Idaho Bills

Appropriates an additional $100,000 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2017.

This is a fiscal year 2017 supplemental appropriation to the Public Utilities Commission in the amount of $100,000 in operating expenditures from the Indirect Cost Recovery Fund. The commission's only federal grant, the Pipeline Safety Program, recently expanded allowable indirect costs from a 20% ceiling to the actual negotiated indirect rate. This change was not confirmed to the states until late spring 2016, when the commission received a supplemental reimbursement check for an additional $93,000 for overhead costs. Proper accounting for overhead expenses ensures that the regulated natural gas companies are not picking up a disproportionate share of the costs of the pipeline safety program. This appropriation doubles the base appropriation to match the new, higher indirect reimbursement amounts moving forward.

Appropriates $6,561,800 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2018; and limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 52.

Appropriates $6,561,800 to the Public Utilities Commission for fiscal year 2018 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 52. Dedicated funding is from assessments charged to the regulated utilities and federal funding is from a pipeline safety grant. The bill includes funding for the increased costs for health insurance, funding for increases in leased office space, provides for replacement items, and accounts for an increase in statewide cost allocation. This bill also includes an ongoing 3% merit-based increase in employee compensation for permanent employees. No line items are provided.