REGULATORY MATTERS:

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

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

Idaho Power's current base rates result from orders from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) and Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC). The commissions approve settlement stipulations that generally provide for cost recovery and an authorized rate of return on their respective Idaho-jurisdiction and Oregon-jurisdiction rate bases. Idaho Power's most recent general rate cases in Idaho and Oregon were filed during 2011 and Idaho Power filed large single-issue rate cases for the Langley Gulch power plant in Idaho and Oregon in 2012. These significant rate cases resulted in the resetting of base rates in both Idaho and Oregon during 2012. In 2014, Idaho Power reset its base-rate power supply expenses in the Idaho jurisdiction for purposes of updating the collection of costs through retail rates, but without a resulting net increase in rates. The IPUC and OPUC have also approved smaller base rate changes in single issue cases subsequent to 2014.

Between general rate cases, Idaho Power relies upon customer growth, a fixed cost adjustment mechanism, power cost adjustment mechanisms, tariff riders, and other mechanisms to reduce the impact of regulatory lag, which refers to the period of time between making an investment or incurring an expense and recovering that investment or expense and earning a return. Also, Idaho Power may seek approval for additions to rate base or changes to base rates through other regulatory proceedings outside of a general rate case. For more information on the Idaho and Oregon general rate cases and base rate adjustments, refer to Note 3 - "Regulatory Matters" to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2018 Annual Report.

Idaho Settlement Stipulations

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 (October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation). A May 2018 Idaho settlement stipulation related to tax reform (May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation) provides for the extension of the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation beyond the initial termination date of December 31, 2019, with modified terms related to the accumulated deferred investment tax credits (ADITC) and revenue sharing mechanism to become effective beginning January 1, 2020. The October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation and the May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation are described in Note 3 - "Regulatory Matters" to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2018 Annual Report and include provisions for the accelerated amortization of ADITC to help achieve a minimum 9.5 percent (9.4 percent after 2019) return on year-end equity in the Idaho jurisdiction (Idaho ROE). The settlement stipulations also provide for the potential sharing between Idaho Power and Idaho customers of Idaho-jurisdictional earnings in excess of 10.0 percent of Idaho ROE.

Based on its estimate of full-year 2019 Idaho ROE, in both the second quarter and first six months of 2019, Idaho Power recorded no additional ADITC amortization or provision against current revenues for sharing of earnings with customers for 2019 under the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation. During the second quarter of 2018, Idaho Power reversed the $0.5 million of additional ADITC amortization recorded during the first quarter of 2018, as actual financial results exceeded Idaho Power's early estimates.

Idaho Power Cost Adjustment Mechanisms

In both its Idaho and Oregon jurisdictions, Idaho Power's power cost adjustment mechanisms address the volatility of power supply costs and provide for annual adjustments to the rates charged to its retail customers. The power cost adjustment mechanisms compare Idaho Power's actual net power supply costs (primarily fuel and purchased power less wholesale energy sales) against net power supply costs being recovered in Idaho Power's retail rates. Under the power cost adjustment 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.

In May 2019, the IPUC approved a $50.1 million net decrease in Idaho-jurisdiction power cost adjustment (PCA) revenues, effective for the 2019-2020 PCA collection period from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020. The net decrease in PCA revenues reflects reduced power supply costs due to higher-than-expected wholesale energy sales and positive results from natural gas hedging activities, which combined to reduce actual net power supply costs for the 2018-2019 PCA year (April 2018 through

March 2019). The net decrease in PCA revenues for the 2019-2020 PCA collection period also includes a $5.0 million credit to customers for sharing of 2018 earnings under the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation and a $2.7 million credit for income tax reform benefits related to Idaho Power's open access transmission tariff (OATT) rate under the May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation. In addition, the net decrease in PCA revenues reflects benefits from Idaho Power's participation in the energy imbalance market implemented in the western United States (Western EIM). Previously, in May 2018, the IPUC issued an order approving a $30.4 million net decrease in PCA rates, effective for the 2018-2019 PCA collection period from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019. The net decrease in PCA rates included a $7.8 million one-time benefit for income tax savings from January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018, as well as those related to Idaho Power's OATT rate. The remaining net decrease in PCA rates for the 2018-2019 PCA collection period was primarily due to better-than-expected actual water conditions for the 2017-2018 PCA year (April 2017 through March 2018), which resulted in additional low-cost hydropower available to reduce net power supply costs. 

Idaho Fixed Cost Adjustment Mechanism

The Idaho jurisdiction fixed cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism, applicable to Idaho residential and small general service customers, is designed to remove a portion of 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 linking it instead to a set amount per customer. Under Idaho Power's current rate design, Idaho Power recovers a portion of fixed costs through the variable kilowatt-hour charge, which may result in over-collection or under-collection of fixed costs. To return over-collection to customers or to collect under-collection from customers, the FCA mechanism allows Idaho Power to accrue, or defer, the difference between the authorized fixed-cost recovery amount per customer and the actual fixed costs per customer recovered by Idaho Power during the year. Any annual increase in the FCA recovery may be capped at 3 percent of base revenue at the discretion of the IPUC, with any excess deferred for collection in a subsequent year. In May 2019, the IPUC approved an increase of $19.2 million in recovery from the FCA from $15.6 million to $34.8 million, with new rates effective for the period from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020. Previously, in May 2018, the IPUC issued an order approving a decrease of $19.4 million in the FCA from $35.0 million to $15.6 million, with rates effective for the period from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.

Valmy Exit Agreement and Base Rate Adjustment Approval Request

In February 2019, Idaho Power reached an agreement with NV Energy that facilitates the planned end of Idaho Power's participation in coal-fired operations at units 1 and 2 of its jointly-owned North Valmy coal-fired power plant (Valmy Plant) in 2019 and 2025, respectively. In May 2019, the IPUC issued an order approving the Valmy Plant agreement and allowing Idaho Power to recover through customer rates the $1.2 million incremental annual levelized revenue requirement associated with required Valmy Plant investments and other exit costs, effective June 1, 2019 through December 31, 2028.

In July 2019, Idaho Power filed an application with the OPUC requesting that the OPUC approve the Valmy Plant agreement and authorize Idaho Power to adjust customer rates in Oregon, effective January 1, 2020, to reflect a decrease in annual levelized revenue requirement of $3.2 million. As of the date of this report, the application remains pending.