20180816press release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission C. L. “Butch” Otter, Governor
P.O. Box 83720, Boise ID 83720-0074 Paul Kjellander, Commissioner
Kristine Raper, Commissioner
Eric Anderson, Commissioner
Case Nos. PAC-E-18-03, PAC-E-18-04
Contact: Matt Evans
Office: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
www.puc.idaho.gov

PUC to hold telephonic public hearing regarding Rocky
Mountain Power proposals

BOISE (Aug. 16, 2018) – State regulators have scheduled a telephonic public hearing regarding two Rocky Mountain Power proposals
calling for the sale of certain assets and the transfer of electric service for more than two dozen residential customers to the city of Idaho Falls.
The hearing is intended to provide an opportunity for anyone interested to submit testimony for the official record in either case.
It will take place at 2 pm on Aug. 21.
Those interested in testifying should call [phone] and enter the passcode 6674 832# when prompted.
Rocky Mountain Power provides electric service to approximately 77,600 customers in eastern Idaho.
The city of Idaho Falls owns and operates Idaho Falls Power, a municipal electric utility that serves most residents of the city. Its service territory
is surrounded by Rocky Mountain Power’s service territory.
There is some overlap in service; Rocky Mountain Power serves some customers inside the city’s boundaries, and the city provides electric
service to some customers within the company’s service territory.
In order to reduce duplication of service and promote stability in their service territories, the two sides entered into a service allocation
agreement in fall 2017.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved the agreement in December 2017 after finding it consistent with Idaho Code 61-332, the Electric
Supplier Stabilization Act (ESSA).
The ESSA is intended to discourage the duplication of facilities, prohibit pirating of consumers, stabilize service territories and consumers, and
promote harmony between electric suppliers.
The six-page agreement between Rocky Mountain Power and the city of Idaho Falls established the service territory of each utility, and called for
the two to collaborate to identify facilities that are duplicative and to avoid duplicity when constructing new facilities.
The agreement provides for the transfer of service from one utility to the other as long as the acquiring utility agrees to pay the other “just
compensation for lost revenues and the distribution facilities used to serve that customer.”
“Just compensation for lost revenues” is defined in the agreement as an amount equal to 167 percent of the total of the respective customer’s
electric bills from the prior 12-month period.
The acquiring utility is also required to purchase the assets no longer needed or required by the other utility to serve that customer.
These cases are the first to be processed under the agreement.
Here are the details of each case:
- PAC-E-18-03
This case centers on the proposed sale of certain electric facilities on or near Pioneer Drive in Idaho Falls. These include conduit, poles
and transformers valued at $38,326. The two sides agreed that the cost of transferring the service of five customers is $39,567, for a
total purchase price of $77,892.
- PAC-E-18-04
The case involves the proposed sale of certain electric facilities that are currently owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Power to
supply electric service to 23 locations at or near Nina Drive, Charla Drive and Merlin Drive. The agreed-upon price is $92,713 and
includes $17,996 in assets such as underground service cable, pads and service drops.
Written comments are being accepted in both cases through Aug. 28. Go here to comment. Please be sure to include the case number.
Comments can also be submitted via mail to PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 83702, or by fax, [phone].
All documents related to these cases can be accessed here for PAC-E-18-03. And here for PAC-E-18-04. Or go to the Commission’s website,
www.puc.idaho.gov and click on Open Cases under the Electric header. Then scroll down to the appropriate case number.