20030623Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTll..ITIES COMMISSION
Case No. PAC-03-, Order No. 29260
For Immediate Release / June 20, 2003
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
PUC approves PacifiCorp net metering program
BOISE - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission today approved a "net metering" program for PacifiCorp s southeast
Idaho customers
The program will allow customers who own a generation facility fueled by solar, wind, biomass or hydropower to
interconnect with PacifiCorp s electric grid and generate all or a portion of their electric needs. Customers who generate more
power than they consume will credited at the retail rate.
In late February, the Northwest Energy Coalition petitioned the commission to establish a net metering plan for
PacifiCorp customers that was similar to plans already in place for Idaho Power Co. and A vista Utilities customers. The
coalition is made up of 12 member organizations including the Idaho Rural Council, Idaho Rivers United and the Idaho
Community Actiqn Agency.
PacifiCorp responded by stating that it was in the process of developing a net metering schedule at the time the
coalition filed its petition.
Under PacifiCorp s proposal, residential and small-commercial customers can qualify small generators up to 25kW.
Irrigation and large commercial customers would have a capacity limit of 100 kW. Customers can interconnect their generators
on to the company s system, but must pay interconnection and any additional metering costs that may be necessary. Residential
and small-commercial customers would be credited the current retail rate for excess energy they produce, while irrigation and
large commercial customers would be credited 85 percent of a Dow Jones index price for non-firm energy.
Customers will be allowed to participate on a first-come, first-served basis until the total rated generated capacity
reaches one-tenth of 1 percent of the company s Idaho retail peak demand in 2002. Some organizations, like the Farm Bureau
sought a higher cap on the capacity of net metering projects. The commission said that if the cap is reached, it will consider
increasing it at that time.
Any party seeking to petition the commission for reconsideration must do so by July 11.
A copy of the entire order is available on the commission s Web site at www.puc.state.id.. Click on "File Room
then on "Electric Cases." Scroll down to the PacifiCorp cases and click on Case No. PAC-03-
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