On April 3, 2019, a Montana District Court Judge, Judge Manley, issued an order reversing the Montana Public Service Commission’s (“Montana Commission”) orders 7500c and 7500d that cut Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (“PURPA”) standard avoided cost prices and contract lengths for qualifying facilities (“QFs”) offered by Montana utility NorthWestern Energy (“NorthWestern”). [Read more…]
Montana District Court Finds that Public Service Commission Acted Arbitrarily and Unreasonably
April 8, 2019 By
Oregon Commission Provides Large Customers New Option to Purchase Green Energy
March 17, 2019 By
On March 5, 2019, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued Order No. 19-075 approving the implementation of a voluntary renewable energy tariff (VRET) by Portland General Electric Company (PGE). PGE’s proposed VRET allows ratepayers to purchase additional or all renewable energy from either their utility or an independent power producer. [Read more…]
PGE Direct Access Status Quo Retained
December 20, 2018 By
On December 18, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) issued its final order resolving Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE’s) most recent general rate case. The Oregon Commission resolved numerous issues related to PGE’s overall customer rates, and adopted several different stipulations that the rate case parties had reached on various topics, allowing PGE a rate increase of 1.8 percent, rather than the 4.8 percent PGE originally requested. Importantly, the Oregon Commission maintained the status quo for PGE’s modestly successful direct access program. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Determines It Lacks Authority to Allow Utilities to Defer Costs Associated With Capital Projects
November 4, 2018 By
On October 29, 2018, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission or OPUC) issued an order finding that it lacks the legal authority to allow utilities to defer, for later ratemaking consideration, the costs associated with their capital projects. The Oregon Commission’s decision represents a departure from its past practice, and also marked an instance of the Oregon Commission reaching a conclusion that was not advanced by any party to the proceeding. [Read more…]
Oregon Public Utility Commission Codifies PURPA Policies
November 2, 2018 By
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…]
