20191213Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
'I'O:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONE,R RAPER
COMMISSIONE,R ANDtrRSON
COMMISSION StrCRII-I'ARY
COMI\{ISSION STAFF
LEGAL
I-ROI\{:DAYN HARDIE
DEPTITY ATTORNBY GENERAL
DATE: DECEN{I}ER1,3,2019
SUI}JECT:IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER'S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO MODIFY ELECTRIC Sf,RVICE REGTILATION NO. 12 FOR
UNDf,RGROUND LINE EXTENSIONS AND SCHIDIILE 300; CASE NO. PAC-
E-19-19.
DECIS ION MEMORANDT]IVI
On November 22.2019. Rocky Mountain Po\r,er ("Company"), a division of
PacifiCorp, applied to the Commission for authority to revise its Electric Service Regulation No.
l2-Line Extension and Electric Sen'ice Schedule 300-Regulation Charges. The Company
requests changes to tariff Sheet Nos. 12R.2, 12R.3, 12R.4. 12R.5, 12R.6 12R.7, 12R.8, 12R.9,
l2R.l0. l2R.ll,l2R.l2, l2R.l3, and l2R.l4. The Company requests its Application be processed
by Modified Procedure and thc tariffchanges have an ell'ective date of February 21.2020.
THE APPLICATION
The Company states the purpose of thc changcs, gcncrally, is "to clarify thc definition
ol line extensions by adding substations and distribution or transmission facilities, and proposes
that the same refund process apply to customer-provided underground work as is applied to
customcr line extension advances."
Tariff Sheets No. 12R.4, 12R.5. and 12R.6 addrcss rcsidential extension allowances.
advances, and refunds. 12R.4, section 2.a.1 , has bccn modified to provide the samc allow'ance for
upgrades necessitated by added load as is availablc for new rcsidences. 'l'ariff Shect Nos. 12R.5,
section 2.a.2, and 12R.6, section 2.b.3, were modified to provide for instances when refunds are
due to additional customcrs and thcrc is customcr-provided underground work and customer
acquired right-of-way.
I\{odifications to tariflSheet 12R.7 rvill clarily that the Companl,will no longer provide
items lor underground residential extensions at the customer's expense. The update to tari ff 12R.7
also claritics that if the customer's load is of a "speculative nature or questionable peffnanency"
and exceeds the Company's enginecring limits tbr distribr-rtion voltage then the delivery u,ill be at
transmission voltage.
Additionally, under tariff 12R.7, section 3.a-Non-Residential Extension Allowances
Dclivery at 46,000 Volts and Above, the Company seeks authority to clarily that non-residential
customers served at 46.0001'olts and above are subject to the same extension allorvance provisions
as residential customers sen'ed at less than 46,000 volts. Finally, undcr tariff 12R.7. sections 3.b.1
and 3.b.2-Non-Residential Extension Allouance Delivery, rvhich covers contract minimums for
non-residential customers who are cither remote or havc loads over 1.000 kilovolt.amps (kVA"),
would be updatcd to clarif-v thcse customers w'ould pay contract minimum billing for at least five
years but no more than 30 years. Currently, customers could pay contract minimum billing for
potentially as long as service is taken.
Tarilf Sheet No. 12R.8 addresses non-residential customcr advances and refunds. The
Company's proposed modification specifics that "during the five years fbllowing construction of
a non-residential line extension upgrade each of the next fbur 1.000 kVA. or greater, customer
applicants must pay the Company their proportionate share ofthe upgrade cos1."
l'ariff Sheets 12R.9 and l2R. I 0, section 4.a rvill be expanded to deflne the treatment
of unimproved planned developments. With the modification, Applicants will receive service
under provisions for residential and non-residential extensions.
Tariff Sheet No. l2R. I 0. sectitin 4.c rvill be modi fied to clarify that "the Company does
not provide refunds on developer advances fbr lacilities inside dcvelopments . [exclusively
servingl . . . a development. A dcvclopcr u,ho paid a rcfundable advance may receive refunds ra'hen
an applicant outside the development receives power from . . . a primary voltage line installed to,
alongside, or through the developmcnt."
Tariff Shect l2R.l3 witl bc updated to provide for remote service of non-residential
loads. Under the modification, the Company rvill fumish facilitics to remote, non-residential loads,
but ilthe cost ol providing servicc is greater than tlve time the estimated annual revenue, thc
'lT)I]C' ISION N,IEMORANDI.J\,I
Contract Minimum Billing will continue for as long as scrvice continues unless and until the load
is no longer distant nor isolated.l
Tariff Sheet I 2R. 14, section 6.a, u,ill specif;i that an applicant or customcr may request
the Company to relocate distribution facilities on to, or adjacent to, the customer's premises,
and/or, replace existing overhead distribution i'acilities *'ith comparable underground.
Lastly, Schedule No. 300 will update lacilities cliarges used for line extension contract
minimum billings under Tariff Sheet 300.3.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Stafl recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Application and Notice of
Modified Proccdure. Staff recommends a February 5, 2020 public comment deadline, and a
February 12,2020 Company reply commcnt deadline.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure. with public comments due b1,February 5, 2020 and Company reply comments due by
February 12,2020?
) l.l le
Deputl. Attornel' General
LLesTIELECTRICIAC-E.19-l9BemosPACElels dec m.no dhdorx
i This is an cxccption to chang€s to Shect Nr.r l2R.7,sections3.b.l antl 3.h.2. which limil thE (bntract Minimunr Billinqtono
more than 30 years.
',!DECISION MEN{ORANDI]M