20150415final_order_no_33275.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
April t5 2015
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER )
COMPANY’S APPLICATION TO APPROVE )CASE NO.IPC-E-15-12
FIRST AMENDMENT TO ITS UNIFORM )
AGREEMENT WITH FISHERIES )ORDER NO.33275
DEVELOPMENT CO.)
On April 2,2015.Idaho Power Company filed an Application asking the Commission
to approve the First Amendment to its Uniforrn Agreement for the Purchase of Non-Firm
Energy from Cogeneration and Small Power Production Projects”with Fisheries Development
Co.Under the Agreement,Idaho Power purchases,and Fisheries sells,non-firm energy
generated by a small hydroelectric facility near Hagerman,Idaho.Application at 2.The parties’
proposed Amendment “reflect[s]a new Point of Delivery,which was necessitated by the
installation of updated metering and disconnection equipment.”Id.at 1.
BACKGROUND
The Fisheries hydroelectric facility was built in 1 989,and put into service under its
1990 Agreement with Idaho Power pursuant to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act
(PURPA).Id.at 1-2.The facility’s equipment was originally located ‘in the basement of the
penstock house at the facility.”Id.According to Idaho Power,this structure has flooded on
three occasions through the years,“leaving the breaker and electrical interconnection package”
under about six feet of water.Id.Also,“as a usual part of the facility’s operation,”water sprays
“from the penstock coupling,”also reaching the electrical panels.Id.The breaker has often
failed,causing generation outages that require Idaho Power technicians to conduct on-site
repairs.which due to the wet environment,presents serious safety concerns.Id.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
To address these problems and safety concerns,the parties agreed to update the
metering and disconnection equipment and facilities and [rellocate them to a safer location.”Id.
These changes,including a new Point of Delivery about “100 feet outside of the powerhouse,”
are contained in the proposed Amendment.Id.The Amendment also contains “the loss
calculation for the new Point of Delivery.”Id.at 3.
Idaho Power asked that the Amendment be approved upon Stafrs review,without
further process.
ORDERNO.33275
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Upon its review of the Application,Commission Staff recommended that the
proposed Amendment be approved without further process.
DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over Idaho Power and the
issues raised in this matter pursuant to the authority and power granted it under Title 61 of the
Idaho Code and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).The Commission
has authority under PURPA and the implementing regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC)to review and approve QF contracts.
Given the limited scope of the Amendment,the agreement of the parties,and the
improved safety provided by the changes,we find the proposed Amendment between Idaho
Power and Fisheries to be fair and reasonable.We also find it reasonable to approve the
Amendment without further process.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Idaho Power’s Application to approve the First
Amendment to its Uniform Agreement with Fisheries Development Co.is granted.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the service date of this Order.Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.See Idaho Code §6 1-626.
ORDER NO.33275 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /t”
day of April 2015.
PAUL KJELL DER PRESIDENT
N04 •
MACK A.REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
KRISNE RAPER,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
JTewell’
ommission Secretary
O:IPC-E-I 5-I 2_djh
ORDER NO.33275 3