Tell the PUC: Reject Idaho Power's greedy proposal on rooftop solar

Idaho Power is at it again, trying to dismantle Idaho's rooftop solar industry and push rooftop solar further and further out of reach for Idahoans, just so it can maximize its own profits.

The monopoly utility announced its new solar rate proposal last week. If approved by the PUC, the new rates will take effect June 1, 2025 and impact everyone who installed solar since 2020 (over 13,800 homes, businesses, and farms, and counting).

Idaho Power currently pays solar owners an "Export Credit Rate" for the excess solar energy they put back onto Idaho Power's grid (to then be used by neighboring Idaho Power customers).

The new proposal would reduce those Export Credit Rates down to less than 1 cent per kilowatt-hour for eight months out of the year (Oct-May, currently around 5 cents during those months, and used to be even higher).

Idaho Power claims that solar power just isn't that valuable during that time of year.

Meanwhile, Idaho Power charges customers at least 8 cents per kilowatt-hour (8 times the Export Credit Rate) for that exact same electricity, and builds multi-million-dollar energy projects to try to meet its skyrocketing power demand.

Idaho Power's proposed rooftop solar Export Credit Rates are not accurate, not right, and not fair.

Rooftop solar IS valuable to Idaho Power's grid and provides an incredible, affordable, reliable, local clean power source to meet its system's needs (188 MW and counting - more than Idaho Power's 950-acre Jackpot Solar project!). If valued properly, Idaho Power would be incentivizing rooftop solar adoption, not trying to squash it.

Please submit a public comment to urge the PUC to SAY NO to Idaho Power's proposal.

Solar owners deserve fair and full compensation for the excess solar energy they give back to the utility, not the pennies that Idaho Power wants to provide based on its biased calculations.

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IPC-E-25-15 Public Comment

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I’m very concerned about Idaho Power’s proposal to slash rooftop solar compensation rates by up to 80%. Paying rooftop solar owners less than 1 ¢/kWh for the power they put onto the grid for eight months out of the year, while then charging regular customers at least 8 ¢/kWh for that same electricity, is extremely unfair. Last year's solar rate changes, coupled with the increased fixed service charges, were already devastating for Idaho Power customers. Please do a thorough review to check the utility's math and assumptions, listen to outside experts and customers, and don't let this monopoly utility unfairly squeeze money out of its customers and undercut their right to generate their own power. Also, please improve the public process by adding a virtual testimony option (as is provided at Public Service Commissions in all neighboring states) to help ensure you can hear the important perspectives from everyone who will be impacted by Idaho Power’s changes. Written comments and public hearings with limited times and locations are not enough. Thank you.

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