UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
X |
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES |
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES |
||||||||||
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
||||||||||
For the transition period from |
to |
|||||||||
Exact name of registrants as specified |
I.R.S. Employer |
|||||||||
Commission File |
in their charters, address of principal |
Identification |
||||||||
Number |
executive offices, zip code and telephone number |
Number |
||||||||
1-14465 |
IDACORP, Inc. |
82-0505802 |
||||||||
1-3198 |
Idaho Power Company |
82-0130980 |
||||||||
1221 W. Idaho Street |
||||||||||
Boise, ID 83702-5627 |
||||||||||
(208) 388-2200 |
||||||||||
State of Incorporation: Idaho |
||||||||||
Websites: |
www.idacorpinc.com |
|||||||||
www.idahopower.com |
||||||||||
None |
||||||||||
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if
changed since last report.
Indicate by check mark
whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to
file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes X No ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, non-accelerated filers, or smaller reporting companies. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):
IDACORP, Inc.: |
||||||||
Large accelerated filer |
X |
Accelerated filer |
Non-accelerated filer |
Smaller reporting company |
||||
Idaho Power Company: |
||||||||
Large accelerated filer |
Accelerated filer |
Non-accelerated filer |
X |
Smaller reporting company |
Indicate by check mark
whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). Yes ___ No X
Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2008:
IDACORP, Inc.: |
45,235,601 |
Idaho Power Company: |
39,150,812, all held by IDACORP, Inc. |
This
combined Form 10-Q represents separate filings by IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power
Company. Information contained herein relating to an individual registrant is
filed by that registrant on its own behalf. Idaho Power Company makes no
representations as to the information relating to IDACORP, Inc.'s other
operations.
Idaho Power Company meets the
conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and
is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format.
COMMONLY USED TERMS |
|||
Cal ISO |
- |
California Independent System Operator |
|
CalPX |
- |
California Power Exchange |
|
CAMP |
- |
Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan |
|
DSM |
- |
Demand Side Management |
|
EIS |
- |
Environmental impact statement |
|
EPS |
- |
Earnings per share |
|
ESA |
- |
Endangered Species Act |
|
ESPA |
- |
Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer |
|
FASB |
- |
Financial Accounting Standards Board |
|
FERC |
- |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
|
FIN |
- |
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation |
|
Fitch |
- |
Fitch, Inc. |
|
FPA |
- |
Federal Power Act |
|
GAAP |
- |
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America |
|
Ida-West |
- |
Ida-West Energy, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IDEQ |
- |
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality |
|
IDWR |
- |
Idaho Department of Water Resources |
|
IE |
- |
IDACORP Energy, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IERCO |
- |
Idaho Energy Resources Co., a subsidiary of Idaho Power Company |
|
IFS |
- |
IDACORP Financial Services, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IPC |
- |
Idaho Power Company, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IPUC |
- |
Idaho Public Utilities Commission |
|
IRP |
- |
Integrated Resource Plan |
|
IWRB |
- |
Idaho Water Resource Board |
|
LGAR |
- |
Large growth adjustment rate |
|
maf |
- |
Million acre feet |
|
MD&A |
- |
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of |
|
Operations |
|||
Moody's |
- |
Moody's Investors Service |
|
MW |
- |
Megawatt |
|
MWh |
- |
Megawatt-hour |
|
NEPA |
- |
National Environmental Policy Act of 1996 |
|
O & M |
- |
Operations and Maintenance |
|
OPUC |
- |
Oregon Public Utility Commission |
|
PCA |
- |
Power Cost Adjustment |
|
PCAM |
- |
Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism |
|
PURPA |
- |
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
|
RFP |
- |
Request for Proposal |
|
S&P |
- |
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services |
|
SFAS |
- |
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards |
|
SO2 |
- |
Sulfur Dioxide |
|
SRBA |
- |
Snake River Basin Adjudication |
|
Valmy |
- |
North Valmy Steam Electric Generating Plant |
|
VIEs |
- |
Variable Interest Entities |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page |
||||
Part I. Financial Information: |
||||
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) |
||||
IDACORP, Inc.: |
||||
1 |
||||
2-3 |
||||
4 |
||||
5 |
||||
Idaho Power Company: |
||||
7 |
||||
8-9 |
||||
10 |
||||
11 |
||||
12 |
||||
13-27 |
||||
28-29 |
||||
Condition and Results of Operations |
30-57 |
|||
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
57-58 |
|||
58 |
||||
Part II. Other Information: |
||||
58 |
||||
58 |
||||
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
58-59 |
|||
59-65 |
||||
66 |
||||
67 |
||||
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking
statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements should be read with the cautionary statements and important factors
included in this Form 10-Q at Part I, Item 2, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking
Information." Forward-looking statements are all statements other than
statements of historical fact, including without limitation those that are
identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects,"
"intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may result," "may continue" and similar
expressions.
(This page intentionally left blank)
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
Three months ended |
||||
|
March 31, |
|||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
(thousands of dollars except |
||||
for per share amounts) |
||||
Operating Revenues: |
|
|
||
Electric utility: |
||||
General business |
$ |
167,313 |
$ |
137,251 |
Off-system sales |
33,363 |
57,838 |
||
Other revenues |
12,120 |
10,839 |
||
Total electric utility revenues |
212,796 |
205,928 |
||
Other |
644 |
783 |
||
Total operating revenues |
213,440 |
206,711 |
||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Electric utility: |
||||
Purchased power |
45,299 |
50,817 |
||
Fuel expense |
37,237 |
30,913 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(17,744) |
(21,536) |
||
Other operations and maintenance |
68,927 |
67,827 |
||
Demand-side management |
3,364 |
2,115 |
||
Depreciation |
25,750 |
25,290 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
4,803 |
4,918 |
||
Total electric utility expenses |
167,636 |
160,344 |
||
Other expense |
1,048 |
2,588 |
||
Total operating expenses |
168,684 |
162,932 |
||
Operating Income (Loss): |
||||
Electric utility |
45,160 |
45,584 |
||
Other |
(404) |
(1,805) |
||
Total operating income |
44,756 |
43,779 |
||
Other Income |
4,417 |
5,389 |
||
Losses of Unconsolidated Equity-Method Investments |
(4,036) |
(1,326) |
||
Other Expense |
365 |
3,212 |
||
Interest Expense: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
16,876 |
13,548 |
||
Other interest |
596 |
1,604 |
||
Total interest expense |
17,472 |
15,152 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
27,300 |
29,478 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
5,584 |
4,898 |
||
Income from Continuing Operations |
21,716 |
24,580 |
||
Income from Discontinued Operations, net of tax |
- |
67 |
||
Net Income |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,647 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (000's) |
44,847 |
43,687 |
||
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted (000's) |
45,004 |
43,820 |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (basic and diluted): |
||||
Earnings per share from Continuing Operations |
$ |
0.48 |
$ |
0.56 |
Earnings per share from Discontinued Operations |
- |
- |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock |
$ |
0.48 |
$ |
0.56 |
Dividends Paid Per Share of Common Stock |
$ |
0.30 |
$ |
0.30 |
|
||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
|
March 31, |
December 31, |
||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
Assets |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Current Assets: |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
7,404 |
$ |
7,966 |
Receivables: |
||||
Customer |
72,173 |
69,160 |
||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts |
(7,426) |
(7,505) |
||
Employee notes |
2,171 |
2,128 |
||
Other |
7,517 |
10,957 |
||
Accrued unbilled revenues |
31,742 |
36,314 |
||
Materials and supplies (at average cost) |
48,450 |
43,270 |
||
Fuel stock (at average cost) |
15,930 |
17,268 |
||
Prepayments |
7,749 |
9,371 |
||
Deferred income taxes |
24,897 |
25,672 |
||
Refundable income tax deposit |
46,257 |
46,083 |
||
Other |
7,050 |
6,023 |
||
Total current assets |
263,914 |
266,707 |
||
Investments |
205,452 |
201,085 |
||
Property, Plant and Equipment: |
||||
Utility plant in service |
3,870,414 |
3,796,339 |
||
Accumulated provision for depreciation |
(1,461,953) |
(1,468,832) |
||
Utility plant in service - net |
2,408,461 |
2,327,507 |
||
Construction work in progress |
206,114 |
257,590 |
||
Utility plant held for future use |
6,455 |
3,366 |
||
Other property, net of accumulated depreciation |
27,939 |
28,089 |
||
Property, plant and equipment - net |
2,648,969 |
2,616,552 |
||
Other Assets: |
||||
American Falls and Milner water rights |
27,113 |
29,501 |
||
Company-owned life insurance |
30,795 |
30,842 |
||
Regulatory assets |
473,146 |
449,668 |
||
Long-term receivables (net of allowance of $1,878) |
3,361 |
3,583 |
||
Employee notes |
2,328 |
2,325 |
||
Other |
54,386 |
53,045 |
||
Total other assets |
591,129 |
568,964 |
||
Total |
$ |
3,709,464 |
$ |
3,653,308 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
|
March 31, |
December 31, |
||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
|
||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
$ |
11,328 |
$ |
11,456 |
Notes payable |
243,509 |
186,445 |
||
Accounts payable |
58,536 |
85,116 |
||
Taxes accrued |
2,994 |
8,492 |
||
Interest accrued |
27,976 |
18,913 |
||
Uncertain tax positions |
27,187 |
26,764 |
||
Other |
42,392 |
38,129 |
||
Total current liabilities |
413,922 |
375,315 |
||
Other Liabilities: |
||||
Deferred income taxes |
479,589 |
466,182 |
||
Regulatory liabilities |
275,425 |
274,204 |
||
Other |
167,751 |
173,412 |
||
Total other liabilities |
922,765 |
913,798 |
||
Long-Term Debt |
1,155,290 |
1,156,880 |
||
|
||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
||||
|
||||
Shareholders' Equity: |
||||
Common stock, no par value (shares authorized 120,000,000; |
||||
45,236,415 and 45,063,107 shares issued, respectively) |
678,724 |
675,774 |
||
Retained earnings |
545,921 |
537,699 |
||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(7,155) |
(6,156) |
||
Treasury stock (814 and 380 shares at cost, respectively) |
(3) |
(2) |
||
Total shareholders' equity |
1,217,487 |
1,207,315 |
||
Total |
$ |
3,709,464 |
$ |
3,653,308 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|||
2008 |
2007 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Operating Activities: |
||||
Net income |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,647 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by |
||||
operating activities: |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
30,777 |
30,287 |
||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits |
12,617 |
7,580 |
||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities |
(20,466) |
(19,002) |
||
Non-cash pension expense |
93 |
2,880 |
||
Undistributed (earnings) losses of subsidiaries |
931 |
(1,566) |
||
Gain on sale of assets |
- |
(1,604) |
||
Other non-cash adjustments to net income |
27 |
(365) |
||
Change in: |
||||
Accounts receivable and prepayments |
1,811 |
602 |
||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
(29,869) |
(46,132) |
||
Taxes accrued |
(5,843) |
593 |
||
Other current assets |
729 |
4,869 |
||
Other current liabilities |
12,227 |
17,165 |
||
Other assets |
(1,122) |
(1,388) |
||
Other liabilities |
(2,711) |
2,455 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
20,917 |
21,021 |
||
Investing Activities: |
||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment |
(52,863) |
(49,601) |
||
Proceeds from the sale of IDACOMM |
- |
7,283 |
||
Investments in affordable housing |
(8,487) |
300 |
||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates |
(5,000) |
(350) |
||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
- |
(24,349) |
||
Proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale securities |
- |
25,296 |
||
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities |
- |
(400) |
||
Maturity of held-to-maturity securities |
1,780 |
530 |
||
Other assets |
(531) |
481 |
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(65,101) |
(40,810) |
||
Financing Activities: |
||||
Retirement of long-term debt |
(1,779) |
(2,696) |
||
Dividends on common stock |
(13,475) |
(13,131) |
||
Net change in short-term borrowings |
57,063 |
27,427 |
||
Issuance of common stock |
2,213 |
2,234 |
||
Acquisition of treasury stock |
(269) |
(338) |
||
Other assets |
(131) |
(38) |
||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
43,622 |
13,458 |
||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(562) |
(6,331) |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
7,966 |
9,892 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
$ |
7,404 |
$ |
3,561 |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: |
||||
Cash paid during the period for: |
||||
Income taxes |
$ |
- |
$ |
21 |
Interest (net of amount capitalized) |
$ |
7,934 |
$ |
7,511 |
Non-cash investing activities |
||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment in accounts payable |
$ |
16,350 |
$ |
6,657 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended |
||||
March 31, |
||||
2008 |
2007 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,647 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Net Unrealized holding losses arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of ($708) and ($121) |
(1,102) |
(189) |
||
Net Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of $0 and ($561) |
- |
(874) |
||
Net unrealized losses |
(1,102) |
(1,063) |
||
Unfunded pension liability adjustment, net of tax |
||||
of $67 and $72 |
103 |
113 |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
20,717 |
$ |
23,697 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
(This page intentionally left blank)
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended |
|||
|
March 31, |
|||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
|
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Operating Revenues: |
||||
General business |
$ |
167,313 |
$ |
137,251 |
Off-system sales |
33,363 |
57,838 |
||
Other revenues |
12,120 |
10,839 |
||
Total operating revenues |
212,796 |
205,928 |
||
|
||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Operation: |
||||
Purchased power |
45,299 |
50,817 |
||
Fuel expense |
37,237 |
30,913 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(17,744) |
(21,536) |
||
Other |
54,654 |
52,206 |
||
Demand-side management |
3,364 |
2,115 |
||
Maintenance |
14,273 |
15,621 |
||
Depreciation |
25,750 |
25,290 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
4,803 |
4,918 |
||
Total operating expenses |
167,636 |
160,344 |
||
Income from Operations |
45,160 |
45,584 |
||
|
||||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||
Allowance for equity funds used during construction |
896 |
1,404 |
||
(Losses) earnings of unconsolidated equity-method investments |
(796) |
1,535 |
||
Other income |
3,449 |
3,703 |
||
Other expense |
(688) |
(2,874) |
||
Total other income |
2,861 |
3,768 |
||
Interest Charges: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
16,543 |
13,084 |
||
Other interest |
1,894 |
2,173 |
||
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction |
(1,938) |
(1,539) |
||
Total interest charges |
16,499 |
13,718 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
31,522 |
35,634 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
10,251 |
12,303 |
||
Net Income |
$ |
21,271 |
$ |
23,331 |
|
||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
March 31, |
December 31, |
|||
2008 |
2007 |
|||
Assets |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
|
|
|||
Electric Plant: |
||||
In service (at original cost) |
$ |
3,870,414 |
$ |
3,796,339 |
Accumulated provision for depreciation |
(1,461,953) |
(1,468,832) |
||
In service - net |
2,408,461 |
2,327,507 |
||
Construction work in progress |
206,114 |
257,590 |
||
Held for future use |
6,455 |
3,366 |
||
Electric plant - net |
2,621,030 |
2,588,463 |
||
Investments and Other Property |
107,643 |
105,074 |
||
|
||||
Current Assets: |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
5,306 |
5,347 |
||
Receivables: |
||||
Customer |
65,129 |
62,122 |
||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts |
(1,226) |
(1,305) |
||
Notes |
449 |
517 |
||
Employee notes |
2,171 |
2,128 |
||
Other |
4,298 |
7,605 |
||
Accrued unbilled revenues |
31,742 |
36,314 |
||
Materials and supplies (at average cost) |
48,450 |
43,270 |
||
Fuel stock (at average cost) |
15,930 |
17,268 |
||
Prepayments |
7,437 |
9,120 |
||
Deferred income taxes |
3,848 |
4,074 |
||
Refundable income tax deposit |
44,474 |
44,316 |
||
Other |
2,284 |
1,067 |
||
Total current assets |
230,292 |
231,843 |
||
Deferred Debits: |
||||
American Falls and Milner water rights |
27,113 |
29,501 |
||
Company-owned life insurance |
30,795 |
30,842 |
||
Regulatory assets |
473,146 |
449,668 |
||
Employee notes |
2,328 |
2,325 |
||
Other |
52,988 |
51,800 |
||
Total deferred debits |
586,370 |
564,136 |
||
Total |
$ |
3,545,335 |
$ |
3,489,516 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
|
March 31, |
December 31, |
||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
Capitalization and Liabilities |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
|
|
|
||
Capitalization: |
||||
Common stock equity: |
||||
Common stock, $2.50 par value (50,000,000 shares |
||||
authorized; 39,150,812 shares outstanding) |
$ |
97,877 |
$ |
97,877 |
Premium on capital stock |
581,758 |
581,758 |
||
Capital stock expense |
(2,097) |
(2,097) |
||
Retained earnings |
450,059 |
442,300 |
||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(7,155) |
(6,156) |
||
Total common stock equity |
1,120,442 |
1,113,682 |
||
Long-term debt |
1,140,506 |
1,141,508 |
||
Total capitalization |
2,260,948 |
2,255,190 |
||
Current Liabilities: |
||||
Long-term debt due within one year |
1,064 |
1,064 |
||
Notes payable |
186,150 |
136,585 |
||
Accounts payable |
58,084 |
84,457 |
||
Notes and accounts payable to related parties |
901 |
724 |
||
Taxes accrued |
4,295 |
2,403 |
||
Interest accrued |
27,687 |
18,761 |
||
Uncertain tax positions |
27,187 |
26,764 |
||
Other |
41,317 |
36,907 |
||
Total current liabilities |
346,685 |
307,665 |
||
Deferred Credits: |
||||
Deferred income taxes |
501,768 |
488,768 |
||
Regulatory liabilities |
275,425 |
274,204 |
||
Other |
160,509 |
163,689 |
||
Total deferred credits |
937,702 |
926,661 |
||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
||||
Total |
$ |
3,545,335 |
$ |
3,489,516 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capitalization
(unaudited)
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
2008 |
% |
2007 |
% |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||||
Common Stock Equity: |
|
|
|
|
||
Common stock |
$ |
97,877 |
$ |
97,877 |
||
Premium on capital stock |
581,758 |
581,758 |
||||
Capital stock expense |
(2,097) |
(2,097) |
||||
Retained earnings |
450,059 |
442,300 |
||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(7,155) |
(6,156) |
||||
Total common stock equity |
1,120,442 |
50 |
1,113,682 |
49 |
||
|
||||||
Long-Term Debt: |
||||||
First mortgage bonds: |
||||||
7.20% Series due 2009 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
||||
6.60% Series due 2011 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
||||
4.75% Series due 2012 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
||||
4.25% Series due 2013 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
||||
6 % Series due 2032 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
||||
5.50% Series due 2033 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
||||
5.50% Series due 2034 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
||||
5.875% Series due 2034 |
55,000 |
55,000 |
||||
5.30% Series due 2035 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
||||
6.30% Series due 2037 |
140,000 |
140,000 |
||||
6.25% Series due 2037 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
||||
Total first mortgage bonds |
945,000 |
945,000 |
||||
Amount due within one year |
- |
- |
||||
Net first mortgage bonds |
945,000 |
945,000 |
||||
|
||||||
Pollution control revenue bonds: |
||||||
Variable Auction Rate Series 2003 due 2024 |
49,800 |
49,800 |
||||
Variable Auction Rate Series 2006 due 2026 |
116,300 |
116,300 |
||||
Variable Rate Series 2000 due 2027 |
4,360 |
4,360 |
||||
Total pollution control revenue bonds |
170,460 |
170,460 |
||||
American Falls bond guarantee |
19,885 |
19,885 |
||||
Milner Dam note guarantee |
9,573 |
10,636 |
||||
Note guarantee due within one year |
(1,064) |
(1,064) |
||||
Unamortized premium/discount - net |
(3,348) |
(3,409) |
||||
|
||||||
Total long-term debt |
1,140,506 |
50 |
1,141,508 |
51 |
||
|
||||||
Total Capitalization |
$ |
2,260,948 |
100 |
$ |
2,255,190 |
100 |
|
||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|||
|
2008 |
2007 |
||
|
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Operating Activities: |
|
|
||
Net income |
$ |
21,271 |
$ |
23,331 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by |
|
|||
operating activities: |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
27,482 |
27,133 |
||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits |
11,661 |
5,684 |
||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities |
(20,466) |
(19,002) |
||
Non-cash pension expense |
93 |
2,880 |
||
Undistributed (earnings) losses of subsidiary |
796 |
(1,535) |
||
Gain on sale of assets |
- |
(1,435) |
||
Other non-cash adjustments to net income |
(979) |
(1,416) |
||
Change in: |
||||
Accounts receivables and prepayments |
2,002 |
(3,464) |
||
Accounts payable |
(29,513) |
(44,814) |
||
Taxes accrued |
1,547 |
10,897 |
||
Other current assets |
729 |
4,794 |
||
Other current liabilities |
12,090 |
16,974 |
||
Other assets |
(1,123) |
(1,390) |
||
Other liabilities |
(2,096) |
2,908 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
23,494 |
21,545 |
||
Investing Activities: |
||||
Additions to utility plant |
(52,863) |
(49,113) |
||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
- |
(24,349) |
||
Proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale securities |
- |
25,296 |
||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliate |
(5,000) |
(350) |
||
Other assets |
(531) |
481 |
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(58,394) |
(48,035) |
||
Financing Activities: |
||||
Retirement of long-term debt |
(1,064) |
(1,064) |
||
Dividends on common stock |
(13,512) |
(13,094) |
||
Net change in short term borrowings |
49,565 |
39,900 |
||
Other assets |
(130) |
(40) |
||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
34,859 |
25,702 |
||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(41) |
(788) |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
5,347 |
2,404 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
$ |
5,306 |
$ |
1,616 |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: |
||||
Cash paid during the period for: |
||||
Income taxes received from parent |
$ |
1,755 |
$ |
937 |
Interest (net of amount capitalized) |
$ |
7,121 |
$ |
6,260 |
Non-cash investing activities: |
||||
Additions to utility plant in accounts payable |
$ |
16,350 |
$ |
6,379 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended |
||||
March 31, |
||||
2008 |
2007 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
21,271 |
$ |
23,331 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Net Unrealized holding losses arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of ($708) and ($121) |
(1,102) |
(189) |
||
Net Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of $0 and ($561) |
- |
(874) |
||
Net unrealized losses |
(1,102) |
(1,063) |
||
Unfunded pension liability adjustment, net of tax |
||||
of $67 and $72 |
103 |
113 |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
20,272 |
$ |
22,381 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
IDACORP, INC. AND IDAHO
POWER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
This Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q is a combined report of IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company
(IPC). These Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements apply to
both IDACORP and IPC. However, IPC makes no representation as to the
information relating to IDACORP's other operations.
Nature of Business
IDACORP is a holding company formed
in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is IPC. IDACORP is subject to the
provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which provides
certain access to books and records to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) and state utility regulatory commissions and imposes certain record
retention and reporting requirements on IDACORP.
IPC is an electric utility
with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern
Idaho and eastern Oregon. IPC is regulated by the FERC and the state
regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. IPC is the parent of Idaho Energy
Resources Co. (IERCO), a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company, which supplies
coal to the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by IPC.
IDACORP's other subsidiaries
include:
On February 23, 2007, IDACORP
sold all of the outstanding common stock of IDACOMM, Inc. to American Fiber
Systems, Inc. The results of operations and the sale of IDACOMM, Inc. are
reported as discontinued operations. Discontinued operations are discussed in
Note 9.
Principles of Consolidation
IDACORP's and IPC's condensed
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each company and
their consolidated subsidiaries. IDACORP also consolidates two variable
interest entities (VIEs) for which it is the primary beneficiary. All significant
intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in
entities in which IDACORP and IPC are not the primary beneficiaries, but have
the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial
policies, are accounted for using the equity method.
Through IFS, IDACORP also
holds significant variable interests in VIEs for which it is not the primary
beneficiary. These VIEs are historic rehabilitation and affordable housing
developments in which IFS holds limited partnership interests ranging up to 99
percent. These investments were acquired between 1996 and 2008. IFS' maximum
exposure to loss in these developments was $83 million at March 31, 2008.
