20190802Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:EDWARD JEWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: AUGUST 2,2019
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER'S PETITION FOR
AN EXTENSION TO FILE ITS 2OT9 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN; CASE NO.
PAC-E-19-01.
On January 28,2019, Rocky Mountain Power ("Company") filed a Petition seeking
an extension of the March 29, 2019, filing date for the Company's 2019 Integrated Resource
Plan ("lRP").
On March 19, 2019, the Commission issued an Order approving the Company's
request to change the filing date for its 2019 IRP to no later than August 1,2019. Order No.
3427s.
On July 17,2019, the Company filed another Petition requesting an additional
extension of its filing date until October 18,2019.
THE PETITIONS
In its first Petition, the Company stated that it needed additional time to complete its
IRP because it had identified potential reliability challenges that required resolution before the
Company could complete the economic analysis of its coal units. Petition at 2. In its second
Petition, the Company states that it needs additional time to complete the IRP because a recently
discovered error in how coal-cost assumptions for the Jim Bridger units are inputted into the
model potentially impacts the dispatch of the Jim Bridger units, which results in other impacts
throughout the model. See Second Petition at 2-3. The Company states that it has conducted
modeling analysis for over 50 different portfolios based on different futures, and must now re-
run the 50 different portfolios with corrected inputs. Id. at3. In order to allow time for this
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
additional modeling, review the modeling, and conduct additional public-input meetings, the
Company requests an additional extension of its 2019IRP filing date until October 18, 2019.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission grant the Company's request to change its 2019
IRP filing deadline from August l, 2019 until October 18, 2019. Staff believes it is not
necessary for the Commission to provide a comment period or additional procedure at this time.
See Commission Rule 13. Once the Company files its 2019 IRP, Staff will make
recommendations on procedure and timing.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to approve the Company's Petition to change its 2019
IRP filing deadline from August 1,2019 until October 18,2019?
Deputy General
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2DECISION MEMORANDUM
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