20130604notice_of_prehearing_conference_order_no_32823.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 4,2013
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE CONTINUATION )
OF II)AHO POWER COMPANY’S A/C COOL )CASE NO.IPC-E-13-14
CREDIT,IRRIGATION PEAK REWARDS,)
AND FLEXPEAK DEMAND RESPONSE )NOTICE OF INFORMAL
PROGRAMS FOR 2014 AND BEYOND )PREHEARING CONFERENCE
)
___________________________
)ORDER NO.32823
On April 2,2013,the Commission issued Order No.32776 authorizing Idaho Power
Company to “temporarily suspend”its A/C Cool Credit and Irrigation Peak Rewards Programs
for 2013.The A/C Cool program allows the utility to periodically “cycle”the central air
conditioning unit of participating residential customers during the summer months of June,July
and August.The Irrigation Peak Rewards program allows the utility to turn off the irrigation
pumps of participating irrigation customers for a limited number of hours during the three
summer months.
On May 9,2013,the Commission issued Order No.32805 implementing changes to
the FlexPeak demand response program.The FlexPeak Management program is a voluntary
demand response program for industrial and large commercial customers that are able to reduce
their electric service loads for short periods during the summer.Order No.32805 at 1.Idaho
Power contracts with EnerNOC,Inc.to manage the FlexPeak program until February 2014.
These three voluntary demand response programs were designed to reduce loads during summer
time peak-hour demand.
BACKGROUND
In Order No.32776,the Commission approved a proposed settlement agreement
entered into by the parties including the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association,Inc.(the
1±rigators”);Idaho Conservation League (ICL);Snake River Alliance (SRA);and the
Commission Staff.The parties agreed to suspend the A/C Cool and Peak Rewards programs for
2013 based upon Idaho Power’s 2013 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).More specifically,the
2013 IRP showed that the peak-hour projected loads for the summer months of 2013,2014.and
2015 does not show a ‘peak-hour deficit until July 2016 and therefore [there is]no need [to
NOTICE OF INFORMAL
PREHEARING CONFERENCE
ORDERNO.32823 1
employ]peak-hour demand response programs”like the A/C Cool and Peak Rewards programs.
The Company relied on the same rationale for amending the Peak Rewards contract.
The settlement approved in Order No.32776 also provided that residential customers
participating in the A/C Cool Credit program be provided a “continuity”payment of $1.00 per
month for the three summer months of 2013.The settlement also provided for continuity
payments for those irrigation customers voluntarily participating in the four Peak Reward
options.In addition to continuity payments,the parties requested that the Commission schedule
an informal prehearing conference to set public workshops and develop a procedural schedule so
that the parties and other interested persons may evaluate changes to the demand response
programs for calendar year 2014 and beyond.The Order approving the temporary suspension
directed Staff to convene an informal prehearing conference for the parties to develop a schedule
for the public workshops.Order No.32776 at 8.
In the FlexPeak Order,the Commission approved changes to the program which will
reduce the cost of the program by about $500,000 for 2013.Order no.32805 at 3.As with the
A/C Cool and Peak Rewards programs,the Commission directed that the public workshops also
address “how to continue the FlexPeak program in the future.”Id.at 4.In accordance with our
prior Orders mentioned above,this Notice schedules the informal prehearing conference to
further evaluate the three demand response programs.The Commission also directed that those
entities already granted intervention shall be deemed parties in the new case.Order No.32776 at
8.Staff counsel has advised the Commission that the parties in the prior cases have consented to
the prehearing conference.
NOTICE OF INFORMAL PREHEARING CONFERENCE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Commission Staff shall convene an
informal prehearing conference on WEDNESDAY,JUNE 12,2013,AT 1:30 P.M.IN THE
COMMISSION HEARING ROOM,472 W.WASHINGTON STREET,BOISE,IDAHO
[phone].The purpose of the informal prehearing conference is to allow the parties and
other interested persons to schedule public workshops regarding the continuation and or
modification of the A/C Cool Credit,Irrigation Peak Rewards,and FlexPeak demand response
programs for 2014 and beyond.Parties and other interested persons desiring to participate by
telephone may do so by dialing toll-free 1-888-706-6468 and entering participant code:2253752.
NOTICE OF INFORMAL
PREHEARING CONFERENCE
ORDER NO.32823 2
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all hearings and prehearing conferences in
this matter will be held in facilities meeting the accessibility requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).Persons needing the help of a sign language interpreter or other
assistance in order to participate in or to understand testimony and argument at a public hearing
may ask the Commission to provide a sign language interpreter or other assistance at the hearing.
The request for assistance must be received at least five (5)working days before the hearing by
contacting the Commission Secretary at:
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
P0 BOX 83720
BOISE,IDAHO 83720-0074
[phone] (Telephone)
[phone] (FAX)
E-Mail:secretary),puc.idaho .gov
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Commission Staff shall convene an informal
prehearing conference to discuss scheduling for public workshops as set out above.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association,Idaho
Conservation League,and Snake River Alliance shall be designated as intervening parties in this
case.Other persons desiring to intervene as parties may do so in accordance with the
Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.OLO1.072-.075.
NOTICE OF INFORMAL
PREHEARING CONFERENCE
ORDER NO.32823 3
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of June 2013.
ATTEST:
Jen D.Jewel!
Cdmrnission Secretary
hls/O:IPC-E-13-1 4dh
NOTICE OF INFORMAL
PREHEARING CONFERENCE
ORDER NO.32823
N\J (_
MACK A.RED RD,CO TONER
7tL6L /viL
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
PAUL PRESIDENT
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