Financial Statements
In the opinion of IDACORP and IPC,
the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain
all adjustments necessary to present fairly their consolidated financial
positions as of March 31, 2008, and consolidated results of operations for the
three months ended March 31, 2008, and 2007, and consolidated cash flows for
the three months ended March 31, 2008, and 2007. These adjustments are of a
normal and recurring nature. These financial statements do not contain the
complete detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other
matters that would be included in full-year financial statements and should be
read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included
in IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007. The results of operations for the interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been
reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Net income and
shareholders' equity were not affected by these reclassifications.
Earnings Per Share
The following table presents the
computation of IDACORP's basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing
operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands,
except for per share amounts):
|
Three months ended |
|||||||
|
March 31, |
|||||||
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|||||
Numerator: |
||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,580 |
||||
Denominator: |
||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic * |
44,847 |
43,687 |
||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||
Options |
49 |
49 |
||||||
Restricted Stock |
108 |
84 |
||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted |
45,004 |
43,820 |
||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations |
$ |
0.48 |
$ |
0.56 |
||||
*Weighted average shares outstanding - basic excludes non-vested shares issued under stock compensation plans. |
||||||||
The diluted EPS computation
excluded 482,000 options for the three months ended March 31, 2008, because the
options' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the
common stock during that period. For the same period in 2007, there were
488,000 options excluded from the diluted EPS computation for the same reason.
In total, 818,232 options were outstanding at March 31, 2008, with expiration
dates between 2010 and 2015.
New Accounting
Pronouncements
SFAS 141(R): In December 2007 the FASB issued SFAS 141(R), "Business
Combinations (Revised December 2007)." SFAS 141(R) establishes principles
and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination: 1) recognizes
and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the
liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; 2)
recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a
gain from a bargain purchase; and 3) determines what information to disclose to
enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial
effects of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) applies prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the
beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December
15, 2008. An entity may not apply it before that date. IDACORP and IPC are currently
evaluating the impact of SFAS 141(R).
SFAS 160: In December 2007 the FASB issued SFAS 160, "Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements." Among other things, SFAS
160 establishes a standard for the way noncontrolling interests (also called
minority interests) are presented in consolidated financial statements and
standards for accounting for changes in ownership interests. SFAS 160 is
effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity
may not apply it before that date. IDACORP and IPC are currently evaluating
the impact of SFAS 160.
SFAS 161: In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, "Disclosures
about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 133." SFAS 161 encourages, but does not require,
comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. SFAS 161
changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging
activities. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a)
how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative
instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and
its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related
hedged items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance, and
cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early
application encouraged. IDACORP and IPC are currently evaluating the impact of
SFAS 161.
2. INCOME TAXES:
In accordance with interim
reporting requirements, IDACORP and IPC use an estimated annual effective tax
rate for computing their provisions for income taxes. IDACORP's effective rate
on continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was 20.5
percent, compared to 16.6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
IPC's effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was 32.5
percent, compared to 34.5 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
The differences in estimated annual effective tax rates are primarily due to
the decrease in pre-tax earnings at IDACORP and IPC, timing and amount of IPC's
regulatory flow-through tax adjustments, and lower tax credits from IFS.
3. COMMON STOCK AND
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:
During the three months ended
March 31, 2008, IDACORP entered into the following transactions involving its
common stock:
85,030 original issue shares were used for awards granted under the 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan.
16,149 original issue shares and 26,359 treasury shares were used for awards granted under the Restricted Stock Plan.
15,100 treasury shares were used for the annual stock grant to directors under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan.
72,129 original issue shares were issued under the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan and the Employee Savings Plan.
IDACORP has three share-based
compensation plans. IDACORP's employee plans are the 2000 Long-Term Incentive
and Compensation Plan (LTICP) and the Restricted Stock Plan (RSP). These plans
are intended to align employee and shareholder objectives related to IDACORP's
long-term growth. IDACORP also has one non-employee plan, the Non-Employee Directors
Stock Compensation Plan (DSP). The purpose of the DSP is to increase
directors' stock ownership through stock-based compensation.
The LTICP for officers, key
employees and directors permits the grant of nonqualified stock options,
incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock,
restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other
awards. The RSP permits only the grant of restricted stock or
performance-based restricted stock. At March 31, 2008, the maximum number of
shares available under the LTICP and RSP were 1,559,248 and 66,250,
respectively. The following table shows the compensation cost recognized in
income and the tax benefits resulting from these plans, as well as the amounts
allocated to IPC for those costs associated with IPC's employees (in thousands
of dollars):
IDACORP |
IPC |
|||||||||
Three months ended |
Three months ended |
|||||||||
March 31, |
March 31, |
|||||||||
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
|||||||
Compensation cost |
$ |
971 |
$ |
1,051 |
$ |
921 |
$ |
544 |
||
Income tax benefit |
$ |
379 |
$ |
411 |
$ |
360 |
$ |
213 |
||
No equity compensation costs
have been capitalized.
Stock awards: Restricted stock awards have vesting periods of up to
four years. Restricted stock awards entitle the recipients to dividends and
voting rights, and unvested shares are restricted as to disposition and subject
to forfeiture under certain circumstances. The fair value of restricted stock
awards is measured based on the market price of the underlying common stock on
the date of grant and charged to compensation expense over the vesting period
based on the number of shares expected to vest. The weighted average fair
value at date of grant for restricted stock awards granted during the first
three months of 2008 was $30.54.
Performance-based restricted
stock awards have vesting periods of three years. Performance awards entitle
the recipients to voting rights, and unvested shares are restricted as to
disposition, subject to forfeiture under certain circumstances, and subject to
meeting specific performance conditions. Based on the attainment of the
performance conditions, the ultimate award can range from zero to 150 percent
of the target award. Dividends are accrued during the vesting period and will
be paid out only on shares that eventually vest.
The performance goals for
these awards are independent of each other and equally weighted, and are based
on two metrics, cumulative earnings per share (CEPS) and total shareholder
return (TSR) relative to a peer group. The fair value of the CEPS portion is
based on the market value at the date of grant, reduced by the loss in
time-value of the estimated future dividend payments, using an expected
quarterly dividend of $0.30. The fair value of the TSR portion is estimated
using a statistical model that incorporates the probability of meeting
performance targets based on historical returns relative to the peer group.
Both performance goals are measured over the three-year vesting period and are
charged to compensation expense over the vesting period based on the number of
shares expected to vest. The weighted average fair value at date of grant for
CEPS and TSR awards granted during the first three months of 2008 was $22.76.
Stock options: Stock option awards are granted with exercise prices
equal to the market value of the stock on the date of grant. The options have
a term of 10 years from the grant date and vest over a five-year period. The
fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense using
graded-vesting. Stock options are not a significant component of share-based
compensation awards under the LTICP.
4. FINANCING:
Credit Facilities
IDACORP has a $100 million
credit facility and IPC has a $300 million credit facility both of which expire
on April 25, 2012. Commercial paper may be issued up to the amounts supported
by the bank credit facilities. Under these facilities the companies pay a
facility fee on the commitment, quarterly in arrears, based on its rating for
senior unsecured long-term debt securities without third-party credit
enhancement as provided by Moody's and S&P.
IPC entered into a $170
million Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2008 with JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and Bank of America,
N.A., Union Bank of California, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as lenders. The
Term Loan Credit Agreement provided for the issuance of term loans by the
lenders to IPC on April 1, 2008, in an aggregate principal amount of $170
million. The loans are due on March 31, 2009. IPC used the proceeds from the
loans to effect the mandatory purchase on April 3, 2008 of the Pollution
Control Bonds (as discussed below under "Long-Term Financing") and to pay
interest, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Pollution Control
Bonds and/or the Term Loan Credit Agreement. The loans may be prepaid, but may
not be reborrowed. At March 31, 2008, IPC had regulatory authority to incur up
to $450 million of short-term indebtedness. Balances and interest rates of
short-term borrowings were as follows at March 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007
(in thousands of dollars):
March 31, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
|||||||||||
IPC |
IDACORP |
Total |
IPC |
IDACORP |
Total |
|||||||
Balances outstanding |
$ |
186,150 |
$ |
57,359 |
$ |
243,509 |
$ |
136,585 |
$ |
49,860 |
$ |
186,445 |
Weighted-avg. interest rate |
4.06% |
4.12% |
4.07% |
5.56% |
5.45% |
5.53% |
||||||
Long-Term
Financing
IDACORP has $629 million remaining on
two shelf registration statements that can be used for the issuance of
unsecured debt (including medium-term notes) and preferred or common stock.
IPC has in place a registration statement that can be used for the issuance of
an aggregate principal amount of $350 million of first mortgage bonds
(including medium-term notes) and unsecured debt.
On
April 3, 2008, IPC entered into a Selling Agency Agreement with each of Banc of
America Securities LLC, BNY Capital Markets, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Lazard Capital Markets LLC, Piper Jaffray &
Co., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Wachovia
Capital Markets, LLC, Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and Wells Fargo
Securities, LLC in connection with the issuance and sale by IPC from time to
time of up to $350 million aggregate principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds,
Secured Medium-Term Notes, Series H.
On April 3, 2008, IPC made a
mandatory purchase of the $49.8 million Humboldt County, Nevada Pollution
Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 2003 and
the $116.3 million Sweetwater County, Wyoming Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 2006 (together, the
Pollution Control Bonds). IPC initiated this transaction in order to adjust
the interest rate period of the Pollution Control Bonds from an auction
interest rate period to a weekly interest rate period, effective April 3, 2008.
5. REGULATORY MATTERS:
Idaho General Rate Case
On February 28, 2008, the IPUC
approved a settlement of IPC's general rate case filed June 8, 2007. The
IPUC's order approved an average increase of 5.2 percent in base rate, or
approximately $32.1 million in revenues, effective March 1, 2008.
Danskin 1 Power Plant
Application
The Danskin 1 plant, a simple cycle
combustion turbine near Mountain Home, Idaho, began commercial operations on
March 11, 2008. The combustion turbine can
provide approximately 166 MW of capacity during summer load peaks and up to 200
MW in the winter. On March 7, 2008, IPC filed an application with the IPUC
requesting to recover the costs associated with the construction of this new
plant. The filing asks for a $9 million, or 1.4 percent, annual increase in
revenues, by June 1, 2008. The IPUC is proceeding on this application under
modified procedure and will take comments through May 13, 2008.
Deferred Net Power Supply
Costs
IPC's deferred net power supply costs
consisted of the following (in thousands of dollars):
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|||
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|||
Idaho PCA current year: |
||||||
Deferral for the 2008-2009 rate year * |
$ |
107,160 |
$ |
85,732 |
||
Idaho PCA true-up awaiting recovery: |
||||||
Authorized in May 2007 |
4,862 |
6,591 |
||||
Oregon: |
||||||
2001 deferral |
2,402 |
2,993 |
||||
2006 deferral |
2,148 |
2,107 |
||||
Total deferral |
$ |
116,572 |
$ |
97,423 |
||
* The 2008-2009 PCA deferral balance is reduced by $17 million of emission allowance sales in 2007. |
Idaho: IPC has a power cost adjustment (PCA) mechanism that
provides for annual adjustments to the rates charged to its Idaho retail
customers. The PCA tracks IPC's actual net power supply costs (fuel and
purchased power less off-system sales) and compares these amounts to net power
supply costs currently being recovered in retail rates.
The annual adjustments are
based on two components:
1) A forecast component, based on a forecast of net power supply costs in the coming year as compared to net power supply costs in base rates; and
2)
A true-up component, based on the
difference between the previous year's actual net power supply costs and the
previous year's forecast. This component also includes a balancing mechanism
so that over time, the actual collection or refund of authorized true-up
dollars matches the amounts authorized. The true-up component is calculated
monthly, and interest is applied to the balance.
The PCA mechanism provides
that for both the forecast and the true-up components, 90 percent of deviations
in power supply costs are to be reflected in IPC's rates.
On April 15, 2008, IPC filed
its 2008-2009 PCA application with the IPUC with a requested effective date of
June 1, 2008. The filing indicated an increase of $89.0 million to the PCA
component of customers' rates to a level that is $121.6 million above base
rates based upon historical sharing percentages between customers and
shareholders.
The PCA filing also contained
a proposal to flow through to customers 100 percent of the deviation in power
supply costs for the prospective year. This is a one-year proposal that
impacts the 2008 forecast component of the current PCA and its later true-up
and would reduce IPC's requested rate increase to $87.2 million. While the
overall filing requests a rate increase, the forecast component is a customer
benefit. The $1.8 million reduction reflects an additional ten percent of the
benefit being passed on to customers. The PCA mechanism provides for sharing
of benefits and costs at a ratio of 90 percent to customers and ten percent to
shareholders. IPC requested this deviation from the customary sharing
percentage for two reasons:
1) Approximately 62 average MW of energy from PURPA wind projects that IPC had expected to receive in 2008 will not be available because the associated projects requested extensions of their on-line dates. IPC recovers 100 percent of power purchases from PURPA projects but will need to replace this energy with market purchases; and
2)
Pursuant to IPC's risk management
policy, which was established in accordance with IPUC-approved risk management
guidelines, IPC had committed to net purchases of nearly $51 million at the
time of the PCA filing. Under the current sharing methodology, IPC will only
recover 90 percent of these known costs. Because of the prescriptive nature of
this risk management activity, IPC believes that 100 percent customer sharing
is appropriate.
These anticipated cost
increases would be included in the true-up component of IPC's 2009 PCA filing.
As discussed below in
"Emission Allowances," the IPUC ordered on April 14, 2008 that $16.4 million of
proceeds, including interest, from the sales of SO2 emission
allowances in 2007 be applied to help offset the PCA deferral balances incurred
during the 2007-2008 PCA year. This order is not reflected in IPC's PCA
filing, but it is expected to reduce the requested PCA increase to $70.8
million.
On May 31, 2007, the IPUC
approved IPC's 2007-2008 PCA filing. The filing increased the PCA component of
customers' rates from the then existing level, which was $46.8 million below
base rates, to a level that is $30.7 million above those base rates. This
$77.5 million increase was net of $69.1 million of proceeds from sales of
excess SO2 emission allowances. The new rates became effective June
1, 2007.
Idaho
Load Growth Adjustment Rate (LGAR):
On January 9, 2007, the IPUC issued an order resetting IPC's LGAR to $29.41 per
MWh, effective April 1, 2007. The LGAR subtracts the cost of serving
additional Idaho retail load from the net power supply costs IPC is allowed to
include in its PCA. The order revised the LGAR from the original rate of
$16.84 per MWh set when the PCA began in 1993. This amount was established as
the projected additional variable energy costs attributable to load growth and
was subtracted from each year's PCA expense. IPC had requested the use of the
embedded cost of serving new load and a rate of $6.81 per MWh, but the IPUC in
its order determined to use the projected marginal cost, which resulted in a
higher LGAR. The LGAR is reset during a general rate case.
The general rate case
settlement approved by the IPUC on February 28, 2008, (discussed above in
"General Rate Case - Idaho") contained a provision to make a good faith effort
to develop a mechanism to adjust or replace the current LGAR. As an interim
solution, the parties agreed to use the LGAR of $62.79 per MWh recommended by
the IPUC Staff, but to apply it to only 50 percent of the load growth beginning
in March 2008.
Emission Allowances: During 2007, IPC sold 35,000 SO2 emission
allowances for a total of $19.6 million. The sales proceeds to be allocated to
the Idaho jurisdiction are approximately $18.5 million. On April 14, 2008, the
IPUC ordered that $16.4 million of these proceeds, including interest, be used
to help offset the PCA true-up balances from the 2007-2008 PCA. The order also
provided that $0.5 million may be used to fund an energy education program.
In 2005 and early 2006, IPC
sold 78,000 SO2 emission allowances for a total of $81.6 million.
The sales proceeds allocated to the Idaho jurisdiction were approximately $76.8
million. On May 12, 2006, the IPUC approved a stipulation that allowed IPC to
retain ten percent as a shareholder benefit with the remaining 90 percent plus
a carrying charge recorded as a customer benefit. This customer benefit was
used to partially offset the PCA true-up balance and is reflected in the PCA
rates in effect during the June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2008, PCA rate year.
Oregon: On April 30, 2007, IPC filed for an accounting order
with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the period from May 1, 2007,
through April 30, 2008, in anticipation of higher than "normal" power supply
expenses. In the last Oregon general rate case, "normal" power supply expenses
were set at a negative number (meaning that under normal water conditions IPC
should be able to sell enough surplus energy to pay for all fuel and purchased
power expenses and still have revenue left over to offset other costs). IPC
requested authorization to defer an estimated $5.7 million, which is Oregon's
jurisdictional share of the excess power supply costs. IPC also requested that
it earn its Oregon authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and
recover the amount through rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. IPC
is awaiting an order from the OPUC.
On April 28, 2006, IPC filed
for an accounting order with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the
period of May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2007. IPC requested authorization to
defer an estimated $3.3 million, which is Oregon's jurisdictional share of the
excess power supply costs. IPC also requested that it earn its Oregon
authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and recover the amount through
rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. On April 25, 2007, a tentative
settlement agreement was reached on the deferral application with the OPUC
Staff and the Citizens' Utility Board in the amount of $2 million. The parties
also agreed that IPC would file an application for an Oregon PCA mechanism.
The settlement stipulation was approved by the OPUC on December 13, 2007.
The timing of recovery of
Oregon power supply cost deferrals is subject to an Oregon statute that
specifically limits rate amortizations of deferred costs to six percent per
year. IPC is currently amortizing through rates power supply costs associated
with the western energy situation of 2001. Full recovery of the 2001 deferral
is not expected until 2009. The 2006-2007 and the 2007-2008 deferrals would be
amortized sequentially following the full recovery of the 2001 deferral.
Oregon Power Cost
Adjustment Mechanism (PCAM)
On August 17, 2007, IPC filed an application with the OPUC requesting the
approval of a power cost adjustment mechanism similar to the Idaho PCA. The
PCAM will allow IPC to recover excess net power supply costs or distribute
benefits to customers in a more timely fashion than through the existing
deferral process. The PCAM differs from the Idaho PCA in that it reestablishes
the base net power supply costs annually. In Idaho, the base net power supply
costs are set by a general rate case. Settlement conferences were held and the
interested parties reached an agreement. A joint stipulation was filed with
the OPUC on March 14, 2008. The OPUC approved the stipulation on April 28,
2008.
In
connection with this proceeding, on March 24, 2008, IPC submitted testimony to
the OPUC to revise its previous calculation of its April 2008 through March
2009 net power supply costs (October Update) to conform to the methodology
agreed to by the parties in the PCAM stipulation. IPC also submitted the
second part of the mechanism (March Forecast), reflecting expected hydro
conditions and forward prices for the April 2008 through March 2009 period.
The expected power supply costs of $150 million represent an increase of
approximately $23 million over the October Update.
If approved, the power supply
cost update submitted by IPC, which comprises both the October Update and the
March Forecast, would result in a $4.8 million, or 15.69 percent, increase in
Oregon revenues. New rates are expected to be effective on June 1, 2008.
Fixed Cost Adjustment
Mechanism (FCA)
On March 12, 2007, the IPUC approved the implementation of a FCA mechanism
pilot program. The FCA is a rate mechanism designed to remove a utility's
disincentive to invest in energy efficiency programs. The FCA separates (or
decouples) the recovery of fixed costs from the variable kilowatt-hour charge
and, instead, links it to a set amount per customer. If IPC under-collects its
fixed costs per customer as a result of reduced electrical use, it can collect
the difference through a surcharge. If IPC over-collects its authorized fixed
costs, customers are refunded through a credit. The FCA is only applicable to
residential and small commercial customers. The pilot program began
retroactively on January 1, 2007, and will run through 2009, with the first
rate adjustment to occur on June 1, 2008, and subsequent rate adjustments to
occur on June 1 of each year thereafter during the term of the pilot program.
On
March 14, 2008, IPC filed an application requesting a $2.4 million rate
reduction under the FCA pilot program for expenses incurred in 2007. The
application is currently pending with the IPUC. IPC accrued $0.9 million of
FCA expense in the first quarter of 2008.
Open Access Transmission
Tariff (OATT)
On March 24, 2006, IPC submitted a
revised OATT filing with the FERC requesting an increase in transmission
rates. In the filing IPC proposed to move from a fixed rate to a formula rate,
which allows for transmission rates to be updated each year based on FERC Form
1 data. The formula rate request included a rate of return on equity of 11.25
percent. Effective June 1, 2006, the FERC accepted rates for IPC amounting to
an annual revenue increase of $11 million based upon 2004 test year data. The
rates were accepted subject to refund pending the outcome of the hearing and
settlement process.
On August 8, 2007, the FERC
approved a settlement agreement by the parties on all issues except the
treatment of contracts for transmission service that contain their own terms,
conditions and rates and that were in existence before the implementation of
OATT in 1996 (Legacy Agreements). This settlement reduced the estimated annual
revenue increase to approximately $8.2 million based on 2004 test year data.
Approximately $1.7 million collected in excess of these new rates between June
1, 2006, and July 31, 2007, was refunded with interest to customers.
On August 31, 2007, the FERC
Presiding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an initial decision (Initial
Decision) with respect to the treatment of the Legacy Agreements. If the
Initial Decision is implemented, IPC estimates that it would reduce the
estimated annual revenue increase (based on 2004 test year data) to
approximately $6.8 million.
IPC
has appealed the Initial Decision to the FERC. However, if the Initial
Decision is implemented, IPC would make additional refunds, including interest,
of approximately $3.2 million for the June 1, 2006, through March 31, 2008,
period. IPC has reserved this entire amount. IPC expects to pursue recovery
of amounts not received pursuant to a final order in this proceeding through
additional proceedings at the FERC or through the state ratemaking process.
IPC is awaiting a final FERC order.
Idaho
Pension Expense Order
In the 2003 Idaho general rate case,
the IPUC disallowed recovery of pension expense because there were no current
cash contributions being made to the plan. On March 20, 2007, IPC requested
that the IPUC clarify that IPC can consider future cash contributions made to
the pension plan a recoverable cost of service. On June 1, 2007, the IPUC issued an order authorizing IPC to account
for its defined benefit pension expense on a cash basis, and to defer and
account for pension expense under SFAS 87, "Employers' Accounting for
Pensions," as a regulatory asset.
The IPUC acknowledged that it is appropriate for IPC to seek recovery in its
revenue requirement of reasonable and prudently incurred pension expense based
on actual cash contributions. The regulatory asset created by this order is
expected to be amortized to expense to match the revenues received when future
pension contributions are recovered through rates. The deferral of pension
expense did not begin until $4.1 million of past contributions still recorded
on the balance sheet at December 31, 2006, were expensed. For 2007,
approximately $2.8 million was deferred to a regulatory asset beginning in the
third quarter. In the first quarter of 2008, $2.0 million of pension expense
was deferred. IPC did not request a
carrying charge be applied to the deferral of the accrued SFAS 87 expense.
6. COMMITMENTS AND
CONTINGENCIES:
Guarantees
IPC has agreed to guarantee the performance of one-third of the reclamation
activities at Bridger Coal Company, of which IERCO owns a one-third interest.
This guarantee, which is renewed each December, was $60 million at March 31,
2008. Bridger Coal has a reclamation trust fund set aside specifically for the
purpose of paying the reclamation costs and expects that the fund will be
sufficient to cover all such costs. Because of the existence of the fund, the
estimated fair value of this guarantee is minimal.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time IDACORP and IPC are
parties to legal claims, actions and complaints in addition to those discussed
below. Although they will vigorously defend against them, they are unable to
predict with certainty whether or not they will ultimately be successful.
However, based on the companies' evaluation, they believe that the resolution
of these matters, taking into account existing reserves, will not have a
material adverse effect on IDACORP's or IPC's consolidated financial positions,
results of operations or cash flows.
Reference is made to
IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007, for a discussion of all material pending legal proceedings to which IDACORP
and IPC and their subsidiaries are parties. The following discussion provides
a summary of material developments that occurred in those proceedings during
the period covered by this report and of any new material proceedings
instituted during the period covered by this report.
Wah Chang: Wah Chang's appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit) of the February 11, 2005 dismissal of the
case by the Honorable Robert H. Whaley, sitting by designation in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of California, was fully briefed and
oral argument was held on April 10, 2007. On November 20, 2007, the Ninth
Circuit affirmed the dismissal. On December 10, 2007, Wah Chang filed
Petitions for Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit, which were denied January 15, 2008. Because Wah Chang
did not file a petition for certiorari seeking Supreme Court review before the
expiration date of April 14, 2008, this matter is now concluded.
