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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| | | | | | | | |
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF |
| THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| | |
| For the fiscal year ended | December 31, 2020 |
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 in | IRS Employer |
Commission File Number | their charters, address of principal executive offices, zip code and telephone number | Identification 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 |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| | | | | | | | |
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, without par value | IDA | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| | | | | |
Idaho Power Company: | Preferred Stock |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are well-known seasoned issuers, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | Idaho Power Company | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ |
Indicate by check mark if the registrants are not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | Idaho Power Company | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ |
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 have submitted electronically Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | Idaho Power Company | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, non-accelerated filers, smaller reporting companies, or emerging growth companies. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
IDACORP, Inc.:
Large accelerated filer X Accelerated filer __ Non-accelerated filer __
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. __
Idaho Power Company:
Large accelerated filer __ Accelerated filer __ Non-accelerated filer X
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. __
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Sections 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc. | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ | Idaho Power Company | Yes | ☒ | No | ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc. | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ | Idaho Power Company | Yes | ☐ | No | ☒ |
Aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates (June 30, 2020):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IDACORP, Inc.: | $ | 4,376,761,183 | | | Idaho Power Company: | None |
| | | | | | | | |
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 12, 2021: |
IDACORP, Inc.: | 50,469,234 |
Idaho Power Company: | 39,150,812 | , all held by IDACORP, Inc. |
| | | | | |
Documents Incorporated by Reference: |
|
Part III, Items 10 - 14 | Portions of IDACORP, Inc.’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders. |
|
This combined Form 10-K 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 representation as to the information relating to IDACORP, Inc.’s other operations.
Idaho Power Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction (I)(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format.
| | | | | | | | |
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| | |
| | Page |
| | |
Commonly Used Terms | |
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | |
| | |
Part I | | |
| | |
Item 1 | Business | |
| Information about our Executive Officers | |
Item 1A | Risk Factors | |
Item 1B | Unresolved Staff Comments | |
Item 2 | Properties | |
Item 3 | Legal Proceedings | |
Item 4 | Mine Safety Disclosures | |
| | |
Part II | | |
| | |
Item 5 | Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | |
Item 6 | Removed and Reserved | |
Item 7 | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |
Item 7A | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |
Item 8 | Financial Statements | |
Item 9 | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | |
Item 9A | Controls and Procedures | |
Item 9B | Other Information | |
| | |
Part III | | |
| | |
Item 10 | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance* | |
Item 11 | Executive Compensation* | |
Item 12 | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters* | |
Item 13 | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence* | |
Item 14 | Principal Accountant Fees and Services* | |
| | |
Part IV | | |
| | |
Item 15 | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | |
Item 16 | Form 10-K Summary | |
| | |
Signatures | |
| | |
* Except as indicated in Items 10, 12, and 14, IDACORP, Inc. information is incorporated by reference to IDACORP, Inc.'s definitive proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders. |
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COMMONLY USED TERMS |
| | | | |
The following select abbreviations, terms, or acronyms are commonly used or found in multiple locations in this report: |
| | | | | | |
2020 Annual Report | - | IDACORP's and Idaho Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 | | kW | - | Kilowatt |
ACE | - | Affordable Clean Energy | | kWh | - | Kilowatt-hour |
ADITC | - | Accumulated Deferred Investment Tax Credits | | LTICP | - | IDACORP 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan |
AFUDC | - | Allowance for Funds Used During Construction | | MATS | - | Mercury and Air Toxics Standards |
AOCI | - | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | | MD&A | - | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
APCU | - | Annual Power Cost Update | | MMBtu | - | Million British Thermal Units |
ASU | - | Accounting Standards Update | | MW | - | Megawatt |
BCC | - | Bridger Coal Company, a joint venture of IERCo | | MWh | - | Megawatt-hour |
BLM | - | U.S. Bureau of Land Management | | NAAQS | - | National Ambient Air Quality Standards |
CAA | - | Clean Air Act | | NEPA | - | National Environmental Policy Act |
CO2 | - | Carbon Dioxide | | NMFS | - | National Marine Fisheries Service |
CWA | - | Clean Water Act | | NOAA Fisheries | - | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service |
EIS | - | Environmental Impact Statement | | NO2 | - | Nitrogen Dioxide |
EPA | - | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | | NOx | - | Nitrogen Oxide |
ESA | - | Endangered Species Act | | O&M | - | Operations and Maintenance |
FASB | - | Financial Accounting Standards Board | | OATT | - | Open Access Transmission Tariff |
FCA | - | Idaho Fixed Cost Adjustment | | OPUC | - | Public Utility Commission of Oregon |
FERC | - | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | | PCA | - | Idaho-jurisdiction Power Cost Adjustment |
FPA | - | Federal Power Act | | PCAM | - | Oregon Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism |
GAAP | - | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | | PURPA | - | Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
GHG | - | Greenhouse Gas | | REC | - | Renewable Energy Certificate |
HCC | - | Hells Canyon Complex | | RH BART | - | Regional haze - best available retrofit technology |
IDACORP | - | IDACORP, Inc., an Idaho Corporation | | RPS | - | Renewable Portfolio Standard |
Idaho Power | - | Idaho Power Company, an Idaho Corporation | | SEC | - | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
Idaho ROE | - | Idaho-jurisdiction return on year-end equity | | SCR | - | Selective catalytic reduction equipment |
Ida-West | - | Ida-West Energy Company, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. | | SMSP | - | Security Plan for Senior Management Employees |
IERCo | - | Idaho Energy Resources Co., a subsidiary of Idaho Power Company | | SO2 | - | Sulfur Dioxide |
IFS | - | IDACORP Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. | | USACE | - | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
IPUC | - | Idaho Public Utilities Commission | | USFWS | - | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
IRP | - | Integrated Resource Plan | | Western EIM | - | Energy imbalance market implemented in the western United States |
IRS | - | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | | WDEQ | - | Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality |
Jim Bridger plant | | Jim Bridger generating plant | | WPSC | - | Wyoming Public Service Commission |
| | | | | | | | |
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
In addition to the historical information contained in this report, this report contains (and oral communications made by IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) may contain) statements that relate to future events and expectations, such as statements regarding projected or future financial performance, cash flows, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or ratios, strategic goals, challenges, objectives, and plans for future operations. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events, or performance, often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "continues," "could," "estimates," "expects," "guidance," "intends," "potential," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may result," "may continue," or similar expressions, are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve estimates, assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Actual results, performance, or outcomes may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors and matters referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements, factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements include those factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A - “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this report, as well as in subsequent reports filed by IDACORP and Idaho Power with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the following important factors:
•the effect of decisions by the Idaho and Oregon public utilities commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that impact Idaho Power's ability to recover costs and earn a return on investment;
•changes to or the elimination of Idaho Power's regulatory cost recovery mechanisms;
•the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global and regional economy and on Idaho Power’s employees, customers, contractors, and suppliers, including on loads and revenues, uncollectible accounts, transmission revenues, and other aspects of the economy and the companies’ business;
•changes in residential, commercial, and industrial growth and demographic patterns within Idaho Power’s service area, the loss or change in the business of significant customers, or the addition of new customers, and their associated impacts on loads and load growth, and the availability of regulatory mechanisms that allow for timely cost recovery and the ability to earn appropriate returns for investors through customer rates in the event of those changes;
•abnormal or severe weather conditions, including conditions and events associated with climate change, wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, and other natural phenomena and natural disasters, which affect customer sales, hydropower generation levels, repair costs, service interruptions, liability for damage caused by utility property, and the availability and cost of fuel for generation plants or purchased power to serve customers;
•advancement of self-generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, and other technologies that may affect Idaho Power’s sale or delivery of electric power or introduce operational or cyber-security vulnerability to the power grid;
•acts or threats of terrorist incidents, acts of war, social unrest, cyber-attacks, the companies’ failure to secure data or to comply with privacy laws or regulations, physical security breaches, or the disruption or damage to the companies’ business, operations, or reputation resulting from such events;
•the expense and risks associated with capital expenditures for, and the permitting and construction of, utility infrastructure that Idaho Power may be unableto complete or may not be deemed prudent by regulators;
•variable hydrological conditions and over-appropriation of surface and groundwater in the Snake River basin, which may impact the amount of power generated by Idaho Power’s hydropower facilities;
•the ability of Idaho Power to acquire fuel, power, and transmission capacity on reasonable terms, particularly in the event of unanticipated power demands, price volatility, lack of physical availability, transportation constraints, climate change, or a credit downgrade;
•disruptions or outages of Idaho Power’s generation or transmission systems or of any interconnected transmission systems may constrain resources or cause Idaho Power to incur repair costs and purchase replacement power or lease transmission at increased costs;
•accidents, terrorist acts, fires (either affecting or caused by Idaho Power facilities or infrastructure), explosions, mechanical breakdowns, and other unplanned events that may occur while operating and maintaining assets, which can cause unplanned outages, reduce generating output, damage company assets, operations, or reputation, subject Idaho Power to third-party claims for property damage, personal injury, or loss of life, or result in the imposition of civil, criminal, and regulatory fines and penalties for which Idaho Power may have inadequate insurance coverage;
•the increased purchased power costs and operational challenges associated with purchasing and integrating intermittent renewable energy sources into Idaho Power’s resource portfolio;
•failure to comply with state and federal laws, regulations, and orders, including new interpretations and enforcement initiatives by regulatory and oversight bodies, which may result in penalties and fines and increase the cost of compliance and remediation;
•changes in tax laws or related regulations or new interpretations of applicable laws by federal, state, or local taxing jurisdictions, and the availability of tax credits, and the tax rates payable by IDACORP shareholders on common stock dividends;
•adoption of, changes in, and costs of compliance with, laws, regulations, and policies relating to the environment, natural resources, and threatened and endangered species, and the ability to recover associated increased costs through rates;
•the inability to obtain or cost of obtaining and complying with required governmental permits and approvals, licenses, rights-of-way, and siting for transmission and generation projects and hydropower facilities;
•failure to comply with mandatory reliability and security requirements, which may result in penalties, reputational harm, and operational changes;
•the impacts of economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates, supply costs, population growth or decline in Idaho Power’s service area, changes in customer demand for electricity, revenue from sales of excess power, credit quality of counterparties and suppliers, and the collection of receivables;
•the ability to obtain debt and equity financing or refinance existing debt when necessary and on favorable terms, which can be affected by factors such as credit ratings, volatility or disruptions in the financial markets, interest rate fluctuations, decisions by the Idaho or Oregon public utility commissions, and the companies’ past or projected financial performance;
•changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of LIBOR and the impact on interest rates for IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s credit facilities;
•the ability to enter into financial and physical commodity hedges with creditworthy counterparties to manage price and commodity risk for fuel, power, and transmission, and the failure of any such risk management and hedging strategies to work as intended;
•changes in actuarial assumptions, changes in interest rates, increasing health care costs, and the actual and projected return on plan assets for pension and other post-retirement plans, which can affect future pension and other postretirement plan funding obligations, costs, and liabilities and the companies’ cash flows;
•the assumptions underlying the coal mine reclamation obligations at Bridger Coal Company and related funding and collateral requirements, and the remediation costs associated with planned exits from participation in Idaho Power’s co-owned coal plants;
•the ability to continue to pay dividends and achieve target payout ratio based on financial performance, and in light of credit rating considerations, contractual covenants and restrictions, and regulatory limitations;
•Idaho Power’s concentration in one industry and one region and the lack of diversification, and the resulting exposure to regional economic conditions and regional legislation and regulation;
•employee workforce factors, including the operational and financial costs of unionization or the attempt to unionize all or part of the companies’ workforce, the impact of an aging workforce and retirements, the cost and ability to attract and retain skilled workers and third-party vendors, and the ability to adjust the labor cost structure when necessary; and
•adoption of or changes in accounting policies and principles, changes in accounting estimates, and new Securities and Exchange Commission or New York Stock Exchange requirements, or new interpretations 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. IDACORP and Idaho Power disclaim any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Background
IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) is a holding company incorporated in 1998 under the laws of the state of Idaho. Its principal operating subsidiary is Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power). IDACORP is subject to the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which provides the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility regulatory commissions with access to books and records and imposes record retention and reporting requirements on IDACORP.
Idaho Power was incorporated under the laws of the state of Idaho in 1989 as the successor to a Maine corporation that was organized in 1915 and began operations in 1916. Idaho Power is an electric utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, sale, and purchase of electric energy and capacity and is regulated by the state regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon and by the FERC. Idaho Power is the parent of Idaho Energy Resources Co. (IERCo), a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company (BCC), which mines and supplies coal to the Jim Bridger generating plant (Jim Bridger plant) owned in part by Idaho Power. Idaho Power's utility operations constitute nearly all of IDACORP's current business operations.
IDACORP’s other notable subsidiaries include IDACORP Financial Services, Inc. (IFS), an investor in affordable housing and other real estate investments, and Ida-West Energy Company (Ida-West), an operator of small hydropower generation projects that satisfy the requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).
IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s principal executive offices are located at 1221 W. Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, and the telephone number is (208) 388-2200.
Available Information
IDACORP and Idaho Power make available free of charge on their websites their Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). IDACORP's website is www.idacorpinc.com and Idaho Power's website is www.idahopower.com. The contents of these websites are not part of IDACORP's and Idaho Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2020 Annual Report).
UTILITY OPERATIONS
Background
Idaho Power provided electric utility service to approximately 587,000 retail customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon as of December 31, 2020. Approximately 491,000 of these customers are residential. Idaho Power’s principal commercial and industrial customers are involved in food processing, electronics and general manufacturing, agriculture, health care, government, and education. Idaho Power also provides irrigation customers with electric utility service to operate irrigation pumps during the agricultural growing season. Idaho Power holds franchises, typically in the form of right-of-way arrangements, in 72 cities in Idaho and 7 cities in Oregon and holds certificates from the respective public utility regulatory authorities to serve all or a portion of 25 counties in Idaho and 3 counties in Oregon. Idaho Power's service area is shaded in the illustration on the following page and covers approximately 24,000 square miles with an estimated population of 1.3 million.
Idaho Power is under the jurisdiction (as to rates, service, accounting, and other general matters of utility operation) of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC), the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC), and the FERC. The IPUC and OPUC determine the rates that Idaho Power is authorized to charge to its retail customers. Idaho Power is also under the regulatory jurisdiction of the IPUC, the OPUC, and the Wyoming Public Service Commission (WPSC) as to the issuance of debt and equity securities. As a public utility under the Federal Power Act (FPA), Idaho Power has authority to charge market-based rates for wholesale energy sales under its FERC tariff and to provide transmission services under its open access transmission tariff (OATT). Additionally, the FERC has jurisdiction over Idaho Power's sales of transmission capacity and wholesale electricity, hydropower project relicensing, and system reliability, among other items.
