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REGULATORY MATTERS:
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Other Disclosures [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters REGULATORY MATTERS

IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s financial statements reflect the effects of the different ratemaking principles followed by the jurisdictions regulating Idaho Power. Included below is a summary of Idaho Power's regulatory assets and liabilities, as well as a discussion of notable regulatory matters.
 
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
 
The application of accounting principles related to regulated operations sometimes results in Idaho Power recording some expenses and revenues in a different period than when an unregulated enterprise would record those expenses and revenues. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred because it is probable they will be recovered from customers through future rates. Regulatory liabilities represent obligations to make refunds to customers for previous collections, or represent amounts collected in advance of incurring an expense.

The following table presents a summary of Idaho Power’s regulatory assets and liabilities (in thousands of dollars):
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remaining
Amortization Period
 
Earning a Return(1)
 
Not Earning a Return
 
Total as of December 31,
Description
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
Regulatory Assets:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes(2)
 
 
 
$

 
$
646,886

 
$
646,886

 
$
614,144

Unfunded postretirement benefits(3)
 
 
 

 
347,935

 
347,935

 
278,674

Pension expense deferrals(4)
 

 
150,350

 
22,287

 
172,637

 
147,836

Energy efficiency program costs(5)
 
 
 
1,465

 

 
1,465

 
1,398

Fixed cost adjustment(6)
 
2020-2021
 
35,208

 
18,808

 
54,016

 
42,503

North Valmy plant settlements(6)
 
2020-2028
 
107,525

 

 
107,525

 
77,512

Asset retirement obligations(7)
 
 
 

 
18,835

 
18,835

 
17,655

Long-term service agreement
 
2020-2043
 
15,412

 
10,178

 
25,590

 
26,748

Other
 
2020-2055
 
2,804

 
5,366

 
8,170

 
7,704

Total
 
 
 
$
312,764

 
$
1,070,295

 
$
1,383,059

 
$
1,214,174

Regulatory Liabilities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income taxes(8)
 
 
 
$

 
$
96,599

 
$
96,599

 
$
98,042

Depreciation-related excess deferred income taxes(9)
 
 
 
183,881

 

 
183,881

 
190,062

Removal costs(7)
 
 
 

 
185,685

 
185,685

 
183,798

Investment tax credits
 
 
 

 
94,806

 
94,806

 
92,790

Deferred revenue-AFUDC(10)
 
 
 
109,921

 
41,747

 
151,668

 
135,146

Energy efficiency program costs(5)
 
 
 

 

 

 
5,259

Power supply costs(6)
 
2020-2021
 
46,022

 
2,470

 
48,492

 
42,322

Settlement agreement sharing mechanism(6)
 

 

 

 

 
5,025

Tax reform accrual for future amortization(11)
 
 
 

 
9,139

 
9,139

 

Other
 

 
6,636

 
5,279

 
11,915

 
12,433

Total
 
 
 
$
346,460

 
$
435,725

 
$
782,185

 
$
764,877

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Earning a return includes either interest or a return on the investment as a component of rate base at the allowed rate of return.
(2) Represents flow-through income tax accounting differences which have a corresponding deferred tax liability disclosed in Note 2 - "Income Taxes."
(3) Represents the unfunded obligation of Idaho Power’s pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are discussed in Note 12 - "Benefit Plans."
(4) Idaho Power records a regulatory asset for the difference between net periodic pension cost and pension cost considered for rate-making purposes relating to Idaho Power's defined benefit pension plan. In its Idaho jurisdiction, Idaho Power’s inclusion of pension costs for the establishment of retail rates is based upon contributions made to the pension plan. This regulatory asset account represents the difference between cumulative cash contributions and amounts collected in rates. Deferred costs are amortized into expense as the amounts are provided for in Idaho retail revenues.
(5)
The energy efficiency asset includes the Oregon jurisdiction balance at December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Idaho jurisdiction balance was an asset at December 31, 2019, and a liability at December 31, 2018.
(6) This item is discussed in more detail in this Note 3 - "Regulatory Matters."
(7) Asset retirement obligations and removal costs are discussed in Note 14 - "Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO)."
(8) Represents the tax gross-up related to the depreciation-related excess deferred income taxes and investment tax credits included in this table and has a corresponding deferred tax asset disclosed in Note 2 - "Income Taxes."
(9) In 2017, income tax reform reduced deferred income tax assets and liabilities. For depreciation-related timing differences under the normalized tax accounting method, this reduction will flow back to customers under the statutorily prescribed average rate assumption method.
(10) Idaho Power is collecting revenue in the Idaho jurisdiction for AFUDC on HCC relicensing costs but is deferring revenue recognition of the amounts collected until the license is issued and the asset is placed in service under the new license.
(11) Represents amount accrued under the May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation (described below) for the future amortization of existing or future unspecified regulatory deferrals that would otherwise be a future liability recoverable from Idaho customers.