Western Energy Proceedings
at the FERC:
California Refund: In April 2001, the FERC issued an order stating that
it was establishing a price mitigation plan for sales in the California
wholesale electricity market. That plan included the potential for orders
directing electricity sellers into California from October 2, 2000, through
June 20, 2001, to refund the portions of their spot market sales prices if the
FERC determined that those prices were not just and reasonable. On July 25,
2001, the FERC issued an order initiating the California Refund proceeding
including evidentiary hearings to determine the scope and methodology for
determining refunds. On February 17, 2006, IE and IPC jointly filed with the
California Parties (Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas &
Electric Company, Southern California Edison, the California Public Utilities
Commission, the California Electricity Oversight Board, the California
Department of Water Resources and the California Attorney General) an Offer of Settlement
at the FERC. A number of other parties, representing substantially less than
the majority of potential refund claims, chose to opt out of the settlement.
After consideration of comments, the FERC approved the Offer of Settlement on
May 22, 2006.
On February 3, 2004, the FERC
directed the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) to provide status
reports with respect to its progress in calculating refunds, fuel and emissions
allowance offsets to refunds and interest. The process of performing the
calculations has engaged the Cal ISO for more than four years. On March 18,
2008, the Cal ISO published its Fortieth Status Report and on March 25, 2008,
it released the interest calculations it had completed as a result of revising
market clearing prices as directed by the FERC. In its Fortieth Status Report,
the Cal ISO stated its intention to consider interest and cost allocation
questions for parties that had FERC-approved settlements when it had completed
the basic calculation of interest for revised market clearing prices. A date
has not yet been set for this aspect of the Cal ISO's calculations.
While the refund proceedings
were pending before the FERC, the California Attorney General filed a complaint
with the FERC against sellers in the wholesale power market, including IE and
IPC, alleging that the FERC's market-based rate requirements violate the
Federal Power Act (FPA), and, even if the market-based rate requirements were
valid, that the quarterly transaction reports filed by sellers did not contain
the transaction-specific information mandated by the FPA and the FERC. The
complaint sought refunds for an expanded time when compared to the basic refund
proceeding. The FERC dismissed the complaint but on September 9, 2004, the
Ninth Circuit concluded that although market-based tariffs are permissible
under the FPA, the matter should be remanded to the FERC to consider whether
the FERC should exercise remedial power (including some form of refunds) when a
market participant failed to submit reports. On December 28, 2006, a number of
sellers filed a certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme
Court declined to grant certiorari and the matter has now been remanded to the
FERC. The settlement IE and IPC reached with the California Parties that was
approved by the FERC on May 22, 2006, anticipated the possibility of the
outcome of the appeals discussed above and resolved the settling parties'
claims in the event of the expansion of all of the refund proceedings as the
Ninth Circuit ordered.
On March 21, 2008, the FERC
issued an order responding to the remand by Ninth Circuit. The FERC's order
established hearing procedures to permit wholesale purchasers that made
short-term market-based rate purchases through the Cal ISO and the California
Power Exchange (CalPX), as well as those making spot market purchases of energy
through the California Energy Resources Scheduling Division of the California
Department of Water Resources from January 1, 2000 to October 1, 2000, to (i)
present evidence that any seller that violated the quarterly reporting
requirement failed to disclose an increased market share sufficient to give it
the ability to exercise market power and thus caused its market-based rates to
be unjust and unreasonable and (ii) permit sellers to present evidence to the
contrary. Before formal hearing procedures commenced, the FERC directed that
the matter be presented to a settlement judge to attempt to settle individual
cases. The FERC's March 21, 2008 order expands the field of those who may
present evidence in the case from the original complaint of the California
Attorney General and also is more restrictive in terms of what must be proven
to establish a case. On April 7, 2008, IE and IPC joined with a number of
other parties that already had settled this proceeding with the California
Attorney General and the other California Parties requesting that they be
dismissed from the case. The California Attorney General and the other
California Parties indicated their agreement to the dismissal. On April 15,
2008, the FERC issued an order dismissing parties that already had settled,
including IE and IPC, from these remanded proceedings. If rehearing is sought
and the FERC reverses the dismissal, IE and IPC intend to vigorously defend
themselves, but are unable to predict the outcome of this matter.
On June 21, 2006, the Port of
Seattle, Washington filed a request for rehearing of the FERC order approving
the IE and IPC/California Parties settlement. On October 5, 2006, the FERC
denied the Port of Seattle's request for rehearing and on October 24, 2006, the
Port of Seattle petitioned the Ninth Circuit for review of the FERC orders
approving the settlement. On October 25, 2007, the Ninth Circuit lifted the
stay as to the Port of Seattle's appeal along with two other cases with which
the Port of Seattle's petition remains consolidated and severed the three cases
from the remainder of the consolidated cases. Port of Seattle withdrew its
petition for review in one of the three consolidated cases and filed its
initial brief on February 29, 2008. Final briefs are due by August 31, 2008.
A date for argument has not been set. IE and IPC are unable to predict when or
how the Ninth Circuit might rule on these consolidated petitions for review.
Market Manipulation: As part of the California and Pacific Northwest
Refund proceedings the FERC issued an order permitting discovery and the
submission of evidence regarding market manipulation by sellers during the
western energy crisis of 2000 and 2001. On June 25, 2003, the FERC ordered 50
entities that participated in the western wholesale power markets between
January 1, 2000 and June 20, 2001, including IPC, to show cause why certain
trading practices did not constitute gaming or anomalous market behavior
("partnership") in violation of the Cal ISO and CalPX Tariffs. On October 16,
2003, IE and IPC reached agreement with the FERC Staff on two orders commonly
referred to as the "gaming" and "partnership" show cause orders. The FERC staff
submitted a motion to the FERC to dismiss the "partnership" proceeding, which
was approved by the FERC in an order issued on January 23, 2004. The "gaming"
settlement was approved by the FERC on March 4, 2004.
Some parties have sought
review of what they claim are the excessively narrow or excessively broad scope
of the show cause orders, and the Ninth Circuit has consolidated those claims
with the other matters and is holding them in abeyance. The Port of Seattle is
the only party to appeal the orders of the FERC approving the gaming
settlement. IPC is not able to predict when the appeal will be considered or
the outcome of the judicial determination of these issues.
Pacific Northwest Refund: On July 25, 2001, the FERC issued an order
establishing another proceeding to determine whether there may have been unjust
and unreasonable charges for spot market sales in the Pacific Northwest during
the period December 25, 2000 through June 20, 2001. A FERC Administrative Law
Judge submitted recommendations and findings to the FERC on September 24, 2001
concluding that prices should be governed by the Mobile-Sierra standard of the
public interest rather than the just and reasonable standard, that the Pacific
Northwest spot markets were competitive and the refunds should not be allowed.
On December 19, 2002, the FERC reopened the proceeding to allow the submission
of additional evidence related to alleged manipulation of the power market by
market participants. Parties alleging market manipulation were to submit their
claims to the FERC and responses were due on March 20, 2003. On June 25, 2003,
the FERC terminated the proceeding and declined to order refunds. Multiple
parties filed petitions for review in the Ninth Circuit. On August 24, 2007,
the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in the appeal, remanding to the FERC the
orders that declined to require refunds. The Ninth Circuit's opinion
instructed the FERC to consider whether evidence of market manipulation
submitted by the petitioners for the period January 1, 2000, to June 21, 2001,
would have altered the agency's conclusions about refunds and directed the FERC
to include sales to the California Department of Water Resources proceeding. A
number of parties have sought rehearing of the Ninth Circuit's decision. Grays
Harbor terminated its participation in the case when Grays Harbor and IPC
reached a settlement. IE and IPC are unable to predict when the Ninth Circuit
will rule on the requests for rehearing or the outcome of these matters.
In separate western energy
proceedings, the Ninth Circuit issued two decisions on December 19, 2006,
regarding the FERC's decision not to require repricing of certain long-term
contracts. Those cases originated with individual complaints against specified
sellers which did not include IE or IPC. The Ninth Circuit remanded to the
FERC for additional consideration the agency's use of restrictive standards of
contract review. In its decisions, the Ninth Circuit also questioned the
validity of the FERC's administration of its market-based rate regime. The
U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in one of the cases, which has been
briefed and argued before the Court. IE and IPC are unable to predict how the
Supreme Court will rule, how the FERC might respond to any such decision or how
any such decision might affect the outcome of the Pacific Northwest proceeding.
There are pending in the
Ninth Circuit approximately 200 petitions for review of numerous FERC orders
regarding the western energy matters of 2000 and 2001, including the California
refund proceeding, the structure and content of the FERC's market-based rate
regime, show cause orders with respect to contentions of market manipulation,
and the Pacific Northwest proceedings. Decisions in any one of these appeals may
have implications with respect to other pending cases, including those to which
IDACORP, IPC or IE are parties. IDACORP, IPC and IE are unable to predict the
outcome of any of these petitions for review.
Western Shoshone National
Council: On April 10, 2006, the
Western Shoshone National Council (which purports to be the governing body of
the Western Shoshone Nation) and certain of its individual tribal members filed
a First Amended Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Nevada, naming IPC and other unrelated entities as
defendants. Plaintiffs allege that IPC's ownership interest in certain land,
minerals, water or other resources was converted and fraudulently conveyed from
lands in which the plaintiffs had historical ownership rights and Indian title
dating back to the 1860's or before.
On May 31, 2007, the U.S.
District Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss stating that the
plaintiffs' claims are barred by the finality provision of the Indian Claims
Commission Act. Plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration which the
District Court denied. On January 25, 2008, the District Court entered
judgment in favor of IPC. Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the Ninth
Circuit. The parties are in the process of filing briefs on appeal. Oral
argument on the appeal has not yet been scheduled. IPC intends to vigorously
defend its position in this proceeding, but is unable to predict the outcome of
this matter or estimate the impact it may have on IPC's consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
Sierra Club
Lawsuit-Bridger: In February 2007,
the Sierra Club and the Wyoming Outdoor Council filed a complaint against
PacifiCorp in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming alleging
violations of air quality opacity standards at the Jim Bridger coal-fired plant
(Plant) in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Opacity is an indication of the amount
of light obscured in the flue gas of a power plant. A formal answer to the
complaint was filed by PacifiCorp on April 2, 2007, in which PacifiCorp denied
almost all of the allegations and asserted a number of affirmative defenses.
IPC is not a party to this proceeding but has a one-third ownership interest in
the Plant. PacifiCorp owns a two-thirds interest and is the operator of the
Plant. The complaint alleges thousands of opacity permit limit violations by
PacifiCorp and seeks a declaration that PacifiCorp has violated opacity limits,
a permanent injunction ordering PacifiCorp to comply with such limits, civil
penalties of up to $32,500 per day per violation and the plaintiff's costs of
litigation, including reasonable attorney fees.
Discovery in the matter was
completed on October 15, 2007. Also in October 2007, the plaintiffs and
defendant filed cross-motions for summary judgment on the alleged opacity
permit status of this matter. The court has not yet ruled on these motions. On
March 13, 2008, the District Court canceled the original trial date of April
21, 2008, but did not schedule a new trial date. IPC continues to monitor the
status of this matter but is unable to predict the outcome of this matter or
estimate the impact it may have on the consolidated financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
Sierra Club Notice of
Intent to File Suit - Boardman: On
January 15, 2008, the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Northwest
Environmental Defense Center, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Columbia
Riverkeeper, and Hells Canyon Preservation Council (collectively, Sierra Club)
provided a 60-day notice to Portland General Electric Company (PGE) of intent
to file suit. Sierra Club alleges violations of opacity standards at the
Boardman coal-fired power plant located in Morrow County, Oregon of which IPC
owns ten percent. PGE owns 65 percent and is the operator of the plant.
Sierra Club further alleges violations of the Clean Air Act, related federal
regulations and the Oregon State Implementation Plan relating to PGE's
construction and operation of the plant. The 60-day notice period expired on
March 15, 2008, but Sierra Club has not yet commenced litigation. Sierra Club
alleges thousands of opacity permit limit violations by PGE from and before
2003, and claims that it will seek a declaration that PGE has violated opacity
limits, a permanent injunction ordering PGE to comply with such limits, and
civil penalties of up to $32,500 per day per violation. IPC intends to monitor
the status of this matter but is unable to predict its outcome or what effect
this matter may have on the consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
Snake River Basin
Adjudication: IPC is engaged in the Snake River Basin Adjudication
(SRBA), a general stream adjudication, commenced in 1987, to define the nature
and extent of water rights in the Snake River basin in Idaho, including the
water rights of IPC. The initiation of the SRBA resulted from the Swan Falls
Agreement, an agreement entered into by IPC and the Governor and Attorney
General of Idaho in October 1984 to resolve litigation relating to IPC's water
rights at its Swan Falls project. IPC has filed claims to its water rights for
hydropower and other uses in the SRBA. Other water users in the basin have
also filed claims to water rights. Parties to the SRBA may file objections to
water right claims that adversely affect or injure their claimed water rights
and the Idaho District Court for the Fifth Judicial District, which has
jurisdiction over SRBA matters, then adjudicates the claims and objections and
enters a decree defining a party's water rights. IPC has filed claims for all
of its hydropower water rights in the SRBA, is actively protecting those water
rights, and is objecting to claims that may potentially injure or affect those
water rights. One such claim involves a notice of claim of ownership filed on
December 22, 2006, by the State of Idaho, for a portion of the water rights
held by IPC that are subject to the Swan Falls Agreement.
On May 10, 2007, in order to
protect its claims and the availability of water for power purposes at its
facilities, and in response to the claim of ownership filed by the State of
Idaho, IPC filed a complaint and petition for declaratory and injunctive relief
regarding the status and nature of IPC's water rights and the respective rights
and responsibilities of the parties under the Swan Falls Agreement. The
complaint was filed in the Idaho District Court for the Fifth Judicial
District, the court with jurisdiction over the SRBA, against the State of
Idaho, the Governor, the Attorney General, the IDWR and the Director of the
IDWR.
In conjunction with the
filing of the complaint and petition, IPC filed motions with the court to stay
all pending proceedings involving the water rights of IPC and to consolidate
those proceedings into a single action where all issues relating to the Swan
Falls Agreement can be determined.
IPC alleged in the complaint,
among other things, that contrary to the parties' belief at the time the Swan
Falls Agreement was entered into in 1984, the Snake River basin above Swan
Falls was over-appropriated and as a consequence there was not in 1984, and
there currently is not, water available for new upstream uses over and above
the minimum flows established by the Swan Falls Agreement; that because of this
mutual mistake of fact relating to the over-appropriation of the basin, the
Swan Falls Agreement should be reformed; that the state's December 22, 2006,
claim of ownership to IPC's water rights should be denied; and that the Swan
Falls Agreement did not subordinate IPC's water rights to aquifer recharge.
On May 30, 2007, the state
filed motions to dismiss IPC's complaint and petition. These motions were
briefed and, together with IPC's motions to stay and consolidate the
proceedings, were argued before the Court on June 25, 2007.
On July 23, 2007, the court
issued an order granting in part and denying in part the state's motion to
dismiss, consolidating the issues into a consolidated subcase before the court,
providing for discovery during the objection period, and setting and scheduling
a conference for December 18, 2007. In its order, the court denied the
majority of the state's motion to dismiss, refusing to dismiss the complaint
and finding that the court has jurisdiction to hear and determine virtually all
the issues raised by IPC's complaint that relate to IPC's water rights and the
effect of the Swan Falls Agreement upon those water rights. This includes the
issues of ownership, whether IPC's water rights are subordinated to recharge
and how those water rights are to be administered relative to other water
rights on the same or connected resources. The court did find that by virtue
of a state statute the IDWR, and its director, could not be parties to the SRBA
and therefore stayed IPC's claims against the IDWR and its director pending
resolution of the issues to be litigated in the SRBA, or until further order of
the court.
Consistent with IPC's motion
to consolidate and stay the proceedings, the court consolidated all of the
issues associated with IPC's water rights before the court and stayed that
proceeding to allow other parties that may be affected by the litigation to
file responses or intervene in the consolidated proceedings by December 5,
2007. On December 18, 2007, the court held a status and scheduling conference
in the consolidated proceedings. Subsequently, the court issued a scheduling
order on December 20, 2007, with a trial scheduled to begin on February 2,
2009. In January 2008, the state and IPC filed cross motions for summary
judgment on issues in the case. These motions were briefed and oral argument
before the court was held on the motions on February 21, 2008.
On April 18, 2008, the court
issued a Memorandum Decision and order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment
upholding the Swan Falls Agreement. Under the Swan Falls Agreement, water
rights in excess of the minimum flows established by the agreement are held in
trust by the State of Idaho for the use and benefit of IPC and the people of
the State of Idaho. Water above these minimum flows is available for
subsequent consumptive beneficial uses that are approved in accordance with
state law. The court further held that to the extent that the state is not
meeting the minimum flows or it is anticipated that the minimum flows will not
be met, IPC's water rights that are held in trust are not available for
subsequent appropriations and that any appropriations already in place may be
subject to curtailment in order to meet the minimum flows. The court found
that it was not necessary to address the issue of mutual mistake of fact
relating to the over-appropriation of the basin because it found that it was
water rights that were the subject of the trust arrangement and not the water
itself. The court also stated that issues relating to water availability
relate to the administration of water rights and should be addressed, as
necessary, in an administrative action before the IDWR.
The court did not decide the
issue of whether the Swan Falls Agreement subordinated IPC's water rights to
groundwater recharge. The court will hold a status conference in the near
future to discuss how to proceed with respect to this issue. IPC is unable to
predict the outcome of the consolidated proceedings.
IPC has also filed two
actions in federal court against the United States Bureau of Reclamation to
enforce a contract right for delivery of water to its hydropower projects on
the Snake River. In 1923, IPC and the United States entered into a contract
that facilitated the development of the American Falls Reservoir by the U.S. on
the Snake River in southeast Idaho. This 1923 contract entitles IPC to 45,000
acre-feet of primary storage capacity in the reservoir and 255,000 acre-feet of
secondary storage that was to be available to IPC between October 1 of any year
and June 10 of the following year as necessary to maintain specified flows at
IPC's Twin Falls power plant below Milner Dam. IPC believes that the U.S. has
failed to deliver this secondary storage, at the specified flows, since 2001.
As a result, on October 15, 2007, IPC filed an action in the U.S. District
Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. to recover damages from the U.S.
for the lost generation resulting from the reduced flows. On October 15, 2007,
IPC filed a second action in the United States District Court for the District
of Idaho in Boise, Idaho, to compel the U.S. to manage American Falls Reservoir
and the Snake River federal reservoir system to ensure that IPC's contract
right to secondary storage is fulfilled in the future. The U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation filed answers in each of these cases on February 15, 2008. On
March 4, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho entered a
preliminary scheduling order, setting that case for trial on December 15, 2009.
The action in the U.S. District Court of Federal Claims has not yet been set
for trial. IPC is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation.
Renfro Dairy: On September 28, 2007, the principals of Renfro Dairy
near Wilder, Idaho filed a lawsuit in the District Court of the Third Judicial
District of the State of Idaho (Canyon County) against IDACORP and IPC. On
March 28, 2008, the plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint and Demand for
Jury Trial. The plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint asserts claims for
negligence, negligence per se, nuisance, breach of contract, and fraud.
The claims are based on allegations that from 1972 until May 25, 2005, IPC
discharged "stray voltage" from its electrical facilities that caused physical
harm and injury to the plaintiffs' dairy herd. Plaintiffs seek compensatory
damages in excess of $10,000 to be proven at trial.
IPC has not responded to the
First Amended Complaint. The companies intend to vigorously defend their
position in this proceeding and believe this matter will not have a material
adverse effect on their consolidated financial positions, results of operations
or cash flows.
7. BENEFIT PLANS:
The following table shows the
components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended March 31
(in thousands of dollars):
|
Deferred |
Postretirement |
|||||||||||
Pension Plan |
Compensation Plan |
Benefits |
|||||||||||
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
||||||||
Service cost |
$ |
3,730 |
$ |
3,803 |
$ |
320 |
$ |
352 |
$ |
327 |
$ |
379 |
|
Interest cost |
6,596 |
6,114 |
667 |
593 |
880 |
895 |
|||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(8,494) |
(8,342) |
- |
- |
(738) |
(690) |
|||||||
Amortization of transition obligation |
- |
- |
- |
- |
510 |
510 |
|||||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
163 |
163 |
48 |
43 |
(133) |
(134) |
|||||||
Amortization of net loss |
- |
- |
122 |
142 |
- |
132 |
|||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ |
1,995 |
$ |
1,738 |
$ |
1,157 |
$ |
1,130 |
$ |
846 |
$ |
1,092 |
|
IDACORP and IPC have not
contributed and do not expect to contribute to their pension plan in 2008.
8. SEGMENT INFORMATION:
IDACORP's only reportable
segment at March 31, 2008 is utility operations, for which the primary source
of revenue is the regulated operations of IPC. IFS, which had previously been
identified as a reportable segment, is now included in the "All Other" column.
IDACOMM, which had previously been identified as a reportable segment, is now
reported as discontinued operations (See Note 9).
IPC's regulated operations
include the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase and sale of
electricity. This segment also includes income from Bridger Coal Company, an
unconsolidated joint venture also subject to regulation. Other operating
segments are below the quantitative thresholds for reportable segments and are
included in the "All Other" category. This category is comprised of IFS's
investments in affordable housing developments and other tax-advantaged
investments, Ida-West's joint venture investments in small hydroelectric
generation projects, the remaining activities of energy marketer IE, which
wound down its operations in 2003, and IDACORP's holding company expenses.
The following table
summarizes the segment information for IDACORP's utility operations and the
total of all other segments, and reconciles this information to total
enterprise amounts (in thousands of dollars):
Utility |
|
All |
|
|
|
Consolidated |
||||||
Operations |
|
Other |
|
Eliminations |
|
Total |
||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2008: |
||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
212,796 |
$ |
644 |
$ |
- |
$ |
213,440 |
||||
Income from continuing operations |
21,271 |
445 |
- |
21,716 |
||||||||
Total assets at March 31, 2008 |
$ |
3,545,335 |
$ |
228,620 |
$ |
(64,491) |
$ |
3,709,464 |
||||
Three months ended March 31, 2007: |
||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
205,928 |
$ |
783 |
$ |
- |
$ |
206,711 |
||||
Income from continuing operations |
23,331 |
1,249 |
- |
24,580 |
||||||||
9. DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS:
In the second quarter of
2006, IDACORP decided to seek a buyer for its telecommunications subsidiary
IDACOMM. On February 23, 2007, IDACORP completed the sale of all of the
outstanding common stock of IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. The
operating results of IDACOMM have been separately classified and reported as
discontinued operations on IDACORP's condensed consolidated statements of
income. A summary of discontinued operations is as follows (in thousands of
dollars):
|
|
Three months ended |
||||
|
|
March 31, |
||||
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
||
Revenues |
$ |
- |
$ |
1,278 |
||
Operating expenses |
- |
(1,309) |
||||
Other (expense) |
- |
(25) |
||||
Loss on disposal |
- |
(2,877) |
||||
Pre-tax losses |
- |
(2,933) |
||||
Income tax benefit |
- |
3,000 |
||||
Income from discontinued operations |
$ |
- |
$ |
67 |
||
10.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
IDACORP and IPC partially
adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS 157)
on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value
hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value and
enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements.
FASB Staff
Position 157-2 (FSP 157-2) delayed the implementation of SFAS 157 for
nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a
recurring basis (at least annually). The delay is intended to allow additional
time to consider the effect of implementation issues that have arisen, or that
may arise, from the application of SFAS 157. In accordance with FSP 157-2, IPC
did not apply the provisions of SFAS 157 to asset retirement obligations.
In
accordance with SFAS 157, IDACORP and IPC have categorized their financial
instruments, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique,
into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the
highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level
3). If the inputs used to measure the financial
instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization
is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value
measurement of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities recorded on the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized as follows:
Level
1: Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted
quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that
IDACORP and IPC have the ability to access.
Level 2: Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
a) Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
b) Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets;
c) Pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; or
d) Pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
IDACORP's and IPC's Level 2
inputs are based on exchange traded products adjusted for location using
corroborated, observable market data.
