Background
PacifiCorp is a multi-jurisdictional utility providing electric retail service to customers in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. PacificCorp serves approximately 46,500 customers in Del Norte, Modoc, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties in Northern California.
On November 29, 2005, PacifiCorp filed a general rate case application (Application (A.) 05-11-022) seeking an overall revenue requirement increase and requesting authority to implement an Energy Cost Adjustment Clause (ECAC) to allow for recovery of its net power costs. PacifiCorp's request was approved in Decision (D.) 06-12-011. PacifiCorp filed revised tariff sheets associated with the ECAC on December 21, 2006; these tariffs became effective January 1, 2007. On August 1, 2007, PacifiCorp sought permission to implement an ECAC to recover an increase in net power costs.1 In D.07-12-015 the Commission adopted PacifiCorp's ECAC but postponed consideration of a proposed Balancing Rate to a future proceeding. One year later, on August 1, 2008, PacifiCorp filed A.08-08-003 which requested authority to establish new Offset and Balancing Rates to be effective January 1, 2009. The Commission granted PacifiCorp's request and approved the rate increase in D.08-11-058.
PacifiCorp's 2008 adjusted actual net power costs and adjusted actual and forecast net power costs for 2009 were lower than was forecast in A.08-08-003. In this proceeding PacifiCorp seeks authorization to modify the ECAC rates in a manner which will allow for recovery of its 2008 adjusted actual net power costs, adjusted actual and forecast net power costs for 2009, and its forecasted net power costs for 2010. PacifiCorp asserts that if approved, this modification will result in a rate decrease of approximately $4.6 million, or 5.1% overall, to its California retail customers.
On September 4, 2009, the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) filed a protest in response to PacifiCorp's application. In its protest DRA noted that it would review the assumptions underlying PacifiCorp's proposed offset rate as well as PacifiCorp's proposed cost allocation, rate design, and supporting assumptions.2 DRA continued its investigation and came to the conclusion that PacifiCorp's ECAC application was reasonable.3 Accordingly, on October 5, 2009 DRA stated that it does not object to the application and moved to withdraw its protest.4 DRA's request to withdraw its protest was granted on October 6, 2009.5
1 See A.07-08-008.
2 On September 14, 2009, PacifiCorp filed a document entitled "Reply of PacifiCorp to Protest of the Division of Ratepayer Advocates."
3 See Motion of the Division of Ratepayer Advocates to Withdraw Protest dated October 5, 2009.
4 Id.
5 The Administrative Law Judge's ruling allowing DRA to withdraw its protest also cancelled a Prehearing Conference that was scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2009.