Idaho Power’s regulatory assets and liabilities are typically amortized over the period in which they are reflected in customer rates. In the event that recovery of Idaho Power’s costs through rates becomes unlikely or uncertain, regulatory accounting would no longer apply to some or all of Idaho Power’s operations and the items above may represent stranded investments. If not allowed full recovery of these items, Idaho Power would be required to write off the applicable portion, which could have a materially adverse financial impact.

Power Cost Adjustment Mechanisms and Deferred Power Supply Costs

In both its Idaho and Oregon jurisdictions, Idaho Power's power cost adjustment mechanisms address the volatility of power supply costs and provide for annual adjustments to the rates charged to its retail customers. The power cost adjustment mechanisms compare Idaho Power's actual net power supply costs (primarily fuel and purchased power less wholesale energy sales) against net power supply costs being recovered in Idaho Power's retail rates. Under the power cost adjustment mechanisms, certain differences between actual net power supply costs incurred by Idaho Power and costs being recovered in retail rates are recorded as a deferred charge or credit on the balance sheets for future recovery or refund. The power supply costs deferred primarily result from changes in contracted power purchase prices and volumes, changes in wholesale market prices and transaction volumes, fuel prices, and the levels of Idaho Power's own generation. The Idaho deferral period or Idaho-jurisdiction power cost adjustment (PCA) year runs from April 1 through March 31. Amounts deferred during the PCA year are primarily recovered or refunded during the subsequent June 1 through May 31 period.

Idaho Jurisdiction Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism: In the Idaho jurisdiction, the annual PCA adjustment consists of (a) a forecast component, based on a forecast of net power supply costs in the coming year as compared with net power supply costs included in base rates; and (b) a true-up component, based on the difference between the previous year’s actual net power supply costs and the previous year’s forecast. The latter 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 PCA mechanism also includes:

a cost or benefit sharing ratio that allocates the deviations in net power supply expenses between customers (95 percent) and Idaho Power (5 percent), with the exceptions of expenses associated with PURPA power purchases and demand response incentive payments, which are allocated 100 percent to customers; and
a sales-based adjustment intended to ensure that power supply expense recovery resulting solely from sales changes does not distort the results of the mechanism.

The table below summarizes the three most recent Idaho-jurisdiction PCA rate adjustments, all of which also include non-PCA-related rate adjustments as ordered by the IPUC:
Effective Date
 
$ Change (millions)
 
Notes
June 1, 2019
 
$
(50.1
)
 
The $50.1 million decrease includes a $5.0 million credit to customers for sharing of 2018 earnings under the IPUC order approving the extension, with modifications, of the terms of the December 2011 Idaho settlement stipulation for the period from 2015 through 2019 (October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation) and a $2.7 million credit for income tax reform benefits related to Idaho Power's OATT rate under a May 2018 Idaho tax reform settlement stipulation as described below in this Note 3 - Regulatory Matters.
June 1, 2018
 
$
(30.4
)
 
The $30.4 million total decrease in PCA rates includes a $7.8 million one-time benefit for income tax benefits accrued from January 1 to May 31, 2018, and the income taxes related to Idaho Power's open access transmission tariff (OATT) rate as described below in this Note 3 - Regulatory Matters.
June 1, 2017
 
$
10.6

 
The net increase in PCA rates included an offsetting $13.0 million reduction for the refund of previously collected Idaho energy efficiency rider funds.

