20030516Notice of Stipulation Mod Pro.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
May 16 2003
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF P ACIFICORP FOR AN ORDER
AUTHORIZING A CHANGE IN
DEPRECIATION RATES APPLICABLE TO
ELECTRIC PROPERTY
) CASE NO. P AC-O2-
) NOTICE OF STIPULATION AND
) PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
) NOTICE OF
) MODIFIED PROCEDURE
) NOTICE OF
) COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE
On October 2002, PacifiCorp dba Utah Power & Light Company (PacifiCorp;
Company) filed an Application for a change in its current depreciation rates applicable to
PacifiCorp s depreciable electric property. This change, the Company states, is for accounting
purposes only. PacifiCorp intends to seek approval of the requested changes for ratemaking
purposes in a future rate case. Pursuant to Idaho Code ~ 61-525, the Commission is empowered
to determine the property depreciation rates of property used to provide retail electric service.
The net effect of the Company s Application was to increase depreciation expense allocated to
Idaho by $0.6 million annually.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on May 7, 2003 Commission Staff and
PacifiCorp filed a Stipulation, a Joint Motion for Approval of Stipulation and separate letters in
support of the Stipulation. The Stipulation is offered as a compromise settlement of the issues
raised in Case No. PAC-02-5. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.274. Should the Commission
accept the proposed Settlement, the depreciation expense currently booked by the Company will
decrease approximately $0.9 million annually. This is a $1.5 million difference in annual
depreciation expense from the Company s original request for an increase of$0.6 million.
Pursuant to Rule 276 of the Commission s Rules of Procedure, the Commission is
not bound by settlements. The Commission will independently review any settlement proposed
NOTICE OF STIPULATION AND
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE
to determine whether the settlement is just, fair and reasonable, in the public interest, or
otherwise in accordance with law or regulatory policy.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has preliminarily
determined that the public interest may not require a technical hearing to consider the issues
presented, and that the issues raised by the Company s filing and the Stipulation and proposed
Settlement may be processed under Modified Procedure , 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 PacifiCorp s Application, the Stipulation and proposed Settlement
and the use of Modified Procedure in Case No. P AC-02-5 is Friday, May 30, 2003.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written protests or comments are
received within the deadline, the Commission may consider the matter on its merit and may 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
IDAP A 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concernIng Case No.
P AC-02-5 should be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the addresses reflected
below:
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ill 83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
D. Douglas Larson
Vice President Regulation
PacifiCorp
201 S. Main Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, UT 84140
Mail: doug.1arson~pacificorp.com
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ill 83702-5983
James C. Paine
Stoe1 Rives LLP
900 SW 5 th Avenue, Suite 2600
Portland, OR 97204-1268
Mail: icpaine~stoe1.com
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document.Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
NOTICE OF STIPULATION AND
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE
Commission s home page located at www.puc.state.id.. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. These comments must also be sent to the Applicant at the e-mail addresses listed
above.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company s Application in Case No.
PAC-02-5 together with proposed Stipulation and Company and Staffletters in support of the
Stipulation may viewed at www.puc.state.id.under the "File Room" and "Electric Cases " or
can be viewed during regular business hours at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 472 W.
Washington Street, Boise, Idaho and at the Idaho offices of PacifiCorp in Rexburg, Preston
Shelley, and Montpelier, Idaho.
DATED at Boise, Idaho this
/ (, #-
day of May 2003.
PAULKJ LL ER, PRESIDENT
i-. /L/LfHA ~TH, COMM ONER
rzJ
ATTEST:
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NOTICE OF STIPULATION AND
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE