20220321Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSIONER CHATBURN
COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: TAYLOR R. BROOKS
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: MARCH 22, 2022

SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSION STAFF’S FORMAL COMPLAINT
CONCERNING INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY’S PRACTICES OF
ALLOWING UNQUALIFED OPERATORS TO PERFORM LIVE METER
EXCHANGES; CASE NO. INT-G-22-01.

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. Through investigation and self-reporting by the
Company, Commission Staff (“Staff”) discovered 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.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission approve the Company’s Request and allow it until
April 25, 2022, to respond to Staff’s Complaint. Staff is actively engaged in settlement discussions
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
with the Company and has notified the Commission Secretary pursuant to Rule 272 that it is
engaged in settlement negotiations with the Company.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to grant the Company’s request for an extension of time
and allow it until April 25, 2022, to respond to Staff’s Complaint?

______________________________
Taylor R. Brooks
Deputy Attorney General

I:\Legal\GAS\INT-G-22-01 Urzua\Memos\INTG2201_dec2_tb.docx