20030725Notice of Application.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
July 25, 2003
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
ACIFICORP FOR APPRO V AL OF A NEW
RENEWABLE ENERGY TARIFF, I.E.,
ELECTRIC SERVICE SCHEDULE NO. 70-
NEW WIND, GEOTHERMAL & SOLAR
POWER RIDER-OPTIONAL.
CASE NO. P AC-03-
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/
PROTEST DEADLINE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on July 11 2003 , PacifiCorp dba Utah Power
& Light Company (PacifiCorp, Company) filed a request with the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (Commission) for approval of a new renewable energy tariff, Schedule 70 - New
Wind, Geothermal & Solar Power Rider. The Company has requested a September 1 , 2003
tariff effective date. Under the proposed program, residential and non-residential customers can
purchase newly developed wind, geothermal and solar power energy at a premium of $1.95 per
100 kilowatt-hour block. The Company has recommended an effective date of September 1
2003. The premium is in addition to the normal billed rate which includes but is not limited to a
basic charge as well as energy and delivery charges. The premium covers the costs of the
program. These costs include the incremental costs of the new renewable energy, marketing
costs and program administration. Under the proposed Schedule 70 tariff, consumers can choose
the number of blocks to purchase, which is not dependent on the amount of energy used.
Currently PacifiCorp offers this option, called Blue Sky, to consumers in four other
states - Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The Company s Blue Sky enrollment roster
includes over 11 500 customers. Qualified customers may apply for or terminate from Schedule
70 anytime during the year. The Company will not accept enrollments for customer accounts
that have a time payment agreement in effect or have received one or more disconnect notices or
have been disconnected within the last 12 months.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE 1
Under the Company s proposed tariff, PacifiCorp plans to purchase tradable
renewable credits (green tags) and/or bundled power to satisfy the requirements. Including both
purchase options, the Company states, is beneficial to customers as it allows the Company to
pass along lower prices. In addition, it is beneficial to the Company, as it allows for the more
efficient balancing of purchases and sales and will minimize the risk of not achieving a zero net
gain or loss at the program life. Green tags represent an amount of renewable kilowattlhours
sent to grid, displacing less environmentally friendly energy.
As set forth in the tariff Schedule, new wind, geothermal or solar power energy will
be delivered within two years of when the energy is purchased by the customer. Tradable
renewable credits will be delivered within 18 months of when energy is purchased by the
customer. PacifiCorp will keep interested parties informed of purchases for the program on a
twice per year basis. If there is not availability at the right price to purchase at a level (capped
within the $1.95 retail price) then PacifiCorp will attempt to make purchases at the next level.
The reports will summarize purchases and note reasons for choosing a "tier" and, if applicable
foregoing more preferred options in light of available tag supply.
As reflected in its filing, PacifiCorp states that several environmental organizations
including Renewable Northwest Projects and the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies endorse
the Company s program which meets Renew 2000 standards. Renew 2000 standards were
established by a collaboration of interested regional utilities and environmental organizations to
ensure that optional renewable energy products offered to consumers in the Northwest met
minimum content standards, thus protecting and assuring consumers that such products provide
benefit to the environment.
The wind energy purchased on behalf of the Company s Blue Sky customers is in
addition to renewable energy investments PacifiCorp has made to serve all its customers.
Currently, Blue Sky wind energy purchases come from Foot Creek IV in Wyoming; from wind
farms in Condon and Klondike, Oregon; and from the Stateline Wind Facility on the Oregon-
Washington border. All renewable energy generation linked to the program at minimum will
come from facilities that went online post-January 2000.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings of
record in Case No. PAC-03-9. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE
interest regarding the Company s Application to implement an optional renewable energy tariff
for residential and non-residential customers, electric service Schedule No. 70 may not require a
hearing to consider the issues presented, and that issues raised by the Application may be
processed under Modified Procedure , by written submission rather than by hearing.
Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, ID AP A 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in
this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified
Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used.
31.01.01.203.
Reference IDAP A
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or
protests with respect to the Application and the Commission s use of Modified Procedure in
Case No. PAC-03-9 is Thursday, August 14, 2003.Persons desiring a hearing must
specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are
received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its
Order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the
Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may
decide the matter and issue its Order based on the written positions before it. Reference IDAP A
31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case
No. IPC-03-9 should be mailed to the Commission and to PacifiCorp at the addresses reflected
below.
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074
Street Address for Express Mail:
DOUGLAS LARSON
VICE-PRESIDENT REGULATION
PACIFICORP
825 NE MUL TINOMAH, STE 800
PORTLAND, OR 97232
datareq uest~Pac if! Corp. com
472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document. Production requests and informational questions to the Company should be directed
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT:; PROTEST DEADLINE
to Paul Wrigley, Manager, Regulation, [phone]; [phone] Fax; data
request~pacificorp.com (e-mail).
Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission s home page located at www.puc.state.id.. Click the "Comments and Questions
icon, and complete the comment form, using the case number as it appears on the front of this
document. These comments must also be sent to PacifiCorp at the e-mail address listed above.
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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case No. P AC-03-9 can
be reviewed at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, 472 West Washington Street, Boise, Idaho
and at the Idaho offices of PacifiCorp. In addition, the Application may be viewed by accessing
the Commission s website at www.puc.state.id.under the "file room" icon and selecting the
appropriate topic heading.
.;f.DATED at Boise, Idaho this ;1..5' day of July 2003.
Je D. JewellCo ission Secretary
Vld/N:PACEO309
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE