20200702Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO COMMISSIONER KJELLAI\DER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:EDWARD JEWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JULY 2,2020
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF IDAIIO POWER COMPANY'S 2019
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAITI; CASE NO. IPC-E-19-19.
On June 28, z}lg,Idaho Power Company ("Idaho Power" or "Company") filed an
Application requesting the Commission acknowledge the Company's 2019 Integrated Resource
Plan ("IRP").
On July 19,2019, the Company filed a letter stating that the Company had identified
the need to perform supplernental analysis to confirm the accuracy of the IRP's conclusions and
findings. The Company estimated the additional analysis could be completed and filed by
October 31,2019.
On August 13,2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Application acknowledging
the Company's requested extension of time and stating the Commission would issue a Notice
establishing procedure and deadlines after the Company submitted its updated 2019 IRP
analysis. Order No. 34410.
On October 28, 2019, the Company filed a letter stating it would need until
Novernber 8,2}lg,before it could provide a new estimated filing date.
On November 8, 2019, the Company filed a letter stating it would file its
supplernental IRP analysis no later than January 31,2020.
On January 31,2020,the Company filed its amended 2019 IRP.
On March 4,2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Amended Integrated Resource
Plan and Notice of Intervention Deadline. Order No. 34572.
1DECISION MEMORANDUM
On May 13, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure
establishing a July 22, 2020 comment deadline and an August 26,2020 reply comment deadline.
Order No. 34665.
On June 1,2020, the Company submitted replaconent pages to its II{P updating costs
associated with the Jim Bridger power plant.
On July l, 2020, the Company filed "Idaho Power Company's Motion to Suspend
Procedural Schedule and Update Regarding Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line
Project."
TIIE MOTION TO SUSPEND PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE
The Company states it has "identified additional issues that require additional
diligence to ensure accuracy of certain aspects of the IRP analysis." Motion at l-2. The
Company states it has initiated a "systematic audit" to ensure the reliability of the IRP results.
The Company commits itself to concluding the audit and proposing a revised procedural
schedule by no later than July 31, 2020. Id. at 2. The Company states that at this time it is
"unable to accurately forecast the time necessary to provide any revised modeling and analysis
that may be required." Id. at 5.
THE UPDATE REGARDING BOARDMAI\ TO HEMINGWAY TRANSMISSION LINE
PROJECT
The Company states it is in discussion with Boardman to Hemingway ("B2H") co-
participants about acquiring Bonneville Power Administration's ("BPA") share in the project and
provide transmission service to BPA's southeast Idaho customers. The Company states,
"Because this ownership arrangement would include a commitment by BPA to fund the
incremental cost of Idaho Power's increased ownership percentage through a long-term purchase
agreolent, the2l percent ownership percentage assumed in the Amended 2019 IRP continues to
provide a reasonable basis for least-cost, least-risk planning for the time being." Id. at 2. The
Company states the negotiations are still preliminary, but it expects BPA to begin discussing the
potential ownership arrangement with its southeast Idaho customers, and therefore provides the
update now.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staffrecommends the Commission vacate the comment deadlines and establish new
comment deadlines after the Company concludes its internal audit and files an update.
2DECISION MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to vacate the comment deadlines in this case?
r(
Deputy General
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3DECISION MEMORANDUM