20200108Final_Order_No_34526.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
January 8,2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN )CASE NO.PAC-E-19-12
POWER'S APPLICATION TO REVISE )ELECTRIC SERVICE REGULATION NO.6 )ORDER NO.34526
---COMPANY'S INSTALLATION )
On September 13,2019,Rocky Mountain Power ("Company"),a division of
PacifiCorp,applied for authority to revise paragraph 1 of Electric Service Regulation No.6 -
Company's Installation ("Regulation No.6"),to include a new option for customers to receive
single-phase,240/480 volt secondary service.The Company requested its Application be
processed by Modified Procedure.
The Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure
establishing public comment and Company reply deadlines.Order No.34467.Commission Staff
filed the onlycomments and supported the Company's Application.The Company did not respond.
With this Order we approve the Company's Application.
THE APPLICATION
The Company's Application responds to the limited availabilityof three-phase service
distribution in its service territory.I The Company stated that the proposed changes in Regulation
No.6 would significantlybenefit certain customers currentlyhampered by single-phase,120/240
volt service.The Company explained that industries using irrigation pumps or other large motors
often require equipment designed for a three-phase power supply.The Company noted the lack of
three-phase power supply in its service territory makes it difficult for these industries to buy the
equipment they need.2 As a solution,the Company's Application explained that,where capacity
is available on existing single-phase lines,a three-phase supply can be derived from a variable
frequency drive or rotary phase converter to provide 240/480 volt service to customers.The
Application stated that,on average,480 volt class phase converters and motors cost 10%to 25%
less to operate than 240 volt converters.The Company represented that changing Regulation No.
6 to let customers opt for single-phase 240/480 volt service would have little impact on the
Company's construction standards,practices,inventory requirements,operations,and costs.
I The Company estimates that 40%of its distribution lines are single-phase 120/240 volt.
2 The cost to extend three-phase service to these customers is prohibitive.The Company estimates that extending three-phase
primary lines would cost $60,000 to $150,000 per mile.
ORDER NO.34526
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Providing single-phase,240/480 volt service,where available,would benefit customers using large
motors,transportation agencies tasked with lighting roadways,and fast charging stations for
electric vehicles.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reviewed and supports the Company's Application.Staff explainedthat single-phase,
240/480 volt secondary service should be allowed under Regulation No.6 because:1)Customers
with larger loads would directlybenefit from reduced equipment operationcosts beyond the point
of delivery when compared to the existing 120/240 volt service;2)Higher voltage service would
reduce customer line loss between the point of delivery and load;and 3)In certain situations,this
option would preclude the Company's need to build new three-phase primary lines to serve large
loads.
Staff believes that these reasons,coupled with the Company's estimate that it would only
cost the Company $161 more to provide new single-phase,240/480 volt service instead of single-
phase,120/240 volt service,'warrants the Application being approved.Modifying Regulation No.
6 to add a single-phase,240/480 option would benefit customers needing additional voltage
without requiring the Company to change its line-extension policy or build cost-prohibitive three-
phase service.In its production responses,the Company explained that it expects as few as ten
customers per year would request the new service.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under Idaho Code §§61-502 and 61-
503.The Commission is empowered to investigaterates,charges,rules,regulations,practices,and
contracts of public utilities and to determine whether they are just,reasonable,preferential,
discriminatory,or in violation of any provision of law,and to fix the same by order.Idaho Code §§
61-502 and 61-503.
The Commission has reviewed the record,includingthe Application and the comments
of Commission Staff.Based on our review,we find it reasonable to approve the Application.A
number of commercial customers will benefit from the 240/480 volt option when selecting
equipment,which will help customers reduce their operating costs.The Commission therefore
'The Company estimates it will cost $3,284 to provide single-phase 240/480 volt service,as opposed to $3,123 to provide single-
phase 120/240 volt service.
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finds it reasonable to approve the Application because providing single-phase 240/480 volt service
will benefit customers and have minimal impact to the Company's operations and costs.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's Application to revise paragraph 1 of
Electric Service Regulation No.6 to include a new option for customers to receive single-phase
240/480 volt secondary service is approved.
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.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of January 2020.
PAUL KJELLANDEl ESIDENT
KRI TINE RAPER,COMMISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\PAC-E-19-12\orders\PACE1912_11nal_dh.doex
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