application.pdf

REC ErVEn t!)FILED 0
LORi nCI 11 PF1 4:32Kelly O. Norwood
A vista Corporation
Vice-President, Rates and Regulation
1411 E. Mission Avenue
P. O. Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220
Phone: [phone] , Fax: [phone]
10"\110 PUBLIC
UTILITiES GOHf;\S5ION
Paul Powell
Senior Vice-President, Finance and Administration
Intermountain Gas Company
555 South Cole Road
O. Box 7608
Boise, Idaho 83707
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Carole Rockney
Director, Customer Service and Regulatory Liaison
PacifiCorp
1900 S. W. Fourth Avenue, Plaza Level
Portland, Oregon 97201
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
N R.IA./O;;' -(J J
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MA TIER OF REQUESTED
AUTHORIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT A TWO
YEAR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM TO
ESTABLISH MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS
CASE NO. AVU D:J.h.aC/
CASE NO. O)'/
CASE N . INT-G- )" cJ
CAS O. PAC-E- r (J
I. INTRODUCTION
Avista Corporation doing business as Avista Utilities, at 1411 East Mission Avenue
Spokane, Washington, Intermountain Gas Company, at 555 South Cole Road, Boise, Idaho, and
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 1
PacifiCorp doing business as Utah Power & Light Company, at 1900 S.W. Fourth Avenue, Portland
Oregon (together "Applicants ) respectfully request authorization to implement a two-year pilot
Winter Protection Program (WPP).
The purpose of this filing is to minimize the impact winter bills have on customers least able
to pay the accumulated winter use at the end of the winter moratorium. Currently customers claiming
moratorium are not required to make any payment during Dec. 1st - Feb. 28 . During this time, large
winter bills accumulate causing balances to become difficult to manage. Customers face
disconnection, requiring payment in full to restore service. To ease the burden, this proposal would
allow low-income customers to establish minimal monthly payments, equal to one-half (1/2) the
Level Payment Plan amount as described and calculated in Rule 313.06. This pilot would allow
customers, agencies and companies to provide assistance for customers to maintain uninterrupted
service. This pilot will also aid in establishing a pattern of consistent monthly customer payments,
avoiding disconnect and requirement of balance in full for reconnect, as now happens with the
existing moratorium rule.
The proposed Winter Protection Program, as a two-year pilot, specifically consists of the
following aspects:
Requesting exemption from the provisions of Rule 306., 306., 306., 306.
306.05 and 306.06 during the two- year pilot program.
Defining Winter Protection Program eligibility as "any residential customer who
declares that he or she is unable to pay for utility service during the specified months of December
January and February and whose household qualifies for energy assistance from a local Community
Action Agency.
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 2
Replacing the three-month winter moratorium from Dec 1st - Feb. 28th with a minimal
monthly payment plan equal to one-half (1/2) of the Level Pay Plan amount. The Level Payment Plan
amount will be calculated according to Rule 313.06.
A working group comprised of representatives from the regulated utilities, IPUC Staff
Department of Health and Welfare, and Community Action Agencies have been meeting since
January 2002 to address certain issues associated with Rule 306. We appreciate Staff bringing such
a diverse group together and facilitating the discussion. This filing is a direct result of that group
efforts. Given our desire to implement the pilot prior to this winter s heating season, Applicants
request this matter be handled under modified procedure pursuant to Rules 201-204 of the
Commission s Rules of Procedure.
Communications in reference to this Application should be addressed to:
Kelly O. Norwood
Vice-President, Rates and Regulation
A vista Corp
1411 E. Mission Avenue
P. O. Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220
Phone: [phone] , Fax: [phone]
Paul Powell
Senior Vice-President, Finance and Administration
Intermountain Gas Company
555 South Cole Road
O. Box 7608
Boise, Idaho 83707
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 3
Carole Rockney
Director, Customer Service and Regulatory Liaison
PacifiCorp
1900 S.W. Fourth Avenue, Plaza Level
Portland, Oregon 97201
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
II. BACKGROUND AND EFFECT OF WPP
Under the existing rule, customers may make no payment for energy service during the
winter months; however these customers then face what are frequently large bills for payment due
on March 1. This places a financial burden on many participating customers given the relatively
large amount due at one time. This can lead to an inability to pay and result in disconnection of
service. The local Community Action Agencies agree that the existing rule makes it difficult for
customers to manage their bills after the moratorium and the agencies are unable to provide enough
funding to prevent disconnects. Under the Winter Protection Program, qualifying customers would
provide payments during the winter months equal to one-half (1/2) of the Level Pay Plan amount for
that customer. The Level Payment Plan amount will be calculated according to Rule 313.06.
