Assessment of PacifiCorp 2012 Oregon General Rate Case

Sierra Club
Project completed April 2013.

Synapse provided expert testimony and analysis on behalf of the Sierra Club for a PacifiCorp general rate case in Oregon regarding the prudence of environmental retrofits undertaken in 2008-2009. Synapse analyzed the decision-making process of PacifiCorp during that timeframe, reviewed the standing of environmental regulations at the time, and determined that the economic justification given for the coal plant retrofits did not merit a prudence finding. The Oregon Public Utility Commission agreed with Sierra Club and ultimately found that costs were not prudently incurred. The Commission imposed a 10 percent disallowance on the retrofits ($17 million) and required a refund to ratepayers in early 2013.