20110830order_no_32347.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 30,201 1
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR A )CASE NO.IPC-E-11-1O
DETERMINATION REGARDING THE )
FIRM ENERGY SALES AGREEMENT )
WITH INTERCONNECT SOLAR )ORDER NO.32347
DEVELOPMENT,LLC FOR THE SALE )
AND PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY )
On June 17,2011,Idaho Power Company filed an Application with the Commission
requesting acceptance or rejection of a 25-year Firm Energy Sales Agreement (Agreement)
between Idaho Power and Interconnect Solar Development LLC (Interconnect Solar;Project).
On July 8,2011,the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure setting a comment deadline of August 4,2011.Idaho Power and Interconnect Solar
were given until August 11,2011,to file reply comments.
On July 28,2011,Staff filed a Motion to Extend the original comment deadlines.
Staff indicated that,as the first solar project to have rates calculated based on the IRP
Methodology,the Interconnect Solar Application raised new,unique issues that Staff requested
additional time to review.Based on the issues presented by Staff,on August 2,2011,the
Commission issued an Order extending the comment deadline until September 29,2011,and
reply comment deadline until October 6,2011.Order No.32308.
On August 3,2011,Interconnect Solar filed an answer to Staffs Motion.The Project
does not oppose additional time for Staff to complete its investigation.However,Interconnect
Solar maintained that Staffs proposed schedule would cause the Project to no longer be
commercially viable and would force the Project into default of its contractual obligation with
Idaho Power.
In consideration of all of the parties’objectives,Commission Staff,the Project and
Idaho Power have worked together to expedite discovery.As a result,on August 25,2011,Staff
filed a new Motion to Modify the Deadline for Comments.Staff asserted that it is prepared to
file coniments in advance of the September 29,2011,deadline.Neither Interconnect Solar nor
Idaho Power opposed Staffs Motion.Consequently,the Commission modifies the comment
period as follows:
ORDER NO.32347 1
Initial comments due
Reply’comments due
September 9,201 1
September 16,2011
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the comment period in this case is modified so that
initial comments are due by September 9,2011,and reply comments are due by September 16.
2011.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this 3O
day of August 2011.
ATTEST:
Jean D.Jewe11i
Commission Secretary
O:IPC-E-1 1-lOks2
MACK A.REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
Ok0JL
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
ORDER NO.32347 2