20110729Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM- 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: KARL T. KLEIN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: JULY 29, 2011

SUBJECT: ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER’S APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF
AMENDMENTS TO ITS POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH
POWER COUNTY WIND PARK, CASE NO. PAC-E-10-05

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 PPAs 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 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
DECISION MEMORANDUM- 2
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).

PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL
The changes reflected in the Revised PPAs are non-material from the Staff’s
perspective. Further, as the parties to this case have agreed to the changes, the Staff believes that
the Commission may appropriately enter its Order approving the Revised PPAs, without further
notice.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to enter an Order approving the Revised PPAs?

M:PAC-E-10-05_kk