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Home My WebLink About20111118notice_of_filing_order_no_32400.pdfOffice of the Secretary Service Date November 18,2011 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER ) COMPANY’S PETITION FOR AN )CASE NOS.IPC-E-11-21 ACCOUNTING ORDER TO ESTABLISH )RATEMAKING TREATMENT OF )NOTICE OF FILING QUALIFYING REPORTING ENTITY ) CONTRACTS )NOTICE OF )MODIFIED PROCEDURE ) ______________________________ )ORDER NO.32400 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on October 31,2011,Idaho Power Company filed a Petition requesting a Commission Order modifying and continuing ratemaking processes set forth in Commission Order No.30941 issued November 5.2009,regarding the voluntary qualified reporting entity (QRE)services the Company provides.The Company’s Petition addresses accounting for renewable energy credits (RECs)through an independent inventory tracking system as recommended by the Western Energy Coordinating Council (WECC).The tracking system is the Western Renewable Electricity Generation Information System (WREGIS)and is designed to ensure that (I)only one REC is created for each megawatt-hour generated from a qualifying renewable energy project,(2)each individual REC is only used for one purpose,and (3)provides a system that allows both the generation units creating RECs and users of the RECs to communicate specific REC requirements.The WREGIS system does not track the financial value of the RECs but instead tracks the creation and disposition of the individual REC certificates. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s Petition states that the WREGIS process requires that a party,independent from the owner of the renewable generation unit,supply WREGIS with the actual monthly megawatt-hour that a renewable generation unit has delivered.The independent party is called a qualified reporting entity (QRE).Idaho Power has been approved as a QRE by the WREGIS administrator. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power’s identification as a QRE came about through a case resolved in front of the Oregon Public Utilities Commission in 2009.The Oregon Commission approved a memorandum of understanding between its staff and the utilities in which the utilities agreed to voluntarily provide QRE services for approximately two years so NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.32400 1 long as the cost to perform the services was fully compensated by the party requesting the QRE service. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that in May 2009,Idaho Power filed a request with this Commission for approval of accounting and ratemaking treatment of expenses and revenues associated with providing voluntary QRE services as outlined in the agreement approved by the Oregon Commission.On November 5,2009,this Commission issued an accounting Order approving the Company’s proposed accounting and ratemaking processes through the two-year review process established in Oregon.The Commission also directed the Company to file an analytical report on the QRE services to facilitate the review of the above- the-line ratemaking treatment for those services.The Company’s analytical report is attached to the Petition in this case. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Idaho Power in its Petition requests the Commission authorize the Company to continue the accounting and raternaking treatment processes previously approved for an indefinite period of time.The Petition states that as of September 30,2011.Idaho Power has 26 client contracts,25 of which are for generator plants in Idaho,and 1 for a generator plant in Oregon.The Company requests Commission approval of its request to continue the processes related to the QRE services indefinitely with the following conditions,which have been approved by the Oregon Commission:(a)Idaho Power will notify the Commission and all entities using QRE services of its intent to discontinue providing voluntary QRE service 90 days in advance of the proposed discontinuance;and (b)Idaho Power will provide data regarding QRE service,subject to protection of confidential information,if requested by the Commission. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01 .01.201-204.The Commission notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input and participation. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or in opposition with the Commission within NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.32400 2 21 days from the service date of this Notice.The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.Written comments concerning this Application may be mailed to the Commission and Idaho Power at the addresses reflected below: Commission Secretary Lisa D.Nordstrom Idaho Public Utilities Commission Jason B.Williams P0 Box 83720 Idaho Power Company Boise,Idaho 83 720-0074 P0 Box 70 Boise,ID 83707-0070 Street Address for Express Mail:E-Mail:lnordstrom()idahopower.com jwilliams(Zidahopower.com 472 W.Washington Street Boise,ID 83702-59 18 Timothy E.Tatum Courtney Waites Idaho Power Company P0 Box 70 Boise,ID 83707-0070 E-mail:ttatum(idahopower.com cwaites@idahopower.com These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the Commission’s home page located at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click the “Comments and Questions” icon,and complete the comment form,using the case number as it appears on the front of this document.These comments must also be sent to Idaho Power at the e-mail addresses listed above. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the time limit set,the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing.If written comments are received within the time limit set,the Commission will consider them and,in its discretion,may set the same for formal hearing. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting workpapers have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices or on the Commission’s web site at www.puc.idaho.gov by clicking on “File Room”and then “Electric Cases.” NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.32400 3 YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final order consistent with its authority under Title 61. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power Company’s Petition for an accounting order to establish ratemaking treatment of qualifying reporting entity contracts be processed by Modified Procedure,IDAPA 31,01,01.201-.204.Persons interested in submitting written comments in this matter must do so within 21 days from the service date of this Notice. DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /‘ day of November 2011. _____- PAUL KJELL D R,RESIDENT AcLJI MACK A.REDFOJWCMISSIONER OLL JL MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER ATTEST: JeqJi D.Jewell (/ Cd’mmission Se’retary bls/O:IPC-E-1 121ws NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.32400 4