The Idaho PUC is taking public comment on an Idaho Power application that would trim customer rates for a year due to its annual “Power Cost Adjustment” (PCA) case in which it shows whether costs such as hydropower conditions were higher or lower than predicted. If approved by the PUC, customer rates would decline by $11.6 million, which translates to roughly 1 percent, or 58 cents a month for the average residential customer. The amounts are slightly higher then those initially proposed by Idaho Power, but the PUC staff and Idaho Power agreed the change was warranted.
Idaho electric utilities file a PCA every year. The adjustment can amount to a surcharge to customers if power costs were higher than anticipated, or as in this case moderate decrease if those costs were lower. The adjustment reflects such things as river flows, which can impact the cost of hydropower production. Other variables such as fuel costs, the market price of power, and transmission costs can also figure into the adjustment.
The PUC is taking public comments in the case through May 19. Comments can be submitted via e-mail in the “Case Comment Form” on the PUC’s home page at www.puc.idaho.gov. Comments should include the number of this case (IPC-E-15-15). Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208) 334-3762.