 
Oregon Jurisdiction Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism: Idaho Power’s power cost recovery mechanism in Oregon has two components: an annual power cost update (APCU) and a power cost adjustment mechanism (PCAM). The APCU allows Idaho Power to reestablish its Oregon base net power supply costs annually, separate from a general rate case, and to forecast net power supply costs for the upcoming water year. The PCAM is a true-up filed annually in February. The filing calculates the deviation between actual net power supply expenses incurred for the preceding calendar year and the net power supply expenses recovered through the APCU for the same period. Oregon jurisdiction power supply cost changes under the APCU and PCAM during each of 2019, 2018, and 2017 did not have a material impact on the companies' financial statements.
 
Notable Idaho Base Rate Adjustments

Idaho base rates were most recently established through a general rate case in 2012, and adjusted in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

January 2012 and June 2014 Idaho Base Rate Adjustments: Effective January 1, 2012, Idaho Power implemented new Idaho base rates resulting from IPUC approval of a settlement stipulation that provided for a 7.86 percent authorized overall rate of return on an Idaho-jurisdiction rate base of approximately $2.36 billion. The settlement stipulation resulted in a 4.07 percent, or $34.0 million, overall increase in Idaho Power's annual Idaho-jurisdiction base rate revenues. Idaho base rates were
subsequently adjusted again in 2012, in connection with Idaho Power's completion of the Langley Gulch power plant. In June 2012, the IPUC issued an order approving a $58.1 million increase in annual Idaho-jurisdiction base rates, effective July 1, 2012. The order also provided for a $335.9 million increase in Idaho rate base. Neither the settlement stipulation nor the IPUC orders adjusting base rates specified an authorized rate of return on equity or imposed a moratorium on Idaho Power filing a general rate case at a future date.

The IPUC issued a March 2014 order approving Idaho Power's request for an increase in the normalized or "base level" net power supply expense to be used to update base rates and in the determination of the PCA rate that became effective June 1, 2014.

October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation: In October 2014, the IPUC issued an order approving an extension, with modifications, of the terms of a December 2011 Idaho settlement stipulation for the period from 2015 through 2019, or until the terms are otherwise modified or terminated by order of the IPUC or the full $45 million of additional accumulated deferred investment tax credits (ADITC) contemplated by the settlement stipulation has been amortized (October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation). The provisions of the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation are described in the table included under "Income Tax Reform - Idaho Regulatory Treatment" below.

In 2019 and 2017, Idaho Power recorded no provision against current revenue for sharing with customers, as its full-year return on year-end equity in the Idaho jurisdiction (Idaho ROE) for both years was between 9.5 percent and 10.0 percent. In 2018, Idaho Power recorded a $5.0 million provision against current revenue for sharing with customers as Idaho ROE was above 10.0 percent. Accordingly, at December 31, 2019, the full $45 million of additional ADITC remained available for future use under the terms of the May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation described in "Income Tax Reform - Idaho Regulatory Treatment" below.

May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation: In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, which, among other things, lowered the corporate federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and modified or eliminated certain federal income tax deductions for corporations. In March 2018, Idaho House Bill 463 was signed into law reducing the Idaho state corporate income tax rate from 7.4 percent to 6.925 percent.

In May 2018, the IPUC issued an order approving a settlement stipulation (May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation) related to income tax reform. Beginning June 1, 2018, the settlement stipulation provided an annual (a) $18.7 million reduction to Idaho customer base rates and (b) $7.4 million amortization of existing regulatory deferrals for specified items or future amortization of other existing or future unspecified regulatory deferrals that would otherwise be a future liability recoverable from Idaho customers. Additionally, a one-time benefit of a $7.8 million rate reduction was provided to Idaho customers through the Idaho-jurisdiction power cost adjustment (PCA) mechanism for the period from June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019, for the income tax reform benefits accrued from January 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018, and the income tax reform benefits related to Idaho Power's OATT rate. The amount provided via the PCA mechanism decreased to $2.7 million on June 1, 2019, for income tax reform benefits related to Idaho Power's OATT rate and will cease on June 1, 2020, to reflect the impact of a full year of reduced OATT third-party transmission revenues.

