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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20101015Ottens Di.pdfRi=ci=l\i¡:n~:' ~.l.'7 '",,....-...-' 2010 OCT 14 PH~: 0 I 1 Bra M. Pudy Attorney at Law2 Bar No. 3472 3 2019N.17thSt.Boise, ID. 83702 4 (208) 384- i 299 (Lad) (208) 384-8511 (Fax) 5 Attrn for Petitioner 6 Communty Action Parerhip Asiation of Idao 7 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMSSION 8 13 ) ) CASE NO. PAC-E- 10-07 ) ) COMMITY ACTION ) PARTNRSHI ASSOCIA- ) TION'S PETITION TO ) INTERVENE ) 9 IN TI MATTR OF TI APPLICATIONOF PACIFICORP DBA ROCKY MOUNAI 10 POWER FOR APPROVAL OF CHAGES TO ITS ELECTRC SERVICE SCHEDULES 11 12 15 COMMITY ACTION PARTNRSHI ASSOCIATION OF IDAHO DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERIOTTS 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 1 2 Q: 3 A: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Q: 13 14 A: 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I. INODUCTION Plea identify for whom you ar testfying. I am testifyg as an expert on behaf of the Communty Action Parership Assoiation of Idao on issues pertent to low-income cusomers, including how utlity rates and servce afect the lives of the poor. I am not an expert in utility ratemg and do not purrt to possess the attendat skills of tht parcular profession. CAP AI is a statewide agency representig the six Communty Acton Parerhip Agencies, the CCOA and the Communty Council of Idao, Inc. These agencies recive federa, sta, local and private dollars to aid the almost 25% of Idao residents who are in the 150% of povert or below income levels.: ll. SUMY OF ISSUES AN POSITIONS Would you pleas outline the issues you intend to rase in your testiony and your positions on those issues? 1) CAP AI proposes tht Rocky Mountain Power's (R) fuding for its Low-Income Weatherition Progr (LIW A) be increased in to reflect a per customer level equa to tht of AVISTA which is $6.64. For example, ifRM's averge number of residential customers for the test year is 56,715 reidential cusmer in Idao, its tota LIW A fuding should be $376,588.00. 2. CAP AI proposes that RM's curt LIW A progr desgn th requies 75% of eah dollar ofLIWA fuding come from a non-utilty source such as U.S. Deparent of Energy LIHAP fuds. CAP AI proposes removig ths "matchig" reuiment and tht communty acon agencies rensible for inling LIW A meases in quaifying homes be given the lattude and flexibilty to allocate their fudig sources in the maner that best matches existing resources with need. To acomplish ths, CAP AI proposes tota elimon of the 75/25 split describe above. DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Q. 11 A: 12 13 14 15 16 Q: 17 A: 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Q. 25 3. Regarg RM's proposa to replace its curnt monthy mium with a two- tier inverted block rae with the fi block consumption level se at 800 kWh it is CAPAI's position that the fit block consumption level should be set at 875 kWh in light of the fact tht RM itslf sttes that the "averge" residential consption level is 839 kWh and that some low-income residential cusomers might excee 800 kWh. 4. CAPAI opposes RM's proposa to estlish a basic monthy "fixed" charge of $12.00. ID. DISCUSSION A. LIWAFUDING Plea iluste the "needs" oflow-income cusomer in Idao? Accordg to the Idao Depaent of Commerce, 12.6% of the Stae's population, when using the 2006 Census data falls with federa pover gudelines and an additional 12.4% fall with the stte gudelines se at 150% of pover levels. The 2006 Census reveas tht those livig in pover are categorize as 8.7% elderly, 15.1% childrn, 9.8% all other famlies, 28.5% single mothers and 26.4% all other. How does ths trlate to energy "afordbility?" Accrdig to the U.S. Deparent of Energy, the "afordability burden" for tota home energy is set nationwide at 6% of grss houshold income and the burden for home heatig is set at 2% of grss household income. In Idao, ther wa a gap in the 2008/2009 heati seasn of over $75 millon between what Idaoan ca aford to pay (bas on federa stdads) for energy and what was actuly paid. Curently, the LIHAP progr sends approxitely $25.6 millon (for energy assistce, weatherition and adsttion) to Idao. Regading RM's level of low-income weatherization assistace (LIW A) fuding, is ther a backlog on homes tht nee and ar eligible for weathertion in Idao? DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS Yes. Ths figue is a movin taget since each year more homes reach the age and deterioration level to be eligible, and espeially in ths ecnomic downtu, we have an increasing number of Idao's population who meet either the