20160112Withdrawal Letter.pdf

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
BP}Y;n,*
January 12,2016
VA ELECTRONIC FILING
Jean D. Jewell, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
47 2 W est Washington Street
Boise,Idaho 83720
1407 W. North Temple, Suite 320
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
ldaho Public Utilities Commrssion
Office d the SecretarvBECEIVED
JAN r 2 20t6
Boise,ldaho
Re:CASE NO. PAC-E-I5-I7 - IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER FORAPPROVAL OF THE DISPOSITION
OF CERTAIN FACILITIES PURSUANT TO A PURCHASE AND
TRANSFERAGREEMENT WITH NAVAJO TRIBAL UTILITY
AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF WITHDRAWL OF CASE NO. PAC-E-15-17 AI\D
REPLACEMENT WITH THIS ADVISORY LETTER
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Rocky Mountain Power hereby files (l) a notice of withdrawal of its application in the above
cited case and (2) this Advice filing in its place. The Company makes this request pursuant to
discussions with staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in which the Company was
advised to withdraw the application and file, instead, an Advisory Letter notiffing the
Commission of the Company's intent to dispose of certain facilities in Utah to the Navajo Tribal
Util ity Authority ('NTUA").
Specifically, NTUA is pursuing the purchase of Rocky Mountain Power's facilities used to
provide electric service to customers within the Navajo Nation located in San Juan County, Utah
pursuant to an existing 1959 letter agreement between NTUA and the Company. In order to
obtain easements from the Nation for the Company to provide service within the Nation, the
Company agreed in 1959 that NTUA would have the option to negotiate the purchase of
facilities serving customers within the Nation. In 2009 NTUA commenced discussions with the
Company to exercise its option to acquire these facilities so that it could serve all the customers
in the Navajo Nation's reservation. NTUA currently serves approximately 39,600 electric
customers who are spread out over a 27 ,000 square miles of service territory the Company
provides electric service to 1,045 customers.
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
January 12,2016
Page2
The facilities to be sold consist of 29.79 miles of transmission line, 335 miles of distribution line,
and four substations. With the exception of a 69 kV transmission line and associated facilities,
the facilities being sold to NTUA are situs-assigned to Utah and not include in [daho rates. The
book value of the transmission assets included in Idaho rates is immaterial. The Company is
seeking approval of the sale from the Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon public service commissions
and providing notice to Idaho and California. Upon request the Company will provide the staffof
the Idaho Public Utilities Commission additional details related to the sale of the facilities to
NTUA.
Any inquiries regarding this matter should be directed to Ted Weston at [phone] or me at
(80r) 220-40s0.
Sincerely,
Qdrx,
R. Hogle
General Counsel
Mountain Power