For example, a customer may incur winter monthly bills of $150 per month from December
through February and have an existing balance of $100.00. Rule 306.01 currently allows any
customer who has children or senior citizens living in the household to make no payment until
March 1. At that time, the customer would need to pay their total "moratorium bill" of $550. Under
the Winter Protection Program, this customer s monthly payments for December, January, and
February (including a balance of $100.00) would be $90 per month. The balance owing on March
1 would be $280.
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 4
III. WPP PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Opportunity to participate in the Winter Protection Program would be available to any
residential customer who declares that he or she is unable to pay for service and applies for and
meets eligibility requirements for energy assistance from a local Community Action Agency. Except
as provided elsewhere in the Customer Relations Rules, no gas or electric utility may terminate
service during the months of December through February to any customer who participates in the
Winter Protection Program. The customer may use any source of funds/grants to satisfy the payment
requirements of Winter Protection Program.
The amount of payments under the Winter Protection Program will be equal to one-half (112)
of the Level Pay Plan amount. The Level Payment Plan amount will be calculated according to Rule
313.06.
Termination of service may occur if customers do not participate in the Winter Protection
Program through establishing monthly payments with the exception of special dispensation
customers under "medical emergency" designation. Customers who miss a payment under the
Winter Protection Program may avoid termination of service by reestablishing monthly payments.
Customers must be current on prior winter payments to be eligible to participate in the
Winter Protection Pilot in the following year.
Customers are encouraged to apply for energy assistance programs including the Low-
Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Project Share.
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 5
IV. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION
This filing is a direct result of a stakeholders' working group. Given apparent consensus
from this group and Applicants' desire to implement the pilot prior to this winter s heating season
Applicants respectfully request that:
the Winter Protection Program be approved as a two-year pilot as described herein
the program be effective December 1, 2002 and continue through November 30 2004
and
this matter be handled under modified procedure pursuant to Rules 201-204 of the
Commission s Rules of Procedure.
Dated at thislDt day of October 2002.
A VISTA CORPORATION
BY
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Kelly O. N ood
Vice-President, Rates and Regulation
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY
Paul Powell
Senior Vice-President
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 6
P ACIFICORP
BY
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Carole Rockney
Director, Cust. Service & Regulatory Liaison
JOINT APPLICATION FOR WINTER PROTECTION PROGRAM PAGE 7
VERIFICA TION
ST ATE OF WASHINGTON)
County of Spokane
Kelly O. Norwood, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and says: That he is
the Vice President, Rates and Regulation, for A vista Corporation and makes this
verification for and on behalf of said corporation, being thereto duly authorized;
That he has read the foregoing Application, knows the contents thereof, and believes
the same to be true.
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SIGNED AND SWORN to before me on this 10th day of October, 2002, by Kelly O.
Norwood.
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i::ik':4Au?A4
NOTARY PUBLIC in and for the State of
Washington, residing at Spokane.
Commission Expires:
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VERIFICATION
STATE OF OREGON
County of Multnomah
Carole Rockney, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and says: That she is the
Director, Customer Service and Regulatory Liaison for PacifiCorp and makes this
verification for and on behalf of said corporation, being thereto duly authorized;
That she has read the foregoing Application, knows the contents thereof, and believes
the same to be true.
SIGNED AND SWORN to before me on this /of'td ay of Octobe
Rockney
~~~~--
NOTARY PUBLIC in and for the State of
Oregon, residing at Portland.
Commission Expires:d' !J3. cJoo5
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OfFICIAL SEAL
CHRISTOPHER TENNEY
NOTARY PUBLIC-OREGON
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COMMISSION NO. 342340
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