Regulatory Accounting
Idaho Power meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) to prepare its financial statements applying the specialized rules to account for the effects of cost-based rate regulation, with the impacts of rate regulation reflected in its financial statements. Accounting for the economics of rate regulation impacts multiple financial statement line items and disclosures, such as property, plant, and equipment; regulatory assets and liabilities; operating revenues; operation and maintenance expense; depreciation expense; and income tax expense. These principles sometimes result in Idaho Power recording expenses and revenues in a different period than when an unregulated enterprise would record such expenses and revenues. In these instances, the amounts are deferred or accrued as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheet and recorded on the income statement when recovered or returned in rates or when otherwise directed to begin amortization by a regulator. Additionally, regulators can impose regulatory liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers that are expected to be refunded. Idaho Power records regulatory assets or liabilities if it expects the amounts will be reflected in future prices, based on regulatory orders or other available evidence.
Consistent with orders and directives of the IPUC, unless contrary to applicable income tax guidance, Idaho Power does not provide deferred income tax expense or benefit for certain income tax temporary differences and instead recognizes the tax impact currently (commonly referred to as flow-through accounting) for rate making and financial reporting. Therefore, Idaho
Power's effective income tax rate is impacted as these differences arise and reverse. Idaho Power recognizes such adjustments as regulatory assets or liabilities if it is probable that the amounts will be recovered from or returned to customers in future rates.
Business Strategy
IDACORP is committed to its focus on competitive total returns and generating long-term value for shareholders. IDACORP’s business strategy emphasizes Idaho Power as IDACORP’s core business, as Idaho Power's regulated utility operations are the primary driver of IDACORP's operating results. IDACORP's board of directors regularly reviews IDACORP's long-term strategy, which as of the date of this report is focused on the following areas and initiatives:
In executing the focus areas above, IDACORP seeks to balance the interests of shareholders, Idaho Power customers, employees, and other stakeholders. Idaho Power is committed to working for strong, sustainable financial results and strong credit ratings by continuing to provide reliable, affordable, safe service to its customers from a diversified source of generation resources.
Rates and Revenues
Idaho Power generates revenue primarily through the sale of electricity to retail and wholesale customers and the provision of transmission service. The prices that the IPUC, the OPUC, and the FERC authorize Idaho Power to charge for electric power and services are critical factors in determining IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition. In addition to the discussion below, for more information on Idaho Power's regulatory framework and rate regulation, see the “Regulatory Matters” section of Part II, Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (MD&A) and Note 3 – “Regulatory Matters” to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Retail Rates: Idaho Power's rates for retail electric services are generally determined on a “cost of service” basis. Rates are designed to provide, after recovery of allowable operating expenses including depreciation on capital investments, an opportunity for Idaho Power to earn a reasonable return on investment as authorized by regulators. Idaho Power regularly evaluates the need to request changes to its retail electricity price structure to cover its operating costs and to earn a fair return on its investments. Idaho Power uses general rate cases, power cost adjustment mechanisms in Idaho and Oregon, a fixed cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism in Idaho, balancing accounts and tariff riders, and subject-specific filings to recover its costs of providing service and to earn a return on investment. Retail prices are generally determined through formal ratemaking proceedings that are conducted under established procedures and schedules before the issuance of a final order. Participants in these proceedings include Idaho Power, the staffs of the IPUC or OPUC, and other interested parties. The IPUC and OPUC are charged with ensuring that the prices and terms of service are fair, are non-discriminatory, and provide Idaho Power an opportunity to recover its prudently incurred or allowable costs and expenditures and earn a reasonable return on investment. The ability to request rate changes does not, however, ensure that Idaho Power will recover all of its costs or earn a specified rate of return, or that its costs will be recovered in advance of or at the same time when the costs are incurred.
In addition to general rate case filings, ratemaking proceedings can involve charges or credits related to specific costs, programs, or activities, as well as the recovery or refund of amounts deferred or accrued under specific authorization from the IPUC or OPUC. Deferred amounts are generally collected from and accrued amounts are generally refunded to retail customers through the use of base rates or supplemental tariffs. Outside of base rates, three of the most significant mechanisms for recovery of costs are the power cost adjustment mechanisms, FCA mechanism, and energy efficiency riders. The Idaho and Oregon power cost adjustment mechanisms are intended to address the volatility of power supply costs and provide for annual adjustments to the rates charged to retail customers by allowing partial recovery or refund of the difference between net power supply costs included in base rates and actual net power supply costs incurred by Idaho Power. The 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 (kWh) 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 kWh charge, which may result in overcollection or undercollection 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. Increases in FCA recovery may be capped at 3 percent of base revenue annually at the discretion of the IPUC, with any excess deferred for collection in a subsequent year. Idaho Power collects most of its energy efficiency program costs through energy efficiency riders on customer bills. Energy efficiency program revenues are recognized in the period efficiency rider-funded program expenditures are recorded as an operating expense, resulting in no net impact on earnings.
Wholesale Markets: Idaho Power participates in the wholesale energy markets by purchasing power to help meet load demands and selling power that is in excess of load demands. Idaho Power's market activities are guided by an energy risk management policy and frequently updated operating plans. These operating plans are impacted by factors such as customer demand for power, market prices, generating costs, transmission constraints, and availability of generating resources. Some of Idaho Power's 17 hydropower generation facilities are operated to optimize the water that is available by choosing when to run hydropower generation units and when to store water in reservoirs. Idaho Power at times operates these and its other generation facilities to take advantage of market opportunities. These decisions affect the timing and volumes of market purchases and market sales. Even in below-normal water years, there are opportunities to vary water usage to capture wholesale marketplace economic benefits, maximize generation unit efficiency and meet peak loads. Compliance factors such as allowable river stage elevation changes and flood control requirements also influence these generation dispatch decisions. Idaho Power's wholesale energy sales depend largely on the availability of generation resources above the amount necessary to serve customer loads as well as market power prices at the time when those resources are available. A reduction in either factor leads to lower wholesale energy sales.
Idaho Power also provides energy transmission services through its Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT). The OATT rate is revised each year based primarily on financial and operational data Idaho Power files annually with the FERC in its Form 1. The FERC oversees mandatory transmission and network reliability standards, as well as power and transmission markets, including protection against market manipulation. These mandatory transmission and reliability standards were developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, which have responsibility for compliance and enforcement of transmission and reliability standards.
Retail Energy Sales: Weather, seasonal customer demand, energy efficiency, customer generation and economic conditions all impact the amount of electricity that Idaho Power sells as well as the costs it incurs to provide that electricity. Idaho Power's utility revenues are not earned, and associated expenses are not incurred, evenly during the year. Idaho Power’s retail energy sales typically peak during the summer irrigation and cooling season, with a lower peak during the winter heating season. Extreme temperatures increase sales to customers who use electricity for cooling and heating, and mild temperatures decrease sales. Precipitation levels and extreme temperatures during the agricultural growing season impact electricity sales to customers who use electricity to operate irrigation pumps. Alternative methods of generation, including customer-owned solar and other forms of distributed generation, have the potential to decrease Idaho Power sales to existing customers. Also, development of new technologies and services to help energy consumers manage energy in new ways could continue to alter demand for Idaho Power's electric energy. Approximately 95 percent of Idaho Power’s retail revenue originates from customers located in Idaho, with the remainder originating from customers located in Oregon. Idaho Power’s operations, including information on energy sales, are discussed further in Part II, Item 7 - MD&A - "Results of Operations - Utility Operations.”
The table that follows presents Idaho Power’s revenues and sales volumes for the last three years, classified by customer type.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Retail revenues (thousands of dollars): | | | | | | |
Residential (includes $34,409, $35,587, and $34,625, respectively, related to the FCA(1)) | | $ | 547,404 | | | $ | 526,966 | | | $ | 530,527 | |
Commercial (includes $1,543, $1,336, and $1,299, respectively, related to the FCA(1)) | | 293,057 | | | 295,203 | | | 310,299 | |
Industrial | | 181,258 | | | 181,372 | | | 190,130 | |
Irrigation | | 154,791 | | | 135,850 | | | 158,001 | |
Provision for sharing | | — | | | — | | | (5,025) | |
Deferred revenue related to HCC relicensing AFUDC(2) | | (8,780) | | | (8,780) | | | (8,780) | |
Total retail revenues | | 1,167,730 | | | 1,130,611 | | | 1,175,152 | |
Wholesale energy sales | | 33,656 | | | 71,198 | | | 52,845 | |
Transmission wheeling-related revenues | | 51,592 | | | 53,828 | | | 59,094 | |
Energy efficiency program revenues | | 42,478 | | | 40,128 | | | 35,703 | |
Other revenues | | 51,884 | | | 47,175 | | | 43,788 | |
Total electric utility operating revenues | | $ | 1,347,340 | | | $ | 1,342,940 | | | $ | 1,366,582 | |
Energy sales (thousands of Megawatt-hour (MWh)): | | | | | | |
Residential | | 5,463 | | | 5,273 | | | 5,135 | |
Commercial | | 4,009 | | | 4,092 | | | 4,105 | |
Industrial | | 3,369 | | | 3,412 | | | 3,371 | |
Irrigation | | 1,987 | | | 1,760 | | | 1,976 | |
Total retail energy sales | | 14,828 | | | 14,537 | | | 14,587 | |
Wholesale energy sales | | 1,197 | | | 2,171 | | | 2,246 | |
Bundled energy sales | | 690 | | | 680 | | | 617 | |
Total energy | | 16,715 | | | 17,388 | | | 17,450 | |
|
(1) The FCA mechanism is an alternative revenue program in the Idaho jurisdiction and does not represent revenue from contracts with customers as disclosed in Note 4 – “Revenues” to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
(2) The IPUC allows Idaho Power to recover a portion of the allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) on construction work in progress related to the Hells Canyon Complex (HCC) relicensing process, even though the relicensing process is not yet complete and the costs have not been moved to electric plant in service. Idaho Power is collecting $8.8 million annually in the Idaho jurisdiction but is deferring revenue recognition of the amounts collected until the license is issued and the accumulated license costs approved for recovery are placed in service.
Competition: Idaho Power's electric utility business has historically been recognized as a natural monopoly. Idaho Power competes with fuel distribution companies, including natural gas providers, in serving the energy needs of customers for space heating, water heating, and appliances. Alternative methods of generation, including customer-owned solar and other forms of distributed generation, also have the potential to decrease Idaho Power sales to existing customers.
Idaho Power also participates in the wholesale energy markets and in the electric transmission markets. Generally, these wholesale markets are regulated by the FERC, which requires electric utilities to transmit power to or for wholesale purchasers and sellers and make available, on a non-discriminatory basis, transmission capacity for the purpose of providing these services.
In return for agreeing to provide service to all customers within a defined service area, electric utilities are typically provided with an exclusive right to provide service in that service area. However, certain prescribed areas within Idaho Power's service area, such as municipalities or Native American Tribal reservations, may elect not to take service from Idaho Power and instead operate as a municipal electric utility or otherwise as a separate entity. In such cases, the entity would be required to purchase or otherwise obtain rights (such as by contract) to Idaho Power's distribution infrastructure within the municipal or other designated area. Idaho Power would have no responsibility for providing electric service to the municipal or separate entity, absent Idaho Power's voluntary execution of an agreement to provide that service.
Power Supply
Overview: Idaho Power primarily relies on company-owned hydropower, coal-fired, and gas-fired generation facilities and long-term power purchase agreements to supply the energy needed to serve customers, and for sales into the wholesale markets. Market purchases and sales are used to supplement Idaho Power's generation and balance supply and demand throughout the year. Idaho Power’s generating plants and their capacities are listed in Part I, Item 2 - “Properties.”
Various external and internal factors impact power supply costs; such as, weather, load demand, economic conditions, fuel costs, and availability of generation resources. Idaho Power’s annual hydropower generation varies depending on water conditions in the Snake River Basin. Drought conditions and increased peak load demand cause a greater reliance on potentially more expensive energy sources to meet load requirements. Conversely, favorable hydropower generation conditions increase production at Idaho Power’s hydropower generating facilities and reduce the need for thermal generation and wholesale market purchased power. Economic conditions, supply constraints, and governmental regulations can affect the market price of natural gas and coal, which impact fuel expense and market prices for purchased power. Idaho Power's power cost adjustment mechanisms mitigate in large part the financial impacts to Idaho Power of volatile fuel and power costs.
Idaho Power’s system is dual peaking, with the larger peak demand occurring in the summer. Idaho Power reached its highest all-time system peak demand of 3,422 megawatts (MW) on July 7, 2017. Idaho Power's highest all-time winter peak demand of 2,527 MW was last achieved on January 6, 2017. During these and other similarly heavy load periods, Idaho Power’s system is fully committed to serve load and meet required operating reserves. The table that follows shows Idaho Power’s total power supply for the last three years.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Power Supply | | Percent of Total Generation |
| | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| | (thousands of MWh) | | |
Hydropower plants | | 6,967 | | | 8,294 | | | 8,682 | | | 54 | % | | 62 | % | | 65 | % |
Coal-fired plants | | 3,719 | | | 3,012 | | | 3,274 | | | 29 | % | | 22 | % | | 24 | % |
Natural gas-fired plants | | 2,109 | | | 2,114 | | | 1,408 | | | 17 | % | | 16 | % | | 11 | % |
Total system generation | | 12,795 | | | 13,420 | | | 13,364 | | | 100 | % | | 100 | % | | 100 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased power - cogeneration and small power production | | 3,087 | | | 2,983 | | | 3,045 | | | | | | | |
Purchased power - other | | 1,985 | | | 2,217 | | | 2,386 | | | | | | | |
Total purchased power | | 5,072 | | | 5,200 | | | 5,431 | | | | | | | |
Total power supply | | 17,867 | | | 18,620 | | | 18,795 | | | | | | | |
Hydropower Generation: Idaho Power operates 17 hydropower projects located on the Snake River and its tributaries. Together, these hydropower facilities provide a total nameplate capacity of 1,799 MW and have averaged total annual generation of approximately 7.6 million MWh over the last 30 years. The amount of water available for hydropower generation depends on several factors—the amount of snowpack in the mountains upstream of Idaho Power’s hydropower facilities, upstream reservoir storage, springtime precipitation and temperatures, main river and tributary base flows, the condition of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and its spring flow impact, summer time irrigation withdrawals and returns, and upstream reservoir regulation. Idaho Power actively participates in collaborative work groups focused on water management issues in the Snake River Basin, with the goal of preserving the long-term availability of water for use at Idaho Power’s hydropower projects on the Snake River.
In 2020, precipitation and snowpack were unevenly distributed across the Snake River basin, with the Upper Snake River basin experiencing near-normal winter snowpack but other key basins near the HCC experiencing below-normal snowpack. These snowpack conditions, coupled with strong early season irrigation demands, yielded lower inflows to Idaho Power’s hydroelectric projects and resulted in 7.0 million MWh of hydropower generation in 2020. In 2019 and 2018, above-normal reservoir storage carryover from the previous year coupled with near-normal winter snowpack resulted in 8.3 million MWh and 8.7 million MWh, respectively, of hydropower generation. During low water years, when stream flows into Idaho Power’s hydropower projects are reduced, Idaho Power’s hydropower generation is reduced, resulting in a greater reliance on other generation resources and wholesale power purchases. For 2021, Idaho Power estimates annual generation from its hydropower facilities will be between 6.0 million MWh and 8.0 million MWh.
