28088.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF PACIFICORP FOR APPROVAL OF REDUCTIONS IN BPA REGIONAL EXCHANGE CREDITS. )
)
)
)
) CASE NO. UPL-E-99-1

ORDER NO. 28088

On April 30, 1999, PacifiCorp applied to the Commission for approval of a revised electric service Schedule No. 34 reducing the exchange credits provided to customers through the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) regional exchange program.
As explained in the Company’s Application, this reduction in the exchange credit is the second of three steps agreed to in 1998 which will completely eliminate the credit unless additional funding becomes available. The irrigation credit was to be reduced in three steps causing 8% average increases in rates to customers each year. The residential credit was to be reduced in the same manner, except that the average rate increase in each of the three years was to be 3.35%. Due to last year’s very wet irrigation season which left more money available for credit this year, the Company is proposing a reduction in the scheduled irrigation credit increase that causes an average 4% increase to irrigation customers instead of the previously agreed 8%. The proposed residential class rate increase remains at 3.35%.
On May 24, 1999, the Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure soliciting comments in response to PacifiCorp’s Application. The only party to submit comments was the Commission Staff. According to Staff, its review of the Company’s Application did reveal one minor discrepancy. Paragraph 7 of the Application incorrectly lists the monthly irrigation credits. However, the Company’s calculations and Schedule No. 34 contain the correct credits. Staff has checked the Company’s calculations and consulted with the Company concerning the clerical error in paragraph 7 and reports that the credits included in Schedule No. 34 are correctly calculated. The proposed residential and irrigation credit reductions cause 3.35% and 4% average increases to the respective customer classes as stated in the Company’s Application. Attachment A to these comments shows class percentage increases, present average prices, proposed average prices and average prices without the BPA credit. Staff recommends that the Commission approve Schedule No. 34 as filed by the Company.

FINDINGS
We hereby approve Schedule No. 34 as filed by PacifiCorp. We find that the Company’s filing is consistent with the rate increase previously authorized by this Commission as a reflection of the reduction in credits received through the BPA exchange programs. Moreover, based on the comments filed by the Commission Staff, we find that the Company’s calculations contained in Schedule No. 34 are accurate. We hereby approve Schedule No. 34 effective three working days following the issuance of this Order.

O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Schedule No. 34 filed by PacifiCorp in this proceeding on April 30, 1999, is approved effective three working days following the issuance of this Order.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. UPL-E-99-1 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 or in interlocutory Orders previously issued in this Case No. UPL-E-99-1. 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 July 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Barbara Barrows
Assistant Commission Secretary

vld/O:UPL-E-99-1_bp2

ORDER NO. 28088 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 1, 1999