On October 29, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued modifications to its rules governing a utility’s purchase of power from qualifying facilities (QFs) under Oregon’s implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). These rules were codified in the Oregon Commission’s rules after they were published by the Oregon Secretary of State on November 2, 2018. The final rules are the culmination of a three-year old Petition for Rulemaking filed by Obsidian Renewables, LLC in November 2015. [Read more…]
Oregon PUC Approves PGE Storage Pilot
August 20, 2018 By
On August 13, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) adopted a stipulation outlining an agreed approach to the development of five energy storage projects by Portland General Electric Company (PGE). The Oregon Commission concluded that PGE’s proposed structure for PGE’s Coffee Creek Request for Proposal (RFP) is reasonable; however, the Commission stated that it would require PGE to review ownership issues as part of future filings on the Coffee Creek project. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Denies Pre-Operational QF Capacity Changes
August 6, 2018 By
On August 2, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) issued an order denying three qualifying facilities (QFs) under the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA) the ability to change their nameplate capacity after contract execution but prior to commencing commercial operations. The Commission interpreted the language in Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE’s) standard power purchase agreement as prohibitive of either an increase or decrease to nameplate capacity prior to commercial operation. [Read more…]
Montana Commission Issues Final Rule on Legally Enforceable Obligations
July 12, 2018 By
On July 10, 2018, the Montana Public Service Commission issued a final rule establishing the criteria for forming a legally enforceable obligation (LEO) under the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). [Read more…]
Oregon and Idaho PUCs Issue Contradictory Orders on the Idaho Power Gas Price Forecasts
May 26, 2018 By
On May 16, 2018, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Idaho Commission) rejected Idaho Power Company’s (Idaho Power) proposal to use a low natural gas forecast as the basis to set avoided cost rates paid to qualifying facilities (QFs). On May 23, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) reached the opposite conclusion and allowed Idaho Power to use the same low natural gas price forecast. In Idaho, Idaho Power was required to use a more business as usual gas price forecast, which predicts higher natural gas prices and results in higher prices paid to QFs. [Read more…]
