20130620notice_of_application_order_no_32834.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
June 20.2013
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )
OF PACIFICORP DBA ROCKY MOUNTAIN )CASE NO.PAC-E-13-iO
POW ER FOR AUTHORITY TO MAKE )
REVISIONS TO ITS ELECTRIC SERVICE )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
SCHEDULE 155,AGRICULTURAL ENERGY )
SERVICES )NOTICE OF
)MODIFIED PROCEDURE
)
)NOTICE OF
)INTERVENTION DEADLINE
)
____________________________
)ORDER NO.32834
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on May 24,2013.PacifiCorp dba Rocky
Mountain Power (“Rocky Mountain”or Company”)tiled an Application,including a Revised
Schedule 155 Tariff Sheet and Evaluation Report,pursuant to Idaho Code §sS 61-301,61-307,
6 1-622,and 61-623,with the Commission seeking an Order allowing the Company to modify its
Electric Service Schedule No.155,Agricultural Energy Services.The Company proposes to
suspend the prescriptive measures in the Idaho Agricultural Energy Services program
(Program’).
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rocky Mountain seeks to amend the Program
by suspending:(1)the Nozzle Exchange Program;and (2)incentives for the pivot and linear
equipment measures listed in Table 1 of the current Schedule 155.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rocky Mountain employed a third party,
Navigant Consulting (‘Navigant”).to prepare an evaluation report.The complete report is
included as Attachment B to the Application.Navigant cited several factors affecting Program
energy savings:
a)Reported energy savings for the majority of the energy efficiency
measures that reduce flow were based on deemed or unit energy savings
(UES)values,making it difficult to establish a reliable baseline for a
bottom-up engineering analysis.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
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ORDER NO.32834 1
b)Farmers may opt to participate in the Program in anticipation of future
increases in watering requirements creating a self-selection bias in the
analysis of the billing data and masking actual savings realized.
c)Mobility of non-center-pivot and non-pump specific measures could have
reduced the applicability of a retrospective billing analysis because energy
impacts occurred across multiple meters.
d)Lack of good data on crop planting history or participants’expansion
efforts introduced uncertainty regarding energy consumption.
e)The impact of growers bringing acreage in and out of production and the
subsequent impacts on water use and energy consumption.
0 Lack of information on soil characteristics for various participants
impeded efforts to understand moisture retention at participant sites,and
subsequent impacts on watering requirements.
g)Where multiple measures were installed the resulting interaction
complicated the analysis beyond the approved sampling methodology.
The lack of baseline data combined with unknowns regarding the relative
magnitude of the varying measures increased uncertainty.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Program evaluation report includes
findings for the 2009-201 1 time periods.Rocky Mountain believes that the resource acquisition
from a utility perspective was cost-effective,but the total resource look and other cost tests
returned benefit to cost ratios below one.Based on these results the Company requested an
additional review of individual Irrigation Energy Savers measures.The Navigant review
indicates that while there is uncertainty regarding the analysis it appears that the Nozzle
Exchange (including gaskets and drains)and prescriptive pivot and linear system upgrades are
not cost-effective based on the information available.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rocky Mountain believes that cost-
effectiveness and energy savings can be evaluated with more certainty through custom analysis.
Accordingly,even the suspended Agricultural Energy Services measures will continue to be
available for incentives through the custom option.Custom analysis is based on pre-installation
measurements to develop savings estimates and post-installation verification of savings on a site
by-site basis and should enable a more accurate assessment of project savings.
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ORDER NO.32834
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Attachment C of Rocky Mountain’s
Application,Idaho Agricultural Energy Efficiency Program Cost Effectiveness -Memo,states
that removing the Nozzle Exchange and Pivot and Linear Irrigation system upgrades and
allowing the measures in the custom program,will improve the economic performance of the
Program in 2013.The Program passes the PTRC.TRC.UCT and PCT cost-effectiveness tests
for the 2014-2016 period.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rocky Mountain states that all 2013 Idaho
Agricultural Energy Services program incentive applications received with an equipment
purchase date prior to the effective date of the new Program tariff will be eligible for incentives
based on the current Program if the application is submitted within 90 days of the new tariff
effective date.For equipment purchased after the effective date of the new Program tariff,
eligibility will be based on the new Program tarift and incentives for all measures will be
available through the custom analysis.Customers must contact the Company prior to making
any equipment changes.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that Rocky Mountain asserts that it will not
reinstate prescriptive incentives until greater savings confidence can be achieved.The
evaluation plan will be revised to reflect the suspension of the flow reduction measures.An
engineering approach will be used rather than a billing analysis for the impact evaluation
methodology.The Company plans to evaluate the 2012-2013 Program years in 2014.
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the
public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified
Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission’s Rules
of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204.The Commission notes that Modified
Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input
and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this
Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission no later
than July 15,2013.The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment.
Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.
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Written comments concerning this Application shall be mailed to the Commission and Rocky
Mountain Power at the addresses reflected below:
Commission Secretary Ted Weston
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Idaho Regulatory Affairs Manager
P0 Box 83720 Rocky Mountain Power
Boise,ID 83720-0074 201 S.Main Street.Suite 2300
Salt Lake City.UT 84111
Street Address for Express Mail:E-mail:[e-mail]
472 W.Washington Street Daniel E.Solander
Boise,ID 83702-5918 Senior Counsel
Rocky Mountain Power
201 S.Main Street,Suite 2300
Salt Lake City,UT 84111
E-mail:daniel.solander(ipacificorp.com
These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this
document.Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the
Commission’s home page located at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click the “Consumers”tab,scroll
down and click on “Utility Case Comment or Question Form,”and then complete the comment
form using the case number as it appears on the front of this document.These comments must
also be sent to the Company at the e-mail addresses 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 Rocky Mountain’s Application and
supporting workpapers,testimonies and exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.The
Application and testimonies are also available on the Commission’s web site at
www.puc.idaho.gov.Click on the “File Room”tab at the top of the page,scroll down to “Open
Electric Cases,”and then click on the case number shown on the first page of this document.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.32834 4
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held
pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.The Commission
may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61.
YOU ARE FURTHER 1OTIFTED that all proceedings in this matter will be
conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in Case No.
PAC-E-l 3-10 for the purpose of becoming a party,i.e.,to present evidence,to acquire rights of
cross-examination,to participate in settlement or negotiation conferences,and to make and argue
motions must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission pursuant to Rules 72 and 73 of the
Commission’s Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073.Persons desiring to acquire
intervenor rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene within seven (7)days of the
service date of this Order.Persons desiring intervenor status shall also provide the
Commission Secretary with their electronic mail address to facilitate future communications in
this matter.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Rocky Mountain’s Application will be processed
under Modified Procedure.Persons interested in submitting written comments regarding this
case or protesting the use of Modified Procedure should do so no later than July 15,2013.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case shall file a
Petition to Intervene with the Commission no later than seven days from the service date of this
Order.
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ORDER NO.32834 5
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise.Idaho this
day of June 2013.
ATTEST:
MARSHA H.SMITH,COMMISSIONER
1
Iq’an D Jewell
COmmission Secretary
0 :PAC-E-13-1 Onp
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
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ORDER NO.32834 6