Idaho Power obtains licenses for its hydropower projects from the FERC, similar to other utilities that operate nonfederal hydropower projects on qualified waterways. The licensing process includes an extensive public review process and involves numerous natural resource and environmental agencies. The licenses last from 30 to 50 years depending on the size, complexity, and cost of the project. Idaho Power is actively pursuing the FERC relicensing of the HCC, its largest hydropower generation source. Idaho Power also has Oregon licenses for the HCC under the Oregon Hydroelectric Act. For further information on relicensing activities, see Part II, Item 7 – MD&A – "Regulatory Matters – Relicensing of Hydropower Projects.”
Idaho Power is subject to the provisions of the FPA as a “public utility” and as a “licensee” by virtue of its hydropower operations. As a licensee under Part I of the FPA, Idaho Power and its licensed hydropower projects are subject to conditions described in the FPA and related FERC regulations. These conditions and regulations include, among other items, provisions relating to condemnation of a project upon payment of just compensation, amortization of project investment from excess project earnings, and possible takeover of a project after expiration of its license upon payment of net investment and severance damages.
Coal-Fired Generation: Idaho Power co-owns the following coal-fired power plants in operation:
•Jim Bridger, located in Wyoming, in which Idaho Power has a one-third interest; and
•North Valmy, located in Nevada, in which Idaho Power has a 50 percent interest.
BCC supplies coal to the Jim Bridger power plant. IERCo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Idaho Power, owns a one-third interest in BCC and PacifiCorp owns a two-third interest in BCC and is the operator of the Bridger Coal Mine. The mine operates under a long-term sales agreement that provides for delivery of coal through 2024 from surface and underground sources. Idaho Power believes that BCC has sufficient reserves to provide coal deliveries for at least the term of the sales agreement. Idaho Power also has a coal supply contract providing for annual deliveries of coal through April 2022 from the Black Butte mine located near the Jim Bridger plant. This contract supplements the BCC deliveries and provides another coal supply to fuel the Jim Bridger plant. The Jim Bridger plant’s rail load-in facility and unit coal train, while limited, provides the opportunity to access other fuel supplies for tonnage requirements above established contract minimums.
NV Energy is the operator of the North Valmy power plant. Idaho Power expects to meet 2021 and future fuel requirements through existing inventory and new or existing coal supply contracts. Idaho Power has an established process approved by the IPUC and OPUC for recovery of non-fuel costs related to Idaho Power’s plan to end its participation in coal-fired operations at the North Valmy plant. Idaho Power ended its participation in unit 1 of the North Valmy plant in December 2019, as planned, and plans to end its participation in unit 2 no later than the end of 2025.
In October 2020, Idaho Power and co-owner Portland General Electric ceased coal-fired operations at their Boardman power plant consistent with Idaho Power's continued path away from coal-fired generation.
Natural Gas-fired Generation: Idaho Power owns and operates the Langley Gulch natural gas-fired combined-cycle combustion turbine power plant and the Danskin and Bennett Mountain natural gas-fired simple-cycle combustion turbine power plants. All three plants are located in Idaho.
Idaho Power operates the Langley Gulch plant as a baseload unit and the Danskin and Bennett Mountain plants to meet peak supply needs. The plants are also used to take advantage of wholesale market opportunities. Natural gas for all facilities is purchased based on system requirements and dispatch efficiency. The natural gas is transported through the Williams-Northwest Pipeline under Idaho Power's 55,584 million British thermal units (MMBtu) per day long-term gas transportation service agreements. These transportation agreements vary in contract length but generally contain the right for Idaho Power to extend the term. In addition to the long-term gas transportation service agreements, Idaho Power has entered into a long-term storage service agreement with Northwest Pipeline for 131,453 MMBtu of total storage capacity at the Jackson Prairie Storage Project. This firm storage contract expires in 2043. Idaho Power purchases and stores natural gas with the intent of fulfilling needs as identified for seasonal peaks or to meet system requirements.
As of December 31, 2020, Idaho Power had approximately 6.0 million MMBtu of natural gas financially hedged for physical delivery, primarily for the operational dispatch of the Langley Gulch plant through January 2022. Idaho Power plans to manage the procurement of additional natural gas for the peaking units on the daily spot market or from storage inventory as necessary to meet system requirements and fueling strategies.
Purchased Power: As described below, Idaho Power purchases power in the wholesale market as well as pursuant to long-term power purchase contracts and exchange agreements.
Wholesale Market Transactions: To supplement its self-generated power and long-term purchase arrangements, Idaho Power purchases power in the wholesale market based on economics, operating reserve margins, energy risk management policy guidelines, and unit availability. Depending on availability of excess power or generation capacity, pricing, and opportunities in the markets, Idaho Power also sells power in the wholesale markets. During 2020 and 2019, Idaho Power purchased 1.4 million MWh and 1.6 million MWh, respectively, of power through wholesale market purchases at an average cost of $27.91 per MWh and $21.95 per MWh, respectively. During 2020 and 2019, Idaho Power sold 1.2 million MWh and 2.2 million MWh of power in wholesale market sales, respectively, with an average price of $28.12 per MWh and $32.80 per MWh, respectively.
Long-term Power Purchase and Exchange Arrangements: In addition to its wholesale market purchases, Idaho Power has the following notable long-term power purchase contracts and energy exchange agreements:
•Telocaset Wind Power Partners, LLC - for 101 MW (nameplate generation) from the Elkhorn Valley wind project located in eastern Oregon. The contract term ends in 2027.
•USG Oregon LLC - for 22 MW (estimated average annual output) from the Neal Hot Springs Unit #1 geothermal power plant located near Vale, Oregon. The contract term ends in 2037.
•Clatskanie People's Utility - for up to 18 MW of generation from the Arrowrock hydropower project in southern Idaho in exchange for energy from Idaho Power's system or power purchased at the Mid-Columbia trading hub. The contract term ends in 2025.
•Raft River Energy I, LLC - for up to 13 MW (estimated average annual output) from its Raft River Geothermal Power Plant Unit #1 located in southern Idaho. The contract term ends in 2033.
•Jackpot Holdings LLC - a 20-year power purchase agreement to purchase the output from a planned 120-MW solar facility, with an expected in-service date in 2022.
PURPA Qualifying Facility Energy Sales Agreements: Idaho Power purchases power from PURPA qualifying facilities as mandated by federal law. As of December 31, 2020, Idaho Power had contracts with on-line PURPA qualifying facilities with a total of 1,134 MW of nameplate generation capacity, with an additional 6 MW nameplate capacity of projects projected to be on-line by 2022. The energy sales agreements for these qualifying facilities have original contract terms ranging from one to 35 years. The expense and volume of purchases from PURPA qualifying facilities during the last three years is included in the following table:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, |
| | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
PURPA contracts expense (in thousands) | | $ | 194,380 | | | $ | 187,344 | | | $ | 189,722 | |
MWh purchased under PURPA contracts (in thousands) | | 3,087 | | | 2,983 | | | 3,045 | |
Average cost per MWh from PURPA contracts | | $ | 62.97 | | | $ | 62.80 | | | $ | 62.31 | |
Pursuant to the requirements of PURPA, the IPUC and OPUC have each issued orders and rules regulating Idaho Power’s purchase of power from qualifying facilities that meet the requirements of PURPA. A key component of the PURPA contracts is the energy price contained within the agreements. PURPA regulations specify that a utility must pay energy prices based on the utility’s avoided costs. The IPUC and OPUC have established specific rules and regulations to calculate the avoided cost that Idaho Power is required to include in PURPA energy sales agreements under each state's jurisdiction. For PURPA energy sales agreements:
•Idaho Power is required to purchase all of the output delivered from the contracted qualifying facilities, subject to some exceptions such as adverse impacts on system reliability.
•The Idaho jurisdictional portion of the costs associated with PURPA contracts is fully recovered through base rates and the Idaho-jurisdiction power cost adjustment (PCA) mechanism, and the Oregon jurisdictional portion is recovered through base rates and an Oregon power cost adjustment mechanism. Thus, the primary impact of high power purchase costs under PURPA contracts is on customer rates.
•Oregon jurisdictional regulations have generally provided for PURPA standard contract terms of up to 20 years.
•The IPUC requires Idaho Power to pay "published avoided cost" rates for all wind, solar, and energy storage projects that are smaller than 100 kilowatts (kW) and all other types of projects that are smaller than 10 average MWs. For PURPA qualifying facilities that exceed these size limitations, Idaho Power is required to negotiate an applicable price using an avoided cost methodology based on IPUC regulations.
•The IPUC issued an order in August 2015 that revised the standard PURPA power purchase contract term for new contracts to a 2-year term from the previously required 20-year term for qualifying facilities that exceed the size limitations for published avoided costs.
•The OPUC requires that Idaho Power pay published avoided costs for solar PURPA qualifying facilities with a nameplate rating of 3 MW or less and all other types of projects with a nameplate rating of 10 MW or less. Idaho Power is required to negotiate an applicable price using an avoided cost methodology based on OPUC regulations.
Participation in Western Energy Imbalance Market: Idaho Power participates in an energy imbalance market in the western United States (Western EIM) under which the participating parties enable their systems to interact for automated intra-hour economic dispatch of generation from committed resources to serve loads. The Western EIM is intended to reduce the power supply costs to serve customers through more efficient dispatch of a larger and more diverse pool of resources, to integrate intermittent power from renewable generation sources more effectively, and to enhance reliability. Participation in the Western EIM is voluntary and available to all balancing authorities in the western United States.
Transmission Services
Electric transmission systems deliver energy from electric generation facilities to distribution systems for final delivery to customers. Transmission systems are designed to move electricity over long distances because generation facilities can be located hundreds of miles away from customers. Idaho Power’s generating facilities are interconnected through its integrated transmission system and are operated on a coordinated basis to achieve maximum capability and reliability. Idaho Power’s transmission system is directly interconnected with the transmission systems of the Bonneville Power Administration, Avista Corporation, PacifiCorp, NorthWestern Energy, and NV Energy. These interconnections, coupled with transmission line capacity made available under agreements with some of those entities, permit the interchange, purchase, and sale of power among entities in the Western Interconnection, the transmission grid covering much of western North America. Idaho Power provides wholesale transmission service for eligible transmission customers on a non-discriminatory basis. Idaho Power is a member of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the Northwest Power Pool, NorthernGrid, and the North American Energy Standards Board. These groups have been formed to more efficiently coordinate transmission reliability and planning throughout the Western Interconnection.
Transmission to serve Idaho Power's retail customers is subject to the jurisdiction of the IPUC and OPUC for retail rate making purposes. Idaho Power provides cost-based wholesale and retail access transmission services under the terms of a FERC approved OATT. Services under the OATT are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis such that all potential customers, including Idaho Power, have an equal opportunity to access the transmission system. As required by FERC standards of conduct, Idaho Power's transmission function is operated independently from Idaho Power's energy marketing function.
Idaho Power is jointly working with various partners on the permitting of two significant transmission projects. The Boardman-to-Hemingway project is a proposed 300-mile, high-voltage transmission line between a station near Boardman, Oregon and the Hemingway station near Boise, Idaho. The Gateway West project is a proposed 1,000-mile, high-voltage transmission line between a station located near Douglas, Wyoming and the Hemingway station. Both projects are intended to meet future anticipated resource needs and are discussed in Part II, Item 7 – MD&A - "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Requirements" in this report.
Resource Planning
Integrated Resource Planning: The IPUC and OPUC require that Idaho Power prepare biennially an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Idaho Power filed its most recent IRP with the IPUC and OPUC in June 2019, which was amended in January and October 2020. The IRP seeks to forecast Idaho Power's loads and resources for a 20-year period, analyzes potential supply-side, demand-side, and transmission resource options, and identifies potential near-term and long-term actions. The four primary goals of the IRP are to:
•identify sufficient resources to reliably serve the growing demand for energy within Idaho Power's service area throughout the 20-year planning period;
•ensure the selected resource portfolio balances cost, risk, and environmental concerns;
•give equal and balanced treatment to supply-side, demand-side, and transmission resources; and
•involve the public in the planning process in a meaningful way.
During the time between IRP filings, the public and regulatory oversight of the activities identified in the IRP allows for discussion and adjustment of the IRP as warranted. Idaho Power makes periodic adjustments and corrections to the resource plan to reflect economic conditions, anticipated resource development, changes in technology, and regulatory requirements.
The load forecast assumptions Idaho Power used in its updated 2019 IRP are included in the table below, together with the average annual growth rate assumptions used in the prior two IRPs. The rate of load growth can impact the timing and extent of development of resources, such as new generation plants or transmission infrastructure, to serve those loads.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 5-Year Forecasted Annual Growth Rate | | 20-Year Forecasted Annual Growth Rate |
| | Retail Sales (Billed MWh) | Annual Peak (Peak Demand) | | Retail Sales (Billed MWh) | Annual Peak (Peak Demand) |
2019 IRP | | 1.3% | 1.4% | | 1.0% | 1.2% |
2017 IRP | | 1.1% | 1.6% | | 0.9% | 1.4% |
2015 IRP | | 1.5% | 1.8% | | 1.2% | 1.5% |
In January and October 2020, Idaho Power amended the originally filed 2019 IRP with additional information and modeling results. The updated 2019 IRP identified a preferred resource portfolio and action plan, which included the completion of the Boardman-to-Hemingway transmission line in 2026, the end to Idaho Power's participation in coal-fired operations at the North Valmy plant unit 2 as early as 2022, the end to Idaho Power's participation in coal-fired operations at the Jim Bridger plant by 2030, including the exit from two of the four Jim Bridger plant units in 2022 and 2026, respectively, and the addition of a 120-MW solar resource in 2022. Idaho Power is currently planning to end its participation in coal-fired operations at the North Valmy Plant unit 2 no later than 2025, subject to approval by the IPUC and OPUC. The final determination of the preferred exit date will require additional analysis to assess near-term impacts to reliability and economics and to confirm that the timing decision would minimize costs and risks for customers. In addition, an earlier exit would also require regulatory approval and a notice to the co-owner of the plant 15 months prior to ending Idaho Power’s participation in the operations of the North Valmy Plant unit 2. As noted in the 2019 IRP, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the resource sufficiency estimates and project completion dates, including uncertainty around the timing and extent of third-party development of renewable resources, fuel commodity prices, the actual completion date of the Boardman-to-Hemingway transmission project, and the economics and logistics of coal-fired plant retirements. These uncertainties, as well as others, may result in changes to the desirability of the preferred portfolio and adjustments to the timing and nature of anticipated and actual actions in the 2019 IRP. As of the date of this report, proceedings relating to the amended 2019 IRP are pending at the IPUC and OPUC.
Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs: Idaho Power’s energy efficiency and demand response portfolio is comprised of 27 programs. The energy efficiency programs target energy savings across the entire year, while the demand response programs target system demand reduction in the summer at times of peak loads. The programs are offered to all customer segments and emphasize the wise use of energy, especially during periods of high demand. This energy and demand reduction can reduce or delay the need for new generation and transmission infrastructure. Idaho Power’s programs include:
•financial incentives for irrigation customers for either improving the energy efficiency of an irrigation system or installing new energy efficient systems;
•energy efficiency programs for new and existing homes including electric heating, ventilation and cooling equipment, as well as energy efficient building techniques, air duct sealing, and energy efficient lighting;
•incentives to industrial and commercial customers for acquiring energy efficient equipment, and using energy efficiency techniques for operational and management processes;
•demand response programs to reduce peak summer demand through the voluntary cycling of central air conditioners for residential customers, interruption of irrigation pumps, and reduction of commercial and industrial demand through actions taken by business owners and operators; and
•participation in the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which supports market transformation efforts across the region.
