Website:
www.puc.idaho.gov
Utility
seeks approval of shared transformer agreement
Idaho
Power Co. is asking state regulators to approve a transformer sharing agreement
with 43 other electric utilities in the nation. The agreement provides that
participating utilities may be called upon to provide or sell spare electric
transformers when a terrorist attack disables one or more utility substations.
The
agreement, which must be approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission,
creates an industry-wide pool of spare electric transformers that can be
transferred from one utility to another in the event of an attack on the
nation’s electric infrastructure. The 43 participating utilities own more than
60 percent of the nation’s interstate transmission system.
Under
the agreement, each utility is required to maintain and, if necessary, acquire
a specific number of transformers in each voltage class in which it
participates.
Idaho
Power states that it will lower its future overall costs in order to maintain
spare transformers in its inventory. The utility is not seeking any immediate
change in rates as a result of the agreement.
“Although
the company has taken significant steps to protect its infrastructure from a
possible terrorist attack, Idaho Power does not believe it would be feasible or
economically practical to maintain in its inventory the large number of spare
transformers needed to address every ‘worst-case scenario’ for a terrorist
attack upon the electric system,” Idaho Power states in its application. “This
sharing agreement will allow Idaho Power and its customers to have the added benefits
of access to transformers in a national emergency without the added costs and
risks of buying and carrying large surpluses of spare transformers in its
inventory.”
Those wishing to submit comments on Idaho Power’s proposal must do so by no later than Dec. 19. Comments are accepted via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number (IPC-E-06-27) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.
A full text of the commission’s order, along with Idaho
Power’s application, is available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File
Room” and then on “Electric Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.