ORDER NO. 99-282

ENTERED APR 16 1999

This is an electronic copy. Appendices and footnotes may not appear.

OF OREGON

LC 24

DISPOSITION: REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE LEAST COST PLAN GRANTED

PacifiCorp dba Pacific Power & Light Company (PacifiCorp) filed a letter with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (Commission) on November 20, 1998, requesting that the Commission grant PacifiCorp a one-year extension of the due date for the filing of its Least Cost Plan (LCP), until the end of the year 2000.

PacifiCorp states that the one-year extension is being requested because of recent and anticipated changes in the electric industry. Specifically, PacifiCorp notes that Montana and California have passed restructuring legislation giving customers the opportunity to choose their energy supplier, while Idaho and Washington have passed legislation requiring the filing of unbundled costs as part of their investigation of restructuring, and Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah have had a legislative review of the issue. In addition, PacifiCorp also notes that it convened a RAMPP Advisory Group meeting in October 1998 to discuss the timing and scope of RAMPP 6. The Company intends to continue to host a series of additional RAMPP Advisory Group meetings to discuss the impact of industry changes and to direct the development of RAMPP 6.

The Commission considered Staff’s Report at its March 16, 1999, Public Meeting. Staff recommends that the Commission grant the requested one-year extension, subject to the condition that PacifiCorp be required to furnish by December 31, 1999, an action plan for the years 2000 and 2001, and a status report of current projects. Staff noted that no significant resource additions to serve retail load are anticipated to be required for several years.

Consequently, Staff recommends that as a condition of granting the postponement, the Commission order PacifiCorp to provide no later than December 31, 1999, an action plan for the years 2000 and 2001, and a status report of current projects that addresses the following topics:

• Load forecast;
• Long-term sales contracts;
• Power purchases during 1998 and 1999 as well as those anticipated for 2000 and 2001;
• Wind power construction and operation;
• DSM implementation;
• System reliability investigations;
• Specific system improvements in distribution, generation, and transmission for 1998 and 1999 as well as those anticipated for 2000 and 2001;
• Funding mechanisms for DSM and renewables;
• Resource acquisition efforts;
• Resource sales if any;
• Transmission changes; and
• Regulatory changes within PacifiCorp’s service territory.

Staff also recommends that PacifiCorp be required to include in the action plan for 2000 and 2001 at least as much DSM as was committed to during 1998 and 1999.

The Commission finds that a one-year extension of time for the filing of PacifiCorp’s LCP plan is reasonable, given the recent changes in the electric industry. The delay, in general, should not have an adverse impact on the LCP process. However, given the importance of the process, the Commission finds that Staff’s caveat to the grant of the requested postponement is reasonable. Therefore, the Commission will require PacifiCorp to file the information requested by Staff no later than December 31, 1999.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. PacifiCorp dba Pacific Power & Light Company’s request for a one-year extension of time to file its scheduled December 1999 Least Cost Plan, until December 2000, is granted with the conditions described in this order.

2. PacifiCorp dba Pacific Power & Light Company shall file no later than December 31, 1999, a status report of current projects, and an action plan for the years 2000 and 2001. The action plan shall include at least as much DSM as was committed to in 1998 and 1999, and the status report shall address the following topics:

• Load forecast;
• Long-term sales contracts;
• Power purchases during 1998 and 1999 as well as those anticipated for 2000 and 2001;
• Wind power construction and operation;
• DSM implementation;
• System reliability investigations;
• Specific system improvements in distribution, generation, and transmission for 1998 and 1999 as well as those anticipated for 2000 and 2001;
• Funding mechanisms for DSM and renewables;
• Resource acquisition efforts;
• Resource sales if any;
• Transmission changes; and
• Regulatory changes within PacifiCorp’s service territory.

Made, entered, and effective ____________________________.

 A party may request rehearing or reconsideration of this order pursuant to ORS 756.561. A request for rehearing or reconsideration must be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of service of this order. The request must comply with the requirements of OAR 860-014-0095. A copy of any such request must also be served on each party to the proceeding as provided by OAR 860-013-0070. A party may appeal this order to a court pursuant to ORS 756.580.