age or income reuiments to be consider for the weatherzation program. Despite ths, all of our agencies agree th they have identified at least a five year backlog in the number of homes identied for the progr versus those they have been able to weatherie, despite the increases in AR (Amercan Recovery and Reinvestment Act) fudig. Would you pleas elabrae on CAP AI's proposa to incree LIW A fudig? Yes, historically, RM fuded its LIWA progr at only $35,500.00 until 2004 when it wa increas to $100,000.00 until 2006, and then to its curnt level of$150,000.00. How does ths fuding level compa to Idao Power and AVISTA's Idao low-income customers? Idao Power has fuded its progr at $ 1.2 millon since the ealy pa of ths centu. A VISTA recetly incr its fuding to $700,00.00 (Case No. AVU-E-10-01). How do thes population and fuding numbers ofRM, Idao Power and AVISTA compare? On a per capita basis, A VISTA fuds at $6.64 per residential cusomer, Idaho Power fuds at $3.05 and RM (bas on an estimated 2009 residential class numbe of 56,715) fuds at $2.64. Wht ar the respetive populations of Idaho Power and AVISTA's Idaho residential customers? Idao Power ha 393,890 reidential cusomer. A VISTA has 105,487 electrc cusomers. Ar you proposing that the thee mai electrc public utilities offer the sae pe capita 25 LIW A fudig? 1 A. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Q: 9 A: 10 11 Q: 12 13 A: 14 15 Q: 16 17 A: 18 19 20 Q: 21 22 A: 23 24 Q: DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 4 1 A: 2 3 4 5 6 Q: 7 A: 8 9 10 Q: 11 12 A: 13 14 15 16 17 Q: 18 19 A: 20 21 22 23 24 25 Yes. There exist as much disparty between LIW A need and existng resources in RM's sece terrtory as in Idao Power's and AVISTA's. It stes me as fudaentaly fai to al th of the utiities, who serve the vas majority of public utiity-served cusomers in this stte, and fai to their ratepayer that their fuding levels of ths valuable DSM reource be relatvely equa. What then is your speific proposa for RM in ths case? I propose tht RM's LIW A fudig level be incrased frm its existg level of $150,00.00 to $6.64 per residential cusomer, bas on an anua averae of thoughout the test year. Is there a reason tht you propose that RM's fuding level match AVISTA's and not Idao Power's? Yes. A VISTA's fudig level was just recently incr in Case No. A VU-E-l 0-0 1. Idao Power's LIW A fuding, on the other hand, ha not ben adse since May 4, 200 to its curnt level, nealy seven year ago (Case No. IPC-E-03-13, Order No. 29595). CAP AI intends to sek an incras in Idao Power's LIWA fuding level in the nea futu. Ar ther reasns why the Commssion should consider LIW A as a desirble objective in genera terms? Yes. As the Commssion ha note on numerous occasions, effciently ru low-income weatherion progrs, like any cost-effective DSM progr constitute a valuable resource with system-wide benefits. With respet to a low-income basd DSM program, ther is the added benefit tht derves from keeing cusomers on the system and improvig the timeliness of their bil payments. Tht is, when cusmer are in such ficially dire staits that they canot pay their utilty bils, let alone pay them in a timely fashion, and they might end up in shelters or otherse leavig the systm with an DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTNS 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Q: 11 A: 12 13 14 15 Q: 16 A: 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 outsding baance and no mean of repayment, progrs such as LIW A tht help reuce their bils ca literaly mae the differce between keeping thes cusomers on the system and avoiding the costs of bad debt and lost income. Cusmers with disposable income can aford to implement their own weatherition measures, helping defer the date by which additiona, higher-cost magial resources, ar required. Low- income customers, however, tyically live in the poret of housing stock and stggle to pay for life's basic necessities such as ret, food utilties, and car for their childrn. Even if they own their own home, weatherition for peple livig on the margi of society is nothing short of a luxur they canot aford. Why is it relevant whether these cusomer own their own homes? Becaus renters tyically do not even have the right to inl weatheron measurs. Whle the CAP agencies work with owner of multi-family dwellings such as aparents, there oftn ar not sucient ficial incentives for such individuas to intal weatheriion measures on their own frm a cost-benefit stadpoint. Would you pleas elaborate on the "system-wide benefits" you referr to? As I alluded to, reducing the utlity bils of the por thoug weatherzation measurs allows