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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171103Joinder and Motion to Dismiss.pdfJohn R. Hammond, Jr.- ISB No. 5470 FrsuBn PuscH LLp U.S. BANK PLAZA- 7th Floor 101 S. Capitol Blvd., Suite 701 P.O. Box 1308 Boise,ID 83701 Telephone: 208.331.1000 Facsimile: 208.331.2400E-mail: jrh@fisherpusch.com Attorneys for the Snake River Alliance and NW Energt Coalition IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NEW SCHEDULES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL GENERAL SERVICE CUSTOMERS WITH ON.SITE GENERATION Case No. IPC-E-I7-13 REC E IV ED ?0l1NOY -3 Pil 3: 2l ni'Jr?itloJo,{ffil8t'o* BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS COMES NOW the Intervenors Snake River Alliance and the NW Energy Coalition (collectively the "Intervenors" for purposes of this pleading) and file this Joinder and Memorandum in Support of the Idaho Clean Energy Association's ("ICEA") Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss pursuant to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Rule of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01 .256.04. The Intervenors also file this pleading to discuss their interests in this case that include, but are not limited to: l) developing of renewable energy resources, including those from net- metering customers of regulated utilities; 2) developing incentives to assist regulated utilities and their customers to integrate renewable energy resources into the electric system; 3) protecting consumers' interests and demand for renewable energy resources and the businesses and jobs that have grown from such interests and demand in Idaho; 4) participating in public processes to determine the costs and benefits of renewable energy resources; 5) working to reduce the chilling SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - I impacts that cases like these have on the Intervenors, their members and businesses in the community that they work with; and 6) ensuring equitable rate design that assigns customer prices based on real and known costs to the utility. As is discussed in more detail below, the Intervenors assert, consistent with ICEA's Motion to Dismiss, that Idaho Power Company's ("Idaho Power" or the "Company") Application in this case should be dismissed primarily for failing to seek the relief requested in the proper proceeding, a general rate case, as previously ordered by the Commission in Case No. IPC-E-12-27, Order No. 32846. In the alternative to dismissal, the Intervenors respectfully request that the Commission establish a proceeding in which the Company, the intervening parties in this case, Idaho Power's customers and any other interested parties may participate to determine the value of net metering generation, including solar generation on Idaho Power's system. BACKGROUND The parties in this case have previously set forth the history of net metering cases before the Commission. Included within that history, the Commission had established a total nameplate generation capacity limit of 2.9 MW for net metering customers of Idaho Power in2002. See Order No. 28951 atp. 12, Case No. IPC-E-01-39. Subsequently, the Commission in Order No. 29094, in Case No. IPC-E-02-04, directed Idaho Power to make a filing with it when the cumulative nameplate of for net metering customers of 2.9 MW was reached. Order No. 29094 atp.7. In2012,Idaho Power filed an Application in Case No. IPC-E-12-27 wherein it represented: In Order No. 29094 issued in Case No. IPC-E-02-04, the Commission directed the Company to make a filing before the Commission when the cumulative nameplate generation capacity limit set forth in Order No. 28951 was reached. . . . The Company is making this filing in accordance with the Commission's directive SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS.2 issued in that case. While the Commission's directive states that the Company is to provide notification when the cap is reached, the Company believes the timing of this request is appropriate in order to prevent the refusal of new applications for net metering service. Application at pp. 3-4,n 5, Case No. IPC-E-12-21 (emphasis added). As set forth in ICEA's Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss in Case No. IPC- E-12-27,ldaho Power sought to modify its net metering service, including a request to create new rate schedules and rates for its net metering customers. See Commission Order No. 32846 atpp. l-3. After receiving public testimony and holding a technical hearing in Case No. IPC-E-I2- 27,the Commission entered OrderNo. 32846 which contained the following directive: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's request to double the capacity cap is denied. Rather. the Company shall file an annual status report with the Commission discussing the net metering service. The report shall discuss, without limitation, the net metering service provisions and pricing and how distributed generation may be impacting system reliability. The Company also shall promptly file an earlier report if at any time it expects its net metering service will materially and negatively impact its system. The existing 2.9 MW capacity cap is removed. See OrderNo. 