Idaho rate decrease tied to coal plant exit

Published on October 21, 2019 by Douglas Clark


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Idaho Power officials said the utility’s recent request to lower customer rates is the result of an agreement to cease operations at the Boardman coal-fired power plant on Dec. 31, 2020.

The request filed with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) details how a refund is due to customers after truing up a balancing account and selling certain plant assets, officials said, adding the decrease will reflect an annual revenue reduction of $1.06 million, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Closing the Boardman operation follows the utility’s goal of providing 100 percent clean energy by 2045 as part of its “Clean Today. Cleaner Tomorrow.” initiative.

Under the request, the average Idaho residential customer using 950 kilowatt-hours per month would see a reduction of $0.09, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest prices for electricity with 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its energy mix. The company, based in Boise, Ida., currently has 2,000 employees who serve more than 560,000 customers. It has been a locally operated energy entity since 1916.