20020123Petition.pdf

Morgan W. Richards, ISB No. 1913
MOFFATT, THOMAS, BARRETT, ROCK &
FIELDS, CHARTERED
Post Office Box 829
Boise, Idaho 83701
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
11-500.303

Michael Huntington
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY
555 South Cole Road
Post Office Box 7608
Boise, Idaho 83707
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION )
FILED BY INTERMOUNTAIN GAS ) Case No. INT-G-02-01
COMPANY FOR EXEMPTION FROM ) PETITION FOR EXEMPTION
IDAPA RULE 31.31.01.102 )
)

Intermountain Gas Company ("Intermountain"), an Idaho corporation with
general offices located at 555 South Cole Road, Boise, Idaho, hereby respectfully petitions the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission for an exemption from IDAPA Rule 31.31.01.102 -
Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Facilities for Transmission and Distribution of Gas.
The requested exemption is being filed pursuant to IDAPA Rule 31.01.01.053. In support of this
request, Intermountain states as follows:

I.
In an effort to enhance Intermountain's level of customer service, Intermountain is
planning to eliminate redundant customer installation inspections "beyond our meter." Current
practice involves duplicate inspections by both an authorized agency as well as by Intermountain
in areas where an authorized inspection agency exists. By eliminating redundant inspections,
Intermountain will be improving our customers' ability to receive expedited service from their
heating contractor and the heating dealer will need inspection approval from only one authorized
agency thereby streamlining the inspection process.
II.
Although the current Rules allow for the utilization of authorized inspection
agencies (Please reference IDAPA 31.11.01 - Safety and Accident Reporting Rules for Utilities
Rules 202 & 203), IDAPA Rule 31.31.01.102 states that "The gas corporation shall inspect the
customer's installation before the connection of the meter to ascertain that the installation
conforms to the provisions contained in the National Fuel Gas Code and the Uniform Mechanical
Code, as adopted by the Commission." (Please note in Rule 102 cross-references to other Rules
and Regulations.)
III.
Intermountain would like to proceed to eliminate this inspection redundancy by
removing itself from the inspection process where authorized inspection agencies exist thereby
allowing those authorized inspection agencies to serve as a "single source" inspection authority.
Certainly, in those areas of Intermountain's service territory where authorized agencies do not
exist, our intent would be to continue to provide for the inspection of the customer's installation.
Before eliminating the duplicate inspections currently being provided by both Intermountain as

well as other approved agencies, Intermountain requests that the exemption herein requested be
granted by this Commission with an effective date of March 1, 2002.
IV.
The public interest does not require a hearing on this request an exemption from
Rule 102 and Intermountain, therefore, requests that this matter be handled under modified
procedure pursuant to Rules 201-204 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure. Intermountain
stands ready for immediate consideration of this matter.
WHEREFORE, Intermountain requests an exemption from IDAPA Rule
31.31.01.102 effective March 1, 2002.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 11th day of January 2002.

MOFFATT, THOMAS, BARRETT, ROCK
& FIELDS, CHARTERED

___________________________________
Morgan W. Richards
Attorney for Intermountain Gas Company

INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY

___________________________________
Michael Huntington
Vice President
Marketing & External Affairs

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that on this 11th day of January 2002, I caused to be served
a true copy of the foregoing PETITION FOR EXEMPTION by the method indicated below.

Jean Jewell
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Post Office Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
( ) U.S. Mail, Postage Prepaid
(x) Hand Delivered
( ) Overnight Mail
( ) Facsimile

INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY

_________________________________________
` Michael P. McGrath
Director
Market Services & Regulatory Affairs