Level
3: Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or
valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and
significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect
management's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would
use in pricing the asset or liability.
The following table presents
information about IDACORP's and IPC's assets and liabilities measured at fair
value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008 (in thousands of dollars). IDACORP's
and IPC's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair
value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value
assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.
|
Quoted Prices in |
Significant |
Significant |
|
|||||||
|
Active Markets |
Other |
Unobservable |
|
|||||||
|
for Identical |
Observable |
Inputs |
|
|||||||
|
Assets (Level 1) |
Inputs (Level 2) |
(Level 3) |
Total |
|||||||
IDACORP |
|||||||||||
Assets: |
|||||||||||
Derivatives |
$ |
451 |
$ |
2,627 |
$ |
- |
$ |
3,078 |
|||
Trading securities |
7,541 |
- |
- |
7,541 |
|||||||
Available-for-sale securities |
20,428 |
- |
- |
20,428 |
|||||||
Liabilities: |
|||||||||||
Derivatives |
$ |
234 |
$ |
- |
$ |
- |
$ |
234 |
|||
IPC |
|||||||||||
Assets: |
|||||||||||
Derivatives |
$ |
451 |
$ |
2,627 |
$ |
- |
$ |
3,078 |
|||
Trading securities |
5,977 |
- |
- |
5,977 |
|||||||
Available-for-sale securities |
20,428 |
- |
- |
20,428 |
|||||||
Liabilities: |
|||||||||||
Derivatives |
$ |
234 |
$ |
- |
$ |
- |
$ |
234 |
|||
IDACORP
and IPC adopted the provisions of SFAS 159, "The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement
115" (SFAS 159) on January 1, 2008. SFAS 159 permits an entity to
choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair
value. Most of the provisions in SFAS 159 are elective; however, the amendment
to SFAS 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities," applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading
securities. The fair value option established by SFAS 159 permits all entities
to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates.
A business entity will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which
the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting
date. The fair value option: (a) may be applied instrument by instrument, with
a few exceptions, such as investments otherwise accounted for by the equity
method; (b) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs); and (c) is
applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. IDACORP
and IPC did not elect the fair value option for any existing eligible items.
However, IDACORP and IPC will continue to evaluate new items on a case-by-case
basis for consideration of the fair value option.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of IDACORP, Inc.
Boise, Idaho
We have reviewed the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of IDACORP, Inc. and
subsidiaries (the "Company") as of March 31, 2008, and the related condensed
consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. These interim financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
We conducted our reviews in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). A review of interim financial information consists
principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons
responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in
scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is
the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a
whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed
consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited,
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of IDACORP, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements
of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the
year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 27,
2008, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial
statements, which included an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,
and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers'
Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - an
amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R). In our opinion,
the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance
sheet as of December 31, 2007, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in
relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boise, Idaho
May 7, 2008
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholder of Idaho Power Company
Boise, Idaho
We have reviewed the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of
capitalization of Idaho Power Company and subsidiary (the "Company") as of
March 31, 2008, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income,
comprehensive income, and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March
31, 2008 and 2007. These interim financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company's management.
We conducted our reviews in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). A review of interim financial information consists
principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons
responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in
scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is
the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a
whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed
consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited,
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet and statement of
capitalization of Idaho Power Company and subsidiary as of December 31, 2007,
and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income,
retained earnings, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented
herein); and in our report dated February 27, 2008, we expressed an unqualified
opinion on those consolidated financial statements, which included an
explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards
Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an
interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, and Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - an amendment of FASB Statements No.
87, 88, 106, and 132(R). In our opinion, the information set forth in the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of
capitalization as of December 31, 2007, is fairly stated, in all material
respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet and statement of
capitalization from which it has been derived.
DELOITTE
& TOUCHE LLP
Boise, Idaho
May 7, 2008
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
(Dollar
amounts and megawatt-hours (MWh) are in thousands unless otherwise indicated.)
INTRODUCTION:
In Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), the general
financial condition and results of operations for IDACORP, Inc. and its
subsidiaries (collectively, IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company and its subsidiary
(collectively, IPC) are discussed.
IDACORP is a holding company
formed in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is IPC. IDACORP is subject
to the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which
provides certain access to books and records to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) and state utility regulatory commissions and imposes certain
record retention and reporting requirements on IDACORP.
IPC is an electric utility
with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern
Idaho and eastern Oregon. IPC is regulated by the FERC and the state
regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. IPC is the parent of Idaho Energy
Resources Co., a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company, which supplies coal to
the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by IPC.
IDACORP's other subsidiaries
include:
On February 23, 2007, IDACORP
sold all of the outstanding common stock of IDACOMM, Inc. to American Fiber
Systems, Inc. The results of operations of and the sale of IDACOMM, Inc. are
reported as discontinued operations. Discontinued operations are discussed in
Note 9 to IDACORP's and IPC's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
While reading the MD&A,
please refer to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of
IDACORP and IPC, which present the financial position at March 31, 2008, and
December 31, 2007, and the results of operations and cash flows for each
company for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. This
discussion updates the MD&A included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2007, and should be read in conjunction with the
discussion in that report.
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION:
In connection with the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
IDACORP and IPC are hereby filing cautionary statements identifying important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in forward-looking statements, as such term is defined in the Reform
Act, made by or on behalf of IDACORP or IPC in this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, in presentations, in response to questions or otherwise. Any statements
that express, or involve discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance, often, but not always,
through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may
result," "may continue" or similar expressions, are not statements of
historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements
involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important
factors, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are beyond
IDACORP's or IPC's control and may cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in forward-looking statements:
Changes in and compliance with governmental policies, including new interpretations of existing policies, and regulatory actions and regulatory audits, including those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and the Oregon Public Utility Commission with respect to allowed rates of return, industry and rate structure, day-to-day business operations, acquisition and disposal of assets and facilities, operation and construction of plant facilities, provision of transmission services, relicensing of hydroelectric projects, recovery of power supply costs, recovery of capital investments, present or prospective wholesale and retail competition, including but not limited to retail wheeling and transmission costs, and other refund proceedings;
Changes arising from the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
Changes in tax laws or related regulations or new interpretations of applicable law by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing jurisdiction;
Litigation and regulatory proceedings, including those resulting from the energy situation in the western United States, and penalties and settlements that influence business and profitability;
Changes in and compliance with laws, regulations and policies including changes in law and compliance with environmental, natural resources, endangered species and safety laws, regulations and policies and the adoption of laws and regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions or global climate change;
Global climate change and regional weather variations affecting customer demand and hydroelectric generation;
Over-appropriation of surface and groundwater in the Snake River Basin resulting in reduced generation at hydroelectric facilities;
Construction of power generation, transmission and distribution facilities, including an inability to obtain required governmental permits and approvals, rights-of-way and siting, and risks related to contracting, construction and start-up;
Operation of power generating facilities including performance below expected levels, breakdown or failure of equipment, availability of transmission and fuel supply;
Changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures, including costs and availability of materials, fuel and commodities;
Blackouts or other disruptions of Idaho Power Company's transmission system or the western interconnected transmission system;
Impacts from the formation of a regional transmission organization or the development of another transmission group;
Population growth rates and other demographic patterns;
Market prices and demand for energy, including structural market changes;
Fluctuations in sources and uses of cash;
Results of financing efforts, including the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by factors such as credit ratings and general economic conditions;
Actions by credit rating agencies, including changes in rating criteria and new interpretations of existing criteria;
Changes in interest rates or rates of inflation;
Performance of the stock market and changes in interest rates, which affect the amount of required contributions to pension plans, and the reported costs of providing pension and other postretirement benefits;
Increases in health care costs and the resulting effect on medical benefits paid for employees;
Increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage terms and the ability to obtain insurance;
Homeland security, acts of war or terrorism;
Natural disasters and other natural risks, such as earthquake, flood, drought, lightning, wind and fire;
Adoption of or changes in critical accounting policies or estimates; and
New accounting or Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, or new interpretation or application of existing requirements.
Any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge
from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such
factors, nor can it assess the impact of any such factor on the business or the
extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW:
First quarter 2008
financial results
A summary of IDACORP's net income and
earnings per diluted share is as follows:
Three months ended |
|||||
March 31, |
|||||
2008 |
|
2007 |
|||
Net income |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,647 |
|
Average outstanding shares - diluted (000s) |
45,004 |
43,820 |
|||
Earnings per diluted share |
$ |
0.48 |
$ |
0.56 |
The
key factors affecting the change in IDACORP's net income for the first quarter
of 2008 include (amounts shown are net of income taxes):
IPC's net income was $21.3 million in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of $2 million as compared to the first quarter of 2007. The key factors affecting the change in IPC's net income include:
Increased retail sales contributed $5.9 million to general business revenue for the quarter. IPC's service territory had 15 percent more heating degree days as compared to the same period in 2007 and four percent more heating degree days than normal. IPC continues to experience customer growth, with the average number of general business customers increasing 9,166 compared to the first quarter of 2007, an increase of two percent.
Rate increases added $12.4 million to general business revenue for the quarter as compared to the same period last year. A PCA increase on June 1, 2007, increased rates by an average of 14.5 percent, or $11.8 million. In addition, a general rate increase of 5.2 percent became effective March 1, 2008, and increased general business revenue $0.6 million.
Increased net power supply costs (fuel and purchased power less off-system sales), net of the current PCA deferral decreased earnings by $17.7 million (including the effects of the LGAR described below) for the quarter as compared to the same period last year. During the first quarter of 2008, IPC experienced poor hydroelectric generating conditions that have carried over from 2007. IPC's hydroelectric generation decreased to 46 percent of total system generation for the quarter as compared to 51 percent in 2007.
The Load Growth Adjustment Rate (LGAR) mechanism, a component of the PCA, reduced earnings by $3.2 million. Most of the impact came in January and February as base loads and the rate were reset in March in connection with the general rate case.
Bridger Coal Company's results in the first quarter were $1.6 million below last year, primarily due to difficulties with its underground longwall mining operations in January and February 2008.
Increased interest charges, primarily due to increases in long-term debt balances and variable interest rates, reduced earnings $1.7 million.
IFS earnings decreased $1.1 million for the quarter. The reduction is primarily due to lower tax benefits from aging investments and lower earnings on variable rate instruments.
Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
The following discussion includes
financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP), as well as one additional financial measure, electric
utility margin, that is considered a "non-GAAP financial measure" under SEC
rules. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a
company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes
(or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly
comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The most directly
comparable GAAP financial measure to electric utility margin is operating
income.
The presentation of electric
utility margin is intended to supplement the information available to investors
for evaluating IPC's operating performance. When viewed in conjunction with
IPC's operating income, electric utility margin provides a more complete
understanding of the factors and trends affecting IPC's business, and users can
assess which information best suits their needs. However, this measure is not
intended to replace operating income, or any other measure calculated in
accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance.
IPC's management uses electric utility margin, in addition to GAAP measures, to
determine whether IPC is collecting the appropriate amount of energy costs from
its customers to allow recovery of operating costs. Electric utility margin
also provides both management and investors with a better understanding of the
effects of regulatory mechanisms on IPC's operating income. The primary
limitation associated with this measure is that IPC's electric utility margin
may not be comparable to other companies' electric utility margins. However,
management uses electric utility margin as an internal tool for evaluating and
conducting the business, and is therefore unburdened by this limitation.
The calculations of IPC's
electric utility margin are as follows:
|
|
|
Three months ended |
||||||
|
|
|
March 31, |
||||||
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
|||||
General business revenue |
$ |
167,313 |
$ |
137,251 |
|||||
PCA water deferral * |
(5,965) |
7,773 |
|||||||
PCA amortization |
(2,455) |
3,203 |
|||||||
Total |
158,893 |
148,227 |
|||||||
Power supply costs: |
|||||||||
Off-system sales |
33,363 |
57,838 |
|||||||
Purchased power |
(45,299) |
(50,817) |
|||||||
Fuel |
(37,237) |
(30,913) |
|||||||
PCA deferral net of PCA water deferral |
26,164 |
10,560 |
|||||||
Total |
(23,009) |
(13,332) |
|||||||
Third party transmission expense |
(497) |
(799) |
|||||||
Other revenues (excluding Demand Side |
|||||||||
Management (DSM)) |
8,756 |
8,724 |
|||||||
Electric utility margin |
$ |
144,143 |
$ |
142,820 |
|||||
Electric utility margin as a percentage of total |
|||||||||
general business revenue, PCA water deferral, |
|||||||||
and PCA amortization |
91% |
96% |
|||||||
* The PCA water deferral is the reversal of the forecasted difference between power supply costs embedded in base rates and |
|||||||||
expected power supply costs established for the one-year time period of April through March that is included in general |
|||||||||
business revenue. |
|||||||||
The decline in electric
utility margin as a percentage of total general business revenue, PCA water
deferral and PCA amortization is a result of power supply costs increasing at a
greater rate than general business revenue due to below normal hydroelectric
generation. The $15.5 million increase in the PCA deferral reflects the
combined net positive deferral of the increased net power supply expenses and
an increase in the negative impacts of the LGAR mechanism.
The following table
reconciles electric utility margin to electric utility operating income (GAAP):
|
|
|
Three months ended |
||||
|
|
|
March 31, |
||||
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
|||
Electric utility margin |
$ |
144,143 |
$ |
142,820 |
|||
Other operations and maintenance |
|||||||
(excluding third party transmission expense) |
(68,430) |
(67,028) |
|||||
Depreciation |
(25,750) |
(25,290) |
|||||
Taxes other than income taxes |
(4,803) |
(4,918) |
|||||
Operating income - electric utility (GAAP) |
$ |
45,160 |
$ |
45,584 |
|||
Hydroelectric generating
conditions
Below normal temperatures and winter
precipitation resulted in below normal stream flow conditions that negatively
impacted hydroelectric generation in the first quarter of 2008. More gradual
snowmelt, combined with below normal Snake River system reservoir carryover
from last year, also reduced the overall water available for hydroelectric
generation. On May 7, 2008, the National Weather Service's Northwest River
Forecast Center indicated that Brownlee reservoir inflow for April through July
2008 is expected to be 4.9 maf or 78 percent of average. With current and
forecasted stream flow conditions, IPC expects to generate between 6.0 and 8.0 million
MWh from its hydroelectric facilities in 2008, compared to 6.2 million MWh in
2007.
Because of its reliance on
hydroelectric generation, IPC's operations can be significantly affected by
weather conditions. The availability of hydroelectric power depends on the
amount of snow pack in the mountains upstream of IPC's hydroelectric
facilities, springtime snow pack run-off, rainfall and other weather and stream
flow management considerations. During low water years, when stream flows into
IPC's hydroelectric projects are reduced, IPC's hydroelectric generation is
reduced. This results in less generation from IPC's resource portfolio
(hydroelectric, coal-fired and gas-fired) available for off-system sales and,
most likely, an increased use of purchased power to meet load requirements.
Both of these situations - a reduction in off-system sales and an increased use
of more expensive purchased power - result in increased power supply costs.
Capital requirements
IPC's 2008-2010 construction program
and related expenditures are subject to on-going review and are revised to include
changes in the expected timing of expenditures, load growth, construction
costs, location of generation sources, transmission capacity, adequacy of rate
recovery and environmental concerns. As a result of this review, IPC has
revised its planned 2008 capital expenditures and expects to spend between $270
and $290 million.
General
rate case settlement
On February 28, 2008 the IPUC
approved a settlement of IPC's general rate case filed in 2007. New rates,
effective March 1, 2008, increased IPC's annual revenue by $32.1 million or 5.2
percent. The base rates for residential customers increased 4.7 percent, and
the base rates for the other classes of customers increased 5.65 percent.
Power Cost Adjustment
filing
On April 15, 2008, IPC filed
its 2008-2009 PCA application with the IPUC with a requested effective date of
June 1, 2008. The filing indicates an increase of $89.0 million to the PCA
component of customers' rates to a level that is $121.6 million above base
rates based upon historical sharing percentages between customers and
shareholders.
The PCA filing also contained
a proposal to flow through to customers 100 percent of the deviation in power
supply costs for the prospective year. This is a one-year proposal that
impacts the 2008 forecast component of the current PCA and its later true-up
and would reduce IPC's requested rate increase to $87.2 million. While the
overall filing requests a rate increase, the forecast component is a customer
benefit. The $1.8 million reduction reflects an additional ten percent of the
benefit being passed on to customers.
In addition, the IPUC ordered
on April 14, 2008 that $16.4 million of proceeds, including interest, from the
sales of SO2 emission allowances in 2007 be applied to help offset
the PCA deferral balances incurred during the 2007-2008 PCA year. This order
is not reflected in IPC's PCA filing, but it is expected to reduce the
requested PCA increase to $70.8 million.
Danskin 1 Power Plant
Application
On March 7, 2008, IPC filed an
application with the IPUC requesting to recover the costs associated with the
construction of its new natural gas-fired plant as discussed in "Regulatory
Matters - Integrated Resource Plan - Peaking Resource." The filing asks for a
$9 million, or 1.4 percent, annual increase in revenue by June 1, 2008. The
IPUC is proceeding on this application under modified procedure and will take
comments through May 13, 2008.
Water Management Issues
Power generation at the IPC
hydroelectric power plants on the Snake River is dependent upon the state water
rights held by IPC and the long-term sustainability of the Snake River,
tributary spring flows and the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer that is connected to
the Snake River. IPC continues to participate in water management issues in Idaho
that may affect those water rights and resources. This includes active
participation in the Snake River Basin Adjudication, a judicial action
initiated in 1987 to determine the nature and extent of water use in the Snake
River basin, judicial and administrative proceedings relating to the
conjunctive management of ground and surface water rights, and management and
planning processes intended to reverse declining trends in river, spring, and
aquifer levels and address the long-term water resource needs of the state. On
occasion, resolution of these water management issues involves litigation. IPC
is involved in legal actions regarding not only its water rights but also the
water rights of others. One such action, initiated in the Snake River Basin Adjudication,
involves IPC's water rights at the Swan Falls project on the Snake River and
several other upstream hydroelectric projects that are the subject of a 1984
agreement with the state of Idaho known as the Swan Falls Agreement.
On April
18, 2008, the court issued a Memorandum Decision and Order on Cross-Motions for
Summary Judgment upholding the Swan Falls Agreement. Under the Swan Falls
Agreement, water rights in excess of the minimum flows established by the
agreement are held in trust by the State of Idaho for the use and benefit of
IPC and the people of the State of Idaho. Water above these minimum flows is
available for subsequent consumptive beneficial uses that are approved in
accordance with state law. The court further held that to the extent that the
state is not meeting the minimum flows or it is anticipated that the minimum
flows will not be met, IPC's water rights that are held in trust are not
available for subsequent appropriations and that any appropriations already in
place may be subject to curtailment in order to meet the minimum flows. The
court found that it was not necessary to address the issue of mutual mistake of
fact relating to the over-appropriation of the basin because it found that it
was water rights that were the subject of the trust arrangement and not the
water itself. The court also stated that issues relating to water availability
relate to the administration of water rights and should be addressed, as
necessary, in an administrative action before the IDWR.
The court did not decide the
issue of whether the Swan Falls Agreement subordinated IPC's water rights to
groundwater recharge. The court will hold a status conference in the near
future to discuss how to proceed with respect to this issue. IPC is unable to predict
the outcome of the consolidated proceedings.
IPC also has initiated legal
action against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) over the interpretation
and effect of a 1923 contract with the USBR on the operation of the American
Falls Reservoir and the release of water from that reservoir to be used at
IPC's downstream hydroelectric projects. Although IPC intends to continue
vigorously defending its water rights and although none of the pending water
management issues are expected to impact IPC's hydroelectric generation in the
near term, IPC cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these matters or what
effect they may have on its consolidated financial positions, results of
operations or cash flows. IPC's ongoing participation in such issues will help
ensure that water remains available over the long-term for use at IPC's
hydroelectric projects on the Snake River.
For a
complete discussion of water management issues see "LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES - Environmental Issues - Idaho Water Management Issues."
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
This section of the MD&A
takes a closer look at the significant factors that affected IDACORP's and
IPC's earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2008. In this analysis,
the first quarter results for 2008 are compared to the same period in 2007.
The following table presents
the earnings (losses) for IDACORP and its subsidiaries:
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|||||||||
|
|
|
March 31, |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
|||||
IPC - Utility operations |
$ |
21,271 |
$ |
23,331 |
||||||||
IDACORP Financial Services |
801 |
1,862 |
||||||||||
Ida-West Energy |
55 |
205 |
||||||||||
IDACORP Energy |
(12) |
(55) |
||||||||||
Holding company |
(399) |
(763) |
||||||||||
Discontinued operations |
- |
67 |
||||||||||
Total earnings |
$ |
21,716 |
$ |
24,647 |
||||||||
Average common shares outstanding (diluted) |
45,004 |
43,820 |
||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
0.48 |
$ |
0.56 |
||||||||
Utility Operations
Operating environment: IPC is one of the nation's few investor-owned
utilities with a predominantly hydroelectric generating base. Because of its
reliance on hydroelectric generation, IPC's generation operations can be
significantly affected by weather conditions. The availability of
hydroelectric power depends on the amount of snow pack in the mountains
upstream of IPC's hydroelectric facilities, springtime snow pack run-off, river
base flows, spring flows, rainfall and other weather and stream flow management
considerations. During low water years, when stream flows into IPC's
hydroelectric projects are reduced, IPC's hydroelectric generation is reduced.
This results in less generation from IPC's resource portfolio (hydroelectric,
coal-fired and gas-fired) available for off-system sales and, most likely, an
increased use of purchased power to meet load requirements. Both of these
situations - a reduction in off-system sales and an increased use of more
expensive purchased power - result in increased net power supply costs. During
high water years, increased off-system sales and the decreased need for
purchased power reduce net power supply costs.
Operations plans are
developed during the year to guide generation resource utilization and energy
market activities (off-system sales and power purchases). The plans
incorporate forecasts for generation unit availability, reservoir storage and
stream flows, gas and coal prices, customer loads, energy market prices and
other pertinent inputs. Consideration is given to when to use IPC's available
resources to meet forecast loads and when to transact in the wholesale energy
market. The allocation of hydroelectric generation between heavy-load and
light-load hours or calendar periods is considered in the development of the
operating plans. This allocation is intended to utilize the flexibility of the
hydroelectric system to shift generation to high value periods, while operating
within the constraints imposed on the system. IPC's energy risk management
policy, unit operating requirements and other obligations provide the framework
for the plans.
Hydroelectric generation for
the January through March 2008 period was 10 percent below the same period in
2007 and 28 percent below the 30 year average due to a combination of more
gradual snowmelt, below normal rainfall and below normal Snake River system
reservoir carryover from last year. Reservoir carry-over storage above
Brownlee reservoir was near the record low due to below average April through
July runoff in 2007 and near record low flows in the Snake River from several
years of drought.
On May 7, 2008, the National
Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center estimated that Brownlee
reservoir inflow for April through July 2008 would be 4.9 million acre-feet
(maf), or 78 percent of average, which would be up considerably from the 2007
April through July inflow of 2.8 maf, or 44 percent of average. Storage in
selected federal reservoirs upstream of Brownlee, as of April 13, 2008, was 86
percent of average. With current and forecasted stream flow conditions, IPC
expects to generate between 6.0 and 8.0 million MWh from its hydroelectric
facilities in 2008, compared to 6.2 million MWh in 2007.
IPC's system load is dual
peaking, with the larger peak demand occurring in the summer. IPC's record
system peak of 3,193 MW occurred on July 13, 2007. The all-time winter peak
demand is 2,464 MW set on January 24, 2008. The previous hourly system winter
peak of 2,459 MW was set in 1998.
The following table presents
IPC's power supply for the three month period ended March 31:
|
MWh |
|||||||||
|
Hydroelectric |
|
Thermal |
|
Total System |
|
Purchased |
|
|
|
|
Generation |
|
Generation |
|
Generation |
|
Power |
|
Total |
|
Three months ended: |
||||||||||
March 31, 2008 |
1,663 |
1,979 |
3,642 |
687 |
4,329 |
|||||
March 31, 2007 |
1,846 |
1,747 |
3,593 |
975 |
4,568 |
|||||
IPC's modeled median annual
hydroelectric generation is 8.5 million MWh, based on hydrologic conditions for
the period 1928 through 2006 and adjusted to reflect the current level of water
resource development.