them to shift their inequae fmancial resoures from one necessity to others. Ths, in tu, wil incre the likelihood tht low-income customers will make their utility payments more tiely therby imprvig the utilties' cash flow, keep them from leaving the system, increasing the utilties' overal revenues, and avoidig walg away frm an outstadig bil, reducing the utlities' costs of bil collection and bad debt wrte- off that they likely would not reover. Ths obviously benefits all other utlity ratepayers. Finly, lie any effectve DSM progr it benefits all cusomers to defer the point in tie at which new resources mus be acquid whether by consctg new generation resour, or purhaing power on the ope maket price higher th embeded cost. DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 1 Q: 2 A: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Q: 12 A: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Q: 25 Ar there other reans why RM should increase its LIW A fudig in ths cas? We are at a semal moment in time with respe to low-income weaerition. In 2009, Congress passed The American Recover and Reinvestent Act (AA) providing CAP agencies with a limted but substtial incras in fuding for, among other thgs, weatherig low-income housholds. In Idao, those AA fuds mus be completely spnt by Mach, 2012. Though it is impossible to predict, there is curently no basis to believe that Congrss will tae action to extend or relace AA. In fac there is concern among the low-income advocate communty th the feder governent might reduce other federal weaterization fudig resources such as LIHAP to pre-2009 levels. Wht are the consequences of ths? As a condition of AA, CAP agencies were requi to fuly invest the increased fudi by early 2012. In order to accomplish ths, most CAP agencies needed to rap up their capacity for deliverg low-income weatheron serces including everyg from instaling actu energy savings measures to adstrtion of the progr. Ths creted a large inct capable of investng vasly grter fuds and weatherzing more housholds th previously possible. For example, additiona personnel or contrtors were employed or retaed and properly tred to inl, rert on, and otherwse adister the varous low-income weatherition prgrs conducted by the CAP agencies. The CAP agencies also improved their contrctg, reporting, and audtig processes, etc. Once AA fuds are exhaus, however, and espially if other feder resures are reduced, ther will be nothg to fill the void created by the loss of these fuds and the existig intrtue will collapse and disappar. What specific concerns does ths caus you? DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 7 1 A: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Q: 24 25 CAP AI views the loss of ths incte as a lost opportty cost. As I have testified numerous times before ths Commssion involvig all th of Idao's investor-owned electrc utilties, there exist a trmendous baklog of households eligible for LIWA fuding but for whch sad fudig is incient. Increased LIW A fuding authoried by ths Commssion helped reduce the backlog, but AA injected such substtial resoures into the problem that the possibilty of substtially reucing the backlog became quite real. With the loss of AA and other fudig soures it sems likely that we will revert to fightig an uphill battle. It would not only be unortate for the CAP agencies to lose the impressive increased capacity to reuce weatherization-eligible households, but would consitute a lost opprtty for all rateayers to lose the ability to acqui a cost-effective resource with system-wide benefits. Ths is why it is essential tht the utilties step in to at leat paially fill the void that will result when AA expires. Any shortmig or delay in tht effort could have irverible consequences. Without fuding to contiue matag the inctue, the increas pennel and other resours applied to invest AA fuds will simply disappear. Whle AA was a desrately neeed insion of capita into low-income weatherzation, it was never intended to be a fi solution. Rather, it was intended to, and successfuly did, stulate the CAP intues to gai an upper hand on the problem. Tht is why I characterie ths moment in tie as critical and rectlly urge ths Commssion to not delay in filling the gap tht will be created in the near futu. In order to propely budget and esblish their weatherition objectives, the CAP agencies need to know today what their resources will be tomorrw. Are therè any other reasns why you believe th RM's LIW A fudig should be increaed in the imediate futu? DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 8 1 A: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Q: 11 