20010222Notice of Application.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF PACIFICORP DBA UTAH POWER & LIGHT COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF MODIFICATION TO ITS IRRIGATOR HOTLINE PROGRAM. )
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CASE NO. PAC-E-01-03

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

NOTICE OF COMMENT/
PROTEST DEADLINE

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on February 9, 2001, PacifiCorp dba Utah Power & Light Company (PacifiCorp; Company) filed an Application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) for an Order approving modification to its Irrigator Hotline Program.
In the recent merger case of PacifiCorp and ScottishPower (Case No. PAC-E-99-01) the Company committed and the Commission required the following:
ScottishPower/PacifiCorp will extend the Irrigators’ Hotline facility in the Wasatch Business Center to seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The expansion to this successful, customized service will provide greater availability for responding to irrigator issues.

Order No. 28213, p. 11, Condition 15.

The Company has two “business centers”, the Wasatch Business Center and the Portland Business Center, which are customer service centers at which customers' telephone calls regarding service, collections and billing issues are answered. At the time of the commitment to extend the Irrigator Hotline, the service was provided out of the Company’s Wasatch Business Center, and the intention of commitment was to extend the hours of operation. Prior to the extension, the Company was staffing the Irrigator Hotline Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. While the Company has continued to operate the Irrigator Hotline facility out of the Wasatch Business Center, the Company states that it has received very few calls on the Irrigator Hotline on Sundays. During the period April through December 2000, the Company received only 50 such calls.
In an effort to reduce costs and minimize upper pressure on rates, PacifiCorp states that it would like to close the Wasatch Business Center on Sundays, and direct calls from Idaho irrigators to its Portland Business Center, which is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, where they will be routinely handled. As needed, employees will receive additional training to respond to these calls. For calls involving complex issues requiring research or follow up, necessary information will be obtained, and the Irrigator Hotline team will respond back to the customer the following work week. In addition, customers will be given the option of leaving a detailed message for follow up by the Irrigator Hotline team during the following work week. To the extent the condition requiring the extension of Hotline facility may be read as constraining the location of the facility, PacifiCorp seeks approval through this Application to route Sunday calls to its other Business Center.
PacifiCorp states that it has discussed with the president of the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association (Association) the proposal to direct Sunday calls to its Portland Business Center, and is advised that the Association has no objection to the change.
PacifiCorp requests that its Application be processed pursuant to Modified Procedure.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings of record in Case No. PAC-E-01-03. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the issues raised by the Application may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or protests with respect to the Application and the Commission’s use of Modified Procedure in Case No. PAC-E-01-03 is Wednesday March 14, 2001. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case No. PACE-01-03 should be mailed to the Commission, the Company 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, ID 83702-5983 DOUGLAS LARSON
DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY POLICY
PACIFICORP
201 S MAIN STREET, STE 2300
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 24140

And

JOHN M. ERIKSSON
STOEL RIVES LLP
ONE UTAH CENTER
201 S MAIN ST, STE 1100
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-4904
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case No. PAC-E-01-03 can be reviewed at the Commission’s office and at the Idaho offices of PacifiCorp dba Utah Power & Light Company during regular business hours.

DATED at Boise, Idaho this day of February 2001.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jean D. Jewell
Commission Secretary

vld/N:PAC-E-0103 _sw

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF PROTEST/COMMENT DEADLINE 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 22, 2001