TITLE 61

PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATION

CHAPTER 8

STRAY CURRENT AND VOLTAGE REMEDIATION ACT

61-805.  Commission — Jurisdiction — Orders. The commission shall have exclusive, initial jurisdiction to determine whether a utility has complied with the commission rules regarding measurement of stray current or voltage; whether the utility’s measurements demonstrated stray current or voltage at or above the preventive action level; whether the utility has properly identified that portion of the stray current or voltage at cow contact points attributable to the utility’s distribution system; and whether the utility has complied with its remediation obligation under this chapter.

(1)  If, after hearing, the commission determines that (a) the utility complied with the commission rules regarding measurement of stray current or voltage, and (b) the utility properly identified no stray current or voltage in excess of the preventive action level, then the commission shall issue an order that the utility has provided adequate service pursuant to section 61-302, Idaho Code. The commission’s order thereon shall be binding on the parties, subject only to the provisions of section 61-807, Idaho Code.

(2)  If, after hearing, the commission determines that (a) the utility complied with the commission rules regarding measurement of stray current or voltage, (b) the utility properly identified stray current or voltage in excess of the preventive action level, and (c) the utility properly identified that the portion of stray current or voltage attributable to the utility’s distribution system was fifty percent (50%) or less of the preventive action level, then the commission shall issue an order that the utility provided adequate service pursuant to section 61-302, Idaho Code. The commission’s order thereon shall be binding on the parties, subject only to the provisions of section 61-807, Idaho Code.

(3)  If, after hearing, the commission determines that (a) the utility complied with the commission rules regarding measurement of stray current or voltage, (b) the utility properly identified stray current or voltage in excess of the preventive action level, and (c) the utility properly identified that the portion of stray current or voltage attributable to the utility’s distribution system exceeded fifty percent (50%) of the preventive action level, then the commission shall thereafter determine the adequacy of the utility’s remediation efforts. The commission’s order thereon shall be binding on the parties, subject only to the provisions of section 61-807, Idaho Code. If the dairy producer has complied with the notice provisions set forth in section 61-804, Idaho Code, and the commission has made a determination that the conditions set forth in this subsection are met, then the dairy producer may, not later than one (1) year following completion of adequate remediation, or one (1) year following the issuance of the commission’s final order thereon, whichever occurs later, commence a civil action seeking monetary damages against the utility. In any such civil action, damages shall be limited as set forth in section 61-808, Idaho Code.

(4)  If, after hearing, the commission determines that (a) the utility failed to comply with the commission rules regarding measurement of stray current or voltage, (b) the utility failed to properly identify, when required pursuant to section 61-804, Idaho Code, to do so, that portion of stray current or voltage attributable to the utility’s distribution system, or (c) the utility failed to provide adequate remediation, then the commission shall order the utility to take measurements of stray current or voltage in conformance with commission rules, or identify that portion of the stray current or voltage attributable to the utility’s distribution system and, if necessary, to provide adequate remediation. The commission’s order thereon shall be binding on the parties, subject only to the provisions of section 61-807, Idaho Code. If the dairy producer complied with the notice provisions set forth in section 61-804, Idaho Code, and the commission made a determination that the portion of stray current or voltage attributable to the utility’s distribution system exceeded fifty percent (50%) of the preventive action level, then the dairy producer may, not later than one (1) year following completion of adequate remediation, or one (1) year following the issuance of the commission’s final order thereon, whichever occurs later, commence a civil action seeking monetary damages against the utility. In any such civil action, damages shall be limited as set forth in section 61-808, Idaho Code.

(5)  If after hearing, the commission determines that a dairy producer made or pursued a claim in bad faith or for purposes of harassment of the utility, the commission shall require the dairy producer to pay the utility’s actual costs of investigation and defense. If, after hearing, the commission determines that a utility acted in bad faith, or for purposes of harassment or delay, the commission shall require the utility to pay the dairy producer’s actual costs of investigation, if any, and preparation and presentation of the claim before the commission. The commission’s order thereon shall be binding on the parties, subject only to the provisions of section 61-807, Idaho Code.

History:

[61-805, added 2005, ch. 189, sec. 1, p. 580.]