In 2020, Idaho Power’s energy efficiency programs reduced energy usage by approximately 195,000 MWh compared with 205,000 in 2019. For 2020, Idaho Power had a demand response available capacity of approximately 364 MW. In 2020, 2019, and 2018, Idaho Power expended approximately $51 million, $49 million, and $44 million, respectively, on both energy efficiency and demand response programs. Funding for these programs is provided through a combination of the Idaho and Oregon energy efficiency tariff riders, base rates, and the power cost adjustment mechanisms. Energy efficiency program expenditures funded through the riders are reported as an operating expense with an equal amount of revenues recorded in other revenues, resulting in no net impact on earnings.
Environmental, Social, and Governance Initiatives
IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s boards of directors, with considerable focus from the corporate governance and nominating committee, are responsible for the oversight of the companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and are regularly informed of the goals, measures, and results of the companies' ESG and sustainability programs. IDACORP and Idaho Power publicly release annual sustainability reports and the most current sustainability report is located on Idaho Power’s website, together with other information on ESG issues relevant to Idaho Power. The sustainability reports and related website content are not incorporated by reference into this 2020 Annual Report. IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s ESG initiatives include:
•establishing responsible management goals and long-term strategies related to the companies’ impact on the environment; such as
◦the "Clean Today, Cleaner Tomorrow.®" goal to provide Idaho Power's customers with 100-percent clean energy by 2045
◦the sustainability benefits from the Boardman-to-Hemingway transmission project, which includes integrating renewable energy generation and deferring or eliminating the need for development of additional fossil-fueled resources,
◦continuing various environmental stewardship programs along the Snake River, including fish habitat preservation, water temperature reduction, and fish and plant restoration,
◦wildfire mitigation planning and actions, and
◦wildlife habitat, archaeological and cultural resource, and raptor protection stewardships;
•operational excellence in providing reliable, affordable, and clean energy;
•engaging and empowering Idaho Power’s workforce (including succession planning at all levels, employee development, leadership education, retirement planning education, and providing competitive compensation and benefits, including post-retirement benefits);
•promoting a culture of safety, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness for all employees; and
•building strong community partnerships for healthy, sustainable economic development in Idaho Power’s service area.
Reducing Carbon Emissions Intensity: Carbon emissions intensity is a measure of the pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted per MWh of energy generated. Idaho Power tracks carbon emissions intensity to measure the impact of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions relative to growing power demand in its service area. Idaho Power has actively engaged in voluntary carbon emissions intensity reduction over the past decade with an original goal to reduce emissions 10-15 percent from the baseline year of 2005 levels. Idaho Power has achieved and furthered the reduction goal several times. Idaho Power increased the goal to reduce carbon emission intensity by at least 15-20 percent for the period from 2010 to 2020, and exceeded this goal with an estimated average reduction of 29 percent over that period compared with 2005. In May 2020, IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s boards of directors approved an increased goal to reduce carbon emission intensity by 35 percent for the period from 2021-2025 compared with 2005.
Reduction in Coal-Fired Generation: Idaho Power monitors environmental requirements and assesses whether environmental control measures are or remain economically appropriate. Continued review of the economic appropriateness of further investments in coal-fired plants was included in an IPUC order in February 2014, in which the IPUC requested that Idaho Power continue monitoring environmental requirements at a national level and account for their impact in resource planning and promptly apprise the IPUC of developments that could impact the company's continued reliance on the North Valmy plant as a coal-fired resource. In 2017 and 2018, the IPUC and OPUC approved settlement stipulations allowing accelerated depreciation and cost recovery for the North Valmy plant in connection with Idaho Power's plan to end its participation in the operation of units 1 and 2. Idaho Power ended its participation in the operation of unit 1 in December 2019, as planned, and plans to end its participation in unit 2 no later than the end of 2025. The plan to end Idaho Power's participation in operations of units 1 and 2 at the North Valmy plant was based primarily on the economics of operating the plant. The settlement stipulations are described in Part II, Item 7 - MD&A - "Regulatory Matters” in this report.
In October 2020, Idaho Power and co-owner Portland General Electric ceased coal-fired operations at their Boardman power plant consistent with Idaho Power's continued path away from coal-fired generation.
Environmental Regulation and Costs
Idaho Power's activities are subject to a broad range of federal, state, regional, and local laws and regulations designed to protect, restore, and enhance the quality of the environment. Environmental regulation impacts Idaho Power’s operations due to the cost of installation and operation of equipment and facilities required for compliance with environmental regulations, the
modification of system operations to accommodate environmental regulations, and the cost of acquiring and complying with permits and licenses. In addition to generally applicable regulations, Idaho Power's co-owned coal-fired power plants, natural gas combustion turbine power plants, and hydropower generating plants are subject to a broad range of environmental requirements, including those related to air and water quality, waste materials, and endangered species. For a more detailed discussion of these and other environmental issues, refer to Item 7 - MD&A - "Environmental Matters" in this report.
Environmental Expenditures: Idaho Power’s environmental compliance expenditures will remain significant for the foreseeable future, particularly given the volume of existing and proposed regulations at the federal level. Idaho Power estimates its environmental expenditures, based upon present environmental laws and regulations, will be as follows for the periods indicated, excluding AFUDC (in millions of dollars):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2021 | | 2022-2023 |
Capital expenditures: | | | | |
License compliance and relicensing efforts at hydropower facilities | | $ | 23 | | | $ | 62 | |
Investments in equipment and facilities at thermal plants | | 5 | | | 18 | |
Total capital expenditures | | $ | 28 | | | $ | 80 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | |
Operating costs for environmental facilities - hydropower | | $ | 20 | | | $ | 40 | |
Operating costs for environmental facilities - thermal | | 11 | | | 21 | |
Total operations and maintenance | | $ | 31 | | | $ | 61 | |
Idaho Power anticipates that finalization, implementation, or modification of a number of federal and state rulemakings and other proceedings addressing, among other things, greenhouse gases and endangered species could result in substantial changes in operating and compliance costs, but Idaho Power is unable to estimate those changes in costs given the uncertainty associated with existing and potential future regulations. Idaho Power expects that it would seek to recover increases in costs through the ratemaking process. Beyond increasing costs generally, these environmental laws and regulations could affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition if the costs associated with these environmental requirements and potential early plant retirements cannot be fully recovered in rates on a timely basis.
Idaho Power is actively pursuing the relicensing of the HCC, its largest hydropower generation source. As of the date of this report, Idaho Power is unable to predict the timing of issuance by the FERC of any license order or the ultimate capital investment and ongoing operating and maintenance costs Idaho Power will incur in complying with any new license. However, Idaho Power estimates that the annual costs it will incur to obtain a new long- term license for the HCC, including AFUDC, are likely to range from $30 million to $40 million until issuance of the license. Subsequent to the issuance of a new license, Idaho Power expects to incur increased annual operating and maintenance costs to comply with the requirements of any new license.
Human Capital
Idaho Power is passionate about powering lives with reliable, affordable, and clean energy. Idaho Power believes that it will prosper by committing to the needs, safety, and success of its customers, communities, employees and owners. Idaho Power relies on its foundational core values to guide its plan and actions: safety first; integrity always; and respect for all.
To further its mission, Idaho Power’s human capital programs are designed to attract, retain, and develop the highest quality employees. Idaho Power believes it maintains a good relationship with its employees due to a strong safety culture, respectful and inclusive environment, opportunities for development, and competitive compensation and benefits. Idaho Power regularly conducts employee engagement surveys to seek feedback from its employees on a variety of topics, including safety reporting, support for development, understanding of the company’s initiatives, communication, and being treated with respect and feeling valued. Idaho Power shares the survey results with employees, and senior management incorporates the results of the surveys in their action plans in order to respond to the feedback and improve employee relations.
As of December 31, 2020, IDACORP had 1,943 full-time employees, 1,932 of whom were employed by Idaho Power and 11 of whom were employed by Ida-West. IDACORP had 7 part-time employees, 5 of whom were employed by Idaho Power. Of IDACORP's full-time employees, 55 percent have worked at the company for over 10 years as of the date of this report. All IDACORP and Idaho Power employees work in the United States. As of the date of this report, no Idaho Power employees are represented by unions.
Board and Board Committee Oversight: IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s boards of directors provide oversight for the companies’ human capital management. The companies’ management updates the full board of directors and its committees regularly on safety metrics, total rewards for employees, benefit and pension programs, succession planning and training programs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, among other things. Each committee of the board of directors is delegated and takes on specific roles in this oversight. The compensation committee is responsible for overseeing employee compensation and benefit plans and general labor issues. The audit committee is responsible for overseeing risk management, including compliance with the code of business conduct and physical security risks relating to employees. The corporate governance and nominating committee is responsible for overseeing risks associated with governance and social issues associated with employees as part of its ESG risk oversight function.
Safety: Idaho Power is committed to the safety of its employees, customers, and the communities it serves. Idaho Power believes that safe, engaged, and effective employees are critical to the company’s success and that the company’s record of safety helps keep its service reliable and affordable. Idaho Power consistently ranks in the top 30 percent of all United States utilities in safety performance. Reflective of Idaho Power's focus on safety, the company’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration recordable injury rate was below the industry average rate during four of the past five years, and its safety metrics in 2019 and 2020 were the strongest in the company’s history.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho Power implemented significant changes that it determined were in the best interest of its employees, as well as the communities in which it operates, in addition to complying with government regulations. While the nature of Idaho Power’s industry necessitated that much of its field-based workforce continue to operate in the field, Idaho Power implemented numerous measures to help ensure the safety of those employees, and the public, amidst the pandemic. Most of Idaho Power’s non-field employees worked remotely beginning in March 2020 and remain working remotely as of the date of this report. For more information on the Idaho Power's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, see the “Executive Overview” section of Part II, Item 7 – MD&A.
Total Rewards: Idaho Power provides its employees with competitive pay and benefits, based in large part on salary studies and market data. Idaho Power utilizes a structured compensation schedule and regularly conducts compensation analyses that helps mitigate the potential for gender, race, or ethicity-based disparities in compensation. Beyond base salaries and incentive compensation, benefits for all full-time employees include an employee savings (401(k)) plan and company matching contributions, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, parental leave, employee assistance programs, and tuition assistance. Currently after five years of employment, a full-time employee vests in Idaho Power’s defined benefit pension plan. Idaho Power also ties annual employee incentive compensation to metrics based on the categories of earnings, power system reliability, and customer satisfaction reflective of broad stakeholder interests and each employee's contribution.
Idaho Power delivers a variety of training opportunities and provides rotational assignment and continuous learning and development opportunities to all employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or marital status. Idaho Power's talent development programs, overseen by a talent development team in the Human Resources department, are designed to help employees achieve their career goals, build management skills, and lead their organizations.
Idaho Power also encourages and enables its employees to support many charitable causes. This includes volunteer program engagement promoted by the company or employees. Idaho Power also has an employee-led organization called the “Employee Community Funds,” which administers charitable contributions from employees; Idaho Power matches a portion of employee donations, which supplements the company’s separate charitable contributions.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: One of Idaho Power’s core values as a company is “respect for all.” IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s Code of Business Conduct, available publicly on IDACORP’s website, states Idaho Power's position that employees deserve a workplace where they can be treated in a professional and respectful manner, and each of the company's employees has the responsibility to create and maintain such an environment. In furtherance of this core value, Idaho Power posts its "Our Commitment to Each Other" initiative on its website which promotes an inclusive company environment as follows:
At Idaho Power, we are committed to an inclusive environment where we are all valued, respected and given equal consideration for our contributions. We believe that to be successful as a company we must be able to innovate and adapt, which only happens when we seek out and value diverse backgrounds, opinions and perspectives. Our collaborative environment thrives when we are engaged, feel we belong and are empowered to do our best work. We are a stronger company when we stand together and embrace our differences.
As of December 31, 2020, 36 percent of Idaho Power’s senior management were women, 21 percent of its officers were women, and 45 percent of its board of directors were women. Idaho Power also has programs in place to encourage STEM participation, training to minimize bias and ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace, community outreach to underserved communities, and partnerships with multiple diversity-focused organizations.
IDACORP FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
IFS invests in real estate projects, such as affordable housing developments, which provide a return principally by reducing federal and state income taxes through tax credits and accelerated tax depreciation benefits. IFS has focused on a diversified approach to its investment strategy in order to limit both geographic and operational risk with most of IFS’s investments having been made through syndicated funds. At December 31, 2020, the unamortized amount of IFS’s portfolio was approximately $28 million ($128 million in gross tax credit investments, net of $100 million of accumulated amortization). IFS generated tax credits of $5.3 million in 2020, $2.9 million in 2019, and $2.6 million in 2018. In 2020, IFS received no distributions related to fully-amortized affordable housing investments. In 2019 and 2018, IFS received distributions related to fully-amortized affordable housing investments that reduced IDACORP's income tax expense by $3.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
IDA-WEST ENERGY COMPANY
Ida-West operates and has a 50 percent ownership interest in nine hydropower projects that have a total nameplate capacity of 44 MW. Four of the projects are located in Idaho and five are in northern California. All nine projects are “qualifying facilities” under PURPA. Idaho Power purchased all of the power generated by Ida-West’s four Idaho hydropower projects at a cost of approximately $9 million in both 2020 and 2019 and $10 million in 2018.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The names, ages, and positions of the executive officers of IDACORP and Idaho Power are listed below (in alphabetical order), along with their business experience during at least the past five years. There are no family relationships among these officers, nor is there any arrangement or understanding between any officer and any other person pursuant to which the officer was appointed.
