20180314notice_of_application_order_no_34009.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 14,2018
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NO.INT-G-18-01
OF INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY )FOR AN ACCOUNTING ORDER )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF COST )ASSOCIATED WITH CUSTOMER )NOTICE OF
PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS HANDLED BY )INTERVENTION DEADLINE
WESTERN UNION )
)ORDER NO.34009
On February 22,2018,Intermountain Gas Company applied to the Commission for
authority to create a regulatory asset to capture the costs associated with customer payment
transactions handled by Western Union.The Company asks that it be authorized to recover the
regulatory asset in the Company's Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment (PGA)beginning in 2019,and
that it be authorized to defer costs into the regulatory asset until February 1,2021,or until the
Company files a general rate case,whichever comes first.The Commission now issues this Notice
of the Application and sets a deadline for Petitions to Intervene.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company explains that in Order No.33805,the
Commission directed the Company to meet with Commission Staff to discuss alternatives to
convenience fees.Application at 3.The Company explains that it has met with Staff on several
occasions to discuss the fees,and specifically the costs associated with customer payment
transactions handled by Western Union.Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that it has agreed with
Staff from the Consumer Assistance section that,effective February 1,2018,the Company will
pay the costs associated with customer payment transactions handled by Western Union,with the
intention of deferring those costs and seeking recovery of them through this Application.Id at 3-
4.The Company indicates that the costs are estimated to total between $75,000 and $125,000 per
year,depending on the per-transaction fee and the number of transactions.Id.at 4.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes that the costs be deferred
to a regulatory asset and be recovered in rates through the Company's PGA,with recoveryto begin
with the PGA filed in 2019.Id.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34009 1
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requests that the deferral of the costs
"should expire in three (3)years (February 1,2021)or until such time as the Company files a
general rate case,whichever comes first."Id
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company refers to Accounting Standards
Codification (ASC)980 -Regulated Operations to support its request for the regulatory asset,and
asserts that the request is just,fair,and reasonable.Id
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and its exhibits have been filed
with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the
Commission offices.These documents are also available on the Commission's web site at
v¿ww.puc,idaho.gov.Click on the "File Room"tab at the top of the page,scroll down to "Natural
Gas Cases"and 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 Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.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 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who wish to intervene in this matter to
obtain the rights of party (e.g.,to file formal discovery,or present evidence or cross-examine
witnesses at a hearing)must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission under the
Commission's Rules of Procedure 72 and 73,IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073.Persons who wish
to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than 21 days from the service
date of this Order.Such persons shall also provide the Commission Secretary with their
electronic mail address to facilitate further communications.After the intervention deadlineruns,
the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice of Parties that identifies the parties and assigns
exhibit numbers to each party.Once the Notice of Parties has issued,Commission Staff shall
informally confer with the Company and any intervening parties about how to further process this
case,and shall then report back to the Commission on a proposed case schedule.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who would like to present their views
without parties'rights of participation and cross-examination are not required to intervenebut may
present their views by submitting written comments to the Commission.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34009 2
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following person is designated as the
Company's representativein this matter:
Michael P.McGrath
Director-Regulatory Affairs
Intermountain Gas Company
P.O.Box 7608
Boise,ID 83707
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter shall file a
Petition to Intervene no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order.Once the deadline
for intervention has passed,the Commission Secretary shall prepare and issue a Notice of Parties.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that,after the Notice of Parties has issued,Commission Staff
shall confer with the parties regarding a procedural schedule for this matter.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of March 2018.
P UL KJEI A ER,PRESIDENT
K R,OMMISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
liegal\LORDERS\INTGIB01 ccl ateofapp.docx
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34009 3