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Public Utilities Commission requests commissioner pay increase and one‑time IT and vehicle replacements
Summary
The Public Utilities Commission briefed JFAC on its FY2026 budget, including a governor‑recommended 5% increase in commissioner pay (statutory change required), a one‑time dedicated fund request for a pipeline safety truck and IT hardware and licensing replacements, and a review of commission funding and reserve policy.
Kellen McGurkin, budget and policy analyst, presented the Public Utilities Commission’s five‑year appropriations, fund structure and FY2026 enhancement requests.
McGurkin explained the commission is funded entirely from special regulatory fees assessed on regulated utilities and does not use general fund dollars. The commission sets assessments annually and typically keeps an ending balance of about 60% of its total appropriation to cover timing risks associated with biannual industry payments.
PUC requested a statutory increase to commissioner compensation. McGurkin said commissioner salaries are set in statute (Idaho Code section 61‑215) and that the governor recommended a 5% increase totaling about $23,100 for the three commissioner positions; the committee would need to enact a statutory change to implement the adjustment. The agency also requested one‑time dedicated fund appropriation of $114,100 for replacement items, including $40,500 to replace a pipeline safety truck and $73,600 for IT hardware and licensing recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services (including 14 laptops, one desktop, network switches and software licenses).
Eric Anderson, president of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, described the commission’s quasi‑legislative, quasi‑judicial and executive roles under Titles 61 and 62 of Idaho Code and said commissioners also engage in regional meetings on transmission and market structure. Anderson said the commission monitors utility credit ratings and attends national and regional fora to ensure Idaho utilities’ orders and filings protect consumers and preserve utility viability.
Committee members asked about document management and staffing for records. Anderson said the commission has an administrative staff that handles filings and that records go back to 1913; he estimated four staff directly support document management and that the commission consolidates filings into the official record at weekly decision meetings.
McGurkin noted the commission has four vacant positions and a five‑year filled FTE rate of about 84%; the commission typically spends roughly 83% of its appropriated personnel cost authority on personnel costs due to staffing patterns and dedicated‑fund timing.
The presentation closed with an analyst offer to answer follow‑ups and the commissioner reiterated the commission’s availability to assist legislators on utility matters.