The May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation also provides for the indefinite extension, with modifications, of the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation beyond its termination date of December 31, 2019.

The table below summarizes and compares the terms of the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation with the terms in the May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation that became applicable on January 1, 2020.
October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation
(Effective through December 31, 2019)
 
May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation
(Effective January 1, 2020, with no defined end date)
If Idaho Power's actual annual Idaho ROE in any year is less than 9.5 percent, then Idaho Power may record additional ADITC amortization up to $25 million to help achieve a 9.5 percent Idaho ROE for that year, and may record additional ADITC amortization up to a total of $45 million over the 2015 through 2019 period. If the $45 million of ADITC are completely amortized, the revenue sharing provisions below would no longer be applicable.
 
If Idaho Power's actual annual Idaho ROE in any year is less than 9.4 percent, then Idaho Power may amortize up to $25 million of additional ADITC to help achieve a 9.4 percent Idaho ROE for that year, so long as the cumulative amount of ADITC used does not exceed $45 million (Idaho Power will have available and may continue to use any unused portion of the $45 million of additional ADITC from the October 2014 Idaho Earnings Support and Sharing Settlement Stipulation); however, Idaho Power may seek approval from the IPUC to replenish the total amount of ADITC it is permitted to amortize. If there are no remaining amounts of ADITC authorized to be amortized, the revenue sharing provisions below would not be applicable until ADITC is replenished.
If Idaho Power's annual Idaho ROE in any year exceeds 10.0 percent, the amount of earnings exceeding a 10.0 percent Idaho ROE and up to and including a 10.5 percent Idaho ROE will be allocated 75 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers as a rate reduction to be effective at the time of the subsequent year's PCA, and 25 percent to Idaho Power.
 
If Idaho Power's annual Idaho ROE in any year exceeds 10.0 percent, the amount of earnings exceeding a 10.0 percent Idaho ROE and up to and including a 10.5 percent Idaho ROE will be allocated 80 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers as a rate reduction to be effective at the time of the subsequent year's PCA, and 20 percent to Idaho Power.
If Idaho Power's annual Idaho ROE in any year exceeds 10.5 percent, the amount of earnings exceeding a 10.5 percent Idaho ROE will be allocated 50 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers as a rate reduction to be effective at the time of the subsequent year's PCA, 25 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers in the form of a reduction to the pension regulatory asset balancing account (to reduce the amount to be collected in the future from Idaho customers), and 25 percent to Idaho Power.
 
If Idaho Power's annual Idaho ROE in any year exceeds 10.5 percent, the amount of earnings exceeding a 10.5 percent Idaho ROE will be allocated 55 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers as a rate reduction to be effective at the time of the subsequent year's PCA, 25 percent to Idaho Power's Idaho customers in the form of a reduction to the pension regulatory asset balancing account (to reduce the amount to be collected in the future from Idaho customers), and 20 percent to Idaho Power.
In the event the IPUC approves a change to Idaho Power's allowed annual Idaho ROE as part of a general rate case proceeding before December 31, 2019, the Idaho ROE thresholds will be adjusted on a prospective basis as follows: (a) the Idaho ROE under which Idaho Power will be permitted to amortize an additional amount of ADITC will be set at 95 percent of the newly authorized Idaho ROE, (b) sharing with customers on an 75 percent basis as a customer rate reduction will begin at the newly authorized Idaho ROE, and (c) sharing with customers on a 75 percent basis but allocated 50 percent to a rate reduction, and 25 percent to a pension expense deferral regulatory asset, will begin at 105 percent of the newly authorized Idaho ROE.
 
In the event the IPUC approves a change to Idaho Power's allowed annual Idaho ROE as part of a general rate case proceeding effective on or after January 1, 2020, the Idaho ROE thresholds will be adjusted on a prospective basis as follows: (a) the Idaho ROE under which Idaho Power will be permitted to amortize an additional amount of ADITC will be set at 95 percent of the newly authorized Idaho ROE, (b) sharing with customers on an 80 percent basis as a customer rate reduction will begin at the newly authorized Idaho ROE, and (c) sharing with customers on an 80 percent basis but allocated 55 percent to a rate reduction, and 25 percent to a pension expense deferral regulatory asset, will begin at 105 percent of the newly authorized Idaho ROE.