General business revenue:
The following table presents IPC's general business revenues, MWh sales, average
number of customers and Boise, Idaho weather conditions for the three months
ended March 31:
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ |
95,242 |
$ |
78,582 |
||||||||||
Commercial |
44,675 |
36,208 |
||||||||||||
Industrial |
26,657 |
22,099 |
||||||||||||
Irrigation |
739 |
362 |
||||||||||||
Total |
$ |
167,313 |
$ |
137,251 |
||||||||||
MWh |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
1,589 |
1,464 |
||||||||||||
Commercial |
999 |
943 |
||||||||||||
Industrial |
851 |
871 |
||||||||||||
Irrigation |
11 |
5 |
||||||||||||
Total |
3,450 |
3,283 |
||||||||||||
Customers (average) |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
401,156 |
394,464 |
||||||||||||
Commercial |
62,952 |
60,747 |
||||||||||||
Industrial |
121 |
126 |
||||||||||||
Irrigation |
18,139 |
17,865 |
||||||||||||
Total |
482,368 |
473,202 |
||||||||||||
Heating degree-days |
2,680 |
2,336 |
||||||||||||
Precipitation (inches) |
2.70 |
1.78 |
||||||||||||
Heating and cooling
degree-days are common measures used in the utility industry to analyze the
demand for electricity and indicate when customers would use electricity for
heating and air conditioning. A degree-day measures how much the average daily
temperature varies from 65 degrees. Each degree of temperature above 65
degrees is counted as one cooling degree-day, and each degree of temperature
below 65 degrees is counted as one heating degree-day.
General business revenue
increased $30.1 million for the quarter, as compared to the same period in
2007. This increase is primarily attributable to three factors: 1) the
effects of rate changes for the current year, 2) increased customer usage, and
3) continued customer growth.
Rates: Adjustments to rates had a $21.3 million positive impact on general business revenue for the quarter. Rates were positively impacted by a PCA average rate increase of 14.5 percent effective June 1, 2007, and a general rate increase of 5.2 percent effective March 1, 2008.
Usage: General business revenue increased $6.7 million for the quarter due to an increase in residential and commercial usage due to colder weather.
Customers: Moderate growth in customer count in IPC's service territory increased revenue $2.1 million for the quarter as compared to the same period in 2007.
Off-system sales: Off-system sales consist primarily of long-term
sales contracts and opportunity sales of surplus system energy. The following
table presents IPC's off-system sales for the three months ended March 31:
|
Three months ended |
|||||||||
|
March 31, |
|||||||||
|
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|||||
Revenue |
$ |
33,363 |
$ |
57,838 |
||||||
MWh sold |
518 |
964 |
||||||||
Revenue per MWh |
$ |
64.41 |
$ |
59.97 |
||||||
Poor stream flow conditions
decreased hydroelectric generation and electricity available for surplus
sales. Total MWh sold in the first quarter of 2008 decreased 46 percent as
compared to the same period last year, while the overall price per MWh
increased seven percent. More gradual snowmelt, below normal rainfall, and
below normal Snake River system reservoir carryover from last year reduced the
overall water available for hydroelectric generation.
Other revenues: The following table presents the components of other
revenues for the three months ended March 31:
|
Three months ended |
||||||||||
|
|
March 31, |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
|||||
Transmission services and property rental |
$ |
9,512 |
$ |
9,268 |
|||||||
DSM |
3,364 |
2,115 |
|||||||||
Provision for rate refund |
(756) |
(544) |
|||||||||
Total |
$ |
12,120 |
$ |
10,839 |
|||||||
An IPUC order allows IPC to
record DSM program expenditures as an operating expense with an offsetting
amount recorded in other revenues, resulting in no net effect on earnings. For
the first quarter of 2008, IPC recorded $3.4 million related to DSM activities
in other revenues, an increase of $1.2 million over same period last year,
which reflects increased program expenditures.
The provision for rate refund
is related to the Open Access Transmission Tariff discussed in "Regulatory
Matters - Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT)."
Purchased power: The following table presents IPC's purchased power
expenses and volumes for the three months ended March 31:
|
Three months ended |
|||||||||
|
|
March 31, |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
||||
Purchased power expense |
$ |
45,299 |
$ |
50,817 |
||||||
MWh purchased |
687 |
975 |
||||||||
Cost per MWh purchased |
$ |
65.94 |
$ |
52.13 |
||||||
For the quarter, IPC
experienced a price increase of 26 percent as compared to the same period last
year, which was offset by a decrease in volume purchased of 29 percent. The
increase in prices was due to reduced regional generation caused by a
combination of more gradual snowmelt, below normal rainfall and below normal
Snake River system reservoir carryover from last year, and reduced overall
water available for hydro generation. The volume decrease for the quarter was
the result of conforming to IPC's risk management policy, managing IPC's energy
portfolio to meet customer load, and reacting to changes in market conditions
to minimize net power supply costs.
Fuel expense: The following table presents IPC's fuel expenses and
generation at its thermal generating plants for the three months ended March
31:
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|||||||
|
|
|
March 31, |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
||
Fuel expense |
$ |
37,237 |
$ |
30,913 |
||||||
Thermal MWh generated |
1,978 |
1,747 |
||||||||
Cost per MWh |
$ |
18.83 |
$ |
17.70 |
||||||
The increase in fuel expense
is due to a 13 percent increase in MWh volume for the quarter as compared to
the same period last year. The Jim Bridger and Valmy plants increased their
volume 11 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Gas usage at the Bennett
Mountain and Danskin facilities also contributed to the increase; energy
generation volumes at these plants more than tripled from 11,643 MWh to 40,913
MWh, increasing gas costs $1.7 million for the quarter. Bennett Mountain and
Danskin facilities use natural gas which is a higher priced resource than coal.
PCA: PCA expense represents the effects of IPC's PCA regulatory
mechanism and Oregon deferrals of net power supply costs, which are discussed
in more detail below in "REGULATORY MATTERS - Deferred Net Power Supply Costs."
Weak hydroelectric generating
conditions and lower surplus sales increased net power supply costs (fuel and
purchased power less off-system sales) over the amounts in the annual PCA
forecast. This increase in net power supply costs resulted in the deferral of
costs for recovery in subsequent rate years. As the deferred costs are
recovered in rates, the deferred balances are amortized. In the first quarter
of 2008, IPC amortized an under collection of the prior year balance. In 2007,
IPC amortized an over collection of the prior year balance. The following
table presents the components of PCA expense for the three months ended March
31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
2007 |
||||
Current year power supply cost deferral |
$ |
(20,199) |
$ |
(18,333) |
|||||||
Amortization of prior year authorized balances |
2,455 |
(3,203) |
|||||||||
Total power cost adjustment |
$ |
(17,744) |
$ |
(21,536) |
|||||||
The 2007 general rate case,
which became effective March 1, 2008, changed the monthly distribution of net
power supply expenses by allocating significantly more power supply costs to
the third quarter and less to the first and second quarters. IPC has reserved
$8.5 million against the first quarter PCA deferral because it is IPC's belief
that the monthly distribution of net power supply expenses will ultimately take
on a more moderate seasonal shape. The reserve is not expected to have a
material impact on annual results. An IPUC decision related to the reserve
should be made by the end of May 2008 and may reduce the amount of the June 1,
2008, PCA rate adjustment.
Other operations and
maintenance expenses: Other
operations and maintenance expenses increased $1.1 million for the quarter as
compared to 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in
overhead line expense of $1.1 million, an increase in outside services of $0.8
million, and an increase of $0.4 million due to restricted stock plan
expenses. The total increase was partially offset by a decrease of $2.8
million in thermal O&M. At the Valmy plant, planned and unplanned outage
costs of $1.8 million occurred in the first quarter of 2007. In 2008, planned
outages will not take place until the second quarter of 2008. The Bridger
plant expenses decreased $1.0 million due to incentive charges and diesel
inventory start-up charges in 2007 that have not recurred in 2008.
Non-utility operations
IFS: IFS' earnings decreased from $1.9 million in the first
quarter of 2007 to $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of
$1.1 million. IFS' income is derived principally from the generation of
federal income tax credits and accelerated tax depreciation benefits related to
its investments in affordable housing and historic rehabilitation
developments. IFS made $8.5 million in new investments and generated $4.0
million of tax credits in the first quarter of 2008. IFS expects to make
future investments in line with the ongoing needs of IDACORP.
Discontinued Operations: On February 23, 2007, IDACORP sold all of the
outstanding common stock of IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. In the
second quarter of 2006, IDACORP management designated the operations of IDACOMM
as assets held for sale, as defined by SFAS 144. The operations of this entity
are presented as discontinued operations in IDACORP's financial statements.
Discontinued operations had no impact on earnings in the first quarter of 2008.
Interest Expense
Interest charges increased $2.3 million, due primarily to a
$3.5 million increase in interest on long-term debt related to increases in
long-term debt balances and variable interest rates. This increase was offset
by a $0.5 million reduction in non-utility interest and a $0.4 million change in
the allowance for funds used during construction.
Income Taxes
In accordance with interim
reporting requirements, IDACORP and IPC use an estimated annual effective tax
rate for computing their provisions for income taxes. IDACORP's effective rate
on continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was 20.5
percent, compared to 16.6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
IPC's effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was 32.5
percent, compared to 34.5 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
The differences in estimated annual effective tax rates are primarily due to
the decrease in pre-tax earnings at IDACORP and IPC, timing and amount of IPC's
regulatory flow-through tax adjustments, and lower tax credits from IFS.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES:
Operating cash flows
IDACORP's and IPC's operating cash
flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008, were $21 million and $23
million, respectively. IDACORP's operating cash flow remained approximately
the same when compared to 2007 and IPC's operating cash flow increased
approximately $2 million.
Investing cash flows
IDACORP's and IPC's investing cash
outflows were $65 million and $58 million, respectively. Utility construction
at IPC accounted for substantially all of its cash outflows. Additionally,
IDACORP made an $8.5 million investment in affordable housing through its
subsidiary, IFS.
Financing cash flows
IDACORP's and IPC's financing cash
inflows were $44 million and $35 million, respectively. Both amounts represent
additional short-term borrowings, partially offset by dividends paid of $14
million.
Discontinued operations
Cash flows from discontinued
operations are included with the cash flows from continuing operations in
IDACORP's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The cash flows from
discontinued operations have reduced net cash provided by operating activities
and increased net cash used in investing activities, except for the cash
received in February 2007 from the sale of IDACOMM. The absence of cash flows
from these discontinued operations has positively impacted liquidity and
capital resources in periods subsequent to the sale.
Financing Programs
IDACORP's consolidated capital
structure consisted of common equity of 46 percent and debt of 54 percent at
March 31, 2008.
Shelf Registrations: IDACORP currently has $629 million remaining on two
shelf registration statements that can be used for the issuance of unsecured
debt (including medium-term notes) and preferred or common stock. IPC has in
place a registration statement that can be used for the issuance of an aggregate
principal amount of $350 million of first mortgage bonds (including medium-term
notes) and unsecured debt.
On
April 3, 2008, IPC entered into a Selling Agency Agreement with each of Banc of
America Securities LLC, BNY Capital Markets, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Lazard Capital Markets LLC, Piper Jaffray &
Co., RBC Capital Markets Corporation, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.,
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. and Wells Fargo
Securities, LLC in connection with the issuance and sale by IPC from time to
time of up to $350 million aggregate principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds,
Secured Medium-Term Notes, Series H.
Credit facilities: IDACORP's credit facility is a $100 million five-year
credit agreement that terminates on April 25, 2012. IDACORP's credit facility,
which is used for general corporate purposes and commercial paper backup,
provides for the issuance of loans and standby letters of credit not to exceed
the aggregate principal amount of $100 million, including swingline loans in an
aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $10 million.
IDACORP has the right to request an increase in the aggregate principal amount
of the credit facility to $150 million and to request one-year extensions of
the then existing termination date. At March 31, 2008, no loans were
outstanding on IDACORP's facility and $57 million of commercial paper was
outstanding. At May 7, 2008, $59 million of commercial paper was outstanding.
IPC's credit facility is a
$300 million five-year credit agreement that terminates on April 25, 2012.
IPC's credit facility, which is used for general corporate purposes and
commercial paper backup, provides for the issuance of loans and standby letters
of credit not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $300 million,
including swingline loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding not to exceed $30 million. IPC has the right to request an
increase in the aggregate principal amount of the credit facility to $450
million and to request one-year extensions of the then existing termination
date. At March 31, 2008, no loans were outstanding on IPC's facility and $186
million of commercial paper was outstanding. At May 7, 2008, $201 million of
commercial paper was outstanding.
IDACORP's credit facility and
IPC's credit facility both contain covenants requiring each company to maintain
a leverage ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated total
capitalization of no more than 65 percent as of the end of each fiscal
quarter. At March 31, 2008, the leverage ratios for IDACORP and IPC were both
54 percent. At March 31, 2008, IDACORP was in compliance with all other
covenants of its credit facility and IPC was in compliance with all other
covenants of its credit facility.
Term Loan Credit
Agreement: IPC entered into a $170
million Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2008, with JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and Bank of America, N.A.,
Union Bank of California, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as lenders. The Term
Loan Credit Agreement provided for the issuance of term loans by the lenders to
IPC on April 1, 2008, in an aggregate principal amount of $170 million. The
loans are due on March 31, 2009. The loans may be prepaid but may not be
reborrowed.
IPC used the proceeds to
effect a mandatory purchase on April 3, 2008, of the pollution control bonds
(as discussed below in "Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds"), and to pay
interest, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Pollution Control
Bonds and/or the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
IPC has regulatory authority
to incur up to $450 million of short-term indebtedness.
Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds: On April 3, 2008,
IPC made a mandatory purchase of the $49.8 million Humboldt County, Nevada
Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series
2003 and the $116.3 million Sweetwater County, Wyoming Pollution Control
Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 2006 (together,
the Pollution Control Bonds). IPC initiated this transaction in order to
adjust the interest rate period of the pollution control bonds from an auction
interest rate period to a weekly interest rate period, effective April 3,
2008. This change was made to mitigate the higher-than-anticipated interest
costs in the auction mode. IPC is the current holder of the bonds, but expects
to remarket the bonds to investors before March 31, 2009.
Contractual obligations
There have been no material changes
in contractual obligations, outside of the ordinary course of business, since
December 31, 2007.
Credit ratings
On March 24, 2008, Fitch announced
that it revised its rating outlook to negative from stable for IDACORP and IPC,
while affirming the existing ratings for both companies. Fitch affirmed its
BBB Issuer Default Rating (IDR) on IDACORP and IPC, its F2 short-term IDR
rating on IDACORP and IPC, it's A- rating on IPC's senior secured debt, its
BBB+ rating on IPC's senior unsecured debt and its F2 ratings on IDACORP's and
IPC's commercial paper.
Fitch stated that the outlook
revision primarily reflects weakening underlying credit metrics due to IPC's
inability under its power cost adjustment mechanism to fully recover higher
thermal generation production and purchase power costs in rates. Fitch also
cited below normal water conditions in six of the last seven years and the
appearance that 2008 could extend that trend. Fitch stated that this dynamic in
concert with a relatively large capital investment program and timing
differences between when those costs are incurred and reflected in rates appear
likely to result in earnings, cash flow and credit metrics more consistent with
low "BBB" creditworthiness.
Access to capital markets at
a reasonable cost is determined in large part by credit quality. The following
table outlines the current S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings of IDACORP's and
IPC's securities:
|
S&P |
Moody's |
Fitch |
|||
|
IPC |
IDACORP |
IPC |
IDACORP |
IPC |
IDACORP |
Corporate Credit Rating |
BBB |
BBB |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
None |
None |
Senior Secured Debt |
A- |
None |
A3 |
None |
A- |
None |
Senior Unsecured Debt |
BBB- |
BBB- |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
BBB+ |
BBB |
(prelim) |
(prelim) |
|||||
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Debt |
BBB-/A-2 |
None |
Baa 1/ |
None |
None |
None |
VMIG-2 |
||||||
Commercial Paper |
A-2 |
A-2 |
P-2 |
P-2 |
F2 |
F2 |
Credit Facility |
None |
None |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
None |
None |
Rating Outlook |
Stable |
Stable |
Stable |
Stable |
Negative |
Negative |
These security ratings
reflect the views of the rating agencies. An explanation of the significance
of these ratings may be obtained from each rating agency. Such ratings are not
a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Any rating can be revised
upward or downward or withdrawn at any time by a rating agency if it decides that
the circumstances warrant the change. Each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
Capital requirements
IDACORP's internal cash generation
after dividends is expected to provide less than the full amount of total
capital requirements for 2008 through 2010, where capital requirements are
defined as utility construction expenditures, excluding Allowance for Funds
Used During Construction, plus other regulated and non-regulated investments.
This excludes mandatory or optional principal payments on debt obligations. As
discussed in IDACORP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007, IDACORP may fund capital requirements with a combination of
internally generated funds, the use of revolving credit facilities and the
issuance of long-term debt and equity.
REGULATORY MATTERS:
Idaho
General Rate Cases
On March 28, 2008, IPC filed a notice
of intent with the IPUC to file a general rate case on or after June 1, 2008.
The notice of intent provides IPC with a 60-day window, beginning June 1, 2008,
in which it is permitted to file a new general rate case.
On
June 8, 2007, IPC filed an application with the IPUC in order to begin recovery
of its capital investments and higher operating costs. IPC filed its case
based upon a 2007 forecast test year, a first for IPC in the Idaho
jurisdiction. IPC filed a settlement stipulation with the IPUC on January 23,
2008, that included an average annual increase of 5.2 percent (approximately
$32.1 million annually). On February 28, 2008, the IPUC approved the
stipulation as filed. New rates were effective March 1, 2008. The base rates
for residential customers increased by 4.7 percent, and the base rates for the
other classes of customers increased by 5.65 percent. Neither an overall rate
of return nor a return on equity was specified in the settlement. The
currently authorized rate of return remains at 8.1 percent.
The parties to the proceeding
also agreed in the settlement to make a good faith effort to develop a
mechanism to adjust or replace the current LGAR of $29.41 per MWh. As an
interim solution, the parties have agreed to use the LGAR of $62.79 per MWh
recommended by the IPUC Staff on December 10, 2007, but to apply it to only 50
percent of the load growth beginning in March 2008.
The parties also agreed to
participate in a good faith discussion regarding a forecast test year
methodology that balances the auditing concerns of the IPUC Staff and
intervenors with IPC's need for timely rate relief.
On March 12, 2008, IPC, the
IPUC Staff, and other parties to the recent general rate case conducted a
workshop to discuss the appropriate approach to the development of a forecast
test year. IPC described a method that would start with historical,
regulatory-adjusted financial information that could be audited by the IPUC
Staff and others. That information would be escalated under prescribed methods
into the forecast test year for revenues, expenses and rate base. IPC would
support the historical information, the adjustments, and the escalation methods
as part of its general rate case filing. The parties to the workshop expressed
general agreement to this approach and also agreed that no further workshops
would be necessary. IPC will develop a 2008 test year using this method in
anticipation of a general rate case filing later this year.
Danskin 1 Power Plant
Application: On March 7, 2008, IPC
filed an application with the IPUC requesting to recover the costs associated
with the construction of its new natural gas-fired plant as discussed below in
"Integrated Resource Plan - Peaking Resource." The filing asks for a $9
million, or 1.4 percent, annual increase in revenue, by June 1, 2008. The IPUC
is proceeding on this application under modified procedure and will take comments
through May 13, 2008.
Deferred Net Power Supply
Costs
The following table presents the balances
of deferred net power supply costs:
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|||
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|||
Idaho PCA current year: |
||||||
Deferral for the 2008-2009 rate year * |
$ |
107,160 |
$ |
85,732 |
||
Idaho PCA true-up awaiting recovery: |
||||||
Authorized in May 2007 |
4,862 |
6,591 |
||||
Oregon deferral: |
||||||
2001 costs |
2,402 |
2,993 |
||||
2006 costs |
2,148 |
2,107 |
||||
Total deferral |
$ |
116,572 |
$ |
97,423 |
||
* The 2008-2009 PCA deferral balance is reduced by $17 million of emission allowance sales in 2007. |
Idaho: IPC has a PCA mechanism that provides for annual
adjustments to the rates charged to its Idaho retail customers. The PCA tracks
IPC's actual net power supply costs (fuel and purchased power less off-system
sales) and compares these amounts to net power supply costs currently being
recovered in retail rates.
The annual adjustments are
based on two components:
1) A forecast component, based on a forecast of net power supply costs in the coming year as compared to net power supply costs in base rates; and
2)
A true-up component, based on the
difference between the previous year's actual net power supply costs and the
previous year's forecast. This component also includes a balancing mechanism
so that, over time, the actual collection or refund of authorized true-up
dollars matches the amounts authorized. The true-up component is calculated
monthly, and interest is applied to the balance.
The PCA mechanism provides
that for both the forecast and the true-up components, 90 percent of deviations
in power supply costs are to be reflected in IPC's rates.
On April 15, 2008, IPC filed
its 2008-2009 PCA application with the IPUC with a requested effective date of
June 1, 2008. The filing indicated an increase of $89.0 million to the PCA
component of customers' rates to a level that is $121.6 million above base
rates based upon historical sharing percentages between customers and
shareholders.
The PCA filing also contained
a proposal to flow through to customers 100 percent of the deviation in power
supply costs for the prospective year. This is a one-year proposal that
impacts the 2008 forecast component of the current PCA and its later true-up
and would reduce IPC's requested rate increase to $87.2 million. While the
overall filing requests a rate increase, the forecast component is a customer
benefit. The $1.8 million reduction reflects an additional ten percent of the
benefit being passed on to customers. The PCA mechanism provides for sharing
of benefits and costs at a ratio of 90 percent to customers and ten percent to
shareholders. IPC requested this deviation from the customary sharing
percentage for two reasons:
1)
Approximately 62 average MW of
energy from PURPA wind projects that IPC had expected to receive in 2008 will
not be available because the associated projects requested extensions of their
on-line dates. IPC recovers 100 percent of power purchases from PURPA projects
but will need to replace this energy with market purchases; and
2) Pursuant to IPC's risk management policy, which was established in
accordance with IPUC-approved risk management guidelines, IPC had committed to
net purchases of nearly $51 million at the time of the PCA filing. Under the
current sharing methodology, IPC will only recover 90 percent of these known
costs. Because of the prescriptive nature of this risk management activity,
IPC believes that 100 percent customer sharing is appropriate.
These anticipated cost
increases would be included in the true-up component of IPC's 2009 PCA filing.
As discussed below in
"Emission Allowances," the IPUC ordered on April 14, 2008 that $16.4 million of
proceeds, including interest, from the sales of SO2 emission
allowances in 2007 be applied to help offset the PCA deferral balances incurred
during the 2007-2008 PCA year. This order is not reflected in IPC's PCA
filing, but it is expected to reduce the requested PCA increase to $70.8
million.
On
May 31, 2007, the IPUC approved IPC's 2007-2008 PCA filing. The filing increased
the PCA component of customers' rates from the then-existing level, which was
$46.8 million below base rates, to a level that is $30.7 million above those
base rates. This $77.5 million increase was net of $69.1 million of proceeds
from sales of excess SO2 emission allowances. The new rates became
effective June 1, 2007.
Idaho
Load Growth Adjustment Rate (LGAR):
On January 9, 2007, the IPUC issued an order resetting IPC's LGAR to $29.41 per
MWh, effective April 1, 2007. The LGAR subtracts the cost of serving
additional Idaho retail load from the net power supply costs IPC is allowed to
include in its PCA. The order revised the LGAR from the original rate of
$16.84 per MWh set when the PCA began in 1993. This amount was established as
the projected additional variable energy costs attributable to load growth and
was subtracted from each year's PCA expense. IPC had requested the use of the
embedded cost of serving new load and a rate of $6.81 per MWh, but the IPUC in
its order determined to use the projected marginal cost, which resulted in the
higher LGAR. The LGAR is reset during a general rate case.