A: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Yes. As discusse below, althoug CAP AI does not oppose the implementaion of a tiere inver block residential ra design seing a fi block level of consumption below the averae residential consumption, with a signficatly higher second tier commodity rate, especially when coupled with RM's seana rae differetial, creates the risk th some low-income cusmers who excee tht fi block of consption will realiz a heavy rate impact, espeially durg the higher priced "sumer" seaon. Ths ruer jusfies the need for increasd low-income weatherzation to give these cusomer a chace to keep the majority of their consumption withi tht fi block. B. 75125 SPLIT OF LIW A FUNDS Would you pleas provide a brief background and explantion of ths issue. Ths ha ben an issue of contention for PacifiCorp, openg thugh RM or its preecessors, for quite some tie. In fact, ths Commssion intiated a separte proceing specifically to addrs the issue (Case No. P AC-E-06- 1 0). Without delvig into the intrcate detals of ths issue, the Company ha argued tht it should be allowed t condition low-income weatherization fudig with the reuiement tht for every dollar spnt on a weatherization measur, a cert pecentae of that dollar come frm other source such as U.S. Deparent of Energy LIHAP funds. Regardless of what RM's rationae for ths is, it hastgs the CAP agencies in sever ways. For example, beause each low-income weatheriation fudin sour comes with its own conditions and litations, depnvi the CAP agencies from using their discretion to utiliz those resources in a maer that is best suted to any given project impedes their abilty to maimi the energy savigs obtaed frm tht prject. As a pracal matt, the utility should be indiffernt to how the CAPs mi and match their fudig sources so long as they do so with the confes of the varous conditions and limtations of those sources. The CAP agencies opeting in RM's sece tertory spend their ful allotment of DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 1 utlity fuds every year. Thus, it makes no economic difference to the utlity how the 2 fudig soures ar allocated on a project by prject bais. 3 Q: 4 A: Wht was the history of the contention between PacifiCorp and CAP AI? Intially, PacifCorp insisted tht 500Æi of ever dollar comes from non-utity resources 5 unti those other resources ha be fully exhausted. Ony then would PacifiCorp agee 6 to fud 100% of a weatherition mease. 7 Q: 8 A: Wh is the curent progr design in ths regar? As a result of a compromised settlement in Cas No. PAC-E-06-10, PacifiCorp ageed to 9 incree its "match" of low-income weatherition fuding frm 50% to 75%. 10 Q: 11 A: Do other utilities have simlar matchig reuiements built into their LIW A progrs? Idao Power origily asked for a higher level of matchig, but ultiately settled for its 12 curnt matchig of 85% utility fuds and 15% fudig from other soures. A VISTA 13 allows 100% of ever dollar ofLIW A fuding to be spt on any given project or meaure until its total fuds have ben exhused. CAP AI intends to sek an agent to elite the 85/15 split from Idao Power at the next opportty. Ar there any final reasns why ths case would be an opporte tie to elimite RM' matchig requiment? Yes. For all of the reons I have discussed in support of the nee for incread LIWA fudig, including the expiron of AA, it is essential to equip the CAP agencies with the greatest latitude and flexibilty possible to address the disparty between low-income weatherzation need and resources. Wht is your spific proposa regarding ths issue? CAPAI proposes that RM's matchig requiement be eli entily. Our rationae is that if the Company has try commtted to fudig a project, it should have no reason to haper the effort of the CAP agencies to maxize the energy savigs derived from 14 15 16 Q: 17 18 A: 19 20 21 22 Q: 23 A: 24 25 DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTNS 1 1 2 3 4 Q: 5 A: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Q: 13 A: 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Q: 23 A: 24 25 any given project. Ths defeats the very purse of LIW A or any DSM progr. In no event is CAP AI suestg that RM money be invested unnably or tht RM be held responsible for fuding more than the tota amount agee to under the progr. Ar there other reasns to elimte RM's mathing requirement? Yes. It ha always ben CAP AI's position th ther exist no valid ren to trat PacifiCorp differently than Idao Power or AVISTA. In the interests of party, therefore, CAP AI believes that the matchig requient, to the extent ther was ever an arguble basis for it in the fi place, is a prgr design featu th