20020422Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
For Immediate Release / April 22, 2002
Case No. PAC-02-
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Hearings set for Rigby, Preston on PacifiCorp cost recovery case
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BOISE - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct hearings in Rigby and Preston regarding a
stipulated settlement that would allow PacifiCorp to recover about $22.7 million over a two-year period in power
supply costs the company incurred from Nov. 1 2000 through Oct. 31 , 200l.
PacifiCorp originally requested to recover $38 million, but after settlement negotiations between the
company, the staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association and
Monsanto Company, the recommended recovery has been revised to $22.7 million.
In February of this year, residential customers received a credit from the Bonneville Power
Administration that resulted in a decrease of about 44 percent in average residential rates. If the commission
approves the $22.7 million negotiated settlement, residential bills would climb back up by about 17 percent. If the
$22.7 million recovery is allowed, the net result of that adjustment, counting the BPA credit, is about a 27 percent
reduction for residential customers from rates last year.
The commission will conduct workshops and public hearings in Rigby on May 6 and in Preston on May
7. During a 6 p.m. workshop each evening, staff from the commission as well as PacifiCorp will be available to
explain the company s request and take questions from the public. A formal hearing will follow both nights at
7:30. During that hearing, members of the public can offer testimony to the commissioners, but no questions are
taken from the public. The Rigby hearing and workshop on May 6 is at the Rigby Senior Citizens Center, 391
Community Lane. The Preston hearing on May 7 is at the Robinson Building, 200 West, 200 North.
The hearings will address PacifiCorp s request to recover power supply costs, what the effect will be on
each customer class and changes to the irrigation rate to allow for non-interruptible service.
Under the irrigation proposal, farmers, with the BPA credit, would pay about 33 percent less
than what they pay now under the current "C" rate schedule. Schedule C would change from a servic
interrupted during peak-use times to a "firm" or non-interruptible service. The company will negotif
with operators of large irrigation systems who still want to pay an interruptible rate.
Other customer classes that did not get the BP A credit, such as business, would see an incr,
percent ifPacifiCorp were granted recovery.
http://www.puc.state.id.us/intemet/press/0422 PACpca.htm
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The commission will also conduct an evidentiary hearing on Tuesday, May 7, at 1 p., in the Robinson
Building in Preston. The purpose of the evidentiary hearing is to take testimony from PUC staff and from
representatives of the company and other parties to the case regarding the reasonableness of the negotiated
settlement.
The deadline for formal parties to submit pre-filed testimony is April 30. The commission will also take
written comments from interested individuals. That can be done via e-mail by accessing the commission
homepage at www.puc.state.id.and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (PAC-02-
1) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to
[phone]. The commission should receive comments by no later than May 10.
http://www.puc.state.id.us/intemet/press/0422 PACpca.htm 4/23/2002