RYAN N. ADELMAN, 46
•Vice President of Power Supply of Idaho Power Company, August 2020 - present
•Vice President of Transmission & Distribution, Engineering and Construction of Idaho Power Company, October 2019 - August 2020
•Regional Manager for the Southeast Region of Idaho Power Company, January 2018 - October 2019
•Transmission & Distribution Projects Senior Manager of Idaho Power Company, January 2015 - December 2017
BRIAN R. BUCKHAM, 42
•Senior Vice President and General Counsel of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, February 2017 - present
•Vice President and General Counsel of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, April 2016 - February 2017
•In-house legal counsel of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, April 2010 - March 2016
MITCH COLBURN, 37
•Vice President of Planning, Engineering and Construction of Idaho Power Company, August 2020 - present
•Director of Engineering and Construction of Idaho Power Company, March 2020 - August 2020
•Director of Resource Planning and Operations of Idaho Power Company, January 2018 - March 2020
•Senior Manager, Transmission & Distribution Strategic Projects of Idaho Power Company, April 2017 - January 2018
•Engineering Leader, 500 kV and Joint Projects, Idaho Power Company, January 2015 – April 2017
SARAH E. GRIFFIN, 51
•Vice President of Human Resources of Idaho Power Company, October 2019 - present
•Director of Human Resources of Idaho Power Company, May 2014 - October 2019
LISA A. GROW, 55
•President and Chief Executive Officer of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, June 2020 - present
•President of Idaho Power Company, October 2019 - June 2020
•Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Idaho Power Company, April 2016 - October 2019
•Senior Vice President of Operations of Idaho Power Company, January 2016 - March 2016
JAMES BO D. HANCHEY, 45
•Vice President of Customer Operations and Chief Safety Officer of Idaho Power Company, October 2019 - present
•Customer Service Senior Manager of Idaho Power Company, February 2018 - October 2019
•Regional Manager of Southern Region of Idaho Power Company, May 2014 - February 2018
STEVEN R. KEEN, 60
•Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, March 2020 - present
•Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, May 2014 - March 2020
JEFFREY L. MALMEN, 53
•Senior Vice President of Public Affairs of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, April 2016 - present
•Vice President of Public Affairs of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, October 2008 - March 2016
KEN W. PETERSEN, 57
•Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, March 2020 - present
•Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, January 2014 - March 2020
ADAM RICHINS, 42
•Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Idaho Power Company, October 2019 - present
•Vice President of Customer Operations and Business Development of Idaho Power Company, March 2017 - October 2019
•General Manager of Customer Operations, Engineering and Construction, January 2014 - February 2017
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
IDACORP and Idaho Power operate in a highly regulated industry and business environment that involves significant risks, many of which are beyond the companies' control. The circumstances and factors set forth below should not be considered a complete list of potential risks that the companies may encounter. These risk factors may have a material impact on the business, financial condition, or results of operations of IDACORP and Idaho Power and could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements. These risk factors, as well as other information in this report, including without limitation, in Part II - Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Matters Impacting Future Results" in this report, and information in other reports the companies file with the SEC, may be important to understanding any statement in this 2020 Annual Report or elsewhere and should be considered carefully when making any investment decisions relating to IDACORP or Idaho Power.
IDACORP's and Idaho Power's businesses regularly face risks, many of which may cause future results to be different than anticipated as of the date of this report. Below are certain important utility-specific regulatory, operational, legal and compliance, financial and investment, and general business risks. IDACORP's and Idaho Power's reactions to material future developments as well as the utility industry's reactions to those developments may also impact the Companies' future results.
Utility-Specific Regulatory Risks
Utility-specific regulatory risk includes the risks that federal, state, or local regulators may impose additional requirements and costs on Idaho Power and the utility industry, reduce authorized rates of return or otherwise adversely affect recovery of costs and the opportunity to earn a return on investments, or require Idaho Power as a utility to make adverse changes to its business models, strategies, and practices.
State or federal regulators may not approve customer rates that provide timely or sufficient recovery of Idaho Power's costs or allow Idaho Power to earn a reasonable rate of return, which could cause IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations to be adversely affected. The prices that the IPUC and OPUC authorize Idaho Power to charge customers for its retail services, and the tariff rate that the FERC permits Idaho Power to charge for its transmission services, are significant factors influencing IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s business, results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition. Idaho Power's ability to recover its costs and earn a reasonable rate of return can be affected by many regulatory factors, including the timing difference between when Idaho Power incurs costs and when Idaho Power recovers those costs in customers’ rates (often called "regulatory lag" in the utility industry), and differences between the costs included in rates and the amount of actual costs incurred. Idaho Power is often required to incur costs before the IPUC, OPUC, or FERC approves the recovery of those costs, such as construction costs for new facilities, changes in the long-term cost-effectiveness or changes to the operating conditions of Idaho Power's assets that could result in early retirements of utility facilities, the costs of compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, increased funding levels of Idaho Power's defined benefit pension plan, and the costs of damage from fires, weather-related events, and natural disasters. The IPUC, OPUC, and FERC may not allow Idaho Power to recover some or all of those costs on the basis that they find Idaho Power did not reasonably or prudently incur those costs or for other reasons. The IPUC and OPUC may adopt different methods of calculating the allocation of the total utility costs in their respective jurisdictions, resulting in certain costs excluded in both states. Ratemaking has generally been premised on estimates of historic costs based on a test year, so if a given year’s actual costs are higher than historic costs, rates may not be sufficient to cover actual costs. While rate regulation is also premised on the assumption that rates established are fair, just, and reasonable, regulators have considerable discretion in applying this standard.
Economic, political, legislative, public policy, or regulatory pressures may lead stakeholders to seek rate reductions or refunds, limits on rate increases, or lower allowed rates of return on investments for Idaho Power. The ratemaking process typically involves multiple intervening parties, including governmental bodies, consumer advocacy groups, and customers, generally with the common objective of limiting rate increases or even reducing rates. In the past, Idaho Power has been denied recovery, or required to defer recovery pending the next general rate case, including denials or deferrals related to capital expenditures for long-term project expenses. Adverse outcomes in regulatory proceedings, or significant regulatory lag, may cause Idaho Power to incur increased project costs or result in cancellation of projects, or to record an impairment of its assets or otherwise adversely affect cash flows and earnings. This may also result in lower credit ratings, reduced access to capital and higher financing costs, and reductions or delays in planned capital expenditures.
For additional information relating to Idaho Power's state and federal regulatory framework and regulatory matters, see Part I - Item 1 - "Business - Utility Operations," Part II - Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Regulatory Matters," and Note 3 - "Regulatory Matters" to the consolidated financial statements of Part II - Item 8 in this report.
Idaho Power's regulatory cost recovery mechanisms may not function as intended and are subject to change or elimination, which may adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power has power cost adjustment mechanisms in its Idaho and Oregon jurisdictions and a fixed cost adjustment mechanism in Idaho. The power cost adjustment mechanisms track Idaho Power’s actual net power supply costs (primarily fuel and purchased power less wholesale energy sales) and compare these amounts to net power supply costs being recovered in retail rates. A majority of the differences between these two amounts is deferred for future recovery from, or refund to, customers through rates. Volatility in power supply costs continues to be significant, in large part due to fluctuations in hydropower generation conditions and high costs for the purchase of renewable energy under mandatory long-term contracts. While the power cost adjustment mechanisms function to mitigate the potentially adverse impact on net income of power supply cost volatility, the mechanisms do not eliminate the cash flow impact of that volatility. When power costs rise above the level recovered in current retail rates, Idaho Power incurs the costs but recovery of those costs is deferred to a subsequent collection period, which can adversely affect Idaho Power’s operating cash flow and liquidity until those costs are recovered from customers. The fixed cost adjustment mechanism is a decoupling mechanism that allows Idaho Power to charge Idaho residential and small commercial customers when it recovers less than the base level of fixed costs per customer that the IPUC authorized for recovery in the most recent general rate case. The power cost and fixed cost adjustment mechanisms are generally subject to change at the discretion of applicable state regulators, who could decide to modify or eliminate either mechanism in a manner that adversely impacts IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak could adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's business functions, financial condition, and results of operations. The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has resulted in widespread impacts on the global economy and on Idaho Power's employees, customers, contractors, and suppliers, and there is considerable uncertainty regarding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities have implemented various measures to reduce the spread of the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, and other restrictive orders and mandates (including those in effect in Idaho Power's service area in the states of Idaho and Oregon), as well as business and government shutdowns. While governmental authorities have eased some restrictions and vaccines are becoming available, it is possible that an increase in COVID-19 cases could prompt a return to tighter restrictions in some or all of the states and countries in which Idaho Power and its contractors and suppliers operate. Restrictions of this nature are difficult to predict and may cause Idaho Power or its contractors to miss milestones on construction projects and experience operational delays, delay the delivery of electrical infrastructure and other supplies that it sources from around the globe, delay the connection of electric service to new customers, prolong the time period necessary to perform maintenance of our infrastructure, and significantly reduce the use of electricity by commercial and industrial customers.
Further, while Idaho Power has modified certain business and workforce practices (including employee travel, employee work locations, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events, and conferences) to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by government and regulatory authorities, Idaho Power has a limited number of highly skilled operators for some of its critical power plants and its grid operations centers. If a large proportion of Idaho Power's employees in those critical facilities, however, were to contract COVID-19 at the same time, Idaho Power would rely upon its business continuity plans in an effort to continue operations at those facilities. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the adverse impact to its operations.
Additionally, the uncertainty around and impacts of COVID-19 on IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s business operations and access to capital, on their customers, and on the utility industry and economy as a whole, could adversely impact IDACORP’s common stock price, financial condition, and business operations. For example, the costs related to Idaho Power's noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, as well as a defined benefit postretirement benefit plan (consisting of health care and death benefits) that covers eligible retirees, are based in part on the value of the plans’ assets and, therefore, adverse investment performance for these assets or the failure to maintain sustained growth in pension investments over time could increase its plan costs and funding requirements related to the plans. Similarly, IDACORP and Idaho Power rely on access to the capital markets to fund capital requirements. To the extent that access to the capital markets is adversely affected by COVID-19, IDACORP and Idaho Power may need to consider alternative sources of funding, such as existing or additional credit facilities, for its operations and for working capital, which may increase its cost of, as well as adversely impact its access to, capital. Increased volatility or significant disruptions in the global financial markets due to COVID-19 could impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's ability to comply with debt covenants. These uncertain economic conditions may also result in the inability of Idaho Power's customers to pay for electric service, which could affect the collectability of its revenues and adversely affect its financial results.
The degree to which COVID-19 may impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations is unknown at this time and will depend on future developments, including the continuing spread of the virus, the
severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, the deployment rate of the vaccines, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can and will resume.
Operational Risks
Operational risk relates to risks arising from the systems, assets, processes, people, and external factors that affect the operation of IDACORP's or Idaho Power's businesses.
Changes in customer growth and customer usage may negatively affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's business, financial condition, and results of operations. Changes in the number of customers and customers' use of electricity are affected by a number of factors, such as population growth or decline in Idaho Power's service area, expansion or loss of service area, changes in customer needs and expectations, adoption rates of energy efficiency measures, customer-generated power such as from solar panels and gas-fired generators, demand-side management requirements, regulation or deregulation, and adverse economic conditions. An economic downturn or recession, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, could also negatively impact customer use and reduce revenues and cash flows, thus adversely affecting results of operations. Many electric utilities, including Idaho Power, have experienced a decline in usage per customer, in part attributable to energy efficiency activities. State or federal regulations may be enacted to encourage or require mandatory energy conservation or technological advances that increase energy efficiency, which could further reduce usage per customer. Also, changing customer needs and expectations and increased competition from customer-owned generation could lead to lower customer satisfaction, reduced loyalty, difficulty in obtaining rate increases, legislation to deregulate electric service, and customers seeking alternative sources of energy and electric service. If customers choose to generate their own energy, discontinue a portion or all service from Idaho Power, or replace electric power for heating with natural gas, demand for Idaho Power's energy may decline and adversely impact the affordability of its services for remaining customers. While Idaho Power has recently experienced a net growth in usage due to an increase in the number of customers, when adjusted for the impacts of weather, the average monthly usage on a per customer basis for Idaho Power's residential customers has declined from 1,035 kWh in 2011 to 947 kWh in 2020. Rate mechanisms, such as the Idaho fixed cost adjustment for residential and small commercial customers, are designed to address the financial disincentive associated with promoting energy efficiency activities, but there is no assurance that the mechanism will result in full or timely collection of Idaho Power's fixed costs, which are currently collected in large part through the company's volume-based energy rates that are based on historical sales volume. Any undercollection of fixed costs would adversely impact revenues, earnings, and cash flows. The formation of municipal utilities or similar entities for distribution systems within Idaho Power's service area could also result in a load decrease. The loss of loads resulting from some of these events may result in excess infrastructure and stranded costs and require IDACORP and Idaho Power to modify or eliminate large generation or transmission projects. This could in turn result in reduced revenues as well as write-downs or write-offs if regulators determine that the costs of the projects were incurred imprudently, which could have a material adverse impact on IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Conversely, if Idaho Power were to experience an unanticipated increase in the demand for energy through, for example, the rapid addition of new industrial and commercial customers or population growth in the service area, Idaho Power may be required to rely on higher-cost purchased power to meet peak system demand and may need to accelerate investment in additional generation or transmission resources. If the incremental costs associated with the unanticipated changes in loads exceed the incremental revenue received from the sales to the new customers, and Idaho Power is unable to secure timely and full rate relief to recover those increased costs, the resulting imbalance could have an adverse effect on IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Changes in weather conditions, severe weather, and the impacts of climate change can adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's operating results and cause them to fluctuate seasonally. Idaho Power's electric power sales are seasonal, with demand in Idaho Power's service area peaking during the hot summer months, with a secondary peak during the cold winter months. Electric power demands by irrigation customers in Idaho Power's service area, which are impacted by temperatures and the timing and amount of precipitation, can also create significant seasonal changes in usage. Seasonality of revenues may be further impacted by Idaho Power's tiered rate structure, under which rates charged to customers are often higher during higher-load periods, such as hot summers and cold winters. Market prices for power also often increase significantly during these peak periods, at times when Idaho Power is required to purchase power in the wholesale markets to meet customer demand. While Idaho Power has regulatory mechanisms to help mitigate the impact of weather on power supply costs, there is no assurance that it will continue to receive such regulatory protection in the future. By contrast, when temperatures are relatively mild or where precipitation supplants irrigation systems, loads are often lower as customers are not using electricity for heating and air conditioning or irrigation purposes. Thus, weather conditions and the timing and extent of precipitation can cause IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition to fluctuate seasonally, quarterly, and from year to year.
Climate change could also have significant physical effects in Idaho Power’s service area, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, lightning, droughts, heat waves, fires, floods, snow loading, and other extreme weather events. These extreme weather events and their associated impacts could damage transmission, distribution, and generation facilities, causing service interruptions and extended or mass outages, increasing costs and other operating and maintenance expenses, including emergency response planning and preparedness expenses, and limiting Idaho Power's ability to meet customer energy demand. Sustained drought conditions or decreased snow pack due to reduced precipitation or higher temperatures are likely to decrease power generation from hydropower plants.
Idaho Power's customers' energy needs vary with weather and to the extent weather conditions are affected by climate change, customers' energy use could increase or decrease. Increased energy use due to weather changes may require Idaho Power to invest in generating assets and transmission and distribution infrastructure, while decreased energy use due to weather changes may result in decreased revenues. Extreme weather conditions creating high energy demand may raise wholesale electricity prices for power that Idaho Power purchases to serve customers, increasing the cost of energy Idaho Power provides to its customers, and at the same time can increase the revenues Idaho Power receives for wholesale market sales of excess generation during regional extreme weather events. Variations in hydropower generation that increase Idaho Power's reliance on market purchases may lead to more costly power supply sources for its customers and reduce benefits from selling surplus hydropower in the wholesale market. The price of power in the wholesale energy markets tends to be higher during periods of high regional demand that tends to occur with weather extremes, which may cause Idaho Power to purchase power in the wholesale market during peak price periods, increasing power supply costs. Idaho Power has in place mechanisms to help mitigate the effects of energy market price volatility, but there is no assurance these mechanisms will continue to be in place or function as intended.
The costs of repairing and replacing infrastructure or liability for personal injury, loss of life, and property damage from utility equipment that fails, including as a result of significant weather and weather-related events and fires, may not be covered in full by insurance. Costs incurred in connection with such events might also not be recovered through customer rates if the costs incurred are greater than those allowed for recovery by regulators.
