HomeMy WebLinkAbout20040514Decision Memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER HANSEN
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL STAFF
FROM:SCOTT WOODBURY
DATE:MAY 13, 2004
RE:CASE NO. IPC-04-11 (Idaho Power)
2004 ELECTRIC INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (IRP)
MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME
On April 30, 2004, Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power; Company) filed a Motion
for Extension of Time to file its 2004 Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Pursuant to
Commission Order No. 22299 issued in Case No. U-1500-165, Idaho Power is required to file its
biennial Integrated Resource Plan by June 30, 2004. The Company in its Motion requests
Commission authorization, either by Order or by Minute Entry, to file its 2004 IRP on or before
August 31 , 2004.
Idaho Power in its Motion notes that in response to Commission direction in the
Company s 2002 IRP filing, Order No. 29819, the Company has made a significant number of
changes in the scope, allocation of resources and process it is using to develop the 2004 IRP.
that Order the Commission directed the Company to modify the IRP development process so that
the public could be involved in a more meaningful way; directed the Company to modify its
process to address not only supply options, but to undertake serious consideration and reasoned
discussion of available demand-reduction options; and described its expectation that the
Company consider the IRP to be an actual planning document representing the Company s best
estimate of future changes in loads, resources and contract obligations.
In response to the Commission s Order 29819, the Company states that it created an
Integrated Resource Plan Advisory Council (IRP AC). The IRP AC consists of 16 individuals
representing various customer groups, environmental organizations, repres~ntatives of the Idaho
and Oregon Public Utility Commissions members of the Idaho Legislature, the Governor
DECISION MEMORANDUM
Office and others. The Company states that IRP AC has held regular monthly meetings since
September 2003. In addition to the expanded public involvement process, the Company states
that it has invested substantial additional resources and human resources and computer modeling
capability and effort. This effort includes development of techniques to evaluate both supply-
side and demand-side resources on an equivalent basis. Adjustments have also been proposed to
model the role of renewable resources and the potential risks associated with CO2 controls and
other external costs associated with various types of generating resources.
While the Company has invested substantial additional time and effort in preparing
its 2004 IRP, it states that the increased scope and complexity has delayed development of the
plan document. At its April 15, 2004 IRP AC meeting, the Company advised IRP AC of its
current schedule, including completion and distribution of the draft IRP, receipt of comments
from IRP AC on the draft IRP document, a series of four public meetings around the state and in
Oregon to take public comment and then completion of the final 2004 IRP document to include
both the comments received from IRP AC and at the public meetings. The Company indicated to
IRP AC that while it is feasible to accomplish all of those goals prior to the scheduled June 30
filing deadline, a delay in the filing date would allow IRP AC additional time to review the draft
IRP document and provide the Company additional time to integrate comments from the IRP
and the public meetings into the final IRP document. The participants in the April 15 , 2004
IRP AC meeting (including a representative of the Idaho Commission Staff) believed that it
would be better for the Company to request an extension of time and to spend the additional time
consulting with the IRPAC members and the public before completing the 2004 IRP document.
To facilitate this review process, the Company requests a 60-day IRP filing extension.
COMMISSION DECISION
Staff recommends that the Motion of Idaho Power for a 60-day extension of time (to August 31
2004) to file its 2004 Integrated Resource Plan be granted. Does the Commission agree that it is
reasonable to grant Idaho Power a 60-day extension to file its 2004 IRP?
Scott Woodbury
VldIM:IPCEO411 sw
DECISION MEMORANDUM