Archives for April 2021

FERC Finds Utah QF Established LEO Prior to Utility’s PURPA Waiver Filing

On April 15, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order finding that a qualifying facility (QF) called Kanab Solar had established a legally enforceable obligation (LEO) to sell power to Garkane Energy Cooperative (Garkane) prior to the date that Garkane and its generation and transmission cooperative, Deseret Power, had petitioned FERC for waivers to some of their obligations under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). FERC granted the waivers. However, FERC also determined that Kanab Solar established a LEO before the petitions were filed. This means that the waivers do not affect Kanab Solar’s pre-existing right to choose to sell to Garkane rather than to Deseret Power.  [Read more…]

Idaho Commission Determines that QFs Cannot Establish a LEO Unless the Utility Delays Contract Execution

In April 2021, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) affirmed its December 2020 order that qualifying facilities (QF) under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) can only establish a Legally Enforceable Obligation (LEO) by filing a meritorious complaint against the purchasing utility before the utility’s rates change. This order means that QFs interested in selling to Idaho utilities can only lock in contract pricing by obtaining a fully executed contract before rates change or by demonstrating that a utility delayed contract execution.  [Read more…]