In addition, state and federal legislation and regulations have been proposed in recent years and may be implemented in the future, including in the State of Oregon and by the EPA under the new Presidential Administration. These laws are intended to limit the severity and impact of climate change, such as imposing mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, which could increase Idaho Power’s power supply and compliance costs or require generation facilities to be retired early, resulting in potential stranded costs and write-downs or write-offs if Idaho Power is unable to fully recover investments in such facilities. If financial markets increasingly view climate change or greenhouse gas emissions as a financial or investment risk for electric utilities, it could negatively affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's ability to access debt and equity capital markets on favorable terms. For additional information relating to legislation, regulations, and legal proceedings related to environmental matters, see Part II - Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Environmental Matters" in this report.
New advances in power generation, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, or other technologies that impact the power utility industry could decrease customer energy demand and revenues. Advances in technology and changes in customer demand and preferences in the electric utility industry have encouraged the development of new technologies for power generation, energy storage, and energy efficiency. In particular, in recent years the net cost of solar generation and storage technology has decreased significantly, and there are federal and state regulations, laws, and other incentives in place to help further reduce the net cost of solar facilities. There is potential that customer-owned solar power generation systems, particularly if coupled with energy storage devices, could become sufficiently cost-effective and efficient that an increasing number of Idaho Power's customers choose to install such systems on their homes or businesses, which in turn could require changes in the way Idaho Power builds and manages its distribution systems, and reduce the demand for and sale of energy. Additionally, considerable emphasis has been placed on energy efficiency, such as LED lighting and high-efficiency appliances. Energy efficiency programs, including programs sponsored by Idaho Power under a directive from state regulatory commissions, are designed to reduce energy use and demand. The introduction of new technologies could pose risks in the form of reduced sales and new business models for energy services. Advances in technology that reduce the costs of alternative methods of producing electric energy could result in loss of revenue and customers. These changes in technology could also alter the channels through which customers buy or utilize energy, which could reduce Idaho Power's revenues or impact Idaho Power's expenses. A reduction in load, however, would not necessarily reduce Idaho Power's need for ongoing investments in its infrastructure to reliably serve its customers. If Idaho Power is unable to adjust its rate design or maintain adequate regulatory mechanisms allowing for timely cost recovery, declining usage from customer-owned generation sources and energy efficiency would result in under-recovery of Idaho Power's costs and investment in infrastructure, and reduce revenues, which would impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations.
Acts or threats of terrorism, acts of war, social unrest, cyber attacks, data or physical security breaches, and other acts of individuals or groups seeking to disrupt Idaho Power's operations or the electric power grid could require significant expenditures, or result in claims against the companies, and negatively impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power operates in an industry that requires the continuous use and operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure. Idaho Power's generation and transmission facilities and its grid operations are potential targets for terrorist acts and threats, acts of war, social unrest, cyber attacks, and other disruptive activities of individuals or groups, including by nation states or nation state-sponsored groups. Federal regulators have stated that the number of organizations seeking opportunities to exploit potential vulnerabilities in the United States energy infrastructure is increasing and that those attacks have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated. Some of Idaho Power's facilities are deemed "critical infrastructure," in that incapacity or destruction of the facilities could have a debilitating impact on security, reliability or operability of the bulk electric power system, national economic security, and public health and safety. The possibility that infrastructure facilities, such as generation facilities and electric transmission or distribution facilities, would be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror or cyber attack, including by nation states or nation state-sponsored groups (whether originating internally or externally), may affect Idaho Power's operations by limiting the ability to generate, purchase, or transmit power. Idaho Power's electric transmission systems are part of an interconnected regional grid, and therefore, it faces the risk of causing or being subject to a blackout due to grid disturbances or disruptions on a neighboring interconnected system. Cyber threats and attacks can have cascading impacts that unfold with increasing speed across networks, information systems, and other technologies. Network, information systems, and technology-related events, including those caused by IDACORP or Idaho Power, such as process breakdowns, human error, security architecture or design vulnerabilities, or by third parties, such as computer hackings, cyber attacks, computer viruses, or other destructive or disruptive software, denial of service attacks, social engineering or other malicious activities, or any combination of the foregoing, could result in a degradation or disruption in the energy grid and the services of the companies, as well as the ability to record, process, and report customer, business, and financial information. Physical or cyber attacks against key suppliers or service providers could have a similar effect on IDACORP and Idaho Power.
Terrorist attacks, acts of war, social unrest, cyber attacks, and similar incidents can create political, economic, social, or financial market instability, and can cause damage to or interference with Idaho Power’s operating assets, customers, or suppliers. This may result in business interruption, lost revenue, higher commodity prices, disruption in fuel supplies, lower energy consumption, and unstable markets, particularly with respect to electricity and natural gas, and increased security, repair, or other costs, any of which may materially adversely affect Idaho Power in ways that cannot be predicted as of the date of this report. Any of these risks could materially affect the companies’ consolidated financial results. These events, and governmental actions in response, could result in a material decrease in revenues and increase costs to protect, repair, and insure Idaho Power's assets and operate its business.
Idaho Power's operations require the continuous availability of information technology systems and network infrastructure, and in the normal course of business, Idaho Power or its vendors collect and store sensitive and confidential customer and employee information and proprietary information of Idaho Power. Idaho Power’s technology systems are dependent upon connectivity to the internet and third party vendors to host, maintain, modify, and update its systems, which may experience significant system failures or cyber attacks that could compromise the security of Idaho Power’s assets and information. During 2020 and into 2021, for example, a sophisticated security breach of a software platform used broadly across industry sectors, including the utility industry and many of the industry’s vendors, created a cyber security vulnerability for thousands of companies in the United States as well as a number of governmental entities. Any data security breaches, such as misappropriation, misuse, leakage, falsification or accidental release or loss of information maintained in IDACORP's and Idaho Power's information technology systems, including customer data, could result in violations of privacy and other laws, financial loss to Idaho Power or to its customers, customer dissatisfaction or diminished customer confidence, damage to Idaho Power’s reputation, and significant litigation and penalty exposure, all of which could materially affect Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. No security measures can completely shield Idaho Power's systems, infrastructure, and data from vulnerabilities to cyber attacks, human error, intrusions, or other catastrophic events that could result in their failure or reduced functionality, and ultimately the potential loss of sensitive information or the loss of Idaho Power's ability to fulfill critical business functions and provide reliable electric power to customers. Idaho Power maintains insurance related to these events; however, such insurance is subject to exclusions, and may be insufficient in amount to offset any losses, costs, or damage experienced, particularly given the potential significant magnitude of a security incident like those reported broadly in the media, and further, any such insurance may become unreasonably expensive or unavailable in the future.
Changes in capital expenditures for infrastructure and the risks associated with permitting and construction of utility infrastructure can significantly affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power’s business is capital intensive and requires significant investments in energy generation, transmission, and distribution
infrastructure. A significant portion of Idaho Power’s facilities were constructed many years ago, and thus require periodic upgrades and frequent maintenance. Also, long-term anticipated increases in both the number of customers and the demand for energy require expansion and reinforcement of that infrastructure. For instance, Idaho Power is in the permitting process for two high-voltage transmission line projects, which are intended to help meet future customer energy demands. Construction projects are subject to usual permitting and construction risks that can adversely affect project costs and the completion time. These risks include, as examples:
•the ability to timely obtain labor or materials at reasonable costs;
•defaults by suppliers and contractors;
•equipment, engineering, and design failures;
•unexpected environmental and geological problems;
•the effects of adverse weather conditions;
•catastrophic events and natural disasters;
•availability of financing;
•load forecasts;
•the ability to obtain approval from local, state, or federal regulatory and governmental bodies and to comply with permits and land use rights, and environmental constraints; and
•delays and costs associated with disputes and litigation with third parties or stakeholder activism.
The occurrence of any of these risks could cause Idaho Power to operate at reduced capacity levels, which in turn could reduce revenues, increase expenses, or cause Idaho Power to incur penalties. If Idaho Power is unable to complete the permitting or construction of a project, or incurs costs that regulators do not deem prudent, it may be unable to recover its costs in full through rates or on a timely basis. Further, if Idaho Power is unable to secure permits or joint funding commitments to develop transmission infrastructure necessary to serve loads or if other resources become more economical, it may terminate those projects and, as alternatives, seek to develop additional generation facilities within areas where Idaho Power has available transmission capacity or pursue other more costly options to serve loads. To limit the timing-related risks of these projects, Idaho Power may enter into purchase orders and construction contracts and incur engineering and design service costs in advance of receiving necessary regulatory approvals or permits. If any of the projects are canceled for any reason, including Idaho Power's failure to receive necessary regulatory approvals or permits or because the project is no longer economical, Idaho Power could incur significant cancellation penalties under purchase orders or construction contracts. Additionally, termination of a project carries with it the potential for impairment of the associated asset if regulators deny full recovery of project costs. Thus, termination of a project could negatively affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations.
Factors contributing to lower hydropower generation can increase costs and negatively impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power derives a significant portion of its power supply from its hydropower facilities. During 2019 and 2020, 62 percent and 54 percent, respectively, of Idaho Power's electric power from Idaho Power-owned generation was from hydropower facilities. Due to Idaho Power’s heavy reliance on hydropower generation, the impacts of climate change and factors such as precipitation and snowpack, the timing of run-off, and the availability of water in the Snake River basin can significantly affect its operations. The combination of a long-term trend of declining Snake River base flows, over-appropriation of water, and periods of drought have led to water rights disputes and proceedings among surface water and ground water irrigators and the State of Idaho. Recharging the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer by diverting surface water to porous locations and permitting it to sink into the aquifer is one approach to the over-appropriation dispute. Diversions from the Snake River for aquifer recharge or the loss of water rights reduce Snake River flows available for hydropower generation. When hydropower generation is reduced, Idaho Power must increase its use of more expensive thermal generating resources and market power purchases; therefore, costs increase and opportunities for wholesale energy sales are reduced, reducing revenues and potentially earnings. Through its power cost adjustment mechanisms, Idaho Power expects to recover most (but not all) of the increase in net power supply costs caused by lower hydropower generation. The timing of recovery of the increased costs, however, may not occur until the subsequent power cost adjustment year, adversely affecting cash flows and liquidity.
Idaho Power’s use of coal and natural gas to fuel power generation facilities exposes it to commodity availability and price risk, which can adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition. As part of its normal business operations, Idaho Power purchases coal and natural gas in the open market or under short-term or long-term contracts, often with variable pricing terms. Market prices for coal and natural gas are volatile and influenced by factors impacting supply and demand such as weather conditions, the adequacy and type of generating capacity, fuel transportation availability, economic conditions, regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions, changes in technology, moratoriums on federally leased coal, and increases in coal lease costs. Natural gas transportation to Idaho Power's three natural gas plants is
limited to one primary pipeline, presenting a heightened possibility of supply constraint and disruptions separate from the risk of counterparty default. Most of Idaho Power's coal supply arrangements are under long-term contracts for coal originating in Wyoming, and thus Idaho Power is exposed to risk of disruption of coal production in, or transportation from, that region. Idaho Power may from time to time enter into new, or renegotiate, these long-term contracts but can provide no assurance that such contracts will be negotiated or renegotiated on satisfactory terms, or at all. There also can be no assurance that counterparties to the natural gas or coal supply agreements will fulfill their obligations to supply natural gas or coal, and they may experience regulatory, financial, or technical problems or unforeseeable events that inhibit their ability to deliver natural gas or coal. Disruptions in transportation of fuel and defaults by coal and natural gas suppliers may cause Idaho Power to seek alternative, and potentially more costly, sources of fuel or rely on other generation sources or wholesale market power purchases. Idaho Power's failure to provide service due to such disruptions may also result in fines, penalties, or cost disallowances through the regulatory process. Idaho Power may not be able to fully or timely recover these increased costs through rates and power cost adjustment mechanisms, which may adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations.
Idaho Power’s generation, transmission, and distribution facilities are subject to numerous operational risks unique to it and its industry, including circumstances causing power outages, injuries and property damage, loss of life, and fires. Operating risks associated with Idaho Power's generation, transmission, and distribution facilities include equipment failures, volatility in fuel and transportation pricing, interruptions in fuel supplies, increased regulatory compliance costs, labor disputes or attrition, accidents and workforce safety matters, environmental damage, property damage, wildfires, acts of terrorism or sabotage (both cyber and asset-based), the loss of cost-effective disposal options for solid waste such as coal ash, operator error, and the occurrence of catastrophic events at the facilities. Diminished availability or performance of those facilities could result in reduced customer satisfaction, reputational harm, liability to third parties (including tort liability), and regulatory inquiries and fines. Operation of Idaho Power's owned and co-owned generating stations below expected capacity levels, or unplanned outages at these stations, could cause reduced energy output and lower efficiency levels and result in lost revenues and increased expenses for alternative fuels or wholesale market power purchases. Further, during high-load periods the transmission system in Idaho Power's service area is constrained, limiting the ability to transmit electric energy within the service area and access electric energy from outside the service area. Idaho Power's transmission facilities are also interconnected with those of third parties, and thus operation of Idaho Power's and third-parties' facilities could be adversely affected by unexpected or uncontrollable events. These transmission constraints and events could result in failure to provide reliable service to customers and the inability to deliver energy from generating facilities to the power grid, and the inability to access lower cost sources of electric energy. Idaho Power also enters into agreements with third-party contractors to perform work on its generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, and may in some circumstances retain liability for the quality and completion of those contractors’ work, potentially subjecting Idaho Power to penalties, liability for personal injury, loss of life, or property damage, reputational harm, or enforcement actions or liability if a contractor violates applicable laws, rules, regulations, or orders.
Accidents, terrorist acts, electrical contacts, fires, explosions, catastrophic failures, general system damage or dysfunction, uncontrolled release of water from hydropower dams, and other unplanned events related to Idaho Power's infrastructure would increase repair costs and may expose Idaho Power to liability for personal injury, loss of life, and property damage. Fires alleged to have been caused by Idaho Power's transmission, distribution, or generation infrastructure, or that allegedly result from Idaho Power’s or its contractors’ operating or maintenance practices, could also expose Idaho Power to claims for fire suppression and clean-up costs, evacuation costs, fines and penalties, and liability for economic damages, personal injury, loss of life, property damage, and environmental pollution, whether based on claims of negligence, trespass, or otherwise. The risk of wildfires is exacerbated in forested areas where beetle infestations have caused a significant increase in the quantity of standing dead and dying timber, increasing the risk that such trees may fall from either inside or outside our right-of-way into a powerline igniting a fire and increasing the magnitude of fires. A significant number of urban-wildland interfaces in and near Idaho Power's service area, and commonly hot, dry summer conditions that may worsen as a result of climate change, increase the likelihood and magnitude of damages that may be caused by fires burning into or allegedly originating from utility equipment. Further, there has been an increasing trend in the degree of annual destruction from wildfires in the western United States. Idaho Power maintains insurance coverage for such operating and event risks, but insurance coverage is subject to the terms and limitations of the available policies and may not be sufficient in amount to cover Idaho Power’s ultimate liability. Coverage limits within wildfire insurance policies could result in material self-insured costs in the event there are fires that are deemed to be separate occurrences covered by self-insured retention amounts under the terms of Idaho Power’s insurance policies. Idaho Power or its contractors and customers could also experience coverage reductions and increased wildfire insurance costs in future years. Idaho Power may be unable to fully recover costs in excess of insurance through customer rates or regulatory mechanisms and, even if such recovery is possible, it could take several years to collect. If the amount of insurance is insufficient or otherwise unavailable, and if Idaho Power is unable to fully recover in rates the costs of uninsured losses, IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially affected.
