Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Electricity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House State Affairs committee advances HCR 19 to study electricity needs
Summary
The House State Affairs Committee voted to send HCR 19, a concurrent resolution to form a study committee on electricity, to the full House with a "do pass" recommendation after members discussed committee composition and whether the study would delay new projects.
Representative Stephanie Mickelson, legislative district 32, told the House State Affairs Committee that HCR 19 would create a study committee to examine Idaho’s electricity needs as the state accommodates large loads such as data centers and to preserve low rates for Idaho residents.
Mickleson said the resolution would give the Legislature “an opportunity to form a committee and take a look at that so we can continue to have affordable rates here for those Idahoans who have built out the system and it's their resources.”
The committee’s nut graf: members said they want to preserve Idaho’s comparatively low power rates while preparing for large new electricity demands, but they differed on details of how the study panel would be formed and whether it would affect pending projects.
Representative Digart moved to send HCR 19 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation; the committee approved the motion. During discussion Representative Hostetler asked whether forming the study committee would pause or block other pending applications or rulemaking. Mickelson responded that, given current Idaho Public Utilities Commission rules and timelines, "I don't think that we would have a problem if another large ratepayer came in and tried to start down through the process of having rules in place in time for them to have a hearing and stuff in front of the public utilities commission," and that the Legislature had time to do the study work without necessarily stopping other processes.
Members asked about committee composition. Mickelson said, "My understanding is that lehi council would appoint those people and that it would be 3 people from the House and 3 people from the Senate." Representative Alfieri pressed about numbers and minority inclusion; Representative Achilles said he supported focusing appointments on experts.
The committee approved sending HCR 19 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The resolution will next appear on the House calendar for further consideration by the full chamber.
