20221116Notice_of_Filing_Order_No_35596.pdf

NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35596 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 16, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IDAHO POWER COMPANY’S ANNUAL
COMPLIANCE FILING TO UPDATE THE
LOAD AND GAS FORECASTS IN THE
INCREMENTAL COST INTEGRATED
RESOURCE PLAN AVOIDED COST
MODEL
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CASE NO. IPC-E-22-26

NOTICE OF FILING

NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE

ORDER NO. 35596

On October 14, 2022, Idaho Power Company (“Company”) made a compliance filing
(“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 methodology.” Filing at 1. The Company must update these
inputs by October 15 of each year. See Order Nos. 32697 and 32802. The Filing also updates the
peak and premium peak hours used by the Company for the avoided capacity costs calculations
available to energy storage qualifying facilities (“QF”). IRP avoided cost rates are available to 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 2022 through 2042 that “shows a slight increase in customer loads in the near
term, followed by significant increases beginning in 2025 through the remainder of the forecast
period” when compared to the last annual load forecast from October 2021.1 Filing at 3.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company stated that it is continuing to follow
the Commission-approved blended method for its natural gas price forecast first utilized in Case
No. IPC-E-21-35 (using the Henry Hub and Sumas Basis Annuals from S&P Global Platt’s Long-

1 The October 2021 average annual load forecast was approved by the Commission on May 4, 2022. Order No. 39395.

NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35596 2
term Forecast). Id. at 5. The Company believes this forecast is the most appropriate for its IRP
avoided cost model. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company stated it has three non-PURPA, long-
term power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) that receive Incremental Cost IRP avoided cost rates:
(1) the 101 megawatt (“MW”) Elkhorn Valley Windfarm; (2) the 13 MW Raft River Geothermal
project; and (3) the 22 MW Neal Hot Springs Geothermal project. Id. at 7-8. The Company stated
that it has a long-term PPA with Jackpot Holdings, LLC for a 120 MW solar project that is
scheduled to come online in December 2022. Id. at 8. The Company has also entered a long-term
PPA with Black Mesa Energy LLC for a 40 MW solar project scheduled to be online in June 2023.
Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED In addition to its agreements with non-PURPA
projects, the Company stated that it has 129 contracts for PURPA QFs which, in the aggregate,
have a total nameplate capacity of 1,137.93 MW. Id. The Company also stated that it’s Filing
included two replacement energy sales agreements for Idaho QFs (totaling 1.094 MW). Id. The
Company further stated that Table 1 of Attachment 2 in the Company’s Filing contains “a list of
new and terminated contracts since the last update on October 15, 2021.” Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company has updated its peak and premium
peak hours for 2023 using the method directed by the Commission in Order No. 34913.2 Peak
hours in 2023 are as follows: July 2:00 pm to midnight; and August 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Premium
peak hours in 2023 are as follows: July 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; and August 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company’s Filing and Attachments are
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. These
documents are also available on the Commission’s website 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.

2 The updated information is available in Attachment 2, Table 2-4 in the Company’s Filing.

NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35596 3
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 it will review the case through written
submissions under the Commission’s Rules of Modified Procedure Rules 201-204 of the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. 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 Filing
may file a written comment explaining why they support or oppose the Filing. Persons who would
like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Persons shall have
until December 6, 2022, to file written comments. Comments must be filed through the
Commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To comment
electronically, please access the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the “Case
Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. To file by e-mail, the customer must e-mail the comments to the Commission Secretary
and the Company at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is unavailable, then
comments may be mailed to the Commission and Company at these addresses:
For the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission:

Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities
Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
[e-mail]

Street Address for Express Mail:

11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Ste. 201-A
Boise, Idaho 83714

For Idaho Power Company:

Donovan E. Walker
Megan Goicoechea
Idaho Power Company
1221 W. Idaho Street
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707-0070
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35596 4
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by
December 13, 2022.
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 interested in filing written comments must do so by
December 6, 2022. The Company must file reply comments, if any, by December 13, 2022.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, 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. 35596 5
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 16th day of
November 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-22-26 Forcast Update\orders\IPCE2226_NtcFiling_Mod_md.docx