32846 at p. 19 (emphasis added). Complying with this requirement, Idaho Power has filed annual net metering reports in Case No. IPC-E-12-27. As noted by several intervening parties in this case, in Order No. 32846 the Commission found that dramatic changes in rates such as those proposed by Idaho Power for its net metering customers "should not be examined in isolation but should be fully vetted in a general rate proceeding. If the Company wishes to raise these issues again, then it should do so in the context of a general rate case." See Order No. 32846 at p. 13. Consistent with the foregoing, the Commission stated: IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company's request to change the net metering pricing structure by modifying Schedule 84 to move residential and SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - 3 small general service net metering customers to newly created Schedules 6 and 8 is denied. The Company shall continue using Schedule 84 to offer net metering service to all customers. To the extent the Company wishes to increase the monthly customelchalge, pr utBlelqea! a BLC for the reudcnltalsld S!@ll general service customer classes. it shall raise that issue in a general rate case. Net metering shall not sffselthe suslenter qharge. See Order 32846 at p. 19. On July 27,2017,Idaho Power filed its Application in this case, requesting in part: l) closure of Schedule 84, Customer Energy Production Net Metering ("Schedule 84"), to new service for residential and small general service customers with on-site generation after December 31,2017; Application atp.2; and2) approval of two new customer classifications for new residential and small general service customers who install on-site generation on and after January 1,2018. Id. The Company also stated it was not currently seeking changes in rates for new or existing net metering customers despite segregating them between schedules until further proceedings vetted the costs and benefits of net metering. Id. ARGUMENT l. The Company's Application does not comply with Commission Order No. 32846. The Intervenors agree with ICEA's argument that this case should be dismissed in its current form. Idaho Power clearly has not complied with the Commission's direction in Order No. 32846 by filing its Application for the relief requested outside of a general rate case. See Order No. 32846 at pp. l3 & 19. This noncompliance seems unusual due to the fact Idaho Power has complied with other Commission directives borne out of net metering proceedings before it. 2. The Company's Application and associated materials provide insufficient justification for the relief requested. A set of factors that should be considered by the Commission in establishing differences SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS.4 between classes of customers and associated rates are set forth in several Idaho Supreme Court cases. In ldaho State Homebuilders v. Washington Water Power, 107 Idaho 415, 690 P.2d 350, (1984) held that: [n]ot all differences in a utility's rates and charges as between different classes of customers constitute unlawful discrimination or preference under the strictures of I.C. $ 6l-315. A reasonable classification of utility customers may justify the setting of different rates and charges for the different classes of customers. Utah- Idaho Sugar Co. v. Intermountain Gas Co., supra. Any such difference (discriminatron) in a utilitv and charses must be iustified bv a correspondine classification of customers that is based upon factors such as cost of service. quantity of electricity used. differences in conditions of service. or the time, nature and patteryr qf the use. Idaho State Homebuilders v. Washington Water Power, 690 P.2d 350, 355, 107 Idaho 415, 420 (1984) (emphasis added). ln Homebuilders, the Court, citing its previous decision in Grindstone Butte Mut. Canal Co. v. Idaho Public Utilities Commission,l02Idaho 175,181,627 P.2d804, 810 (1981) also found that the Commission may consider other criteria for establishing different rates, including energy conservation, optimum use, and resource allocation. 