Notice of Utility Tariff Filing

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc. (GVEA) filed TA298-13 in compliance with 3 AAC 50.790 and Letter Order No. L1700168.  3 AAC 50.790(a) requires that within 60 days after receiving the request for interconnection from a qualifying facility (QF), an electric utility shall file tariff provisions for interconnection, integration, purchases and sales between the QF and the utility. GVEA requested and obtained a 30-day extension to file the required tariff provisions in Order No. U-17-009(2). GVEA filed TA296-13 on March 15, 2017, which was rejected on April 28, 2017.  GVEA was required to file a new tariff filing with accompanying tariff changes by May 12, 2017. 

With TA298-13, GVEA proposes an interconnection agreement and interconnection specifications in response to a written request for interconnection from Delta Wind Farm, Inc. (DWF). The tariff filing also addresses the provisions of 3 AAC 50.790(b)(1) – (4), Schedule No. DWF-1, under which it proposes to provide service to DWF.  Additionally, pursuant to 3 AAC 50.765(a), GVEA identifies and quantifies the costs and benefits associated with integrating DWF into GVEA’s system.

The proposed Schedule No. DWF-1 establishes the applicability of the schedule to DWF’s proposed 13.5 megawatt (MW) wind generation facility, eligibility criteria for DWF to receive service, the obligation of GVEA to interconnect, and pre-conditions DWF must meet to become interconnected as required by 3 AAC 50.790(b).

GVEA estimates that it will assess DWF a one-time interconnection charge of $3,352,500 plus a recurring $500 per-year charge for facility maintenance costs. GVEA proposes rates for purchases of power supplied by DWF to GVEA under Schedule No. DWF-1. The proposed rates cover a period of twenty years beginning in 2018 and are determined by subtracting integration costs from avoided costs and dividing the difference by the DWF Project output. TA298-13 provides that DWF may elect to take Standby Service in the form of Backup Power Service, Scheduled Maintenance Power Service, Supplemental Power Service and/or Interruptible Power Service under GVEA’s existing Standby Service rates as found on Tariff Sheet Nos. 43 through 43.11 of its operating tariff.

The filing may not be compliant with 3 AAC 50.790(b)(4), which requires a proposed tariff for interconnection with a QF to include provisions for the rates, terms, and conditions for sales of power from a utility to a QF.  Specifically, the filing does not propose a specific rate schedule under which GVEA will sell power to DWF. The Commission invites public comment on whether or not TA298-13 should be rejected.

This notice does not contain all requested revisions and the Commission may approve a rate or classification that varies from those proposed. You may obtain more information about this filing by contacting Monica Grassi, Regulatory Specialist at GVEA, at P.O. Box 71249, Fairbanks, AK 99707; phone: (907) 458-5788. The complete filing is also available for inspection at the Commission's office at 701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 276-6222, or may be viewed at the Commission's website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing "TA298-13" in the Find a Matter search box.

To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., June 2, 2017, at the Commission address given above or via our website at: 

https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeblWhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx

Please reference TA298-13 and include a statement that you've filed a copy of the comments with GVEA at its address given above or by email at mgrassi@gvea.com.

Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by May 26, 2017.

DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 19th day of May, 2017.

REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA

Robert M. Pickett

Chairman