HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260811Decision Memo.pdf DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER LODGE
COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSIONER HARDIE
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: ERIKA K. MELANSON
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: AUGUST 11, 2026
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S APPLICATION FOR
APPROVAL OF A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND AN ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEM TOLLING AGREEMENT WITH BLUEBIRD SOLAR
PROJECT LLC; CASE NO. IPC-E-26-20.
On June 19, 2026, Idaho Power Company ("Company") applied to the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission ("Commission") requesting (1) approval of the 20-year Power Purchase
Agreement ("PPA") between Bluebird Solar Project LLC ("Bluebird") and the Company,
supplying 200 megawatts ("MW") of output from the solar powered generation facility to the
Company, (2) approval of the 20-year Energy Storage System Tolling Agreement ("ESSTA")
between Bluebird and the Company for 100 MW of dispatchable energy storage capacity(together,
the "Bluebird Project"), and (3) acknowledgement of the lease accounting necessary to facilitate
the transaction and that the resulting expenses associated with both the PPA and the ESSTA are
prudently incurred for ratemaking purposes ("Application"). The Company requested an order by
December 4, 2026.
On July 16, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Intervention Deadline, setting a deadline for interested parties to file a petition to intervene. Order
No. 37099. No petitions to intervene were filed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Commission Staff recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Modified Procedure,
establishing an October 16, 2026, public comment deadline, and an October 30, 2026, reply
comment deadline.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Modified Procedure, establishing an
October 16, 2026, public comment deadline, and an October 30, 2026, reply comment deadline?
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Eri a K. Melanson
Deputy Attorney General
I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-26-20_Bluebird Solar\memos\IPCE2620_dec2_em.docx
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2