Opinion ID: 1358783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the valmy minimum constraints

Text: Valmy is a thermal plant owned jointly by Idaho Power and the Sierra Pacific Power Company. With respect to this facility Idaho Power requested the minimum generating constraint be set at 50 percent for the months of June and July. [5] The Commission rejected this request and freed Valmy from all minimum generation constraints, including the proposed 50 percent constraint for June and July. The Commission found that spinning reserves need not be maintained because Idaho Power's operating partner, Sierra Pacific, would use Idaho Power's share of the output when Idaho Power does not want it. The Commission concluded there was no reason to set the minimum generation constraint above zero at the Valmy facility for any time of the year for rate-setting purposes. In its petition for rehearing, Idaho Power argued that the Commission's assumption that Sierra Pacific will always desire to purchase Idaho Power's share of the Valmy output was not supported by the evidence. Idaho Power noted in its petition that Sierra Pacific had recently joined the Northwest Power Pool and Intercompany Pool, which means that Sierra Pacific has access to alternate resources in the Pacific Northwest and may not always desire Idaho Power's share of the Valmy output, the result being that Idaho Power will have to participate in operating the Valmy facility at minimum load. In denying Idaho Power's petition for rehearing on the Valmy minimum constraints issue, the Commission relied upon evidence in the record supporting the original finding that spinning reserves need not be maintained at the Valmy plant. The Commission pointed to the testimony of Mr. Barclay, the Vice-President of Planning and Resources for Idaho Power, as support for its determination that a zero percent minimum constraint was supported by the evidence. [6] We have reviewed the record and hold that substantial and competent evidence supports the findings of the Commission. Washington Water Power, supra ; Boise Water Corp., supra . Where the findings of the Commission regarding the Valmy facility are supported by substantial and competent evidence, they will not be overturned on appeal. Washington Water Power, supra ; Boise Water, supra ; Oregon Short Line R. Co., supra.