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HomeMy WebLinkAbout160419_Questar.pdf Case No. QST-G-16-01, Order No. 33496 Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339, 890-2712 www.puc.idaho.gov Idaho regulators update contract with Utah commission for natural gas service in Franklin County BOISE (April 21, 2016) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved an updated contract with the Utah Public Service Commission that allows the Utah panel continued jurisdiction over Questar Gas Company’s service to customers in Franklin County, Idaho. Questar, headquartered in Salt Lake City, has about 900,000 customers in Utah, southwestern Wyoming and Franklin County, Idaho (where it has about 2,000 customers). Questar provides natural gas service to the communities of Preston and Franklin in Franklin County. In 2015, Questar’s service territory was expanded to include the community of Dayton and all of Franklin County. Because of the county’s proximity to Utah and the small number of customers involved, the Idaho PUC and the Utah commission entered into an agreement in 1990 giving Utah the authority to set rates and customer service regulations for Questar’s Idaho customers. Under the agreement, Idaho customers have full rights of participation before the Utah commission, including the opportunity to pursue service-related issues against the company. Rates, charges and service regulations for Idaho customers must be no less favorable than those in Utah. Idaho Code §61-505 allows the Idaho commission to contract with regulatory agencies of neighboring states to set rates and charges for customers in Idaho located in or nearby border communities who are served by utilities that are “principally” located in neighboring states. The 1990 agreement has been updated, in part, because of a proposed merger between Questar and Virginia-based Dominion Resources. If the merger is approved by the Utah and Wyoming commissions, the company will change its name to Dominion Questar Gas. Existing rates and regulations will not be changed as a result of the proposed merger. The commission noted that is “impractical” and not in the public interest for the Idaho commission to regulate a utility principally located in Utah with such a small Idaho customer base. However, Idaho maintains pipeline safety supervision over Questar facilities inside Idaho. The agreement between the Idaho and Utah commissions will be automatically renewed each year on April 1 subject to termination by either commission upon written notice. ###