2021 Integrated Resource Plan

An Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a legal requirement that outlines a utility's generation changes to meet customer demands over time. OPPD prepares, files, and publishes an IRP every five years with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) as a result of OPPD’s long-term contract to receive hydroelectric power from WAPA.

Resource planning is an ongoing process at OPPD. By design, the integrated planning process evaluates low-cost supply and demand-side options to meet forecasted electrical demands for OPPD’s service territory. The planning process aligns OPPD’s resources with its Board’s strategic directives – policies designed to guide efforts to address current and future challenges, mitigate risks, pursue strategic opportunities, and optimize service to the District’s customer-owners (SD-9 is Resource Planning).

2021 OPPD Integrated Resource Plan, click to view

Virtual Presentation and Public Comment Period

OPPD's draft 2021 IRP was posted on this page on January 21, 2022, and public comments on the document were accepted through Feb. 20, 2022. The 2021 IRP comment period has concluded.

The public was invited to join us for a virtual presentation about the IRP on February 3. The meeting recording can be found by clicking here.

Stakeholder outreach and communication for the 2021 IRP closely aligns and was done in conjunction with OPPD’s Pathways to Decarbonization initiative. The Pathways to Decarbonization program looks at four specific areas of impact, including OPPD’s Energy Portfolio. The Energy Portfolio workstream resulted in a completed study and provided recommendations for meeting the 2050 goal of net zero carbon production and supports OPPD’s 2021 IRP. OPPD used the stakeholder process and results from the Energy Portfolio Pathways to Decarbonization study to inform its 2021 IRP filing.

Pathways to Decarbonization: Energy Portfolio was due December 2021

• Due date is set by OPPD's Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors

Five-year Integrated Resource Plan was due February 28, 2022

• OPPD is legally required to submit a 5-year IRP to WAPA
• Requirement outline by 10 Code of Federal Regulations 905 (10.CFR.905)
• Is not a decision to add or retire assets

As OPPD transforms itself through a period of dynamic change, we understand that many of the assumptions that will be made in the 2021 IRP may continue to evolve over time as regulation, technology and customers’ preferences evolve. In light of this fluid environment, OPPD is committed to being vigilant in its planning efforts to not only make responsible choices financially, but to ensure the choices reflect the desires of our customers and the forward-looking view of OPPD leadership and board of directors.