The May 2018 Idaho Tax Reform Settlement Stipulation did not impose a moratorium on Idaho Power filing a general rate case or other form of rate proceeding in Idaho during its respective term.

Valmy Base Rate Adjustment Settlement Stipulations: In May 2017, the IPUC approved a settlement stipulation allowing accelerated depreciation and cost recovery for Idaho Power’s jointly-owned North Valmy coal-fired power plant. The settlement stipulation provides for an increase in Idaho jurisdictional revenues of $13.3 million per year, and (1) levelized collections and associated cost recovery through December 2028, (2) accelerated depreciation on unit 1 through 2019 and unit 2 through 2025, and (3) Idaho Power to use prudent and commercially reasonable efforts to end its participation in the operation of unit 1 by the end of 2019 and unit 2 by the end of 2025. The costs intended to be recovered by the increased jurisdictional revenues include current investments as of May 31, 2017, in both units, forecasted unit 1 investments from 2017 through 2019, and forecasted decommissioning costs for unit 1 and unit 2, offset by forecasted operation and maintenance costs savings. The settlement stipulation also provides for the regulatory accrual or deferral of the difference between actual revenue requirements and levelized collections, and provides for the regulatory accrual or deferral of the difference between actual costs incurred (including accelerated depreciation expense on unit 1 through 2019 and unit 2 through 2025) compared with costs permitted to be recovered during the cost recovery period specified in the settlement stipulation (including depreciation expense through 2028). If actual costs incurred differ from forecasted amounts included in the settlement stipulation, collection or refund of any differences would be subject to regulatory approval. In February 2019, Idaho Power reached an agreement with NV Energy that facilitates the planned end of Idaho Power's participation in coal-fired operations at units 1 and 2 of its jointly-owned North
Valmy coal-fired power plant in 2019 and 2025, respectively. In May 2019, the IPUC issued an order approving the North Valmy plant agreement and allowing Idaho Power to recover through customer rates the $1.2 million incremental annual levelized revenue requirement associated with required North Valmy plant investments and other exit costs, effective June 1, 2019, through December 31, 2028. In December 2019, as planned, Idaho Power ended its participation in coal-fired operations of North Valmy plant unit 1.

Other Notable Idaho Regulatory Matters

Fixed Cost Adjustment: The Idaho jurisdiction fixed cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism, applicable to Idaho residential and small commercial customers, is designed to remove a portion of Idaho Power’s financial disincentive to invest in energy efficiency programs by separating (or decoupling) the recovery of fixed costs from the variable kilowatt-hour charge and linking it instead to a set amount per customer. Under Idaho Power's current rate design, recovery of a portion of fixed costs is included in the variable kilowatt-hour charge, which may result in over-collection or under-collection of fixed costs. To return over-collection to customers or to collect under-collection from customers, the FCA mechanism allows Idaho Power to accrue, or defer, the difference between the authorized fixed-cost recovery amount per customer and the actual fixed costs per customer recovered by Idaho Power during the year. The IPUC has discretion to cap the annual increase in the FCA recovery at 3 percent of base revenue, with any excess deferred for collection in a subsequent year.

The following table summarizes FCA amounts approved for collection in the prior three FCA years:
FCA Year
 
