20221107Notice_of_Application_Order_No_35588.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35588 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 7, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POWER’S APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL
OF A CAPACITY DEFICIENCY PERIOD TO
BE USED FOR AVOIDED COST
CALCUATIONS
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CASE NO. PAC-E-22-14

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF
MODIFIED PROCEDURE

ORDER NO. 35588

On October 4, 2022, Rocky Mountain Power (“Company”), a division of PacifiCorp,
applied for Commission approval of a capacity deficiency period determination beginning in the
summer of 2023, to be used in avoided cost calculations using the surrogate avoided resource
(“SAR”) method. The Company requested its Application be processed by Modified Procedure.
The Commission now issues this Notice of Application and Modified Procedure
establishing public comment and Company reply deadlines.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the capacity deficiency period is determined through
the IRP planning process and is submitted to the Commission in a proceeding separate from the
IRP docket. The capacity deficit date1 determined in the IRP process is presumed to be correct as
a starting point but will be subject to the outcome of the capacity deficiency case. Order No. 32697.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has ordered that “all future [load
and resource] Balances included in the capacity deficiency date update for avoided costs must
contain the most up-to-date information available at the time of filing.” Application at 3 quoting
Order No. 35415.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company filed its IRP in September 2021. The
Company stated that, since the 2021 IRP Update, “removing uncommitted early coal retirements,”
as well as adding various contracts after the 2021 IRP, demand response programs, and contracted

1 The Commission has established a SAR method to calculate avoided cost rates for qualifying facilities (“QFs”). A
QF receives capacity payments only after the applicable capacity deficit date is reached. Application at 3 quoting
Order No. 32697.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35588 2
front office transactions it has adjusted its capacity deficiency calculations.2 Application at 5. Due
to these updates to the 2021 IRP, the Company states “the first capacity deficiency of 296
megawatts occurs in the summer of 2023…. After a larger deficiency in 2024, a period of
sufficiency occurs from 2025 through 2027.” Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application is available for public inspection
during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. The Application and documents related
to this case are also available on the Commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the
“ELECTRIC” icon, select “Open Cases,” and click on the case number as shown on the front of
this document.
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.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED 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 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 that it will proceed under Modified
Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the 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 persons desiring to state a position on this
Application may file a written comment explaining why they support or oppose the Application.
Persons who would like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.
Persons shall have until December 20, 2022, to file written comments. Comments must be filed
through the Commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To
comment electronically, please access the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the
“Case Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of
this document. To file by e-mail, the customer must e-mail the comments to the Commission

2 The Company noted that the Commission has ordered that the early retirement of coal resources should not be
accounted for in the load and resource balance unless the Commission has already approved the early retirement date.
See Order No. 34918. The Company stated that the early retirement of coal resources incorporated into calculations
found in the Application are in consistent with Order No. 34918.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35588 3
Secretary and the Company at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is unavailable,
then comments may be mailed to the Commission Secretary and Company at these addresses:
For the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission:

Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
[e-mail]

Street Address for Express Mail:

11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, Idaho 83714

For Rocky Mountain Power:

Ted Weston
1407 West North Temple, Suite 330
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
[e-mail]

Ron Scheirer
825 NE Multnomah, Suite 600
Portland, OR 97232
[e-mail]

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by
January 3, 2023.
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.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Application be processed by Modified
Procedure, Rules 201-204 (IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204). Persons interested in submitting written
comments must do so by December 20, 2022. The Company must file any reply comments by
January 3, 2023.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35588 4
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 7th day of
November 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

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