20140820notice_of_application_order_no_33099.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 20.2014
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF INTERMOUNTAIN )
GAS COMPANY’S APPLICATION FOR )CASE NO.INT-G-14-01
AUTHORITY TO CHANGE ITS PRICES )
(2014 PURCHASED GAS COST )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
ADJUSTMENT).)
)NOTICE OF
)MODIFIED PROCEDURE
)
_______________________________
)ORDER NO.33099
On August 8,2014,Intermountain Gas Company (the “Company”)filed its annual
Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment (“PGA”)Application and requested a Commission Order,under
Idaho Code §61-307 and 61-622,to institute new rate schedules that will increase its annualized
revenues by $6.7 million (about 2.64%).The Company asks that the Commission process the
Application by Modified Procedure,and that the new rates take effect October 1,2014.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the PGA is used to adjust rates to reflect
annual changes in the Company’s costs to buy natural gas from suppliers—including
transportation,storage,and other related costs.See Order No.26019.In summary,this PGA
Application requests the following changes.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that with this Application,the Company seeks to
pass-through to each of its customer classes changes in gas-related costs resulting from:(1)
transportation costs billed to the Company by Northwest Pipeline GP (“Northwest’or
Northwest Pipeline”);(2)an increase in the Company’s weighted average cost of gas
(“WACOG’);(3)an updated customer allocation of gas-related costs under the Company’s PGA
provision;(4)the inclusion of temporary surcharges and credits for one year relating to natural
gas purchases and interstate transportation costs from the Company’s deferred gas cost accounts;
and (5)benefits resulting from the Company’s management of its storage and firm capacity
rights on various pipeline systems.The Company also seeks to eliminate the temporary
surcharges and credits included in its current prices during the past 12 months,pursuant to Case
No.INT-G-l3-05.
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ORDER NO.33099 1
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company says the proposed changes would
not affect its earnings,but would result in an overall price increase for its customers.More
specifically,residential customers using gas for space and water heating would see a
$1 .89/month (3.81%)average increase,customers using natural gas only for space heating would
see a $1.40/month (3.64°/a)average increase,and commercial customers would see a
$0.3 1/month (0.15%)average increase.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company says its proposed price changes
incorporate all changes in costs relating to the Company’s firm interstate transportation capacity
including,but not limited to,any price changes or projected cost adjustments implemented by the
Company’s pipeline suppliers as well as any volumetric adjustments in contracted transportation
agreements which have occurred since the Company’s last PGA filing,Case No.INT-G-13-05.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes increasing the
WACOG from the currently approved $0.37341 per therm to 50.39482 per therm.The Company
says while there are significant shale gas reserves,modest improvements in the economy and an
increase in natural gas-fired electric generation have increased demand and placed upward
pressure on natural gas prices.The Company notes,however,that natural gas prices remain
much lower than they were a few years ago.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company says it has entered into fixed
price agreements to lock-in the price for significant portions of its underground storage and other
winter “flowing”supplies.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company seeks to pass through to its
customers the benefits that will be generated from the management of its transportation capacity
totaling $3.9 million as outlined on Exhibit No.7.The Company also proposes temporary price
adjustments for the 12-month period ending September 30,2015,that would allocate to
customers the fixed,variable,and lost and unaccounted-for gas costs from the Company’s
deferred Account No.186 balance.The Company notes that pursuant to Order No.32793,its
deferred variable gas cost credits included those associated with liquefied natural gas (LNG)
sales from the Company’s Nampa.Idaho facility.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company says the proposed overall price
changes reflect a just,fair,and equitable pass-through of changes in gas-related costs to the
Company’s customers.The Company says it has notified customers about the Application and
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO.33099 2
price changes through a formal Customer Notice and a Press Release,and that it has made the
Application available to the public on its website at
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting work papers,
testimonies and exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.The Application and
testimonies are also available on the Commission’s web site at .Click on the
“File Room”tab at the top of the page,scroll down to “Gas Cases”and then click on the case
number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held
pursuant to the Commissions jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and specifically
Idaho Code §61-502 and 6 1-622.The Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its
authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be
conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 3 1.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the
public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified
Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commissions Rules
of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204.The Commission notes that Modified
Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input
and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has not scheduled public
informational workshops in this matter.However,if customers request that Staff conduct a
workshop,or if numerous public comments are received,one or more workshops may be
scheduled.Members of the public will be notified if any workshops are to occur.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this
Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission no later
Commission Rules l25.01.c and 125.04 state that the notice and press release must say the application “is available
••.at the offices of both the Commission and the utility Staff reports that the Company does not make a
physical copy of its Application publicly available at its offices because the Company’s offices are not open to the
public.We find the Company’s posting of the Application on its website to substantially comply with the rules’
requirement of having a copy of the Application publicly available at the Company’s office.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
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ORDER NO.33099 3
than September 17,2014.The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the
comment.Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written
comments.Written comments concerning this Application shall be mailed to the Commission
and the Company at the following addresses:
Commission Secretary Michael P.McGrath
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Director —Regulatory Affairs
P0 Box 83720 Intermountain Gas Company
Boise,ID 83720-0074 P0 Box 7608
Boise,ID 83707
Street Address for Express Mail:
Ronald L.Williams
472 W.Washington Street Williams Bradbury PC
Boise,ID 83702-59 18 1015 W.Hays St
Boise,Idaho 83702
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document.Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission’s home page located at ww nueidahogo.Scroll to the “Consumers”tab,click
the “Utility Case Comment or Question Form,”and complete the comment form using the case
number as it appears on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are
received within the time limit set,the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and
enter its Order without a formal hearing.If written comments are received within the time limit
set,the Commission will consider them and,in its discretion,may set the same for formal
hearing.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this case be processed under Modified Procedure.
Interested persons and parties may file written comments no later than September 17,2014.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
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ORDER NO.33099 4
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of August 2014.
PAUL KJEL A ER,PRESIDENT
MACK A.REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
kcL iLL
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
/1 A
/
Jean D.Jewell
Commission Secretary
o INT-G-14-Olkk
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO.33099 5