Period Rates in Effect
 
Annual Amount
(in millions)
2018
 
June 1, 2019-May 31, 2020
 
$34.8
2017
 
June 1, 2018-May 31, 2019
 
$15.6
2016
 
June 1, 2017-May 31, 2018
 
$35.0


Hells Canyon Complex Relicensing Costs Settlement Stipulation: In December 2016, Idaho Power filed an application with the IPUC requesting a determination that Idaho Power's expenditures of $220.8 million through year-end 2015 on relicensing of the HCC were prudently incurred, and thus eligible for inclusion in retail rates in a future regulatory proceeding. In December 2017, Idaho Power filed with the IPUC a settlement stipulation signed by Idaho Power, the IPUC staff, and a third-party intervenor, recognizing that a total of $216.5 million in HCC relicensing expenditures and other related costs were reasonably incurred, and therefore should be eligible for inclusion in customer rates at a later date. As a result of filing the settlement stipulation, Idaho Power recorded a $5.0 million pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2017, which included $4.3 million for costs incurred through 2015, as well as $0.7 million related to associated costs incurred in 2016 and 2017. Of the $5.0 million pre-tax charge in 2017, $2.5 million was recorded as other operations and maintenance (O&M) expense and $2.5 million was recorded as a reduction to AFUDC. In April 2018, the IPUC issued an order approving the settlement stipulation as filed with the IPUC and determined the $216.5 million of associated costs to be reasonably and prudently incurred.

Notable Oregon Regulatory Matters

Oregon Base Rate Changes: Oregon base rates were most recently established in a general rate case in 2012. In February 2012, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) issued an order approving a settlement stipulation that provided for a $1.8 million base rate increase, a return on equity of 9.9 percent, and an overall rate of return of 7.757 percent in the Oregon jurisdiction. New rates in conformity with the settlement stipulation were effective March 1, 2012. Subsequently, in September 2012, the OPUC issued an order approving an approximately $3.0 million increase in annual Oregon jurisdiction base rates, effective October 1, 2012, for inclusion of the Langley Gulch power plant in Idaho Power's Oregon rate base.

In May 2018, the OPUC issued an order approving a settlement stipulation that provides for an annual $1.5 million reduction to Oregon customer base rates beginning June 1, 2018, through May 31, 2020, related to income tax reform. In December 2019, Idaho Power filed an application with the OPUC requesting approval of Idaho Power’s quantification of $1.5 million in annualized Oregon jurisdictional benefits associated with federal and state income tax changes resulting from tax reform and adjusting customer rates to reflect this amount, effective June 1, 2020, until its next general rate case or other proceeding where the tax-related revenue requirement components are reflected in rates.

In June 2017, the OPUC approved a settlement stipulation allowing for (1) accelerated depreciation of North Valmy plant units 1 and 2 through December 31, 2025, (2) cost recovery of incremental North Valmy plant investments through May 31, 2017, and (3) forecasted North Valmy plant decommissioning costs. The settlement stipulation provides for an increase in the Oregon jurisdictional revenue requirement of $1.1 million, effective July 1, 2017, with yearly adjustments, if warranted. As part of the
May 2018 settlement stipulation associated with income tax reform described above, the OPUC also deemed prudent Idaho Power's decision to pursue the end of its participation in coal-fired operations of unit 1 by the end of 2019 and approved Idaho Power's request to recover annual incremental accelerated depreciation relating to unit 1, beginning June 1, 2018, and ending December 31, 2019, resulting in a $2.5 million annualized revenue requirement. In October 2019, the OPUC approved the North Valmy plant agreement and authorized Idaho Power to adjust customer rates in Oregon, effective January 1, 2020, to reflect a decrease in the annual levelized revenue requirement of $3.2 million, which mostly relates to the decrease in depreciation expense and other costs associated with the December 2019 end of Idaho Power's participation in coal-fired operations of North Valmy plant unit 1.

Federal Regulatory Matters - Open Access Transmission Tariff Rates

Idaho Power uses a formula rate for transmission service provided under its OATT, which allows transmission rates to be updated annually based primarily on actual financial and operational data Idaho Power files with the FERC and allows Idaho Power to recover costs for FERC-approved expenditures associated with its transmission system. Idaho Power's OATT rates submitted to the FERC in Idaho Power's four most recent annual OATT Final Informational Filings were as follows:
Applicable Period
 
OATT Rate (per kW-year)
October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020
 
$
27.32

October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019
 
$
31.25

October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
 
$
34.90

October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017
 
$
25.52



Idaho Power's current OATT rate is based on a net annual transmission revenue requirement of $107.0 million, which represents the OATT formulaic determination of Idaho Power's net cost of providing OATT-based transmission service.