HomeMy WebLinkAbout20221130Notice_of_Application_Order_No_35615.pdfNOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 30, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POWER’S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE
RESIDENTIAL RATE MODERNIZATION
PLAN
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CASE NO. PAC-E-22-15
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF
INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615
On October 20, 2022, PacifiCorp d/b/a Rocky Mountain Power (“Company”), applied to
the Commission requesting authorization to implement a residential rate modernization plan over
a five-year transition period (“Residential Rate Modernization Plan”). Application at 1.
The Company requests that its Application be processed by Modified Procedure with a
proposed December 1, 2022, effective date. Id.
On November 9, 2022, the Company filed an Errata to its Application (“Errata”) that
corrects the proposed rates depicted in Tables 5 and 6 of Robert Meredith’s direct testimony so
they are reflected as cents per kilowatt-hour (“¢/kWh”) as opposed to dollars per kWh.1
We now issue this Notice of Application, Notice of Suspension of Proposed Effective Date,
and Notice of Intervention Deadline setting a deadline for interested persons to intervene.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company represents it currently charges
residential customers a monthly, fixed Customer Service Charge and Energy Charges based on
usage under electric Service. Id. at 3. The Company asserts this residential rate structure doesn’t
align with cost causation as the monthly Customer Service Charge does not cover the fixed costs
that are incurred by residential customers forcing those fixed cost to be recovered through
volumetric Energy Charges. Id at 2-3.
1 The Company also submitted a notice of substitution of counsel with its November 9, 2022, filing.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 2
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company asserts that to “better align
residential rates with causation” the Company proposes the Residential Rate Modernization Plan
to modify residential rates over a five-year transition period as follows:
a) Increase the Customer Service Charge for both Electric Service Schedule No. 1 –
Residential Service (“Schedule 1”) and Electric Service Schedule No. 36 – Optional
Time of Day – Residential Service (“Schedule 36”) to $29.25 per month and lower
Energy Charges commensurately.
b) Eliminate inclining block tiered rates for Schedule 1, so that Energy Charges are flat in
each season.
c) Change the time of use periods in Schedule 36, so the definitions of on- and off-peak
periods match those listed on Electric Service Schedule No. 9 – General Service – High
Voltage (“Schedule 9”).
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s proposed Schedule 1 rates by
transition year are as follows:
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NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 3
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s proposed Schedule 36 rates by
transition year are as follows:
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that PacifiCorp represents that the Residential Rate
Modernization Plan is designed to be revenue neutral and does not increase the overall revenue
collected from customers.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that PacifiCorp represents that notice to its customers
is being accomplished by news media releases simultaneously with the filing of this Application
and by an individual notice mailed to each customer. Additionally, copies of the press release and
customer notice are attached to the Application and a copy of the Application and proposed rate
schedules are available for public inspection on the Company’s website, “and at the Company’s
offices in Rexburg, Preston, Shelley and Montpelier, Idaho.” Customer Press release at 3.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting documentation has
been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business
hours at the Commission’s office. These documents are also available on the Commission’s
website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “ELECTRIC” icon, select “Open Cases,” and click
on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted
pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that PacifiCorp filed its Application on October 20,
2022 with a proposed December 1, 2022, effective date. The Commission finds that the Company’s
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 4
proposed effective date does not provide adequate time for Commission Staff and interested
persons to evaluate the Company’s proposal. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622, the Commission
suspends the proposed changes for thirty (30) days and five (5) months or until the Commission
enters an order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed rate increases.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter to
obtain parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission
pursuant to this Commission’s Rules of Procedure 71-73, IDAPA 31.01.01.072-073. Persons who
wish to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than 21 days after the
date of service of this Order. Persons desiring to present their views without parties’ rights of
participation do not have to intervene and may present their comments without prior notification
to the Commission or the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice of
Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed. The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued, Commission
Staff will informally confer with the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case and other
issues as may be raised by the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following persons are designated as the
Company’s representatives in this matter:
Mark Alder
1407 West North Temple, Suite 330
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
mark.alder@pacificorp.com
Joe Dallas
825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 2000
Portland, OR 97232
joseph.dallas@pacificorp.com
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings and prehearing conferences in this
matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other
assistance to participate in or to understand testimony and argument at a public hearing may ask
the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing. The
request for assistance must be received at least five working days before the hearing by contacting
the Commission Secretary at:
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 5
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
Telephone: (208) 334-0338
secretary@puc.idaho.gov
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s proposed December 1, 2022 effective date
is suspended for thirty (30) days plus five (5) months or until the Commission enters its order
accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed rate modernization plan.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the purpose
of obtaining parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission,
under Rules 71-73, IDAPA 31.01.01.071-073, no later than 21 days after the service date of this
Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, after the Secretary issues a Notice of Parties, Staff will
informally confer with the parties to discuss the appropriate scheduling of this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 35615 6
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 30th day of
November 2022.
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER
_________________________________________
JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary
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