20070604final_order_no_30336.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 4, 2007
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER FOR
REVISIONS TO STREET LIGHTING
SERVICES ORDER NO. 30336
CASE NO. P AC-07-
On April 17, 2007, Rocky Mountain Power filed an Application for authority to
revise its Electric Service Schedule No. 11 (Company-Owned Overhead System), Schedule No.
12 (Customer-Owned System), and Electric Service Regulation No. 12 (Line Extensions),
regarding revisions to the Company s street lighting schedules. On April 25 , 2007, the
Commission issued a Notice of Application and Modified Procedure establishing a deadline for
interested persons to comment upon the Company s Application. On May 16, 2007, the
Commission Staff filed comments in this matter. No other comments were filed. With this
Order the Commission approves the Application as more fully set forth below.
THE APPLICATION
The Company states that the purpose of this Application is to revise its street lighting
schedules to clarify applicability, include expanded lighting options such as metal halide and
decorative lighting, to close non-standard lights to new service, and to add or rewrite service
provisions clarifying Company and customer obligations surrounding the installation
conversion, and maintenance of facilities. As stated in the Application, the proposed changes are
responsive to customer inquiries regarding expanded street lighting offerings.
The Company states that it has shared its proposals with representatives of multiple
cities within its service territory and has worked with Commission Staff to develop this
Application. The Company has sent a letter detailing its proposal to all customers receiving
service under Schedules 11 and 12. The Company serves approximately 19 customers with 188
lights under Schedule 11 , and 51 customers totaling 3 574 lights under Schedule 12. Of the
574 customer-owned lights, 3,406 receive full company maintenance and another 160 receive
partial maintenance.
The specific changes to Schedule 11 include: (a) metal halide and decorative fixture
options are added; (b) non-standard light sizes are closed to new service, existing fixtures will
continue to be maintained; (c) service to pole-mounted outlets is to be provided under a metered
ORDER NO. 30336
general service rate; (d) contract term requirement is extended from three to five years; and (e)
the schedule name is changed to Street Lighting Service - Company-Owned System.
The specific changes to Schedule 12 include: (a) standard lights are listed in the
tariff with monthly lamp rates, a per kilowatt hour rate is available for non-listed, energy-only
luminaries; (b) monthly maintenance will no longer be offered for new consumer-owned lights;
however, the Company will continue to perform maintenance under existing service agreements;
(c) installation, maintenance, transferring, or removal of lights must be performed by qualified
personnel or, if qualified personnel are not available, by the Company at the consumer
expense; (d) service to pole-mounted outlets is to be provided under a metered general service
rate; (e) references to light sizes in the "no new service" section are removed where there are no
longer any active agreements; (f) references to low pressure sodium vapor 8 000, 13,500 , and
500 lumens are removed from energy only; and (g) traffic and other signal system service is
removed and is instead referenced to metered general service, the title of Schedule 12 is changed
to Street Lighting Service - Consumer-Owned System.
The Company also proposes to add language to the existing Rule 12 for line
extensions, specifying a street lighting line extension allowance equal to five years of revenue
based on the applicable rates for the lights to be added under Company-owned street lighting
service. The allowance will be applied toward the cost of installing the required facilities and
connecting to the Company s system. The Consumer must advance any costs exceeding this
allowance.
ST AFF COMMENTS
Staff reviewed the Company Application and proposed tariff changes and
recommended that the request to revise the street lighting tariff, Schedules 11 and 12, and
Electric Service Regulation No. 12 (Line Extensions) be approved as filed by the Company.
Staff worked with the Company in the development of this proposal and believes it represents a
reasonable response to changing market conditions, and is structured in a manner that will
protect existing customers. Staff noted that the new products proposed by the Company are in
response to requests from customers. The Company provided an analysis that indicated the
prices for the new products were established using the same general procedures as those for the
existing products.
ORDER NO. 30336
Additionally, Staff noted that the proposed changes to the line extension provisions
provide clarity and consistency in how the Company addresses line extensions required for street
lighting. Staff believes the changes will reduce customer confusion over when charges will be
imposed and result in more consistency in the application of line extension charges to street
lighting customers.
DISCUSSIONIFINDINGS
We have reviewed the record for this case, including the Application and comments.
No protests to the Commission s use of Modified Procedure were filed. We continue to find that
the public interest does not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case and that
Modified Procedure is appropriate. IDAPA 31.01.01.204. The Commission has jurisdiction
over Rocky Mountain Power, its Application for authority to revise its Electric Service Schedule
No. 11 , No. 12, and Electric Service Regulation No. 12, as well as the issues involved in this
case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code, specifically Idaho Code ~~ 61-129, 61-117, 61-307 , and
61-501 , and the Commission s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
We find the proposed changes regarding the Company s provision of Street Lighting
Set;Vice to be reasonable, and to be structured in such a manner as to respond to changing market
conditions and requests from customers, as well as protecting existing customers. The revisions
were made in response to customer requests, and were developed in conjunction with input from
Commission Staff. Having no objection or protest to any ofthe proposed revisions in the record
we approve the proposed revisions to Schedule No. 11 , No. 12, and Regulation No. 12.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company s Application is approved. The
revised tariff sheets reflecting changes to Electric Service Schedule No. 11 (Company-Owned
Overhead System), Schedule No. 12 (Customer-Owned System), and Electric Service Regulation
No. 12 (Line Extensions) filed with the Company s Application are hereby approved as filed
with an effective date of June 29, 2007, as requested.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order 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. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code ~ 61-
626.
ORDER NO. 30336
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this t(.JL-
day of June 2007.
ARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
\" \\,"-~ ,
MACK A. REDFO , COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
~(j.
Je~D. Jewell
~mission Secretary
O:PAC-07-06 dw2
ORDER NO. 30336