20090710Status Report re Low-income Weatherization.pdf

EXECUTIVE OFFICES
RECEIVE
2009 JUL - 9 PM 3: It 6
IDAHO PUB; ItUTILITIES cOM~lišSION
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY
555 SOUTH COLE ROAD. P.O. BOX 7608. BOISE, IDAHO 83707. [phone]. FAX: [phone]
July 8, 2009
Jean Jewell
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington St.
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
RE: Case !N -G-08-03
IPUC Order No. 30649
Dear Jean,
In the matter of the Application of Intermountain Gas Company to change its prices on October 1, 2008,
Commission Order No 30649 ordered the Company to:
".. .
collaborate with Staff to explore the creation oflow-income weatherization programs for residences heated
using natual gas. The Company shall report on the results of these efforts on or before March 15, 2009.
On March12, 2009, Intermountain provided to the Commission correspondence related to the above directive
which stated, among other things:
". . ...it appeared not only reasonable but also practical that the design and development of a targeted low-
income weatherization program by Intermountain and the Staff would be better served by waiting until
weatherization related Federal Stimulus Funds are established and implemented in Idaho. In so doing, the
Company and Staff contend that they can then better determine the manner in which additional low-income
funds should be targeted thereby maximizing the benefit of those incremental dollars."
On July 1, 2009, the Company and Staff met together to address the development of a low-income
weatherization program. Although a consensus was reached as to some basic premises regarding the funding
and administration of a low-income weatherization program, all parties agreed that it is stil premature to
identify and articulate any specific details of a low-income weatherization program as the expected impact of
Federal Stimulus dollars on these programs in Idaho is stil unknown. Both the Company and Staff agreed to
continue our discussions regarding the development of a low-income weatherization program as more
information unfolds regarding the impact of these Federal dollars in Idaho. The parties also agreed to include
representatives from CAP Agencies in the discussions going forward so their input into the process could be
solicited as welL. Given the current pace at which the Federal Government is moving to inject weatherization
dollars into Idaho, the parties believe it may very well be several months to a year before a targeted approach
can best be determined that acknowledges, and leverages off of, these federal monies.
The Company and Staff agree to work together to establish a calendar that keeps this investigative and
developmental process moving forward.