20200211Final_Order_No_34553.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 11,2020
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN )CASE NO.PAC-E-19-15
POWER'S APPLICATION TO MODIFY )ELECTRIC SERVICE SCHEDULE NO.31 )PARTIAL REQUIREMENTSSERVICE )ORDER NO.34553
On October 10,2019,PacifiCorp dba Rocky Mountain Power ("Rocky Mountain"or
"Company")filed an Application requesting the Commission approve modifications to its Electric
Service Schedule No.3 l-Partial Requirements Service-High Voltage ("Partial Requirements
Service"),to add an option for customers taking service at distribution voltage levels.The
Company requested that its Application be processed by Modified Procedure.
On November 8,2019,the Commission issued its Notice of Application,Notice of
Modified Procedure and Order.Order No.34477.The Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff
("Staff")submitted the only comments in this case and supported the Company's Application.
Rocky Mountain did not reply.
With this Order we approve the Company's Application.
THE APPLICATION
In its Application,Rocky Mountain asserts Partial Requirements Service is designed
for customers with onsite generation.Application at 2.The Company states this service "consists
of Supplementary,Back-up,Maintenance,or Excess Power service."Id.Rocky Mountain
represents customers currentlycontract for Partial Requirements Service for a minimum of one
year.Id.
Rocky Mountain asserts Partial Requirements Service is currently only available to
transmission customers with loads up to 15,000 kW.Id.However,the Company states it has been
contacted by a customer that takes service at a distribution voltage level who is interested in Partial
Requirements Service.Id.at 3.As a result,Rocky Mountain requests Commission authority to
expand Schedule No.31 to enable customers served at distribution voltages to take service under
its terms and conditions.Id.The Company believes this will also provide more transparency for
customers to evaluate their options as they consider self-generation.Id.Accordingly,the
Company proposes to add two additional rates to Schedule No.31:Secondary Service for
customers taking service under 2300 volts;and Primary Service for distribution service of 2300
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volts or higher.Id.Rocky Mountain asserts the rates for these distribution service options were
designed based upon the prices for full requirements service under Electric Service Schedule No.
6-General Service,("Schedule 6").Id.The Company asserts this same logic was used to develop
current Schedule No.31 prices for transmission voltage customers based upon Schedule 9.Id.
Rocky Mountain also represents that like the transmission voltage rates,the proposed rates for
partial requirements services for distribution voltage service are based upon the Company's most
recently filed cost of service study in Case No.PAC-E-11-12.Id.at 3-4.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff recommends the Commission approve the Company's request to add primary and
secondary distribution level service to Electric Service Schedule No.31.Staff Comments at 2.
Staff based its recommendation on two factors.First,Staff believes that expanding this service
allows a broader range of customers the opportunity to self-generate.Id.Second,Staff
determined that the proposed rates should cover the cost of the service.Id.Consequently,
implementation of the proposed rates will not shift costs to the Company's other customers.Id.
Staff states that by expanding partial requirements service,the Company avoids discriminating
against customers who wish to self-generate,but onlyhave access to distribution level service.Id.
Customers considering self-generation as a viable option may require access to back-up,
maintenance,or supplementary service to cover equipment outages or energy needs in excess of
their self-generation capabilities.Id.Staff expects no adverse impact to the Company's other
customers by expanding this service to customers that request it.Id.
Staff verified that the method used to calculate the current Partial Requirements
Service,Schedule No.31 rates for high voltage transmission customers was the same method the
Company used to calculate the rates for this proposal.Id.Staff also states the Partial Requirements
Service rates for distribution level customers under this proposal were based on costs needed to
serve full requirement service under Schedule No.6.Id.at 3.Staff also verified that all Partial
Requirements Service rates,proposed and current,are based upon the Company's most recently
filed cost of service study in Case No.PAC-E-11-12.Id.
COMMISSION DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under Idaho Code §§61-119,61-
129,61-501,61-502,and 61-503.The Commission is vested with the power to "supervise and
regulate every public utility in the state and to do all things necessary to carry out the spirit and
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intent of the [Public Utilities Law]."Idaho Code §61-501.The Commission is empowered to
investigate rates,charges,rules,regulations,practices,and contracts of public utilities and to
determine whether they are just,reasonable,preferential,discriminatory,or in violation of any
provision of law,and to fix the same by order.Idaho Code §§61-502 and 61-503.
The Commission has reviewed the Application,attachments,and the comments of
Staff.Based upon our review,we have determined it is fair,justand reasonable to approve Rocky
Mountain's Application and the modifications to its Electric Service Schedule No.31,Partial
Requirements Service as set forth therein,which includes Partial Requirements Service rates for
Secondary Service for customers taking service under 2300 volts;and Primary Service for
distribution service of 2300 volts or higher.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's Application proposing modifications
to Electric Service Schedule No.31 is approved,effective as of the service date of this order.The
Company shall file conforming tariffs with the Commission within ten (10)days of the service
date of this Order.
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 with regard to any
matter decided in this Order.Within seven (7)days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration.See Idaho Code §61-
626.
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DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this I
day of February 2020.
PAUL ELLA R,PRESIDENT
KRI INE RAPER,C ISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
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