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Miners press for workable interruptible tariffs as utilities stress safeguards for ratepayers
Summary
Bitcoin miners and utilities updated the committee on industry economics and grid issues: miners said higher energy prices and equipment supply chains have reduced uptime and urged interruptible rates with reliable data sharing; utilities said large loads can be served under existing regulatory frameworks but emphasized protections for existing customers and recommended financing and queueing reforms.
Industry and utility representatives gave the committee a progress report on cryptocurrency mining and large‑load electricity planning.
Joe Terranova, COO of 44 West Mining, told the committee higher energy prices and equipment constraints have forced miners to reduce uptime, undermining development and local tax revenue. "Such flexibility is an asset to the utility and to the larger grid," he said in support of a true interruptible tariff that would allow miners to curtail within minutes when the grid needs capacity.
Utility and cooperative representatives described different approaches. Sean Taylor of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association circulated a white paper proposing coordinated G&T and distribution‑level procedures to protect member owners and enable large loads. Rocky Mountain Power counsel Nathan Nicholas outlined proposed legislation to create alternative service pathways for very large users, public‑private financing tools and a process for limited alternative service at scales above a specified megawatt threshold. Black Hills Energy described an interruptible blockchain tariff approved by the Public Service Commission that returns customer credits and, company officials said, has already produced customer benefits in Cheyenne.
Lawmakers and industry agreed on two near‑term actions: (1) utilities and G&Ts will continue to develop truly interruptible rate structures and transparent data sharing so prospective large users can forecast availability, and (2) the committee will track proposed statutory tools (limited alternative service path, financing mechanisms, queue reforms) being considered by the minerals and corporations committees. No formal action was taken; the committee will revisit these items at its September meeting in Laramie.
