FY 2007 IRP Accomplishments

Western’s Integrated Resource Planning requirements based on Section 114 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, give customers several options to meet or streamline these requirements. The requirements, updated in 2000, recognize the changes occurring in the utility industry and our customer’s varying size and structure. These changes also streamlined the reporting requirements without sacrificing the EPAct’s intent.

Customers must submit annual progress reports and new integrated resource plans every five years, and may now submit them individually or cooperatively when they belong to member based associations.

The IRP regulations allow customers to set action plan timelines (instead of a five-year minimum) to better correspond with their own situations. The regulations require only a brief summary verifying that one was conducted. Customers can submit a brief description of measurement strategies for the options identified in the IRP.

In FY 2007, Western received 82 IRPs from individual customers, 30 plans from cooperatives, 60 minimum investment reports and 96 small customer plans. These plans represent 784 long term firm power customers and customer members.

Customer reported trends include:

• More investment in renewables, efficiency and basic conservation activities
• Increased influence of climate change issues
• Increased demand for renewable energy technologies in all (commercial, industrial, residential and institutional) market segments
• Increased requests for education and information transfer on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies
• Water management issues including efficient use, conservation, irrigation and pumping efficiency
• Continued interest in demand-side management and efficiency activities/programs

The most frequent demand-side management activities cited by Western’s customers are:

• Lighting technologies
• HVAC technologies with emphasis on cooling and ventilation
• Audits for residential, commercial and industrial facilities
• Domestic hot water technologies
• Irrigation system improvements
• Load management programs
• Weatherization
• Motor replacement

The top five renewable energy resource choices are:

• Hydro (large and small)
• Wind generation
• Solar—PV
• Geothermal
• Biomass/gas

IRPs are driven by customer need and requests. Cost and reliability used to be the major priorities and they still are, but climate change and environmental issues, national security, social issues, economic issues and political issues have joined the list. The potential for additional regulation on emissions is another factor that will certainly influence the results of many IRPs.