As
discussed above in "Idaho General Rate Case," the IPUC-approved settlement
stipulation reset the LGAR to $62.79 per MWh, but applies that rate to only 50
percent of the load growth beginning in March 2008. In the 2007 general rate,
IPC filed normalized firm base load of 15.6 million MWh as compared with 14.8
million MWh in the 2005 general rate case. Because the LGAR is reset in
general rate cases, IPC expects to update its filed base load on a more
frequent basis during periods of high load growth and will update it in its
2008 general rate case.
Emission Allowances: During 2007, IPC sold 35,000 SO2 emission
allowances for a total of $19.6 million. The sales proceeds to be allocated to
the Idaho jurisdiction are approximately $18.5 million. On April 14, 2008, the
IPUC ordered that $16.4 million of these proceeds, including interest, be used
to help offset the PCA true-up balances from the 2007-2008 PCA. The order also
provided that $0.5 million may be used to fund an energy education program.
In 2005 and early 2006, IPC
sold 78,000 SO2 emission allowances for a total of $81.6 million.
The sales proceeds allocated to the Idaho jurisdiction were approximately $76.8
million. On May 12, 2006, the IPUC approved a stipulation that allowed IPC to
retain ten percent as a shareholder benefit with the remaining 90 percent plus
a carrying charge recorded as a customer benefit. This customer benefit was used
to partially offset the PCA true-up balance and is reflected in PCA rates in
effect during the June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2008, PCA rate year.
The
bulk of IPC's accumulated excess emission allowances were sold during the
2005-2007 period. IPC has approximately 18,000 excess emission allowances
currently and anticipates realizing a similar amount annually into the near
future. Tighter emission restrictions are expected in the long term which may
cause IPC to use more emission allowances for its own requirements and reduce
the annual amount of excess emission allowances.
Oregon: On April 30, 2007, IPC filed for an accounting order
with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the period from May 1, 2007,
through April 30, 2008, in anticipation of higher than "normal" power supply
expenses. In the Oregon general rate case, "normal" power supply expenses were
set at a negative number (meaning that under normal water conditions IPC should
be able to sell enough surplus energy to pay for all fuel and purchased power
expenses and still have revenue left over to offset other costs). IPC
requested authorization to defer an estimated $5.7 million, which is Oregon's
jurisdictional share of the excess power supply costs. IPC also requested that
it earn its Oregon authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and
recover the amount through rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. IPC
is awaiting an order from the OPUC.
On April 28, 2006, IPC filed
for an accounting order with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the
period of May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2007. IPC requested authorization to
defer an estimated $3.3 million, which is Oregon's jurisdictional share of the
excess power supply costs. IPC also requested that it earn its Oregon
authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and recover the amount
through rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. A settlement agreement
was reached on the deferral application with the OPUC Staff and the Citizens'
Utility Board in the amount of $2 million. The parties also agreed that IPC
would file an application for an Oregon PCA mechanism. The settlement
stipulation was approved by the OPUC on December 13, 2007.
The timing of future recovery
of Oregon power supply cost deferrals is subject to an Oregon statute that
specifically limits rate amortizations of deferred costs to six percent per
year. IPC is currently amortizing through rates power supply costs associated
with the western energy situation of 2001. Full recovery of the 2001 deferral
is not expected until 2009. The 2006-2007 and the 2007-2008 deferrals would
have to be amortized sequentially following the full recovery of the 2001
deferral.
Oregon Power Cost
Adjustment Mechanism (PCAM)
On August 17, 2007, IPC filed an application with the OPUC requesting the
approval of a power cost adjustment mechanism similar to the Idaho PCA. The
PCAM will allow IPC to recover excess net power supply costs or distribute
benefits to customers in a more timely fashion than through the existing
deferral process. The PCAM differs from the Idaho PCA in that it reestablishes
the base net power supply costs annually. In Idaho, the base net power supply
costs are set by a general rate case. Settlement conferences were held and the
interested parties reached an agreement. A joint stipulation was filed with
the OPUC on March 14, 2008. The OPUC approved the stipulation on April 28,
2008.
In
connection with this proceeding, on March 24, 2008, IPC submitted testimony to
the OPUC to revise its previous calculation of its April 2008 through March
2009 net power supply costs (October Update) to conform to the methodology
agreed to by the parties in the PCAM stipulation. IPC also submitted the
second part of the mechanism (March Forecast), reflecting expected hydro
conditions and forward prices for the April 2008 through March 2009 period.
The expected power supply costs of $150 million represent an increase of
approximately $23 million over the October Update.
If
approved, the power supply cost update submitted by IPC, which comprises both
the October Update and the March Forecast, would result in a $4.8 million, or
15.69 percent, increase in Oregon revenues. New rates are expected to be
effective on June 1, 2008.
Fixed Cost Adjustment Mechanism
(FCA)
On March 12, 2007, the IPUC approved the implementation of a FCA mechanism
pilot program. The FCA is a rate mechanism designed to remove a utility's
disincentive to invest in energy efficiency programs. The FCA separates (or
decouples) the recovery of fixed costs from the variable kilowatt-hour charge
and, instead, links it to a set amount per customer. If IPC under-collects its
fixed costs per customer as a result of reduced electrical use, it can collect
the difference through a surcharge. If IPC over-collects its authorized fixed
costs, customers are refunded through a credit. The FCA is only applicable to
residential and small commercial customers. The pilot program began
retroactively on January 1, 2007, and will run through 2009, with the first
rate adjustment to occur on June 1, 2008, and subsequent rate adjustments to
occur on June 1 of each year thereafter during the term of the pilot program.
On
March 14, 2008, IPC filed an application requesting a $2.4 million rate
reduction under the FCA pilot program for expenses incurred in 2007. The
application is currently pending with the IPUC. IPC accrued $0.9 million of
FCA expense in the first quarter of 2008.
Idaho
Energy Efficiency Rider
On March 14, 2008, IPC filed an
application with the IPUC requesting an increase to its Energy Efficiency Rider
(Rider). The Rider is the chief funding mechanism for IPC's investment in
conservation, energy efficiency, and demand response programs. IPC proposed an
increase from 1.5 percent of base revenues to 2.5 percent, or about $17
million, effective June 1, 2008. The application also seeks authorization to
eliminate the current funding caps for residential and irrigation customers
resulting in more equitable cost recovery between customer classes. IPC is
also seeking authorization to utilize Rider funding to support customer
programs aimed at the installation of small-scale renewable energy projects.
Idaho
Depreciation Filing
On April 1, 2008, IPC filed an
application with the IPUC for revised depreciation rates to be applied
prospectively to depreciable plant in service. If approved, the requested
rates would result in an annual reduction of depreciation expense of $6.7
million ($6.2 million allocated to Idaho) based upon December 31, 2006, depreciable
plant in service. IPC is awaiting an accounting order from the IPUC.
Idaho
Pension Expense Order
In the 2003 Idaho general rate case,
the IPUC disallowed recovery of pension expense because there were no current
cash contributions being made to the plan. On March 20, 2007, IPC requested
that the IPUC clarify that IPC can consider future cash contributions made to
the pension plan a recoverable cost of service. On June 1, 2007, the IPUC issued an order authorizing IPC to account
for its defined benefit pension expense on a cash basis, and to defer and
account for pension expense under SFAS 87, "Employers' Accounting for
Pensions," as a regulatory asset.
The IPUC acknowledged that it is appropriate for IPC to seek recovery in its
revenue requirement of reasonable and prudently incurred pension expense based
on actual cash contributions. The regulatory asset created by this order is
expected to be amortized to expense to match the revenues received when future
pension contributions are recovered through rates. The deferral of pension
expense did not begin until $4.1 million of past contributions still recorded
on the balance sheet at December 31, 2006, were expensed. For 2007,
approximately $2.8 million was deferred to a regulatory asset beginning in the
third quarter. In the first quarter of 2008, $2.0 million of pension expense
was deferred. IPC did not request a carrying charge to be applied to the
deferral of the accrued SFAS 87 expense.
Revised
Statement of Policy and Code of Conduct
On April 21, 2008, the IPUC approved IPC's Revised Statement of Policy and Code
of Conduct covering transactions between IPC and subsidiaries of IDACORP. The
Code of Conduct is designed to prescribe conduct between IPC and an affiliate,
avoid issues of self-dealing and provide a framework to determine if cost
recovery for affiliate transactions should be included in rates.
FERC Investigation
On March 28, 2007, the FERC advised
IPC that the FERC was commencing a preliminary, non-public investigation into
the pricing and availability of transmission capacity into and out of IPC's
IPCO point of delivery and transactions related to that transmission capacity
during the period January 1, 2003, to present. Subsequently, the FERC made two
data requests in connection with this investigation. IPC responded to those
data requests between June and August 2007. At IPC's request, IPC
representatives met with FERC personnel on October 18, 2007, to discuss several
data responses that IPC had previously provided. In follow-up to that meeting,
IPC had further discussions with and submitted additional materials to the FERC
staff. In April 2008, the FERC advised IPC that it was no longer pursuing the
investigation.
Open Access Transmission
Tariff (OATT)
On March 24, 2006, IPC submitted
a revised OATT filing with the FERC requesting an increase in transmission
rates. In the filing IPC proposed to move from a fixed rate to a formula rate,
which allows for transmission rates to be updated each year based on FERC Form
1 data. The formula rate request included a rate of return on equity of 11.25
percent. Effective June 1, 2006, the FERC accepted rates for IPC amounting to
an annual revenue increase of $11 million based upon 2004 test year data. The
rates were accepted subject to refund pending the outcome of the hearing and
settlement process.
On August 8, 2007, the FERC
approved a settlement agreement by the parties on all issues except the
treatment of contracts for transmission service that contain their own terms,
conditions and rates and that were in existence before the implementation of
OATT in 1996 (Legacy Agreements). This settlement reduced the estimated annual
revenue increase to approximately $8.2 million based on 2004 test year data.
Approximately $1.7 million collected in excess of these new rates between June
1, 2006, and July 31, 2007, was refunded with interest to customers in August
2007.
On August 31, 2007, the FERC
Presiding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an initial decision (Initial
Decision) with respect to the treatment of the Legacy Agreements. If the
Initial Decision is implemented, IPC estimates that it would reduce the
estimated annual revenue increase (based on 2004 test year data) to
approximately $6.8 million.
IPC has appealed the Initial Decision
to the FERC. However, if the Initial Decision is implemented, IPC would make
additional refunds, including interest, of approximately $3.2 million for the
June 1, 2006, through March 31, 2008, period. IPC has reserved this entire
amount. IPC expects to pursue recovery of amounts not received pursuant to a
final order in this proceeding through additional proceedings at the FERC or
through the state ratemaking process. IPC is awaiting a final FERC order.
Regional Transmission
Organization (RTO) costs: On April
30, 2008, the FERC issued an order amending the OATT formula rate to recover
$0.3 million of RTO formation costs deferred by IPC. The new rates will be
effective May 1, 2008, and will allow IPC to recover the FERC-jurisdictional
portion of deferred RTO costs over five years. The deferred amount will be
added to rate base and amortized over five years. The impact on the OATT rate
is an increase from $19.31 per kW-year to $19.73 per kW-year, or 2.2 percent.
Transmission
Projects
The transmission projects discussed
below will be used both by wholesale transmission customers and to serve native
load consistent with IPC's OATT. These facilities will be subject to both the
FERC and state public utility commission regulation and rate-making policies.
Gateway
West Project: IPC and PacifiCorp are
jointly exploring the Gateway West Project to build two 500-kV lines between
the Jim Bridger plant in Wyoming and Boise. The lines would be designed to
increase electrical transmission capacity across southern Idaho in response to
increasing customer demand and growth, along with other transmission service
requests. The regional planning report has been submitted to the Western
Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) for review as part of the ratings process.
A review team has been established from members of the WECC to analyze the
impact of the project on the existing system. When the study is complete,
necessary modifications will be made to the engineering design and the final
rating will be obtained prior to the beginning of construction. Planning and
project management personnel for both companies have begun the initial phases
of this project. IPC and PacifiCorp have a cost sharing agreement for expenses
associated with the analysis work of the initial phases. It is expected that
the majority of the project would be completed between 2012 and 2014 depending
on the timing of rights-of-way acquisition, siting and permitting, and
construction sequencing. If the project is constructed, IPC estimates that its
share of project costs would be between $800 million and $1.2 billion.
Hemingway-Boardman
Line: Consistent with the 2006 IRP
and requirements and requests of other transmission customers, IPC is exploring
alternatives for the construction of a 500-kV line between southwestern Idaho
and the Northwest. If built, this line could be in service as early as 2012.
Several electric utilities, including IPC, have proposed development of a
transmission station near Boardman, Oregon which would serve as the northwest
terminal of the project. The Idaho terminal would be the proposed Hemingway
Station located in the vicinity of Melba and Murphy, Idaho on the south side of
the Snake River near Boise. IPC and a number of other utilities with proposed
regional transmission projects in the Northwest have signed a letter agreeing
to coordinate technical studies, which have begun. The regional planning
report has been submitted to the WECC for review as part of the ratings
process. Other planning and project management activities are underway. IPC
has received inquiries about participating in this project from other parties.
Integrated Resource Plan
IPC' s 2006 IRP previewed IPC's load
and resource situation for the next twenty years, analyzed potential supply-side
and demand-side options and identified near-term and long-term actions. IPC
intends to provide an update on the status of the 2006 IRP to both the IPUC and
OPUC no later than June 2008 and to file a new IRP in June 2009. IPC
continually evaluates the resource plan and adjusts it to reflect changes in
technology, economic conditions, anticipated resource development and
regulatory requirements. Several items from the 2006 IRP have been updated,
including:
Peaking
Resource: The Danskin 1 plant, a
simple cycle combustion turbine near Mountain Home, Idaho, began commercial
operations on March 11, 2008. The combustion turbine can provide approximately 166 MW of capacity during
summer load peaks and up to 200 MW during the winter.
Geothermal
Agreement: On January 9, 2008, the
IPUC approved a power purchase agreement for 13 MW (nameplate generation) from
the Raft River Geothermal Power Plant Unit #1 located in southern Idaho. This
project began operating in October 2007. Contract negotiations for the
remaining 32.5 MW will take place over the next several months and will include
an additional unit at the Raft River site and two units at the Neal Hot Springs
site located in eastern Oregon. The remaining 32.5 MW is not expected to meet
the 2009 on-line date identified in the 2006 IRP.
Geothermal
RFP: On January 22, 2008, IPC
released an RFP for 50 to 100 MW of geothermal energy. While additional
geothermal resources were not included in the 2006 IRP for this time frame, the
development of PURPA wind and combined heat and power projects has been slower
than anticipated. If competitively priced geothermal resources are available,
they may help to meet future resource needs. Proposals were received on March
14, 2008, and are currently being evaluated.
Combined
Heat and Power (CHP) RFP: The 2006
IRP included 50 MW of CHP coming on-line in 2010. CHP development at
customers' facilities has not progressed as anticipated in the 2006 IRP. Since
CHP development has been less than anticipated, IPC may release an RFP in late
2008.
2012
Baseload RFP: In light of the
decision to no longer pursue a conventional coal resource in 2013 as identified
in the 2006 IRP, on April 1, 2008 IPC issued an RFP for 250 to 600 MW of
dispatchable, physically delivered firm or unit contingent energy to be
acquired under power purchase agreements or tolling agreements. A tolling
agreement is an arrangement where one party owns, operates and maintains the
generating facility and the other party provides fuel, pays capacity charges
and receives the contracted output from the project including energy, capacity
and ancillary services. The timing of this addition was also accelerated to
2012 to meet forecast deficits not anticipated in the 2006 IRP. The RFP's
range in quantity from 250 to 600 MW reflects uncertainty regarding the amount
of potential new customer load that will actually materialize IPC expects to
reach a final decision on RFP quantity in June 2008. IPC intends to submit a
self-build proposal for a combined-cycle combustion turbine which will serve as
a benchmark in the evaluation process. Proposals are due by October 17, 2008.
Relicensing of
Hydroelectric Projects
The section below summarizes and
provides an update of relicensing projects as discussed in IDACORP's and IPC's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
IPC, like other utilities
that operate non-federal hydroelectric projects on qualified waterways, obtains
licenses for its hydroelectric projects from the FERC. These licenses last for
30 to 50 years depending on the size, complexity, and cost of the project. IPC
is actively pursuing the relicensing of the Hells Canyon Complex (HCC) and Swan
Falls projects.
The relicensing costs are
recorded and held in construction work in progress until new multi-year
licenses are issued by the FERC, at which time the charges will be transferred
to electric plant in service. Relicensing costs and costs related to new
licenses will be submitted to regulators for recovery through the ratemaking
process. Relicensing costs of $98 million and $4 million for HCC and Swan
Falls, respectively, were included in construction work in progress at March
31, 2008.
Hells Canyon Complex: The most significant ongoing relicensing effort is
the HCC, which provides approximately two-thirds of IPC's hydroelectric
generating capacity and 40 percent of its total generating capacity. In July
2003, IPC filed an application for a new license in anticipation of the July
2005 expiration of the then existing license. IPC is currently operating under
an annual license issued by the FERC and expects to continue operating under
annual licenses until the new license is issued.
Consistent with the
requirements of The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended
(NEPA), the FERC Staff prepared and issued on August 31, 2007, a final
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the HCC, which the FERC will use to
determine whether, and under what conditions, to issue a new license for the
project. The purpose of the final EIS is
to inform the FERC, the federal and state agencies, Native American tribes and
the public about the environmental effects of IPC's proposed operation of the
HCC. IPC is continuing to review the final EIS and expects to file comments on
the final EIS with the FERC in 2008.
In conjunction with the
issuance of the final EIS, on September 13, 2007, the FERC requested formal
consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
regarding the effect of HCC relicensing on several aquatic and terrestrial
species listed as threatened under the ESA. However, formal consultation has
not yet been initiated and NMFS and USFWS continue to gather and consider information
relative to the effect of relicensing on relevant species. IPC continues to
cooperate with the USFWS, the NMFS, and the FERC in an effort to address ESA
concerns
On January 31, 2007, IPC
filed Water Quality Certification Applications, under section 401 of the Clean
Water Act (CWA), with the States of Oregon and Idaho. Because the HCC is
located on the Snake River where it forms the border between Idaho and Oregon,
section 401 of the CWA requires that each state certify that any discharge from
the project complies with applicable state water quality standards. IPC filed
supplemental information to the applications on February 1, 2008. IPC
continues to work with the ODEQ and the IDEQ to ensure that state water quality
standards will be met at the HCC so that the project can be appropriately
certified.
The FERC is expected to issue
a license order for the HCC once the ESA consultation and the section 401
certification processes are completed.
Swan Falls Project: The license for the Swan Falls hydroelectric project
expires in June 2010. On September 21, 2007, IPC submitted its draft license
application to the FERC for public review and comment. The draft contains
project-specific information and the results of environmental studies designed
to determine project effects. Comments were received from the agencies and one
Native American tribe and on February 19, 2008 a joint meeting was held to
address the comments and attempt to resolve areas of disagreement over study
results and proposed mitigation measures. IPC expects to file a final license
application with the FERC in June 2008.
Shoshone Falls Expansion: On August 17, 2006, IPC filed a license amendment
application with the FERC, which would allow IPC to upgrade the Shoshone Falls
project from 12.5 MW to 62.5 MW. The license amendment is expected to be
issued in 2008.
In conjunction with the
license amendment application, IPC has filed a water rights application which
is currently being reviewed by the IDWR.
LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES:
Legal and Other
Proceedings
From time to time IDACORP and IPC are
parties to legal claims, actions and complaints in addition to those discussed
below. Although they will vigorously defend against them, they are unable to
predict with certainty whether or not they will ultimately be successful.
However, based on the companies' evaluation, they believe that the resolution
of these matters, taking into account existing reserves, will not have a
material adverse effect on IDACORP's or IPC's consolidated financial positions,
results of operations or cash flows.
Reference is made to
IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007, for a discussion of all material pending legal proceedings to which
IDACORP and IPC and their subsidiaries are parties. The following discussion
provides a summary of material developments that occurred in those proceedings
during the period covered by this report and of any new material proceedings
instituted during the period covered by this report.
Wah Chang: Wah Chang's appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit) of the February 11, 2005, dismissal of the
case by the Honorable Robert H. Whaley, sitting by designation in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of California, was fully briefed and
oral argument was held on April 10, 2007. On November 20, 2007, the Ninth
Circuit affirmed the dismissal. On December 10, 2007, Wah Chang filed
Petitions for Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit, which were denied January 15, 2008. Because Wah Chang
did not file a petition for certiorari to seek Supreme Court review by the
expiration date of April 14, 2008, this matter is now concluded.
Western Energy Proceedings
at the FERC:
California Refund: In April 2001, the FERC issued an order stating that
it was establishing a price mitigation plan for sales in the California
wholesale electricity market. That plan included the potential for orders
directing electricity sellers into California from October 2, 2000, through
June 20, 2001, to refund the portions of their spot market sales prices if the
FERC determined that those prices were not just and reasonable. On July 25,
2001, the FERC issued an order initiating the California Refund proceeding
including evidentiary hearings to determine the scope and methodology for
determining refunds. On February 17, 2006, IE and IPC jointly filed with the
California Parties (Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas &
Electric Company, Southern California Edison, the California Public Utilities
Commission, the California Electricity Oversight Board, the California
Department of Water Resources and the California Attorney General) an Offer of
Settlement at the FERC. A number of other parties, representing substantially
less than the majority of potential refund claims, chose to opt out of the
settlement. After consideration of comments, the FERC approved the Offer of
Settlement on May 22, 2006.
On February 3, 2004, the FERC
directed the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) to provide status
reports with respect to its progress in calculating refunds, fuel and emissions
allowance offsets to refunds and interest. The process of performing the
calculations has engaged the Cal ISO for more than four years. On March 18,
2008, the Cal ISO published its Fortieth Status Report and on March 25, 2008,
it released the interest calculations it had completed as a result of revising
market clearing prices as directed by the FERC. In its Fortieth Status Report,
the Cal ISO stated its intention to consider interest and cost allocation
questions for parties that had FERC-approved settlements when it had completed
the basic calculation of interest for revised market clearing prices. A date
has not yet been set for this aspect of the Cal ISO's calculations.
While the refund proceedings
were pending before the FERC, the California Attorney General filed a complaint
with the FERC against sellers in the wholesale power market, including IE and
IPC, alleging that the FERC's market-based rate requirements violate the
Federal Power Act (FPA), and, even if the market-based rate requirements were
valid, that the quarterly transaction reports filed by sellers did not contain
the transaction-specific information mandated by the FPA and the FERC. The
complaint sought refunds for an expanded time when compared to the basic refund
proceeding. The FERC dismissed the complaint but on September 9, 2004, the
Ninth Circuit concluded that although market-based tariffs are permissible
under the FPA, the matter should be remanded to the FERC to consider whether
the FERC should exercise remedial power (including some form of refunds) when a
market participant failed to submit reports. On December 28, 2006, a number of
sellers filed a certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme
Court declined to grant certiorari and the matter has now been remanded to the
FERC. The settlement IE and IPC reached with the California Parties that was
approved by the FERC on May 22, 2006 anticipated the possibility of the outcome
of the appeals discussed above and resolved the settling parties' claims in the
event of the expansion of all of the refund proceedings as the Ninth Circuit
ordered.
On March 21, 2008, the FERC
issued an order responding to the remand by Ninth Circuit. The FERC's order
established hearing procedures to permit wholesale purchasers that made
short-term market-based rate purchases through the Cal ISO and the California
Power Exchange (CalPX), as well as those making spot market purchases of energy
through the California Energy Resources Scheduling Division of the California
Department of Water Resources from January 1, 2000 to October 1, 2000, to (i)
present evidence that any seller that violated the quarterly reporting
requirement failed to disclose an increased market share sufficient to give it
the ability to exercise market power and thus caused its market-based rates to
be unjust and unreasonable and (ii) permit sellers to present evidence to the
contrary. Before formal hearing procedures commenced, the FERC directed that
the matter be presented to a settlement judge to attempt to settle individual
cases. The FERC's March 21, 2008 order expands the field of those who may
present evidence in the case from the original complaint of the California
Attorney General and also is more restrictive in terms of what must be proven
to establish a case. On April 7, 2008, IE and IPC joined with a number of
other parties that already had settled this proceeding with the California
Attorney General and the other California Parties requesting that they be
dismissed from the case. The California Attorney General and the other
California Parties indicated their agreement to the dismissal. On April 15,
2008, the FERC issued an order dismissing parties that already had settled,
including IE and IPC, from these remanded proceedings. If rehearing is sought
and the FERC reverses the dismissal, IE and IPC intend to vigorously defend
themselves, but are unable to predict the outcome of this matter.
