19991115.min..doc

MINUTES OF DECISION MEETING
November 15, 1999 - 1:30 p.m.

The meeting was attended by Commissioners Dennis Hansen, Marsha H. Smith and Paul Kjellander.

Commissioner Hansen welcomed all in attendance and called the decision meeting to order.

Items from the published November 15, 1999 Agenda were discussed and acted upon as follows.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Minutes of October 25, 1999 Decision Meeting. (Minutes have circulated to the Commissioners and corrections have been made.)

Commissioner Hansen made a motion to approve the minutes; vote taken on motion; carried.

CONSENT AGENDA

2. George Fink's November 12, 1999 Decision Memorandum re: Idaho Power Company Tariff Advice No. 99-10; Surge Protection Installation and Removal Service.

Commissioner Hansen called for questions.

Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve Item 2 on the Consent Agenda; vote taken; motion carried.

MATTERS IN PROGRESS

Syd Lansing's November 8, 1999 Decision Memorandum re: CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. - Depreciation Request.

Syd reviewed the matter. Said the depreciation rate increase is without request for additional revenue. Staff would probably take issue with two or three things if it were a rate case; but noting the length of time between rate cases, it would seem inappropriate to hold the company back for more information. It seems to be appropriate to approve it pending filing of a case when it can be considered.

There were no questions of Syd. Commissioner Smith said as long as they don't need any money, they should go ahead and depreciate.

Commissioner Kjellander asked for clarification - that it will be handled as it had been in the past, letter from Stephanie Miller.

That was correct.

Commissioner Smith's motion was voted on; carried.

FULLY SUBMITTED MATTERS

IPUC Case No. PAC-E-99-1 - referred to as the Pacificorp/Scottish Power merger.

Commissioner Hansen spoke to the matter, first noting that the Commission's decision process is quasi-judicial. In his comments, said: the entire basis and reasonings for the Commission's determinations are contained in the written order which will be given out at the end of the decision meeting. Therefore, in accordance with the judicial procedures, the Commission will not hold a press conference in releasing this order, or entertain questions at this time. Hopefully all the information needed is in the order. It is about 75 pages, so hopefully everything was covered.

The Commission would like to thank all the parties in the case for their conduct and the manner in which they presented their case before the Commission. Said the Commission also much appreciated the public 's involvement in this case and would like to thank them for their response and the effort they put forth. He then read the Commission ruling.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved the merger application of Pacificorp and Scottish Power. Commissioner Paul Kjellander and Commissioner Marsha Smith voted in favor of the merger and Commissioner Dennis Hansen voted against.

Copies of the order including the dissenting opinion are available to the public That concluded all the items on the agenda. Copies of the order were available from Mr. Law at the back of the room. There were also copies of a press release. With that the decision meeting was adjourned.

Dated at Boise, Idaho, this 2nd day of December, 1999.

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary