On September 8, 2014, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion that may make it more difficult for certain qualifying facilities (QFs) to sell power to electric utilities. The two-judge majority concluded that wind generation facilities owned by Exelon could not sell power pursuant to a “legally enforceable obligation” to Southwestern Public Service Corp. A legally enforceable obligation essentially means that the utility has a legal obligation to purchase power from the QF. The third judge issued a strongly worded dissent disagreeing with the majority’s holding and reasoning. [Read more…]
OPUC Partially Acknowledges PacifiCorp IRP
August 20, 2014 By
On July 8, 2014, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued an order regarding PacifiCorp’s long-term plan for its generation and transmission resources. [Read more…]
Washington Superior Court Reverses Part of PSE’s Energy Rate Plan
August 6, 2014 By
On July 25, 2014, Washington Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy issued a decision affirming most, but reversing a key part, of Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) multi-year rate plan. [Read more…]
Oregon Passes Renewable Portfolio Standard Changes
May 15, 2014 By
On April 1, 2014, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed HB 4126, which makes changes to Oregon’s renewable portfolio standard. A renewable portfolio standard is a law that requires a utility to purchase a specific amount from renewable resources. HB 4126 is a compromise that will make it easier for electric cooperatives to meet their renewable portfolio standard requirements as they increase their electric load. The law may also allow Oregon utilities to offer separate “green tariffs” to non-residential customers. [Read more…]
FERC Requires Utilities to Pay QFs for Capacity
May 14, 2014 By
On March 20, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a declaratory order concluding that utilities must pay qualifying facilities (QF) for capacity as well as energy in sales pursuant to a legally enforceable obligation. A legally enforceable obligation is when a QF has the right to sell power to a utility at specific prices. FERC found that the Montana Public Service Commission’s (Montana Commission) rule requiring QFs to participate in a competitive bidding process to be paid for capacity failed to adequately compensate QFs. As it typically does, FERC declined to initiate an enforcement action against the Montana Commission, but the declaratory order allows a number of QFs to sue the commission in court. [Read more…]
