HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200903Notice_of_Application_Order_No_34771.pdfNOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 3, 2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY’S
APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO
IMPLEMENT A COMMERCIAL ENERGY
EFFICIENCY PROGRAM AND FUNDING
MECHANISM
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CASE NO. INT-G-20-04
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF
INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771
On August 3, 2020, Intermountain Gas Company (“Company”) applied for authority
to implement a Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and Funding Mechanism. The Company
requests that the Application be processed by Modified Procedure and proposes an effective date
of October 1, 2020, for the Commercial Energy Efficiency Program, Energy Funding Mechanism,
and other changes to associated tariffs, coincident with the effective date of the price change related
to the Company’s annual Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment. Id. at 9-10.
The Commission now issues this Notice of Application and Notice of Intervention
Deadline and suspends the effective date of the proposed Commercial Energy Efficiency Program
and Funding Mechanism.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company is a gas utility that sells and
distributes natural gas in Idaho. Id. at 3.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the first phase of the Company’s Energy
Efficiency Program began on October 1, 2017 and focused on the residential sector. See Order No.
33888.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents it has now developed
the Commercial Energy Efficiency Program, an equipment-based program for commercial
customers predicated on a Conservation Potential Assessment (“CPA”) performed by Dunsky
Energy Consulting and input from its Energy Efficiency Stakeholder group. Application at 4-6.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents its proposed
Commercial Energy Efficiency Program focuses on therm-saving measures in three end-use
sectors identified in the CPA: HVAC, commercial kitchen appliances, and hot water savings. Id.
at 6.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771 2
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the HVAC category includes proposed rebates
for three high-efficiency appliances: boilers with 300,000 Btuh input size or greater, the
installation of boiler reset controls, and condensing unit heaters. Id. at 7. The kitchen end-use
category offers proposed incentives for the installation of high-efficiency natural gas commercial
kitchen appliances. Id. The Company also proposes to offer complimentary energy saving kits to
commercial customers that focus on water saving measures such as a pre-rinse spray valve,
restroom faucet aerators, kitchen faucet aerators and a water temperature gauge. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requests authority to formalize a
mechanism to recover costs incurred in the administration and delivery of the proposed
Commercial Energy Efficiency Program through a proposed Rate Schedule EE – GS, attached as
Exhibit 3 to the Application. Id. at 7-8. The Company also requests authority to revise existing
tariffs to add a commercial component to its Energy Efficiency Program. Id. at 9.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company anticipates total costs of
approximately $411,000 for the first year of the Commercial Energy Efficiency Program. Id. at 8.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents it notified GS-1
customers about the Application through a Customer Notice and a Press Release sent to daily and
weekly newspapers, and major radio and television stations in the Company’s service area. Id. at
10.
SUSPENSION
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requests an October 1, 2020,
effective date. This matter is sufficiently complex to justify allowing the Commission, parties,
and public a longer period to assess the Company’s Application. The Commission thus finds it
appropriate to suspend the Company’s proposed effective date for five months and 30 days, unless
the Commission issues an earlier Order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the Company’s
Application. Idaho Code § 61-622(4).
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who wish to intervene in this matter to
obtain the rights of a 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 within twenty-one (21) days from the
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771 3
service date of this Order. Such persons shall also provide the Commission Secretary with their
electronic mail address to facilitate further communications.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice
of Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed. The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties has been issued,
Staff will informally confer with the parties about further scheduling and will recommend a
schedule to the Commission.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following persons are designated as the
Company’s representatives in this matter:
Lori A. Blattner
Director – Regulatory Affairs
Intermountain Gas Company
P.O. Box 7608
Boise, ID 83707
E-mail: Lori.Blattner@intgas.com
Preston N. Carter
Givens Pursley LLP
601 W. Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
E-mail: pnc@givenspursley.com
kendrah@givenspursley.com
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application is available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission's office. These documents are also
available on the Commission's web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “Natural Gas” icon,
then select “Open 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 and specifically Idaho
Code §§ 61-501, 61-502, 61-507, 61-520, 61-523, and 61-622. 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 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771 4
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the proposed effective date for the Company’s
Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and Funding Mechanism is suspended for five months
and 30 days, unless the Commission issues an earlier Order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the
Application. Idaho Code § 61-622(4).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene for the purpose of
presenting evidence or cross-examination at hearing shall file a Petition to Intervene with the
Commission within twenty-one (21) days from the service date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED after the Notice of Parties is issued Staff will informally
confer with the parties to discuss an appropriate schedule for this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties continue to comply with Order No. 34602,
issued March 17, 2020. All pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and shall
be deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service
between parties should also be accomplished electronically. Voluminous discovery-related
documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
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NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 34771 5
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 3rd
day of September 2020.
PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT
KRISTINE RAPER, COMMISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary
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