RMP proposes customer refund and efficiency charge decrease
Rocky Mountain Power has filed a proposal to issue a one-time refund of approximately $14.5 million and to decrease the customer surcharge for energy efficiency from approximately 3.66 percent to 3.54 percent of customer’s bills. If approved by the Utah Public Service Commission, the refund for a typical residential customer will be about $7.30 on the February 2019 bills.
Rocky Mountain said the reduction is possible because the utility has identified more-efficient ways to deliver these programs to customers. Widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures has allowed the company to spend less while still achieving efficiency targets, the company said.
In 2017, Rocky Mountain Power published company plans showing the beneficial long-term effects of renewable energy and the evolving electrical grid. The declining costs of renewable energy allow this resource to compete with traditional energy efficiency management as a least-cost energy resource in Utah.
Rocky Mountain has instituted energy efficiency programs that coordinate when electricity is used, as well as reduce overall electrical use to help customers save money. These programs are funded by an efficiency charge, which appears as a line item on the customer bill. Programs for residential customers continue to include cash incentives for energy-efficient appliances, improved insulation, energy-efficient windows and low-income weatherization.