PGE Issues RFP For Electric Power Generating Resources

Portland General Electric Company (NYSE:POR) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking electric power generating resources to help meet PGE’s capacity and energy needs. The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued an order June 7 approving the RFP. Third-party bids are due August 8. PGE expects to make final resource decisions in late 2012 or early 2013.

“With OPUC acknowledgement of our resource plan in 2010 and approval now for this RFP, we are moving forward with a solid strategy that will help us meet our customers’ needs for years to come,” said Jim Piro, PGE’s president and CEO. “The RFP includes a request for resources to meet day-to-day ‘baseload’ power needs and for flexible and ‘peaking’ resources to meet periods of high demand and help integrate variable renewable energy resources into PGE’s system. These will serve our existing load, help meet future energy needs, and maintain system reliability. In addition, we are working separately to capture all achievable, cost-effective energy efficiency measures, develop new renewable resources to meet Oregon’s renewable portfolio standard requirements, and implement demand-side measures to help manage peak loads and improve system flexibility.”

Specifically, the RFP seeks 300-500 megawatts of baseload resources, approximately 200 megawatts of year-round flexible and peaking resources, and two seasonal peaking resources -- approximately 200 megawatts of bi-seasonal (winter and summer) peaking supply and approximately 150 megawatts of winter-only peaking supply. PGE plans to bring these resources into its portfolio in the 2013-2017 timeframe.

PGE held workshops in January to help inform interested parties and potential bidders and seek input on the RFP, and submitted a final draft to the OPUC that month. The commission considered formal comments from stakeholders and a recommendation from its staff before ruling on the submitted RFP.

This RFP is conducted pursuant to competitive bidding guidelines established by the OPUC. It is one of two supply-side planned RFPs for the addition of new generation resources pursuant to the PGE integrated resource plan acknowledged by the OPUC in November 2010. PGE expects to issue the second RFP, for renewable resources, later this year.

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