20080418Application.pdf

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April 18, 2008
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Idaho Public Utilities Commssion
472 West Washington
Boise, ID 83702-5983
Attention:Jean D. Jewell
Commssion Secreta
Re:Case No. P AC-E-OS.o '3
In the matter of the Application of Rocky Mountain Power for a Certficate
of Convenience and Necessity Authoriing Construction of the Populus-to-
Terminal 345 kV Transmission Line Project
Rocky Mountain Power, a division ofPacifiCorp, hereby submits for filing an original and nie
(9) copies of its Application in the above referenced matter.
Communcations, including all pleadings or other filings, regarding ths fiing should be
addressed to:
Lisa Symonds
Rocky Mountain Power
1407 West North Temple
Salt Lake City, Uta 84116
Lisa.symonds(fpacificorp.com
R. Jeff Richards
Rocky Mountain Power
201 South Mai Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, Uta 84111
J eff.richards(fpacificorp.com
It is respectfuly requested that all formal correspondence and Staff requests regarding this
material be addressed to:
Bye-mail (preferred):dataequestt1pacificorp.com
By reguar mail:Data Request Response Center
PacifiCorp
825 NE Multnomah, Suite 2000
Portand, Oregon 97232
By fax:[phone]
Idaho Public Utilities Commssion
April 18, 2008
Page 2
Any informal inquiries may also be directed to Ted Weston at 801-220-2963.
Sincerely,
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Vice President, Regulation
Enclosures
R. Jeff Richards (Uta Bar 7294)
Rocky Mountain Power
201 South Main Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
jeff.richardst1pacificorp.com
Ted D. Smith (Uta Bar 3017)
Stoel Rives LLP
201 South Main Street, Suite 1100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: (801) 58-6999
tsmitht1stoel.com
Attorneys for Rocky Mountain Power
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
In the matter of the Application of )
Rocky Mountain Power for a Certificate )
of Convenience and Necessity Authorizing )
Constrction of the Populus-to-Terminal )
345 kV Transmission Line Project )
CASE NO. PAC-E-08-03
APPLICATION
APRIL200S
R. Jeff Richards (Uta Bar 7294)
Rocky Mounta Power
201 South Main Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, Uta 84111
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
jeff.richardst1pacificorp.com
Ted D. Smith (Uta Bar 3017)
Stoel Rives LLP
201 South Mai Street, Suite 1100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: (801) 58-6999
tsmitht1stoel.com
Attorneys for Rocky Mountain Power
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
In the matter of the Application of )
Rocky Mountain Power for a Certificate )
of Convenience and Necessity Authorizing )
Constrction of the Populus-to-Terminal )
345 kV Tranmission Line Project )
APPLICATION
CASE NO. PAC-E-08-o3
Pursuat to Idaho Code § 61-526, Rocky Mountain Power, a division of
PacifiCorp, ("Rocky Mountain Power" or the "Company"), hereby applies to the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") for a certificate of public convenience and
necessity authorizing the constrction of a 345 kV transmission line, known as the
Populus - Terminal Transmission Line (the "Transmission Line"), in Banock and
Oneida Counties, including a new substation to be constrcted at Downey, Idaho
(collectively, the "Project"). In support of this Application, Rocky Mountain Power
states as follows:
APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER - 1
1. Rocky Mounta Power is an electrcal corporation and public utilty
subject to the jursdiction of the Commission. A certified copy ofPacifiCorp's aricles of
incorporation are on file with the Commission. In addition to providing retail electrc
service in the state of Idaho, Rocky Mountain Power provides retal electrc service in
Uta and Wyoming.
2. Communcations, including all pleadings or other fiings, regarding this
filing should be addressed to:
Lisa Symonds
Rocky Mountain Power
1407 West Nort Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
R. Jeff Richards
Rocky Mountain Power
201 South Main Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
The Company also respectfuly requests that all formal correspondence and data
requests regarding this fiing be sent to:
Bye-mail (preferred) to:dataequestt1pacificorp.com
By regular mail to:Data Request Response Center
PacifiCorp
825 NE Multnomah, Suite 97232
By fax to:[phone]
3. Over the last decade, the Company has experienced signficant increases
in its retail load. As a result, the existing trsmission line infastrctue will be unable
to continue to provide the transmission capacity necessar for providing safe, reliable and
effcient electrc service to its customers.
