Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Address

11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise, ID 83714

Phone

(208) 334-0300Fax (208) 334-3762

Website

puc.idaho.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Idaho Power Company IOU

  Southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, including Boise metropolitan area and Snake River Plain

  Idaho Power has pursued aggressive rate increases tied to load growth from data centers and semiconductor manufacturing in the Treasure Valley. The IPUC approved a significant general rate increase in 2024, and the utility continues to litigate cost allocation between Idaho and Oregon jurisdictions under its IPUC-approved PCA mechanism.

• Avista Corporation IOU

  Northern Idaho including Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and Moscow; also serves eastern Washington

  Avista has pursued multi-year rate plans and decoupling mechanisms before the IPUC to manage revenue stability amid flat usage trends. Recent proceedings have focused on natural gas infrastructure costs and wildfire mitigation cost recovery in its Idaho service territory.

• Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) IOU

  Southeastern Idaho, including Pocatello and surrounding Bear Lake and Caribou counties

  Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho jurisdiction is a relatively small portion of its multi-state footprint, but the utility faces scrutiny over wildfire liability cost recovery and its transition away from coal generation under the Energy Vision 2020+ integrated resource plan.

• Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative coop

  Eastern Idaho including Fremont, Madison, and Teton counties near Yellowstone corridor

  Fall River operates largely outside IPUC economic regulation as a cooperative but remains subject to IPUC jurisdiction for certain service quality and interconnection matters. The cooperative has invested in fiber broadband deployment leveraging its distribution infrastructure.

• Intermountain Gas Company IOU

  Natural gas distribution serving most of southern Idaho, including Boise, Twin Falls, and Pocatello

  Intermountain Gas, a subsidiary of MDU Resources, recently completed a rate case resulting in updated depreciation schedules and infrastructure rider adjustments. The IPUC has been attentive to pipeline safety surcharge mechanisms and the utility's long-term gas supply portfolio given price volatility.

• Boise City utilities (water) muni

  Municipal water service within Boise city limits and portions of Ada County

  Boise municipal water operates under city authority rather than direct IPUC economic rate regulation, but remains relevant to IPUC proceedings involving groundwater rights adjudication and coordination with Idaho Department of Water Resources on the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer management.

Key issues

• Idaho Power load growth driven by hyperscale data center development in Elmore County and semiconductor expansion by Micron Technology in Boise is straining transmission capacity and accelerating the need for new generation resources, with cost allocation between legacy and new large-load customers a central IPUC dispute.
• Idaho Power's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan calls for significant solar and battery storage additions to replace coal generation at Jim Bridger and Valmy plants; IPUC review of IRP compliance and associated power purchase agreement approvals is ongoing through 2026.
• Avista's pending general rate case in Idaho, filed in late 2025, seeks recovery of increased capital investment in grid hardening and wildfire mitigation infrastructure, with intervenors including IPUC Staff and industrial customer groups challenging the proposed rate of return and cost capitalization practices.
• Rocky Mountain Power's coal plant depreciation acceleration and associated customer rate impacts from early retirement of Naughton and Hunter units are under active IPUC scrutiny, with debate over how Idaho ratepayers should bear stranded asset costs relative to other PacifiCorp states.
• Statewide net metering reform is under active IPUC consideration following Idaho Power's petition to restructure residential and small commercial solar compensation, with stakeholders debating avoided cost methodology, grid service charges, and grandfathering provisions for existing installations.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Estimated deadline for IPUC Staff and intervenor comments in Avista Corporation general rate case (estimated); procedural schedule anticipated to set evidentiary hearing in fall 2026 following completion of discovery.

• 2026-10-07

  Estimated evidentiary hearing opening date for Idaho Power net metering restructuring docket; IPUC has signaled intent to resolve compensation methodology before 2027 annual PCA filing season (date estimated based on procedural schedule).

• 2026-11-20

  Estimated IPUC decision deadline on Idaho Power large-load interconnection cost allocation tariff revision, following completion of technical workshops held in mid-2026 on data center service classification (date estimated).

• 2027-01-31

  Estimated filing deadline for Idaho Power annual Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) application for 2027 rate year; proceeding will incorporate updated hydro generation forecasts and reflect new solar and storage contract costs from 2025-2026 IRP procurement (date estimated).