In the final days of 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) issued an order implementing House Bill 2192 (HB 2193) and setting the stage for energy storage in Oregon. The Commission’s order adopts: 1) guidelines for utilities to submit proposals for authorization to develop storage projects; 2) requirements for evaluating a utility’s system-wide storage potential; and 3) minimum competitive bidding requirements for energy storage procurement. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Adopts Guidelines and Requirements for Energy Storage Procurement
January 11, 2017 By
Oregon PUC Affirms PacifiCorp Power Costs
December 27, 2016 By
On December 20, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) approved PacifiCorp’s transition adjustment mechanism (TAM) filing, which sets its annual power costs and direct access stranded cost exit fees on customers that choose to purchase power from third party electricity service suppliers (ESS). The Oregon Commission essentially agreed with PacifiCorp on all major issues, rejecting recommendations by its Staff, industrial and residential customers, and an ESS. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Hesitant to Approve Rushed RFP Processes
August 8, 2016 By
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) declined to approve both PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric (PGE) explored their options for acquiring new renewable resources. The utilities proposed expedited request for proposals (RFP) to take full advantage of the federal production tax credit (PTC), before it begins stepping down in 2017, to help meet the new renewable portfolio standards implemented by SB 1547. Neither utility will acquire new renewable resources at this time. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Declines to Interfere with PacifiCorp’s Requests for Proposals
May 24, 2016 By
On May 19, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) denied Northwest and Intermountain Power Producers Coalition’s (NIPPC) petition for temporary rulemaking and investigation into PacifiCorp’s 2016 requests for proposals (RFP). NIPPC requested the Oregon Commission temporarily prohibit utilities from acquiring new renewable resources outside of the Oregon Commission’s competitive bidding guidelines. Although the Oregon Commission expressed sympathy for the concerns addressed in the petition, it concluded that it did not have the legal authority to prohibit utility ownership and declined to impose a partial remedy that might be seen as legitimizing PacifiCorp’s RFPs. [Read more…]
Oregon Commission Does Not Approve NW Natural’s CHP Program
April 8, 2016 By
On March 30, 2016, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Oregon Commission) denied Northwest Natural Gas Company’s (NW Natural) proposed Combined Heat and Power greenhouse emission reduction program (CHP Program). While the CHP Program was not approved, the Oregon Commission indicated support for voluntary natural gas emission reduction programs and suggested an alternative program design that it would approve. [Read more…]
