20201120Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMNIISSIONER AIIDERSON
COM1VIISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:DAYN HARDIE
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: NOVEMBER 19,2020
SUBJECT:IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER'S
APPLICATION TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND CHARGES IN
IDAHO AND FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED ELECTRIC
SERVICE SCHEDULES AllD REGULATIONS; PAC-E-20-03
On March 26, 2020, Rocky Mountain Power ("Company"), a division of
PacifiCorp, filed a Notice of Intent to file a General Rate Case. The Company later decided
that, due to the impacts of the Covid-I9 pandemic, it would instead develop a rate plan
allowing it to delay filing a general rate case.
On May 28,2020,the Company, Commission Staff, Bayer, Idaho Conservation
League, Idaho Irrigation Pumper Association, and PacifiCorp Idaho Industrial Customers
stipulated that the Company would delay filing a general rate case and instead apply for an
accounting order (the "Stipulation").
On July 2, 2020, the Company submitted this Application along with the
Stipulation and asked for: (1) an accounting order authorizing the Company to create a
regulatory asset to transfer decommissioning and plant closure costs of Cholla Unit No. 4
when it is retired; (2) approval of modifications to Phase II of the sefflement stipulation to
implement tax reform approved in Order No. 34431; and (3) approval of ratemaking
treatment for Pryor Mountain and Foote Creek I wind resources to match costs with
benefits-with costs capped at the level ofbenefits until the prudence of the resources can
be determined in the next general rate case.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
On July 20,2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice
of Intervention Deadline. Idaho Irrigation Pumper's Association intervened in the case.
Staff conferred with parties on scheduling and preferred procedure. Staff and
parties agreed that the case should be processed by modified procedure with a December
16,2020 public comment deadline and a December 23,2020 Company reply deadline.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
After conferring with the parties, Staff recommends the Commission issue a
Notice of Modified Procedure setting a December 16,2020 public comment deadline and
a December 23,2020 Company reply deadline.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Modified Procedure
establishing a December 16,2020 public comment deadline and a December 23,2020
Company reply comment deadline?
Dayn
Deputy Attorney General
I:V*gaI\ELECTRJC1PAC-E-2043WACE2003-dec2-dh.dex
2DECISION MEMORANDUM