20110803final_order_no_32314.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 3,2011
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )
PACIFICORP DBA ROCKY MOUNTAIN )CASE NO.PAC-E-lO-05
POWER FOR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS )
TO POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS )
WITH POWER COUNTY WIND PARK )ORDER NO.32314
NORTH LLC AND POWER COUNTY WIND )
PARK SOUTH LLC )
On June 22,2011,PacifiCorp dba Rocky Mountain Power applied to the Commission
for an Order approving its First Revised and Restated Power Purchase Agreements (Revised
PPAs)with Power County Wind Park North LLC and Power County Wind Park South LLC.
BACKGROUND
On August 18,2010,the Company entered Power Purchase Agreements with Power
County Wind Park North and Power County Wind Park South.The Commission approved both
Agreements on October 6,2010.See Order No.32084 (this case).
The Wind Parks subsequently decided to use different turbines than those described
in the original PPAs.Rocky Mountain Power did not object.Consequently,on June 2,2011,the
parties entered Revised PPAs reflecting that the Wind Parks will use different turbines.
REVISED PPAs
The Revised PPAs reflect,among other things,that each Wind Park will:
•Install nine Nordex N100,2.5 MW turbines instead of the 12 Vestas V100
1.8 MW turbines described in the original PPAs (Revised PPAs §4);
•Increase its expected capacity rating from 21,780 kw to 22,500 kw (Id.,§
1);
•Continue to maintain an average monthly output of under 10 aMWs (Id.,§
9);and
•Decrease its average annual net output,with Wind Park North changing
from 67,311,441 kWh to 60,039,952 kWh,and Wind Park South
changing from 60,523,733 to 57,129,471 kWh (Id.,§3).
ORDER NO.32314 1
STAFF COMMENTS
Commission Staff stated that the proposed amendments are non-material from Staffs
perspective.Accordingly,Staff recommended that the Commission approve the Revised PPAs.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
The Commission has reviewed the record in this matter,including Rocky Mountain
Power’s June 22,201 1 Application,the two Revised PPAs,and Commission Staff’s comments.
The amendments (including those referenced above)are non-material from the Commission’s
perspective.Accordingly,the Commission finds it reasonable to enter its Order approving the
Revised PPAs without further notice or procedure.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over PacifiCorp dba Rocky
Mountain Power,an electric utility,pursuant to the authority and power granted it under Title 61
of the Idaho Code and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).
The Commission has authority under PURPA and the implementing regulations of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to set avoided costs,to order electric utilities to
enter into fixed-term obligations for the purchase of energy from qualified facilities (QFs)and to
implement FERC rules.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and the Commission does hereby approve the June 2,
2011 Revised PPAs entered into between PacifiCorp dba Rocky Mountain Power and Power
County Wind Park North LLC and Power County Wind Park South LLC.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the service date of this Order.Within seven (7)
days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for
reconsideration.See Idaho Code §6 1-626.
ORDERNO.32314 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this 3
day of August2011.
‘3 \k4c I:
MACK A REDFORD,COMMISSIONER
i7La4tL
ATTEST:
Jn D.Jewe(j1
Cbmmission Secretary
O:PAC-E-1 O-045_kk
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
ORDERNO.32314 3