Commission accepts power sales agreement between Idaho Power, Gooding hydro project

BOISE – November 3, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is approving a power sales agreement between Idaho Power Company and the developer of a 1.3-megawatt hydroelectric project near Gooding.

The North Gooding Main Hydro LLC is a seasonal hydroelectric project designed to deliver energy to Idaho Power from April through October. The developer is Ted Sorenson of Idaho Falls.

The project is a qualifying facility under the provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.

PURPA requires utilities to buy output from qualifying renewable projects at an “avoided-cost rate,” or the rate the utility avoids by not having to generate the power itself or buy it from another source.

Before North Gooding can deliver energy it must complete a Generation Interconnection Agreement to interconnect the project into Idaho Power’s electric grid. That agreement is expected by be signed by May 1, 2016, and the projected operational date is April 1, 2017.

The contract is for 20 years at the commission’s published avoided cost rate. The all-hours energy price is $85.54 per megawatt-hour. The price is adjusted slightly to account for different seasons of the year and light and heavy load hours of the day. Should the project fail to meet at least 55% of its projected output for June through August, it would be paid the non-seasonal rate of $71.22 per MWh, with overpaid amounts credited to Idaho Power. If the project fails to meet 55% of projected output for three years of a five-year test period, it will be reclassified as a non-seasonal facility and be paid the lower non-seasonal rate.

The commission’s order and other documents related to this case are available on the commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “Open Cases” under the “Electric” heading and scroll down to Case No IPC-E-15-24.

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Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339, 890-2712
www.puc.idaho.gov