Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Case No. IPC-E-11-16, Order No. 32368

September 30, 2011

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

Idaho Power, state combine funds for school projects

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is approving an Idaho Power Company agreement with a state agency that combines funding sources to strengthen cost-effective energy efficiency measures in public schools.

The utility entered into an Energy Efficiency Incentive Agreement with the state Office of Energy Resources (OER) that will allow the utility to combine its energy efficiency funds with the federal funds OER receives to promote similar programs.

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. OER has about $9.6 million in federal funds available for the project over the next year. The agreement allows 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.

“We believe leveraging incentive dollars for this purpose represents an opportunity to pursue additional energy efficiency projects within Idaho school buildings,” the commission said. Ultimately, we see this decision resulting in a reduction of energy consumption that will benefit all customers within Idaho Power’s service territory.”

A full text of the commission’s order is available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “File Room” and then on “Electric Cases” and scroll down to Case Number IPC-E-11-16.