On December 16, 2022 the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) approved PacifiCorp’s request for a general rate revision. The Oregon Commission approved a revenue requirement of approximately $51.4 million, representing a 3.9% increase from its previous rates. The Commission also approved new rates for the Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism (PCAM) and the Transition Adjustment Mechanism (TAM), and later in the proceeding approved a new green tariff for PacifiCorp.
BPA Adopted Settlement in TC-24 Related to Changes in BPA’s OATT
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) issued the Administrator’s Final Record of Decision (Final ROD) on February 9, 2023 in the TC-24 proceeding. The Final ROD adopts changes to the terms and conditions of BPA’s open access transmission tariff (OATT) in accordance with the settlement reached among parties to the TC-24 proceeding (the TC-24 Settlement). The TC-24 Settlement itself was adopted following a collaborative process that included stakeholder workshops and settlement negotiations.
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals Upheld the FERC’s Grant of QF Status to Broadview Solar’s Solar-Plus-Storage Facility
On February 14, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) grant of qualifying facility (QF) status to Broadview Solar. The Court upheld FERC’s decision that a 160 MW solar-plus-storage project is a QF under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).
Oregon Commission Issues Order in Docket No. UM 2032 Related to Network Upgrade Cost Allocation and Interconnection Service for QFs
On January 20, 2023, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) released an order in Docket No. UM 2032 related to network upgrade cost allocation and interconnection service for qualifying facilities (QFs). The Commission directed Commission Staff to open an informal rulemaking related to state-jurisdictional transmission planning. The Commission also directed the utilities to accept an interconnection service besides Network Resource Integration Service (NRIS) if the QF will negotiate a non-standard contract and consent to curtailment.
Montana Commission Adopted New Competitive Bidding Rules
At the December 20, 2022 Business Meeting, the Montana Public Service Commission (the Commission) adopted new rules on electric utility competitive bidding and other issues. The new rules took effect on January 14, 2023.
Oregon Court of Appeals Affirms Oregon Public Utility Commission Order Regarding PGE’s PURPA Fixed Price Term and Oregon Public Utility Commission Jurisdiction
On January 5, 2023, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed an appeal of the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s (Commission) order in Docket No. UM 1931 regarding Commission jurisdiction over executed Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) contracts and the start of Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE) fixed-price term under then-existing standard power purchase agreements (PPA). The Court’s decision held that the 15-year fixed-price period under PGE’s then-existing PURPA PPAs began at contract execution not commercial operation date and that the Commission has jurisdiction over executed contracts between qualifying facilities (QFs) and the utilities.
Oregon Commission Acknowledges Idaho Power’s 2021 IRP
On December 30, 2021, Idaho Power filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission). The Commission acknowledged the 2021 IRP and adopted Commission Staff’s recommendations at a public meeting on December 6, 2022 and memorialized that decision in an order on January 13, 2023.
Washington Commission Adopted Settlement that Increases Avista’s Avoided Costs
At the December 22, 2022 Open Meeting, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the Commission) approved Avista’s avoided cost Schedule 62 tariff filing for small qualifying facilities in Docket No. UE-220783. The new tariff was the result of an informal settlement between Avista, Commission Staff, the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition (NIPPC), and the Renewable Energy Coalition (REC).
WUTC Approves Avista 2022 General Rate Case Settlement
On December 12, 2022, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the WUTC) approved a multiparty settlement stipulation (Settlement) subject to conditions for Avista Corporation’s (Avista) multi-year rate plan for electric and gas service in Docket Nos. UE-220053 and UG-220054. This was the first approved rate increase since the Washington Legislature passed legislation in 2021 requiring utilities to file multi-year rate plans.
OPUC Prohibits the Use of the “Agent Subscription Model” in Oregon’s Community Solar Program
On October 6, 2022, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Commission) issued an order prohibiting the use of the “agent subscription model” in the Oregon Community Solar Program (CSP).