The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 28, 2008, approved a stipulation agreement between Idaho Power, the IPUC staff, and representatives of various customer groups that concludes a general rate case filed by the company in June, 2007.

The stipulation calls for an average increase of 5.2 percent to the base rates paid by Idaho Power customers in Idaho or about a $32 million increase in the company’s annual electricity revenues. The changes in rates became effective March 1, 2008. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

Idaho Power filed its original general rate case requesting an annual increase to its Idaho retail base rates of $64 million or 10.35 percent. Base rates reflect the company’s cost of equipment, vehicles and infrastructure needed to provide electrical service to its customers.

Customer Impacts
The settlement has differing impacts on the rates paid by Idaho Power’s Idaho customers. Rates paid by residential customers will increase by 4.7 percent while the rates paid by all other customer groups will increase by 5.65 percent.

The monthly bill for a typical residential customer using 1,050 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will increase from $64.42 to $67.32 during non-summer months, and from $69.61 to $72.76 per month during June, July and August, for an average monthly increase of $2.96, or about a dime a day.