28520.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF PACIFICORP FOR AN ACCOUNTING ORDER REGARDING ENHANCED EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM. )
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CASE NO. PAC-E-00-4

ORDER NO. 28520

On June 13, 2000, PacifiCorp filed an Application requesting an order from the Commission authorizing PacifiCorp to capitalize and amortize over a five-year period the cost of a voluntary enhanced early retirement program and an employee severance program. The Application states that beginning in June 2000, the Company will offer qualifying employees an early retirement option, and that approximately 750 employees are expected to exercise their election to retire. PacifiCorp estimates the total program retirement costs will be $115 million and the annual benefits by year 2005 will be approximately $62 million. PacifiCorp proposes to capitalize the costs and to amortize the costs on a straight-line basis over a five-year period, commencing from the date of a Commission Order. PacifiCorp also plans to implement a severance program, and proposed to file additional information regarding the severance program, including the projected number of employees, the estimated severance costs and proposed accounting treatment, once the retirement plan reductions are determined by the Company. PacifiCorp also proposes to capitalize the costs of the severance program and amortize those costs on a straight-line basis over a five-year period.
On July 21, 2000, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and a Notice of Modified Procedure. Written comments were filed only by the Commission Staff. Staff’s written comments support PacifiCorp’s request for an accounting order authorizing it to capitalize the costs of the retirement program and a severance program and to amortize those costs over a five-year period. Staff also supports PacifiCorp’s proposal for the Commission to review the benefits and the ratemaking treatment for these accounts during the Company’s next rate case. Staff recommended that PacifiCorp maintain detailed subaccount records for these deferrals and that any unamortized deferral should not accrue interest prior to the rate case review.
The Commission approves PacifiCorp’s Application for approval of its proposal to capitalize and amortize over a five-year period the costs of its early retirement program and employee severance program. No later than one year from the date of this Order, PacifiCorp shall file complete information regarding the severance program, including the projected number of employees affected by the program, and the estimated costs and proposed accounting treatment. PacifiCorp may capitalize the costs of the severance program and early retirement program and amortize the costs on a straight-line basis over a five-year period. The Commission will review the ratemaking treatment for the affected accounts during PacifiCorp’s next rate case. PacifiCorp shall maintain detailed subaccount records of these deferred transactions to facilitate the review. Any unamortized deferral resulting from the accounting treatment shall not accrue interest prior to the next rate case review.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that PacifiCorp’s Application for approval of accounting treatment for its voluntary enhanced early retirement program and employee severance program is approved with the accounting treatment discussed above for the following:
1. The deferred costs shall be amortized on a straight-line basis over a five-year period.
2. Detailed subaccount records shall be maintained for these deferrals.
3. These deferred accounts shall not accrue interest prior to the next rate case and then only if requested by PacifiCorp and approved by this Commission.
4. Any ratemaking treatment for the affected accounts will be reviewed in PacifiCorp’s next rate case.
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. PACE004 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. PACE004. 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 at Boise, Idaho this
day of September 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

vld/O:PACE004_ws2

ORDER NO. 28520 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 25, 2000