Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. PAC-E-12-11, Order No. 32587

July 9, 2012

Contact: Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339, 890-2712

Rocky Mountain seeks decrease in efficiency rider

PacifiCorp, which does business in eastern Idaho as Rocky Mountain Power, is asking state regulators to approve a 1.3 percent reduction to its Energy Efficiency Rider.

The current rider, which funds a variety of conservation programs for all customer classes, is 3.4 percent of customers’ billed amount. Rocky Mountain is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve a reduction to 2.1 percent. In March 2011, the rider was decreased from 4.72 percent to 3.4 percent.

Although its balance account for conservation programs was in a $1 million deficit on April 30, Rocky Mountain asserts it will begin to over-collect on the rider next month. The company is not proposing to modify or decrease its conservation program activities.

The rider, appearing as a separate line-item on customer bills, funds a number of programs that reduce consumption and demand on PacifiCorp’s generation system, thus reducing costs for all customers. The commission performs cost-effectiveness tests on each of the programs to ensure that all customers benefit, not just those who directly participate in the programs.

Some of the programs funded by the rider include low-income weatherization, home energy efficiency incentives, refrigerator recycling, commercial and industrial efficiencies and an agricultural energy services program.

The commission plans to handle this request in a modified procedure that uses written comments rather than conducting a hearing, unless customer comments can demonstrate a need for a public hearing.

Comments are accepted through July 24 via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on "Comments & Questions About a Case." Fill in the case number (PAC-E-12-11) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.

A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, is available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “File Room” and then on “Electric Cases” and scroll down to the above case number.

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