PacifiCorp 2007 Integrated Resource Plan (May 30, 2007)

PacifiCorp – 2007 IRPChapter 4 – Resource Needs Assessmentthrough behavioral actions by customers in response to their desire to reduce their energydemands and costs, or voluntary compliance with a company request to conserve or shifttheir usage to off peak hours. Program savings are difficult to measure and aren’t activelytracked in most cases. As a result, they can’t be relied upon for planning purposes. The valueof Class 4 DSM is longer-term in nature. Class 4 programs help foster an understanding andappreciation as to why utilities seek customer participation in Class 1-3 programs. Programexamples include Utah’s PowerForward program, company brochures with energy savingstips, customer news letters focusing on energy efficiency, case studies of customer energy efficiencyprojects, and public education and awareness programs such as “Do the brightthing.”PacifiCorp has been operating successful DSM programs since the late 1980s. While the company’sDSM focus has remained strong over this time, since the 2001 western energy crisis, thecompany’s DSM pursuits have been expanded in terms of investment level, state presence,breadth of DSM resources pursued (Classes 1-4) and resource planning considerations. Companyinvestments have increased four times (from $50 million to $200 million) over the last five years(2002-2006) compared to the preceding five years (1997-2001) as the company has expandedDSM activity in the states of Utah, Washington and Idaho and transitioned existing DSM activitiesin Oregon over to the Energy Trust of Oregon.The company is currently working with the state of Wyoming on a DSM application which seeksto expand company investments in Wyoming and which was filed in December 2006 and, ispending Commission approval by May 2007. Additionally, the company is working to expandDSM programs in California and is preparing a DSM application with expanded program offeringsfor filing with the California Public Utilities Commission in May 2007. In addition, thecompany has recently introduced new programs such as the Home Energy Savers program inIdaho, Washington, Utah and soon Wyoming and California, as well as expanding the Idaho irrigationload management program into Utah for the 2007 summer season. The following representsa brief summary of the existing resources by class. Appendix A provides a detailed list ofexisting DSM programs available and resource targets for Classes 1 through 3.Class 1 Demand-side ManagementThere are currently three types of Class 1 programs in operation. Utah’s “Cool Keeper” residentialand small commercial air conditioner load control program provided nearly 80 megawatts ofdispatchable load control (at the generator) during the summer of 2006 and is expected to deliverthe anticipated 90 megawatts by summer 2007. Idaho’s irrigation load management programachieved 55 megawatts of “scheduled” relief during the summer of 2006 and has recently addeda “dispatchable” event option to compliment the “scheduled” options in an effort to increase thatamount in 2007. As noted above, the company has expanded the “schedule” option to Utah beginningin 2007. First-year participation is expected to be modest; however, the company hopesto grow the program overtime to 15 megawatts. In addition to these two programs, the companyhas 233 megawatts of firm curtailable resources under contract with a select set of large industrialcustomers. Contracted curtailable loads are expected to increase to 308 megawatts by 2009.72