HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230414B2H Press Release.pdf
Case No. PAC-E-23-01
Order No. 35726
Case No. IPC-E-23-01
Order No. 35731
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: (208) 334-0339
E-mail: adam.rush@puc.idaho.gov
NEWS RELEASE: Commission schedules online public workshops on transmission line project
BOISE – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will host public workshops on April 17 and
April 19 to share information on applications from two electric utilities that have applied for
permits to build a 500-kilovolt transmission line.
Rocky Mountain Power and Idaho Power have applied for certificates of public convenience and
necessity as part of the process to build the Boardman-to-Hemingway transmission line, which
they will co-own. A certificate of public convenience and necessity is a permit granted to a
utility that allows it to provide service to a new geographic area, enter into a franchise
agreement, build and operate a new facility or build an extension of an existing facility. The
permit covers activities that are outside of a utility’s usual course of business.
Rocky Mountain Power said the transmission line is needed to create lower-cost and more
reliable electricity transmission service for its growing customer load and to avoid spending
more for higher-cost generation and transmission resources.
Idaho Power said population and business growth in the region are increasing demand for
electricity, and existing transmission lines can’t carry additional electricity when it is most
needed.
The workshop for Idaho Power’s application will be Monday, April 17. Staff with the public
utilities commission will present information on the application and answer questions. It will
start at 6:00 p.m. (MDT) and end at 9:00 p.m., or after questions from the public have been
answered, whichever comes first. To participate over the phone, please call 1-415-655-0001 and
enter meeting number 2454 319 4150 when prompted. Next, enter this numeric password:
66632963. To participate online, please visit idahogov.webex.com, and enter meeting number
2454 319 4150. Then, click on the green “Join” button. At the next window, please enter this
password: MondayMeeting. Next, please click on the green “Join Webinar” button. At the next
window, please enter your name and e-mail address, and then click on the “Next” button. Then
click on the green “Join Webinar” button.
The workshop for Rocky Mountain Power’s application will be Wednesday, April 19. Staff with
the commission will present information on the application and answer questions. It will start at
6:00 p.m. (MDT) and end at 9:00 p.m., or after all questions from the public have been
answered, whichever comes first. To participate over the phone, please call 1-415-655-0001 and
enter meeting number 2459 471 9482 when prompted. Next, enter this numeric password:
93363732. To participate online, please visit idahogov.webex.com, and enter meeting number
2459 471 9482. Then, click on the green “Join” button. At the next window, please enter the
password WednesdayMeeting. Next, please click on the green “Join Webinar” button. At the
next window, please enter your name and e-mail address, and then click on the “Next” button.
Then click on the green “Join Webinar” button.
Those interested in attending either workshop in-person can do so at the commission’s office,
11331 W. Chinden Blvd, Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise.
The transmission line, once built, will be approximately 300 miles long and cross five counties in
Oregon. It will connect to Idaho Power’s existing Hemingway Substation in Owyhee County in
Idaho.
The commission is accepting written comments on both applications until May 25, 2023. To
submit comments on Rocky Mountain Power’s application online, please visit the commission’s
homepage at puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “Case Comment Form” link on the upper left side of
the page and complete the form using Case Number PAC-E-23-01. To file by e-mail, comments
should be sent to the commission secretary and Rocky Mountain Power at the e-mail addresses
listed below. If computer access is not available, comments may be mailed to the commission
and the utility at these addresses:
For the Commission:
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
secretary@puc.idaho.gov
Street Address for Express Mail:
11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714
For Rocky Mountain Power:
Mark Alder
John Hutchings
Carla Scarsella
1407 W. North Temple, Suite 330
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
mark.alder@pacificorp.com
john.hutchings@pacificorp.com
carla.scarsella@pacificorp.com
Katherine McDowell
Adam Lowney
McDowell Rackner & Gibson PC
419 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 400
Portland, Oregon 97205
katherine@mrg-law.com
adam@mrg-law.com
Data Request Response Center
PacifiCorp
825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 2000
Portland, OR 97232
datarequest@pacificorp.com
To submit comments on Idaho Power’s application for its certificate of public convenience and
necessity, please visit the commission’s homepage at puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “Case
Comment Form” link on the upper left side of the page and complete the form using Case
Number IPC-E-23-01. To file by e-mail, comments should be sent to the commission secretary
and Idaho Power at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is not available,
comments may be mailed to the commission and the utility at these addresses:
For the Commission:
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
secretary@puc.idaho.gov
Street Address for Express Mail:
11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, Idaho 83714
For Idaho Power:
Donovan E. Walker
Tim Tatum
1221 W. Idaho Street (83702)
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707
dwalker@idahopower.com
ttatum@idahopower.com
dockets@idahopower.com
For additional information on the utilities’ applications, please visit:
puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6980 or puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6975.