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Rocky Mountain Power outlines Gateway transmission work, warns of near-term rate rise
Summary
Pacificorp representatives updated commissioners on regional transmission projects affecting Wyoming (Anticline–Shirley Basin, Gateway West D3) and reported an average general-rate increase of 10.2% starting June 1; company said ECAM adjustments in July should reduce the net change.
Representatives from Pacificorp (Rocky Mountain Power/Pacific Power) briefed the board on transmission projects and near‑term rate changes. Company presenters described large regional builds — Gateway South (recently placed in service), the Anticline‑to‑Shirley Basin 500 kV project and the Gateway West D3 segment — and said NEPA and permitting work is ongoing for Wyoming segments.
A company official told commissioners that "starting June 1, the overall average general rate increase will be 10.2%." The speaker added that a subsequent annual ECAM (energy cost adjustment mechanism) filing is projected to reduce the net impact in July, bringing the overall change down by roughly half in their estimate. The presentation also highlighted the scale of Pacificorp’s western transmission system and the multi‑year permitting and field‑work timeline for projects that are decades in planning.
Commissioners asked about grid capacity for potential industrial demand and the company said it is modeling plans to address spikes in demand from large new users (data centers, mineral processing) but that significant new transmission and permitting will be needed, and those projects have long lead times.
On project details, Pacificorp noted the Anticline‑to‑Shirley Basin line will be roughly 152 miles of 500 kV in Carbon and Sweetwater counties with ongoing NEPA analysis and Bureau of Land Management coordination. The company said no field work is expected in Sweetwater County for that project in 2025 and that Mustang substation expansion in Sweetwater County is scheduled for completion this year.
