20060531press release.htm

./053106_IPCohyrdoPPA_files/filelist.xml IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
9.35 pt 2 IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Case No. IPC-E-06-13, Order No. 30053 May 31, 2006 Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339

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

Idaho Power seeks approval of agreement with small hydro project

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will take comments through June 16 on an application by Idaho Power Co. to enter into a sales agreement with Riverside Hydro LLC for up to 1.9 megawatts of energy from a small hydroelectric project southwest of Kuna. One megawatt is enough energy to power about 750 homes.

The Riverside Hydro 1 project would qualify as a small-power production facility under provisions of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. PURPA, passed by Congress during the energy crisis of the late 1970s, requires electric utilities offer to buy power produced by small power producers, or cogenerators, who obtain Qualifying Facility status. The rate to be paid project developers is determined and then published 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.

Idaho Power’s proposed 20-year agreement with Riverside Hydro does not become effective until the commission approves it and declares that all payments Idaho Power makes to Riverside for energy can be allowed as prudently incurred expenses recovered from customers in rates. The project is anticipated to be online by July 1. Project manager is Dennis Daugherty.

Comments are accepted through June 16 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-06-13) 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.