Advocates File Appeal Urging Regulators to Revisit Idaho Power Rooftop Solar Export Rates

BOISE, Idaho - Yesterday, Vote Solar and Sierra Club filed a Petition for Reconsiderationwith the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) following the partially approved proposal by Idaho Power to reduce compensation rates for customer-generated solar. In this petition, the organizations asked the Commission to create a working group to resolve issues with the rooftop solar export rates before the next scheduled review in 2028.

In the final order, the PUC allowed Idaho Power to decrease the solar export rate by 31%, rather than the original 60% the utility requested, and froze any further changes until 2028. This decision impacts over 14,000 households in Idaho who have installed solar after 2019, lowering the price they are paid for the excess solar energy they share back on the grid.

In the petition, the organizations commended the Commission for limiting the proposed percentage decrease by Idaho Power; however, they call out the flawed Export Credit Rate (ECR) method used to calculate the solar export rate. The petition calls for the Commission to use the time before the next rate update in 2028 to collaboratively improve the ECR methodology.

"Families in Idaho turn to rooftop solar to gain stability and independence from unpredictable and ever-rising utility costs," said Kate Bowman, Vote Solar's Interior West Senior Regulatory Director. "Unfortunately, the current solar export rate structure undermines that stability-it's designed to change from year to year and is biased toward utility profits, leaving solar customers exposed to unpredictable energy bills and unfair compensation rates."

"The PUC acknowledged that the Export Credit Rates are unreasonable and volatile, which is why they chose to limit this year's changes and delay the next change until 2028," said Lisa Young, Sierra Club Idaho Chapter Director. "But this is just a temporary Band-Aid. We need to come together to make real improvements to the methodology. Otherwise, communities in Idaho will face the same problem all over again in 2028."

The City of Boise also submitted a Petition for Reconsideration on this case yesterday, asking the PUC to limit this year's ECR decrease even more and suggesting other improvements to the methodology. All petitions that were submitted by the Oct. 21 deadline will appear on this PUC webpagesoon. All parties to the case, including Idaho Power and PUC Staff, now have seven days to file a Response to these petitions, if they wish. The PUC will then deliberate and make a final determination on the petitions by Nov. 18.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.

About Vote Solar

Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance state-level policies that make solar and clean energy solutions accessible to all. Since 2002, Vote Solar has worked to build a just and equitable energy future by leveraging deep policy expertise, strategic partnerships, and public engagement. In the face of powerful opposition, Vote Solar champions bold solutions that expand clean energy access, drive investment in frontline communities, and accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy.