20201231Idaho Power Boardman Press Release.pdf.pdf

Case No. IPC-E-20-32
Order No. 34885
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
[e-mail]

NEWS RELEASE: Commission approves Idaho Power application to decrease customer
rates

BOISE (Dec. 31, 2020) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved an
application from Idaho Power to decrease customer rates by 0.33 percent based on the
closure of the Boardman Power Plant in north-central Oregon.

Boardman, a pulverized-coal plant that started service in 1980, consists of a single
generating unit. Idaho Power owns a 10 percent interest, or 58.5 megawatts in Boardman.
After certain adjustments, Idaho Power’s annual share is approximately 50 megawatts.
Boardman was scheduled to stop operating on Oct. 31, 2020.

In February 2012, the public utilities commission authorized Idaho Power to establish a
balancing account to track the incremental costs and benefits for an early shutdown of
Boardman. The balancing account was intended to “stabilize customer rates and increase
the likelihood that the customers who benefit from Boardman’s continuing operation will
pay the associated costs.”

Idaho Power said the balancing account was originally composed of all plant investments
as of May 31, 2012, which included actual investments through Dec. 31, 2011, and
forecasted investments from Jan. 1, 2012, through May 31, 2012, projected additions to
Boardman from June 2012 through 2020 and estimated decommissioning and salvage
costs. This application reflects actual costs through June 30, 2020. The commission finds
the additional investments necessary and prudent.

The result of the balancing account process was the 0.33 percent reduction in customer
rates.

Idaho Power submitted a separate application to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in
August seeking approval to increase the collection percentage of the energy efficiency
rider outlined in Tariff Schedule 91 from 2.75 percent of customer base rates to 3.10
percent of base rates. Idaho Power said the average residential customer using 950
kilowatts per month would see approximately a $0.29 increase in their monthly bill, or
approximately $3.50 per year.

The commission approved the increase in December, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

With the approval of both applications from Idaho Power, the average residential
customer’s bill will decrease by $0.02 per month.

For additional information on Idaho Power’s application and the commission’s final
order, please visit: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6553.