Rocky Mountain Power seeks $11.88 million refund in 2026 REC balancing-account filing; Division recommends interim approval

Nicholas Highsmith, revenue requirement manager for Pacificorp doing business as Rocky Mountain Power, told the Utah Public Service Commission that the company’s March 13, 2026 filing requests a refund to Utah customers of about $11.88 million through the renewable energy credits (REC) balancing account, billed under tariff Schedule 98.

"On March 13, 2026, Rocky Mountain Power filed its annual renewable energy credit balancing account or RBA, seeking to refund a deferral balance to Utah customers through Schedule 98 of approximately $11.88 million over a one-year period beginning June 1, 2026," Highsmith said in his witness summary. He said the proposed refund, using updated billing determinants from the 2024 general rate case, equates to an approximate $1.4 million reduction in rates — about 0.1% from current Schedule 98 rates — and includes net carrying charges for the deferral and interim periods through May 31, 2026.

Annette Orton, a utility analyst with the Utah Division of Public Utilities who prepared the Division’s April 27, 2026 initial comments and a May 14, 2026 revised filing, told the commission the Division’s preliminary review found the company’s application complies with applicable commission orders. "Based on its initial review, the division concludes that the company has met this standard," Orton said, recommending the commission approve the proposed changes to Schedule 98 and the proposed refund on an interim basis pending the Division’s final audit of the RBA revenues.

Highsmith said the company calculated the $11.88 million deferral balance consistent with prior RBA filings and proposed allocating the refund across customer classes using the cost-of-service factor 10 established in Rocky Mountain Power’s 2024 general rate case (docket 24-035-04). He noted the RBA reflects the difference between the actual REC revenues realized by the company and the REC revenue amounts included in rates during the 2025 calendar year.

Rocky Mountain Power moved to admit the direct testimony, exhibits and supporting workpapers of Nicholas Highsmith and two additional company witnesses, Marcy Hundis and Lee Elder. The company alerted the commission that Hundis’s materials included confidential exhibits and workpapers and would require a confidential session if those items were discussed; the commission admitted the submitted materials.

No party present at the hearing cross-examined the company’s witness, and the Division likewise had no changes to its revised filing. Western Resource Advocates indicated it was listening but did not present testimony in this phase of the proceeding. Highsmith and company counsel remained available to answer questions if the Division’s audit or later phases of the docket identify issues.

The hearing record reflects two key near-term steps: the Division will complete a final audit of the RBA revenues identified in Rocky Mountain Power’s filing, and the commission will consider whether to make the interim rate change effective as requested June 1, 2026. The commission took no formal, separate roll-call vote during the proceeding; the admitted filings and the Division’s interim recommendation are now part of the docket record.

The docket number is 26-035-11. The company cited its non-generation and REC supply agreement with Kennecott Utah Copper, approved in docket 19-035-20, as the source of REC revenues it tracks in the RBA.