Archives for January 2023

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.  [Read more…]

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.  [Read more…]

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.  [Read more…]

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).  [Read more…]