4. In order to meet its load requiements the Company proposes to constrct
a new 345 kV transmission line along a certin alignent between the existing Termnal
APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER - 2
Substation located southwest of the Salt Lake International Airport and a new 345 kV
substation ("Populus Substation") to be located outside Downey, Idaho. A separate
application is being filed with the Uta Public Service Commission for the segment of the
Transmission Line within Utah.
5. The Project will also fufill Rocky Mountain Power's commitment as
agreed upon in that certain stipulation fied by PacifiCorp in Case No. PAC-E-05-08 for
the approval of the transaction in which Mid-American Energy Holdings Company
acquired PacifiCorp. More specifically, Commitment No. 34 provides that Rocky
Mountain Power agreed to constrct transmission projects that enhance reliabilty,
faciltate the receipt of renewable resources, or enable fuher system optimization. The
Project, which is planed to increase the Company's Idaho-Utah transfer capability by
1,400 MW, is a fulfillment of that commitment to increase capacity by 300 MW (from
S.E. Idaho to Northern Utah) referenced in Case No. PAC-E-05-08 as the "Path C
Upgrade."
6. As fuer described in testimony accompanying ths Application, the
Project will:
a. provide and enhance reliability for Rocky Mountain Power
customers thoughout Rocky Mountain Power's certificated service terrtory because it
will increase transfer capability between the east and west control areas;
b. faciltate the delivery of power from the Goshen wind power
project and other power projects that are expected to be constrcted in Idaho and
Wyoming; and
c. provide Rocky Mountain Power with greater flexibilty and the
APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER - 3
opportty to consider additional options regarding planed generation capacity
additions.
7. Rocky Mountan Power anticipates the total cost of the Project, including
the Populus Substation and that segment of the Transmission Line within the state of
Utah, to be approximately $750 millon.
8. Rocky Mountan Power has in place franchise agreements for the tota line
route within the state of Idaho, including Banock and Oneida Counties as well as all
relevant muncipalities and townships that allow for the constrction of power lines
withn public thoroughares. In addition, Rocky Mountain Power has applied, or is in the
process of preparing applications with local counties and governental entities that
require conditional use permts or other similar authorizations.
9. PacifiCorp has the capability to finance the Project using the Company's
internally generated fuds and access external capita markets. Although the Company is
not seeking ratemaking treatment at this time, if all costs of the Project are included in the
Company's revenue requirement, the impact on the Company's Idao rates is estimated
to be approximately 3%.
10. The present and futue public convenience requires the constrction of the
proposed Project. The Project wil not confict with or adversely afect the operations of
any existing certificated fixed public utility providing retail electrc service to the public.
The Project does not constitute an extension into the certificated service terrtory of any
existing public electrc utilities.
11. The following testimony is filed in support of this Application:
a. Direct Testimony of John Cupparo.
APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER - 4
b. Direct Testimony of Sharon Seppi.
c. Direct Testimony of Bruce N. Wiliams.
12. In order to expedite the Commssion's determination in this matter Rocky
Mountain Power is assembling documents it anticipates paries wil likely desire to
examine as par of their analysis of ths Application. The availabilty of those documents
for inspection should expedite paries' review ofthis Application and considerably
diminish the need for discovery in ths docket.
WHREFORE, Rocky Mountan Power requests:
a. The Commission enter an order as expeditiously as possible
granting Rocky Mountain Power a certificate of convenience and necessity to constrct
the Project as described herein; and
b. The Commission grant such other authority and authorizations as
may be necessar to faciltate the constrction of the Project.
Respectfully submitted this 18th day of April, 2008.
APPLICATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER - 5