1d. In Grindstone the Court discussed the weight of such criteria [w]e do not find one criterion to be necessarily more essential than another. Nor do we find the criteria as listed above as being exclusive. . . . Cost of service is not a per se essential element without which rate making is invalid. It is an important qriterion and. in a given case. it mav even be lareqly dispqsilive of th r$uq af basis for price differentiation. Grindstone, 102 Idaho 775,180,627 P.2d804,809 (1981) (emphasis added). ln Grindstone the Court also cited its previous decision in Agricultural Products Corporarion v. Utah Power & Light Company,98 Idaho 23,557 P.2d 617 (1976) where it had endorsed the following procedure taken from the New York Public Utilities Commission: [u]nder the procedure we adopt here. a determination of undue discrimination or preference must first be made in a rate proceedinq wherein all pertinent factors are considered. including. amonq others. the provisions of the special contract. the SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - 5 the contractin the cost of service the qaldilqn of the utility. an . In the rate proceeding, the commission will consider whether some preferential rate may be appropriate in light of the specific circumstances surrounding each special contract.... Re Consolidated Edison Co.,4 P.U.R. 4lh 199 Qll.Y.Pub.Ser.Comm'n 1974). Grindstone, 102 Idaho at 1 80-8 I , 627 P .2d a1809- 10t quoting Agricultural Products Corporotion v. Utah Power & Light Company, 98 Idaho 23 , 30-31 557 P .2d 611 , 624-25 (197 6) (emphasis added). Grindstone continues: Again cost of service is but one criterion to consider. The question then is not whether one particular type of evidence is present in support of the rate differentiation. but. rather. whether the evidence as a whole in light of the circumstances of the particular case supports the differentiation. substantially. competently and with a just and reasonable result. Grindstone, 102 Idaho at 180-81 , 627 P.2d at 809-10. . In support of its requests, Idaho Power asserts net metering customers utilize the grid differently than similarly situated customers because they can export their excess power generation onto it. Application atp.8, fl 13. Second, the Company contends that while net metering customers may have daily power demand requirements similar to other customers "their net monthly energy as a basis for billing does not reflect their utilization of the grid." Id. The Intervenors assert that making dramatic changes in customer classifications and 1 ln Grindsto,ne the Court found that the Commission identified three primary objectives of current utility rate de- sign: They are (a) the revenue-requirement or financial-need objective, which takes the form of a fair- return standard with respect to private utiliry companies; (b) the fair-cost-apportionment objective, which invokes the principle that the burden of meeting total revenue requirements must be distrib- uted fairly among the beneficiaries of the service; and (c) the optimum-use or consumer-rationing objective under which the rates are designed to discourage the wasteful use of public utility ser- vices while promoting all use that is economically justified in view of the relationships between costs incurred and benefits received. J. Bonbright, Principles of Utility Rates at 292 (1961). Ap- plication of Utah Power & Light Co., IPUC Order No. 13448 at 39 (Sept. 29,1971). Grindstone,l02 Idaho at l8l-82, 621P.2d 810-l I SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISM]SS - 6 future rate design based on limited factors can have long term consequences and should not be considered in a bubble without examination of a greater scope of criteria related to serving all customers. Many additional relevant factors as set forth in Homebuilders and Grindstone should be examined in cases like these. Further, the Intervenors contend that the Company's case does not evaluate the benefits that power generation by net metering customers could provide. Prior to any new customer classifications being created, such benefits must be evaluated and quantified, along with considering other factors enumerated in Grindstone and Homebuilders. See generally, Homebuilders; see also, Grindstone, 102 Idaho at 180-81, 627 P.2d at 809-810 (all pertinent factors should be considered in determining justification for differentiation), see also, Order No. 32846 at pp. 12-13 (issues arising from Idaho Power's net metering Application should not be decided in isolation but rather "vetted in a general rate proceeding" where many of the factors above would be reviewed). See Order No. 32846 at pp. 12-13. Such potential benefits include, but are not limited to, 1) avoided energy benefits; 2) avoided system losses; 3) avoided generation capacity benefits; 4) avoided transmission capacity benefits; 4) avoided distribution capacity benefits; and 5) avoided environmental costs of carbon based generation, including health costs. Additionally, Idaho Power's case as currently situated is producing a chilling impact on consumers who may wish to install renewable generation and the businesses that provide such products and installation. The uncertainty created by this case has slowed the development of new generation and negatively impacts consumer choices. Prior to this case being filed, over the last two (2) years, the Snake River Alliance's "Solarize the Valley Program" helped more than 1,000 families evaluate the practicability of adding rooftop solar panels to their homes. As a result, over 