On May 25, Rocky Mountain Power filed with the Utah Public Service Commission an Application for Approval of Solicitation Process for Solar Photovoltaic and Thermal Resources. The stated purpose of the Application is to meet “specific customers’ sustainability goals, and to expand its Subscriber Solar Program.” The Application was filed under the Utah Energy Resource Procurement Act, Utah Code Ann. § 54-17-101 et seq., which governs the acquisition or construction by Rocky Mountain Power of new generating capacity of 100 MW or more.
The Application requests an order from the PSC approving Rocky Mountain’s 2018 Renewable Resources Utah Request for Proposals seeking approximately 308,000 MWh per year for up to 25 years, of new geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and/or wind resources that can begin commercial operation before March 31, 2020. The resources will supply Salt Lake City, Park City, Summit County, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and Utah Valley University, based on their requests for renewable energy. The Application is also intended to expand additional renewable energy resources under Rocky Mountain Power’s Subscriber Solar Program.
Rocky Mountain Power’s Renewable Energy Tariff (Schedule 34) allows it to enter into agreements with qualified customers to facilitate the timing and process for acquisition of renewables and the associated rate structure. Also, qualified customers can purchase blocks of solar power at a fixed price under the Subscriber Solar Program tariff (Schedule 73). The Application is designed to procure energy under both tariffs.
Comments on the Application were originally due Monday, July 9, 2018, with interventions due Wednesday, July 11, 2018, bids due August 31, 2018, and the execution of agreements planned by January 15, 2019. However, the PSC has stayed the procedural schedule at the request of Rocky Mountain Power in order to allow additional time to prepare proposed changes to the Schedule 34 and tariff changes related to the second offering of the Subscriber Solar Program.
