20050426Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. PAC-05-, Order No. 29765
April 26, 2005
Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334~0339
Website: www.puc.idaho.2ov
Commission approves PacifiCorp renewable power purchase program
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved an application by PacifiCorp to
allow its larger customers an opportunity to buy renewable energy in bulk at a reduced rate.
PacifiCorp, which does business in southeastern Idaho as Utah Power and Light, already has a
renewable purchase option called "Blue Sky" for primarily residential customers. However, the
purchase price for energy derived from wind, geothermal or solar sources is too expensive for
commercial and industrial customers who want to buy renewable energy in much larger
quantities. While about 700 residential customers participate in PacifiCorp s Blue Sky program
only lOnon-residential customers do so.
Under the Blue Sky program, PacifiCorp currently allows customers to buy renewable energy,
such as wind, geothermal or solar, for an additional $1.95 per month for every 100 kilowatt-
hours purchased.
Like the residential program, the bulk-purchase option for larger customers is voluntary. Under
the bulk-purchase option, customers who agree to enroll for a minimum of one year and agree to
purchase at least 101 blocks of lOa-kWh of renewable energy will pay 70 cents for every block.
That's down from the $1.95 per lOa-kWh block customers who buy in smaller amounts would
pay.
PacifiCorp uses two methods to secure the renewable energy. One is to buy green energy directly
and to make arrangements for transmission of that energy to its eastern Idaho territory. The other
method is to purchase "green tags " or tradable renewable credits that allow the company to buy
green energy for its use, although the actual kilowatts purchased may not directly go to the
customer. However, the energy purchased becomes part ofPacifiCorp s portfolio and eliminates
the need for PacifiCorp to acquire that energy from non-renewable sources.
PacifiCorp already offers the bulk-purchase option to customers in Oregon and Utah and recently
received approval to offer it in Wyoming and Washington. The Renewable Northwest Project, a
coalition of energy companies and consumer and environmental groups, filed comments in the
Idaho case and noted that eight large commercial customers in Oregon have increased their
renewable energy purchases as a result of the program in that state.
A full text of the commission s order, along with other documents related to this case, are
available on the commission s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on "File Room" and then
on "Electric Cases" and scroll down to Case No. P AC-05-3. Petitions for reconsideration are
due by no later than May 16.