seres no usfu purse and there is no reasn to allow RM to insist on ths condition, espeially to the extent it does. As I sad, CAPAI will sek to elimte Idaho Power's lesse matching of 85/15%. C. TIRED BLOCK RATE Wht is RM's proposal on ths issue? As a reult of the setlement rehed in Cas No. PAC-E-08-07, RM is proposin a tiered residential rate design in ths ca. Specificaly, RM prpose a two tier, inverted block, residential rate design strctue tht would price the fit 800 kWh of reidential class consumption at a lower commodity rate and a signficantly higher commodity rate for all consumption in excess of 800 kWh. RM proposes to mainta its existing seasnal rate differntial. RM witness Willam Grffth testfies tht the 800 kWh fit block consumption level was chosen beaus the Compay believes th its average monthy residential class consption is 839 kWh. Testimony of Willam R. Grifth, p.4. Wht is CAP AI's respnse to this prposa? CAP AI support, in theory, the concept of an inverted block rate design for the residentia clas. Though, as stated, I am not an expert on rate design, I do have some concern regaring how such a rate design would impact low-income cusomer. CAP AI has long DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Q: 11 A: 12 13 14 15 16 Q: 17 A: 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Q: ben intested in deterinig what the average monthy consumption is for low-income cusmers. Ths data is not as eaily obtaed as might be imaged. Ths is due, in par to the need to protect the privacy of individuas, and the fact tht utilities do not trck ths ty of data. Along these lines, A VISTA ageed in settling its most recent general rate cae (A VU-E-10-0l), to work with CAPAI prior to its next gener rate case to analyze ths issue. The issue is complicated by the fact that although low-income customers tyicaly have less discetionar usge, they live in the wors housing stock and often are force to rely upon electrc baeboard heat. Ths fact drves up their usage per squae foot of housing. How does ths concern you in the context ofRM's ra design proposal? My concer is tht for the reons jus sted there might be low-income cusomer whose usge exceed 800 kWhmonth. Given the substially higher commodity rate propose for the second block of consption, and iflow-income cusomers exceed the fit consumption block durg the higher priced non-heatig sen, the consequences 0 an invered block rate design could result in a heavy rate shock for those cusomers. Do you have a soluton tht addrsses your concern? Yes, at leas parally. Assumng Mr. Grffth's asserton tha the "average" residential customer's monthy use is 839 kWh then CAPAI believes tht the fit block consumption level should be set slightly higher at 875 kWh. Ths would prvide a slight bufer to hopefuly captue those low-income cusomers whose use fals very close to the consumption level cutoff. Though ths is not a perfect solution, it would hopefuly cover the majority oflow-income cusomers' monthy consumption whle stll seding the appropriate price signals to those with relatively high levels of discreonar usage and who have some degree of control over their consumption. Do you have any other propoals regarding the inverted block rate design? DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 12 1 A: 2 3 4 5 6 Q: 7 A: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Q: 23 24 A: 25 Yes. I propose that RM agee to work with CAP AI, Staff and all other interested pens to conduct a workshop with one year from the date of the Commssion's fi order in ths cas to examine whether there are obvious problems with the new rate design, assug that a block rate design is approved by the Commssion. D. FID MONTHLY CHAGE What is CAPAI's position on ths issue? CAPAI stngly opposes RM's proposa. Firs, CAPAI is confd by Company witness Grffth on ths issue. On pae 4 of his testiony, Mr. Grth testes: "Curntly, residential cusmers served on Schedule 1 (residential class) pay a flat, seonally differentiated energy charge applied equaly to all kWh. In addition, a monthy mimum chage can apply." (Emphais added). It is unclea what Mr. Grth meas by the statement tht a "monthly mium chage can apply." It is my understading tht RM cutly does charge a monthy mium in the amount of $10.64 and tht ths charge applies regardless of whether a cusomer has any use. Ths chage is assessed agait all residential cusomers, thus makg Mr. Grffth's us of the word "can" confsing. The matt is fuer confsed when Mr. Grffth testfies that: "The Compay proposes tht the curent monthy mium chage be eliminted and replaced with a proposed fixed Monthy Cusomer Servce Charge of $12.00." Testimony of