20170222press release.pdf

Case No. PAC-E-16-14, Order No. 33679
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone] or 890-2712
www.puc.idaho.gov

Rocky Mountain seeks prudency finding
for investment in efficiency programs

BOISE (February 22, 2017) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is taking comments through
March 15 on a Rocky Mountain Power request that the commission determine about $7.46
million of company investment in energy efficiency programs during 2014-15 was prudently
incurred and benefitted customers. This application does not impact rates.

Energy efficiency programs encourage customers to use less energy or shift consumption to off-
peak hours. The programs are funded by a rider that appears as “Customer Efficiency Services”
on Rocky Mountain Power bills. The rider is currently set at 2.7% of a customer’s monthly billed
amount. Part of the commission’s prudency review is to determine if the programs benefit all
customers, not just those who directly participate in the programs.

Rocky Mountain Power claims the programs saved the utility 11,410 megawatt hours in 2014
and 15,692 MWh in 2015. That decreased consumption reduces power supply expense for all
customers and eliminates or delays the need for the company to build new generating facilities.

Rocky Mountain Power offers five energy efficiency programs.

 “Home Energy Saver” provides products and services to residential customers such as
insulation, duct sealing, CFL and LED lighting and other services.
 “Refrigerator Recycling” offers customers rebates for removal and recycling of
inefficient refrigerators and freezers.
 “Low Income Weatherization” provides energy efficiency services to residential
customers meeting income guidelines.
 “Low Income Conservation Education” targets customers receiving low-income energy
assistance and provides them information about how to better conserve energy and
understand their bill.
 “Non-Residential Energy Efficiency” is a consolidation of commercial and industrial
energy efficiency programs into a single portfolio the company calls “wattsmart.” It
helps commercial and industrial customers improve efficiency in lighting, HVAC systems,
motors, building envelopes and other equipment.

Rocky Mountain reports that, overall, the programs were cost-effective, meaning their benefits
outweighed their cost. However, the low-income weatherization program, failed to pass two of
three cost-effectiveness tests.

Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp, serves 75,500 customers in its eastern Idaho
territory.

Customers can file written comments on the commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click
on “Case Comment Form” under the “Electric” heading and enter your comments using the
case number PAC-E-16-14. Comments can also be mailed to the commission at P.O. Box 83720,
Boise, ID, 83720-0074.

Copies of Rocky Mountain Power’s application and other documents related to the case are
also found on the commission’s website. Click on “Open Cases” under the “Electric” heading
and scroll down to Case No. PAC-E-16-14.

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