20090824LSO Memo.pdf

Jeff Youtz
Director
Legislative Services Offce
Idaho State LegislatueS ilSer~IdaýCuiiLeg(3 r=... -.~o ~
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Germane Subcommttees for Administrative Rules Review of the SenatQnd 0
House of Representatives State Affairs Committees .i:
MEMORAUM
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FROM:Research and Legislation Staff, Nugent "" ~ tJ !ZuL- -U-OCJ-()~
DATE:August 21, 2009
SUBJECT: Three Sets of Proposed Rules of the Public Utilities Commssion:
ID AP A 31.11.01 .. Safety & Accident Reporting Rules for Utilties Regulated by the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Docket #31-1101-0901);
31.21.01 - Customer Relations Rules for Gas, Electric & Water Public
Utilities Regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commssion (The
Utility Customer Relations Rules) (Docket #31-2101-0901);
31.21.02 - Inormation to Customers of Gas, Electrc & Water Public
Utilities (Doket #31-2102-0901) (Chapter Repeal).
The Public Utilities Commission is proposing to promulgate thee sets of proposed rules. One set
deals with safety and accident reporting rules for utilities reguated by the Commission, one with
customer relations rues for gas, electric and water public utilities regulated by the commission
and one with information to customers of gas, electric and water public utilties.
The accident reporting rules incorporate 2009 changes to the International Fuel Gas Code and the
International Fuel Gas Code. The Commssion is also proposing to adopt 2009 Federal
Reguations dealing with pipeline safety. The Commssion is also proposing to amend its
rules relating to reporting accidents. The proposed changes would require utilities to submit
wrtten accident reports within twenty-one (21) days from when they sustain damage to their
facilties in excess of $200,000 or when a member of the public incurs propert damages in
excess of $200,000 as a result of contact with utility operating propert. Damage resulting from
motor vehicle accidents is exempt from the damage reporting rule.
The customer relations rules proposed to relocate thee rues to a different portion of
the
adminstrative code. These rules also posed to require that water utilities with more than five
Mike Nugent, Manager
Research & Legislation
Cathy Holland-Smith, Manager
Budget & Policy Analysis
Don H. Berg, Manager
Legislative Audits
Glenn Harris, Manager
Information Technology
Statehouse, P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0054
Tel: [phone]
ww.legislature.idaho.gov
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thousand customers provide consumption data on each customer's bil comparng actual
consumption in the curent biling period with the corresponding biling period in the previous
year. The PUC is also proposing to repeal a block of rues relating to inormation to customers
of gas, electrc and water public utilties after three of the rules are transferred elsewhere.
The third set of rues proposes to repeal the same set of rues "After transfer of the rues is
complete" that the second set of proposed rues accomplishes. This set of rules appears to be
duplicative with the last provision of rue 2 and appears to do virtally the same thing. It seems
like we should be receiving one or the other, but not both.
It appears the proposed rules have been promulgated within the scope of statutory authority
granted to the public utilities commssion.
cc: Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Jean D. Jewell ~
Donald L. Howell, II