20211230News Release.pdf

Case No. IPC-E-21-21
Order No. 35284
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

NEWS RELEASE: Commission issues order regarding topics/issues to be included in Idaho
Power on-site generation study

BOISE (Dec. 30, 2021) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Thursday issued an order
that determines the topics and issues that will be covered in a comprehensive study that examines
the costs, benefits and compensation of excess energy that is generated by Idaho Power
customers who produce on-site generation.

In Order No. 34509, issued on Dec. 20, 2019, the commission directed Idaho Power to prepare
and file a credible and fair study of the costs and benefits of distributed on-site generation to
Idaho Power’s system. The order that the commission issued Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, moves
the study process forward by listing the topics and issues that will be covered in the study. Idaho
Power expects to complete the study design phase of this process in the first half of 2022 so that
it can begin the study review phase in the second half of 2022.

An on-site generation program allows Idaho Power customers to pay an independent contractor
to have solar panels or other systems installed on their homes or property and then receive credit
from Idaho Power for the surplus energy they deliver to the company. On Dec. 20, 2019, the
commission granted legacy treatment to customers who had installed, or submitted an
application to install with a financial commitment, an on-site generation system under Schedules
6 and 8 (Case No. IPC-E-18-15, Order No. 34509.) Customers in Schedule 6 and Schedule 8 are
residential and small general service customers.

Schedule 84 defines the terms for commercial, industrial, and irrigation customers who are
participating in on-site generation. In Case No. IPC-E-20-26, Order No. 34854, customers in this
schedule were given legacy treatment under the same conditions as customers in Schedules 6 and
8 above.

The primary objective of the on-site generation study and corresponding modifications to the
program is to establish a sustainable on-site generation program that is fair and equitable. Ideally,
the parameters of the program should minimize or eliminate cross-subsidies that could exist
between participants and non-participants of on-site generation. The commission’s final order
and directives regarding the study were informed by Idaho Power, commission staff, fourteen
intervening parties, and over 250 public commenters to this case.

To view the commission’s order, please visit: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6718.