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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250211Semi-Annual Report.pdf _ ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1407 W.North Temple,Suite 330RECEIVED POWER. Salt Lake City,Utah 84116 2025 February 11 A DIVISION OF PACIFICORP IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION February 11, 2025 VIA ELECTRONIC DELIVERY Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission 1131 W. Chinden Blvd Building 8 Suite 201A Boise, ID 83714 Re: CASE NO. PAC-E-21-01 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER FOR APPROVAL OF THE TRANSFER OF THE LOWER KLAMATH HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT GENERATING FACILITIES I. BACKGROUND On January 14, 2021, PacifiCorp, (the "Company"), filed an application with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, ("Commission"), requesting an order approving the Property Transfer Agreement, ("Transfer Agreement"), between the Company and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation,("Renewal Corporation"),with a determination that the property disposition is in the public interest. The Transfer Agreement provided for the transfer of four hydroelectric dams; J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate, (collectively the "Lower Klamath Project"), as well as approximately 8,000 acres of real and personal property associated with the dams from PacifiCorp to the Renewal Corporation. On July 8, 2021, the Commission issued Order No. 35097; approving the Transfer Agreement, authorizing the Company to create a regulatory asset for any remaining plant balances after the transfer, and requiring PacifiCorp to file bi-annual reports with the Commission on the 1 status of the license transfer with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, ("FERC"), and any additional capital investments on the Lower Klamath Project. Pursuant to Order No. 35097 PacifiCorp hereby submits its semi-annual status report on the license transfer, along with additional capital investments, and the June 30,2024,plant balance of the Lower Klamath Project. The report covers the period of July 1,2024,through December 31, 2024. IL BI-ANNUAL REPORT As previously reported, on June 17, 2021, FERC issued an orders approving PacifiCorp's application to transfer the license for the Lower Klamath Project, FERC Project No. 14803, to the Renewal Corporation, the State of Oregon, and the State of California (the "Co-Licensees"). Transfer of the license was to be effective upon transfer of the title of the properties under the Lower Klamath Project to the Co-Licensees and the acceptance by the Co-Licensees of a FERC license surrender order for the project. FERC approved the license surrender application at its regular meeting on November 17, 2022, and issued the license surrender order on the same date. Following FERC's action, the Co- Licensees formally accepted the FERC surrender order and executed the necessary steps with PacifiCorp to complete transfer of the project license and real property, which was effective on December 1, 2022. PacifiCorp was obligated under the terms of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement to continue to operate and maintain the Lower Klamath Project in compliance with the existing FERC license and other regulatory requirements until the Lower Klamath Project is 'PacifiCorp,Order Approving Transfer of License, 175 FERC¶61,236(2021),Issued June 17,2021,Project Nos. 2082-062, 14803-000, 14803-004,FERC Accession#: 20210617-3060. 2 PacifiCorp,Order Modifying and Approving Surrender of License and Removal of Project Facilities, 181 FERC¶ 61,122(2022),Issued November 17,2022,Project Nos.2082-063, 14803-001,FERC Accession#:20221117-3021. 2 disconnected from the electrical grid and no longer benefitting customers with generation produced from the facilities. This operation and maintenance obligation was formalized in an amended and restated Operation and Maintenance Agreement between PacifiCorp and the Co- licensees that went into effect on December 1, 2022, concurrent with the transfer of the license. This contract was effective with respect to each facility in the Lower Klamath Project until generation from the facility ceased. During this reporting period, the Renewal Corporation continued dam removal and associated restoration activities, with its removal contractor completing the removal of the Iron Gate, Copco No. 1, and J.C. Boyle developments in early October 2024. Restoration activities for the formerly inundated reservoir areas continued, including reservoir revegetation, slope stability mitigation, erosion control and site access improvements, and disposal area improvements and revegetation. Other dam removal implementation activities included cultural resource mitigation and continued implementation of the various resource management plans required by FERC pursuant to the license surrender order and other permit requirements. III. REGULATORY ASSET BALANCE The Lower Klamath Project's regulatory asset balance as of December 31, 2024 is summarized in Table 1. While amortization of the legacy regulatory asset was completed, a new regulatory asset balance was established in 2023 as a result of the FERC's reply to the Company's proposed accounting entries associated with the disposition of the Lower Klamath Project assets.3 Originally, the Company retained the net book value of the Lower Klamath Project assets in the plant accounts due to its continuing to operate and benefit from the output of the facilities with the intent to transfer the net book value to a regulatory asset upon cessation of operations. However, s FERC Docket No.AC23-26-000 dated May 5,2023. 3 the FERC did not accept this accounting and directed the Company to transfer the net book value directly to a regulatory asset. As a result, the Company transferred the net book value to a regulatory asset in 2023 upon receiving the FERC's reply. Table 1. Lower Klamath Project Regulatory Asset Balance as of December 31, 2024 Description Total Idaho Regulatory Asset $ 3,919,690 $ 212,198 Amortization Expense January to December 2024 $ 1,281,668 $ 69,385 Any informal inquiries related to this report may be directed to Mark Alder, Idaho Regulatory Manager at mark.alder(a,pacificorp.com or by phone at(801) 220-2313. Very truly yours, bA 9�3a-'---LD Joelle R. Steward Senior Vice President, Regulation 4