The Washington Utility and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) approved a new interconnection tariff for Puget Sound Energy (PSE). PSE’s new tariff is only available to state jurisdictional qualifying facilities (QFs) interconnecting and selling power to PSE under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), and provides a third, lower cost option for interconnection service. [Read more…]
OPUC Acknowledged PacifiCorp’s 2020 RFP Shortlist with Conditions
December 2, 2021 By
On November 24, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) acknowledged PacifiCorp’s 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) final shortlist with several conditions. PacifiCorp will now negotiate power purchase agreement and build own transfer agreements with some or all of the over 3,500 MW of new wind, solar and battery storage projects. [Read more…]
OPUC Declines Jurisdiction over QF PPAs
June 30, 2021 By
On June 25, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) dismissed the case brought against NewSun Energy (NewSun) by Portland General Electric (PGE) that sought to terminate the power purchase agreements (PPAs) of select qualified facilities (QFs). The primary dispute was over the timeline of the QFs to come online and be commercially viable. NewSun argued there was force majeure, or, unforeseeable and unpreventable circumstances which prevented the facilities from achieving their commercial operation dates. The Commission agreed concluded that case should be adjudicated in court and dismissed the case, without prejudice. [Read more…]
WUTC Approves PSE 2021 RFP With Modifications
June 18, 2021 By
On June 14, 2021, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Washington Commission) issued an order approving of Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP), with two significant modifications. First, the Washington Commission required PSE to remove a cost adder on PPA bids for a potential return on power purchase agreements (PPAs). Second, the Washington Commission required PSE to accept comments and hold a workshop on Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) calculations. PSE expects that bids will be due September 1, 2021. [Read more…]
FERC Finds Utah QF Established LEO Prior to Utility’s PURPA Waiver Filing
April 28, 2021 By
On April 15, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order finding that a qualifying facility (QF) called Kanab Solar had established a legally enforceable obligation (LEO) to sell power to Garkane Energy Cooperative (Garkane) prior to the date that Garkane and its generation and transmission cooperative, Deseret Power, had petitioned FERC for waivers to some of their obligations under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). FERC granted the waivers. However, FERC also determined that Kanab Solar established a LEO before the petitions were filed. This means that the waivers do not affect Kanab Solar’s pre-existing right to choose to sell to Garkane rather than to Deseret Power. [Read more…]
