The response to Request 1.c. indicated that the information is highly confidential and that PGE would endeavor to determine how it could convey the information to Staff. PGE decided to move for additional protection under the standard protective order to address its concerns. Paragraph 16 requires a motion for additional protection to state the parties involved, the nature of the information involved, the exact nature of the relief requested, and the specific reasons the relief is necessary. PGE's request is for an order permitting PGE to disclose information responsive to this data request to Commission Staff only. The relief is necessary, PGE asserts, because of the extremely sensitive nature of the information and the risk that PGE's business will be compromised by dissemination of this information to the parties in this docket.
Staff seeks bids from both winning and losing short list bidders.
PGE states that this information was provided to PGE under strict confidentiality agreements because disclosure of the information would harm the competitive positions of PGE and other sellers. According to PGE, the information includes material used in evaluating the sale. This is business and financial information of the most commercially sensitive nature. Much of the requested information, PGE asserts, has not been disclosed even to all parties to the Montana asset sale transaction. Moreover, the bidders had reasonable expectations that their submissions would be kept confidential.