Colorado PUC E-Filings System

Transcription

1 BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Docket No. 15A- G IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION OF BLACK HILLS/COLORADO GAS UTILITY COMPANY, LP D/B/A BLACK HILLS ENERGY FOR COMMISSION APPROVAL OF AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF NOTICE TO REVISE ITS ANNUAL GAS DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT COST ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE TO TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1, APPLICATION Pursuant to C.R.S (1)(c)(I)(D), Black Hills/Colorado Gas Utility Company, LP d/b/a Black Hills Energy ( Black Hills, Company or Applicant ), by its undersigned Colorado PUC E-Filings System attorney, requests that the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado (the Commission ) enter an Order approving an alternative form of notice that will apply to the tariff changes in the Gas Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment (G-DSMCA) that Black Hills seeks to implement pursuant to its Combined Application of Black Hills/Colorado Gas Utility Company, LP d/b/a Black Hills Energy for (1) Approval of its Annual Gas Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Clause to Take Effect on July 1, 2015 and (2) Approval of its 2014 Gas Demand Side Management Bonus to take effect on July 1, 2015 (the Combined Application ). Black Hills also seeks a waiver of the Rule 1206(d) 30-day Commission notice and intervention period for this Application, pursuant to Rule 1003(b). In support of the relief requested, Black Hills states as follows: 1. On April 1, 2015, the Company filed the Combined Application affecting applicable residential and non-residential customers pursuant to its tariffs on file with the Commission. Black Hills is requesting (a) approval of Black Hills revised annual Gas Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment ( G-DSMCA ) Clause to take effect on July 1, 2015 for a

2 period of 12 months and (b) approval of Black Hills 2014 Gas Demand Side Management Bonus ( G-DSM Bonus ) to take effect on July 1, 2015 for a period of 12 months as part of the G-DSMCA factor. 2. By this Application, Black Hills seeks Commission approval to provide alternative notice of its Combined Application. 3. Specifically, Black Hills seeks Commission authorization to use the following form of alternative notice: a. Filing with the Commission, and keeping open for inspection, the Combined Application; b. Posting on the website for Black Hills: (1) a Customer Notice attached hereto, which is also attached to the Combined Application as G-DSMCA Schedule 8 ( Customer Notice ) and (2) the Combined Application and its accompanying G-DSMCA Schedules and G-DSM Bonus Exhibit, for sixty (60) days beginning with the date of filing the Combined Application; c. Printing a message on each customer s bill providing the website URL for the Customer Notice and the Combined Application and its accompanying G- DSMCA Schedules and G-DSM Bonus Exhibit, as well as a toll-free phone number for assistance, for one full billing cycle beginning on a bill cycle starting within one-week after filing the Combined Application; and d. Publishing the Customer Notice, with size dimensions of four columns width and 11 inches height, in The Colorado Springs Gazette, a newspaper of general circulation for the service territory. Such Customer Notice will be published on two consecutive Sundays, April 5 and April 12,

3 4. The Company plans to go forward with this alternative form of notice. The Company would like to avoid incurring time and materials expense for printing customer bill inserts, where such expense includes both Company employees and third-party vendors. In the event the Commission denies this Application, and determines that additional notice is required, the Company will provide additional notice consistent with the Commission s order. 5. There is good cause for the alternative form of notice requested by this Application. A bill message, unlike a bill insert, provides more visibility to the customer because it is presented on the first page of the bill, where the customer looks for dollar amount due and the payment deadline. The website posting will provide the required information regarding the Combined Application to the general public. The toll-free phone number provided in the bill message will give customers a second option to learn more about the Combined Application if they cannot access the internet for the Company s website. The newspaper publication will provide accessible and timely notice across the Company s service territory. These alternative forms of notice are expeditious and economic for the Company s customers. 6. Information Required By Rules 4002(b) and (c): a. Name and Address of Applicant. The Applicant is Black Hills/Colorado Gas Utility Company, LP d/b/a Black Hills Energy. Black Hills s principal office for natural gas operations in Colorado is located at 7060 Alegre Street, Fountain, CO b. Name Under Which Applicant Is, or Will Be Providing Service in Colorado. Applicant provides service under Black Hills Energy. Black Hills Energy is its registered trade name on file with the Colorado Secretary of State s office. c. Agreement to Comply with 4 Colo. Code Regs (b)(IV)-(VI). Black Hills has read, and agrees to abide by, the provisions of Rule 4002(b)(IV)-(VI). 3

4 d. Representatives to Whom Inquiries Concerning the Application Should Be Made. Copies of all notices, other correspondence, and all inquiries concerning this application should be sent to: Fredric C. Stoffel Director, Colorado Regulatory Services 1515 Wynkoop, Suite 500 (303) Kevin L. Opp Corporate Counsel 1515 Wynkoop, Suite 500 (303) e. Description of Existing Operations and General Colorado Service Area. Black Hills provides natural gas public utility services in numerous areas throughout the State of Colorado. A full listing of Black Hills existing operations and service area is set forth in Black Hills tariffs on file with the Commission. f. Location of Hearing. If a hearing is held on this application, Black Hills prefers that the hearing be held at the Commission s offices in Denver, Colorado. g. Acknowledgment. Black Hills has read and agrees to abide by the provisions of Rule 4002(b)(XI)(A)-(C). h. Statement Under Oath. The undersigned counsel for Black Hills states under penalty of perjury that the contents of this application are true, accurate and correct. 7. Information Required by Rules 1310(a) and 4002(c). Pursuant to Rule 1310(a), Black Hills filed the required regulated entity information with the Commission on September 11, 2008 in Miscellaneous Docket No. 06M-525EG. This information was most recently updated on January 8, The regulated entity information maintained by Black Hills in Miscellaneous Docket No. 06M-525EG is incorporated by reference into this Application. 4

5 WHEREFORE, for the reasons set forth herein, Black Hills respectfully requests that the Commission waive the notice and intervention period for this Application and approve the alternative form of notice set forth in this Application. Date: April 1, 2015 Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Kevin L. Opp Kevin L. Opp Reg. No Corporate Counsel 1515 Wynkoop Street, Suite 500 Telephone: Attorney for Black Hills/Colorado Gas Utility Company, LP Applicant s address: Black Hills/Colorado Gas Utility Company, LP 7060 Alegre Street, Fountain, CO