20110215AVU to NIPPC 67-68.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission P.O. Box 3727
Spokane. Washington 99220-0500
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
¿tll.STJI.
Corp.'
\ c InJ \0: \ 2
'l~ n fEB ,J 1\11 .ß
Februar 14,2011
Richardson & O'Lear, PLLC
515 N. 27th St.
Boise, il. 83702
Re: Production Request of the Nortwest and Intermounta Power Producers Coalition
(NIPPC)in Case No. GNR-E-IO-04
Dear Mr. Richardson and Mr. Adams,
Enclosed are an original of A vista's responses to NIPC production requests in the above
referenced docket. Included in this mailing are Avista's responses to production request 67 and
68.
If there are any questions regarding the enclosed information, please contact Michael Andrea at
[phone] or via e-mail atmichaei.andrea~avistacorp.coms~
Paul Kimball
Regulatory Analyst
Enclosures
cc: IPUC(Jewell)
.
.
.
A VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMTION
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
GNR- E-l 0-04
NIPC
Production Request
NIPPC-67
DATE PREPARD:WISS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMNT:
TELEPHONE:
02/1112011
Clint Kalich
Clint Kalich
Energy Resources
[phone]
REQUEST:
Reference the trcript of oral argument before the Idao Public.UtiIitiesComnssiòns on
Janua 27,2011 at pages 18 - 19, wherein Mr. Wälker asserted:
Idaho Power in its reply comments discloSed tht the softe providerfòr its modeling
program, AURORA, had advised us th there may be some kind of modelig problems
with that software for vey small projects under two megawatt in size and we disclose
that in our reply comments, and prior to tht time Idao Power ha not ben required to
ru AURORA on projects that small and in fact, we have not run projects smaller than
two megawatts through the AURORA modeling, and for several of the reaons that
we've outlined in our documents, we ha received no requests from anyone to ru
AURORA pricing for avoided costs for projects that low either.
However, since the time, since Januat 19th at the tie when we filed our reply
comments, obviously, we've been workig on this issue, we consulted with Avisti and
found out tht Avista routinely runs their AURORA modeling for 1 00 kilowatt projects
as par of their IR process; Also the Company's analysts also ran several testmodelings
at 100 kiowat levels and the CompanY is confdent tht themòdelig doèsresult in
accurate and usable results for projects smaer th two megawatt ..,
Also reference id at page 20, wherein Mr. Walker assered:
Well, firs of all, Mad Cornssioner, the Companýtieverdid state anywhere that the
AURORA modeling was flawed, so we object to that characterization ...
(a) Please reconcile the assertion quoted above th the "Company never did state anywhere
that the AURORA modeling was flawed" with Idao Power's Reply Comments atp. 13 stting:
If the projectissmall enough that it does not trgger changes in the base model
operations, Le., it is lost. in the rounding to MW s or MWs, then the bas model results
could be identica to the modeled resultS that include the project. Ths woúÌd resultii an
AURORA pricing ofi;ero.
While Idao Power believes using the IRP-basd methodology for any proJect above 100
kW is thenght answer, there are some liitations to modelig projects below a cen
size. To remedy this sitution, Idaho Power proposes to work with Sta to reh an
appropriate solution...
(b) Please identify the "Company's anysts" who "also ra several testmodeligs" and
provide the models they ran along with all supporting work papers.
(c) For Avista, please identify the individuas at the company who were "consulted with" by
Idao Power, the dates of said consultations and provide asunar of the con$ultations. Please
provide copies of allinformatioD, studies or models provide to Idaho Powetregarding AURORA
and its abilty to estimateàvoided costs for projectslarger th 100 kW
.
.
.
Page 2
(d) For Idao Power please identify the individuas at the company who "ra severa test
modelings" and provide a copy of the results of the test modeIings along with supportg work
papers.
(e) For Idaho Power, please identify the individuas at the company who
"consulted with"
Avista the dates of said consultations and provide asumar of the consultations. Please
provide copies .of all information, studies or models provide to Idao Power by Avist regarng
AURORA and its abilty to estiate avoided costs for projects larger than 100 kW.
(1) For Avista and Idao Power, please provide copies of and support work papers for the
thee most recent iterations of Avista's "routin(eJ... ru (ofltheir AURORA modeling forlOO
kilowatt projects as par of their IRP proces."
(g) Has Idaho Power had any communcations .'wth Sta to reach an appropriate solution"?
If so, please sumarize those communications, identify and provide copies of any documents
exchanged as par of those communcations.
(h) For Idaho Power, please provide
all additioIi evidence supportng the clai in Mr.
Walter's oral arguent that AURORA yields accurate resultsforQF projects srnerth2
MW.
RESPONSE:
a) This request was not directed at A vista; therefore A vista wil not respond.
b) This request was not directed at A vista; therefore A vista wil not respond.
c)The individuals at Avista were James Gall, Senior Power Supply Analyst and Clint Kalich,
Manager of Resource Planng. Mr. Gall reports to Mr. Kalich. Mr. Kalich and Mr. Gall
had discussions with Mr. Alphin, Mr. Noll, and Mr. Pagoaga. Avista does not have any
model rus, work papers, or other wrtten correspondence responsive to ths request. The
first meeting with Idaho Power was on Januar 21,2010. A secnd meeting occured on
Januar 26. In each of these meetings Avista described how it used 100 kW resources in
AURORA for its IR modeling.
d) This request was not directed at A vista; therefore A vista will not respond.
e) This request was not directed at A vista; therefore A vista wil not respond.
f) In 2005, Avistamodeled 1 MWresources. In the 2007 and2009IRs,Avistamodeled 100
kW resources. Due to the volumous nature of IR modeling results, A vista wil make its
models and data available at its headquarers in Spokane, W A.
g) Ths request was not directed at A vista; therefore A vista wil not respond.
h) This request was not directed at Avista; therefore Avista wil not respond.
.
.
.
AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMTION
JUSDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYE:
REQUEST NO.:
IDAHO
GNR- E-l 0-04
NIPC
Production Request
NIPPC-68
DATE PREPARD:WISS:
RESPONDER:
DEPARTMNT:
TELEPHONE:
02/10/2011
Clint Kalich
Clint Kalich
Energy Resources
[phone]
REQUEST:
Please reference the transcnpt of Counsel for A vista's oral argument before the Idao Public
Utilities Commssion on Janua 27,2011 at page 29 wherein Mr. Andrea stated:
I do want to address just really quickly Idaho Power's concers about the AURORA
program working for two megawatts or less. As Mr. Waler noted. Idaho Power has
worked with A vista over the past week or so to work on that issue and I thnk they've
come to the conclusion that they're comfortable that it does in fact work.
(a) Please identify the personnel at Avist who "worked" with Idaho Power in the two weeks
pnor to oral argument. Please also identify the personnel from Idaho Power who they worked
with.
(b) Please provide all documentation related to the work referenced in Mr. Andrea's
statement, including AURORA model rus, work papers and correspondence.
RESPONSE:
a) The individuals at Avista were James Gall, Senior Power Supply Analyst and Clint Kalich,
Manager of Resource Planng. Mr. Gall reports to Mr. Kalich. Mr. Kalich and Mr. Gall
had discussions with Mr. Alphin, Mr. Noll, and Mr. Pagoaga.
b) A vista does not have any model runs, work papers, or other written correspondence
responsive to this request.