20180330Comments to IPC Status Report.pdf

BRANDON KARPEN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
(208) 334-03s7
IDAHO BAR NO. 7956
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
IDAHO POWER COMPANY F'OR AUTHORITY
TO INCREASE RATES FOR ELECTRIC
SERVICE TO RECOVER COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE NORTH VALMY PLANT.
RECEIVED
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Street Address for Express Mail:
472 W. WASHINGTON
BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5918
Attorney for the Commission Staff
BEFORE THB IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
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CASE NO. IPC.E.I6.24
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION STAFF TO IDAHO
POWER'S STATUS REPORT
COMES NOW the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, by and through its
attorney of record, Brandon Karpen, Deputy Attorney General, and submits the following reply
comments.
BACKGROUND
On May 31,2017, the Commission approved a Settlement Stipulation to accelerate
depreciation and recover costs associated with the Company's operation and eventual retirement
of the North Valmy power plant ("Valffiy"), which the Company co-owns with NV Energy.
Order No. 33771. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to provide the Commission and
Parties a status report by December 31, 2017 , on negotiating with NV Energy an end to Idaho
Power ownership. Id. at3-4. The Company filed such a status report on December 29,2017.
The parties to the settlement agreed to file response comments to the Company report by March
31,2018. Id. The following is Staff s response.
ISTAFF COMMENTS MARCH 30,2OI8
STAFF REVIEW
Staff completed a comprehensive review of the Company's confidential compliance
filing pursuant to Commission Order No. 33771. This Order requires the Company to file a
status report with the Commission on or before December 31,2017, regarding the Company's
efforts for a potential exit from ownership and/or operations of the North Valmy Power Plant as
outlined in the settlement stipulation.
Details of the efforts made by the Company are identified in the confidential filing.
Based on Staff s review of the filing and subsequent discussions with the Company, Staff
believes the Company has reasonably satisfied the requirements defined in the settlement
stipulation.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following:
o The Commission acknowledge the compliance filing.
o The Commission acknowledge the Company in making prudent and commercially
reasonable efforts to potentially exit from ownership and/or operations of the North
Valmy Power Plant as outlined in the settlement stipulation.
o The Company continue to work toward exiting its involvement with the North Valmy
plant based on the dates prescribed in the settlement agreement in a least cost
approach while limiting risk to customers.
Respectfully submitted this
Technical Staff: Richard Keller
i :umisc:comments/ipce I 6.24bkrk reply comments
Tilhday of March 2018.
Attorney
2STAFF COMMENTS MARCH 30,2018
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE THIS 3oth DAY OF MARCH 2018,
SERVED THE FOREGOING COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF TO
IDAHO pOWER',S STATUS REPORT, IN CASE NO. IPC-E-16-24, BY MAILING A
COPY THEREOF, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE FOLLOWING:
LISA D NORDSTROM
REGULATORY DOCKETS
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
PO BOX 70
BOISE rD 83707-0070
E-mail : [e-mail]
dockets@i dahopower.com
ERIC L OLSEN
ECHO HAWK & OLSEN PLLC
PO BOX 6119
POCATELLO ID 83205
E-mail: [e-mail]
BEN OTTO
ENERGY ASSOCIATE
ID CONSERVATION LEAGUE
7IO N 6TH ST
BOISE ID 83702
E-mail : [e-mail]
THORVALD A NELSON
ET AL
HOLLAND & HART LLP
6380 S FIDDLERS GREEN CIR
STE 5OO
GREENWOOD VILLIAGE CO 8OI I I
E-mail: [e-mail]
fschmidt@hollandhart. com
etcocian@hol landhart. com
bthan [e-mail]
MATTHEW T. LARKIN
IDAHO POWER COMPANY
PO BOX 70
BOISE ID 83707-0070
E-mail: [e-mail]
ANTHONY YANKEL
I27OO LAKE AVE
I-INIT 2505
LAKEWOOD OH 44107
E-mail : [e-mail]
PETE BENNETT
MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC
8OOO S FEDERAL WAY
BOISE TD 83707
E-mail: [e-mail]
E.MAIL ONLY
tawolf@,uqiarcn qam
klhal I (Oho I I andha(eam
kmtrease@hol I andhart. com
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
TRAVIS RITCHIE
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
SIERRA CLUB
2101 WEBSTER ST STE 13OO
OAKLAND CA946I2
E-mail: [e-mail]
STEVEN PORTER
US DEPT OF ENERGY
1OOO INDEPENDENCE AVE SW
ROOM 6D-033
WASHTNGTON DC 20585
E-mail: [e-mail]
Y
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE