On September 1, 2021, PacifiCorp filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC or Idaho Commission), Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC or Oregon Commission), and the Utah Public Service Commission (UPSC or Utah Commission). The Idaho Commission accepted and acknowledged the 2021 IRP in an August 30, 2022 written order. The Oregon Commission acknowledged the 2021 IRP, with conditions, at a public meeting on March 29, 2022, and memorialized that decision in an order on May 23, 2022. The Utah Commission declined to acknowledge the 2021 IRP in an order issued on June 2, 2022.
NIPPC Releases Whitepaper on How Competition Improves Decarbonization
On July 20, 2022, the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition (NIPPC) released a whitepaper titled “The Role of Competition in the Pacific Northwest Clean Energy Transition,” that examines how wholesale and retail competition in the power sector can contribute to the Pacific Northwest’s decarbonization goals.
Oregon Commission Approves PGE’s 2021 RFP Final Shortlist with Conditions
At the July 14, 2022 Special Public Meeting in Docket No. UM 2166, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) acknowledged Portland General Electric Company’s (PGE’s) final shortlist for its 2021 All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) with conditions. The Commission published an Order memorializing its decision on August 31, 2022. PGE will begin negotiations with bidders from the final shortlist.
Oregon PUC Resolves Interconnection Dispute
On April 29, 2022 in Docket No. UM 2164, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Commission or OPUC) denied the claims brought by Conifer Energy Partners, LLC against Portland General Electric Company (PGE) in a complaint disputing the cost of interconnection of its Zena Solar photovoltaic qualifying facility (QF). Zena Solar’s disputes with PGE had been ongoing since early 2018.
Utah, Washington, and Oregon Commissions Approve PacifiCorp’s 2022 RFP
At the March 10, 2022 Open Meeting, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (the Washington Commission) approved PacifiCorp’s 2022 request for proposals (RFP) with conditions in Docket No. UE-210979. At the April 14, 2022 Special Public Meeting, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) approved PacifiCorp’s 2022 RFP with several conditions in Docket No. UM 2193. In an Order from April 22, 2022, the Utah Public Service Commission (the Utah Commission) also approved PacifiCorp’s 2022 RFP with conditions in Docket No. 21-035-52. PacifiCorp’s RFP was issued to the market in April and bids are expected to be due in January 2023.
Oregon Commission Denied Idaho Power Company’s Request to Waive the Competitive Bidding Rules
At the March 8, 2022 Public Meeting, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) denied Idaho Power Company’s (Idaho Power) waiver request of Oregon’s competitive bidding rules. Oregon’s competitive bidding rules lay out the process for a Request for Proposals (RFP) when a utility will acquire resources of an aggregate of 80 megawatts for five years or more and require an Independent Evaluator to oversee the RFP process.
Oregon Updates Community Solar Rules on Dispute Resolution and Status Revocation
On March 8, 2022, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Commission) updated its community solar program (CSP) rules to clarify the procedures for dispute resolution and status revocation. Community solar allows ratepayers to support solar projects by subscribing to a share of a project’s output. The Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association (OSSIA) was the only stakeholder to provide written comments. OSSIA and Commission Staff reached agreement on almost all of the proposed rule language.
OPUC Adopted New Rules Related to Small-Scale Renewable Energy Mandate
On December 15, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Commission) adopted new rules outlining electric utilities’ compliance with the small-scale renewable energy mandate in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 469A.210. Oregon House Bill 2021 increased the percentage of the utility’s aggregate electrical capacity that must come from eligible small-scale renewable projects from eight percent to ten percent. House Bill 2021 also expanded the compliance deadline from 2025 to 2030.
OPUC Acknowledged PacifiCorp’s 2020 RFP Shortlist with Conditions
On November 24, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) acknowledged PacifiCorp’s 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) final shortlist with several conditions. PacifiCorp will now negotiate power purchase agreement and build own transfer agreements with some or all of the over 3,500 MW of new wind, solar and battery storage projects.
OPUC Declines Jurisdiction over QF PPAs
On June 25, 2021, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Oregon Commission) dismissed the case brought against NewSun Energy (NewSun) by Portland General Electric (PGE) that sought to terminate the power purchase agreements (PPAs) of select qualified facilities (QFs). The primary dispute was over the timeline of the QFs to come online and be commercially viable. NewSun argued there was force majeure, or, unforeseeable and unpreventable circumstances which prevented the facilities from achieving their commercial operation dates. The Commission agreed concluded that case should be adjudicated in court and dismissed the case, without prejudice.