Public Notice...

PUBLIC NOTICE

Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Procedural Rules and Special Regulations, notice is hereby given of the Application of Rocky Mountain Power (RMP or the Company) for an Order approving nontraditional ratemaking related to wind repowering, as more fully described below:

RMP is a public utility, as defined in Wyo. Stat. §37-1- 101(a)(vi)(C), providing retail electric public utility service under Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) issued by the Commission. RMP is subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to Wyo. Stat. §37-2-112.

On June 30, 2017, the Company submitted an Application together with testimony, and exhibits requesting approval of innovative, or nontraditional ratemaking methods. Specifically, RMP requests the  Commission [i] determine that the Company’s decision to upgrade or “repower” existing wind resources is prudent; [ii] approve the Company’s continued recovery of the replaced wind plant equipment; and [ii] approve the Company’s proposed ratemaking treatment. RMP is proposing to upgrade or “repower” its wind resourced to provide benefits by increasing energy production, reduce operating
costs and to requalify the Company’s existing wind resources for federal production tax credits (PTC’s), which expire 10 years after a facility’s original commercial operation date. RMP states that to achieve the full PTC benefits, it must complete the wind repowering by the end of 2020.

RMP proposes to repower most of its Wyoming wind fleet (Glenrock I, Glenrock III, Rolling Hills, Seven Mile Hill I, Seven Mile Hill II, High Plains, McFadden Ridge, and Dunlap; the Marengo I, Marengo II, and Goodnoe Hills Facilities in Washington; and the Leaning Juniper facility in Oregon. According to RMP, this represents a total of 999.1 megawatts (MW) of installed wind capacity, with 594 MW in Wyoming, 304.6 MW in Washington, and 100.5 MW in Oregon.

According to RMP, wind repowering includes the installation of new rotors with longer blades and new nacelles with highercapacity generation which will increase capacity by an average of 19 percent without changing the footprint, towers, foundations or energy collector systems of the wind facilities. Using modern technology and improved control systems, the repowered wind facilities will produce more cost-effective energy, using zero-cost fuel over an extended useful life at reduced operating costs and savings to customers. RMP states that because existing towers and foundations will remain in place and the footprint of the existing facilities are unchanged, the wind repowering project also results in minimal environmental impact and permitting requirements.

The Company estimates that the wind repowering project will cost approximately $1.13 Billion. Because of the magnitude of this capital investment and the overall scope of the project, the Company requests that the Commission approve the wind repowering project before it completes equipment orders and begins construction. The Commission previously determined that the proposed wind repowering project, as described by RMP, does not require a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

This is not a complete description of RMP’s Application. Interested persons may inspect the entire Application at RMP’s Wyoming offices and at the Commission’s offices in Cheyenne, Wyoming, during regular business hours. The Application may also be reviewed on line at http://www.pacificorp.com.

Anyone desiring to file a public comment, statement, protest, intervention petition or request for a public hearing in this matter must file with the Commission in writing on or before August 11, 2017. Any intervention request filed with the Commission shall set forth the grounds of the proposed intervention or request for hearing as well as the position and the interest of the petitioner in this proceeding.

If you wish to intervene in this matter or request a public hearing that you will attend, or you wish to file a public comment, statement, or protest, and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Commission at (307) 777-7427, or write to the Commission at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements. Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay at 711. Please mention Docket No. 20000-519-EA- 17 (Record No. 14780) in your communications.

Dated: July 12, 2017.

Publish: July 20 & 27, 2017 3312