Purchases of power from renewable energy projects, and integration of power generated from those projects into Idaho Power's system, may increase costs and decrease system reliability, and adversely affect Idaho Power's and IDACORP's results of operations and financial condition. An abundance of intermittent, non-dispatchable generation from renewable energy projects interconnected with Idaho Power's system has had an impact on the operation of Idaho Power's generation plants, system reliability, power supply costs, and the wholesale power markets. Idaho Power is generally obligated under federal law to purchase power from certain renewable energy projects, regardless of the then-current load demand, availability of lower cost generation resources, or wholesale energy market prices. As of December 31, 2020, Idaho Power had federally-mandated contracts to purchase energy from 128 on-line projects with third parties. This increases the likelihood and frequency that Idaho Power will be required to reduce output from its lower-cost hydropower and fossil fuel-fired generation resources, which in turn increases power purchase costs and customer rates and impacts Idaho Power's ability to invest in additional generation and earn a reasonable return on rate base in the future. Further, balancing load and generation from Idaho Power's power generation portfolio is challenging, and Idaho Power expects that its operational and infrastructure costs will continue to increase as a result of its efforts to integrate intermittent, non-dispatchable generation from a large number of renewable energy projects. If Idaho Power is unable to timely recover those costs through its rates, power cost adjustment mechanisms, or otherwise, those increased costs may negatively affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
IDACORP's and Idaho Power's activities are concentrated in one industry and in one region, which exposes it to risks from lack of diversification, regional economic conditions, and regional legislation and regulation. IDACORP and Idaho Power do not have diversified operations or sources of revenue. Idaho Power comprises the bulk of IDACORP's operations, and Idaho Power's business is concentrated solely in the electricity industry. Furthermore, Idaho Power's provision of electric service to retail customers is conducted exclusively in its southern Idaho and eastern Oregon service area. As a result, IDACORP's and Idaho Power's future performance, revenues, and collectability of revenues, as well as expenses, will be affected by regional economic conditions, regulatory and legislative activity, weather conditions, and other events and conditions in its service area and in the electric power industry.
The impacts of a retiring workforce with specialized utility-specific functions and the inability to hire qualified third-party vendors could increase costs and adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power’s operations require a skilled workforce to perform specialized utility functions. Many of these positions, such as linemen, grid operators, engineering and design personnel, and generation plant operators, require extensive, specialized training. Idaho Power has experienced in recent years an above-average number of employee retirements and expects the increased level of retirement of its skilled workforce and persons in key positions will continue in 2021 and in the near-term. At December 31, 2020, approximately 21 percent of Idaho Power's employees were eligible for regular or early retirement under Idaho Power's defined benefit pension plan. This will require Idaho Power to attract, train, and retain new employees to help prevent a loss of institutional knowledge and avoid a skills gap. Idaho Power does not have employment contracts with its officers or key employees and cannot guarantee that any member of its management or any key employee at the IDACORP parent or any subsidiary level will continue to serve in any capacity for any particular period of time. The loss of skills and institutional knowledge of experienced employees, the failure to foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment in order to hire appropriately qualified employees, the costs associated with attracting, training, and retaining such employees to replace an aging and skilled workforce, and the operational and financial costs of unionization or the attempt to unionize all or part of the companies’ workforce, could have a negative effect on IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations. Idaho Power could incur increased costs due to such turnover due to a loss of knowledge, errors due to inexperienced employees or substantial training time, loss of productivity, and increased safety compliance issues.
Idaho Power also hires third-party vendors to assist in performing a variety of ordinary business functions, such as power plant maintenance, data warehousing and management, software development and licensing, electric transmission and distribution operations, billing and metering processes, and vegetation management, among other things. In recent years, Idaho Power has experienced increased competition and rising prices for many forms of third-party vendor services. While Idaho Power does not rely entirely on third-party vendors for many of these business functions, the unavailability of such vendors could adversely affect the quality and cost of Idaho Power's electric service and negatively impact its results of operation.
Legal and Compliance Risks
Legal and compliance risk relates to risks arising from government and regulatory action and from legal proceedings and compliance with applicable laws, rules, orders, regulations, policies, and procedures, including those related to financial reporting, environmental, health, and safety, and potential changes in legal requirements.
Changes in legislation, regulation, and government policy may have a material adverse effect on IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s business in the future. Specific legislative and regulatory proposals and recently enacted legislation that could have a material impact on IDACORP and Idaho Power include, but are not limited to, tax reform, utility regulation, carbon-reduction initiatives, infrastructure renewal programs, environmental regulation, and modifications to accounting and public company reporting requirements. Further, the proposals and new legislation could have an impact on the rate of growth of Idaho Power’s customers and their willingness to expand operations and increase electric service requirements. Due to the new Presidential Administration, Idaho Power expects laws, regulations, and policies relating to environmental compliance to change and require IDACORP and Idaho Power and some of their customers to modify their business strategy or restrict activities and projects, potentially subjecting them to increased compliance costs. For example, in January 2021, the United States rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change that requires commitments related to greenhouse gas emissions, among other things, and the new Presidential Administration has announced ambitious clean energy initiatives. Many states and localities may continue to pursue climate policies in addition to federal mandates. The state of Oregon, for instance, has been pursuing cap-and-trade legislation for greenhouse gas emissions. Idaho Power could also become subject to climate change lawsuits and an adverse outcome could require substantial expenditures and could possibly require payment of damages. IDACORP and Idaho Power expect federal, state, and local governmental authorities to implement various recent and expected future executive orders from the new Presidential Administration and are unable to predict whether and to what extent such actions will meaningfully change existing legislative and regulatory environments relevant to the companies, or if any such changes would have a net positive or negative impact on the companies. To the extent that such changes have a negative impact on the companies or Idaho Power’s customers, including as a result of related uncertainty, these changes may materially and adversely impact IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Changes in income tax laws and regulations, or differing interpretation or enforcement of applicable laws by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other taxing jurisdictions, could have a material adverse impact on IDACORP’s or Idaho Power’s financial condition and results of operations. IDACORP and Idaho Power must make judgments and interpretations about the application of the law when determining the provision for income taxes. Amounts of income tax-related assets and liabilities involve judgments and estimates of the timing and probability of recognition of income, deductions, and tax credits, which are subject to challenge by taxing authorities. These judgments may include estimates for potential outcomes regarding tax positions that may be subject to challenge by the taxing authorities. Disputes over interpretations of tax laws may be settled with the taxing authority in examination, upon appeal, or through litigation. In recent years, state regulatory mechanisms with income tax-related provisions (such as Idaho Power's May 2018 Idaho tax reform settlement stipulation with the IPUC), have significantly impacted IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations. Due to the new Presidential Administration, IDACORP and Idaho Power expect tax reform legislation could be enacted that may increase the companies' federal and state tax rates and reporting obligations. The outcome of potential future income tax proceedings or laws, or the state public utility commissions' treatment of those outcomes, could differ materially from the amounts IDACORP and Idaho Power record prior to conclusion of those proceedings, and the difference could negatively affect IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s earnings and cash flows. Further, in some instances, the treatment from a ratemaking perspective of any net income tax expense (including from increased tax rates) or benefit could be different than IDACORP or Idaho Power anticipate or request from applicable state regulatory commissions, which could have a negative effect on their financial condition and results of operations. In addition, Idaho Power uses the regulatory flow-through income tax accounting method as described in Note 1 - "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, and potential changes in income tax laws or interpretations may impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's income taxes and reporting obligations differently than most other companies.
IDACORP's and Idaho Power’s businesses are subject to an extensive set of environmental laws, rules, and regulations, which could impact their operations and costs of operations, potentially rendering some generating units uneconomical to maintain or operate, and could increase the costs and alter the timing of major projects. IDACORP's and Idaho Power's operations are subject to a number of federal, state, and local environmental statutes, rules, and regulations relating to air and water quality, natural resources, renewable energy, and health and safety. Many of these laws and regulations are described in Part II - Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Environmental Matters" in this report. These laws and regulations generally require IDACORP and Idaho Power to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental licenses, permits, and other approvals, including through substantial investment in pollution controls, and may be enforced by both public officials and private individuals. Some of these regulations are pending, changing, or subject to interpretation, and failure to comply may result in penalties, mandatory operational changes, and other adverse consequences, including costs associated with defending against claims by governmental authorities or private parties and complying with new operating requirements. Idaho Power devotes significant resources to environmental monitoring, pollution control equipment, and mitigation projects to comply with existing and anticipated environmental regulations. However, it is possible that federal, state and local authorities could attempt to enforce more stringent standards, stricter regulation, and more expansive application of environmental regulations.
Environmental regulations have created the need for Idaho Power to install new pollution control equipment at, and may cause Idaho Power to perform environmental remediation on, its owned and co-owned power generation facilities, often at a substantial cost. Compliance with environmental regulations can significantly increase capital spending, operating costs, and plant outages, and can negatively affect the affordability of Idaho Power's services for customers. Idaho Power cannot predict with certainty the amount and timing of all future expenditures necessary to comply with these environmental laws and regulations, although Idaho Power expects the expenditures will be substantial. In some cases, the costs to obtain permits and ensure facilities are in compliance may be prohibitively expensive. If the costs of compliance with new regulations renders the generating facilities uneconomical to maintain or operate, Idaho Power would need to identify alternative resources for power, potentially in the form of new generation and transmission facilities, market power purchases, demand-side management programs, or a combination of these and other methods. Furthermore, Idaho Power may not be able to obtain or maintain all environmental regulatory approvals necessary for operation of its existing infrastructure or construction of new infrastructure.
In response to state and federal regulatory requirements, judicial decisions and international accords, emissions of greenhouse gases including, most significantly CO2 could be restricted in the future. If new emissions reduction rules were to become effective, they could result in significant additional compliance costs that would affect Idaho Power's future financial position, results of operations, and cash flows if such costs are not timely recovered through regulated rates. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations, or enforcement policies could significantly increase compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary.
In addition, some environmental regulations are currently subject to litigation and not yet final. As a result of this uncertainty, approaches to comply with the regulations, including available control technologies or other allowed compliance measures, are unpredictable and Idaho Power cannot foresee the potential impacts these regulations would have on Idaho Power's operations or financial condition. In 2019, Idaho Power also announced its commitment to serve customers with 100 percent clean energy by 2045, which could impact infrastructure resource decisions and costs. Idaho Power is not guaranteed timely or full recovery through customer rates or insurance of costs associated with environmental regulations, environmental compliance, its clean energy initiatives, plant closures, or clean-up of contamination. If there is a delay in obtaining any required environmental regulatory approval or if Idaho Power fails to obtain, maintain, or comply with any such approval, construction and/or operation of Idaho Power's generation or transmission facilities could be delayed, halted, or subjected to additional costs. For further discussion of environmental matters that may affect Idaho Power, see "Environmental Matters" in "Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in this report.
Obligations imposed in connection with hydropower license renewals may require large capital expenditures, increase operating costs, reduce hydropower generation, and negatively affect IDACORP's or Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition. For the last several years, Idaho Power has been engaged in an effort to renew its federal license for its largest hydropower generation source, the Hells Canyon Complex. Relicensing includes an extensive public review process that involves numerous natural resource issues and environmental conditions. The existence of endangered and threatened species in the watershed may result in major operational changes to the region’s hydropower projects, which may be reflected in hydropower licenses, including for the Hells Canyon Complex and the American Falls facility. In addition, new interpretations of existing laws and regulations could be adopted or become applicable to hydropower facilities, which could further increase required expenditures for marine life recovery and endangered species protection and reduce the amount of hydropower generation available to meet Idaho Power’s generation requirements. Idaho Power cannot predict the requirements that might be imposed during the relicensing process, the financial impact of those requirements, whether a new multi-year license will ultimately be issued, and whether the IPUC or OPUC will allow recovery through rates of the substantial costs incurred in connection with the licensing process and subsequent compliance. Imposition of onerous conditions in the relicensing process could result in Idaho Power incurring significant capital expenditures, increase operating costs (including power purchase costs), and reduce hydropower generation, which could negatively affect results of operations and financial condition.
Idaho Power could be subject to penalties, reputational harm, and operational changes if it violates mandatory reliability and security requirements, which could adversely impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's results of operations and financial condition. As an owner and operator of a bulk power transmission system, Idaho Power is subject to mandatory reliability and security standards issued by the FERC and other regulators. The standards are based on the functions that need to be performed to ensure the bulk power system operates reliably and are guided by reliability, security, and market interface principles. Compliance with reliability standards subjects Idaho Power to higher operating costs and increased capital expenditures. Idaho Power has received in recent years notices of violations from, and regularly self-reports reliability standard compliance issues to, the FERC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. Potential monetary and non-monetary penalties for a violation of FERC regulations may be substantial, and in some circumstances monetary penalties may exceed $1.3 million per day per violation. As a utility with a large customer base, Idaho Power is
subject to adverse publicity focused on the reliability of its services and the speed with which it is able to respond to electric outages caused by storm damage or other unanticipated events. Adverse publicity could harm the reputations of IDACORP and Idaho Power; may make state legislatures, utility commissions, and other regulatory authorities less likely to view the companies in a favorable light; and may cause Idaho Power to be subject to less favorable legislative and regulatory outcomes or increased regulatory oversight. The imposition of any of the foregoing on Idaho Power for its actual or alleged failure to comply with reliability and security requirements could also have a negative effect on its and IDACORP’s results of operations and financial condition.
IDACORP and Idaho Power are subject to costs and other effects of legal and regulatory proceedings, disputes, and claims. From time to time in the normal course of business, IDACORP and Idaho Power are subject to various lawsuits, regulatory proceedings, disputes, and claims that could result in adverse judgments or settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, or other adverse consequences. These matters are subject to a number of uncertainties, and management is often unable to predict the outcome of such matters; resulting liabilities could exceed amounts currently reserved or insured against with respect to such matter. The legal costs and final resolution of matters in which IDACORP or Idaho Power are involved could have reputational impact and a short- or long-term negative effect on their financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, the terms of resolution could require the companies to change their operational practices and procedures, which could also have a negative effect on their financial positions and results of operations.
Changes in accounting standards or rules may impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial results and disclosures. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the SEC have made and may continue to make changes to accounting standards that impact presentation and disclosures of financial condition and results of operations. Further, new accounting orders issued by the FERC could significantly impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's reported financial condition. IDACORP and Idaho Power do not have any control over the impact these changes may have on their financial conditions or results of operations nor the timing of such changes. Idaho Power meets the requirements under GAAP to reflect the impact of regulatory decisions in its financial statements and to defer certain costs as regulatory assets until those costs are collected in rates, and to defer some items as regulatory liabilities. If recovery of these amounts ceases to be probable, if Idaho Power determines that it no longer meets the criteria for applying regulatory accounting or if accounting rules change to no longer provide for regulatory assets and liabilities, Idaho Power could be required to eliminate some or all of those regulatory assets or liabilities. Any of these circumstances could result in write-offs and have a material effect on IDACORP's and Idaho Power’s financial condition and results of operations.
