ORDER NO. 96-205

ENTERED AUG 05 1996

THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC COPY

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

OF OREGON

UA 43

DISPOSITION: APPLICATION GRANTED

On July 30, 1992, Idaho Power Company (IPCO) filed an application for an order authorizing it to provide electric service to the U. S. Forest Service in the Hells Canyon Area. On July 16, 1996, IPCO, PacifiCorp, and the Commission’s Staff filed a stipulation resolving all issues. The stipulation recites facts and agreements among the parties and seeks Commission approval of the stipulation.

The U.S. Forest Service operates a visitors’ information center on the Oregon side of the Snake River in Wallowa County, approximately 1/4 mile from the Hells Canyon Dam operated by IPCO. The visitors’ center is located in the service territory allocated to PacifiCorp. However, IPCO’s facilities are much closer to the visitors’ center than are PacifiCorp’s facilities. It would be expensive and impractical for PacifiCorp to extend its facilities to provide electric service to the visitors’ center, but easy for IPCO to provide that service. Therefore, the parties have agreed to transfer the allocated territory for the visitors’ center from PacifiCorp to IPCO. Additional details of the matter are specified in the attached Settlement Stipulation.

ORS 758.460 provides that an allocation of territory may be transferred only with the approval of the Commission. The Commission will grant the requested transfer if it finds that the transfer is not contrary to the public interest. No hearing is necessary if all affected customers agree to the proposed transfer.

The proposed transfer benefits IPCO, PacifiCorp, and their customers. Because IPCO’s facilities are the closest to the visitors’ center, it is more cost-efficient and less disruptive to the environment for IPCO to provide the service. The only affected customer, the U.S. Forest Service, agreed to the proposed transfer. The Commission finds that the proposed transfer of allocated territory is not contrary to the public interest.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. The application of IPCO to transfer from PacifiCorp to IPCO authority to provide exclusive electric service to the U. S. Forest Service’s visitors’ center near the Hells Canyon Dam is granted;

 

2. The Settlement Stipulation filed by the parties is adopted, and the agreement between IPCO and PacifiCorp to transfer the right to exclusively serve the territory described in Exhibit 4 to the attached Settlement Stipulation is approved;

 

3. The territory described in Exhibit 4 to the attached Settlement Stipulation is allocated exclusively for electric service to IPCO.

 

 

Made, entered, and effective ________________________. 

A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A request for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of service of this order. The request must comply with the requirements in OAR

860-014-0095. A copy of any such request must also be served on each party to the proceeding as provided by OAR 860-013-0070(2)(a). A party may appeal this order to a court pursuant to ORS 756.580.