20160321Reply comments.pdf

Wlliams Bradbory
ATToRNEYS AT LAw RECEIVED
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Ms. Jean Jewell
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472W. Washington
Boise,ID 83702
Re: INT-G-16-01
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Please find enclosed an original and seven copies of the Reply Comments of
Intermountain Gas Company for filing in the above referenced case.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please feel free to give me a call should
you have any questions.
Sincerely,fl^t/,ru
Ronald L. Williams
RLWjr
Enclosures
1015 !f. Hays Stteet - Boise,ID 83702
Phone: [phone] - www.williamsbtadbury.com
Ronald L. Williams, ISB No. 3034
Williams Bradbury, P.C.
1015 W. Hays St.
Boise,ID 83702
Telephone: [phone]
Email : [e-mail]
Attorneys for Respondent Intermountain Gas Company
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC
ERIC CONRAD,
Complainant,
vs.
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY,
UTILITES COMMISSION
CaseNo. INT-G-I6-01
REPLY COMMENTS OF
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS
COMPANY
fi CEIVED
2016Hefi 2l At{ ll: 38
,, r r rti?i* s:Ci,iril8 t, o *
Respondent.
COMES NOW Intermountain Gas Company ("IGC", "Intermountain" or the
"Company"), in response to the Comments of the Commission Staff filed in the above referenced
case, states as follows:
INTRODUCTION
l. Mr. Conrad filed a formal complaint with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission
("Commission") against Intermountain requesting reimbursement of costs he incurred relating to
the purchase and installation of a gas meter cover in the amount of $370, and for $1,010.82 in
construction loan interest charges related to Mr. Conrad's construction of a new home. Mr.
Conrad also requested a review by the Commission Staff of the Company's procedures and
manuals, and the public dissemination of those procedures or manuals, related to gas meter
covers.
REPLY COMMENTS OF RESPONDENT INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY, PAgE I
2. On March 7 ,2016, Commission Staff filed comments agreeing with the
Company's stated concerns regarding gas meter safety, while also recommending three changes
to Intermountain's procedures and manuals: (l) that IGC establish specific criteria for meter
placement and technical specifications for meter protection; (2) that IGC make such information
more readily available to the public and especially the construction industry, and (3) that IGC
take additional steps to see that the meter protection criteria is applied more consistently across
the Company's different service territories.
3. Intermountain appreciates Mr. Conrad's efforts in highlighting an area where the
Company believes it can improve both its written and published materials regarding meter
protection and safety, and to improve the methods by which the Company works with the local
building community. Local builders are one of the major avenues for bringing new customers to
Intermountain and IGC appreciates this enhanced opportunity to work more closely with those
new customer conduits.
4. Intermountain also greatly appreciates the time, effort and research Commission
Staff has dedicated to this important safety issue, and in highlighting the need for additional
specifications and clarification in some of Intermountain's written manuals and procedures
related to meter protection and safety, and the need for web-based information regarding meter
protection.
INTERMOUNTAIN CONCURS IN THE
COMMENTS OF COMMISSION STAFF
5. Intermountain agrees to implement StafPs recoflrmendation that it will draft more
specific criteria for determining the need for additional meter protection, meter covers, and
technical specifications for meter covers.
REPLY COMMENTS OF RESPONDENT INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY, Page2
6. Intermountain agrees to implement Staff s recommendation that the specific
criteria and technical specifications for meter protection structures and meter covers be made
available to the general public on the Company's web site.
7. Intermountain agrees with Staff s recommendation that it will expand and
enhance its effort and pro$ams to advise customers, builders and contractors within its service
territory of its criteria and technical specifications for meter protection and meter covers.
8. Intermountain agrees with StafPs recommendation that the Company's
Procedures Manual will be revised to more clearly delineate the conditions under which meter
protection and meter covers will be provided by the Company without charge, and when such
meter protection and meter covers are to be provided by the customer, at the customer's expense.
9. Intermountain agrees to implement Staff s recommendation to review and
reconcile any existing inconsistencies that may exist between IGC's Procedures Manual and its
employee training materials.
10. Intermountain agrees to review and, if necessary, to take steps to ensure consistent
application of its meter protection and meter cover criteria across its service territory.
I L lntermountain agrees to work with Staff in implementing paragraphs 5 through 10
above.
nl
Dated this d il day of March, 2016.
Respgqttullysubmitted, -
Xe LJD\-'
Ronald L. Williams
Williams Bradbury, P.C.
1015 W. Hays St.
Boise [D,83702
Telephone: [phone]
ron@williamsbradbury. com
Attorneys for Intermountain Gas Company
REPLY COMMENTS OF RESPONDENT INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY, Page 3
CERTIFICATE OT' DELIVERY
I hereby certifu that on this _ day of March, 2016,I caused to be served a true and
correct copy of the Reply Comments of lntermountain Gas Company upon the following
individuals in the manner indicated below:
Hand Deliverv: (original & 7 copies)
Jean Jewell
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W . Washington Street
Boise,lD 83720
Mail and Electronic Delivery:
Eric W. Conrad
Complainant
ericwconrad(Oemail.com
2277 Hendicks Circle
Rexburg, ID 83440
(Alternative mailing address)
1030 s. 2"d8.
Rexburg,ID 83440
R^,Ut,t*
Ronald L. Williams
REPLY COMMENTS OF RESPONDENT INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY, Page 4