No fine planned by PUC in renewable energy supplies case

Kevin Rademacher

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

The state Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday indicated that it would not fine Nevada Power Co. for failing to comply with Nevada's renewable energy standards.

PUC Commissioner Carl Linvill accepted a stipulated agreement reached by the utility, commission staff and renewable energy developers that call for a waiver of the standards for 2003.

The full commission is expected to approve the stipulation at a July 21 meeting.

The agreement finds that despite the attempts of the utility to obtain renewable energy "there was not a sufficient supply of electricity from renewable energy systems."

The utility had asked for a waiver for 2003 and 2004, but the agreement only covered the current year.

"No predetermination shall be made ... regarding compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standards for the calendar year 2004," the agreement said.

The deal also covers Nevada Power's sister utility, Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno, which also failed to meet portions of the renewable standard.

In other PUC news, the commission on Tuesday filed a 62-page brief with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals supporting Nevada Power's appeal of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision to uphold contracts signed during the Western energy crisis.

The filing argues that the commission failed to protect Nevada consumers when it upheld the deals with power traders such as Enron Corp. despite findings of market manipulation.