Willam R. Grifth at p.5 (Emphasis added). Ths suest tht RM is not curntly imposing a fied monthy charge, but tht its minimum chage is being replac with a "fixed" charge. Wht is your underding of the Company's proposa to impose a "fixed" monthy chage? Again, it appear that RM alreay does collect a baic monthy charge of $10.64, a very high chage in relation to other reguated public utilities. Perhps the distction lies in DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Q: 12 A: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Q: 20 A: 21 22 23 24 25 the fact tht the charge is now supposedly designed to captue a porton of the "fixed" cost the Compay incurs to serve its residential customer. Support for ths supposition is found on pages 5-6 of Mr. Grffth's testony where he sttes tha "(t)he residential Cusomer Service charge should recover cusomer-related costs defied in Mr. C. Crag Paice's cost of servce sty includig Distbution~Meter, Distbution-Servce, Distbution~P&C, Distbution-Traformer, and Retal costs." Becaus neither Mr. Grffth or any other Compay witness that I am aware of, explai wht the existg monthy "mium" chage supposedly recovers, it is diffcult to know whether the $12.00 monthy chage in ths ca is try being "elimiated and replaced," (Testimony of Willam R. Grifth, p. 5), or jus being increasd by approxiately 200.1. Wht is CAP AI's position on the imposition of any ty of fied monthy chage? CAP AI opposes such charges for numerous reasns. Firt, it is diffcult to explai to low-income cusomers why they ar chaged a substtial fee each month regardless of whether they so much as flip a light switch. Thus, any fixed chaes not tied to energy consumption send the wrong price signal to customers and rob them of any incentive to conse energy. Ths dimishes the effcacy of all DSM progrs in genera and low- income cusomers in paricular due to the fact tht they literaly must count their pennes each month. Plea identify your other bas for opposing fixed monthy chaes? Agai from the perspeive of a low-income expe and not tht of a ratemag speialist it is diffcult for me to conceptuize how the cost identified by Mr. Grffth, as opposed to other costs, ar "cusomer-related." It would seem tht every cost incured by an electrc utilty such as RM is relate to providig electrcity to a residential customer. Though my underding of cost of service studies is limite, I am of the belief tht such stdies are only one factor taen into considertion by the Commssion in DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Q: 15 A: 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 alocatig rates among cusomer classes. Furer, cost of sece stdies are generaly considere to be faily subjective. I simply caot undersd how anyone, analyzg the semingly inte costs incur by a utilty, can speify which of those costs ar "cusmer-related" as opposed to those that are not. As an expe on low-income issues, ca stte that inquires received by CAP AI on ths matter reveal tht low-income customers are equaly bafed and concerned by what the fixed chage on their monthy bil pert to. Rhetorically spakg, isn't the cost to build a power plant one tht is necess to serve cusomer? Wht abut power lines and repair crews, and virly everg else? It strkes me that a utility could argubly include the vas majority of its cost into the category of "custmer-related" cost. As I said, the questons that CAPAI receives from low-income cusomers suggest that those customers believe they should only be chaged for how much electrcity they us. Anytg beyond that is diffcult to comprehend from a logical stdpoint. Are there other concer you have about fied monthy chages? Yes. My concern about the possibilty tht most any cost could be considered "customer- relate" is highighted by the tesony ofRM witness Mr. Grffth who testfies: "Ultitely, the Monthy Cusmer Serice Charge should reover all residential fixed costs. Ths will assur recovery of fixed costs regardless of usage..." lId Pp. 5-6. Emphasis added). Mr. Grffth concludes: "The inclusion of thes fixed costs in the monthy serce charge would result in a rate of approxiately $29.86 pe month." Id p. 6. Ths las remark is quite distbing to me. To even suggest chargig low-income cusomers nealy $30 pe month regardless of how much energy they use could have severe consequences. Bas on my expeise worki with the por, I stongly believe tht they will quickly lose all incentive to control their energy consumption and be inslled with a sens of hopelessness regarding their utlity bils. Compar to the past, DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Q: 8 9 A: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 