Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. IPC-E-11-16, Order No. 32342

September 2, 2011

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

Idaho Power, OER seek to combine efficiency efforts

Idaho Power Company is asking state regulators to approve an Energy Efficiency Incentive Agreement with the state Office of Energy Resources that will allow the utility to combine its energy efficiency funds with the federal funds OER receives to promote cost-effective energy efficiency measures in public schools.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is taking comments on the proposed agreement through Sept. 20.

Idaho Power already offers energy efficiency programs that involve incentive payments to customers. OER operates a federally funded K-12 Energy Efficiency Project for public schools. The agency has about $9.6 million in federal funds available for the project over the next year. The agreement would enable Idaho Power to place its incentive payments for qualifying OER-funded school projects into a dedicated fund for future use when OER identifies additional school projects. Idaho Power and OER believe the arrangement will maximize the use of available dollars and allow OER’s energy efficiency initiatives to benefit Idaho Power’s public school customers when federal funds are no longer available.

According to Idaho Power’s application, the agreement will accomplish a higher level of energy efficiency than either party or program would achieve on its own.

Comments are accepted 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 (IPC-E-11-16) 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 settlement stipulation, along with other documents related to this case, is available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “File Room” and then on “Electric Cases” or “Gas Cases,” and scroll down to the above case number.