07.02.20 Public Notice
Public Hearing Notice for
Power River Engergy Corporation’s Application
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Rules, notice is hereby given that a public hearing is scheduled regarding Powder River Energy Corporation’s (PRECorp or the Cooperative) Application for authority to increase its overall system revenue by $7,030,045 per annum and approval to revise its tariffs to accomplish the increase, effective September 1, 2020. (Application). The public hearing is set to commence on Monday, July 27, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., in the Commission’s hearing room located at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
PRECorp is a public utility as defined in Wyo. Stat. § 37-1-101(a)(vi)(C), subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 37-2-112.
PRECorp’s principal office is located at 221 Main Street, Sundance, Wyoming. PRECorp is duly authorized to generate, manufacture, purchase, acquire, and transmit electric energy, sell supplies, and dispose of electric energy in its certificated territory. PRECorp is a Class A member of Members 1st Power Cooperative and a Class C member of Basin Electric Power Cooperative. PRECorp serves customers in northeastern Wyoming, including in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and also in a small area of southern Montana.
PRECorp proposes to: (i) increase its overall system revenue by $7,030,045 per annum; (ii) restate the base cost of power in the Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) mechanism to reflect the current level of power cost; (iii) revise the existing base rates to reflect the appropriate recovery of COPA revenue based on the restated base cost of power; and (iv) revise rates to recognize changes in the cost of providing service and move rates for all rate classes closer to the cost of service. The average residential customer will see an average monthly increase in charges, from $127.05 to $138.28, as a result of the requested revenue increase.
The proposed net revenue adjustments by class are as follows:
Due to rate design and individual customer load factors and usage characteristics, the percentage rate change to individual customers within each rate schedule may be higher or lower than the average for the customer rate class or rate schedule. The impact on individual bills may vary from the proposed increase in rates. Further, the rates ultimately approved by the Commission, on an individual customer class basis, may be lower or greater than those being proposed by the Cooperative.
In addition to the proposed changes in rates for electric service, PRECorp is also proposing certain revisions to its service tariffs to incorporate its proposed changes in its rates for service. PRECorp’s proposed rate increase is to ensure its operational and financial stability in a declining sales environment. As a result of declining sales to coal bed methane, oil and gas, and coal customers, PRECorp is facing an immediate revenue shortfall.
All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing which will be conducted in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission Rules and Special Regulations. Interested persons may appear and be heard, either in person or through counsel, as provided by Commission Rule.
The Commission’s hearings are open to all persons. If you wish to attend the hearing and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Commission at (307) 777-7427 (Voice or TTY) in Cheyenne during regular business hours or write them at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, to make arrangements. Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission by accessing Wyoming Relay (TTY) by dialing 711. Please mention Docket No. 10014-202-CR-19 (Record No. 15372) in your correspondence. If you wish to listen to the hearing scheduled in this matter go to http://psc.wy.us at the appropriate time and follow the instructions to connect to the hearing.
Dated: June 29, 2020.
(Publish July 2 and 9, 2020)