20220330Order_Granting_Extension_Order_No_35358.pdf

ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO STAFF’S COMPLAINT
ORDER NO. 35358 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 30, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISION STAFF,

COMPLAINANT,

vs.

INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY,

RESPONDENT.
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CASE NO. INT-G-22-01

ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF
TIME TO RESPOND TO STAFF’S
COMPLAINT

ORDER NO. 35358

On April 23, 2021, Jesse Urzua (“Urzua”) contacted the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (“Commission”) expressing concern that he was an unqualified operator who was
performing live residential meter exchanges as an employee of Intermountain Gas Company
(“Company”). Through investigation and self-reporting by the Company, Commission Staff
(“Staff”) alleged that the Company had violated pipeline safety requirements by allowing 1,847
work orders to be issued and performed by unqualified operators. See generally Staff Formal
Complaint.
On March 1, 2022, the Commission accepted Staff’s Formal Complaint
(“Complaint”). On March 3, 2022, the Commission issued a Summons to the Company requiring
it to respond to Staff’s Complaint within 21 days. See Summons to Intermountain Gas Company.
On March 16, 2022, the Company filed a request for an extension of time to answer
Staff’s Complaint. See Company’s Request for Extension of Time. The Company requested that
the Commission allow it until April 25, 2022, to respond to Staff’s Complaint. Id. The Company
represented that it was engaged in active settlement discussions with Staff and hoped to achieve
a mutually agreeable solution prior to filing a formal answer to Staff’s Complaint. Id.
The Commission now issues this Order granting the Company’s Request for
Extension of Time to Answer the Formal Complaint.
DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
The Commission has authority under Rules 51 and 53 to grant a Company’s request
for an extension of time so long as the Company complies with Rule 53 of the IPUC Rules of
Procedure. See IDAPA 31.01.01.51, -53, and -256.
ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO STAFF’S COMPLAINT
ORDER NO. 35358 2

We find that the Company sufficiently stated the facts upon which its request was
based; the Company referred to the controlling legal authority; and properly prayed for
appropriate relief. We also find that allowing the extension of time does not affect the substantial
rights of any party in this case. The Commission encourages the parties to continue pursuing
settlement negotiations in hopes of achieving a mutually agreeable outcome for this matter.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Request for Extension of Time to
Answer the Formal Complaint is granted. The Company is required to respond to Staff’s
Complaint by April 25, 2022.
THIS IS AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER, not a final or appealable order of the
Commission. The period of reconsideration will not begin until the final order is issued.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 30th
day of March 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND, JR., COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\GAS\INT-G-22-01 Urzua\Orders\INTG2201_NtcExtTime_tb.doc