On March 22, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued an order rejecting PacifiCorp’s avoided cost rate reduction. PacifiCorp claimed not to need new renewable resources, which the Oregon Commission did not believe because the recent amendments to the Oregon renewable portfolio standard will double the utility’s need to acquire new renewable resources. The Commission directed PacifiCorp to work with staff, and other interested parties to establish a process to review PacifiCorp’s avoided cost rates. [Read more…]
Avista’s Oregon Rates Increase
March 22, 2016 By
On March 15, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) approved an increase to Avista Corporation’s (Avista) revenue requirement by $4,460,000, representing a 4.9% rate increase. The Oregon Commission resolved a number of other important issues, including the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) taking over the utility’s energy efficiency program, a revenue-per-customer decoupling mechanism, a new capital structure and return on equity, the prudence of certain capital additions, and recovery of pension, medical, bonuses and other costs. [Read more…]
PGE’s Avoided Cost Rate Reduction Rejected
February 2, 2016 By
On January 26, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) rejected Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE) proposed avoided cost rate reduction. PGE had proposed to significantly lower avoided cost rates outside of the established rules and processes. The Oregon Commission chastised PGE for makings its procedurally incorrect filing, but urged the utility to re-file and have its avoided cost rates properly evaluated. [Read more…]
Utah Commission Maintains Long-Term QF Contracts
January 11, 2016 By
On January 7, 2016, the Utah Public Service Commission (the Utah Commission) issued an order rejecting PacifiCorp’s (dba Rocky Mountain Power) proposal to shorten the qualifying facility (QF) contract term from twenty to three years. The Commission instead lowered the contract term to fifteen years. The order is a victory for non-utility owned renewable energy generators in Utah. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Approves PacifiCorp’s Direct Access and Power Cost Filing
December 18, 2015 By
On December 11, 2015, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued its final order approving PacifiCorp’s Oregon power costs and direct access program in their entirety. The order will result in a small rate increase and no changes to PacifiCorp’s direct access program, which has low participation levels. [Read more…]
