20060209press release.htm

./020906_IPCoOregonbiomass_files/filelist.xml IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
9.35 pt 2 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Case No. IPC-E-06-02, Order No. 29970 February 9, 2006 Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339

Website:
http://www.puc.idaho.gov/www.puc.idaho.gov

Idaho Power seeks to buy power from Oregon project

Idaho Power Co. is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve a one-year sales agreement with a biomass project in east-central Oregon.

The sales agreement is with C-Gen Co., LLC, which operates a 10-megwatt wood waste (biomass) generation unit adjacent to the Prairie Woods Products Mill in Prairie City, Oregon.

The generation unit is located within the service area of the Oregon Trails Electric Cooperative. Generation from the facility would be delivered to Idaho Power over the transmission lines of the Oregon Trails Electric Cooperative and the Bonneville Power Administration.

The project qualifies for rate treatment under provisions of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA. The act requires that electric utilities offer to buy renewable power produced by small power producers or cogenerators. The published rate to be paid project developers is set by state commissions and is to be equal to the cost the electric utility avoids if it would have had to generate the power itself or purchase it from another source. Since this project is located in Oregon, the rate Idaho Power must pay the project developers is established by a tariff in that state.

The commission will take comments on the proposed sales agreement through March 1. Comments are accepted via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at
http://www.puc.idaho.gov/www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (IPC-E-06-02) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to [phone].

A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, are available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File Room” and then on “Electric Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.