On June 21, 2006, the Port of
Seattle, Washington filed a request for rehearing of the FERC order approving
the IE and IPC/California Parties settlement. On October 5, 2006, the FERC
denied the Port of Seattle's request for rehearing and on October 24, 2006, the
Port of Seattle petitioned the Ninth Circuit for review of the FERC orders
approving the settlement. On October 25, 2007, the Ninth Circuit lifted the
stay as to the Port of Seattle's appeal along with two other cases with which
the Port of Seattle's petition remains consolidated and severed the three cases
from the remainder of the consolidated cases. Port of Seattle withdrew its
petition for review in one of the three consolidated cases and filed its
initial brief on February 29, 2008. Final briefs are due at the end of August
2008. A date for argument has not been set. IE and IPC are unable to predict
when or how the Ninth Circuit might rule on these consolidated petitions for
review.
Market Manipulation: As part of the California and Pacific Northwest
Refund proceedings the FERC issued an order permitting discovery and the
submission of evidence regarding market manipulation by sellers during the
western energy crisis of 2000 and 2001. On June 25, 2003, the FERC ordered 50
entities that participated in the western wholesale power markets between
January 1, 2000 and June 20, 2001, including IPC, to show cause why certain
trading practices did not constitute gaming or anomalous market behavior ("partnership")
in violation of the Cal ISO and CalPX Tariffs. On October 16, 2003, IE and IPC
reached agreement with the FERC Staff on two orders commonly referred to as the
"gaming" and "partnership" show cause orders. The FERC staff submitted a
motion to the FERC to dismiss the "partnership" proceeding, which was approved
by the FERC in an order issued on January 23, 2004. The "gaming" settlement
was approved by the FERC on March 4, 2004.
Some parties have sought
review of what they claim are the excessively narrow or excessively broad scope
of the show cause orders, and the Ninth Circuit has consolidated those claims
with the other matters and is holding them in abeyance. The Port of Seattle is
the only party to appeal the orders of the FERC approving the gaming
settlement. IPC is not able to predict when the appeal will be considered or
the outcome of the judicial determination of these issues.
Pacific Northwest Refund: On July 25, 2001, the FERC issued an order
establishing another proceeding to determine whether there may have been unjust
and unreasonable charges for spot market sales in the Pacific Northwest during
the period December 25, 2000, through June 20, 2001. A FERC Administrative Law
Judge submitted recommendations and findings to the FERC on September 24, 2001,
concluding that prices should be governed by the Mobile-Sierra standard of the
public interest rather than the just and reasonable standard, that the Pacific
Northwest spot markets were competitive and the refunds should not be allowed.
On December 19, 2002, the FERC reopened the proceeding to allow the submission
of additional evidence related to alleged manipulation of the power market by
market participants. Parties alleging market manipulation were to submit their
claims to the FERC and responses were due on March 20, 2003. On June 25, 2003,
the FERC terminated the proceeding and declined to order refunds. Multiple
parties filed petitions for review in the Ninth Circuit. On August 24, 2007,
the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in the appeal, remanding to the FERC the
orders that declined to require refunds. The Ninth Circuit's opinion
instructed the FERC to consider whether evidence of market manipulation
submitted by the petitioners for the period January 1, 2000 to June 21, 2001
would have altered the agency's conclusions about refunds and directed the FERC
to include sales to the California Department of Water Resources proceeding. A
number of parties have sought rehearing of the Ninth Circuit's decision. Grays
Harbor terminated its participation in the case when Grays Harbor and IPC
reached a settlement. IE and IPC are unable to predict when the Ninth Circuit
will rule on the requests for rehearing or the outcome of these matters.
In separate western energy
proceedings, the Ninth Circuit issued two decisions on December 19, 2006,
regarding the FERC's decision not to require repricing of certain long-term
contracts. Those cases originated with individual complaints against specified
sellers which did not include IE or IPC. The Ninth Circuit remanded to the
FERC for additional consideration the agency's use of restrictive standards of
contract review. In its decisions, the Ninth Circuit also questioned the
validity of the FERC's administration of its market-based rate regime. The
U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in one of the cases, which has been
briefed and argued before the Court. IE and IPC are unable to predict how the
Supreme Court will rule, how the FERC might respond to any such decision or how
any such decision might affect the outcome of the Pacific Northwest proceeding.
There are pending in the
Ninth Circuit approximately 200 petitions for review of numerous FERC orders
regarding the western energy matters of 2000 and 2001, including the California
refund proceeding, the structure and content of the FERC's market-based rate
regime, show cause orders with respect to contentions of market manipulation,
and the Pacific Northwest proceedings. Decisions in any one of these appeals
may have implications with respect to other pending cases, including those to
which IDACORP, IPC or IE are parties. IDACORP, IPC and IE are unable to
predict the outcome of any of these petitions for review.
Sierra Club
Lawsuit-Bridger: In February 2007,
the Sierra Club and the Wyoming Outdoor Council filed a complaint against
PacifiCorp in U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming alleging
violations of air quality opacity standards at the Jim Bridger coal-fired plant
(Plant) in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Opacity is an indication of the amount
of light obscured in the flue gas of a power plant. A formal answer to the
complaint was filed by PacifiCorp on April 2, 2007, in which PacifiCorp denied
almost all of the allegations and asserted a number of affirmative defenses.
IPC is not a party to this proceeding but has a one-third ownership interest in
the Plant. PacifiCorp owns a two-thirds interest and is the operator of the
Plant. The complaint alleges thousands of opacity permit limit violations by
PacifiCorp and seeks a declaration that PacifiCorp has violated opacity limits,
a permanent injunction ordering PacifiCorp to comply with such limits, civil
penalties of up to $32,500 per day per violation and the plaintiff's costs of
litigation, including reasonable attorney fees.
Discovery in the matter was
completed on October 15, 2007. Also in October 2007, the plaintiffs and
defendant filed cross-motions for summary judgment on the alleged opacity
permit status of this matter. The court has still not yet ruled on these
motions. On March 13, 2008, the Court canceled the original trial date of
April 21, 2008, but did not schedule a new trial date. IPC continues to
monitor the status of this matter but is unable to predict the outcome of this
matter or estimate the impact it may have on the consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
Sierra Club Notice of
Intent to File Suit - Boardman: On
January 15, 2008, the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Northwest
Environmental Defense Center, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Columbia
Riverkeeper, and Hells Canyon Preservation Council (collectively, Sierra Club)
provided a 60-day notice to Portland General Electric Company (PGE) of intent
to file suit. Sierra Club alleges violations of opacity standards at the
Boardman coal-fired power plant located in Morrow County, Oregon of which IPC
owns ten percent. PGE owns 65 percent and is the operator of the plant.
Sierra Club further alleges violations of the Clean Air Act, related federal
regulations and the Oregon State Implementation Plan relating to PGE's
construction and operation of the plant. The 60-day notice period expired on
March 15, 2008, but the Sierra Club has not yet commenced litigation. Sierra
Club alleges thousands of opacity permit limit violations by PGE from and
before 2003, and claims that it will seek a declaration that PGE has violated
opacity limits, a permanent injunction ordering PGE to comply with such limits,
and civil penalties of up to $32,500 per day per violation. IPC intends to
monitor the status of this matter but is unable to predict its outcome or what
effect this matter may have on the consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
Other Legal Proceedings: IDACORP, IPC and/or IE are involved in lawsuits and
legal proceedings in addition to those discussed above and in Note 6 to
IDACORP's and IPC's Consolidated Financial Statements. Resolution of any of
these matters will take time and the companies cannot predict the outcome of
any of these proceedings. The companies believe that their reserves are
adequate for these matters.
Environmental Issues
The section below summarizes and
provides an update of environmental issues as discussed in IDACORP's and IPC's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Idaho Water Management
Issues: From 2000 through 2005, and
throughout 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, below normal precipitation and
stream flows have exacerbated a developing water shortage in Idaho, manifested
by a number of water issues including declining Snake River base flows and
declining levels in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA), a large underground
aquifer that has been estimated to hold between 200 - 300 maf of water. These
issues are of interest to IPC because of their potential impacts on generation
at IPC's hydroelectric projects.
As a result of declines in
river flows, in 2003 several surface water users filed delivery calls with the
Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), demanding that it manage ground
water withdrawals pursuant to the prior appropriation doctrine of "first in
time is first in right" and curtail junior ground water rights that are
depleting the aquifer and affecting flows to senior surface water rights.
These delivery calls have resulted in several administrative actions before the
IDWR to enforce senior water rights as well as judicial actions before the
state court challenging the constitutionality of state regulations used by the
IDWR to conjunctively administer ground and surface water rights. Because IPC
holds water rights that are dependent on the Snake River, spring flows and the
overall condition of the ESPA, IPC continues to participate in these actions,
as necessary, to protect its water rights.
IPC, together with other
interested water users and state interests, also continues to explore and
encourage the development of a long-term management plan that will protect the
ESPA and the Snake River from further depletion. On February 14, 2007, the
Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) presented the framework for an ESPA
management plan to the Idaho Legislature recommending the development of a
Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan (CAMP). The proposed goal of the CAMP is
to sustain the economic viability and social and environmental health of the
ESPA by adaptively managing a balance between water use and supplies. The IWRB
estimates that the development of the CAMP will take 16 months. Through House
Concurrent Resolution 28 and House Bill 320, the 2007 Idaho Legislature appropriated
funds and directed the IWRB to proceed with the development of the CAMP.
Pursuant to the IWRB recommendation in the CAMP Framework, an advisory
committee has been established to make recommendations to the IWRB on the
development of the CAMP. IPC sits on the CAMP advisory committee and will be
working with the IWRB on the development of the CAMP.
IPC is also engaged in the
Snake River Basin Adjudication (SRBA), a general stream adjudication, commenced
in 1987, to define the nature and extent of water rights in the Snake River
basin in Idaho, including the water rights of IPC. The initiation of the SRBA
resulted from the Swan Falls Agreement, an agreement entered into by IPC and
the Governor and Attorney General of Idaho in October 1984 to resolve
litigation relating to IPC's water rights at its Swan Falls project. IPC has
filed claims to its water rights for hydropower and other uses in the SRBA.
Other water users in the basin have also filed claims to water rights. Parties
to the SRBA may file objections to water right claims that adversely affect or
injure their claimed water rights and the Idaho District Court for the Fifth
Judicial District, which has jurisdiction over SRBA matters, then adjudicates
the claims and objections and enters a decree defining a party's water rights.
IPC has filed claims for all of its hydropower water rights in the SRBA, is
actively protecting those water rights and is objecting to claims that may
potentially injure or affect those water rights. One such claim involves a
notice of claim of ownership filed on December 22, 2006, by the State of Idaho,
for a portion of the water rights held by IPC that are subject to the Swan
Falls Agreement.
On May 10, 2007, in order to
protect its claims and the availability of water for power purposes at its
facilities, and in response to the claim of ownership filed by the state, IPC
filed a complaint and petition for declaratory and injunctive relief regarding
the status and nature of IPC's water rights and the respective rights and
responsibilities of the parties under the Swan Falls Agreement. The complaint
was filed in the Idaho District Court for the Fifth Judicial District, the
court with jurisdiction over the SRBA, against the State of Idaho, the
Governor, the Attorney General, the IDWR and the Director of the IDWR.
In conjunction with the
filing of the complaint and petition, IPC filed motions with the court to stay
all pending proceedings involving the water rights of IPC and to consolidate
those proceedings into a single action where all issues relating to the Swan
Falls Agreement can be determined.
IPC alleged in the complaint,
among other things, that contrary to the parties' belief at the time the Swan
Falls Agreement was entered into in 1984, the Snake River basin above Swan
Falls was over-appropriated and as a consequence there was not in 1984, and
there currently is not, water available for new upstream uses over and above
the minimum flows established by the Swan Falls Agreement; that because of this
mutual mistake of fact relating to the over-appropriation of the basin, the
Swan Falls Agreement should be reformed; that the state's December 22, 2006,
claim of ownership to IPC's water rights should be denied; and that the Swan
Falls Agreement did not subordinate IPC's water rights to aquifer recharge.
On May 30, 2007, the state
filed motions to dismiss IPC's complaint and petition. These motions were
briefed and, together with IPC's motions to stay and consolidate the
proceedings, were argued before the court on June 25, 2007.
On July 23, 2007, the court
issued an order granting in part and denying in part the state's motion to
dismiss, consolidating the issues into a consolidated subcase before the court,
providing for discovery during the objection period, and setting a scheduling
conference for December 18, 2007. In its order, the court denied the majority
of the state's motion to dismiss, refusing to dismiss the complaint and finding
that the court has jurisdiction to hear and determine virtually all the issues
raised by IPC's complaint that relate to IPC's water rights and the effect of
the Swan Falls Agreement upon those water rights. This includes the issues of
ownership, whether IPC's water rights are subordinated to recharge and how
those water rights are to be administered relative to other water rights on the
same or connected resources. The court did find that by virtue of a state
statute the IDWR, and its director, could not be parties to the SRBA and
therefore stayed IPC's claims against the IDWR and its director pending
resolution of the issues to be litigated in the SRBA, or until further order of
the court.
Consistent with IPC's motion
to consolidate and stay proceedings, the court consolidated all of the issues
associated with IPC's water rights before the court and stayed that proceeding
to allow other parties that may be affected by the litigation to file responses
or intervene in the consolidated proceedings by December 5, 2007. On December
18, 2007, the court held a status and scheduling conference in the consolidated
proceedings. Subsequently, the court issued a scheduling order on December 20,
2007, with a trial scheduled to begin on February 2, 2009. In January 2008,
the State of Idaho and IPC filed cross motions for summary judgment on issues
in the case. These motions were briefed and oral argument before the court was
held on the motions on February 21, 2008.
On April 18, 2008, the court
issued a Memorandum Decision and Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment
upholding the Swan Falls Agreement. Under the Swan Falls Agreement, water
rights in excess of the minimum flows established by the agreement are held in
trust by the State of Idaho for the use and benefit of IPC and the people of
the State of Idaho. Water above these minimum flows is available for
subsequent consumptive beneficial uses that are approved in accordance with
state law. The court further held that to the extent that the state is not
meeting the minimum flows or it is anticipated that the minimum flows will not
be met, IPC's water rights that are held in trust are not available for
subsequent appropriations and that any appropriations already in place may be
subject to curtailment in order to meet the minimum flows. The court found
that it was not necessary to address the issue of mutual mistake of fact
relating to the over-appropriation of the basin because it found that it was
water rights that were the subject of the trust arrangement and not the water
itself. The court also stated that issues relating to water availability
relate to the administration of water rights and should be addressed, as
necessary, in an administrative action before the ID WR.
The court did not decide the
issue of whether the Swan Falls Agreement subordinated IPC's water rights to groundwater
recharge. The court will hold a status conference in the near future to
discuss how to proceed with respect to this issue. IPC is unable to predict
the outcome of the consolidated proceedings.
IPC has also filed two
actions in federal court against the United States Bureau of Reclamation to
enforce a contract right for delivery of water to its hydropower projects on
the Snake River. In 1923, IPC and the United States entered into a contract
that facilitated the development of the American Falls Reservoir by the U.S. on
the Snake River in southeast Idaho. This 1923 contract entitles IPC to 45,000
acre-feet of primary storage capacity in the reservoir and 255,000 acre-feet of
secondary storage that was to be available to IPC between October 1 of any year
and June 10 of the following year as necessary to maintain specified flows at
IPC's Twin Falls power plant below Milner Dam. IPC believes that the U.S. has
failed to deliver this secondary storage, at the specified flows, since 2001.
As a result, on October 15, 2007, IPC filed an action in the U.S. District
Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. to recover damages from the U.S.
for the lost generation resulting from the reduced flows. On October 15, 2007,
IPC filed a second action in the United States District Court for the District
of Idaho in Boise, Idaho, to compel the U.S. to manage American Falls Reservoir
and the Snake River federal reservoir system to ensure that IPC's contract
right to secondary storage is fulfilled in the future. The U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation filed answers in each of these cases on February 15, 2008. On
March 4, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho entered a
preliminary scheduling order, setting that case for trial on December 15,
2009. The action in the U.S. District Court of Federal Claims has not yet been
set for trial. IPC is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation.
Air Quality Issues
IPC owns two natural gas combustion
turbine power plants and co-owns three coal-fired power plants that are subject
to air quality regulation. The natural gas-fired plants, Danskin and Bennett
Mountain, are located in Idaho. The coal-fired plants are: Jim Bridger (33
percent interest) located in Wyoming; Boardman (ten percent interest) located
in Oregon; and North Valmy (50 percent interest) located in Nevada. The Clean
Air Act establishes controls on the emissions from stationary sources like
those owned by IPC. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopts many of
the standards and regulations under the Clean Air Act, while states have the
primary responsibility for implementation and administration of these air
quality programs. IPC continues to actively monitor, evaluate and work on air
quality issues pertaining to the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), possible
legislative amendment of the Clean Air Act, emerging greenhouse gas programs at
the federal, regional and state levels, New Source Review permitting, National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and Regional Haze - Best Available Retrofit
Technology (RH BART). Low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burner technology
and mercury continuous emission monitoring systems (mercury CEMS) installations
are progressing at all three coal-fired power plants.
National Ambient Air
Quality Standards: In March 2008, the EPA promulgated a final regulation
which revised the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. For the primary (health-based) standard,
the EPA lowered the standard from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.075 ppm.
Under the EPA's final rule, states must make recommendations to the EPA by
March 2009 for areas to be designated attainment, nonattainment and
unclassifiable. It is possible that parties could challenge the EPA's
decision. The impact of the new standard will not be known until data is
collected, analyzed, and released to the public and the associated regulatory
programs are promulgated and implemented.
Clean Air Mercury Rule: The CAMR, issued by the EPA on March 15, 2005,
limits mercury emissions from new and existing coal-fired power plants and
creates a market-based cap-and-trade program that will permanently cap utility
mercury emissions. On February 8, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit vacated the CAMR and remanded it back to the EPA for reconsideration
consistent with the court's interpretation of the Clean Air Act. On March 24,
2008, the EPA petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to
reconsider its decision to overturn the CAMR. The impact of the court's
decision will not be known until the judicial appeals process has been
completed or until such time as the EPA develops a new regulation in response.
It is possible that the D.C. Circuit's decision to remand the CAMR back to the
EPA for reconsideration could result in changes to mercury rules or regulations
adopted by the states in which IPC has partial ownership interests in
coal-fired power plants. At this time, however, it is uncertain how state
mercury rules or requirements might be affected and any resulting impacts to
IPC.
Regional Haze - Best
Available Retrofit Technology: In
accordance with federal regional haze rules, the Wyoming Department of
Environmental Quality and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are
conducting an assessment of emission sources pursuant to a RH BART process.
Coal-fired utility boilers are subject to RH BART if they were built between
1962 and 1977 and affect any Class I areas. This includes all four units at
the Jim Bridger and Boardman plants. The two units at the North Valmy plant
were constructed after 1977 and are not subject to the federal regional haze
rule. IPC continues to monitor RH BART processes at the Jim Bridger and
Boardman plants.
Greenhouse Gases: IPC continues to monitor and evaluate the possible
adoption of national, regional, or state greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and
judicial decisions that would affect electric utilities. Such regulations
could increase IPC's capital expenditures and operating costs and reduce
earnings and cash flows. At the national level, numerous GHG bills were introduced
in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives during 2006 and 2007, including
America's Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191), which now awaits Senate floor
action. The bill would impose an economy-wide cap on GHG emissions to reduce
emissions 70 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. However, debate continues in
Congress on the direction and scope of U.S. policy on regulation of GHGs.
The states of Arizona,
California, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington, along with the provinces
of British Columbia and Manitoba, Canada, have formed the Western Regional
Climate Action Initiative (WCI). On August 22, 2007, the WCI partners released
their regional goal to collectively reduce GHGs 15 percent below 2005 levels by
2020. The WCI partners have agreed to design a regional market-based
multi-sector mechanism, such as a load-based or deliverer-based cap and trade
program applicable to the electricity generation industry, to help achieve the
goal. The type of regulatory program that the WCI plans to use to achieve
reductions from the electricity generation industry is expected to be released
in August 2008. The states of Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming have not joined the
WCI. It is possible that these and other states in which IPC owns or operates
fossil fuel-fired electricity generation facilities or sells electricity into
could join the WCI in the future.
In April 2007, the U.S.
Supreme Court issued its decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental
Protection Agency, a case involving the EPA's authority to regulate carbon
dioxide emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. The decision,
combined with stimulus from state, regional and federal legislative and
regulatory initiatives, judicial decisions and other factors may lead to a
determination by the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from stationary
sources, including electricity generators. On March 27, 2008, the EPA
announced that it would issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR)
to solicit public input on whether GHG emissions should be regulated from
stationary sources. The ANPR is expected to be released in the spring of
2008. On April 2, 2008, Attorneys General from 17 states filed suit in the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit requesting the court to require the
EPA to rule within 60 days on whether carbon dioxide is a danger to public
health or welfare and, therefore, subject to regulation under the Clean Air
Act. While the majority of current national, regional and state initiatives
regarding GHG emissions contemplate market-based compliance programs, a
determination by the EPA to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act
could result in GHG emission limits on stationary sources that do not provide
market-based compliance options such as cap-and-trade programs or emission
offsets. IPC will continue to monitor developments with respect to the
possible regulation of GHG emissions from stationary sources under the Clean
Air Act.
During 2007, IPC's carbon
dioxide emissions from IPC's electric power generation facilities during 2007
were approximately 7.8 million tons, or 1,153 lbs/MWh (adjusted to
reflect IPC's partial ownership in the Jim Bridger, Boardman and North Valmy
facilities). At this time, IPC is unable to estimate the costs of compliance
with potential national, regional or state GHG emissions reductions legislation
or initiatives because these proposals are in the early stages of development
and any final regulation, if adopted, could vary from current proposals. The
actual impact of future regulation of GHG emissions on IPC's financial
performance will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
(1) the geographic scope of any legislation or regulation (e.g., federal,
regional, state); (2) the enactment date of the legislation or regulation and
the compliance deadlines; (3) the type of any legislation or regulation (e.g.,
cap-and-trade, carbon tax, GHG emission limits); (4) the level of GHG
reductions required and the year selected as a baseline for determining the
amount or percentage of mandated GHG reductions; (5) the extent to which
market-based compliance options are available; in any cap-and-trade program;
(6) the extent to which a facility would be entitled to receive GHG emissions
allowances without having to purchase them in an auction or on the open market
and the price and availability of offsets in the secondary market and (7) the
availability and cost of carbon control technology.
Climate Change: IPC intends to continue to add renewable resources
to its resource portfolio and will continue to monitor the climate change
debate, current climate change research, and recently enacted as well as
proposed legislation to identify the potential impacts of global climate change
on all aspects of its business. Long-term climate change could significantly
affect IPC's business in a variety of ways, including but not limited to the
following: (a) extreme weather events and changes in temperature, precipitation
and snow pack conditions could affect customer demand and the amount and timing
of hydroelectric generation and increase service interruptions, outages and
operations and maintenance costs; and (b) legislative and/or regulatory
developments related to climate change could affect plans and operations in
various ways including placing restrictions on the construction of new
generation resources, the expansion of existing resources, or the operation of
generation resources in general. IPC cannot, however, quantify the potential
impact of global climate change on its business at this time.
Renewable Portfolio
Standards: Legislation to adopt a
national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) has been introduced into but not
yet adopted by Congress. IPC expects debate to continue on a national RPS and
anticipates new developments in 2008. IPC is not currently subject to state
RPS. It is possible that Idaho and other states in which IPC operates or sells
power into could adopt RPS initiatives. IPC will continue to monitor RPS
developments but cannot, at this time, predict the impacts of state and federal
RPS legislation on its business.
