REGULATORY MATTERS: |
6 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Jun. 30, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Public Utilities, Rate Matters [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Regulatory Matters | REGULATORY MATTERS Included below is a summary of Idaho Power's most recent general rate cases and base rate changes, as well as other recent or pending notable regulatory matters and proceedings. Idaho and Oregon General Rate Cases and Base Rate Adjustments Effective January 1, 2012, Idaho Power implemented new Idaho base rates resulting from its receipt of an order from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) approving a settlement stipulation that provided for a 7.86 percent authorized rate of return on an Idaho-jurisdiction rate base of approximately $2.36 billion. The settlement stipulation resulted in a $34.0 million overall increase in Idaho Power's annual Idaho-jurisdictional base rate revenues. Neither the IPUC's order nor the settlement stipulation specified an authorized rate of return on equity. Effective March 1, 2012, Idaho Power implemented new Oregon base rates resulting from its receipt of an order from the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) approving a settlement stipulation that provided for a $1.8 million base rate revenue increase, a return on equity of 9.9 percent, and an overall rate of return of 7.757 percent in the Oregon jurisdiction. Idaho and Oregon base rates were subsequently adjusted again in 2012, in connection with Idaho Power's completion of the Langley Gulch power plant. On June 29, 2012, the IPUC issued an order approving a $58.1 million increase in annual Idaho-jurisdiction base rate revenues, effective July 1, 2012, for inclusion of the investment and associated costs of the plant in rates. The order also provided for a $335.9 million increase in Idaho rate base. On September 20, 2012, the OPUC issued an order approving a $3.0 million increase in annual Oregon jurisdiction base rate revenues, effective October 1, 2012, for inclusion of the investment and associated costs of the plant in Oregon rates. On March 21, 2014, the IPUC issued an order approving Idaho Power's application requesting an increase of approximately $106 million in the normalized or "base level" net power supply expense on a total-system basis to be used to update base rates and in the determination of the PCA rate that became effective June 1, 2014. Approval of the order removed the Idaho-jurisdictional portion of those expenses (approximately $99 million) from collection via the Idaho PCA mechanism and instead results in collecting that portion through base rates. Idaho Settlement Stipulation — Investment Tax Credits and Sharing Mechanism In October 2014, the IPUC issued an order approving an extension, with modifications, of the terms of a December 2011 Idaho settlement stipulation for the period from 2015 through 2019, or until the terms are otherwise modified or terminated by order of the IPUC. The provisions of the October 2014 settlement stipulation are as follows:
Under the October 2014 settlement stipulation, Idaho Power recorded $0.5 million of additional ADITC amortization during the first six months of 2016 based on its estimate of Idaho ROE for the full-year 2016, leaving $44.5 million of additional ADITCs available under the settlement stipulation. Idaho Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism In both its Idaho and Oregon jurisdictions, Idaho Power's power cost adjustment (PCA) mechanisms address the volatility of power supply costs and provide for annual adjustments to the rates charged to its retail customers. The PCA mechanisms compare Idaho Power's actual net power supply costs (primarily fuel and purchased power less off-system sales) against net power supply costs being recovered in Idaho Power's retail rates. Under the PCA mechanisms, certain differences between actual net power supply costs incurred by Idaho Power and costs being recovered in retail rates are recorded as a deferred charge or credit on the balance sheet for future recovery or refund. The power supply costs deferred primarily result from changes in contracted power purchase prices and volumes, changes in wholesale market prices and transaction volumes, fuel prices, and the levels of Idaho Power's own generation. On May 27, 2016, the IPUC issued an order approving a $17.3 million net increase in Idaho PCA rates, effective for the 2016-2017 PCA collection period from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017. The requested net increase in Idaho PCA rates included the application of (a) a customer rate credit of $3.2 million for sharing with customers for the year 2015 pursuant to the terms of the October 2014 settlement stipulation described above and (b) a $4.0 million reduction due to the transfer of surplus Idaho energy efficiency rider funds. Previously, on May 28, 2015, the IPUC issued an order approving an $11.6 million net decrease in Idaho PCA rates, effective for the 2015-2016 PCA collection period from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. The net decrease in Idaho PCA rates included the application of (a) a customer rate credit of $8.0 million for sharing with customers for the year 2014 pursuant to the terms of the December 2011 settlement stipulation, (b) a $1.5 million customer benefit relating to a change to the sales-based adjustment component of the PCA methodology, and (c) a $4.0 million reduction due to the transfer of surplus Idaho energy efficiency rider funds. Idaho Fixed Cost Adjustment Mechanism The Idaho jurisdiction fixed cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism is designed to remove Idaho Power’s financial disincentive to invest in energy efficiency programs by separating (or decoupling) the recovery of fixed costs from the variable kilowatt-hour charge and instead linking it to a set amount per customer. The FCA mechanism is adjusted each year to collect, or refund, the difference between the authorized fixed-cost recovery amount and the actual fixed costs recovered by Idaho Power during the year. On May 27, 2016, the IPUC issued an order approving Idaho Power's application requesting an increase of $11.2 million in the FCA from $16.9 million to $28.1 million, with new rates effective for the period from June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017. Previously, on May 19, 2015, the IPUC issued an order approving an increase of $2.0 million in the FCA from $14.9 million to $16.9 million, with new rates effective for the period from June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016. |