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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211119Notice_of_Filing_Order_No_35228.pdf NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35228 1 Office of the Secretary Service Date November 19, 2021 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY’S ANNUAL COMPLIANCE FILING TO UPDATE THE LOAD AND GAS FORECASTS IN THE INCREMENTAL COST INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN AVOIDED COST MODEL ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. IPC-E-21-35 NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35228 On October 15, 2021, Idaho Power Company (“Company”) made a compliance filing requesting the Commission issue an order accepting its updated load forecast, natural gas price forecast, and contracts used as inputs to calculate its incremental cost Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) avoided cost rates. The Company must update these inputs by October 15 of each year. See Order Nos. 32697 and 32802. IRP avoided cost rates are available to qualifying facilities (“QFs”) that are above the resource-specific project eligibility cap for published avoided cost rates under Idaho’s implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”). The Company requested its Filing be processed by Modified Procedure. With this Order the Commission issues notice of the Company’s Filing and establishes public comment and Company reply deadlines. NOTICE OF FILING YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company currently forecasts an average annual load growth from 2021 through 2040 that constitutes a slight increase from the average annual load growth forecast approved by the Commission in 2020 during the previous IRP update. Application at 2-3; Order No. 34881. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states it developed its natural gas forecast using the most recent Henry Hub and Sumas Basis Annuals from S&P Global Platt’s Long-term Forecast, which was published in July 2021. Id. at 4. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states it has three non-PURPA, long-term power purchase agreements with projects that are currently online—Elkhorn Valley Wind (101 megawatts (“MW”)), Raft River Geothermal (13 MW), and Neal Hot Springs Geothermal (22 MW)—in addition to a long term power purchase agreement with Jackpot NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35228 2 Holdings, LLC for a 120 MW project scheduled to be online in December 2022. Id. at 5. In addition to its agreements with non-PURPA projects, the Company has 129 contracts for PURPA QFs which, in the aggregate, have a total nameplate capacity of 1,137.8 MW. Id. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s Filing is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. These documents are also available on the Commission’s web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “ELECTRIC” icon, select “Open Cases,” then click on the case number as shown on the front of this document. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq. NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter, and that it will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204. The Commission notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input and participation. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment explaining why they support or oppose the Application. Persons who would like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Persons interested in filing written comments must do so by December 21, 2021. Comments must be filed by e-mail unless e-mail is unavailable. To comment by e-mail, please access the Commission’s home page at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the “Consumers” tab and then “Case Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of this document. Comments filed by e-mail must also be e-mailed to the Company at the e-mail addresses listed below. If e-mail is unavailable, then comments may be mailed to the Commission and Company at these addresses: NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35228 3 For the Idaho Public Utilities Commission: Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 secretary@puc.idaho.gov Street Address for Express Mail: 11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Building 8, Suite 201-A Boise, ID 83714 For the Company: Donovan E. Walker Idaho Power Company P.O. Box 70 Boise, ID 83707 dwalker@idahopower.com YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by December 28, 2021. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its order without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing. O R D E R IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this case be processed by Modified Procedure, Rules 201-204 (IDAPA 31.01.01.201 - .204). Persons must file any written comments by December 21, 2021. The Company must file any reply comments by December 28, 2021. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties should continue to comply with Order No. 35058, issued June 3, 2021. All pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and shall be deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between parties should also be accomplished electronically. Voluminous discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive. NOTICE OF FILING NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35228 4 DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 19th day of November 2021. PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT KRISTINE RAPER, COMMISSIONER ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER ATTEST: Jan Noriyuki Commission Secretary I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-21-35\orders\IPCE2135_NotMod_rn.docx