OTHER MATTERS:
Southwest Intertie Project
IPC began developing the Southwest
Intertie Project (SWIP) in 1988. IPC's investment consists predominantly of a
federal permit for a specific transmission corridor in Nevada and Idaho and
also private rights-of-way in Idaho. The SWIP rights-of-way extend from
Midpoint substation in south-central Idaho through eastern Nevada to the Dry
Lake area northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2004 the Bureau of Land Management
granted a five-year extension to begin construction of a proposed 500kV
transmission line within the rights-of-way before December 2009. On March 31,
2005, IPC entered into an agreement with White Pine Energy Associates, LLC
(White Pine), an affiliate of LS Power Development, LLC, that gave White Pine a
three-year exclusive option to purchase the SWIP rights-of-way from IPC. The
option could be exercised in part or as a whole.
On March 28, 2008, Great
Basin Transmission, LLC (Great Basin), as successor in interest to White Pine,
exercised its option to purchase the southern portion of the SWIP rights-of-way
from IPC. This sale is expected to close during the second quarter of 2008,
subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to result in a net
pre-tax gain to IPC of approximately $3 million. IPC and Great Basin also
extended the term for exercise of the option on the northern portion of the
SWIP rights-of-way from March 31, 2008, to December 31, 2008.
Critical Accounting
Policies and Estimates
IDACORP's and IPC's discussion and
analysis of their financial condition and results of operations are based upon
their condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of
these financial statements requires IDACORP and IPC to make estimates and
judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and
expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing
basis, IDACORP and IPC evaluate these estimates including those estimates
related to rate regulation, benefit costs, contingencies, litigation,
impairment of assets, income taxes, unbilled revenue and bad debt. These
estimates are based on historical experience and on other assumptions and
factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and are the
basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. IDACORP and IPC, based on
their ongoing reviews, make adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate.
IDACORP's and IPC's critical
accounting policies are reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors. These policies are discussed in more detail in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and have not changed materially
from that discussion.
Adopted Accounting
Pronouncements
SFAS 157: IDACORP and IPC partially adopted the provisions of
SFAS 157 "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS 157) on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality
of inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for
fair value measurements. FASB Staff Position 157-2 (FSP 157-2) delayed the
implementation of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in
the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay
is intended to allow the FASB and constituents additional time to consider the
effect of various implementation issues that have arisen, or that may arise,
from the application of SFAS 157. In accordance with FSP 157-2, IPC did not
apply the provisions of SFAS 157 to asset retirement obligations. The adoption
of SFAS 157 did not have a material effect on IDACORP's or IPC's financial
statements.
SFAS 159: IDACORP and IPC adopted the provisions of SFAS 159, "The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an
Amendment of FASB Statement 115" (SFAS 159) on January 1, 2008. SFAS
159 permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and
certain other items at fair value. Most of the provisions in SFAS 159 are
elective; however, the amendment to SFAS 115, "Accounting for Certain
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," applies to all entities with
available-for-sale and trading securities. IDACORP and IPC did not elect the
fair value option for any existing eligible items, thus the adoption of SFAS 159 did not have a material effect on
IDACORP's or IPC's financial statements.
FSP FIN 39-1: IDACORP and IPC adopted FASB Staff Position FIN 39-1
(FSP FIN 39-1), "Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39" (FIN 39) on
January 1, 2008. FSP FIN 39-1 modifies FIN 39, "Offsetting of Amounts
Related to Certain Contracts," and permits reporting entities to offset
receivables or payables recognized upon payment or receipt of cash collateral
against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments that have been
offset under a master netting arrangement. IDACORP and IPC have elected to
offset these positions, which resulted in an immaterial net decrease to total
assets and liabilities at March 31, 2008.
EITF Issue No. 06-11: IDACORP and IPC adopted Emerging Issues Task Force
Issue No. 06-11, "Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on
Share-Based Payment Awards" (EITF 06-11) on January 1, 2008. EITF 06-11
requires income tax benefits from dividends or dividend equivalents that are
charged to retained earnings and are paid to employees for equity classified
awards and outstanding equity share options to be recognized as an increase in
additional paid-in capital and to be included in the pool of excess tax
benefits available to absorb potential future tax deficiencies on share-based
payment awards. The adoption of EITF 06-11 did not have a material impact on
IDACORP's or IPC's financial statements.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to IDACORP's and IPC's
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recently issued
accounting pronouncements.
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
IDACORP and IPC are exposed
to market risks, including changes in interest rates, changes in commodity
prices, credit risk and equity price risk. The following discussion summarizes
these risks and the financial instruments, derivative instruments and
derivative commodity instruments sensitive to changes in interest rates,
commodity prices and equity prices that were held at March 31, 2008.
Interest Rate Risk
IDACORP and IPC manage interest
expense and short- and long-term liquidity through a combination of fixed rate
and variable rate debt. Generally, the amount of each type of debt is managed
through market issuance, but interest rate swap and cap agreements with highly
rated financial institutions may be used to achieve the desired combination.
Variable Rate Debt: As of March 31, 2008, IDACORP and IPC had $430
million and $374 million, respectively, in floating rate debt, net of temporary
investments. Assuming no change in either company's financial structure, if
variable interest rates were to average one percentage point higher than the
average rate on March 31, 2008, interest expense for the year ending December
31, 2008, would increase and pre-tax earnings would decrease by approximately
$4.3 million for IDACORP and $3.7 million for IPC.
Fixed Rate Debt: As of March 31, 2008, IDACORP and IPC had outstanding
fixed rate debt of $980 million and $955 million, respectively. The fair
market value of this debt was $952 million and $925 million, respectively.
These instruments are fixed rate, and therefore do not expose IDACORP or IPC to
a loss in earnings due to changes in market interest rates. However, the fair
value of these instruments would increase by approximately $89 million for
IDACORP and $88 million for IPC if interest rates were to decline by one
percentage point from their March 31, 2008 levels.
Commodity Price Risk
Utility: IPC's commodity price risk
has not changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007. In a limited manner, IPC also utilizes
financial energy instruments in addition to physical forward power transactions
for the purpose of mitigating price risk related to securing adequate energy to
meet utility load requirements in accordance with IPC's Risk Management
Policy. This practice falls within the parameters of IPC's Risk Management
Policy and these instruments are not used for trading purposes. These
financial instruments are used in essentially the same manner as forward
transactions to mitigate price risk but are considered derivative instruments
under SFAS 133 and are therefore reported at fair value in IDACORP's and IPC's
financial statements. Because of the PCA mechanism, IPC records the changes in
fair value of derivative instruments related to power supply as regulatory
assets or liabilities.
Credit Risk
Utility: IPC's credit risk has not
changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2007.
Equity Price Risk
IDACORP's and IPC's equity price risk
has not changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
ITEM
4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure controls and
procedures:
IDACORP:
The Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer of IDACORP, based on their evaluation of IDACORP's
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e))
as of March 31, 2008, have concluded that IDACORP's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
IPC:
The Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer of IPC, based on their evaluation of IPC's disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of March
31, 2008, have concluded that IPC's disclosure controls and procedures are
effective.
Changes in internal control
over financial reporting:
There have been no changes in
IDACORP's or IPC's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter
ended March 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to materially affect, IDACORP's or IPC's internal control over financial
reporting.
PART II - OTHER
INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Reference is made to Note 6
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
The Risk Factors included in
IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007 have not changed materially.
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
As part of their
compensation, each director of IDACORP and IPC who is not an employee received
a grant of 1,510 shares of common stock, equal to $45,000, on March 3, 2008.
The stock was issued without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in
reliance upon Section 4(2) of the Act.
Restrictions on Dividends:
Covenants under IDACORP's credit
facility, IPC's credit facility and IPC's term loan credit agreement require
IDACORP and IPC to maintain leverage ratios of consolidated indebtedness to
consolidated total capitalization of no more than 65 percent at the end of each
fiscal quarter. These agreements are discussed further in "MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS -
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES - Financing Programs."
IPC's Revised Code of Conduct
approved by the IPUC on April 21, 2008 states that IPC will not make any
dividends to IDACORP that will reduce IPC's common equity capital below 35
percent of its total adjusted capital without IPUC approval.
IPC's ability to pay
dividends on its common stock held by IDACORP and IDACORP's ability to pay
dividends on its common stock are limited to the extent payment of such
dividends would cause their leverage ratios to exceed 65 percent or violate
IPC's Code of Conduct. At March 31, 2008, the leverage ratios for IDACORP and
IPC were 54 percent and 54 percent, respectively and IPC's common equity
capital was 46 percent of its total adjusted capital.
IPC's articles of
incorporation contain restrictions on the payment of dividends on its common
stock if preferred stock dividends are in arrears. IPC has no preferred stock
outstanding.
Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities:
IDACORP, Inc. Common Stock
|
|
|
|
(d) Maximum Number |
||
|
|
|
(c) Total Number of |
(or Approximate |
||
|
(a) Total |
(b) |
Shares Purchased |
Dollar Value) of |
||
|
Number of |
Average |
as Part of Publicly |
Shares that May Yet |
||
|
Shares |
Price Paid |
Announced Plans or |
Be Purchased Under |
||
Period |
Purchased 1 |
per Share |
Programs |
the Plans or Programs |
||
|
|
|
|
|||
January 1 - January 31, 2008 |
- |
$ |
- |
- |
- |
|
February 1 - February 29, 2008 |
8,698 |
|
30.54 |
- |
- |
|
March 1 - March 31, 2008 |
109 |
|
32.11 |
- |
- |
|
Total |
8,807 |
$ |
30.56 |
- |
- |
|
1 These shares were withheld for taxes upon vesting of restricted stock |
||||||
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
*Previously Filed and Incorporated Herein by Reference
*2 |
Agreement and Plan of Exchange between IDACORP, Inc., and IPC dated as of February 2, 1998. File number 333-48031, Form S-4, filed on 3/16/98, as Exhibit 2. |
*3.1 |
Restated Articles of Incorporation of IPC as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on June 30, 1989. File number 33-00440, Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3, filed on 6/30/89, as Exhibit 4(a)(xiii). |
*3.2 |
Statement of Resolution Establishing Terms of Flexible Auction Series A, Serial Preferred Stock, Without Par Value (cumulative stated value of $100,000 per share) of IPC, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on November 5, 1991. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(a)(ii). |
*3.3 |
Statement of Resolution Establishing Terms of 7.07% Serial Preferred Stock, Without Par Value (cumulative stated value of $100 per share) of IPC, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on June 30, 1993. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii). |
*3.4 |
Articles of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of IPC, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on June 15, 2000. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed on 8/4/00, as Exhibit 3(a)(iii). |
*3.5 |
Articles of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of Idaho Power Company as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on January 21, 2005. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 4.5. |
*3.6 |
Articles of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of IPC, as amended, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on November 19, 2007. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 11/19/07, as Exhibit 3.3. |
*3.7 |
Articles of Share Exchange, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on September 29, 1998. File number 33-56071-99, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8, filed on 10/1/98, as Exhibit 3(d). |
*3.8 |
Amended Bylaws of IPC, amended on November 15, 2007, and presently in effect. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 11/19/07, as Exhibit 3.2. |
*3.9 |
Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. File number 333-64737, Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 11/4/98, as Exhibit 3.1. |
*3.10 |
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on March 9, 1998. File number 333-64737, Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 11/4/98, as Exhibit 3.2. |
*3.11 |
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. creating A Series Preferred Stock, without par value, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on September 17, 1998. File number 333-00139-99, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 9/22/98, as Exhibit 3(b). |
*3.12 |
Amended Bylaws of IDACORP, Inc., amended on November 15, 2007 and presently in effect. File number 1-14456, Form 8-K, filed on 11/19/07, as Exhibit 3.1. |
*4.1 |
Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1937, between IPC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company) and R. G. Page, as Trustees. File number 2-3413, as Exhibit B-2. |
*4.2 |
IPC Supplemental Indentures to Mortgage and Deed of Trust: |
File number 1-MD, as Exhibit B-2-a, First, July 1, 1939 |
|
File number 2-5395, as Exhibit 7-a-3, Second, November 15, 1943 |
|
File number 2-7237, as Exhibit 7-a-4, Third, February 1, 1947 |
|
File number 2-7502, as Exhibit 7-a-5, Fourth, May 1, 1948 |
|
File number 2-8398, as Exhibit 7-a-6, Fifth, November 1, 1949 |
|
File number 2-8973, as Exhibit 7-a-7, Sixth, October 1, 1951 |
|
File number 2-12941, as Exhibit 2-C-8, Seventh, January 1, 1957 |
|
File number 2-13688, as Exhibit 4-J, Eighth, July 15, 1957 |
|
File number 2-13689, as Exhibit 4-K, Ninth, November 15, 1957 |
|
File number 2-14245, as Exhibit 4-L, Tenth, April 1, 1958 |
|
File number 2-14366, as Exhibit 2-L, Eleventh, October 15, 1958 |
|
File number 2-14935, as Exhibit 4-N, Twelfth, May 15, 1959 |
|
File number 2-18976, as Exhibit 4-O, Thirteenth, November 15, 1960 |
|
File number 2-18977, as Exhibit 4-Q, Fourteenth, November 1, 1961 |
|
File number 2-22988, as Exhibit 4-B-16, Fifteenth, September 15, 1964 |
|
File number 2-24578, as Exhibit 4-B-17, Sixteenth, April 1, 1966 |
|
File number 2-25479, as Exhibit 4-B-18, Seventeenth, October 1, 1966 |
|
File number 2-45260, as Exhibit 2(c), Eighteenth, September 1, 1972 |
|
File number 2-49854, as Exhibit 2(c), Nineteenth, January 15, 1974 |
|
File number 2-51722, as Exhibit 2(c)(i), Twentieth, August 1, 1974 |
|
File number 2-51722, as Exhibit 2(c)(ii), Twenty-first, October 15, 1974 |
|
File number 2-57374, as Exhibit 2(c), Twenty-second, November 15, 1976 |
|
File number 2-62035, as Exhibit 2(c), Twenty-third, August 15, 1978 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(iii), Twenty-fourth, September 1, 1979 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(iv), Twenty-fifth, November 1, 1981 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(v), Twenty-sixth, May 1, 1982 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(vi), Twenty-seventh, May 1, 1986 |
|
File number 33-00440, as Exhibit 4(c)(iv), Twenty-eighth, June 30, 1989 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(vii), Twenty-ninth, January 1, 1990 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(iii), Thirtieth, January 1, 1991 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(iv), Thirty-first, August 15, 1991 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(v), Thirty-second, March 15, 1992 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(vi), Thirty-third, April 1, 1993 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 12/20/93, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-fourth, December 1, 1993 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 11/21/00, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-fifth, November 1, 2000 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 10/1/01, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-sixth, October 1, 2001 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 4/16/03, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-seventh, April 1, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed on 8/7/03, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii), Thirty-eighth, May 15, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, filed on 11/6/03, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii), Thirty-ninth, October 1, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 5/10/05, as Exhibit 4, Fortieth, May 1, 2005. |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 10/10/06, as Exhibit 4, Forty-first, October 1, 2006. |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 6/4/07, as Exhibit 4, Forty-second, May 1, 2007. |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 9/26/07, as Exhibit 4, Forty-third, September 1, 2007. |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed on 4/3/08, as Exhibit 4, Forty-fourth, April 1, 2008. |
|
*4.3 |
Instruments relating to IPC American Falls bond guarantee (see Exhibit 10.4). File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed on 8/4/00, as Exhibit 4(b). |
*4.4 |
Agreement of IPC to furnish certain debt instruments. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(f). |
*4.5 |
Agreement of IDACORP, Inc. to furnish certain debt instruments. File number 1-14465, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, filed on 11/6/03, as Exhibit 4(c)(ii). |
*4.6 |
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 10, 1989, between Idaho Power Company, a Maine Corporation, and Idaho Power Migrating Corporation. File number 33-00440, Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3, filed on 6/30/89, as Exhibit 2(a)(iii). |
*4.7 |
Rights Agreement, dated as of September 10, 1998, between IDACORP, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 9/15/98, as Exhibit 4. |
*4.8 |
First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2007, between IDACORP, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent. File number 333-143404, Form S-8, filed on 5/31/07, as Exhibit 4(g). |
*4.9 |
Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of February 1, 2001, between IDACORP, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 2/28/01, as Exhibit 4.1. |
*4.10 |
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 2001 to Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of February 1, 2001 between IDACORP, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 2/28/01, as Exhibit 4.2. |
*4.11 |
Indenture for Debt Securities dated as of August 1, 2001 between Idaho Power Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 333-67748, Form S-3, filed on 8/16/01, as Exhibit 4.13. |
*10.1 |
Agreements, dated September 22, 1969, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company relating to the operation, construction and ownership of the Jim Bridger Project. File number 2-49584, as Exhibit 5(b). |
*10.2 |
Amendment, dated February 1, 1974, relating to operation agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1. File number 2-51762, as Exhibit 5(c). |
*10.3 |
Agreement, dated as of October 11, 1973, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company. File number 2-49584, as Exhibit 5(c). |
*10.4 |
Guaranty Agreement, dated April 11, 2000, between IPC and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, relating to $19,885,000 American Falls Replacement Dam Refinancing Bonds of the American Falls Reservoir District, Idaho. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, filed on 8/4/00, as Exhibit 10(c). |
*10.5 |
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1974, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(r). |
*10.6 |
Letter Agreement, dated January 23, 1976, between IPC and Portland General Electric Company. File number 2-56513, as Exhibit 5(i). |
*10.7 |
Agreement for Construction, Ownership and Operation of the Number One Boardman Station on Carty Reservoir, dated as of October 15, 1976, between Portland General Electric Company and IPC. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(s). |
*10.8 |
Amendment, dated September 30, 1977, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(t). |
*10.9 |
Amendment, dated October 31, 1977, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(u). |
*10.10 |
Amendment, dated January 23, 1978, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6. File number 2-62034, Form S-7 filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(v). |
*10.11 |
Amendment, dated February 15, 1978, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(w). |
*10.12 |
Amendment, dated September 1, 1979, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6. File number 2-68574, Form S-7, filed on 7/23/80, as Exhibit 5(x). |
*10.13 |
Participation Agreement, dated September 1, 1979, relating to the sale and leaseback of coal handling facilities at the Number One Boardman Station on Carty Reservoir. File number 2-68574, Form S-7, filed on 7/23/80, as Exhibit 5(z). |
*10.14 |
Agreements for the Operation, Construction and Ownership of the North Valmy Power Plant Project, dated December 12, 1978, between Sierra Pacific Power Company and IPC. File number 2-64910, Form S-7, filed on 6/29/79, as Exhibit 5(y). |
*10.151 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees I - a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, amended and restated effective December 31, 2004, and as further amended March 14, 2007. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2007, filed on February 28, 2008, as Exhibit 10.15. |
*10.161 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees II, a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, effective January 1, 2005, as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xxxv). |
*10.17 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated September 20, 2007. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed on 10/31/07, as Exhibit 10(h)(iii). |
*10.18 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (time-vesting) (July 20, 2006). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(vi). |
*10.19 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Performance Stock Agreement (performance vesting) (July 20, 2006). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on November 2, 2006, as Exhibit 10(h)(vii). |
*10.20 1 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Board of Directors - a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, as amended and restated effective July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(viii). |
*10.211 |
IDACORP, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan, as amended and restated on November 15, 2007. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed on February 28, 2008, as Exhibit 10.21. |
*10.221 |
Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP, Inc. and IPC, as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xix). |
*10.231 |
Form of Director Indemnification Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Directors of IDACORP, Inc., as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xx). |
*10.241 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (senior vice president and higher), as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(x). |
*10.251 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (below senior vice president), as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xi). |
*10.261 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan, as amended and restated September 20, 2007. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed on 10/31/07, as Exhibit 10(h)(xii). |
*10.271 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Stock Option Award Agreement (July 20, 2006). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xvi). |
*10.281 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (time vesting) (July 20, 2006). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xvii). |
*10.291 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (performance vesting) (July 20, 2006). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xviii). |
*10.301 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (performance with two goals) (March 20, 2008). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 3/26/08, as Exhibit 10.1. |
*10.311 |
IDACORP, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan. File Number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K/A, filed on 2/27/08, as Exhibit 10.1. |
*10.321 |
Idaho Power Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, effective November 15, 2000, as amended July 20, 2006. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, filed on 11/2/06, as Exhibit 10(h)(xxxvi). |
*10.331 |
IDACORP, Inc. and IPC 2008 Compensation for Non-Employee Directors of the Board of Directors. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed on February 28, 2008, as Exhibit 10.33. |
*10.34 |
Framework Agreement, dated October 1, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to IPC's Swan Falls and Snake River water rights. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h). |
*10.35 |
Agreement, dated October 25, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to the agreement filed as Exhibit 10.34. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h)(i). |
*10.36 |
Contract to Implement, dated October 25, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to the agreement filed as Exhibit 10.34. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h)(ii). |
*10.37 |
Agreement Regarding the Ownership, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Milner Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2899), dated January 22, 1990, between IPC and the Twin Falls Canal Company and the Northside Canal Company Limited. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(m). |
*10.38 |
Guaranty Agreement, dated February 10, 1992, between IPC and New York Life Insurance Company, as Note Purchaser, relating to $11,700,000 Guaranteed Notes due 2017 of Milner Dam Inc. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(m)(i). |
*10.39 |
Power Purchase Agreement between IPC and PPL Montana, LLC, dated March 1, 2003 and Revised Confirmation Agreement dated May 9, 2003. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, filed on 8/7/03, as Exhibit 10(k). |
*10.40 |
$100 Million Five-Year Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2007, among IDACORP, Inc., various lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swingline lender and LC issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and KeyBank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A., as documentation agents, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and J. P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners. File number 1-14465, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed on 5/9/07, as Exhibit 10(l). |
*10.41 |
$300 Million Five-Year Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2007, among Idaho Power Company, various lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swingline lender and LC issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and KeyBank National Association, US Bank National Association and Bank of America, N.A., as documentation agents, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and J. P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed on 5/9/07, as Exhibit 10(m). |
10.42 |
$170 Million Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2008, among Idaho Power Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and Bank of America, N.A., Union Bank of California, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as lenders. |
*10.43 |
Loan Agreement, dated October 1, 2006, between Sweetwater County, Wyoming and IPC. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 10/10/06, as Exhibit 10.1. |
*10.441 |
IDACORP, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan NEO 2008 Award Opportunity Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K/A, filed on 2/27/08, as Exhibit 10.2. |
*10.451 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Agreement (performance with two goals) NEO 2008 Award Opportunity Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 3/26/08, as Exhibit 10.2. |
12.1 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12.2 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12.3 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12.4 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12.5 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
12.6 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
15 |
Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information. |
*21 |
Subsidiaries of IDACORP, Inc. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed on February 28, 2008, as Exhibit 21. |
31.1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) CEO certification. |
31.2 |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) CFO certification. |
31.3 |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) CEO certification. |
31.4 |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) CFO certification. |
32.1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 CEO certification. |
32.2 |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 CFO certification. |
32.3 |
IPC Section 1350 CEO certification. |
32.4 |
IPC Section 1350 CFO certification. |
99 |
Earnings press release for first quarter 2008. |
1 Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
IDACORP, Inc. |
(Registrant) |
Date |
May 8, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ J. LaMont Keen |
J. LaMont Keen |
|||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|||
Date |
May 8, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Darrel T. Anderson |
Darrel T. Anderson |
|||
Senior Vice President - Administrative Services |
|||
and Chief Financial Officer |
IDAHO POWER COMPANY |
(Registrant) |
Date |
May 8, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ J. LaMont Keen |
J. LaMont Keen |
|||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|||
Date |
May 8, 2008 |
By: |
/s/ Darrel T. Anderson |
Darrel T. Anderson |
|||
Senior Vice President - Administrative Services |
|||
and Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit Number |
||
10.42 |
$170 Million Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2008, among Idaho Power Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and Bank of America, N.A., Union Bank of California, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as lenders. |
|
12.1 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12.2 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12.3 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12.4 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12.5 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
|
12.6 |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
|
15 |
Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information. |
|
31.1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31.2 |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31.3 |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31.4 |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
32.1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 certification. |
|
32.2 |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 certification. |
|
32.3 |
IPC Section 1350 certification. |
|
32.4 |
IPC Section 1350 certification. |
|
99 |
Earnings press release for first quarter 2008. |
|
1 Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |