Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Rocky Mountain Power proposes increase in efficiency rider
Rocky Mountain Power is asking the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission to allow the company to increase its rider on customer bills that
pays for the utility’s energy efficiency programs. The commission is accepting
comments on the proposal from customers through April 24.
The rider, currently set at 1.5 percent of the company’s
retail revenue, would increase to 3.72 percent. If the commission were to
approve that 2.2 percent increase, an average residential bill for the
company’s eastern Idaho customers would increase by about $1.56 per month. Revenue collected from the rider must go
directly to fund and administer energy efficiency programs and cannot be used
for other purposes.
According to Rocky Mountain Power, the enhanced energy
efficiency programs will offer information, services and cash incentives to
help customers install energy efficient equipment or make permanent operational
changes to reduce consumption and save money.
During 2007, programs funded by the rider produced 8,000
megawatt-hours of savings. With its proposed new and expanded programs, the
company is hoping to achieve 13,140 MWh for each year over the next 20 years.
Rocky Mountain Power proposes these changes:
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Expanding the FinAnswer Express program, which provides
incentives for commercial and industrial customers in the areas of efficient
lighting, premium motors and mechanical upgrades to heating and cooling
systems. Both new construction and retrofit projects are eligible. Rocky
Mountain Power reports there is a waiting list of business customers wanting to
participate.
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Adding the Energy FinAnswer program to its Idaho
jurisdiction. Rocky Mountain Power, which operates as PacifiCorp in five other
Western states, offers this program in other states. It would provide
incentives and honorariums to builders of new construction projects that exceed
current Idaho energy code by at least 10 percent.
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Modifying and updating the Irrigation Energy Savers
program, which helps irrigators with system upgrades, including the
installation of frequency drives on pumps that help them to operate more
efficiently.
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Modifying the Home Energy Savings program to increase
participation and align incentive levels with Idaho markets. The program
provides incentives for residential customers for more efficient use of washing
machines, dishwashers, water heaters, lighting, evaporative cooling, insulation
and heat pumps.
Other programs funded by the rider that will continue
without change are Refrigerator Recycling, Low-Income Weatherization Services
and the Irrigation Load Control Credit Rider.
Customers can benefit in two ways from energy efficiency
programs. Direct participation in these programs can reduce monthly bills.
Also, all customers benefit when efficiency programs make it possible for
utilities to reduce costs by not having to generate additional power or buy
power from the market.
Those wishing to submit comments
must do so by no later than April 24. Comments are accepted via e-mail by
accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov
and clicking on "Comments & Questions." Fill in the case number
(PAC-E-08-01) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box
83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.
The
company’s complete application, along with other documents related to the case,
is available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File Room, ” then on
“Electric Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.