HomeMy WebLinkAbout20140714_4407.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
FROM: KRISTINE SASSER
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JULY 10, 2014
SUBJECT: IDAHO POWER’S REQUEST TO UPDATE ITS WIND INTEGRATION
RATES AND CHARGES, CASE NO. IPC-E-13-22
On November 29, 2013, Idaho Power Company filed an Application with the
Commission seeking to update its wind integration rates and charges. The Company’s
Application includes a 2013 Wind Integration Study Report as well as the supporting testimony
of Philip DeVol and Michael J. Youngblood.
BACKGROUND
A Notice of Application was issued on December 31, 2013, allowing 21 days for
intervention. All parties who petitioned were granted intervention. A Notice of Parties was
issued on January 31, 2014. Twelve intervenors1 (all qualifying facilities, “QFs”) represented by
the firm of Richardson Adams filed a Motion to Dismiss on January 31, 2014 (hereafter,
“Petitioners”). The remaining Intervenors2 filed motions in response to the Motion to Dismiss.
Idaho Power filed an Answer to the Motion to Dismiss and additional motions on February 21,
2014. The Petitioners filed a reply to Idaho Power’s answer on February 28, 2014.
The Commission issued Order No. 33030 on April 30, 2014, denying Petitioners’
Motion to Dismiss. However, we clarified that “any Commission approved modifications to
Idaho Power’s wind integration rates and charges will only apply prospectively – to new
1 Cold Springs Windfarm, LLC; Desert Meadow Windfarm, LLC; Hammett Hill Windfarm, LLC; Mainline
Windfarm, LLC; Ryegrass Windfarm, LLC; Two Ponds Windfarm, LLC; Cassia Wind Farm, LLC; Hot Springs
Windfarm, LLC; Bennett Creek Windfarm, LLC; Cassia Gulch Wind Park, LLC; Tuana Springs Energy, LLC; and
High Mesa Energy, LLC.
2 American Wind Energy Association; Idaho Wind Partners I, LLC; Idaho Winds, LLC; Renewable Northwest
Project; Rockland Wind Farms, LLC; Snake River Alliance;
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
contracts as they are entered into by the parties and submitted to the Commission for approval.”
Id. at 8. The Commission allowed parties 14 days to withdraw as intervenors if any party
believed that, based on our ruling in Order No. 33030, it no longer had a direct and substantial
interest in the underlying proceeding. Several parties withdrew from the case. An Amended
Notice of Parties was issued on May 20, 2014. Thereafter, the parties proposed, and the
Commission adopted the following procedural schedule:
Comment deadline July 2, 2014
Settlement conference July 9, 2014
Reply comment deadline July 22, 2014
Order No. 33054. The parties agreed to process the case by Modified Procedure.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE
On July 9, 2014, the parties met to discuss settlement. Although the parties were
unable to resolve their differing positions regarding wind integration, knowledge was gained
through discussion that has led to the desire by all parties for further inquiry. Also, although
Idaho Power’s initial Application did not represent a position by the Company, Idaho Power
indicated during settlement that it intends to submit and support a position through reply
comments. The parties agree that, based on the above circumstances, additional time for
discovery and comment is reasonable and necessary in order to develop an adequate and
thorough record upon which the Commission’s decision can be based. Therefore, based on
agreement between the parties, Staff proposes the following additional procedure:
(Existing) reply comment deadline July 22, 2014
Deadline for additional discovery requests July 29, 2014
Supplementary comment deadline September 4, 2014
Supplementary reply comment deadline September 17, 2014
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to adopt the additional procedural schedule proposed by
the parties?
Kristine A. Sasser
Deputy Attorney General
M:IPC-E-13-22_ks4