20131113press release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case No. IPC-E-13-14, Order No. 32923
November 13, 2013
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone], 890-2712
Website: www.puc.idaho.gov

Settlement ensures ongoing demand response programs
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is accepting a settlement that ensures
continuity of Idaho Power “demand response” programs designed to reduce electric
demand during summertime peak-use periods.
Earlier this year, Idaho Power Co. filed an application with the commission to
temporarily suspend its “A/C Cool Credit” and “Irrigation Peak Rewards.” The utility
said the programs cost the utility and, hence, its customers more to operate than
the value of the energy saved. The downturn in the economy reduced demand on
Idaho Power’s generation system, the company claimed, and its own forecasting did
not show a peak-hour capacity deficit until 2016.
“A/C Cool Credit” paid residential customers $7 per month each of three summer
months for allowing the utility to remotely cycle their air conditioning units.
“Irrigation Peak Rewards,” paid farmers to curtail irrigation during peak periods. A
third program, “Flex Peak,” offers incentives to large commercial and industrial
customers to create customized efficiency programs.
The settlement, reached by Idaho Power, commission staff, the Idaho Irrigation
Pumpers Association, Idaho Conservation League, Snake River Alliance and
EnerNOC, Inc. , keeps costs lower by slightly reducing both the duration of the
programs and the amount of credit paid customers who volunteer to participate.
The settlement makes the demand reduction more valuable by eliminating, in most
cases, the requirement on the utility to notify participating customers in advance of
interruption. (With advance notice, if the peak-use does not eventuate as
forecasted, the value of the energy saved is lost.)
The commission commended the parties who reached the settlement after five
public workshops. The settlement allows the utility to leverage the investment it
made when the programs started – enrolling customers, installing load-control
devices, etc. – while operating them in a more cost-efficient manner, reducing costs
to all customers.
Keeping the programs viable means they can be ramped up when needed, the
commission said. “We believe it is important for the company to continue its
demand response (DR) programs to ensure it has sufficient, reliable DR resources
to meet expected deficits,” the commission said. “Circumstances such as increased
demand related to business relocation and expansion, coupled with increased
residential construction can occur quickly ....” the commission said.
The parties agreed that the value to both the company and its customers of all the
programs combined would be about $16.7 million annually. During 2012, Idaho
Power spent $5.5 million on the A/C Cool Credit program and $12.3 million on
Irrigation Peak Rewards. Much of that expense was in direct payments to
customers. During 2012, these two programs and FlexPeak provided about 367
MW of peak reduction.
The settlement says demand response should be used not only during peak-use
periods, but also to delay construction of new peaking capacity, avoid transmission
line losses and provide improved reliability during emergencies.
Some of the program specifics include:
 A/C Cool Credit will be available on weekdays from June 15 to August 15.
Participating customers will receive a $15 bill credit over three billing periods.
Idaho Power will not actively market the program, but will recruit customers
who move into a home where a load-control device has been installed
because the previous owner agreed to participate. The company will accept
new participants upon request.
 Irrigation Peak Rewards will be available also from June 15 to August 15
on Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will receive
a fixed incentive of $15 per kW per season. If more than three interruptions
occur, participants get a variable incentive. Participating irrigators will choose
from one of three interruption options, two of which will not require advance
notice of interruption. Interruptions can last up to four hours, but no more
than 15 hours per week or 60 hours per irrigation season.
 Flex Peak Management would be available to commercial and industrial
customers from June 15 to August 15 from 2 to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Participants get a fixed incentive for up to three interruptions and a variable
incentive if more interruptions occur. Interruptions may last up to four hours,
but no more than 60 hours per summer.
The Industrial Customers of Idaho Power participated in the discussions, but did not
sign the settlement agreement.
A full text of the commission’s order, the settlement and other documents, is
available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov Click on “Open
Cases” under the “Electric” heading and scroll down to Case Number IPC-E-13-14.