Financial and Investment Risks
Financial and investment risks relate to IDACORP's and Idaho Power's ability to meet financial obligations and mitigate exposure to market risks, including liquidity risks and the ability to raise capital and cost of funding, risks related to credit ratings, credit risk, liquidity, interest rates, and commodity prices.
Volatility or disruptions in the financial markets, failure of IDACORP or Idaho Power to satisfy conditions necessary for obtaining loans or issuing debt securities, and denial of regulatory authority to issue debt or equity securities, may negatively affect IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s ability to access capital and/or increase their cost of borrowing and ability to execute on their strategic plans. IDACORP and Idaho Power use credit facilities, commercial paper markets, and long-term debt as significant sources of liquidity and funding for operating and capital requirements and debt maturities not satisfied by operating cash flow. The credit facilities represent commitments by the participating banks to make loans and issue letters of credit. However, the ability and obligation of the participating banks to make those loans and issue letters of credit is subject to specified conditions and volatility or disruptions in the financial markets could affect the companies' ability to obtain debt financing or draw upon or renew existing credit facilities on favorable terms and comply with debt covenants. Idaho Power's ability to issue long-term debt is also subject to a number of conditions included in an indenture, and Idaho Power's ability to issue long-term debt and commercial paper is subject to the availability of purchasers willing to purchase the securities under reasonable terms or at all. Because of these limitations, IDACORP and Idaho Power may be unable to issue commercial paper or short-term or long-term debt at reasonable interest rates and terms or at all. Higher interest rates on short-term borrowings with variable interest rates could also have an adverse effect on IDACORP's and Idaho Power's operating results. Changes in interest rates may also impact the fair value of the debt securities in Idaho Power's pension funds, as well as Idaho Power's ability to earn a return on short-term investments of excess cash. Also, while the credit facilities represent a contractual obligation to make loans, one or more of the participating banks may default on their obligations to make loans under, or may withdraw from, the credit facilities.
Idaho Power is required to obtain regulatory approval in Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming in order to borrow money or to issue securities and is therefore dependent on the public utility commissions of those states to issue favorable orders in a timely
manner to permit them to finance their operations, capital expenditures, and debt maturities. IDACORP's and Idaho Power's credit facilities include financial covenants that limit the amount of debt that can be outstanding as a percentage of total capital, and Idaho Power's long-term debt has also been issued under an indenture that contains a number of financial covenants. The companies must also make specified representations in connection with request for loans and it is possible that they may be unable to do so at the time of such request, which would limit or eliminate the obligation of the banks to provide loans. Failure to maintain these representations and covenants could preclude IDACORP and Idaho Power from issuing commercial paper, borrowing under their credit facilities, or issuing long-term debt, and could trigger a default and repayment obligation under debt instruments, which could limit their ability to pursue certain projects, acquisitions, or improvements, to support future growth, and adversely impact IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
A downgrade in IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s credit ratings could affect the companies’ ability to access capital, increase their cost of borrowing, and require the companies to post collateral with transaction counterparties. Credit rating agencies periodically review the corporate credit ratings and long-term ratings of IDACORP and Idaho Power. These ratings are premised on financial ratios and performance, the regulatory environment and rate mechanisms, the effectiveness of management, resource risks and power supply costs, and other factors. IDACORP and Idaho Power also have borrowing arrangements that rely on the ability of the banks to fund loans or support commercial paper, a principal source of short-term financing. In addition, IDACORP's or Idaho Power's credit ratings may change as a result of the differing methodologies or change in the methodologies used by the various rating agencies. Downgrades of IDACORP’s or Idaho Power’s credit ratings, or those affecting relationship banks, could limit the companies’ ability to access short- and long-term capital under reasonable terms or at all, reduce the pool of potential lenders, increase borrowing costs under existing credit facilities, limit access to the commercial paper market, require the companies to pay a higher interest rate on their debt, limit the ability of IDACORP to declare and make dividends, and require the companies to post additional performance assurance collateral with transaction counterparties. If access to capital were to become significantly constrained or costs of capital increased significantly due to lowered credit ratings, prevailing industry conditions, regulatory constraints, the volatility of the capital markets or other factors, IDACORP's and Idaho Power's ability to pursue improvements or acquisitions (including generating capacity and transmission assets, which may be necessary for future growth), liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of LIBOR may affect our credit facilities and the interest rates on such borrowings. LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, is the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the London interbank market and is widely used as a reference for setting the interest rate on loans globally. The interest rates for any borrowings under IDACORP and Idaho Power’s credit facilities, as amended in December 2019, are based on either (1) a floating rate that is equal to the highest of the prime rate, federal funds rate plus 0.5 percent, or LIBOR rate plus 1.0 percent, or (2) the LIBOR rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin, provided that the federal funds rate and LIBOR rate will not be less than zero percent, provided that, an alternate benchmark rate selected by the administrative agent for the credit facilities and IDACORP and Idaho Power will apply during any period in which the LIBOR rate is unavailable or unascertainable. In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. On November 30, 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. While this announcement extends the transition period to June 2023, the United States Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to stop new LIBOR issuances by the end of 2021. In the United States, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee has proposed the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as an alternative to LIBOR. It is not presently known whether SOFR or any other alternative reference rates that have been proposed will attain market acceptance as replacements of LIBOR. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could cause IDACORP and Idaho Power to suffer from potential increases in interest rates on any borrowings.
Idaho Power’s energy risk management policy and programs relating to economically hedging commodity exposures and credit risk may not always perform as intended, and as a result, IDACORP and Idaho Power may suffer economic losses. Idaho Power enters into transactions to buy and sell power, natural gas, and transmission service, enters into transactions to hedge its positions in coal, natural gas, power, and other commodities, and enters into financial hedge transactions to mitigate in part exposure to variable commodity prices. IDACORP and Idaho Power could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market value of these contracts or if a counterparty fails to perform. The derivative instruments used for hedging might not offset the underlying exposure being mitigated as intended, due to pricing inefficiencies or other terms of the derivative instruments, and any such failure to mitigate exposure could result in financial losses. Certain of Idaho Power's purchase or sale, hedging, and derivative agreements may result in the receipt of, or posting of, collateral with counterparties. Fluctuations in commodity prices that lead to the posting of collateral with counterparties negatively impact liquidity, and
downgrades in Idaho Power's credit ratings may lead to additional collateral posting requirements. Idaho Power has additional indirect credit exposures to financial institutions in the form of letters of credit provided as security by power suppliers under various purchased power contracts and by vendors for infrastructure development projects. If any of the credit ratings of the letter of credit issuers were to drop below investment grade, the vendor or supplier would need to replace the security with an acceptable substitute, which may be impracticable and may expose Idaho Power to losses resulting from a vendor or supplier default. If the security were not replaced, the party could be in default under the contract and Idaho Power's remedies for default may be inadequate to fully compensate Idaho Power for its losses. Forecasts of future fuel needs and loads and available resources to meet those loads are inherently uncertain and may cause Idaho Power to over- or under-hedge actual resource needs, exposing the company to market risk on the over- or under-hedged position. To the extent that commodity markets are illiquid, Idaho Power may not be able to execute its risk management strategies, which could result in undesired over-exposure to unhedged positions that Idaho Power may not be able to collect in customer rates. The FERC may take action to limit volatility in the energy market by imposing price limits or other market restrictions to control market-based rate sales, which could adversely affect the companies' financial results. As a result, risk management actions, or the failure or inability to manage commodity availability and price and counterparty risk, may adversely affect IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s financial condition and results of operations. Further, the bankruptcy or insolvency of a counterparty to commodity or other transactions could impair Idaho Power’s ability to collect amounts receivable from those counterparties, potentially including the ability to collect or retain collateral posted by a counterparty. Idaho Power is a participant in the energy markets, including the Western EIM, and engages in direct and indirect power purchase and sale transactions in connection with that participation. The Western EIM has collateral posting requirements based on established credit criteria, but there is no assurance the collateral will be sufficient to cover obligations that counterparties may owe each other in the Western EIM and any such credit losses could be socialized to all Western EIM participants, including Idaho Power. A significant failure of a participant in the Western EIM to make payments when due on its obligations could have a ripple effect on various Idaho Power counterparties in the power, gas, and derivative markets if those counterparties experience ancillary liquidity issues, and could generally result in a decline in the ability of Idaho Power’s counterparties to perform on their obligations.
The performance of pension and postretirement benefit plan investments, increasing health care costs, and other factors impacting plan costs and funding obligations could adversely affect IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial condition and results of operations - primarily cash flows and liquidity. Idaho Power provides a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering most employees, as well as a defined benefit postretirement benefit plan (consisting of health care and death benefits) that covers eligible retirees. Costs of providing these benefits are based in part on the value of the plans' assets and, therefore, adverse investment performance for these assets or the failure to maintain sustained growth in pension investments over time could increase Idaho Power’s plan costs and funding requirements related to the plans. Idaho Power's self-insured costs of health care benefits for eligible employees and retirees have increased in recent years and Idaho Power believes that future legislative changes related to the provision of health care benefits and other external market conditions and factors, could cause such costs to continue to rise. As benefit costs continue to rise, there is no assurance that the IPUC and OPUC will continue to allow recovery.
The key actuarial assumptions that affect pension funding obligations are the expected long-term return on plan assets and the discount rate used in determining future benefit obligations. Idaho Power evaluates the actuarial assumptions on an annual basis, taking into account changes in market conditions, trends, and future expectations. Estimates of future investment market performance, changes in interest rates, and other factors Idaho Power and its actuary firms use to develop the actuarial assumptions are inherently uncertain, and actual results could vary significantly from the estimates. Changes in demographics, including timing of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions, may also increase Idaho Power's plan costs and funding requirements. Future pension funding requirements and the timing of funding payments are also subject to the impacts of changes in legislation. Depending on the timing of contributions to the plans and Idaho Power's ability to recover costs through rates, cash contributions to the plans could reduce the cash available for the companies' businesses and payment of dividends. For additional information regarding Idaho Power's funding obligations under its benefit plans, see Note 12 - "Benefit Plans" to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
If the assumptions underlying coal mine reclamation at Bridger Coal Company and related forecast trust fund growth are materially inaccurate, Idaho Power’s costs could be greater than anticipated or be incurred sooner than anticipated. Bridger Coal Company (BCC), a subsidiary of Idaho Power located in the state of Wyoming, uses both surface and underground methods to mine coal to be used for power generation at the Jim Bridger power plant. The federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and state laws and regulations establish operational, reclamation, bonding, and closure obligations and standards for mining of coal. Bridger Coal Company’s estimate of reclamation liability and bonding obligations is reviewed periodically by Idaho Power’s management committee, audit committee of the board of directors, external and internal auditors, and by government regulators. Idaho Power funds a trust and posts collateral in the form of a surety bond purchased jointly with the co-owner of BCC to cover such projected mine reclamation costs pursuant to the laws of the state of Wyoming. The trust
funds are invested in debt and equity securities and poor performance of these investments would reduce the amount of funds available for their intended purpose, which could require Idaho Power to make additional cash contributions. If actual costs related to those obligations exceed estimates, government regulations relating to those obligations change significantly or unexpected cash funding obligations are required, IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
As a holding company, IDACORP does not have its own operating income and must rely on the cash flows from its subsidiaries to pay dividends and make debt payments. IDACORP is a holding company with no significant operations of its own, and its primary assets are shares or other ownership interests of its subsidiaries, primarily Idaho Power. IDACORP’s subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts to IDACORP, whether through dividends, loans, or other means. The ability of IDACORP’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to IDACORP depends on several factors, including each subsidiary's actual and projected earnings and cash flow, capital requirements and general financial condition, regulatory restrictions, tax obligations, covenants contained in credit facilities to which they are parties, and the prior rights of holders of their existing and future first mortgage bonds and other debt or equity securities. Further, the amount and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the board of directors, which may reduce or cease payment of dividends at any time. See Note 7 - "Common Stock" to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for a further description of restrictions on IDACORP's and Idaho Power's payment of dividends.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Idaho Power's properties consist of the physical assets necessary to support its utility operations, which include generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, as well as coal assets that support one of its coal-fired generation plants. In addition to these physical assets, Idaho Power has rights-of-way and water rights that enable it to use its facilities. Idaho Power’s system is comprised of 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho, and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada. In October 2020, Idaho Power and co-owner Portland General Electric ceased coal-fired operations at their Boardman power plant consistent with Idaho Power's continued path away from coal-fired generation. As of December 31, 2020, the system also includes approximately 4,833 pole-miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 23 step-up transmission substations located at power plants, 21 transmission substations, 9 switching stations, 31 mixed-use transmission and distribution substations, 186 energized distribution substations (excluding mobile substations and dispatch centers), and approximately 28,201 pole-miles of distribution lines.
Idaho Power holds Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses for all of its hydropower projects that are subject to federal licensing. Relicensing of Idaho Power’s hydropower projects is discussed in Part II - Item 7 - MD&A – "Regulatory Matters – Relicensing of Hydropower Projects” in this report.
IDACORP's and Idaho Power's headquarters are located in Boise, Idaho. The corporate headquarters campus is comprised of approximately 305,741 square feet of owned office space. Excluding Idaho Power's power generation facilities and substations, Idaho Power owns an additional 1,129,222 square feet of office, warehouse, and industrial space to support its operations in Idaho and Oregon.
Idaho Power owns all of its interests in principal plants and other important units of real property, except for portions of certain projects licensed under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and reservoirs and other easements. Substantially all of Idaho Power’s property is subject to the lien of its Mortgage and Deed of Trust and the provisions of its project licenses. Idaho Power’s property is subject to minor defects common to properties of such size and character that it believes do not materially impair the value to, or the use by, Idaho Power of such properties. Idaho Power considers its properties to be well-maintained and in good operating condition.
Through Idaho Energy Resources Co., Idaho Power owns a one-third interest in Bridger Coal Company (BCC) and coal leases near the Jim Bridger generating plant in Wyoming from which coal is mined and supplied to the plant. Ida-West holds 50-percent interests in nine hydropower plants that have a total nameplate capacity of 44 MW. These plants are located in Idaho and California.
Idaho Power's hydropower projects and other owned and co-owned generating facilities and their nameplate capacities, as of the date of this report, are included in the table below. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Project | | Nameplate Capacity (kW)(1) | | License Expiration |
Hydropower Projects: | | | | | |
Properties Subject to Federal Licenses: | | | | | |
Lower Salmon | | 60,000 | | | 2034 | |
Bliss | | 75,000 | | | 2034 | |
Upper Salmon | | 34,500 | | | 2034 | |
Shoshone Falls | | 14,729 | | | 2040 | |
CJ Strike | | 82,800 | | | 2034 | |
Upper Malad - Lower Malad | | 21,770 | | | 2035 | |
Brownlee - Oxbow - Hells Canyon (Hells Canyon Complex) | | 1,256,500 | | | 2005 | (2) |
Swan Falls | | 27,170 | | |