Section 31.01.01.125 - NOTICES TO CUSTOMERS OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN RATES01.Contents of Customer Notice. A public utility must notify its customers whenever it requests to change rates.a. If a utility requests a rate increase, the customer notice must briefly explain the utility's need for additional revenue and the dollar amount requested, and give the proposed overall percentage change from current rates as well as the proposed percentage increase in revenue for each major customer class.b. If the utility requests a rate decrease, customer notice must briefly explain the reason for the decrease, the overall dollar amount of the proposed decrease, and the proposed percentage decrease for each major customer class.c. The customer notice must clarify that the application is a proposal, subject to public review and a Commission decision. It shall also inform customers that a copy of the utility's application is available for public review at the offices of both the Commission and the utility, and on the Commission's homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov.d. The customer notice shall inform customers that they may file written comments about the utility's application with the Commission. It shall also inform customers that they may subscribe to the Commission's RSS feed (Subsection 039.03) for periodic updates via email.02.Timing of Notice for Trackers or Annual Cost Adjustments. Tracker adjustment prompted by federal action that result in rate change may be brought to customers' attention in compliance with this rule after approval by the Commission. Other tracker or annual cost adjustment cases that result in a rate increase remain subject to this rule's advance notice requirements. Other tracker or annual cost adjustment cases that result in a rate decrease in rates may be brought to customers' attention in compliance with this rule after being approved by the Commission.03.Timely Distribution of Customer Notices. The customer notices referenced in Subsection 125.01 may be mailed separately to customers or included in the customer's regular bill as a bill stuffer. At the customer's option, the customer notice may be provided electronically. The information required by this rule must be clearly identified, easily understood, and pertain to the proposed rate change. The utility must start distributing customer notices when it files its application or as soon as possible thereafter.04.Press Release. In instances covered by Subsection 125.01, the utility shall also send a press release with at least the same information presented in the customer notices to all newspapers, radio, and television stations listed on the Commission's news organization list for that utility. The press releases shall be mailed or delivered simultaneously with filing of the application.05.Purposes and Effects of This Rule. Subsections 125.01 through 125.04 are intended to encourage wide dissemination to customers of information concerning proposed rate changes. These subsections do not expand, contract, or otherwise modify customers notice and due process rights under the Public Utilities Law and the Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01. Accordingly, Subsections 125.01 through 125.05 create no due process or procedural rights for any customer that would give rise to a due process or other procedural claim cognizable by the Commission. A public utility's failure to comply with Subsections 125.01 through 125.05 of this rule can be grounds for returning an application for incompleteness.Idaho Admin. Code r. 31.01.01.125