Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Expenses mounting for failed turbine in Atlanta
Atlanta Power Company is seeking authority from the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission to create a deferred account that may eventually
allow the small utility to recover unanticipated expenses due to the failure of
the company’s only hydroelectric turbine.
The turbine at the Kirby Dam on the Middle Fork of the
Boise River failed on June 16. Since then, the approximate 75 households and
businesses in Atlanta have been getting their power from a diesel generator
that operates for only six hours in the morning and six hours in the evening.
Atlanta Power estimates the cost to repairing the turbine
will be about $60,000. In addition to that, the company has incurred about
$12,300 in expenses for diesel fuel and for rental of the diesel generator. The
company is not requesting recovery of costs at this time, but authority to
establish a deferred expense account until a method for recovery of the
expenses can be proposed.
The commission will proceed under
a modified procedure that allows this case to be handled through written public
comments rather than by public hearing. However, comments may request a public
hearing.
Those wishing to submit comments
must do so by no later than Aug. 24. Comments are accepted via e-mail by
accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov
and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number
(ATL-E-07-01) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box
83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.
A full
text of the commission’s notice, along with other documents related to this
case, are available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File Room” and then
on “Electric Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.