Rocky Mountain Power Proposes Increased Investment in Idaho Energy Efficiency Programs
February 25, 2010
In planning to supply the future electricity needs of customers, Rocky Mountain Power works with customers through its demand-side management programs to reduce electric consumption. Demand-side management includes programs that promote energy efficiency and programs that coordinate when electricity is used—called load management. The company needs several kinds of cost-effective resources to serve customers well. In fact, energy efficiency and load management during peak usage periods is less expensive per kilowatt-hour than electricity from a new power plant.
Participation in these programs by Idaho customers has grown. In response, the company is proposing to increase its investment in this resource. The company proposes to increase the Customer Efficiency Services surcharge to all customer classes except tariff contracts. If approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the utility will increase the annual revenue collected in the surcharge from $5.2 million to $8.3 million.
“Customers benefit two ways from these programs,” said Carol Hunter, vice president of Rocky Mountain Power. “First, participating customers benefit from lower bills as they take advantage of these programs and use electricity more efficiently. Second, all customers benefit whether they participate in the programs or not because the cost of electricity saved through these programs is about half the cost of electricity generated by a new power plant. It’s part of our balanced approach to use a variety of cost-effective methods to provide electricity to our customers.”
The charge to support these programs appears on customer bills as “Customer Efficiency Services.” If the proposal is approved as requested, the charge will increase 2.13 percent. For an average residential customer using 827 kilowatt-hours, the proposed increase is about $1.62 per month. The charge for commercial, industrial and irrigation customers would also increase 2.13 percent.
Programs currently provided for residential customers include cash incentives for energy efficient appliances, improved insulation, energy efficient windows, low income weatherization and the “See ya later, refrigerator” recycling program. For business customers, Energy FinAnswer, FinAnswer Express and Irrigation Energy Services programs provide services and incentives to customers who complete energy efficiency projects. The Irrigation Load Control program focuses on operational coordination of summer irrigation pumping systems. Specific details of these programs are available on the company’s Web site, www.rockymountainpower.net.
Rocky Mountain Power’s proposal is subject to public review and approval by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Copies of the filing will be available on the company’s Web site. The filing is also available for review during regular business hours at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission office in Boise and at the company’s offices in Rexburg, Preston, Shelley and Montpelier.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Power’s energy efficiency and load management programs, see the company’s website at www.rockymountainpower.net.
About Rocky Mountain Power
Rocky Mountain Power is one of the lowest-cost electric utilities in the United States, providing safe and reliable service to more than 69,000 customers in Idaho, as well as customers in Utah and Wyoming. As part of PacifiCorp, the company has more than 10,000 megawatts of generation from coal, hydro, gas-fueled combustion turbines and renewable wind and geothermal power. The company is one of the largest owners of wind powered generation in the U.S.
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