100 of these families have recently installed rooftop solar panels on their homes or SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - 7 are under contract with local installers to do so this winter. These efforts have resulted in over a $2,000,000.00 consumer investment in the long-term capacity of our community to generate renewable power. The Intervenors believe that such direct consumer investment at little cost to the Company helps to provide low-cost, clean energy to all consumers in Idaho Power's service territory. These consumers who are customers of Idaho Power and who take service under Schedule 84, believed the Company shares their goals to obtain access to low-cost, clean power. The Company's Application though seems contrary to these shared goals or at least goals that the parties should have in common. The Intervenors believe all electric customers should pay fair prices to access and maintain the electric grid. However, net metering customers should not be treated differently than customers that invest in residential conservation measures that reduce energy use. This filing by Idaho Power singles out net metering customers who are avery small portion of its customer base with the aim of applying an as of yet unspecified rate hike and charges to them alone. In conclusion, based on the foregoing and the content of the previous pleadings filed by ICEA and Auric Solar, the Intervenors respectfully request that this case be dismissed. ALTERNATIVE RELIEF Similar to ICEA, Auric Solar, LLC ("Auric Solar") and the Idaho Conservation League ("ICL"), the Intervenors recognize that the issues raised by Idaho Power in its case must be considered and resolved along with other factors in order for a just and reasonable result to be reached. The Intervenors are encouraged and appreciate that Idaho Power has made the request for the Commission to open a generic docket to determine a compensation structure for customer-owned distributed energy resources that incorporates the costs and benefits that it SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERCY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM ]N SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS . 8 brings to the electric system. In the event the Commission declines to dismiss this case, or even if it does, it seems logical for it to establish a process by which all concemed parties can study and evaluate the costs and benefits of distributed generation that would potentially lead to a negotiated solution that benefits the Company, its customers and the collective intervenors' interests. By way of example, in the state of Oregon, Idaho Power participated actively in a docket setting the necessary elements to be included in a resource value of solar methodology for each of Oregon's regulated utilities. Phase I of that docket has concluded. Phase II, whereby each of Oregon's regulated utilities - including Idaho Power - plugs respective values into the methodology, has just recently begun. It seems to make sense that Idaho Power simultaneously use the Oregon methodology or a variant thereof to accommodate any differences between jurisdictions, to determine resource value of solar figures for its Idaho service territory. Understandably, the Commission could certainly develop its own methodology for all regulated utilities in Idaho should it determine that to be most prudent path forward. Another Idaho neighbor, Montana, has also recently wrestled with the net metering question. As a result of continued battles to both expand and limit net metering, the legislature ordered NorthWestem Energy to conduct a cost/benefit study for net-metered systems. Subsequently, the Montana Public Service Commission initiated a docket to determine the minimum information requirements, with input from stakeholders, for the cost/benefit study. NorthWestem Energy has hired a third-party consultant to conduct the study, to be filed with the Montana Commission by April 1,2018. Based on the foregoing, and in the alternative to dismissal, the Intervenors respectfully request that the Commission vacate the current case schedule and order the parties to come together to discuss, as Auric Solar states, "a timeline, SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISM]SS - 9 methodology, source of inputs, and technical group to study the costs and benefits of net metering and on-site generation, with the results to inform an eventual general rate case." See Auric Solar, LLC's of ICEA's Motion to Dismiss at p. 8. DATED thi FISHER PUSCH LLP Hammond Jr. -fo, Intervenors and NW Energt Coalition SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - 1O r Joindel and Memo in Support , do^rof Novemb er 2017. River CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE i HEREBY CERTIFY that on the 3'd day of November, 2017,1 served a true and correct copy of the foregoing by delivering the same to each of the following individuals by electronic mail, addressed as