20051004notice of petition order no 29885.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 4, 2005
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY FOR
WAIVER OF THE ATMOSPHERIC
CORROSION INSPECTION RULE (IDAP
31.11.01.201; 49 C.R. ~ 192.481(a))
CASE NO. INT-05-
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29885
On September 14, 2005, Intermountain Gas Company (Intermountain Gas
Company) filed a Petition for Waiver of the rule regarding atmospheric corrosion control
inspection frequency with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission). With this Order
the Commission authorizes the use of Modified Procedure and establishes a deadline for the
submission of comments and/or objections.
THE PETITION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that according to its Petition, Intermountain Gas
seeks a waiver of the federal pipeline safety rule that requires each operator to inspect each
pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to the atmosphere for evidence of corrosion at least
once every three years.This requirement is set forth in 49 C.R. 9 192.481(a).The
Commission adopted this federal regulation with IDAP A 31.11.01.201.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states it is requesting the
waiver only for residential meters. Separate code requires yearly routine maintenance on its
commercial and large volume meters, and consequently the atmospheric corrosion inspections
are done along with the required yearly maintenance. The Petition states that in July 2003 , the
Company installed automated meter reading (AMR) systems for residential and commercial
meters. Prior to July 2003, meter readers, on foot, would perform a visual inspection of the
above ground facilities in conjunction with their meter reads. With the Company
implementation of AMR there is no longer any regular maintenance need or requirement to visit
each residential meter on an annual basis.
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29885
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Intermountain Gas states it has never
experienced atmospheric corrosion or safety-related conditions resulting from atmospheric
corrosion on its residential or commercial meters in the entire history of its operations, dating
back to 1955. The Company states that the dry, arid environment in which it operates as well as
the fact that the entire steel pipeline is cathodically protected is the reason they have not
experienced any corrosion in the last 50 years.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that as a condition of the waiver, Intermountain
Gas proposes to perform the atmospheric corrosion inspection of residential meters and
associated piping in conjunction with the appropriate business district or non-business district
leak survey schedule. The Company states that non-business district leak surveys are performed
every four years, and business district leak surveys are conducted annually. The Company states
that approval of the waiver to allow the atmospheric corrosion inspections to coincide with the
annual business district and four-year non-business district leak survey schedules will help the
Company to maximize operating efficiencies without jeopardizing corrosion safety requirements.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petition together with supporting
workpapers, testimonies and exhibits (if any), have been filed with the Commission and are
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices. The
Application and testimonies are also available on the Commission website
www.puc.idaho.gov under the "File Room" icon and then "Multi-Utility Cases.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filing of
record in Case No. INT -05-1. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public
interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case and that issues
raised by the Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure Le., by written
submission rather than by hearing. ID AP A 31. 01. 01.201- 204. In so doing, the Commission
notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for
obtaining public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in
this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified
Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. IDAP A 31.01.01.203.
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29885
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no protests or written comments are
received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter and enter its Order
without a hearing. If protests or comments are filed within the deadline, the Commission will
consider them and may, in its discretion, set the matter for hearing or decide the matter and issue
its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. IDAPA 01.01.01.204.
NOTICE OF COMMENT/PROTEST DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this
Petition may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within
twenty-one (21) days from the service date of this Notice. Persons desiring a hearing must
specifically request a hearing in their written comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning this case
should be mailed to the Commission and to the Company at the addresses reflected below:
Commission Secretary Eldon Book, Sr. Vice President
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Intermountain Gas CompanyPO Box 83720 PO Box 7608
Boise, ID 83720-0074 Boise, ID 83707
E-mail: customerinput~intgas.com
Street Address For Express Mail:
472 W. Washington Street
Boise, ID 83702-5983
Morgan W. Richards
Attorney at Law
804 E. Pennsylvania Lane
Boise, ID 83706
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document. Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission s homepage located at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. These comments must also be sent to the Applicant at the address listed above.
FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Intermountain Gas
Company, its Petition, and the issues involved in this case by virtue of Title 61 , Idaho Code
specifically Idaho Code 99 61-115 , 61-116, 61-117 and 61-129, and the Commission s Rules of
Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29885
The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not
require a hearing to consider the issues presented in this case, and that issues raised by the
Company s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure , by written submission
rather than by hearing. IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. In so doing, the Commission notes that
Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining
public input and participation.
ORDER
IT IS HERBY ORDERED that this case be processed under Modified Procedure.
Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding this case or protesting the use of
Modified Procedure should do so no later than 21 days from the service date of this Order.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 'i fJ...
day of October 2005.
' .. '
/1~ O')
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
JU
. (
Je D. Jewell
Co mission Secretary
O:INT-05-01 dw
NOTICE OF PETITION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 29885