20031103_671.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM:DANIEL KLEIN
DATE:OCTOBER 31,2003
RE:FORMAL COMPLAINT OF YOLANDE BENNETT
On October 10, 2003 , the Commission received a request to file a fonnal complaint
(attached) from Ms. Yolande Bennett against Idaho Power. Ms. Bennett is requesting that
charges for electrical service from May 2003 to July 2003 be adjusted to the same amounts billed
for the same time period in 2002.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Bennett left her home March 26 to travel to California. Ms. Bennett maintains she
turned everything off but her refrigerator and water heater. Her bills were being forwarded to
California, and she noticed her bills were quite high for her not being at home. Ms. Bennett was
in contact with Idaho Power during her absence and voiced her concerns with the high bills. Ms.
Bennett maintains she was overbilled approximately $150.
In response to Ms. Bennett's concerns, Idaho Power verified meter reads after the May
and July bills were issued. After Ms. Bennett spoke with a Customer Service Assistant Coach on
July 8, 2003 , a neighbor went into the house at Ms. Bennett's request to make sure everything
but the refrigerator was turned off at the breaker. Upon Ms. Bennett's return home, an Idaho
Power Delivery Service Representative met her at home on July 25 2003 to check for problems
inside the residence. At that time, the meter was showing very little usage. The residence is an
all-electric two-bedroom townhouse with baseboard heating and no air conditioning. The
Delivery Service Representative set up a watt per hour meter on the refrigerator to detennine
usage. No problem was identified.
DECISION MEMORANDUM OCTOBER 31 , 2003
On July 29, the customer s meter was replaced and sent to Boise for testing. The old
meter tested at 99.55% accurate. Idaho Power maintains that the baseboard heating must have
been left on during the customer s absence. The Company maintains that degree-day data
supports this theory.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Commission Staff has been in contact with both Ms. Bennett and Idaho Power. Ms.
Bennett's usage during the period in question is considerably higher than in the past.
March April May June July August
2002 1409 856 590 270 129 329
2003 1253 730 1399 1689 670 230
The cause of the discrepancy between this year s and past year s usage, however, has not been
detennined. Idaho Power s meter test indicates that the customer s usage was accurately
measured. There is no evidence that Idaho Power incorrectly billed the customer or failed to
respond to the customer s concerns about her bill. The parties have attempted to reach an
agreement infonnally and have been unable to do so. Staff recommends that the Commission
not initiate a fonnal complaint.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to accept Ms. Bennett's request to file a fonnal complaint?
Does the Commission have a sufficient record to rule on this issue if it declines to accept
the fonnal complaint? Or, should a summons be issued?
B-Jdl0-
Daniel Klein
l:udmemos/dec IDem bennett
DECISION MEMORANDUM OCTOBER 31 , 2003
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