20220929Final_Order_No_35546.pdf

ORDER NO. 35546 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 29, 2022

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

On July 8, 2022, PacifiCorp d/b/a Rocky Mountain Power (“Company”) applied to the
Commission for authority to increase its Electric Service Schedule 191—Customer Efficiency
Services Rate Adjustment (“Schedule 191”)—to align revenue collections with demand-side
management (“DSM”) expenditures. Application at 1. If approved, the Schedule 191 rate would
increase from 2.25% to 2.5%, effective October 1, 2022. Id. The Company requested that its
Application be processed by Modified Procedure. Id.
On August 3, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Modified Procedure establishing public comment and Company reply deadlines. The Commission
Staff (“Staff”) filed comments. The Company did not file a reply. No other comments were
received.
Having reviewed the record, the Commission now issues this Order approving the
Company’s Application.
BACKGROUND
On April 1, 2022, the Commission rejected the Company’s previous Application to
adjust Schedule 191 from 2.25% to 2.75%, because the Company included programs pending
Commission approval in the forecasted DSM calculations. Case No. PAC-E-22-03, Order No.
35363. The Commission subsequently approved the Company’s Wattsmart Battery Demand
Response program in Case No. PAC-E-21-16, Order No. 35370, and the Company has adjusted
its DSM expenditure forecast accordingly.
THE APPLICATION
The Company expects a gradual alignment of the DSM balancing account over a three-
year period by increasing the Schedule 191 rate. The Company stated that the current balance for
Schedule 191 is over-collected by $255,450. However, due to increased DSM program expenses
and the introduction of new program offerings—including the Wattsmart Battery Program—the
IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POWER’S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ELECTRIC
SERVICE SCHEDULE 191–CUSTOMER
EFFICIENCY SERVICES RATE

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CASE NO. PAC-E-22-10

ORDER NO. 35546
ORDER NO. 35546 2

Company projects that the DSM balancing account will be $1.16 million under-collected by the
end of 2024 without adjustment. The Company represented that future DSM expenditures are
expected to exceed revenue, and asserted that it is reasonable to begin aligning the DSM balancing
account over a three-year period.
STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reviewed the Company’s Application and Exhibits, ultimately recommending that
the Commission approve the Company’s Application and tariffs as filed, increasing the Schedule
191 rate to 2.5%.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under Idaho Code §§ 61-501, -502,
and -503. 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 -503.
The Commission has reviewed the record, including the Application and the comments
of Staff. The Commission continues its support of allowing DSM cost-recovery because “cost-
effective DSM provides benefits to non-participants by reducing the overall cost of serving new
load [and] benefits all Idaho customers by reducing Idaho’s allocation of system power supply
costs. Order No. 29952; Order No. 33491. Based on our review, we find it reasonable to approve
the Company’s Application and proposed tariff. The Company has substantiated the need to adjust
the Schedule 191 rate to 2.5% to offset the costs of its DSM programs and avoid creating a large
deferral balance.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Application to increase the Schedule
191-Customer Efficiency Services Rate to 2.5% is approved.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company’s proposed Schedule 191-Customer
Efficiency Services Rate Adjustment is approved as filed.
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 regarding 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. Idaho Code § 61-626.
ORDER NO. 35546 3

DONE by Order of the Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 29th day of
September 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

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