On August 29, 2024, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Idaho Commission) directed Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) to develop potential modifications to the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, and approved a Powerex market purchase agreement as prudently incurred. [Read more…]
Idaho, Oregon, and Utah Commission Orders on PacifiCorp IRPs
September 1, 2022 By
On September 1, 2021, PacifiCorp filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC or Idaho Commission), Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC or Oregon Commission), and the Utah Public Service Commission (UPSC or Utah Commission). The Idaho Commission accepted and acknowledged the 2021 IRP in an August 30, 2022 written order. The Oregon Commission acknowledged the 2021 IRP, with conditions, at a public meeting on March 29, 2022, and memorialized that decision in an order on May 23, 2022. The Utah Commission declined to acknowledge the 2021 IRP in an order issued on June 2, 2022. [Read more…]
Idaho Commission Determines that QFs Cannot Establish a LEO Unless the Utility Delays Contract Execution
April 26, 2021 By
In April 2021, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) affirmed its December 2020 order that qualifying facilities (QF) under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) can only establish a Legally Enforceable Obligation (LEO) by filing a meritorious complaint against the purchasing utility before the utility’s rates change. This order means that QFs interested in selling to Idaho utilities can only lock in contract pricing by obtaining a fully executed contract before rates change or by demonstrating that a utility delayed contract execution. [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…]
Idaho PUC Re-affirms Two Year Contract Terms
December 16, 2016 By
On December 13, 2016, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Idaho Commission) issued an order approving a request by Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) to affirm two-year contract terms and low capacity payments for larger qualifying facilities (QFs). The order applies to wind and solar QFs above 100 kilowatts and all other QFs above 10 megawatts (MW). [Read more…]
