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Public Utilities Commission seeks 5% raise for commissioners, normal replacement items in FY2026 request
Summary
The Public Utilities Commission presented its budget to JFAC, describing dedicated‑fund revenue mechanics, an average 84% personnel fill rate, and a governor‑recommended 5% increase to commissioner pay and one‑time replacement items totaling roughly $114,100.
BOISE — The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) presented its fiscal 2026 budget to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (date not specified), reviewing dedicated‑fund revenue, personnel fill rates and a governor recommendation to increase commissioner compensation.
Budget overview
PUC Commissioner Eric Anderson (president of the commission) and Legislative Services analyst Kellen McGurkin explained that the commission is funded by assessments billed to regulated utilities and does not use general fund dollars. The commission uses those assessments to cover personnel, operating and capital costs and generally targets an ending balance around 60% of its total appropriation to bridge timing gaps in biannual industry payments.
Personnel and vacancies
PUC reported a five‑year filled full‑time equivalent (FTE) average of 84% and said it typically spends about 81–83% of appropriated personnel dollars on personnel costs. The agency has four current vacancies and uses attorney general staff reimbursed through state‑wide cost allocation.
Commissioner compensation and replacement items
The commission requested a statutory change to increase commissioner salaries. Because commissioner pay is set in statute (Idaho Code section referenced in the presentation), any change requires legislative action. The governor recommended a 5% increase that the analyst quantified as $23,100 ongoing. PUC also requested one‑time dedicated fund replacement items totaling $114,100 — including a pipeline safety truck ($40,500), laptops and hardware replacements, network switches, document‑management licensing and related IT hardware and maintenance identified by the Office of Information Technology Services.
Document management and records
Commissioner Anderson said the commission maintains historical records back to 1913 in a secure room and described a four‑person administrative team that manages filings and consolidates the administrative record each Tuesday.
Discussion vs. decisions
Committee members asked about records management staffing and about regional issues commissioners attend. Commissioner Anderson said the commission is actively engaged in regional transmission and energy market discussions and monitors credit ratings and market developments to protect consumers. No appropriations vote or statutory change was recorded in the transcript; the compensation change was presented as part of the FY2026 budget materials.
Ending
Commissioner Anderson thanked the committee and urged lawmakers to contact agency policy staff for questions; the presentation concluded with no recorded votes in the hearing transcript.
