960719.docx

SCOTT WOODBURY
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE,  IDAHO  83720-0074
[phone]
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON
BOISE ID  83702-5983
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE  THE  IDAHO  PUBLIC  UTILITIES  COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER ) CASE  NO.  WWP-E-96-4
COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO REVISE)
ELECTRIC TARIFF SCHEDULE 66 - )    
TEMPORARY POWER COST ADJUSTMENT -)COMMENTS OF THE
IDAHO AND TO IMPLEMENT A RELATED)COMMISSION STAFF
REBATE.)
_____________________________________________)
COMES  NOW  the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its Attorney of record, Scott Woodbury, Deputy Attorney General, and in response to the Notice of Application, Modified Procedure and Comment/Protest Deadline in Case No. WWP-E-96-4, submits the following comments.
On May 30, 1996, The Washington Water Power Company (Company) filed Case No.  WWP-E-96-4 with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission).  In its filing the Company indicates that a rebate to customers has been triggered through its Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism.  The Company calculates the rebate to be $2,482,000 or 2.34 % of Idaho jurisdictional revenues.  The Company proposes that its rebate take place over a one year period beginning September 1, 1996.
On June 17, the Commission Staff visited the Company’s offices in Spokane, Washington and audited the books of the Company as they relate to the PCA.  Staff found that the “actuals” as booked by the Company and carried into the Company’s exhibits are correct.  Staff also verified that the correct “authorized” numbers were carried into the PCA exhibits and that all calculations were done correctly.
The Company is currently recovering a PCA surcharge which expires on August 31, 1996.  It would be possible to implement the proposed rebate on August 1, 1996, however, the Company has requested that implementation be delayed until September 1, 1996, to avoid two rate changes in a one month period.  Staff supports the Company in this recommendation.  To have both of these rate changes occur at the same time is administratively easier for the Company and more understandable to customers.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff proposes no adjustments to the Company’s filing.  Staff proposes that the Commission accept the Company’s revised Schedule 66 which is designed to rebate $2,482,000 over the one year period September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1997.
DATED  at Boise, Idaho, this              day of July 1996.
______________________________________
Scott Woodbury
Deputy Attorney General
Technical Staff:Robert Smith
Keith Hessing
SW:jo/umisc/comments/wwpe964.sw