20090710Decision Memo.pdf

TO:
DECISION MEMORANDUM
COMMISSIONER KEMPTON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
FROM:DON HOWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE:JULY 9, 2009
SUBJECT:STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND THE COMMISSION'
UTILITY CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES (31.21.01) AND TO REPEAL
THE COMMISSION'S UTILITY CUSTOMER INFORMATION RULES
(31.21.02), DOCKET NO. 31-2101-0901.
In this Decision Memorandum, Staff is recommending that the Commission move the
last three substantive rules in the Commission s Utility Customer Information Rules (IDAPA
31.21.02) to the Commission s Utility Customer Relations Rules (IDAP A 31.21.01). Last year
the Commission moved Rules 102 and 105 from the Information Rules to the Commission
Rules of Procedure (31.01.01). Moving the last three substantive rules would then allow the
Commission to repeal the Customer Information Rules.
Staff recommends moving Customer Information Rules 101 , 103 and 104 to the
Utility Customer Relations Rules. Staff proposes that 101 be relocated to Rule 702; that Rule
103 be substituted for Rule 201.04; and Rule 104 be moved to Rule 208. The relocated rules are
attached for your review.
CO MMISSI ON D ECISI 0 N
Does the Commission wish to move Rules 101 , 103 and 104 from the Customer
Information Rules (31.21.02) to the Customer Relations Rules (31.21.01)?Does the
Commission wish to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the transfer of the three
rules? Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice that it proposes to repeal the Utility
Customer Information Rules? Does the Commission wish to have its Notices published in the
next AP A Bulletin?
Don Howell
Deputy Attorney General
gdk/N:31-21O1-O901 Decision Memo
DECISION MEMORANDUM
IDAPA 31
TITLE 21
CHAPTER 01
31.21.01- CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES
FOR GAS, ELECTRIC AND WATER
UTILITIES REGULATED BY THE IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES CO MMISSI ON
201.ISSUANCE OF BILLS - CONTENTS OF BILLS (Rule 201).
Bills shall be issued on a regular basis. Bills must contain the following information:
01.The Billing Date.
(3-30-01)
(7-93)
02.The Time Period Covered by the Bill.(7-93)
03.Metered Service Billing. If metered service is the basis for billing, the beginning and
ending meter readings, where the bill is based on actual readings, or a clearly marked statement that
the bill is estimated, if the meter was not actually read, and the quantity of service provided, when
applicable.(7-93)
04.Billing Comparisons of Consumption Data. Comparisons of current and pre','ious
consumptions, when required by IDi\.PA 31.21.02.103.(7 1 93)
!!:.
Each gas and electric utility shall compare on each customer s regular billing the
customer s actual consumption of gas or electricity with the customer s actual consumption of gas or
electricity for the corresponding billing period in the previous year. If the billing periods being
compared contain a different number of days, the utility shall adjust the data to take into account the
different length of the billing periods and show the comparison as an absolute change in therm use or
kilowatt hour use per day.
Each water utility with more than five thousand (5,000) customers shall compare on
each customer s regular billing the customer s actual consumption of water with the customer
actual consumption of water for the corresponding billing period in the previous year. The usage
comparison shall be expressed in gallons or cubic feet based upon total consumption for each billing
period or average consumption per day during each billing period.
05.The Due Date of the Bill.(7-93)
06.Itemization of All Charges. An itemization of all charges, both recurring and
07.Any Amount Transferred from Another Account.
(7-93)
(7-93)
nonrecurrmg.
08.Any Amounts Past Due.(7-93)
09.Payments or Credits. Any payments or credits applied to the customer s account
since the last bill.
10.The Total Amount Due.
(7-93)
(7-93)
11.Address and Telephone Number. The mailing address and toll-free telephone
number(s) available to customers in the service territory for answering billing inquiries. (3-30-01)
(BREAK IN CONTINUITY OF SECTIONS)
208.DEGREE-DAY INFORMATION (Rule 208).L-1
Upon request, each gas and electric utility shall make degree-day adjusted data available to
customers for comparisons of the kind made in Rule 201.04.L-1
209 299.(RESERVED).
(BREAK IN CONTINUITY OF SECTIONS)
702.EXPLANATION OF RATE SCHEDULE (RULE 702).L-J
Each gas, electric, and water utility shall transmit annually to each of its customers and give to each
new customer at the time of initiation of service a clear and concise explanation of the existing rate
schedule for the class of services selected by that customer.
703.999.(RESERVED).