electrc utilities file general rate cases quite frequently, even those who have some form of power supply cost adjustent mechansm in place. It has also beme common for utilties to increingly recover more of its cost though a fixed chage, rather th a commodity rate. The appeal of ths to utlities is faily obvious. It reduces risk and enhces their overall rate of retu. For the reasons stated herin it is CAP AI's position tht such request be denied. Is there anytg else about RM's stted rationale for its proposed fixed monthy charge tht you object to? RM attempts to justify its proposa by comparg the proposed $12.00 monthy chage to purrtedly similar charges levied by ten other "Idaho utilities." On p. 6 of his testiony, Compay witness Wiliam Griffth refers to a "stdy" conducted by RM makg ths comparson but the stdy is not included as par of the Compay's cas and all of the ten utilities are not identified. Inead, Mr. Grffth list only th utilities, all of which ar relatively small "coopetives." Though I am not an attorney, it is my undersding tht cooperatives are not "public utilities" and are not reguated by the Commssion. Becuse RM's proposed fixed chae is supposey cost-based, it seems irlevant wht other utilities chage. Regardless, it also seems intutive tht a large company such as RM might have drcaly differnt cost in serving its customers th a smal, ru coopetive. RM could have more approprately compar its proposed chage to Idao Power's or AVISTA's. RM could have even compaed its proposal to its own sist companes such as Pacific Power & Light (PPL) in Washigton stte which seres a servce tertory not dissimlar to RM's Idao tertory. Though I do not know the specifics involved I am aware that there is curently pendig before the Washigton Utilities Trasporttion Commssion Docket No. 100749 in which PacifCorp, though PPL, is proposing to increas its existg fixed monthy chage whch is curently only DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 1 1 2 3 Q: 4 A: 5 6 7 8 Q: 9 A: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Q. 19 A. 20 21 22 23 24 25 $6.00 per month. PPL is proposing to increae that chage to $9.00, substtially below the $12.00 propose in Idao. Wht is your speific proposa regarding RM's proposed fixed monthy charge? CAP AI proposes tht RM fi be required to explai what its existg monthy "mium" charge pert to and, asng tht chage is even legitiate, that any propose increa to it be denied in ths case. IV. CONCLUSION Would you pleas sumare your testimony? 1. CAP AI proposes tht RM's LIW A fudig level be incre from its curent level of $150,000.00 to an anua level that is $4.08 per residential customer, based on a test year averae; 2. The existig 75/25% LIWA fuding matchig requiement be completely elimiated; 3. Tht RM's proposed two-tier, invert block, residential rate design be approved, but with the fist block consumption level set at 875 kWh per month, and; 4. That the Commssion Order RM to fuly explai its existg monthy mium chage and tht it be proven reonable as is, or be reduced or elim, and; Does ths conclude your testimony? Yes, it does. DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 17 1 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2 I, the undersigned, hereby cer tht on the 14th day of October, 201 0, I served a copy 0 the foregoing document on the followig by U.S. mail, fit class postae and electronic maiL.3 4 Ted Weston Rocky Mounta Power 201 South Main Suite 2300 Salt Lae City, UT 8411 1 5 6 7 Paul J. Hickey Hickey & Evan, LLP 1800 Cary Ave., Suite 700 Box 467 Cheyenne, VVyomig, 82003 8 9 10 Mark Moench Danel E. Solander Rocky Mountan Power 201 South Mai Suite 2300 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 11 12 13 14 Data Request Respons Cente PacifiCorp 825 NE Multnomah Suite 2000 i 6 Portland, OR 97232 15 17 Tim Buler Agrum Inc. 3010 Conda Rd. Soda Sprigs, ID 83276 18 19 20 Benjam J. Ot Idao Conservation Leage 710N. 6th St. Boise, ID 83702 21 22 23 Don Reaing 6070 Hill Rd. Boise, ID 83703 dreading~dspring.com 24 25 DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS 18 1 Melinda J. Davison Davison Van Cleve, P.C. 333 S.W. Taylor, Suite 400 Portland, OR 97204 2 3 4 Ronald L. Willams Wiliams Brabur, P.C. 10 15 Hays St. Boise, ID 83702 5 6 7 Eric L. Olsen Racine, Olson, et al 201 E. Center Pocatello, ID 832018 9 10 Anthony Yanel 29814 Lae Rd. 11 Bay Vilage, OH 44140 12 13 Radal C. Budge Racine, Olson, et al 201 E. Center Pocatello, ID 8320114 15 16 James R. Smith Monsanto Company P.O. Box 816 Sod Sprigs, ID 83276 17 18 19 20 DATED, ths 14th day of October, 2010 21 ~;=22 23 24 25 DIRCT TESTIMONY OF TERI OTTENS i