20120413final_order_no_32519.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April 13,2012
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
iN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF PACIFICORP DBA ROCKY MOUNTAIN )CASE NO.PAC-E-12-04
POWER FOR AUTHORITY TO MODIFY ITS )
SCHEDULE NOS.7,7A,AND 11 AND )
ELECTRIC SERVICE REGULATION NO.12.)ORDER NO.32519
__________________________________________________________________________________
)
On January 18,2012,PacifiCorp dba Rocky Mountain Power filed Tariff Advice No.
12-01 proposing revisions to its Security Area Lighting (Schedule Nos.7 and 7A)and Street
Lighting (Schedule No.11)tariffs and Line Extension Regulation (Regulation No.12).Rocky
Mountain Power requested that its proposed changes take effect on February 17,2012.After
reviewing the filing,Staff recommended that the Commission suspend Rocky Mountain Power’s
proposed February 17 effective date and process the tariff advice through the use of Modified
Procedure because of the numerous revisions across several rate schedules,including a proposed
change to a regulation.
On March 6,2012,the Commission issued a Notice of ApplicationlNotice of
Modified Procedure,suspended the proposed effective date and established comment deadlines.
Order No.32474.Staff was the only person or party to file comments.By this Order,the
Commission approves Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed revisions to Schedule Nos.7,7A,and
11 and Electric Service Regulation No.12.
THE APPLICATION
The Company proposes to remove low pressure sodium vapor lamps from Schedule
No.7 and 7A.Rocky Mountain Power also proposes to specify no new service for customer
owned/customer maintained energy only service for Schedule No.7.
The Company wishes to clarify obligations to repair inoperable lights and cost
responsibility for premature replacement of operable lights for Schedule Nos.7,7A and 11.The
Company proposes to add language regarding temporary disconnect cost obligations,pole
painting and light shielding for Schedule Nos.7,7A and 11.The Company further proposes to
remove metal halide lamps from Schedule No.11.
On February 16,2012,Rocky Mountain Power notified the Commission by e-mail that it agreed to suspension of
its proposed effective date.
ORDERNO.32519 1
The Company wishes to clarify its extension allowance in Electric Service
Regulation No.12,which affects customers taking service under Schedule Nos.11 and 12.
Rocky Mountain Power also proposes several general “housekeeping”type changes.
COMMENTS
The Company seeks to discontinue offering service for low-pressure sodium vapor
(LPSV)lamps under Schedule Nos.7 and 7A.LPSV lamps are used for security lighting,as are
mercury vapor lamps and high-pressure sodium vapor lamps.Rocky Mountain Power has had
no LPSV lamp customers in the past five years;therefore,Staff does not believe the Company’s
request would have a revenue shifting impact to other Schedule 7 customers.Similarly,the
Company has had no Schedule 11 customers with metal halide street lighting within the past five
years.Given the lack of customer acceptance of LPSV lamps and metal halide street lights,Staff
does not believe current or future customers are unduly harmed by not having these options
available.
The Company also proposes to add provisions clarifying its obligations for repair,
maintenance,pole repainting,and glare or vandalism shielding for Schedules 7,7A,and 11.
Most of the tariff language additions comport to the Company’s current practices,with one
exception.Rocky Mountain Power proposes that Schedule 11 customers who request removal of
lights be responsible for any associated costs.Staff believes this is a reasonable modification,
and is similar to the practices of Idaho Power and Avista.The Company also represents that the
requested revisions have been incorporated in corresponding rate schedules in Wyoming,and
that the Company plans a similar filing in Utah.
Finally,Rocky Mountain Power proposes making customer advances toward non
residential street lighting extensions non-refundable (found in Electric Service Regulation No.12
and applicable to Schedule Nos.11 and 12).The Company calculates an extension allowance as
five times the annual revenue from the lights to be added,and the customer advance would be
applied toward costs that exceed this amount.Given the methodology used to calculate the
allowance,Staff believes customer contributions would be minimal,if necessary at all.Staff
also considers this an equitable alternative to having these costs recovered from other street
lighting customers through base rates.
ORDER NO.32519
Staff considers the Company’s proposed revisions reasonable and unlikely to
materially affect current or future customers.Consequently,Staff recommended approving
Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed adjustments.
No other person or party filed comments.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
Rocky Mountain Power is a public utility pursuant to Idaho Code §61-119 and 61-
129.The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Title 61 of the Idaho Code
and the Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.Based on our review of
the Company’s proposed changes and the comments of Commission Staff,we find that Rocky
Mountain Power’s proposed changes to its schedules and regulation are minor changes to
existing schedules consistent with the requirements of Rule 134 of the Commission’s Rules of
Procedure.The changes remove unnecessary provisions in the schedules that are no longer
utilized by customers,allocate costs where appropriate,and memorialize practices that the
Company currently follows.Consequently,we find that it is just and reasonable to allow Rocky
Mountain Power to modify its Schedule Nos.7,7A,11 and Regulation No.12.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Rocky Mountain Power’s request to modify
Schedule Nos.7,7A,11 and Regulation No.12 is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Rocky Mountain Power file conforming tariffs
within fourteen (14)days.The new schedules and regulation will become effective the day
following the filing of conformed tariffs with the Commission.
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.Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.See Idaho Code §6 1-626.
ORDERNO.32519 3
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of April 2012.
MACK A.REDFJi.C’MM1’SSIONER
ATTEST:
LJi
Jean D Jewell ‘
Commission Séèretary
0:PAC-E-I 2M4ks2
/J/tL..
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
PAUL KJELLAI4LY’ER,PRESIDENT
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ORDER NO.32519 4