additions to deferred accounts caused by these programs.
We further find that due to the lack of customer interest in this program, it would be reasonable for Idaho Power to discontinue it. Consequently, pursuant to Rule 134 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.134, we hereby approve Idaho Power’s Tariff Advice No. 99-04.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power’s Tariff Advice No. 99-04 seeking authority to terminate the RWCGP is granted.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. IPC-E-99-4 may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order with regard to any matter decided in this order or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. IPC-E-99-4. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code § 61-626.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in Boise, Idaho this day of May 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:IPC-E-99-4_bp0

ORDER NO. 28038 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
May 7, 1999