Idaho Power forms citizens' committee

MAGIC VALLEY, IDAHO - -- Idaho Power Co. has formed a citizens^^ committee to plan for energy growth in Magic Valley, an area the company says could soon face energy reliability problems because of escalating demand.

The committee comes on the heels of similar projects in the Treasure and Wood River valleys, both high-growth areas where committees have formed long-range energy plans.

Magic Valley's 30-person committee is expected to make similar recommendations, including what kind of new energy sources would fit the community and where to place any new transmission lines.

"The committee helps determine the best way to meet the area's needs in the long term," said Lynette Berriochoa, an Idaho Power spokeswoman. "When it comes down to 20 years from now and we need a new substation, we can go to the (committee's) plan and see where they'd like it." Idaho Power has formed the committees in high-growth areas where it anticipates infrastructure upgrades.

In Magic Valley, electric load - or demand on the system - increases by about 10 megawatts annually. That's equal to adding a city the size of Gooding to the grid each year. The company expects Magic Valley's population to nearly double by 2075, from about a quarter-million people to 411,000. That growth will require new energy sources and ways of delivering electricity to customers. Bill Chisholm, who sits on the Magic Valley committee, said he hopes much of that energy will come from sustainable sources.

"Hopefully," he said, "we can push some energy conservation and renewables." Because the committees are a new approach, what weight they'll carry in the company's final decisions remain unclear.

But committee members say it is positive step that Idaho Power seeks their input. "It's in their best interest to be friends with their customers," Chisholm said. "If they can move their agenda along with our own, then we'll all be happy." The committee will hold monthly meetings until June, when it will present a proposal to the utility.

Related News

themostat

US January power generation jumps 9.3% on year: EIA

WASHINGTON - The US generated 373.2 TWh of power in January, up 7.9% from 345.9 TWh in December and 9.3% higher than the same month in 2017, Energy Information Administration data shows.

The monthly total was the highest amount in January since 377.3 TWh was generated in January 2014.

Coal generation totaled 118.7 TWh in January, up 11.4% from 106.58 TWh in December and up 2.8% from the year-ago month. It was also the highest amount generated in January since 132.4 TWh in 2015.

For the second straight month, more power was generated from coal than natural gas, as 109.6 TWh came from…

READ MORE

Ontario introduces new 'ultra-low' overnight hydro pricing

READ MORE

hydro one

Hydro One launches Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan

READ MORE

uk electricity prices force

Energy UK - Switching surge continues

READ MORE

pumped stprage

Hydroelectricity Under Pumped Storage Capacity

READ MORE