Home 
News Local News Idaho Power Co. raises rates for Oregon customers
Idaho Power Co. raises rates for Oregon customers
|
Residential customers will pay 26 percent more, and irrigators 27.9 percent more A 44.7 percent electric rate hike proposed by Idaho Power Co. for its irrigation customers, including some in eastern Baker County, has been scaled back to 27.9 percent under a settlement agreement that took effect Monday. Idaho Power’s residential and business customers also will pay more starting this month, according to a rate schedule the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved after a 10-month study. Idaho Power has about 19,300 customers Northeastern Oregon, including Richland, Halfway, Huntington and Durkee areas. The average residential customer will pay about $18.50 more per month, a 26 percent increase, according to PUC. The increase for commercial and industrial customers will range from 9.3 percent to 24.7 percent, depending on the company size. “While we would prefer not to impose any rate increase during this challenging economic climate, Idaho Power is entitled to recoup in rates the costs of infrastructure currently being used to serve customers,” PUC Chairman Lee Beyer said in a press release.The rate hikes will boost Idaho Power’s annual revenues by an estimated $5 million. The primary drivers behind the rate increases are additions to the system and growth in Oregon expenses that have not kept up with revenues, according to the PUC. Idaho Power also proposed seasonal rates for residential customers, but the PUC rejected that request. Instead the Commission will take up the issue in a separate proceeding. The Citizens’ Utility Board, which represents residential customers, had opposed seasonal pricing. Members of the board argued that the change would be confusing for customers and said Idaho Power should instead encourage energy efficiency for residential customers year round |
* commenting policy and guidelines
blog comments powered by Disqus