OPUC Adopts Updated PacifiCorp Avoided Costs that Include Transmission Costs

On July 29, 2024, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (the Commission) issued Order No. 24-248 in Docket No. UM 1729 regarding PacifiCorp’s annual update to their standard avoided cost rates for qualifying facilities selling power under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.  [Read more…]

OPUC Adopts New Rules Related to Interconnection

On March 8, 2024, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (Commission) issued Order No. 24-068 in Docket No. AR 659 related to interconnection updates for small generators under Oregon’s community solar program and implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and net metering facilities. [Read more…]

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).  [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…]

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…]