HomeMy WebLinkAbout26972.docx(text box: 1)BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO AMEND
ITS ELECTRIC RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING RECONNECTION CHARGES.
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CASE NO. WWP-E-97-2
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 26972
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on January 29, 1997, The Washington Water Power Company (Water Power; Company) filed a letter request with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) seeking authority to amend its electric Rules and Regulations regarding reconnection charges. The proposed tariff revision eliminates the financial incentive for customers to discontinue and re-establish service within a twelve-month period to avoid paying monthly minimum charges. The proposed revision to sheet 70-g requires that if a customer discontinues service and then re-establishes service within a twelve-month period, the customer is required to pay an amount equal to the monthly minimums that would have been billed had service not been discontinued as well as pay a re-establishment charge. The re-establishment charge proposed is the same as the currently effective reconnection charge. The Company requested an effective date of March 1, 1997.
The Company maintains that when customers request disconnections to avoid paying monthly minimum charges, the Company fails to recover costs associated with the distribution facilities that were installed to provide service to the dwelling. When a disconnection/reconnection occurs, the Company states that it may also incur additional costs because, in many instances, a crew has to visit the dwelling twice; once to disconnect service and again to reconnect service. The Company notes that its Schedule 71 tariff covering residential service in the Sandpoint area contains a provision that was carried over from the PacifiCorp tariff which states: “Disconnect and reconnect transactions shall not operate to relieve a customer from monthly minimum charges.”
The Commission by Order No. 26831 issued March 6, 1997, suspended the effective date for 90 days. The Commission requested further and more complete analysis of the Company’s proposal by Commission Staff.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Staff has completed and shared its analysis with the Commission. Staff does not support the Company’s Application. Staff recommends that suspension period be continued and that comment be solicited pursuant to Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing, so as to provide Staff and affected customers the apportunity to file formal comments. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
The Commission has reviewed the filings of record in Case No. WWP-E-97-2 and has considered the procedural recommendation of the Commission Staff. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the issues raised by the Application may be processed under the Commission Rules for Modified Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or protests with respect to the Application and the Commission’s use of Modified Procedure in Case No. WWP-E-97-2 is Friday, June 27, 1997. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that reply comments by Washington Water Power Company should be filed with the Commission Secretary on or prior to Friday, July 11, 1997.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case No. WWP-E-97-2 should be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the addresses reflected below:
COMMISSION SECRETARYTHOMAS D. DUKICH, MANAGER
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONRATES AND TARIFF ADMINISTRATION
PO BOX 83720WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074PO BOX 3727
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99220
Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983
All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case No. WWP-E-97-2 can be reviewed at the Commission’s office and at the Idaho offices of The Washington Water Power Company during regular business hours.
O R D E R
In consideration of the foregoing and as more particularly described above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED pursuant to the authority of Idaho Code § 61-622 that the Application of The Washington Water Power Company to change its electric rules and regulations regarding reconnection charges is further suspended until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting, rejecting or modifying the change in tariff requested by the Company in its Application.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the foregoing scheduling regarding Modified Procedure be adopted.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this day of June 1997.
DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT
RALPH NELSON, COMMISSIONER
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary
vld/N:WWP-E-97-2.sw2
COMMENTS AND ANNOTATIONS
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Service Date
June 5, 1997