follows: IDAHO POWER COMPANY: Lisa Nordstrom Idaho Power Company 1221 W. Idaho St. (83702) PO Box 70 Boise, ID $7A7 lnordstrom@idahopower. com dockets@idahopower.com Timothy E. Tatum Connie Aschenbrenner Idaho Power Company 1221 W. Idaho St. (83702) PO Box 70 Boise, ID 83707 ttatum@idahopower. com caschenbrenner@idahopower. com COMMISSION STAFF: Sean Costello Deputy Attomey General Idaho Public Utilities Commission 472 W. Washington (83702) PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 sean.costel .idaho IDAHYDRO: Idahydro cio C. Tom Arkoosh Arkoosh Law Offices 802 W. Bannock Street, Suite 900 PO Box 2900 Boise, ID 83701 tom.arkoosh@arkoosh.com erin.cecil@arkoosh.com tr U.S. Mail I Facsimile D Ovemight Mail tr Hand Delivery El Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail n Facsimile n Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery El Electronic Mail ! U.S. Mail fl Facsimile n Overnight Mail n Hand Delivery B Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile ! Overnight Mail n Hand Delivery E Electronic Mail SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COAL]TION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - I I IDAHO IRRIGATION PUMPERS ASSOCIATION, INC.: Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, Inc c/o Eric L. Olsen Echo Flawk & Olsen, PLLC 505 Pershing Avenue, Ste. 100 PO Box 61 19 Pocatello, ID 83205 elo@echohawk.com Anthony Yankel 12700 Lake Avenue, Unit 2505 Lakewood, OH 44107 tony@yankel.net IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE: Matthew A. Nykiel Idaho Conservation League PO Box 2308 102 S. Euclid#207 Sandpoint, ID 83864 mnyki el@idahoconservation. ore AURIC LLCz Elias Bishop Auric Solar, LLC 2310 S. 1300 W. West Valley City, UT 84119 el i as. b i shop (@auri c sol a1. c om Preston N. Carter Deborah E. Nelson Givens Pursley LLC 601 W. Bannock Street Boise, lD 83702 prestoncarter@ givenspursley. com den(@ givenspurs I ey. com tr lJ.S. Mail fl Facsimile E Ovemight Mail E Hand Delivery EI Electronic Mail n U.S. Mail n Facsimile tr Overnight Mail n Hand Delivery I Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile n Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery I Electronic Mail n U.S. Mail E Facsimile ! Overnight Mail E Hand Delivery El Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile n Overnight Mail E Hand Delivery El Electronic Mail SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - I2 SIERRA CLUB: Kelsey Jae Nunez LLC Siena Club 920 N. Clover Drive Boise, ID 83703 kel sey@ ke I seyj aenunez. com Zack Waterman Idaho Sierra Club 503 W. Franklin Street Boise, ID 83702 zack. waterman@ sierracl ub. org ELECTRONIC SERVICE ONLY Michael Heckler michael.p.heckler@ gmail. com CITY OF BOISE CITY: Abigail R. Germaine Deputy City Attomey Boise City Attomey's Office 150 N. Capitol Blvd. PO Box 500 Boise,ID 83701-0500 Telephone: (208) 608.1950 Facsimile: (208) 384.4454 agermaine@cityofboi se. ore IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION: C. Tom Arkoosh Arkoosh Law Offices 802 W. Bannock Street, Suite 900 PO Box 2900 Boise,ID 83701 tom.arkoosh@arkoosh.com erin.cecil@arkoosh.com tr U.S. Mail n Facsimile tr Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery El Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail n Facsimile E Ovemight Mail E Hand Delivery B Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail I Facsimile n Overnight Mail n Hand Delivery EI Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile E Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery E Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail fl Facsimile E Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery Xl Electronic Mail SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - ]3 David H. Arkoosh Law Office of David Arkoosh PO Box 2817 Boise, ID 83701 david@arkooshlaw.com VOTE SOLAR: David Bender Earthjustice 3916 Nakoma Road Madison, WI 53711 dbender@ earthj ustice.or g Briana Kober Vote Solar 360 22"d Street, Suite 730 Oakland, CA 94612 briana@votesolar.org INTERMOUNTAIN WIND AND SOLAR, LLC: Ryan B. Frazier Brian W. Bumett Kirton McConkie 50 East Temple, Suite 400 PO Box 45120 salt Lake city, uT 84111 rfrazier@kmclaw.com bburnett@kmclaw.com Intermountain Wind and Solar, LLC 1952 West 2425 South Woods Cross, UTG 84087 dou g@ imwindandsolar. com dal e(@i mwind and so I ar. cot! n U.S. Mail I Facsimile n Overnight Mail I Hand Delivery EI Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile E Overnight Mail n Hand Delivery EI Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile E Overnight Mail tr Hand Delivery E Electronic Mail n U.S. Mail E Facsimile E Ovemight Mail tr Hand Delivery EI Electronic Mail tr U.S. Mail E Facsimile D Ovemight Mail E Hand Delivery X Electronic Mail J Hammond, Jr. SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE'S AND NW ENERGY COALITION'S JOINDER AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF IDAHO CLEAN ENERGY ASSOCIATION'S MOTION TO DISMISS - I4